Page 40 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
Layla laughs. “We’re not freaks.”
“Genetic mutation, howling at the moon, and wanting to run in the forest.” He lifts a finger for each thing he mentions. “Remind me why that’s not freaky?”
“They’re only strange to you because you grew up human. I’m sure they think we’re weird too.” Layla frowns. “Or I mean, I’m sure we think humans are weird.”
Carter shakes his head. “It’s okay, it’s hard to remember which team you’re batting for when you first change. But you’re right. Born shifters do think some human quirks are weird.”
“Like getting pedicures?”
I laugh. “Or dying hair?”
“Not necessarily. I think you’ll find most shifter women like to do those things too. I’m referring to things like marriage via paperwork or being vegan.”
Vegan?my wolf asks, piping up for the first time this morning.
It’s when someone only eats plant-based food. No meat, no eggs, no fish. No animal products.
Why would someone do that?she asks with more than a hint of disgust.
Lots of reasons. Some people want to have a clean diet. Others have medical or ethical reasons.
Hmm. Humans are weird.
I can’t disagree because when you get down to it, we are weird, and not because someone chooses to be vegan. I don’t have enough fingers to count all the strange things I’ve seen people do.
“Anything else you guys can think of?” Carter asks.
Layla shrugs. “There are a lot of smaller details we’re not mentioning, but I can share my notes if you want?”
“Sure. Thanks.” I move my gaze to Carter, who is watching me with a warm smile. “I don’t have any supplies.”
“Oh,” he says and stands. “I forgot I brought you some things.” He heads to the desk, opens his satchel, and extracts a notebook, pens, and a paperback which I assume is for the class. “These should get you started. We can figure out exactly what you need at the end of the week and hit up the supply closet.”
I take the supplies from him and flip the book open to the table of contents. My eyes skate over the various topics. There’s a lot to cover. “Wow,” I say on an exhale.
“It’s a lot, but I’ve been told I’m a good teacher.”
“He is pretty all right,” Morris says, earning a scowl from Carter. “I mean, he’s great.”
Carter shakes his head and chuckles. “I’m a cool professor. Best news I’ve heard all week.”
We all laugh at that, and he heads to the front of class and starts going over today’s lecture—the intricacies of the three mutations.
Placing my pen to the paper, I try to start a note to Aunt Lou, maybe if I write one Adler will give it to her. My hand won’t budge, held in place by an invisible force. I press my lips together and try again to write her name, but it doesn’t work. Tuning into what Carter is saying, I start to write it down as if I were taking notes. My pen moves with ease and whatever held me in place before is gone. I switch back to trying to write Aunt Lou a note, but the force is heavy on my skin and my hand cramps, keeping me from moving.
Well fuck. I can’t even write her a letter to let her know I’m okay. Will I ever get to see her again? I take three deep breaths to keep from crying in the middle of Carter’s lecture.
“If you compare the DNA of humans, shifters, and vampires—” Carter continues on, oblivious to my frustration.
They said once I learned enough, I could leave. While I don’t particularly want to play school, Idowant to leave. So I start paying attention to the lesson. To say it’s over my head is being kind, though I still take notes and underline important sections in the book. I’ve always been a decent student, but with this new world, I’m determined to be a great student. I need to know everything there is to know as soon as possible so I can get away from this place.
* * *
Carter
“We’ll start the next topic on Monday.”
I finish my lecture, not at all surprised by the confused looks I’m getting from the students. The mutation is the dullest subject to cover, but it’s a requirement, and no matter how hard I’ve tried to change the lesson plan, it’s never been approved. Most people want the easy explanation. They don’t want to learn about how it happened, only that it did and now here we are in a world full of supernatural beings.
