Page 72 of Dead Wolf Rising (Bad Moon Academy 3)

“I’m getting plenty in return. I was recently given the northwest territories to control. The more alphas on my side, the easier the transition will be. You’ll help my territory by running the school. You’ll have to show progress, of course. The Elders get quarterly reports on student progress, and they’ll expect you to come to the high pack meetings, as the luna of your pack. What name did you pick?”

“Pack Luna.”

“Mm. Good choice. Like I was saying, you’re not getting this all without strings. You’re officially part of the Pack North America, and as such, you’ll be called on from time to time if we need you.”

“What would you need me for?” I’m not going to be much help.

He shrugs. “Packs are called on for various reasons. You won’t be used for any fights or wars, we have other packs for that, but you might need to house students or do other education related networking for us.”

“Will this be a frequent request?”

“Probably not. Most packs can go for around twenty years without being called on. There are so many low packs within North America that the high pack can distribute the requests to keep things running as smoothly as possible.”

Hm. None of that sounds awful, and he gave me a better deal than I expected. I assumed he’d lowball me on the salaries, but it seems the pack values education. The money isn’t as good as a tenured professor might get, but it’s the equivalent to what I’ve heard adjunct professors might get at smaller colleges. The academy won’t be a campus with thousands of students. Hundreds is more realistic, so the money is fair.

“Are there any rules on what this can be used for?” I wave the card in the air. I already have plans for phones and maybe a car or two.

“No.” He sits back and drums his fingers on the arms of the chair. “Welcome to the pack, Luna.”

* * *

I’m still sittingbehind the desk an hour after Blaze has left. This is unreal. I read the letter again, blinking and checking the number of zeros to make sure I’m not hallucinating. Two-hundred thousand dollars a month in credit. Holy shit.

Laughing, I toss the paper onto the desk and spin the chair in a circle, grinning like an idiot. That’s more than enough for a car and some renovations. Next month we can get another car, maybe a school van, and then we should be set. There are so many things to plan and buy, I don’t know where to start.

“You know, for a headmistress, you’re acting pretty ridiculous.” Brayden’s hand stops my spinning chair, and I beam at him then smile at the other guys as they filter into the office.

“Did you hear everything?”

They all have supe hearing, and I know Draco, at the very least, eavesdropped.

His lips twitch when my eyes seek him out, and he nods. “Your negotiation skills are banging.” He winks and a flush rushes up my neck.

Carter scoffs and shakes his head, picking up the credit letter and staring at it. “Wow. I knew the pack was well off, but. Wow.”

“Two-hundred-thousand a month! And the salaries on top of that! We have so much to do. When can we get builders out here to fix the electricity and plumbing? We need to call a cleaning service… oh. Do they have supe friendly maids? Surely they do. And we’ll need to go buy a car. I think we should get a Chevy truck, but I’m good with a Tundra too. Toyotas are reliable. Next month we can get one of those big vans for students to use. And—”

“Whoa, there.” Adler laughs. “We’ll get it all sorted, but first, you should go let your pack know the official plan.”

My pack.

Moons, Joan! We have a pack!

She howls in delight and I stand, brushing past Brayden’s hard chest. He smacks my ass, but I’m not even mad. It feels so good to be happy.

This is it, right?

The happily ever after?

Right?

Chapter 24

BRAYDEN

The pure joy on her face makes every moment I have here worth it. She’s telling the pack about our new position, the academy, and what we’ll be doing going forward, only she’s much more composed than when we were in her office.

A familiar darkness unfurls inside of me, beckoning me to the depths of the Underworld. I clench my jaw and ignore it, hoping it’ll go away. Bile climbs up my throat the longer the sensation lingers, and I know I’m on borrowed time.

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