Page 1 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

Prologue

RAVEN

“Happy birthday to me!” I sing to myself like a lunatic. But hey, who wants to be sane when you can be insane? What does it take to be free of memories? If I try hard enough, maybe I can forget. Opening my mouth, I tip the cheap plastic bottle of vodka up, scowling when only a few drops make it to my mouth. It’s gone.

Dammit.

I shouldn’t have shared with Tracy, but she was in desperate need of a drink after her boyfriend broke up with her. Jacking the convenience store was easy, especially when she kept the clerk busy by leaning on the counter and pushing up her cleavage. I swear I could have set the place on fire and he wouldn’t have been able to rip his eyes from her boobs. We’re new friends, and I didn’t tell her it was my birthday, so we spent the whole night cursing Zach’s name instead of pretending to be excited about me turning seventeen. Who cares about birthdays when your parents are dead?

Sighing, I toss the bottle into a shrub, stumbling slightly on the gravel road that leads to Aunt Lou’s.

“Tracy’s lucky I like her,” I say to the country road. My new home is about a mile closer to town than hers, and I make a point to walk when I’m drinking, saving all the destruction for myself.

Rocks crunch and wobble under my chucks. I run my hands through my hair, shoving it out of my face as I stagger on. A strong summer’s night breeze caresses my skin, cooling down my overheated body. The familiar buzzing sensation in my stomach makes me giggle, and despite being out of alcohol, I smile.

The best part of being drunk is when my head fills with bubbles and I feel like I’m floating. Spreading my arms out, I toss my head back and howl at the sky like an animal, gasping when I trip over my own feet.

“Oh shit,” I say when I drop to my knees, hissing in pain when a sharp rock bites into my skin.

That’ll leave a mark.

Sitting back on my heels, I clutch my stomach and laugh, rocking side to side as the stars above spin and swivel. My stomach cramps, warning me I’m about to heave. Crawling on my knees toward the ditch, I spew the seven-dollar Ice Castle and whatever food is left in my stomach from dinner onto the wildflowers. My eyes fill with tears as the burn of bile stings my throat and the sharp tang of vomit fills my nostrils.

Ugh. I hate throwing up.

A wolf or coyote howls in the distance, a mockery of my attempted one, and I scowl over my shoulder.

“I get it, okay. I’m not one of you.” I shake my head and shove to my feet, continuing home. I’m well past curfew, but I have to make it home or Aunt Lou will have my ass.

Something massive and covered in dark fur leaps from the other side of the road, landing in a slight crouch in front of me. Bright yellow eyes study me, and gleaming white teeth threaten to eat me up, like the nursery rhyme. I touch a lock of hair, wondering if it’s a coincidence or if I’m hallucinating.

I didn’t take any shrooms this time, but with enough alcohol, things can get weird. It’s so big it has to be a male. Aren’t most males bigger than females?

Tell me nature isn’t sexist. Why do they get to be large and in charge? Well, female lions run the show, so I guess not all of nature is sexist. Either way, I’m pretty sure this pup is a boy.

A bubble of gas works its way up my throat, and I burp, smacking my hand over my mouth in horror. Where are my manners?

“’Scuse me, Mr. Wolf.” I curtsey, or do my best wobbling version of one. “I’m Little Red. Have you come to eat me?”

The wolf tips his head to the side and licks his lips, like he understands what I’m saying.

“You’re going to be disappointed.” I step toward him. “I’m all rotten inside. You’d be better off finding a bunny.”

With a shrug, I squat a few feet away from him and click my tongue at him, then frown. That’s for cats. What do you do to get a wolf to come over?

“Here boy!” I pat my thigh and suck in a sharp breath when he moves toward me. There’s no way this is real. “I’m so drunk,” I tell my new friend, extending my hand so he can sniff it.

His nose is wet and cold, breath hot against my fingers, and if I were sober, I’d already be running home screaming for help. A smarter version of me would listen to the little voice in my head telling me I’m being incredibly stupid.

But this wolf is nice. Maybe he wants someone to pet him. Biting my lip, I tip to the side and reach for him, falling on my ass in the process and making him growl. The hair on my arms rises, and shivers race down my spine.

That’s not friendly at all.

“Here I thought we were going to be buddies. Ow,” I say, getting off the rocks which are poking my butt.

The wolf has stopped growling, and his glowing gaze is pinned on me. I hold his stare, trying to figure out what he’s thinking.

Poor thing stumbled upon a lame human.

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