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)
I eyed him with renewed interest. He had to be a strong alpha in his own right to weather the command in her voice. Anyone else and he would’ve cracked his forehead dropping to the ground in supplication.
You didn’t skimp out when you chose my fates, Luame. Too bad I had to kill one of them.
My wolf agreed—with the first thought, not the second. She was purring in my chest at how strong Badr was. If only she wasn’t so superficial. Anyone that wasn’t a wolf in perpetual heat... could see he was an ass.
“As I was saying,” Sunella continued. “We’ve chosen to leave all the pain and horror of the past—in the past. We welcome the mother wolf back into Wolf Nation and into the academy,” she crowed, holding her arms out to the audience. “For she assures me that not a minute after graduation, she will accept her remaining fates, complete the bond, and bring out a new, stronger generation of wolves who will endure the millennia and beyond!”
The applause that kicked off was much louder and enthusiastic.
I didn’t bother holding back my eye roll. So that was her play. She was trying to turn blackmail into quid pro quo. She pardoned my crimes and I gave her what she, the alpha council, and all of Wolf Nation wanted—the continuation of our people with shifters born even stronger than every generation before them.
And all the while I’m sure she and the council will dig up any leverage they can to put the leash around my neck, and ensure this ends exactly how they want—video or no video.
Pantsuit approached us—expression unreadable. “This is the decision of the council?” she asked tightly.
Sunella met her gaze. “It is. We expect the mother wolf to be supported, nurtured, and guided on the path to fulfilling her destiny. I trust that won’t be a problem, will it, Makena?”
Her smile didn’t reach her eyes. “No problem at all. It is the will of us to see the mother wolf do exactly what she’s supposed to do.” Pantsuit stepped back. “Welcome to Corvin Academy, High Priestess Daciana. I am your headmistress, Makena Dagem.” She laughed. “I’m sure I’ll see much of you this year. No doubt you’ll earn many a visit to the headmistress’s chambers, but I don’t want you to worry.” She squeezed my arm, a disturbing smile on her lips. “I won’t give you any special treatment. You’ll be treated just the same as anyone in your position would.”
I flashed her the same phony-baloney smile. “That’s such a weight off my shoulders, Headmistress, since someone in my position would’ve been fed and given the grand tour by now. And be quick about it,” I said, snapping my fingers. “I’m starved.”
Growls leaked through Dagem’s lips, melting that smile away fast.
“Yes, of course,” Sunella said quickly, pulling me away before Dagem pounced. “I’ll need a volunteer to give Daciana a tour of the campus, show her to her dorms, and send word down to the mess hall to bring her meal.”
I sought a face in the crowd. “Paxxy will, won’t you, Paxxy?”
Paxton jerked, looking around like I could be talking to someone else.
Winking, I blew him a kiss. “There’s a treat in it for you if you do.”
He was moving before I finished the sentence—his eyes shining with the hunger of his wolf.
Badr and Orion shoved him none-too-gently back.
Oh yes, definitely the weak link in the pack.
“That won’t be necessary,” Dagem sliced in. “I am headmistress. I will take over from here.” She inclined her head to Sunella, then turned to me. “Return to the meeting room, High Priestess. Your meal will be brought to you in there. While you eat, I will gather your orientation materials, and see about finding you a dorm. We weren’t expecting you. It may take some time to shuffle things around.”
I shrugged. No point arguing with someone when they were giving you everything you wanted. All that mattered was that I was free and enrolled in Corvin Academy. And here I was thinking this step would be the hard part.
Turning back, something made me chance a look at my fates. The Wind one, Eddy or something, pinned me through as he tapped his ear, then shook his head—lips peeling back from his sharpened canines.
They say that the bond between fated mates could become so strong, they can read each other’s minds as easily as breathing. That was not what was happening here, and still I understood his meaning without a word needed.
Dear old Eddy was listening to every word said between me and Sunella, and he knew everything she told the crowd was bullshit. He knew I wasn’t sorry or crying, and he was still coming after me.
I skimmed over my fates’ glares.
They all were.
“Bring it on, boys,” I whispered—knowing they’d hear me clear as day. “I love playing with my food before I take a...” Snapping the air, I licked my lips. “Bite.”