Page 85 of Dead Wolf Walking (Bad Moon Academy 1)
“The evil in her blood was diluted, many generations removed from any true demon, so the wolf bite changed her. Except the darkness still lived within her as well. For a while, the two sides waged war with one another until one day part of her died.”
“The wolf?” I guess.
He shakes his head. “Her humanity.”
“Oh,” I say softly.
“There wasn’t enough room for three, so the supe and demon side snuffed out the human she used to be. What was left was something… not right.” He pauses and searches my face.
“Wow, such a thorough description.”
He frowns at my sarcasm. “This is the part where you have to listen.” Carter’s hands are fisting the comforter even tighter now.
Here I thought I’d been doing just that, but I don’t snark back at him because he’s having a hard enough time as it is.
“What was left wasn’t right. She requires a sacrifice—” He cries out in pain. A vein pops out on his forehead as he tries to say more, but it’s as though something is choking him.
Not something, fucking pack magic.
“You can’t tell me?”
“No,” he grits out between clenched teeth. He drops his head into his hands and rocks back and forth.
Whatever this is, it’s hurting him. As much as I want answers, I don’t want to watch this happen to him. I know how much it can hurt to try and break through the pack magic.
“Carter, it’s okay. Don’t hurt yourself.” I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from asking more questions.
“I’ll help you find a way out,” he says, grabbing my hand. “I’ll help you.” His eyes dilate and pinch in agony. “I have to go.”
He practically runs from the room, leaving me more confused and frustrated than the last time we talked.
* * *
I’mlate to class on Monday, but if it bothers Carter, he doesn’t say anything. Morris and Layla smile in acknowledgment before turning back to listen to what Carter’s saying. I take a seat in the back and set my notebook on the desk.
“We were going over the hierarchy of the packs.”
I give him a curt nod and flip to a blank page, ready to continue learning. I’m still pissed about being lied to, but some of this knowledge will come in handy when I leave this place.
The wards present a problem,Joan reminds me.
I know. I’m hoping Adler will help with those.
“There are thousands of lower packs. Those packs follow the same set-up: an alpha who is the leader, betas who help enforce the alpha’s orders. Zetas are unique in that they’re best at training shifters for battle and can create new shifters under the light of the full moon. Next as far as power goes are deltas, like me, who take care of most everything else, then there are omegas who worry about pack health. Omegas may not be very strong, but they’re great in roles where there’s discontent and can serve as the voice of reason.”
“Headmaster Erron is an omega. Why is he ruling over the school?” Morris asks.
Good question. Erron was a basket case the first time I met him.
Carter nods and moves from where he stands at the front of the class to sit behind his desk. “Erron is perfect for this position because of his status as an omega. Changed wolves need a gentler hand, and imagine a changed alpha being told by another alpha that they can’t leave.”
“Oh moons, it’d be a brawl.” Layla snickers.
“Exactly. Erron may hate some aspects of this job, namely the initial meetings, but he’s the only one who was headmaster material,” Carter says.
“So only zetas can make new shifters?” I ask.
“Correct. Only a zeta’s bite can trigger the change. Something about their saliva.”
