Wolf of Choice (The Shifters and Sorceresses Trilogy Book 1)

by Shay Laurent

  Just let it go. Just let it go.

  A man who I assumed was our teacher, Master Ira, appeared out of nowhere and told us both to get inside. Natasha dropped her shoulder into me as she walked past.

  ‘Keep it on the mats,’ the teacher barked.

  Fuming, I followed behind them both and made my way slowly to the rest of the group. There seemed to be a few kids like her no matter where I lived; she reminded me of the mean girls from the small village near home, they never had anything nice to say. I guess I’d hoped things would be different here with the Pack; that everyone would be more mature and get along.

  So much for a pack mentality.

  The cavernous room held the familiar scent of a training arena. Sweat, rubber and fear.

  I wonder how little Miss Alpha’s Daughter goes in here?

  ‘Warm up. Five laps, now!’

  The class didn’t need to be told twice. I joined in from the back and then set my pace around the middle.

  As I ran, I surveyed the room. There were fighting squares marked, mufflers for boxing, a range of weapons and some weights. I hoped we’d get to use the weapons today; I enjoyed the short sword most. By the time we reached our final lap, the myriad of small open windows that lined the basement were barely keeping the sweaty wolf stench at a tolerable level.

  Unfortunately for me, the rest of the hour was going to be spent fighting one on one. And, of course, I was paired up with Natasha.

  Master Ira whistled sharply to get everyone’s attention. ‘Combination one: straight punch, right elbow, left uppercut, then swap sides. Other person blocks. Mufflers on and start.’

  ‘I’ll go first,’ Natasha said.

  Never would have guessed that was coming.

  She hit pretty hard, but I was able to keep my stance steady. When it was my turn, I began by focusing on my technique rather than strength. I ground my teeth together when she sniggered.

  Technique solidly in place, I put a little more muscle into it. Natasha took a step back. I couldn’t stop the smirk that lit up my face, or the laugh that escaped when she glared at me.

  ‘Combination two: left front kick, right knee, step back and right outside kick. Then swap. Go.’

  By now we were both drenched. Between the technique, strength and speed, I was sure we were a sight to see.

  After six sets of combinations and a lot of sweeping glances from the rest of the kids, Master Ira ended the session. ‘Class dismissed. Go back to the dorms and get clean. You have half an hour before lunch break, as usual. Do not be late or you will not eat.’

  Drenched in sweat, I walked out behind everyone else and followed them back to the dorms. I grudgingly admitted to myself that Natasha actually had pretty good technique, not that I’d ever say that to her face. Outside, the breeze felt refreshingly cool against my sweaty body and being out of the suffocating wet-wolf smell was pretty great too. Master Ira was a tough teacher; I was sure Dad would approve.

  Chapter 4

  I walked out of my bedroom door and almost straight into one of the other girls. ‘Woah! Sorry. Hey, it’s Harper, right? We had classes together this morning.’

  ‘Yes, that’s me. Sorry, I didn’t mean to get in your way. Also, all First Years are in the same classes. There’s not that many of us here.’ She flushed bright red. ‘Sorry. I didn’t mean to correct you; I know people don’t like that.’

  I smiled in what I hoped was a reassuring way. ‘It’s fine, seriously.’

  She nodded. ‘Listen, the bell is about to go and I don’t want to be late for lunch. Did you want to, maybe, go together?’

  I offered a smile, trying to reassure her. ‘Sure, I’d love to. My friend Dom might meet us there.’

  Her cheeks went a little pink again. ‘That’s fine,’ she muttered.

  We made our way back across the grounds and past the creepy wolf sentinels in an awkward silence. As we neared the Food Den, I looked around hopefully for Dom. He was nowhere to be seen. My lips puckered into a small pout. I really didn’t want to have to go near the blood bath or the watchful food server. My stomach gave a little flop as I tapped my feet.

  New plan.

  ‘Hey, Harper. Any chance you’d grab a salad for me and then meet me on the logs outside? I’m starving but need to pop in to see Mrs R.’

  She looked at the ground. ‘Uh, I don’t really like sitting in the sun.’

  ‘That’s fine, there’re some in the shade. How about one of those?’

  She gave me a proper smile. ‘Okay, great. I’ll meet you there.’

  ‘Thanks!’

  I made my way back outside the Food Den and loitered in the entrance for a few minutes since I didn’t actually need to see Mrs. R.

  Once I thought enough time had passed, I hurried back inside then walked along the back wall until I reached the door to go outside. I paused and took in the view as I breathed in the crisp air. It was still beautiful, and even more vibrant during the day than it was at sunset. There were so many kids out chatting and soaking in the sun that I realised I couldn’t hear the rippling stream that was hiding in the forest. When I approached Harper, she passed me my salad.

  ‘Thanks.’ I smiled.

  The silence while we ate was a little more comfortable than before; I guessed she figured I wasn’t here to make fun of her like Natasha and her little cult. It was as though my thoughts summoned her; I spotted her nearby talking with the girls and cosied up to the boys. I rolled my eyes.

  ‘Hey, Harper? What do you know about Natasha?’

  ‘Oh, her. She pretty much thinks she’s queen around here, with her Dad being Alpha and all. She spends her time showing off, trying to make fun of people and bossing everyone around. I saw you two fighting pretty hard in Weapons today. I take it the trip down from Sorceress Lore didn’t go too well?’

  I stared at Harper for a moment before answering. It was the longest, most unapologetic speech she’d given so far. Clearly she had a bit of a history with Natasha.

  ‘Yeah, you could say that. She kindly said that I shouldn’t cross her right before she barged into me. In front of the teacher.’

  Right at that moment, Natasha looked at both of us and sneered. Harper put her head down and turned her body to one side. I took my time averting my eyes. The status had obviously gone to her head. Dismissing her, I looked back at Harper, determined to salvage our previous better mood, and started making small talk.

  HARPER HAD US PACKED up and back to the Food Den door by the time the bell tolled. I wondered why they didn’t get a quieter bell. With the superior hearing, I was surprised everyone hadn’t gone deaf; even after my short time here, there was a ringing that seemed to linger in my ears.

  Eyes on my timetable, I followed Harper. After reaching the staircase and studying the schedule in front of me, I realised she was leading me to the library. We had a double study period. The thought of being able to get a real start on my Origin essay for Miss Stone’s class was pretty exciting, though the feeling may have had more to do with where I’d be studying.

  Inside the doorway, Harper paused and looked at me. ‘I’ve got to find some books for an essay for my Hunting and Gathering class. I’ll catch you later.’ After she’d taken a few steps, she suddenly turned back. ‘And thanks for hanging out.’

  ‘It was great,’ I said. ‘I’m looking forward to next time. See you later.’

  As Harper wandered off, I closed my eyes and inhaled the scent of old books; biblichor, it was called. Knowing there must have been a name for it, I’d looked it up and found it out was based on the Greek words “biblio”, meaning book, and “ichor”, the fluid that flows like blood in the veins of Gods; pretty fitting, I thought. Relaxed, I moved into the library. After a few more steps, I noticed Miss Stone standing near a bookshelf.

  Ah, brilliant!

  ‘Hi, Miss Stone. Is there any chance you’d show me a good section to find some more books for my Origin essay?’

  She smiled kindly at me. ‘I’d hoped I wo
uld see you in here, Elita. This is actually the section right here, though some of the more ancient handwritten accounts are in a special room. Perhaps you will be able to visit there soon. After you earn the librarian’s trust, that is. Let me pick you out a few to start.’

  She looked as if she were waiting for me to protest, like earlier, but I was happy for some help with book selection. I could always pick my own later if the ones Miss Stone gave me weren’t helpful. Realising I wasn’t going to argue, she turned and picked three books off the shelf and then turned back to me.

  ‘Here you go. I trust you’ll read them carefully and treat them well.’

  At my nod, she handed them over and began to walk away. I quickly realised she’d given me one too many books.

  ‘Miss Stone! You’ve accidentally given me your book too.’

  She looked over her shoulder at me, winked, and then kept walking.

  How strange.

  I looked at the title of her book—The Seer—and then at the others I’d seen her pull off the shelf. The rest were just books on The Crones of Old, The Ladies of Light and The Wolf Lords.

  Hmmm. Why does Miss Stone secretly want me to know more about The Seer?

  Fascinated, I went and found a comfy lounge and curled up with my books. The fireplace, crackling away merrily in front of me, kept me warm in the cool air of the dank stone castle. Unable to contain myself, I placed the origin books down and cracked open Miss Stone’s older book.

  The spine made a slight crinkling sound as I pulled back the hard, patterned cover.

  It’s handwritten!

  The script was surprisingly clear, considering the obvious age of the book. Its yellowed pages were worn from being turned by many fingers.

  Reading the first pages, it became clear that this was an origin story too. The origin of magic, written by The Seer.

  “I SAT AND PRAYED TO the Earth Mother for kindness to reign once more with our people, and for the souls of those who could have still been with us if not for the hatred of man. I prayed, then lightning struck. From the middle of the noonday sun did it come and strike the tree, causing it to splinter and bleed. Blue seeped from its insides, and a voice did whisper in my mind.

  ‘Drink of the tree, my daughter. Drink of the ichor so that I may help my people. Drink and be saved.’

  The voice in my mind did not scare me, for with it came the comfort of a mother’s embrace, of kind words on a dark, stormy night. Without question, I leaned forward and drank of the tree’s blood.

  The world before me turned blue and I fell gently to the ground, as though laid to rest by one who loved me, though I had no such person besides the Earth Mother. Head down, my eyes fell shut.

  Gentleness and peace were torn away. In their place I saw horrors too many to count. Death. Deaths of those I knew, and of those I was yet to meet. On and on it went, until without warning, it ceased.

  Face wet with tears I did not recall shedding, I sat, shaking. The tree before me looked bereft, broken. I couldn’t bear its pain, too. As if in a trance, I approached and laid my tear-stained hand on its trunk, wishing it better. A coolness that somehow left a warmth in its wake moved through me, and into the tree’s wound.

  Shocked, I pulled my hand away. The tree was healed.

  MY JAW DROPPED OPEN, astonishment colouring my thoughts.

  I wonder if Dom knows about this?!

  Enraptured, I flipped to the next page and continued to read.

  A HAND SHAKING MY SHOULDER startled me awake. I opened my bleary eyes to see Dom standing over me, an exasperated grin on his face.

  ‘You really weren’t kidding about loving books, were you? You’ve been up here for ages.’ He laughed. ‘Dinner’s over and everyone’s heading to the Common Room. I got a bit worried at dinner when I didn’t see you, so I checked your room and when you weren’t there either, I came looking. Here.’ He handed me the book I’d been reading.

  I’d managed to get through most of it before I had apparently fallen asleep. I placed the book down, rubbed my eyes and stretched out. There was a familiar tightness in my muscles from falling asleep upright. Feeling somewhat human again, I answered Dom. ‘Sorry, it happens to me a lot! Thanks for coming to find me. That was really nice of you.’

  Right at that moment, my stomach decided to embarrass me with a deafening rumble.

  A human could have heard that from a mile away!

  Dom burst out laughing. My cheeks got so hot they must have looked like ripened tomatoes.

  Gee, could this get much worse?

  As if on cue, my stomach made another thunderous grumble. I clutched my stomach to try and make it stop. By this point, Dom was clutching his own sides and tears had sprung up in his eyes.

  Ugh, boys!

  I think he finally caught the embarrassment and exasperation I was feeling because he tried to pull himself together.

  ‘Sorry, sorry! Come on, I know a back way into the kitchens. We can grab you something to eat.’

  Irritated but starving, I decided that taking him up on his offer would be better than being laughed at again. Books in hand, I gestured for Dom to lead the way.

  The corridor outside the library was cast in shadows and the cold had well and truly seeped in. Without the warmth of the library fire, I shivered. I quickened my pace a little to keep up with Dom. When we started down a set of service stairs at the far end of the hall, Dom put his finger up to his lips to shush me.

  ‘These stairs go past the staffroom. Some of them will still be in there, and we aren’t technically allowed down here,’ he whispered.

  I nodded and indicated for him to keep going. It was creepy in the stairwell with only the moon lighting the way. I could see okay but all the shadows creeped me out. I shivered as I imagined the stone wolves from the front doors chasing me through here.

  Once we’d reached the bottom landing, Dom pushed a splintered wooden door open a crack and peered out. After a few moments of me anxiously bouncing around on my toes, he pushed it wide open.

  ‘Follow me. I can’t see or smell anyone nearby, but we’d better keep it down anyway,’ Dom whispered, and then muttered what sounded suspiciously like, ‘I don’t want to do any more cleaning than necessary.’

  My chest ached. The last thing I wanted to do was get into trouble when I’d only just arrived. If I hadn’t been starving, I’d probably have chickened out. Instead, I tiptoed along behind Dom, using my years of stealth training to keep quiet. A couple of times Dom turned around, as though he was checking if I was still behind him.

  We reached another door. He held up a hand to stop me and then peeked around it.

  ‘Hello, Dominic. Come on in.’

  My knees almost buckled when the deep voice echoed from inside. This was it; I’d be in so much trouble. What would Dad say? I’d told him I would be so responsible. I was just about to go into complete melt down when Dom said, ‘Come on, you can meet my dad.’ Catching sight of my face he added, ‘Relax! You won’t be in trouble... though I might be.’ Then he turned and walked in with me close on his heels. ‘Dad, this is Elita.’

  Inside the kitchen, Dom’s dad stood near one of the benches. He had a tall, muscular frame and brown hair that resembled his son’s. His head was tilted to the side, much like Axel’s had been in the Library.

  What is it with these Pack leaders?

  He nodded once. ‘Nice to meet you.’

  Once I registered his friendly tone, it was like my heart decided it could resume its normal pattern. I really needed to give the poor thing a break.

  I bowed my head, almost as low as I had for Axel. ‘Nice to meet you too, sir.’

  ‘Call me Corbin.’

  I flushed and nodded, not sure if that was a good idea.

  He turned to look at his son. ‘I’d ask why you’re here when you should be in the Common Room, but the answer seems rather obvious. You’re just lucky it was me in here and not someone else. You know better.

  My shoulders slumped. This w
as all my fault. I didn’t want to get Dom into trouble. I opened my mouth to take the blame but, once again, Dom answered before I could.

  ‘Yeah, sorry Dad. I was just starving. You know I’m always hungry. I’ll just grab something and get outta here, ’kay?’

  Corbin sighed. ‘Hurry up, son. I’m going. You two better be out of here before Master Ira does the night rounds.’

  Corbin sounded disappointed and resigned. I looked to Dom to check if he was okay. I could just make out a slight slump to his shoulders and a flush to his cheeks before he turned away and started rummaging quietly through a few food trays. By the time he turned back with some bread to offer me, he was almost back to normal. I wanted to ask him if he was okay, but thought he’d probably say something if he wanted to. Instead, I smiled and took the food he offered. He smiled back; it almost reached his eyes.

  ‘I’m sorry, Dom. I can go tell him it’s my fault. Honestly, it’s okay,’ I whispered.

  ‘Naw, don’t worry about it. Let's just get outta here.’

  I still felt horrible but followed him anyway. Secretly, I was a little glad he hadn’t made me turn myself in. I hated disappointing my dad.

  WE MADE IT BACK TO the Common Room without running into anyone else, and thankfully with no more grumbles from my stomach. Most of the kids had gone up to bed already so there was space on the comfy lounges by the fire. I placed my books down on a small table then curled up on one of the couches and opened the food Dom had given me. We both ate in silence for a few minutes, Dom lacking his usual gusto.

  While I finished the last of my food, I watched the flames dance in the fireplace. The blues and oranges weaved and swayed; they looked the way I imagined elemental wind and fire magic might if they joined together, it similar to Shifting but with different colours. Thinking of magic reminded me of The Seer. I looked up at Dom.

  ‘Hey, have you learned much about The Seer?’ At his slightly confused look, I added, ‘You know, the original Sorceress?’