Page 57 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

Chapter 13

DRACO

The pitter-patter of Little Red’s heart makes my wolf hungry. All he sees is prey, though he recognizes this prey isn’t meant to be torn apart. We’ll eat her up sure enough, just not in the savage way we do with other prey. My hand rests on the door to my bedroom, and I hesitate for a mere second.

What if she doesn’t like it?

No, I shake off the creeping self-doubt, knowing the guys and I have this locked down. Raven likes all of us, even fucking Brayden. I don’t know how, but my asshole of a brother weaseled his way into her good graces. I love my brother, though I can’t deny there’s something scary about him. Maybe it’s the whole dying and coming back stuff. I know that isn’t true; it’s the simple answer. Brayden’s always been more extreme than I am, and I know I’m out there.

Wrenching my door open, I shove all of my thoughts about Brayden to the back of my mind and focus on what’s important tonight. Raven. I press my back into the door, gazing down at our little red-haired vixen. Her impossible emerald eyes widen as she takes in the five twin size beds we shoved together. Using the sheets Brayden and I stitched together—our mother taught us how, don’t judge—we made a large, fitted sheet. We sewed together the flat sheets too, in case Raven wanted some warmth. Given all the bodies that will be in the bed, there’s no need for a comforter.

Perhaps not the most romantic of places, but I found some of the old candles in the ballroom and placed them around the edges of the room, using those for lighting. There’s a small bowl and knife we’ll use for the first part of the ritual lying on my desk.

Raven lets go of Carter and Adler’s hands, brushing past me to stand at the edge of the bed. Her heart kicks against her chest even harder. Since she’s facing away from me, I can’t see her face to know what she’s thinking.

The guys come in, and I close the door, carefully making my way over to her. I walk my fingers up both of her arms, gripping her biceps and pulling her into my body. She comes easily, relaxing in my hold and releasing a soft sigh.

“Little Red. Luna. Raven.” So many names for her, and each feels equally right. “Time for the binding.”

She turns her head, looking up at me with curiosity. “The blood?”

The worry in her question draws a laugh from me, and I nod. “It’ll only hurt a bit.”

Everett brings the knife and bowl over, holding the blade out for me. I release Raven and take it and run my finger over the sharp edge. This will do perfectly. Nice clean cuts is what we want. They’ll heal better that way.

“It’s time to begin,” Carter says.

The men make a half circle around Everett, each waiting their turn, and Raven stands awkwardly next to me, hands curled into fists at her side to try and hide the slight tremor running through them, but I see it.

Fear can be fun sometimes, especially when there is trust between partners. To accept us as hers speaks volumes of how she feels, but she can’t fight back her natural reaction. Part of her will always be the scared human in the woods. With time, she’ll learn to embrace her wilder side and stifle those reactions.

Get on with it. My luna grows impatient.

Settle down,I say to my wolf, but focus all the same.

Everett nods when he sees I’m ready. “Zeta, what do you offer our luna?” he asks, repeating the words Carter taught us earlier.

“I bring my blood and allegiance. My heart and my soul.” Raven gasps as I slide the blade over my palm, cutting it open and squeezing my hand over the bowl. Six drops fall into the dish.

Adler hands me a towel, and I wrap it over the wound, sliding my gaze to Raven and winking.

Carter steps forward, and we trade places.

“Delta, what do you offer our luna?”

“I bring my blood and allegiance. My heart and my soul.” He repeats the same line I had and cuts himself. Six drops of blood splash over mine, and Brayden takes his place.

“Beta, what do you offer our luna?”

Brayden eyes Raven and bares his teeth in what he must think is a grin. “I bring my blood and allegiance. My heart, my soul, and Death.”

Always a showoff. I scoff and glare at him.

She narrows her gaze, but she doesn’t say anything to him. He tips his head to the side and cuts his palm with a fast slice, going deeper than we had, but still only allowing six drops to fall into the bowl. Carter offers him a towel but he shakes his head, letting his blood drip over the floor. It’s impossible to miss the way he stares at the crimson liquid, like he’s only just realized he’s alive again. He’s lucky I don’t mind the mess.

The fae steps forward, grabbing the bowl from Everett and taking his place. Everett snatches the knife from Brayden.

“Psycho,” he whispers, smirking at my brother.

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