Page 44 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

Ha! I told you it was a good idea! All these times you held me back. Imagine how many asses we could have bitten!

Joan,I begin, but she chuffs and interrupts me.

Yeah, yeah. Not now. I know.

“Here,” Everett says, pushing clothes into my arms and standing in between me and Blaze. “I brought you an outfit.”

“Thanks.” I pull on the thong, shorts, and shirt as fast as I can with the aches I feel, then give him a quick peck on the lips when I finish. “You think of everything.”

“Damn right I do.” His chest puffs out with pride and I laugh.

“Who’s taking care of the body?” Brayden asks, shoving Everett out of the way and scooping me into his arms.

“I think it’s time for a bonfire, don’t you?” Draco grabs me from his twin and squeezes me tight. “Maybe the vampires can go get marshmallows?”

“Oh, Ilovethe giant ones,” Evelyn says. “Let’s do it.”

Carter taps Draco’s shoulder, waiting like a gentleman for his turn to wrap me in a tight embrace. His hand runs over my tangled hair, and he kisses my forehead. “I knew you could do it.”

My heart swells with happiness. I don’t feel bad for killing Peter, and I’m glad none of them are looking at me any differently than they did before. Carter gently pushes me toward Adler, who stares down at me for a beat before snatching me off the ground and lifting me into his hold. I wrap my legs around his middle on instinct, and he hums in approval, kissing me hard. When he sets me back down, my head spins with desire. Blaze is rubbing his jaw in thought as he studies our group.

I get it. We’re a little unconventional.

“Evelyn.” Her name rumbles out of his mouth with so much emotion I do a double take to make sure I heard the right person say it. “Go get the marshmallows.”

The vampire squeals and does a little happy dance before flashing away in a rush of excitement.

Guess that answers Brayden’s question. We’ll all take care of the body together.

Chapter 17

DRACO

Despite my begging, Raven makes us send Peter off the same way we did Howard. The asshole doesn’t deserve such kindness, but she insisted we couldn’t roast marshmallows in good conscience over a burning body, especially if it made them taste funny.

So here we are, sitting around a boring little fire near the riverbank, roasting marshmallows with Blaze and a group of vampires. The terrifying one with the knives keeps looking at the big vampire like she wants to choke him, and it only seems to make him smile. Such an odd dynamic but there’s a balance to them that’s impossible to ignore. The other two male vampires fit perfectly in too, almost like they’re the buffer between the two aggressive ones.

Kind of like how Raven balances the five of us. She has her hands full, but she hasn’t complained once. I watch her wrap those plump lips around a burnt marshmallow, and I have to adjust myself in my pants. Everett nudges me with his elbow and snickers, sticking his tongue out at me. I roll my eyes at him but smile all the same.

Yeah, it’s impossible not to be aroused when she moans about the snack. Brayden coughs into his hand, stands up, and walks into the trees. Carter watches him walk off with a raised eyebrow, laughing under his breath.

“That should be illegal,” Adler mutters to me, snatching my untouched fluff on a stick from me. He aggressively bites it off and chews, narrowing his eyes on where Raven sits with her friends.

“How much do you think she’d fight if we locked her up?” I muse out loud, only half serious.

“Enough that we’d be miserable, I’m sure.” Carter runs his hands through his sandy blond hair.

“Hmm.” I rub my thumb over my bottom lip, winking at her when she glances in my direction. Her eyes widen slightly and pink crawls up her neck.

She’s so easy to unsettle.

“Raven, we need to talk. Alone,” Blaze says, standing from where he’s sitting next to Evelyn. The alpha has been too quiet after the incident with Peter, and the look on his face now has me worried.

Moving to her side with supe speed, I face him and give him a serious look.

“Settle, Zeta. I’m not going to hurt her.”

I laugh, the sound filled with jagged glass and distrust. “Surely you understand why I have a hard time believing that.”

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