Page 14 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
“Yeah,” he says, biting his lip. He releases it and sighs. “Bad Moon Academy is more of an institute for changed wolves.”
“I’m in werewolf hell.”
He shakes his head. “We don’t really call ourselves werewolves. We shift into full wolves, not half beast, half man.”
I bang my head against the door. “Let me get this straight. I’m here because I’m a changed wolf—why?”
“The alpha doesn’t allow changed wolves to live among the pack until they have learned everything there is to know about being a shifter.”
“All I’m hearing is they don’t like changed wolves.”
“The pack will accept you, it’s the alpha who is the most resistant to integration.”
Scoffing, I run my hand over my face. “Right, only the alpha, that’s better.” My mind is spinning with questions, but there’s only one that matters. “When can I leave?”
“Students aren’t allowed to leave.”
I glare at him. “You and Draco left.”
He smiles. “We’re not students, per se, and we didn’t leave; we had to come back.”
My gaze flits over him. He’s young, probably around twenty-four like Adler. Draco looked younger. He’s also ripped, but that’s not important right now. Neither are the veins curling around his forearms.
“If you’re not a student, what are you then?”
“I’m one of the professors. Draco is… well, he’s not a student.”
“Why is he here then?” I ask, moving away from the door to the window. I haven’t seen anyone wandering around the grounds.
Can I believe him?
“It’s not my story to tell.”
Right. Mysteries twisted into mysteries.
“Don’t stop me.” I spin on my heel and move toward the door. If my theory is right, he won’t be able to get in my way. He’ll have to obey me.
“Raven, you can’t leave the perimeter.”
“Watch me.”
My fingers rest on the metal knob for three seconds before I work up enough courage to open the door. The hallway was once elegant, but now the wood floors are covered in layers of dust. The fancy chandeliers are broken and hang crooked from the ceiling. Large portraits are covered by white sheets, hiding the pictures.
Compared to my room, it’s a fine art gallery.
Luckily for me, there’s only one direction to go.
Turning to face Carter, I gasp and take a step back. He’s a foot away. He smells like fresh pine and rain. “Raven.”
I lift my gaze from his chest. “Stay.”
He scowls. “I’m not a dog.”
With a laugh, I turn around. “Close enough.” I rush down the long hallway, not paying attention to the decorations. There’s a large staircase halfway down the corridor, separating the wings of the building. It has to be massive because the other side of the hallway is as long as my side. I grip the railing and start down the staircase, stopping when Draco’s icy gaze pierces my chest.
“Going somewhere?” He stretches his arms across one side of the railing, casually leaning against the wood like he doesn’t have a care in the world.
My shoulders bunch as I take another step closer to him, but I won’t stop. I’m going to leave this place. “Don’t try to stop me.”
