Page 33 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

Demi is twirling a piece of her hair around her finger. “Should I hunt him down?”

“You won’t be hunting anything.” Mateo grabs hold of her arm to keep her in place, and she pouts.

“I’m pregnant, not dead! I can hunt a fucking wolf.”

Mateo leans into her space. “Think of the baby.”

The look she gives him could melt a glacier, but she huffs and glances away. “Fine.”

“We don’t need to hunt him down. He’s coming here tomorrow.”

And tomorrow, I will kill the bastard.

Chapter 13

EVERETT

My wolf rages inside my head, telling me I should be the one to kill Peter. I should be protecting our luna. He thinks I’m weak for letting her take care of him but there’s nothing wrong with stepping aside and admitting someone else, a woman even, is more capable of dealing with the problem.

We can’t let our mate risk death,he says, trying to convince me to talk her out of it.

Our mate can make her own decisions. You know how strong she is. She can do this.

She’s never killed before! What if she hesitates and he kills her?

It is a possibility, and I recognize his frustration stems from worrying about her. Raven is stronger than any of us know. I see it in the way she studies the room, which is now full of changed shifters, our vampire companions, and Blaze. Her jade irises flash with a fierce determination. Unshakeable stubbornness.

She has to do this, if not to save them, then for herself. I don’t know if the luna instinct is what drives her, or if her protective nature is inherent. The changed shifters gravitate toward her, sucked into her orbit without even noticing what’s happening. She claimed them in front of everyone. Teaching at the academy over the years has taught me enough to know that the entire dynamic of our group has changed. Instead of being a small pack of six, we now have the luna, her harem, and the lower pack.

Our people.

She’ll be fine,I tell my wolf.Besides, Blaze won’t let Peter kill her.

You’d let him protect her?His voice is so loud in my head that I wince.

Seeing as he will absolutely kill Peter in the blink of an eye, yeah, I’d let him protect her than have us jump in and struggle to best him. We’re not evenly matched. Even with the bond giving us a little more power, we still aren’t as strong as Raven or Peter.

I don’t like it.

I nod.Honestly, I don’t either, but we can’t put her in more danger by letting our ego get in the way.

I particularly despise when you’re rational,he says with a gruff voice.

Ha. Well, sorry dude. Facts are facts. Can we at least agree that we hate every second of her being in danger, but know that she’ll find the strength to handle it?

Fine.He retreats inside my head, probably stewing in his frustration, but he’s come around to the idea. Arguing with him makes me sick to my stomach, so I’m glad we’ve come to a truce, even if it is tense.

Hopefully I’m not wrong.

* * *

RAVEN

The rest of the afternoon is awkward to say the least. Our company, while nice, made everyone uncomfortable. Four vampires, a hunter, and Blaze. Talk about power dynamics that put everyone on edge. Most of the time is spent going over what happened with Jinx and how Peter was involved, which means I’m busy playing hostess.

“I’m so hungry,” Demi mutters to herself around dinner time.

Sucking in air between my teeth, I grimace. “One thing we’re short on is food.”

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