Page 74 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
“I’ve never had to stop a shifter fight before, but I think I handled it pretty well, all things considered.”
“That’s because,” Everett sits on my right, “you’re a luna and they both have to listen to you. They may try to fight your power, but they’ll lose.” He picks up my burrito and takes a bite.
I smack his arm and snatch my breakfast out of his grubby hands. “Does this mean the cat’s out of the bag? Howard wasn’t exactly discreet.”
“No one here will say anything. Your secret is safe.” Carter sits on my left and drums his fingers on the table.
“Why do we have to keep it a secret to begin with?”
“Until a luna finds her partners, things can get ugly. Sort of like with Howard and Draco, only a lot worse since you’ll have people vying for one of the five positions.” He eyes my coffee mug. He left his behind at his table, so I nudge it toward him.
“One sip, that’s all.”
Carter smiles and picks up my mug. “I knew you liked me.”
“What can I say? I can’t resist the pathetic puppy dog face.” I take the last bite of burrito and wipe my hands off on my napkin.
“Careful, Raven, Carter’s sensitive. You might hurt his little puppy dog feelings.” Everett pouts his lip, earning a scowl from Carter.
“I’m not sensitive, and she’s being a brat. I know better than to take those sort of jabs seriously.” Carter gets up to refill the coffee mug.
“Brats do like to stir up trouble,” Draco says. He leans back in his chair and stretches. His calves brush against mine, and he traps one of my legs between his. “Don’t they?” He gives me a pointed look.
“Occasionally,” I say then grin at Carter when he sets a steaming mug in front of me. “Finally, a man who knows how to treat a lady.”
Draco’s eyes darken when my comment hits home, and he sears me with a heated look, one that promises retribution.
Good, Raven. Reel him in.
Joan’s comment makes me pause. I’m not reeling him in, am I? I’m flirting, sure, but reeling him in?
Don’t get your hopes up,I say to her.
“Well, I guess we’ll all have to step up our game then, hmm?” Draco releases my leg and runs his foot up my calf before pulling back.
Everett clears his throat. “Speaking of that, Raven and I are going for a run in an hour.”
“We are?” My eyebrows pinch together. “Isn’t there a rule about no work on the weekends?”
He shakes his head. “This will be more fun than work, I promise.”
“Running sounds like a whole lot of work to me,” I mumble into my coffee mug before taking a sip.
“Bring a swimsuit,” Everett says, nudging my side.
I glare at him for almost making me spill my coffee. “I don’t have one.”
Drawing his top teeth over his bottom lip, he looks me up and down. “Fine by me.”
Meow,Joan says then purrs like a cat in my head.
Not now, JOAN!
“I’ll figure something out.” I shove away from the table before any of them can see the blush crawling up my neck. Joan is going to be the death of me.
* * *
After threateningto withhold snacks from Joan, she finally agrees to carry my shorts and tank top like I ask. Whatever Everett has planned sounds like fun, but she’s liable to ruin yet another adventure by conveniently forgetting my clothes. When a knock sounds at my door, I threaten her one more time for good measure then meet Everett in the hallway.
