Page 42 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

After givingBrayden the quickest rundown of what happened, I sent him back to the kitchen, promising we’d be okay and that the best thing he could do is continue to cook. Everyone is hungry. The shifters in the cafeteria are solemn. Lincoln’s abrupt death due to Jinx’s food and the incident with the ghosts has drained any sort of cheer out of them. Even my group is quiet while dinner is cooking.

Chewing on my lip, I glance at the door to the kitchen. Brayden is back there with Trey.

“You know, Little Red, if you want to go check on them, you can.” Draco taps his finger on the table we’re sitting at. “Or are you scared of my brother like you are me?”

“I’m not afraid of you.” I look at him. “Your brother. . . is a different story.”

Draco hums. “You’ll have to tell me the tale of your interactions another day. Go see how he’s doing. Moons know if I do it, he’ll flip out.”

“That’s encouraging.” Setting my shoulders, I glance at Bea who is sitting with Layla. Layla’s doing her best to hide how scared she is, but the lines creasing her forehead are pronounced. “Here I go,” I say to no one in particular, but Draco pats my shoulder before I walk off.

“So brave.”

I lift my hand and flip him off. A delectable scent wafts from the kitchen, and the closer I get the more my mouth waters, and the more it feels sowrongto be hungry after everything that happened. Hesitating for a second, I place my hand on the swinging door and take a deep breath. What Draco said bothered me. Will his twin really be upset if I interrupt? He was mad when he burst out of the kitchen to see what was happening. Squaring my shoulders, I roll my eyes at myself. It’s Brayden. My phantom friend. Why am I so freaked out by him?

Maybe because you brought him back to life and he’s fully functioning? Didn’t you say raising the dead after too long creates zombie-like reanimations?Joan asks.

I’ve only seen it once, and that’s what Mom taught me. Meddling with the long deceased is a dangerous game. Brayden is. . . not normal.

She snorts.Obviously. He’s a bit off kilter.

“You’re making me nervous, Little Red. Get in here.” Brayden’s voice carries through the door.

Pushing into the kitchen, which is now as close to sparkling clean as an old kitchen can get, I pause and look around. Trey is scrubbing a mop back and forth near the pantry, furiously cleaning up the last grimy tiles.

“Wow.”

Brayden peers into the oven, checking on the food. “I basted it about ten minutes ago. Five or so more and it’ll be ready. The potatoes are already done.” He points to a bowl with a towel lying over it.

Joining him, I stare at the pan filled with meat and diced apple pieces. The heat from the oven warms my skin, but Brayden’s fingers are freezing when they wrap around my arm and pull me into his side. He moves his arm around my waist.

“Are you hungry, Little Red?”

I narrow my eyes and glare at him. “I’m not sure when you died, but manhandling a woman is not hot.”

Liar,Joan whispers.

Shush, you’ll only encourage him.

I do not see the problem.

Of course she doesn’t. Brayden spins me and backs me into the counter so fast my heart skips. Bracing my hands on the butcherblock, I crane my neck and purse my lips.

He inhales deeply, a pleased rumble filling his chest.

“Leave us,” he growls at his helper.

Trey drops the mop and rushes out of the kitchen, head ducked like he’s afraid to catch Brayden’s eye.

“Well, that was rude.” I press my hand onto his chest when he leans toward me, fighting for space. “Brayden, what are you doing?”

He runs his fingers up my sides, tracing my curves and moving them to the back of my neck. “You’re scared of me?”

“Not of you.”

A line forms between his eyebrows. “Explain what that means? Because your heart is pounding.”

Yeah, and some of that has nothing to do with being afraid.

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