Page 32 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

The alpha rubs his jaw and studies the three of us on the couch, then flits his eyes up to Brayden, Draco, and Everett who have posted up behind us.

“This won’t be the first time Peter’s done something scandalous, though this is more inhumane than his prior offenses. He once forced his beta at the time to stay tied to a post naked while all the lower wolves in the pack attacked him. That’s what he does to people who try to usurp him.”

“You’re okay with that?” Everett asks with a shake of his head. “What kind of society allows that?”

Blaze narrows his eyes. “Shifter society is complex. The alpha leads their pack, and I rule over those packs. I could tell every alpha how to run their packs, but then there would be chaos when I’m away on other business. A pack doesn’t thrive without a leader present. Some packs are brutal. Some aren’t. Like I said, he got a black mark for that. Five black marks and a wolf is brought before the elders for sentencing.”

“How many does this make?” Draco leans his elbows on either side of my head and places his chin on top of my hair.

“Four.” Blaze scowls. “Though I think the elders will agree with my decision to end his reign.”

“Considering how many shifters have died for that asshole, I would fucking hope so.” Draco drops his palms on my shoulders. “When can I kill him?”

“Youwon’t be killing anyone,” Blaze says slowly. “Iwill deal with Peter.”

Before Draco can protest, he raises his hand to stop him from arguing. “No. You simply aren’t strong enough.”

“He might not be, but I am.”

Adler’s hand finds my thigh, and he squeezes it, showing his support. All eyes turn toward me. Demi, the hunter, raises her eyebrows and her lips curl back in approval.

“I like that idea,” she says.

Blaze shoots her a nasty look and shakes his head. “You’re not strong—”

“I am.” My voice fills with the full force of my luna power, and a smug smile tugs at my lips when he snarls in response. “Iamstrong enough.”

“Have you ever killed before?” He leans forward, placing his elbows on his legs.

Crap. “No, but—”

“Has your wolf ever killed a shifter?”

“No. It doesn’t matter what I have or haven’t done. I can take him down. He killed over twenty-four shifters. If that’s not enough motivation for me to take care of him, I don’t deserve to be luna.”

“Raven,” Carter cautions, but I pat his leg.

“I mean every word. The shifters in this academy, even the ghosts who once resided here, are part of my pack.”

Blaze’s eyes flash yellow, not liking my defiance one bit, but tough luck, buttercup. I don’t glance away from him. He’s assessing me, checking me over, so I tip my chin up and stare into his scrutinizing gaze. I’m not worthy of my title if I can’t save my people from their tormentor. I already took care of half the problem by getting rid of Jinx, but her death was easy. I didn’t have to tear her apart. I didn’t have to rip into her throat and bite through veins. I didn’t have to watch the life fade from her eyes.

Killing Peter will be a true test of what it means to truly be an alpha.

I will help you destroy the pathetic piece of wood.

Now is not the time for dick jokes, Joan.

Says you.Still, she settles back in my mind, waiting for the alpha’s final determination with begrudging respect.

“All right,” he concedes. “But if you do not kill him within ten minutes, I will do it for you.”

Ten minutes doesn’t seem like very long, but Joan tips her head back and howls in triumph, so I nod and say, “Deal.”

Evelyn claps and wiggles in her seat. “It’s likeCelebrity Deathmatch, except no one is famous, and there are wolves.”

“So nothing likeCelebrity Deathmatch?” one of the tattooed men drawls.

“Shut up, Grayson.” Evelyn huffs.

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