Total pages in book: 121
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 114617 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 573(@200wpm)___ 458(@250wpm)___ 382(@300wpm)
Eventually, they overpowered their captors, killed them, and got free, but after going through something like that together, they couldn’t fathom becoming the alphas of separate packs and being expected to go their separate ways and barely tolerate each other. So they didn’t.
It was because of them that even though we had different clans and different powers, we were one pack—always and forever.
It was also because of them that Corvin Academy went from alphas-only to a school and home for alphas, betas, omegas, and epsilons. A commitment to unity upheld every day.
“And they’re about to get some more fucking unity,” I muttered, sighing. “Everyone in that school is about to unite against one cause they’ll want more than world peace, vampire extinction, and all the riches in the world.
“Killing me.”
“No point fucking whining about it,” Lucia snapped. She couldn’t help it. She snapped everything. “I told you a million times you don’t have to go to that fucking school.”
“And I’ve told you a million times that I do.” My curious eye cast over the small, shifting faces going through the gates—wondering if any one of them were my fates. Wild that after all this time, I knew only their names and not their faces. “My fates were put into hiding after I killed Castor. For some reason, the alpha council thought I was going to hunt them down and kill them one by one,” I sang, making Lucia laugh.
“But they, whoever they are, will be here. Today. Now. There’s no way they’re going to delay entering the academy, because they wouldn’t even think they need to. Corvin is protected and locked down tight. There’s never been a successful attack against the school. They think they’re safe,” I said, gazing upon the students. “They all do.”
“They are safe. Because they outnumber you hundreds to one,” she snapped again. “You’re such a fucking idiot, Daze. They’re going to rip you to shreds before you put two feet past the gates.”
“It’s your sweet words and optimism that spur me on and brighten the day ahead.”
I could feel her rolling her eyes from the other end of the phone.
“As long as you hold up your end, I’ll be fine.”
“You’ll survive,” she corrected. “You won’t be fine. You’ll be very far from fine, Daze.”
I didn’t argue with her. I couldn’t.
“Where are you now?” she asked.
“I’m sitting in a tree, waiting for the right moment to make my grand entrance.”
“All right. Just do me a favor and keep the phone on and in your back pocket. Seeing as they’re most definitely going to slaughter you before you get a word out, I want to listen to you die. Hopefully it’s slow.”
“You’re a real sick bitch, you know that, right?”
Lucia laughed out loud. “Damn right I am. That’s why I’m your only friend.”
I shuddered. Not because it wasn’t true, but because it was. “Bye. Try not to drop dead before your usefulness to me runs out.”
“Same to you, mutt.” Click.
Shaking my head, I stuffed my phone in my pocket and resumed my silent vigil. Finally, the crowd began to thin out and most of the returning students ceased their screaming, hugging reunions and headed inside.
Quieter than a chipmunk, I climbed down the trunk and hit the dirt. This was it. After a year on the run, I was returning to wolf society—whether they liked it or not.
Head held high, I emerged out of the trees, stepping on the cobblestone path to Corvin Academy. The castle was even grander than my father’s stories led me to believe.
Ivory marble captured the sunlight and threw it back, casting glittering sunbursts on the verdant lawn. Soaring spires pierced the skies. Massive oak doors stood twenty feet high, more than big enough to welcome man and wolf. A short distance behind the main castle were a collection of smaller buildings—likely dorms and training rooms. And beyond all of that were miles and miles of forest.
My wolf stretched and paced inside of me, eager to burst free and run wild through those woods. It had been so long since I’d had a good, long cleansing run with nothing but the wind whipping through my fur.
I was three steps inside the gates by the time the first cry sounded. Take that, Lucia.
I grinned at the faces that whipped around me, eyes blowing wide before snarls ripped from their throats.
“Surprise,” I sang. “I’mmmm baacccck.”
“You!”
“Quick!”
“Get her!”
“Kill her!”
“Now, now,” I called. “Before anyone does anything rash, you might want to listen to—”
A hard force slammed into my back, popping me off my feet. My shout was cut short by a hard, vicious crack on the head.
Darkness took me.
“WAKE UP.”
Pain exploded in my cheek.
“Wake up!”
I blinked blearily, squinting under harsh, stabbing light. “Wha... What happened...?”
“I’ll tell you exactly what happened. You made your last and stupidest mistake, Daciana Volana.” My vision cleared on a tall, severe woman with short hair, thin lips, and a pantsuit that repelled wrinkles. “The alpha council is on their way. Your execution is at dawn.”