Page 82 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

Chapter 22

RAVEN

The guys carry Howard’s body to the river deep in the forest, laying him on the bank as the rest of us gather and build a raft made of fallen branches. Layla sniffles, wiping her arm across her runny nose, and sets another branch on the funeral pyre before heading off with Penelope to go get more. Leaving him in the academy felt wrong, so I asked if we could send him off with a warrior’s farewell, how the Vikings used to. It was that or dig a hole, and I don’t think any of us wanted to do that.

Something about burying a shifter six feet under is too real. Too final. The way we’re planning it now, he’ll be sent off, traveling down the river until his body burns and the wall surrounding the academy grounds stops the raft. He may not be able to float off on a huge journey, but it’s more symbolic this way. Plus, Jinx won’t be able to take him like she did with Jackson, Morris, and Lincoln.

“Here you go,” Bea says, handing me a large stick. The skin around her brown eyes is bright red, rubbed raw from swiping at tears.

“Thanks, Bea.” I grab it and add it to the final layer, using some of the rope Carter grabbed to tie my end together.

She stays close to me while I finish, watching Brayden, Draco, and Everett tie off the other ends. Adler and Carter bend down—one lifting Howard’s arms and the other his legs—and carry him to the bed we’ve made. I step back so they can lower him onto it, grabbing Bea’s hand and pulling her back toward the other shifters.

A few move over so we can join them, and I give them a small smile before turning to watch the guys. Carter grabs a bundle of sticks, placing it on top of Howard’s stomach, then grabs Jackson’s sketchbook and one of Morris’s sweaters Layla brought out and places them next to Howard. We couldn’t find anything of Lincoln’s, so we wrote his name on a piece of paper. Carter sticks that under the sweater. With a slight nod from him, Adler, Everett, Brayden, and Draco drag the raft into the water. The twins stand at the front, water lapping at their stomachs. Carter steps into the river, facing the crowd.

“Howard’s combat classes were tough but effective. He cared about his students, even going so far as to give extra lessons to the littlest of shifters.” Carter glances at Bea. She sniffs and he continues. “As a pure-blood shifter at Bad Moon, he never treated the rest of us like trash. He was kind, a little protective, and wanted the best for each of us.”

“Jackson was a prankster, and a bit of a pain in my ass, but he was a great friend.” He pauses. “Too many good people have been taken by Jinx. That stops now.” Glancing at Layla, he lifts an eyebrow.

She steps forward, clearing her throat. “I didn’t know Morris for more than a handful of weeks, but we arrived here together and since we both lost everything we’d ever known when we were changed, we bonded and got to know one another pretty well—” Her voice cracks, and she looks at the canopy, blinking back tears. “Now he’s gone,” she says, the words thick with emotion. “And he’s not coming back.” Blowing out a hard breath, she rubs her hands over her damp face and laughs. “You know, he always talked about finding a way out. I just didn’t think he’d leave without me.”

Moisture pricks my eyes, and I squeeze Bea’s hand, hoping it brings her comfort. Layla is sobbing now, and Penelope rushes to wrap her arms around her, walking her back to us. I reach over and rub her back while the others whisper that it’ll be okay. Even though they all know that’s a lie, they can’t seem to help themselves. I remember how it felt to be told over and over how it would all be okay at Mom and Dad’s funerals, and how those words were such a slap in the face. So insincere.

It’ll all be okay, Raven. You’re in good hands.

Aunt Lou is good, but it wasn’t all okay. So I keep my mouth shut but offer her support in the only way I know how right now.

“Lincoln wasn’t very kind,” Penelope says, surprising me by stepping forward on his behalf. “He was cruel, but even he didn’t deserve this. None of us do,” she says with a trembling voice. “We deserve more than this.”

Shifters murmur in agreement, and Penelope goes back to Layla, wrapping her arm around her shoulder.

“May the moon guide them home.” Carter’s voice draws my attention, and he lights a match, opening Jackson’s notebook and setting the paper on fire. Then he lights another match and holds it to one of the twigs on Howard’s chest, letting it burn down to his fingers until the stick on top finally catches and begins to burn.

Brayden and Draco walk the raft out a little farther before swimming it down a ways and letting it go. The waterfall is behind us, so the current is fast enough to take him away as everything begins to catch fire and burn, taking the scent of singed hair with it. The twins stay treading water, watching with the rest of us for a few minutes. Even after the river bends and carries him out of sight, we stare downstream. Part of me wonders if we’re not all wishing the same thing:

I wish the river would carry us all away.

* * *

ADLER

After Howard disappears from sight, small groups of shifters leave, heading off to the shared sleeping area in the library or off to wander the woods for a bit in their wolf form before going in for the night. Raven stays behind, waiting for me and the guys. We’re all drenched, wet clothes clinging to our bodies, but for me, it doesn’t matter.

“Raven,” I say, pulling her dazed gaze in my direction. “Do you want to talk about what happened earlier?” Walking over to her, I keep my hands open to let her know I’m going to wrap her in my arms.

Her bright green eyes track my movements, and there’s a moment where the link surges with panic and I worry she’ll run away from me, but I send some of my peace to her. I know all about losing a life you once loved. I was a kid when I was traded for a human, but I lived many years mourning what my family had done and adjusting to my new life. Though no matter how many decades pass, there’s still a sting of hurt whenever I recall the look on my mother’s face when she saw what I’d done.

“I.” Raven stammers, glancing around at the others. “It’s complicated.”

Reaching her, I pull her against my chest and hold her tight, running one hand over her back and burying the other in her soft hair. She smells like violets and honey, and as her scent fills my nostrils, some of my unease fades. Her reaction to Jinx’s request is seared into my mind. Those small hands are still stained red from Howard’s blood. I don’t think she’s noticed or realized it.

“What is more complicated than this?” Brayden asks softly.

She sucks in a sharp breath and presses her forehead into my chest. “My mother,” she says then pauses.

“It’s okay, we’re here to listen. We’re pack now, remember?” Everett says as he comes to stand next to me, placing his hand on her arm.

With a heavy sigh, she nods against my chest then pulls out of the hug, stepping back so she can look at us. “My mother tried to bring my dad back to life a few months after he died.” She swallows, face scrunching up as she tries to rein in her emotions. “He came back, but he wasn’t the same. Imagine Howard times three hundred. Dad’s soul wasn’t intact, so he was pretty much a zombie, minus the brain eating.” Releasing a bitter laugh, she swipes at her cheeks.

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