It was more than two hours before sunrise, I could tell from the hues of the western sky. It was dark enough to warrant me thirty minutes of running. It was risky and if I ran into other shifters ... it might end up ugly.
The door clicked behind me. My clothes were enchanted. A simple thing, done by Edna. They’d return after I shifted back into a human.
I shifted...
Everything changed. The perception of a wolf was so much different. It was no longer a town to me. Just alien structures that smelled wrong. My paws tested the cobbled pavement. I longed to run on the soil, to dig my claws in the mulch and dirt or the hard ground of tundra for that matter. I snapped and almost gave out a wail. It was my wolf’s way of smiling. The scents were all mixed up, nothing made sense about them. In the forest or plains, each scent had its place and order. This place here was a labyrinth. I darted forward, picking directions at random. In the wolf form, I’d be able to find the way into my flat. I didn’t bother with masking—nor I had the means to—my scent.
I ran! The alien buildings blurred around me. This was freedom. More and more instincts awoke inside me. An ancient call came from within my blood and then I felt the pressure of the moons above. I had never felt anything like this in Alaska. Their call was louder than my heart, louder than strange machinery that worked hidden somewhere nearby, louder than my human mind.
Too loud.
Way too loud… My mind retreated.
Perhaps, I lost my mind and let my wolf drift away until even she was helpless. The strong magical currents of several moons buffeted against my mental barrier. It came up on its own after my wolf had given up and released control. If she had it in the first place. I was no longer sure, nor I knew where she has brought me. A park inside the town? It looked too maintained and nurtured. Even in the darkness, I could see the exquisite patterns of many exotic trees and plants. If not for the strange flowery smell, maybe I would be able to tell where the heck I was.
Where have you taken me?
My wolf didn’t answer. It was kind of expected. Whatever happened after shifting had greatly unsettled us. Not mentioning the nightmare. In the human form, the call of the moons lessened but I had no idea how to get home. Did I sneak beyond the wall? Impossible. On my way here I’d seen how tight with the control they were, paranoid even. So where am I? As if someone heard my silent question, I heard footsteps on the gravel on the other side of the bush. I got low, edging closer to shadow. The sky was slowly started to burn with the sun still half an hour from rising. Whatever my wolf had done, she’d taken her time.
As I leaned closer to the bush—making sure to not rustle a leaf—the first words reached me.
“Are you sure about this?” A soft, nice voice asked.
“Do you think me a fool, Vastim?” I froze as I recognized the insufferable tone of the man who replied. I hated him more than anything in my life – alpha king.
“Of course not, Arthur. Just another problem on top of the existing one.”
Their steps slowed down, sniffed, and then the alpha king growled.
“I told these idiots to not shift in the garden. I’m getting tired of them.”
“Ach,” Vastim said as if he just waited for this moment. “Regarding your sons…”
They started walking again and now ‘regarding your sons’ stuck in my mind. I needed to know what was the matter and what was the problem atop another one. Did he mean me? It was very likely. The alpha king was enraged when the four Goldfury brothers brought me to Shifter Island. Staying on fours, I followed them on the other side of the bush. So this is the palace garden. I’d be relieved if not for the fact that the alpha king was going to execute me for trespassing. I had no idea how I’d gotten here and how could I get out.
“It’s barely the third day and already rumors are wildly spreading in Mael’lorn. They say—”
“I know what they say,” the alpha king snapped. “And it doesn’t matter. This is the council’s doing. They brought this moonless bitch here.”
“Maybe. But your sons…” Vastim left the words to die in his mouth. I wished to see the alpha king’s face because by now I knew what they meant.
“I will deal with it. Rest assured.”
“Good. Once you have everything under control here. We’ll resume our plan. We must hurry.”
One of them stopped, while the other one kept walking. I froze in place, fearing detection. Could he sniff me out in his human form? But nothing of that sort happened. Two men simply parted ways. Who was Vastim? Why would the alpha king meet anyone before dawn hidden from the sight?
Chapter 16
The sunset arrived and I was still stuck in the palace garden. More people appeared, here and there and I felt in my bones, it was only a matter of time before I was discovered, and eventually … I was. The sky already turned blue and I grew hungry and thirsty and angry. I also decided to play dumb and so I found a bench in this enchanted labyrinth of trees and bushes and sat down – waiting. A few gardeners passed me and squinted my way, then hurried ahead. Perhaps, they thought I was a guest of the alpha king? I have my best dress on me. Would I wear the fur…
“What in the name of … are you doing here?” A familiar voice asked and shot up not knowing how to explain, so yeah, I played dumb.
Ryder strode over and told me to relax. We took the seat.
“I wandered about and lost my way… Is that believable enough or should I try to come up with something better?”
Ryder’s laugh was pure. I smiled, feeling like my body started to betray me, step by step. My cheeks burned and went red. My heart played its own music, loud and rocky. And of course my stomach couldn’t be worse. It gave off a feeling as if a flock of butterflies wormed their way through me. Goldfury weren’t the first guys I’ve come to know a little better but unlike my clan’s shifters, they had powerful magnetism to them. It must be the moons. A good explanation this was. I rolled with it.
“Oh yeah,” he replied when he got his laugh under control. “If I haven’t found you … let’s say, my father would go mad. His security protocols basically failed. How did you get in?”
“I…” For a brief second, I considered lying. But the purity in Ryder’s unusual red eyes crushed this idea. “I shifted a few hours ago and when I got my mind back, I was here. I don’t remember anything besides the massive pressure of the moons and the feeling of being squashed by it.”
Ryder whistled, but his expression grew solemn a little. It didn’t bode well.
“Shifting in the town is forbidden. We have to go outside the walls to run. Even that isn’t simple. To go outside of the walls, you need permission and a security check. It’s a pain in the ass and your situation … is rather complicated.”
“Yeah, I expected that much. I didn’t mean to shift, it sort of happened.” Okay, this is a tiny lie.
“If you really need to shift, wait for the classes or…” He didn’t finish but the fire in his eyes was too bright to hide the excitement from me.
“Or?” I leaned over, accidentally sniffing his true scent. No perfumes this time. And it struck me harder than I expected. Beneath all the boldness and easygoing manners, Ryder was paralyzed by … fear. I couldn’t tell what he feared though. He replied and I missed it. How could it be? How did he manage to stay so positive and carry this weight?
“Well, you aren’t looking keen…”
“Sorry, I got distracted. Can you say it again?”
I couldn’t be sure but my question seemed to wound him. It wasn’t anything obvious, just a way he held himself, subtle details I hadn’t had an idea I could spot. Nonetheless, Ryder was quick to recuperate. His mesmerizing grin returned and the difference it made was tremendous. Somehow it soothed the air itself.
“I said—if you wish—I can take outside the wall.”
I nodded stupidly, imagining the plains and my wolf running wild there. The fresh wind and…
“Prince Ryder.” A guard appeared before us. I was so consumed by the notion of
getting out of here that I hadn’t noticed his approach. “It is time.”
Ryder’s smiled dropped for a second, he stood up and extended a hand toward me.
“I must go. I usually don’t wake up this early. Today’s different,” he was quiet when he spoke almost reminding me of his noble brother Gabriel. “Guard, escort her wherever she wishes. Do you understand?”
“I…” the guard stuttered. I smelled confusion from him. “Of course, sir.”
“I can take care of myself,” I replied.
“Here, in the palace, you must be accompanied by someone. I can’t…”
“It’s fine,” I told him, but was it? As the silent guard walked me out of the garden, I thought I’d figured out why Ryder had behaved so strangely. It was all because of Gabriel. But when we reached the atrium of the palace, I had my doubts. Maybe it wasn’t only Gabriel’s doing. What do you expect girl? To have them both? It doesn’t work this way. Shifters don’t share their mates. Ever. You can have only one of them and that’s that. It sucked that I couldn’t decide what I desired. When the Goldfury brothers were around, I felt like a piece of wood in the stormy sea. I went where current and wind took me.
For a moment, I feared that the guard would take me through the main palace door. He didn’t. The atrium was like a crossroad with many passages. We entered a smaller corridor, clearly used by the servants not the guests. So, he knew I wasn’t a guest then. At some point, servants vanished and the corridor was nothing but cold, gray bricks. Then it reached the stairs leading down. I panicked. He was taking me to the catacombs!
I stopped.
The guard made a few more steps. He stopped then. His long mustache wavered as he turned my way. His eyes were uncaring and bored by this point.
“Are you not coming?”
“Where are you taking me?”
“Out of the palace.”
The palace stood on the hill after all and the town was spread on its sides until it touched the wall. It made sense to go down but still, my skin turned to gooseflesh at the mere thought of what may wait for me at the bottom of the stairs.
Something changed on his face and he said.
“Listen, it’s better for you to leave this way than any other. If you think that servants don’t see a thing then you’re a fool. Fewer people see you, easier your life is going to be.” Wait. What is taking about?
He noticed my confusion and explained.
“Did you think people won’t recognize you? News of the moonless are already reaching the edges of the island and soon they’ll move beyond.”
I won’t lie. I was shocked. But in truth, I haven’t seen many red-haired shifters in the town. I should’ve changed the color of my hair… Wait. Stop. What are you talking about? You’ll change nothing. You’re Cora, a proud alpha heir of … of what? The word ‘moonless’ couldn’t squeeze through my throat. It was the name given by the Goldfury clan to punish and humiliate us. We were Diremoon Clan and always would be. No decree could change it!
“Why do you care?” I asked when suspicion washed away the shock. It was an unexpected act of kindness and such things have never come for free.
“I took the part in the Usurper War.”
I perked up.
“You were on our side!”
“No. I served Blackfang Clan.” Uh.
I ran possible explanations of why this man now served the sworn enemies of his previous alpha king. In the end, I came across so many possibilities I decided to ask him. I didn’t have a chance as he beckoned me to follow and told me that it wasn’t safe to talk here. We were too close to many invigilation enchantments and spells. Without any other option, I went after him. If he tried something funny, my wolf would take control and shift into her form and tear him to pieces. Alpha heirs were chosen from amongst the strongest in the clan. A regular guard couldn’t be high in a hierarchy.
We walked into a cellar and from there he showed me a well-hidden door.
“Guard’s exit.”
“I don’t understand. Why are you doing it?”
He sighed and the shell of uncaring started to crack. The metal door opened without noise and beyond was an empty alley.
“I fought against your clan, girl. And we lost. A handful of us survived. Dumb luck in the face of such force. We survived but our fate was to die by execution. A quiet one, to get rid of everyone connected to Blackfang Clan. Children, women. Everyone. Your father stopped it, arguing that his clan would never allow such barbarity on Shifter Island anymore… Now go.”
I had no words. I stepped past the man and asked.
“They betrayed us, right?”
“It does not matter. Go.”
I left.
Chapter 17
The time of the initiation arrived. I was thrilled, scared, excited, and a hundred other emotions mushed together. But more than anything else I was flustered and worried about Gabriel and Ryder. Neither of them visited me. Hunt and Rocco haven’t given a flying fuck since the beginning, so no surprise there.
A school uniform appeared a day before the ceremony. In the morning I was asked the sizes and Gabriel’s friend happily helped. Then by the evening the navy blue skirt and a uniform, a white shirt and shoes were by my door. The ceremony was explained in detail in the material sent earlier.
The freshmen classes were sorted into four categories.
Dominant Shifter Adept
Dominant Mage Adept
Low-Rank Adept
High-Rank Adept
The last two were extremely vague with lacking explanation. Then I slapped my forehead and remembered. Low-Rank must be anyone bad at shifting and magic, while High-Rank was the opposite. I haven’t known a single person falling into either category. But in my case, I could speak only about my clan. Shifter Island was inhabited by a million people. I wished luck to anyone who fell into Low-Rank. In my case, it was easy. My shifting abilities and control were unmatched. Except for that other night when you let your wolf loose. Yeah. Except that.
I took the academic ID and followed the map. The academy was half an hour from my flat. Not bad. Its building looked like a flat stone next to the opulent palace of the alpha king. It struck me that the Goldfury king couldn’t be happy sharing this magnificent view and the space on the hill. It also occurred to me that something has held his hands tied since he’s stolen the throne. As I feared, my red-hair gathered instant attention from all the corners of the academy. It was exactly as the guard had said, people knew about me. I wondered what they saw when they stared openly like this. A traitor or a victim? Nonetheless, I got to the ceremony chamber without an incident. I had to give them one thing, they managed to rein all these shifters without shedding blood. Father explained that Blackfang clan had encouraged constant strife and fight. This was different. Can it be that … father is wrong? As hard as it was to accept the possibility, I found no reason to think the alpha king a tyrant. He lived in an absurd opulence while our clan lived in harsh poverty. Apart from that, everything seemed in order. I hated this kind of dilemma as if I wished to find the proof of misery and suffering on Shifter Island. I didn’t want it.
The crowd gathered in the chamber. A massive symbol of a moon and three massive lines were erected above the scene. The ceiling was so high I believed it must be enchanted. The room easily held us – around two hundred students. This ceremony was only for the freshmen. Other classes would begin after now-famous to me the Bewitching Ball. Still, many older faces and some really old ones took seats above us on the balcony. Were the Goldfury brothers present? Ryder and Gabriel finished the academy already, but Rocco was my age and Hunt was two years older. This had been noted in the student leaflet as a way of giving us a morale boost. I couldn’t stop laughing when I read it. For an hour. These two were anything but a morale boost. As my mind drifted aimlessly, I overheard a loud conversation of girls in a circle. I shouldn’t be surprised to find cliques have already formed. I betted that many of the students had known each other from b
efore the academy.
“It can’t be true.”
“I am a hundred percent sure it is,” a blue-haired girl scoffed. She shook her head and her annoyed expression calmed down. “I tell you Eureka, this info comes from my sisters.”
Eureka rolled her eyes, then did something that made me smile. She stuck her tongue on the blue-haired shifter. They were supposed to be my age… But do I know anything about life on Shifter Island? I bet they don’t need to worry about hunting a game or scaring away bears. Getting wood isn’t easy either.
“I tell you, Rosemore and Venturo clans have someone in the first class as well.”
“This would put the three most powerful clans on Shifter Island together, here in the academy … in the same year. We’re fucked,” Eureka snapped, but she was smiling and her eyes … argh! She noticed me, I spun away from them, pretending to watch the balconies. So many well-dressed shifters there.
“And who can be the owner of the only red hair on Shifter Island?” Eureka said behind my back. I froze, then decided to not run from the challenge. I turned to her.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to overhear but you’re so loud it would make it hard to not hear you from outside.” I only hoped I wasn’t too harsh with my words. I didn’t wish for another enemy. Eureka laughed instead. The blue-haired chick looked me up from the bottom to the top of my head and nodded.
“She’s strong.”
“I expected no less from Diremoon Clan.”
I blinked, shocked and speechless. No had ever called Diremoon. Why they were surprised to find a tear in my eye then? It did take me to the moments with my father who patiently explained why it was forbidden for us to call ourselves Diremoon anymore. I remembered my mother always arguing with him about this. I’d never wondered what was the big fuss about. Coming to the island put some puzzles in their places though. Accepting the moonless label felt like a betrayal.
“Don’t cry, babe,” Eureka said with a cheeky smirk.
Bewitched: A Paranormal Academy Romance Page 9
