Page 28 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

“Key word beingwe, fae boy,” Draco growls.

I throw my hands into the air. “There are more important things happening right now!”

Brayden clicks his tongue, and I glare at him.

“I disagree,” he says. “Solidifying your position as luna, with the power of a five strong bond, will increase the odds of our survival.”

Bea sucks in a sharp breath. “You’re going to have a harem?”

“What do you know about harems?” I ask, unable to keep the curiosity from my voice.

“Carter taught me about them.”

The shifter in question gives me a bashful smile when I cut my gaze in his direction.

“It’s part of the required curriculum.”

“I’m not questioning you,” I say. Then I glance at Brayden. His dark hair is messed up from sleep, and he has a wrinkle on his face from his pillow. “You really think making us a thing is the best idea?”

Everett snorts. “Of course he does, he wants to appear out of nowhere and act like he knows you.”

“I know Raven. We’ve met on many occasions while she’s been at Bad Moon Academy, right, Little Red?”

When Carter and Everett look to me for confirmation, I nod and note that Draco didn’t seem surprised by this. He knew.

Bastard.

When I scowl, Draco moves away from the bed and leans on the other end of the desk, crossing his arms over his chest and becoming a mirror image of Brayden. My attention shifts between the two, and I can’t decide who I’m more upset with. Brayden for toying with me or Draco for keeping his brother’s presence a secret.

“Raven?” Adler asks, smashing me against his side.

With the simple touch, I feel grounded, and it’s as if he’s the post holding up a falling tree. If I let them, the other guys will be my anchors too. Keeping my roots from ripping free. I think of all the times my phantom friend came to visit, how I looked forward to his arrival, and how his icy cold touch sent shivers down my spine. My skin ripples with gooseflesh at the memory, and I stare at the man I brought back from another realm.

“Yeah, I know Brayden.”

“How?” Everett asks.

“He came to see me as a phantom, but you never were a spirit to begin with, were you?”

Brayden’s eyebrows lower. “It’s complicated.”

“So explain.”

His gaze strays to Bea. “Later.”

I purse my lips, not happy with the brush off. “Fine.” I get off the bed, patting Adler’s leg and going to the bathroom door, rapping my knuckles on it a few times.

“Go away.”

Leaning my forehead against the door, I say, “Come on, Layla. We’re all stuck here. We can work as a team, or you can go off on your own, but I don’t think you want to do that.”

Silence.

“I don’t want you to do that.”

Her feet pad closer. “I don’t know why this is happening,” she says so softly I almost can’t hear it.

I roll my neck and meet Carter’s eyes. They’re shadowed with his own emotions. I hold his gaze.

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