Page 83 of Dead Wolf Falling (Bad Moon Academy 2)

“You’re not your mother,” Carter says.

Raven’s eyes flash, and she shakes her head. “There are too many similarities between her and me. Part of me will always be like her.”

The link pulses with anger, and I take a step toward her, stopping when she holds her hand up.

“It’s okay.”

“Raven,” I say, searching her face. “Lou told me about your mom. You may share blood and have the same power, but you’re nothing like her.”

“How do you know?” she asks.

Meeting her gaze and not daring to blink, I say, “Because the woman before me would never leave the people she loves. She’s strong, and even when she feels like she’s drowning in a sea of darkness, she’ll try to save someone else from the same fate by helping them out of the undertow.”

She glances away and bites her cheek, eyes filling with tears again. “Ugh, they won’t stop,” she says as she rubs them away.

Draco is suddenly in front of her, clutching her cheeks in his hands and tipping her head up so she has to stare at him. “Don’t hide them.” He kisses her cheek, and her eyes flutter closed, tears spilling down her face, and he presses his lips against each eyelid before capturing her lips for a quick kiss.

Linking her hands behind his neck, she hugs him to her body like he’s the only thing keeping her from slipping off a ledge. A small pang of jealousy rushes through the link. I scowl at Brayden—who is grimacing—and he quickly shoots soothing vibes in its place. His eyes flit to mine, and he lifts a shoulder to sayI can’t help it. I nod at him in understanding and slide my gaze back to Raven and Draco.

I understand Brayden’s jealousy, but we’re a unit, so there is no place for competition. The others keep a lid on their emotions, and I suspect Brayden’s knee jerk reaction is driven by having always been in competition with his brother more than it is about the hug itself.

Making a decision, I step into their space and put my arms around both of them. Carter and Everett do the same a few seconds later. Brayden hesitates until I scowl at him, then he rolls his eyes and joins our group hug, face softening as he lays his arms over mine and Carter’s. The link fills with sunshine the longer we stand there in the embrace, the warmth of it curling around each of us before shooting in the center to Raven.

Our entire world.

Our luna.

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