Page 105 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
The whiskey smell is overpowering now, so I steel myself before I roll over and glance at him. “Well, don’t keep me hanging. Why?”
“I’m not sure if I should tell you.” His face contorts with indecision. “Who hurt you? Tell me and I’ll explain what I think is happening.”
An eye for an eye? No way. If it were easier to explain, I would, but I know what happens when you tell your friends you see dead people. Nothing good, that’s what. They never understand. Good thing I have luna power. Even with Joan gone when I first arrived I was able to use it, force people to do what I said. While it makes me sick to the stomach to use the power, I need this answer. For Joan. Going on all fours, I crawl to the edge of the bed and glare at him.
“Tell me.” My power rises to the surface with the words, and he inhales, shuddering as he breathes me in.
“There’s something here, taking shifters from the academy.” The words tumble from his lips at my command. His eyes turn yellow again and when he looks at me, it feels like it’s the wolf I’m talking to and not Everett.
“What is it?” I ask.
“I can’t say,” he whispers, face turning beet red. Pack magic working its charm.
“Tell me what it is.” Forcing more of my luna power on him to see if I can overpower the pack magic, I put my hand on his shoulder. “Now, Everett.”
A vein on his forehead pops out, and he works his jaw, trying and failing to do as I bid. The churning in my stomach rises to my throat, a sickly feeling accompanying me trying to force him to do something.
“It’s okay, you don’t have to talk.” I let go of the luna power, inhaling just as Everett releases a heavy sigh.
The heady scent of alcohol fills my nostrils. I can almost taste the whiskey on my tongue. My eyes stray to his nearly empty glass. Swallowing around the lump in my throat, I remind myself of how far I’ve come. Someone bangs on his door, saving me from making a bad choice, and a moment later Draco and Carter shove inside.
“What are you doing?” Carter asks, seething.
Mr. Trust Me looks unhappy.
“Telling her what she needs to know,” Everett says, glaring at the guys.
Draco’s top lip curls back. “This wasn’t part of the plan.”
“So?” Everett asks.
“It’s not your decision to make!” Draco’s shout fills the room.
I scowl and shove off of the bed, storming toward him with determination. “Here’s what we’re going to do,” I say as I grab his arm and pull him all the way into the room. “We’re going to have a chat. Shut the door, Carter.”
Not a second later, it snaps closed.
“Good, now everyone find a place to sit.”
They rush to find a spot. Carter sits on Everett’s desk and Draco sits next to Everett, leaving me either trying to squeeze between them or standing.
I choose standing.
“Everett was explaining about the missing shifters. I’ll ask again, what is this thing?”
Draco sneers at the alpha, but it doesn’t faze him.
“We don’t know,” Carter says.
“Well, how do you know it’s taking people?” I fight the urge to shake the answers out of one of them. Since Everett spilled the beans, my mind has been racing with possibilities.
“We know.” Draco’s voice is flat, and his eyes are stony.
“One of the shifters is…” Everett trails off and casts a cautious glance at the man sitting next to him. “Someone we care about.”
“Okay.” I frown and press my hand to my forehead. “How many shifters are we talking about?”
“Twelve,” Carter says.
