Page 40 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

“Thanks.” I screw my face up and shake my head as she walks off. “She’s odd.”

“She’s a vampire, they’re all strange.” Everett takes the seat she vacated and wraps his arm around my shoulders. “Are you ready for today?”

“As I’ll ever be. Joan is more than ready, so I’m hoping she’ll be able to take care of him for all of us.”

He rubs his jaw. “The beauty of being a shifter is being able to work together with your wolf. You’ll have to work just as hard as she does if you want to win.”

“I can’t fight,” I whisper, even though everyone can hear me if they really wanted to eavesdrop.

“Maybe not, but you can observe. You can help her see things she might miss in the heat of the fight. You’re the second set of eyes to make sure Peter doesn’t get the upper hand.”

Chewing another bite, I think over how I can help Joan strategize. She’s the one born to dominate. Our wolf form is big and powerful, and I can’t operate it. I can watch though, maybe he’s right. If I notice Peter trying to attack and she’s distracted by her own attack, I can let her know.

All you have to do is be present. Make sure you keep me aware of things, because when the time comes, I’ll only be able to focus on killing him.

I won’t let you down.Hopefully I’m not overpromising here, but Joan is as upset as I am about what’s been happening here at Bad Moon Academy.

Once we take care of Peter, no more shifters have to die for him. No more innocent lives lost for power. Is it ironic that Peter Parker’s uncle said,with great power comes great responsibility? Or is that a coincidence? Either way, he’s been abusing his alpha power, and over two dozen people have died for him.

If that isn’t enough motivation to take him down, I don’t know what is.

* * *

CARTER

After breakfast, I wrangle Raven away from everyone else. Without any better ideas, I take her to my room which is on the second floor. Her eyebrows rise in surprise when I let her in, and she lets out a low whistle.

“You were holding out on me, Professor.”

Her nickname makes me smirk, and I shove my hands into my pants. The bed is neatly made, corners all tucked in. The small stack of work I left behind a few days earlier is sitting in an organizer, so my desk is clutter free. Then there’s the shelves: color coordinated since I like the way it looks and not a speck of dust. Since the academy is always filthy, I make a point to keep my things tidy.

“I don’t invite just anyone to my room for a reason. I like my space, and I like things clean.”

Running her finger over the top of my bookshelf, she gives me a look.

“Are you even allowed to have this many bookshelves?” She turns back to one of three I have in my room and studies the titles.

“If I had more space I’d have more,” I admit. “These were collecting dust in one of the abandoned rooms on the west wing, so I took it upon myself to give them a good home.”

She hums and looks at me over her shoulder. “You’re such a nerd.”

“You know what they say about nerds, right?”

Her forehead wrinkles. “What?”

I try to think of something clever to say, because I hadn’t thought it through. “Ah, we like books.”

The laughter I get in response makes sounding like a dumbass worth it, because she full on snorts and then squeals in embarrassment, slapping her hand over her mouth and pinching her eyes shut.

“Oh my god,” she groans then chuckles. “That was an awful joke.”

“Not all of us can be Everett,” I say, leaning against my bedside table.

She laughs again and then picks a book up from the shelf. “The Life and Times of Esmond Gueard.”

“Ah, he was a famous vampire who made a name for himself sleeping with noblemen’s wives.”

“Huh.” She slides it in place and runs her fingers over the spines of a few. “Which book is your favorite?”

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