Page 32 of Clawless

Alpha Turner looked my way, but I attempted to slide under my desk. Ignorance of wolf biology was bad enough; now I had to admit I knew nothing about my bloodline either. But I was saved by the moon-eyed girl next to me. “He was pair bonded with Estella, an omega from a southern clan.”

“Correct.” He gave her a smile that made her slide under her desk for different reasons. “Mating with Estella gave him a new sort of power. Something that married strength and aggression, with loyalty and compassion.”

“The Skin King?” One of the boys at the back laughed. “He was about as compassionate as a kick to the nuts.”

Miss Fisher winced, but Alpha Turner just laughed. “It’s true he still slaughtered our enemies on the battlefield, and ruled the clan with an iron fist. But the history books will tell you he changed after he bonded with Estella. And that was because the kind of bond they shared as mates was very powerful. Not just a pair bond, but a twain bond. An old word for two, and a concept we don’t really know a lot about. Except that between some rare shifters – like Nathaniel and Estella – there is an exchange that benefits both. Each mate is strengthened by the unique skills and abilities of the other. What was even more extraordinary in their case, was that the bond had an impact on every member of their clan. Alphas all developed blood claws, but there were other significant changes, too. Pair bonds became more common, more pups were born, feral or rogue wolves returned to the pack healthy and whole, and there was a period of peace within the different packs that lasted until their deaths. Not bad for a submissive omega, right?”

I wrote down twain bonds and underlined it twice. This was a part of my family history I wasn’t afraid to delve into a little deeper. But Alpha Turner’s take on power and rank obviously didn’t sit well with some of the alpha boys, one of whom called out, “Maybe, but the Skin King was one of a kind. That stuff doesn’t exist anymore. I mean, we’ve got one of his offspring right here, yeah?” My nape prickled as I felt their judgement settle there, especially where it touched the collar Jasper had put on me. “She’s not exactly turning the power structure on its head, is she?”

“Firstly, we’re talking about a biology shared by all of you, not singling our particular students. And you need to remember our human half is sometimes dominant over our wolf. Human logic – or lack of it – sometimes overshadows our instincts. But a positive influence can have an impact on even the most thick-headed wolf. How they respond to that stimulus says a lot about whether they’re a real leader, or just the most aggressive wolf in the pack.”

Whoa. Had Alpha Turner just called Jasper a thick-headed alphadouche? Miss Fisher definitely seemed to think so, because she quickly launched into a detailed lecture on dominant and submissive body language. I took a few notes, but my gaze was on Alpha Turner, and when the class ended, I was quick to follow him to the door.

He was headed towards the lobby, but I stopped him in the hallway, conscious of the way he flinched when I touched his arm. I quickly tucked my hand in my blazer pocket. “I just wanted to thank you for what you did at the lab, Alpha Turner,” I told him quietly, even as I felt the curious glances of the passing students. “I don’t like to think about it, but I know it would have got a lot worse if you didn’t get the session called off.”

He grimaced, and there was real regret in his eyes. “I’m sorry any of it happened. I should have acted sooner.”

I thought of the way he’d tried to talk Klein out of his more invasive tests and shuddered. “You did what you could. Are you still working there?”

“No, but I can’t talk to you about it.”

When he grimaced again, I put a hand to my throat and took a step back. “Oh, you mean the necklace? I’m sorry, I forgot I’m wearing it.”

“Not that… It’s just the lab is closed subject to an investigation. We’re all on administrative leave until the Clan Alpha determines its future.”

I stared at him in shock. In the back of my mind, the pack lab had been festering like a wound that wouldn’t heal. And when I wasn’t torturing myself with mirrored dance studios, the lab was the background to most of my nightmares. I could draw from memory the building with its blank, clinical exterior and describe the testing room down to the instruments on the tray Dr. Klein had used. And there’d always been this fear that I’d be dragged back there, especially since my wolf hadn’t shown herself yet. I rubbed my hands over my cold cheeks. “It’s really closed?”

He took my arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. “When I was talking about leadership and positive influences, I was thinking of you, Vail. Because despite repeated calls to look into the lab practices, Jasper Arras is the first to do so. And that’s at least partially because of what happened to you.”

It was my turn to pull a face. “I doubt he did that for me. Or if he did, it was only because he has this thing about other wolves touching me.”

I expected him to drop his hand and beat a retreat at this reminder, but instead he just smirked and gave me another squeeze. “Well, like I said, a thick head can sometimes overpower the best instincts. But a good stimulus can usually get them back on track.”

I laughed, which felt a bit weird after all the tears, but nice, too. “I’ve been called a lot of things at this school, but never a stimulus.”

He was no doubt remembering the circumstances of our last meeting, because he suddenly grew thoughtful. “No luck on luring your wolf out? Excuse me for being so blunt, but it is part of my ability. I can sense when a wolf hasn’t shifted.”

“Nothing yet.” I fidgeted with my scarf. Given my recent see-sawing emotions I was trying really hard not to remember how helpful he’d been with my stubborn wolf. But that wasn’t easy, when he was right there with his soft, brown eyes and rich, brandied cherries breath… “Maybe I just need the right stimulus.”

I cringed at the way that sounded, but Alpha Turner just grinned over my head. “What do you think, Clan Alpha? Is there a particular stimulus you can think of that might help Miss Marrow draw out her wolf?”

If looks could kill, Alpha Turner would have been dead multiple times over, because when I turned I found Jasper accompanied by both of his lieutenants. But instead of acknowledging the question, Jasper didn’t look at me at all. “I have a couple questions about the lab, Turner.” He jerked his head towards the door. “I’ll walk you to your car.”

Alpha Turner set his jaw at Jasper’s tone, but there was still a twinkle in his eye as he said to the other two boys, “Then maybe one of you gentlemen can help Ms. Marrow out.”

The silence after their departure was so thick, it took me a moment to realize Baron and Felix were still there. Until they gave me matching glares and spat, in stereo:

“Fuck no.”

“Never freaking happening.”

So much for positive influences.

Twenty-Three – Vail

My first Den Night started off with a definite whimper.

I’d been to another self-defense class with Reed, and over-compensated for the prickly new energy between us. Which had been fine when I was blocking his kicks and punches, but not so great when we moved on to knife strikes. He’d lowered his head, I’d raised my hand, and we’d connected over the bridge of his nose. He didn’t seem particularly fazed, but my whole arm ached like I’d punched a wall. With a titanium coating. But when he’d offered to heal me with some of his alpha voodoo, I’d fled the room like a little bitch.

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