"So they already suspect more werewolves. They already know we are werewolves. They are pinning this on Destiny?" Mattie asked. "I feel sick. She could have easily been taken and killed!"
"There's more than that. Wolf Islands and Wolf Waters are making deals with each other for a specific reason." Oh, he hated to say it. "The human world discovered us." He gestured to Grayson and Billy.
"Whoah, hey, we couldn't have said anything. We haven't been there for a long time," Billy accused him.
"We were always watched," Grayson agreed. "Where's your proof we did anything?"
"You didn't do it on purpose, but your company did have a tracking device in you." He gave them a moment to deal with that.
"But? We never found nothing on our clothes," Billy assessed.
"You said 'in'," Grayson said to Devin. "Are you saying we were micro-chipped like a pet?"
"Oh!" Billy smacked one hand into the other. "Of course! We were getting testing done for werewolf DNA. Once they knew the stakes, they probably thought we'd go mad or something when we went too far. They could track us down and put us out of our misery."
"Right. They know where our Wolf Waters is at," Devin said, "and it gets worse. They've known for the last four years. Wolf Waters sensed the problem shortly after you guys came. They were watching the news of your disappearance and saw the tie between that and the theories being released. Having no choice, they went out to meet."
Lily covered her mouth. "Werewolves don't get along with humans at all. That couldn't have been good."
"About this time, another person, Director Harri Hubbard had also butted his way into Wolf Water's business. He wanted his show. There was a three way meeting. A tense three way meeting." Devin looked toward the monitor where the trailer had first appeared. "I thought it was kind of strange they agreed to leave the girl alone and just leave her outside. No one jumped the gun on the deal, only Juniper and Destiny saw her."
"This isn't just a show for them," Devin's boss said as he came toward them. "This is for everything. Wolf Waters has been found, and yes, weapons have been pointed at us for years already. We started to plunder a lot more just in the islands and never farther. We didn't want to aggravate the situation any further. Forget any 'make us equal' injections, we were done for. We had to all agree to a compromise." He sighed. "We had to have a reason for the werewolves. We had to make sure one of them was raised outside, while one was raised inside. We didn't have to have cubs, but humans would feel more willing to go easy on young cubs, so sorry, Devin Oliver Olivacea. It's lives on the line, we need to play every angle possible. We had to give some excuse as to how they would be werewolves, so we made mommy the culprit using the same thing we used for William and Grayson."
"Our future." Mattie was getting it. "Whether we get to live free like Wolf Islands, whether we get thrown in zoos, or whether we are executed."
"The real director was dead before the issue of children was even presented." Mads actually showed up again. "They needed to present more than just one werewolf that couldn't even really shapeshift to be convincing at the time."
Thank goodness. Devin was so glad he hadn't misjudged his friend all these years. Mads really was on their side. Any news about this, and Devin could have put everything at risk by yanking them away. Knowing, but not being able to help, would have been that much more excruciating.
"So, our futures are being determined by a show?" Billy asked. "Are they serious?"
"Wolf Waters and the pure humans were at each other's necks. There was no sign of compromising until the director's decision," Mads said. "This year, Wolf Waters and the human officials, are also going to be watching The Romances of Wolf Islands. There is technology sharing for the first time."
Oh. "There's no guarantee this will still work," Devin pointed out. "Humans have turned their back against the truth for years. They could lie about the whole thing."
"Sometimes, learning brings more understanding," Grayson reminded Devin. "I never believed I would forgive you for what you did. It took a long time, and a lot of help, but when you see reality for what it is. It can change things."
"People see the werewolves that aren't part of Wolf Waters. That are the wild things around the area," Billy reminded Devin. "That's what they know. This show. It's the only chance."
"It is," Mads said. "The humans also have weapons facing toward the Wolf Islands. If we fail, they aren't just taking out Wolf Waters. They won't show 'sympathy'. Even 1% will execute a human."
"Okay. Are there any other options?" Billy suggested. "Anything else too?"
"They only know where you two have gone," Devin said. "There are a lot more bubble domes for Wolf Waters, you have only been to one. They are also in different vicinities. The farthest ones would be able to survive. If we move people away from the dangerous bubble areas while the show is running to prove itself? Even if they decide we all need to go, at least most of us will be safe."
"Keep Destinyofages doing the same thing," his boss said. "It's important to have that sweet face showing."
A growl escaped Devin. "She isn't cooking for 200 people everyday. They can make their own food."
"Structuring over 200 people to find time to cook their own meals in the same kitchen will be even more stressful. That kitchen is huge but she knows what she is doing. If you don't want her doing it, then help yourself," his boss insisted. "Also, everyone should be ready for challenges. Each week a challenge will be given of some sort. You have to play by the rules. No matter what it is, think hard about loopholes if it's not safe to you. If not, you will be thrown out. Each week, people will be thrown out of the house."
"Ooh, really?" Mattie got closer. "Can we get thrown out?""Not you or the other women," his boss said. "You'll be choosing who leaves. Each episode, ten people will be gone until there is only a third left. Make sure all of you watch these previous shows for it." He got the TV set up and read for them. "I know you can't watch all the seasons or all the couples. Just pick some at random, but watch full episodes. Understand the names you use, understand who and when someone can get a name and what it means. Be ready. You have until midnight. You might want to order in some food."