Page 66 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

Chapter 16

EVERETT

After another menial breakfast on Tuesday morning, I take Raven and her friends out for a run in our wolf form. Adler joins us, taking to the sky as soon as we get outside. The women all gasp when he shifts into a giant golden eagle. I’d be lying if my ego didn’t take a hit, but to be fair, Adler’s other form is pretty majestic. Given how much other animals fear my wolf, the only ones I get to see up close are rabbits and deer.

Since they’re all busy staring at him, I strip down and shift, releasing a long howl at the sky to get their attention. Their wolves hear my call, and it only takes them a few seconds to strip out of their clothes and join me in wolf form.

That’s more like it,my wolf huffs.

He’s a prideful bastard, but heisan alpha, so I don’t give him a hard time. Instead I hand over control to him, letting him lead our little group deep into the woods. Raven’s red wolf keeps pace with mine, hardly panting even though we’re running full out. The other women and Bea stay farther behind, but they’re all betas or deltas. They don’t want to try and outrun an alpha or luna because it would only result in a fight for dominance. This isn’t the time or place to test those limits, and they all seem to defer to Raven anyway, accepting her as their leader without Raven having to force it on them.

The best alphas are the ones people follow without being told. Those are the leaders that inspire and bring out the best in the group. My wolf is proud of our mate, and so am I. I’d say we chose well, but that’d be a lie. Raven is the one who picked us, and I’m honored to be part of her pack.

A rabbit dashes between bushes, making my heart leap. With a twitching nose, I change directions and yip at the others. A few sets of scampering paws reach my ears, so I yip again and the wolves split apart, knowing what to do off natural instinct. Raven sticks with me, and together we corner the rabbit, chasing it until one of us has to make the killing strike.

Resting my steady gaze on her, I lower my head to the ground, letting her know she’s in charge. Her nostrils flare and a growl rumbles out of her chest as she leans back on her haunches, preparing to pounce. I watch as the red wolf shows mercy, making a quick end for the terrified creature.

After we eat, we meet up with the others who have also had their fill and head over to the waterfall to wash off and get a drink. Hunting in wolf form is always strange, but since there aren’t a lot of food options, it’s the best we can do for now.

“Oh god, I haven’t been swimming in so long.” One of the women wades out into the water, and I avert my gaze, focusing on Raven instead. She nudges me with her nose, gently biting my neck and yipping playfully as the others splash into the water. Everyone has shifted, Bea included. Raven growls at me before leaping into the water, paddling out in wolf form before diving under and shifting. When her mane of red hair flips out of the water and she smiles at me, green eyes lighting in challenge, I follow after her and shift once I’m deep enough.

The others swim around, but I don’t even glance in their direction. My eyes and attention are laser focused on one person and one person alone. Raven.

* * *

RAVEN

Everett glares at me when he surfaces, fully shifted into his human form. “No one said we were going skinny dipping.”

Flicking water at his face, I swim farther into the pool. “Like you’ve never done it before.”

“That was different.” He swims after me, catching me around the waist and pulling me close. This time he treads water to keep us up, and I smile at the memory of us dunking under the water the first time he tried to pull this move.

“How?” I ask, reaching up to wipe water off of his eyebrows.

“We were alone for starters.” One of his hands runs over my thighs, and I suck in a breath, glancing at the others.

They’re all busy splashing and playing, but I’m not comfortable getting frisky with Bea so nearby. Thankfully, he laughs and moves his hand back to my waist.

“And,” he says with a teasing smile, “I didn’t have to worry about keeping my hands to myself.”

Placing my hand on my heart, I pout my lip. “Aw, poor thing. How will you survive?”

Bea screams, and I snap my head in her direction, heart jumping to my throat. She and Layla are splashing each other, big grins painted across their faces. Tension bleeds from my shoulders, and Everett pulls me closer, pressing my body against his.

“They’re okay,” he whispers, drawing my eyes back to his. “And I’ll think of a way to get you back for this.”

“Get me back? I didn’t do anything!” I wrinkle my nose at him.

Grabbing my hand, he places it on his very hard cock. “Yes, you did.”

“That’s not my fault. You need to control yourself.” I shrug and move my hand to his shoulder. “Besides, didn’t you get enough last night?”

“Nope,” he says, popping the P.

Adler screams above us, and we all stop to glance up and watch him circle the canopy before he lands on a branch with a loud chitter.

“Come on down,” Bea screeches at him. “Don’t be scared!”

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