Page 12 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

Chapter 3

BRAYDEN

I turn around as soon as the demon spirit vanishes. The restraints holding the others in place dissolve with her disappearance. The woman bends forward, clutching her stomach, but the guys shoot to their feet, and my brother presses into Raven’s back, crowding her space. She doesn’t notice though, because she’s too busy staring at me with a cute little furrow of her brow.

“Hello, Little Red. Thanks for the level-up.” I smirk at the widening of her green eyes as she takes me in. I glance over her shoulder, meeting Draco’s squinting glare. “Hello, Brother.”

“Brayden,” he says on a growl.

Raven gasps and spins around, jaw dropping open when she sees him. Her gaze bounces between the two of us and Draco scowls at me as though it’s my fault she’s slow on the uptake. He was the one who came up with the plan, not that anything has gone the way it was supposed to, but still. She’s clueless because he’s decided to keep my existence a secret, hoping she’d help him once she fell for him.

Idiot.

He’s angry at me, I suppose, but I was tired of waiting. I saw my shot and I took it; even he can’t fault me for trying. As soon as I knew Raven could sense me, I knew she might be able to bring me back. I just hadn’t expected it to work out so beautifully.

“How?” she asks, stepping away from him and toward Carter and Everett.

I advance, but Draco lifts his arm to stop me. I press my chest into his forearm, relishing in the touch. How long has it been since I last saw him in the flesh and not through the lens of the other world? Showing myself to him and actually being here are two entirely different things. Before when I touched things, it was like wearing a pair of latex gloves. I could feel what I was touching, but there was no warmth. No energy. I felt none of the life which fills Earth. It fucking sucked.

Until Raven. Touching her was like being struck by lightning.

What are you waiting for?My wolf snarls in my head, making me chuckle in surprise.

So you’re not dead after all,I say to him. It’s been two years since I last heard him, and he’s pissed.

Hardly. Shift so we can claim the luna.

I tsk.Such a barbarian. Patience is key, my little friend.

He growls at my insult, but I slam a mental wall up to focus on whatever Carter’s murmuring to her.

“—brother. It’s okay.”

“How did this happen?” she asks, shooting me a look. Confusion lines her face, but there’s a fire in her gaze, kindled by my sudden appearance.

Does she miss my phantom form?

“Your little demon friend likes to play with her food. Unfortunately for her, Death is stronger.” I reach up and brush my fingers over my hair, loving that I can actually feel the softness of it.

“Demon friend?” Her gaze skates around the room. “She’s not a spirit?”

“Oh, she is,” I reassure her. “A demon spirit though.”

“She’s—gah.” Everett bends over and places his hands on his thighs, sucking in a sharp breath like someone sucker punched him.

Raven reaches for him, rubbing his back as he composes himself. A low rumble of appreciation sounds from his chest. I narrow my eyes at the contact and ignore my wolf who is screaming for me to claim her.

Lunas are not meant for one, but many. My wolf has yet to accept his fate since Raven somehow brought him back not but two minutes ago. Draco steps closer and yanks me into a hug, taking a deep breath.

I awkwardly pat his back. “We spoke a few days ago.”

He shoves me. “It’s not the same. You were dead.”

Knowing he’s right about the first part, I place my hand on his shoulder and squeeze it. Time to correct him about the second part.

“In a sense,” I say, sighing. “Like I said, unfortunately for our little demon spirit, Death is stronger.”

And he’s a bit of an asshole.

---