Page 72 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

“Huh, who knew?” Raven wrinkles her nose at me, grinning at Bea’s horror. “Need any help?”

Jerking my thumb toward the other two chickens, I turn and show her what we need to do. She doesn’t miss a beat, nor does she bat an eye at the somewhat gruesome task. We’ve been so spoiled with the food supply in the human world. Not very many people cook like this anymore, but Raven isn’t bothered by it.

* * *

RAVEN

Bea and I help Brayden make a simple chicken dish with onion powder and garlic salt. We turned the last three potatoes into mashed potatoes. It’s enough for everyone to have a small scoop, hardly adequate to fill someone up, but it’ll do. The most important thing is protein and carbs. We have more than enough chicken for everyone to have a good-sized portion and some of us ate in our wolf forms, so I’m not worried about people being hungry today. A quick glance around the kitchen tells me we have about a day before things get dire.

Brayden pats his pants like he’s forgotten his keys and phone, something I think is more of a strange habit while he’s thinking, and purses his lips, eyeing the modest spread.

“Okay,” he finally says, grabbing the platter of chicken and nodding at me and Bea. “Here we go. Bea, grab the spoons.”

I grab the bowl of potatoes, following him out of the swing door and setting it on one of the tables close to the buffet line. Jinx’s food is annoyingly aromatic, and I glance over my shoulder to make sure she’s not holding a fan toward us so we’re forced to breathe in the basil and parsley.

“This looks good,” Layla says, holding out her plate so Brayden can give her a serving.

Since we’re rationing, we have to serve the food. The temptation to grab one more slice of chicken or spoonful of potatoes is too tempting, especially for hungry shifters.

They better not eat all the potatoes,Joan snarls the words inside my head when the spoon scrapes against the bottom of the bowl.

Relax, that was the last person in line. There’s enough for Bea, Brayden, and us.

With a huff, she grumbles more about being hungry, but I ignore her. She’s hangry, and I don’t blame her. We’ve literally been starved and used as food this past month. What we’ve been eating hasn’t been enough to really help, but since whatever illusion Jinx has spelled the academy with makes me appear healthy, I’ve sort of been ignoring the fact.

Bea grabs her plate, and we serve her, then Brayden and I take the last and go join our pack at one of the bigger tables. Draco slides the seat next to him out of its spot, and I take it, waiting until Brayden sits across from me before beginning to eat. Even though everyone else has already scarfed most of their meal down, I can’t forget my manners that say you wait for the chef to sit and eat before you start.

Who knew when Mom taught me the simple lesson that I’d be using it inside of an academy where I’m likely to die?

Lifting my fork, I start to take my first bite. A second after the creamy potatoes hit my tongue, a blast rocks the building. Every shifter in the room sits a little straighter, tips their chins a little lower, when a wave of power washes over the room. It hits me like a fist to the stomach, but instead of making me want to glance down in submission, my hackles rise and a growl creeps out of my throat.

An alpha.

Joan, if there were ever a time to make a power play, now is not it.

I won’t cower before the likes of him!

Growling at her inside of my head, I shove her back into the corner.You have to, Joan. You heard Jinx. She’ll killeveryone.

My wolf snaps her teeth at me inside my head, and I prepare to slam a wall in front of her to completely block her out, but she goes preternaturally still and quiet. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out why.

The alpha has arrived.

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