Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Yes, many envied the shifter wolves and how we knew our path in lives from the moment we were born. But that was only because they were damn fucking fools. Life has no meaning when everything is decided for you.
Including who you were allowed to love.
My eyes traveled up the alpha staircase. That’s where they were keeping my fates. Or, I should say, that’s where they were keeping them away from me. The true reason they didn’t want me in the alpha dorm.
Oh, well. I flicked away as we stepped into the priestess wing. Since when did I let a silly little thing like a wall get in my way?
“Your room is at the very end,” Nia said, breaking into my thoughts.
Normally there isn’t much to say about a hallway, but the priestess wing defied the stereotype. My boots clomped on radiant, sapphire-blue tiles. Like the grand hall, scenes were carved into the stone. Impossible mermaids swam through undulating kelp and fields of coral.
As we passed the dozen or so doors on both sides of me, my wolf ears picked up nothing.
Not a whisper. Not a giggle.
It was no easy feat keeping whispers from the ear of a wolf. Clearly the dorms were all reinforced for our privacy. A fact that would come in handy sooner rather than later.
Nia paused beside the door on the end. She handed me the key rather than letting herself in.
I took care of that. Stepping inside, I got the first proper look at my home for the next year.
My feelings were mixed to say the least.
A large queen-sized bed dominated the middle of the room, but it didn’t have any pillows or sheets. Nothing but a mattress with two large brown stains I didn’t want to look at.
All four bedposts were attacked at some point. Their tops were sliced off if the uneven cuts and hacking marks were anything to go by.
Beside the bed was a large bay window. A nice addition, but again someone went at it, and removed the curtain rods and the curtains, from the wall. The ruined screw holes were proof.
I turned on the carpet—taking in the grand fireplace that was boarded-over, the marks on the walls where portraits used to hang, and the open bathroom that boasted a shower with no shower curtain. The only thing that didn’t look out of place were the stacks of books on the side table, and three changes of simple clothes.
“The headmistress says you have to stay in here at all hours. You’re only allowed out for classes, detention, extracurriculars, or an emergency. If you leave your room for any other reason, you’ll receive an automatic demerit. Five demerits and you’re expelled.”
I whistled. “Harsh.”
“I know what you’re thinking, but the five-demerit rule applies to everyone in the alpha track. The standards for someone who wants to lead a clan are much higher,” she explained. “If they can’t follow the rules, why should anyone follow theirs?”
“That does make some sense,” I murmured. “So what happened here? The headmistress ordered the staff to remove any and everything that could be used as a weapon?”
Nia didn’t answer, which again was answer enough.
“Will you be needing anything else, Daciana?”
She said my name like it sounded strange on her tongue. I got the sense she wanted to call me High Priestess. Or bitch.
I clapped, making her jump. “Nope! That’s all for now, but I will be needing you here bright and early tomorrow morning to give me my tour, show me where my classes are, and tell me who’s who.” I grabbed her arm, leading her out the door. “See you then.”
“Oh, but— I can’t,” she cried. “All of that will be in the alpha wing. Omegas aren’t allowed to go over there. We aren’t allowed to mix with the alphas, betas, or epsilons at all except for special classes or extracurriculars.”
“Then it’s a good thing you don’t have to worry about the five-demerit punishment, because you’re about to break the rules.”
“But—!”
“Bye!” I dumped her over the threshold and slammed the door. But not fast enough to miss her yelling—
“Ass!”
Laughing, I made for the bed, thought better of it, then veered over to the cushioned seat at the bay window. Fishing out my phone, I dialed Lucia.
“Fuck’s sake,” she sounded off. “They still haven’t killed you? What the hell will it take?”
I rolled my eyes. “Give it a fucking rest. You’ll never be rid of me. I’m going to haunt you long after I die.”
She scoffed. “Knowing my luck, you fucking would. So, what? What do you want?”
“To tell you that it worked. I’m in.”
Lucia sobered, dropping her pitying whine over my continued beating heart. “This is it, wolf. There’s no going back now. Are you sure you’re up for this? You’re crazy as hell, but that can only get you so far. At some point, you’re going to need skill, and I can’t bust in there to save you.