by G. K. DeRosa
“So now what?” she asked.
“Balderrin is sending me to Moon Valley. He said he had to talk to the shifter superintendent or something. Basically, I’ll be forced to attend some sort of wolf obedience school right after graduation.”
“Moon Valley?” Her eyes perked up. “Oh my goddess! We can be roommates again.” Her arms came around me, and she squeezed me into a tight hug. “I’m sorry. I know I’m being totally selfish, and you really wanted to go back to the human world but I’m sooo happy we’ll in wolf world together.”
“Yeah, yeah,” I muttered. “I guess if I’m forced to stay in Azar, I’m relieved we’ll be in the same realm at least.”
Rafe poked his head from the bathroom, water dripping from his dark hair. “Can I come out yet?”
“No—”
I cut Cass off with an elbow in the ribs and turned to Rafe. “Yes. I actually wanted to ask you about your friend Vander.”
He stepped out of the doorway, wrapping the towel tighter around his waist. I couldn’t help my gaze drifting over his long, lean physique. He might’ve been an arrogant warlock prick, but he was definitely good looking. Sometimes I wondered if Cass hooked up with guys like him in an attempt to get back at all the high witches and warlocks that had looked down on her and her family her whole life.
I shook the random thought off and focused on the present. Rafe perched on the edge of the sofa and crossed his arms over his bare chest. “What about Vander?”
“Do you know him well? What’s his story?”
He shrugged. “Not really. He showed up at the academy like a year or two maybe. He’s from some small coven on the outer edges of Maginaria. I’d never even heard of them. We don’t usually hang out, but he’d overheard Tristan and I in class talking about going off campus and he pretty much invited himself.”
“Did he know I was coming?”
Cass arched a brow at me. “Did something happen with you two last night?”
“No, but he saw me.” I raised my brows.
“Oh…”
I’d tell her the rest once Rafe left. I wasn’t sure I wanted everyone knowing about my new wolfish side. The students had never accepted my human one, and I doubted they’d be any kinder knowing I was a shifter. And besides, after today, I hoped to never see any of them again.
Rafe watched our interchange with a mildly bored expression. When I turned back to him, he rubbed at his chin. “Yeah, I think he knew you were coming. Tristan was asking about the possibilities of a hook up until I told him it would be just you and Cass.”
Ugh. I was so glad I never did anything with that conceited warlock. “Anyway, I need to talk to Vander today, before graduation. Do you know what dorm he’s in?”
“Yeah, he lives in Aleria, second floor I think, but I don’t know his room number.”
“Okay, thanks. I’ll figure out the rest.”
Cass stood and shooed him toward the pile of clothes he’d left on the floor by her bed. “Sierra and I need to get ready for graduation, so I’ll see you later.”
“Sure.” He shuffled toward the crumpled stack and tugged on his shirt.
I averted my gaze a second before he dropped his towel. After four years in the supernatural world, I still hadn’t gotten used to the supes’ free take on nudity. I still clung onto my human rigidity in that department. I wondered if I’d be able to hold onto that now that I was a clothes-ripping, skin-shedding wolf.
As soon as Rafe was gone, I peeled off the sweats the guard had given me and hopped in the shower. After a night on the forest floor, my hair was caked in a thin layer of dirt, random leaves caught in the long tresses. If it hadn’t been for that, I wouldn’t have even bothered with the shower at all. I had to find Vander. I had a feeling he had the answers I desperately needed.
When we arrived to the second floor of the Aleria dorms, Cass and I split up. I wasn’t above knocking on each and every door until we found Vander. I’d filled my roomie in on his cryptic words that night, and her eyes had sparkled with excitement. Nothing like a good mystery to get my friend’s juices pumping.
I glanced down the hall and Cass shook her head as another door closed. We’d almost been through the entire floor already. Only four dorms stood between us.
I lifted my knuckles to the timber and knocked lightly. With graduation only a few hours away, we’d found most of the students in their rooms getting ready for the big event. The door swung open, and a tall warlock stared down at me. “What do you want, Moon Girl?” He dragged his hand through his neon-green tipped hair, and my stomach sank.
That voice. That sneer. I’d never forget it.
He was one of the students that had tormented me my first day at the academy, the night of the masquerade ball. Marrick. He and his wicked witch of a girlfriend, Davina. If Dragon Boy hadn’t shown up that night… My thoughts whirled back to the courtyard where he’d found me, hiding out. Those warm golden irises peeking through the gilded dragon mask. It had been the worst and the best night ever.
“Hello? What do you want?” Marrick’s nasty tone snapped me from the happy memories.
I gulped, heat seeping up my neck and traveling over my cheeks. “I…um…” I stammered, fiddling with my fingers as I stared at the floor. My wolf awakened, a leisurely yawn rippling through my insides and a low growl vibrated my throat. The embarrassment morphed into annoyance, then anger. I’d put up with this guy’s crap for four years and why? Because he’d seen my ass when I was sixteen? Because I had no magic?
My fingers curled into tight fists and claws dug into my palms. Uh-oh. Okay, wolfy, we wanted to assert ourselves not wolf-out on the warlock wanker. I drew in a slow breath and calmed the raging wolf inside. “Do you know which room is Vander’s?”
Just like every other student on this level, he looked at me like I was crazy. “There’s no Vander on this floor.”
“What about in this dorm, maybe on another level?”
He shrugged, tossing his green-tipped hair back. “I’m not the dorm police, Moon Girl. I have no idea who you’re talking about.” He slammed the door, and if it wasn’t for my new lupine reflexes, it would’ve broken my nose.
Ass.
Cass met me in the middle of the hallway at the last door. “Well, this is it.”
I sighed and lifted my knuckle to the oak. Nothing. I waited for another minute before trying again, this time harder. Cass followed suit, rapping on the thick timber but no answer.
“That’s it.” Even I heard the whiney twinge in my tone. I leaned against the wall and sulked.
Cass weaved her arm around my back and squeezed my shoulder. “It’s not over, Sierra. Remember, Vander said to come find him in Moon Valley, not here. I have a feeling you’ll get your answers when we get to the shifter realm.”
“I hope so.” But I couldn’t even find Vander in our little academy. How was I going to find him across the entire wolf territory?
Chapter Seven
The trailing magenta robe skimmed over the floor, a swishing sound following me as I marched to the platform. Lifting the traditional academy graduation gown as I ascended the steps, my gaze settled on the headmaster. He held out a yellowing scroll, a tight smile on his face. Balderrin’s eyes cast over me as I approached, a scornful gaze criticizing me. I didn’t belong here. I didn’t deserve the honor of graduating from the Academy of the Arcane. I could read his thoughts as clearly as if they were stamped across his forehead.
Too bad he had no choice but to let me finish my degree, magic-less or not.
I sucked in a breath and quickened my pace along the dais. When I reached the scowling headmaster, I snatched the diploma and considered making a run for it. Had he contacted the superintendent of the wolf world yet? Would anyone know if I snuck through a portal for home?
The wards between our worlds were highly guarded, but everyone knew there was always a way. As long as you could pay the price.
Before I could take another step, Balderrin’s low voice halte
d my hasty departure. “Come to my office after the ceremony. Your escort will be waiting to bring you to Moon Valley.”
All the air whooshed from my lungs, and it was all I could do to keep breathing. I nodded quickly and hurried off the stage.
When I returned to my seat, I slumped against the wooden chair, my shoulders sagging. Today was supposed to have been a celebration, a day I’d looked forward to for years. Instead, it was only the beginning of another nightmare.
A whoop jerked my attention to the stage, to my best friend as she enveloped the stodgy old headmaster in a hug. More clapping and shouting erupted from a few rows behind as Cass’s family joined in on the excitement. Balderrin’s sallow cheeks rosied, and a look of horror twisted his thin lips. Once he was able to squirm free of her overzealous embrace, he cleared his throat and smoothed down his dark robe. Cass shot him a beaming smile and pumped her fist in the air, fingers clenched around her diploma as Balderrin directed her off the platform.
She bounded down the aisle and wriggled through the tight row to return to her seat beside me. “We did it, Sierra! We survived.”
I forced a smile despite my sullen mood as my thoughts whirled to the past. To this very hall. On our first day of school almost four years ago.
A scuffle at the end of the row diverted my attention, and I turned toward the blonde fumbling toward the empty seat beside me.
“Excuse me, pardon me. Sorry!”
Damn, and I thought I was late.
She slid into the chair next to me, dropped her backpack on the floor and let out a sigh. “Phew. I didn’t miss anything good, did I?” she whispered.
“Nope.” The headmaster stood at the pulpit, his smoky gray eyes leveled in our direction. “But I think Balderrin is about to start the assembly,” I murmured.
“Right.” She straightened and her chair let out a squeal as the wooden legs scraped the stone. All eyes turned to her, and she mouthed, “Sorry,” again.
It was that day she’d declared we’d be best friends, and she’d been right. I glanced up at the platform as students marched across the stage. The day we’d met at Initiation, each of the heads of the houses of Azar had been present: the Fae Court, the Brotherhood of the Dragons, the Coven Council, the Sons of Heaven, the Shifter Pack, the Ocean Realm, the Royal Vampires and the Underworld. They’d introduced themselves and told us a bit about each of their realms. Too bad I hadn’t paid more attention to the Shifter Pack Alpha, Tyrien Silverstalker. I’d been so mesmerized by his gorgeous son, Aristaeus, beta of the wolves that every word the man had spoken had been a blur.
Maybe I’d finally get to meet the alpha heir in person now that I was being forced to relocate to Moon Valley.
“Hello, Sierra? You still with me?” Cass’s hiss tore me from my musings.
“Yeah, sorry. What did you say?”
“I asked what Balderrin said to you up there.”
My stomach plummeted, a boulder-sized pit of dread forming in my gut. “He said someone was waiting to escort me to the shifter realm. I’m supposed to meet Balderrin right after the ceremony so he can hand me over.”
“So soon?”
“Yup.” I hadn’t even packed up my stuff yet. Not that I had much but still.
“I thought we could go together. My position with the Royal Pack doesn’t start for another month so I was going to head home for a little R&R.”
“You could come early though, right?” Having my best friend with me in Moon Valley would make it suck way less.
She squeezed my hand and gave me a reassuring smile. “I’ll try.”
The rest of the ceremony whirled by, my thoughts consumed with my uncertain future. What would life be like with the wolves? Would they treat me like the leper the witches had? With my glowing wolf, I wouldn’t be surprised if they did. Not only was I part human, I was also part witch and part wolf. And total freak. What the hell did that make me anyway, a tribrid?
A roar of applause snapped me back to the present as all the students rose, congratulating each other, hugging and laughing. If it hadn’t been for Cass, I would’ve sulked in a corner by myself.
“Come on, girl. I’ll help you pack and walk you to Balderrin’s office.”
“You don’t have to… Shouldn’t you hang out with your family?”
“Are you crazy? I want to. I’ll catch up with them later and trust me, I’ll see them plenty over the next few weeks. Anyway, by the time I see you again, you could have a new wolfy bestie and have forgotten all about me.”
I tugged my best friend into a hug as we weaved through the crowd of students. “I could never forget about you, Cass. I never would’ve survived Arcane without you. Wolf or not, you’ll always be my witchy sister.”
A smile actually lit up Balderrin’s grim features as the receptionist ushered me into his office. He was thrilled to get rid of me, no doubt. “Ah, Ms. Wildstone. About time.”
I dropped my three duffle bags on the floor, the loud thump reverberating off the high ceilings. “It’s not like I had much of a warning.”
The headmaster ticked his head toward the sitting area by the immense stone fireplace. “Mr. Clausson is here to escort you to your new home.” A familiar face emerged from the shadows, familiar and yet different.
“Van--?”
The man’s hazel eyes widened, a subtle shake of his head cutting me off.
Vander. What was he doing here? My eyes raked over the attractive wolf—and now I knew he was a wolf and not a warlock at all. When I’d met him last night, his features had been sharper somehow, his hair slicked back, a prim and haughty warlock. Now, two-day scruff lined his jaw, dirty blonde hair tumbled over his brow and he looked older.
I seared him with my best WTF glare.
He ignored me and turned to the headmaster. “Thank you for taking care of our newest wolf. If there’s nothing else, we’ll be on our way.”
Balderrin motioned to the door. “Please, by all means.” He shot me his typical condescending stare. “Take care, Ms. Wildstone. I hope you have better luck with the wolves.”
I forced a smile and hauled a duffle bag over my shoulder. Before I could pick up the other two, Vander stepped in, throwing them over his broad shoulders. “I think you’ll find we do things a little differently in the shifter realm,” he murmured.
“I sure as hell hope so,” I countered.
The moment the academy was at my back, the oppressive weight on my shoulders relented. And it wasn’t just my duffle bag, which Vander had claimed along the way. I hadn’t realized how stifled I’d felt, until this very moment.
Free, I was finally free.
As soon as the woods closed in around us, I turned to my wolfish escort. “So are you going to tell me why you were pretending to be a student at the academy? And how you recognized me the other night? And why you look different?” I had about a million more questions, but I stopped to take a breath. And, I didn’t want to bring up the purple glow just yet. Maybe he hadn’t noticed. Ha!
“Nope.”
“Seriously?” I squeaked.
“It’s above your paygrade, young wolf.”
“I thought you just said things worked differently with shifters.”
“They do. I never said they were better.” He chuckled, his hazel eyes dancing with mirth. “All joking aside, the hierarchical order of things with wolves is very rigid and something you’ll learn to understand and even appreciate. It’ll be a change from the magical folk, but I believe it’ll be a welcome one. A wolf without a pack is a lost soul.”
His words rang true, sinking to the bottom of my core. Maybe that was why I’d been so unhappy, constantly adrift. “So which pack do I belong to?”
“I’m not sure yet, but I know someone who will.”
Vander led me deeper into the forest, and the further from the academy grounds we went the better I felt. Nature weaved its magical spell over me, bathing me in its warm embrace. The dewy scent of the woods filled my nostrils, the rustle of creatures
skittering underfoot put my heart at ease. For the first time in forever, an odd calmness settled over me.
I was in such a good mood, I hadn’t even stopped to ask where we were headed. Which was stupid on my part. Here I was following a complete stranger, who’d lied to me about who he was, into the depths of a dark forest. I halted and spun at Vander. “How exactly are we getting to Moon Valley anyway?” My Azarian geography wasn’t exactly top notch, but I was fairly certain Maginaria and Marlwoods weren’t within walking distance.
“By portal of course,” he replied.
I eyed the thick copse of dark greens and browns. “There aren’t any portal stations out here.”
“That’s because we’re not going to a station. This is a secret portal, for private use only.”
“Who the hell are you, Vander Clausson? Are you really the superintendent of wolves?”
He shook his head. “Of course not, but I got you out of there, didn’t I? I could see how miserable you were when we met last night. You didn’t belong there, but you do belong with us.” He paused, folding his arms over his chest. “I promise you’ll get the answers you’re searching for soon. And while I’m not the superintendent and I won’t be placing you in another academy, Balderrin was right about one thing, you are going to have to learn to control your wolf. We all did.”
“So I’m off to wolfish university?” I was almost twenty, I sure as hell wasn’t going back to high school.
“It’s called Moon Valley University actually, but that’s not where we’re headed right now.”
“So where are we headed?”
“To see the supreme beta of the Shifter Pack.”
Chapter Eight
My thoughts swirled back to my first day at the Academy of the Arcane—to the initiation ceremony and to those blazing emerald eyes that had stared down at me from the stage. Aristaeus. Before meeting Dragon Boy later that night, I’d never felt such a connection with a stranger.
