Page 21 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
Combat Level I
Fae and Demon Fundamentals
I wrinkle my nose.“Combat? You’re kidding, right?”
Headmaster Erron shakes his head. “Everyone has to take it.”
“What if I don’t want to?”
“Raven, remember what I said.” Carter moves around the chair, taking his seat and facing me. “The sooner you finish the required work, the sooner you can leave.”
Considering the list again, I try to hide my anxiety.
Fae and demons?
Witches and vampires?
Controlling the wolf inside?
It’s too much too fast. A paranormal culture shock.
Once I learn enough, I can cross the bridge into pack life? Who the fuck do they think they are?
“It will be easier if you comply. Shifters who can’t adjust are sedated and either put down or shipped off to a supe prison.”
As if this isn’t prison enough already?
I’ll play along until I can find a way to escape.
The paper crinkles in my hand when I curl my fingers into a fist. “Fine, I’ll take it.” It’s not like I have any other choice, the wards won’t let me out unless I follow the rules. “What day is it?”
“It’s Saturday afternoon, so you’ll have part of the weekend to explore the school and grounds, though you shouldn’t try to leave again. The wards grow more aggressive with each attempt.”
“Saturday,” I echo, shaking my head. “What’s the date?”
“July seventeenth,” Carter says.
My heart skips. It’s been an entire week.
I’ve been gone for seven days.
What does Aunt Lou think?
Erron stands, buttoning his suit jacket once more and goes to open his door. “If you have any trouble at all, please feel free to make an appointment.”
I guess this means we’re dismissed.
Carter smiles at me and offers me a hand once he stands. I ignore the help and shove out of the chair, tucking the schedule into my back pocket.
“It was nice to make your acquaintance, Raven.”
How very formal of him.
“Catch you on the flip side,” I say to counteract his stuffiness. He makes a small noise in his throat, almost like a laugh, but he covers it with a cough.
Carter heads out of his office, so I follow him, eager to be away from Erron’s nervous energy. He’s like a bundle of anxiety. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran to the bathroom to throw up before speaking in front of large groups.
It’s strange they have someone like him in charge of a bunch of wolves. Wouldn’t they want someone more… dominant? We walk down the hallway and back to the foyer. Carter spins to face me.
