GRIMM Academy : The Complete Collection

by R L Medina

  I nodded. “Yes. I mean, no. I’m not very hungry. Can I be excused? I want to get some air.”

  And be alone with my thoughts.

  Dismissing myself at her nod, I left the table and headed outside to the garden. My body was buzzing with emotions and questions and if I wanted to talk to Grayson, I needed to quiet myself. I walked the garden path, hoping it would settle me. If I wanted to fall into deep sleep, I needed to relax. I sank down onto one of the benches.

  “Rose.”

  I gasped.

  Michael stood at the gate surrounding the property, motioning me over. I ran to him. Since he pulled me out of the fire, I hadn’t seen him or the others. He’d disappeared when the GRIMMs came.

  “Michael! You can’t be here. If my tío finds you… are the others okay?”

  His face was creased with pain.

  “No. Who?”

  “Not all of the pack made it out of the club, but most of us did.”

  A numbness spread through me. “Rafael? Lucian? The twins?”

  He blew out a breath. “All okay. No one you knew… well… except Cleo.”

  The vision of the dead witch filled my mind. I shuddered, pushing it as far away as I could. Guilt swept over me. Strangers. Dead because of me.

  “We were worried about you but didn’t want to check in, not with the GRIMMs all over you.”

  I nodded. “Thanks. Yeah, it’s probably better if you don’t get involved.”

  His eyes held my gaze. “Rose, there’s something else.”

  Fear filled me. What was it now? Luna Negra back?

  Michael hesitated, eyes darting away. His reaction was only freaking me out even more.

  “What is it, Michael? Just tell me.”

  “Lucian caught another shifter.”

  I frowned. It wasn’t what I expected to hear from him. What did another shifter have to do with me?

  “A jaguar shifter. His name is Manny.”

  The air whooshed out of me. I stumbled back, ears ringing. Manny. Papi’s killer. Only he wasn’t my birth father like I always believed, but he would always be Papi to me.

  “Rose?”

  I waved away his concern. “I’m fine. Where is he?”

  Michael studied me. Worried I would seek my own justice?

  “Where is he, Michael?” my words were ice.

  “Back at Raf’s house.”

  “Take me there. Now.”

  His jaw clenched. “Are you sure you’re ready to face him?”

  Heat spread through me. “Yes.”

  He looked unsure but nodded in agreement.

  I ran to the gate and punched in the lock code. My mind was a mess. I didn’t have my phone to tell Javi what I was doing, but I didn’t have time to grab it now. What if Rafael killed Manny before I got there? I wanted to face him. I’d waited long enough.

  Michael led me down the street to where his car was parked out of sight. The car ride was short and filled with heavy silence. Feeling guilty, I used Michael’s phone to text Javi to let him know I was safe so he wouldn’t worry. I didn’t get a reply.

  We pulled into the driveway and I was surprised to find Rafael’s house empty when we stepped inside. Where was the rest of the pack? Michael led me through the entrance and to the back of the house. Lucian stood in front of the basement door, arms folded. His eyebrow arched at the sight of me.

  “What is she doing here, Angel?”

  “You know. You know why I’m here,” I returned.

  He grunted. “Did Raf okay this?”

  Red dotted my vision. “Let me in, Lucian. You let me in, or I swear—”

  His eyes narrowed. “I don’t take orders from you, GRIMM.”

  My hand clenched. Why didn’t I think to bring my sword?

  “It’s alright, Lucian. Rose is our… friend.”

  Rafael’s voice startled me. Was he standing there the whole time?I glanced at him, trying to read the expression on his face. Did he send Lucian after Manny? Why? Did he know about me?

  Seeing him again, after knowing we shared the same father, unnerved me. I stared at him, for the first time recognizing the similarities. His eyebrow arched at my stare, making me turn away. The truth was too raw and cruel. I didn’t want to be related to the dangerous wolf though I was curious about what his father—our father—had been like.

  “Why are you standing there gawking at us?” Rafael’s deep voice broke my thoughts.

  His eyes were narrowed in suspicion.

  I flushed and shrugged my shoulders. Part of me wanted to tell him just to set the record straight about his father’s death. Didn’t I owe him that? But Grayson’s warning echoed in my mind. Don’t tell anyone.

  I followed Michael in, my palms growing sweaty. Flashbacks of the cemetery flickered in my mind. The rain. The coffin. Manny’s monstrous face. I swallowed the lump in my throat. After all this time, I was finally going to get answers.

  But they wouldn’t bring Papi back.

  Deep down, I knew it was my fault he’d died, but I had to do this. I had to face the shifter that started it all. Didn’t I owe my father that much?

  28

  The basement was cold and dimly lit. Just like last time. Only on the table now, lay Manny. It felt like an eternity as I made my way over to him. The memories of that horrible day replayed in my head and all the emotions came tumbling back.

  His skin looked deathly pale, and he’d lost so much weight, I hardly recognized him. He turned at my approach, those same dark eyes I’d seen in my nightmares. That would haunt me forever.

  “Rosita?” His voice was hoarse.

  I paused. He still looked human. His jaguar features still tucked away. Though even if I didn’t know who he was, my senses warned me of danger. The hairs on my neck bristled.

  Danger. Danger.

  Pushing away the fear, I forced myself to meet his gaze. “Tell me.”

  He wheezed. “Tell you what?”

  “Tell me why you killed him.”

  He flinched and shut his eyes. “It was an accident. The blood… the vampire blood. I couldn’t control the urges. He tried to help me. He didn’t know what was happening… he didn’t know to run. I tried to tell him.”

  Tears blurred my vision. Pain blossomed inside me as I pictured the scene. He didn’t even know he was walking into danger. He thought we were safe.

  “Why were you there? Why were you at the vineyard?” My voice cracked.

  I took a deep breath, trying to hold back the waves of emotion tearing through me.

  Manny sighed. “I was there for you. To take you to the coven. But after what I did… I couldn’t bring myself to follow their orders.”

  My face was wet with tears. There for me. It’s what I’d known all along but hearing him confess it drove a nail through my heart.

  It was my fault. My fault that Papi was dead. My mother’s fault too. Bitterness and anger wrapped around me. Did she ever love him? I knew he loved her, loved me, but the thought that she’d used him made my stomach church.

  “I’m sorry.” His voice was shaky.

  Rage unfurled inside me. Sorry?

  “Rose.” Michael intercepted me.

  I pushed away from him and tried to get past, but he held me back.

  “Let go of me!”

  “Not until you calm down.”

  “Let her go, Michael. Give her a weapon. She deserves the chance to avenge her father.” Lucian spoke up.

  Angry tears rolled down my face. My chest tightened with each breath I took in.

  “Not like this, Rose. If you do this, it will stay with you forever.”

  I yanked my arm from Michael’s grip and shook off his words. “I don’t care.”

  “No, but I do. I won’t let you do this to yourself. It won’t heal your pain. Trust me, I know.”

  My gaze shot to his. “You don’t. You don’t know my pain, Michael.”

  He stood between me and the shifter, a fierce look in his eye. “This will not honor your fa
ther’s memory, Rose. He would not want you to do something you’d regret forever.”

  I shuddered.

  “Just think about what you’re doing. Take some time and come back. If this is what you choose to do, I won’t stop you.”

  I sucked in a breath and closed my eyes. Memories of the past came flooding back. The familiar ache spread deep within me. I had to get out of there.

  Turning on my heel, I fled toward the door. My heart hammered in my ears as the memories kept pouring in. I ran for the beach, struggling to unlock the back door with my shaky hands. Tears welled in my eyes.

  The warmth enveloped me as I stepped out. I marched down the sand, not bothering to take time to take off my boots. Blinking back tears, I wrapped my arms around myself and steadied my breathing.

  A brilliant blue sky stretched before me, the sun peeking through wispy white clouds. Waves crashed along the shore. I breathed in the salty sea air and sighed. Already, I felt better. As good as I could feel given the current situation.

  “I’m sorry, Papi.” My voice was hoarse.

  I stared out at the gorgeous ocean. In the distance, surfers shouted as they made it past the first break. Hollowness filled me.

  Out of the corner of my eye, I caught someone walking toward me. At first, I thought Michael, but the dark curly hair didn’t belong to him.

  Rafael.

  My stomach fluttered with nerves. The realization of our relation still stung along with the guilt that I knew the truth about his father’s death, and I hadn’t told him.

  “Rose.” His voice was laced with warning.

  I waited for him to get closer. My heart hammered against my ribs. I should tell him. He should know, but what would happen afterwards? I didn’t expect him to welcome me into the family, but maybe he wouldn’t be so harsh.

  “Come back inside, please. I am not in the mood to chase after you and rescue you again.”

  “Rafael, I have to tell you something.”

  “Fine. Tell me inside.”

  “I know how your father died.”

  He stilled. His eyes locked onto mine. “And how do you know this?”

  “I found out when I was with the coven. One of the witches, she told me the truth.”

  He scoffed. “How do you know it was the truth?”

  Really? I was trying to give him the information he’d been searching for, and all he could do was get defensive?

  “My mom didn’t kill him. It was the supreme. Jimena.”

  “It doesn’t matter whose hand was on the blade. His heart was cut from his body and your mother was the one who led him to the witches. So, I’d say she was still at fault.”

  Stubborn ass.

  “No, she never led him there. He came after her. They were in love. She was trying to protect him by going into hiding.”

  Rafael’s eyes flashed. “Protect him? Protect him from what?”

  I took a deep breath. “The GRIMMs. My mom and your father… they were in love. They had a baby.”

  Rafael’s hand shot out, his grip digging into my arm. “Enough. Whatever the witches told you is a lie. My father was cursed by your mother. It wasn’t love. She used him. Made him betray my mother, his pack.”

  Pain bit into me from his iron hold. “No. You’re wrong. They were in love. I didn’t want to hear it any more than you do, believe me.”

  His eyes searched mine, furious and unforgiving. “There was no child.”

  I winced. “There was. It’s me.”

  He released me, shoving me away from him. “No.”

  “Don’t believe it if you want, but it’s true. I wasn’t exactly thrilled about it either.”

  We stood, locked in a silent stare. The waves crashed behind us and somewhere a seagull called, but we didn’t move. I couldn’t tell if the revelation angered him or surprised him more.

  “But you… you aren’t a werewolf. We would have sensed it on you.”

  I blinked, cringing at the image. “No. I didn’t get the gene.”

  He smiled, a cruel smile. “How lucky for you.”

  “Did you think telling me this would mean anything to me? You may be my father’s blood, but you are not mine. Go.”

  “What?”

  His hands turned to claw, his anger unraveling. “Go.”

  Fire lit in my belly. “I just wanted you to know the truth. About your dad. I’m not asking anything from you. You think I want anything to do with Los Reyes?”

  He lunged at me, his face morphing into a wolf. “GO.”

  I ran.

  Fear sparked inside me as I stumbled against the sand, heading for the house. I didn’t dare a glance back at Rafael. Not until I made it to the sliding glass door.

  He was gone. I stared at the spot we’d been standing, my body still thrumming with nerves. The wolf was obviously not ready for the truth. I scoffed. And I thought I had handled it badly.

  “Rose. Are you okay?” Michael’s voice startled me.

  I turned to him and plastered a reassuring smile on my face. “I’m fine.”

  His brow furrowed, but he didn’t question me. He pushed the door open further to let me inside. Cool air conditioned air hit me, making me shiver. All the sweat on my skin felt clammy.

  Ignoring Michael’s concerned gaze, I brushed sand from my clothes. “Can you take me back to my tío’s now?”

  He gaped at me. “Sure. If that’s what you want.”

  I nodded.

  “Where’s Rafael? He went out to get you.”

  My stomach turned. “I think he wanted some air. Went for a walk on the beach.”

  Michael frowned. “A walk on the beach? Is that what he said?”

  I shrugged.

  There was no way I was going to be the one to tell the wolves about our relation. Who knew what Rafael would do? I watched Michael out of the corner of my eye. Why couldn’t he have been my stepbrother instead of Rafael, the psycho?

  “I’ll tell Lucian I’m taking you back… he can tell Rafael.” Michael headed for the kitchen.

  I stood by the glass door and stared out at the beach. No sign of Rafael. Was he okay? Psycho or not, I still felt guilty for freaking him out, but it was the right thing to do. He needed to know the truth. What he did with it after that was up to him.

  Dread built inside me. What if he didn’t want me to see the others again? If he refused to let me come back? Wrapping my arms around myself, I shook my head at myself.

  You should have listened to Grayson.

  My shoulders slumped. Grayson’s face flashed in my mind, racking my guilt up another notch. Was he still alive? Dismissing the dark thoughts before they could grow, I turned to catch up to Michael.

  29

  “Where were you?” Javi was in my face as soon as I stepped inside.

  “Calm down. I’m fine.”

  His brow furrowed. “Calm down? You disappeared without a word, Rose. Where the hell were you?”

  “I texted you.”

  He snorted. “Yeah. With Michael. Be back later. What the hell, Rose?”

  I sighed. The past events had taken their toll on me and I didn’t have the strength to get into a fight with my cousin.

  “Rose? What happened?”

  That’s when the tears came.

  Javi swore and wrapped me in his arms. I clung to him, letting it all out. I sniffed and tried to tell him what happened, but I couldn’t get the words out without choking up.

  “It’s okay. It’s okay.” He squeezed me tight.

  After a minute of crying my eyes out, I was able to get myself back under control. I pulled away from Javi and cringed at the mess I’d left on his white shirt.

  “Sorry,” I murmured.

  He shrugged it off. “It’s just a shirt.”

  “I saw Manny today.”

  His eyes widened. “What? Where? At the school? Why didn’t you call me?”

  “The wolves found him. I was at their house.”

  “Alone?”

  My lips flatt
ened. “Lucian caught him. He was hiding in the city all this time.”

  Javi frowned. “LA? What was he doing there?”

  “The witches caught him and gave him an assignment there. Before Lucian took him.”

  “Is he still at their house?”

  I nodded.

  “Well, let’s go then. We’ll make the arrest.”

  “No, Javi. You can’t tell anyone.”

  He huffed. “What? Don’t tell me you’re going to let him get away with what he did.”

  “Of course not. But I don’t want the GRIMMs to take him. He can give us answers. About the witches. About the mole maybe?”

  Javi bit his lip. “Okay. If that’s what you really want, but Rose, there are other shifters we can grab for answers. We don’t have to keep him alive. Not after what he did.”

  “I know. I wanted to kill him, Javi. I think I was going to, but… Michael stopped me.”

  “Why?”

  “Said I would regret it for the rest of my life.”

  Javi snorted. “And you believe him? That son of a bitch killed your father.”

  “I know. I just… I’ll do it when I’m ready.”

  He opened his mouth to argue, but snapped it shut. “Okay. But how are we going to keep this from the GRIMM?”

  “The wolves will hide him.”

  Javi’s face scrunched in skepticism. “Yeah… but they’re kind of on the GRIMMs radar even more than usual. How are they going to hide this?”

  “I don’t know, maybe we can help them set up an extra ward or something?”

  “You’re going to need more than an extra ward,” Tío’s voice made me jump.

  Javi flinched. We turned to find his dad striding toward us. Fantastic.

  His dark eyes swept over us. “You’re going to need me. I’ll do it.”

  My mouth dropped. He was going to… help us? Javi looked just as surprised.

  He frowned at his father. “You’re not going to report it to the GRIMMs?”

  Tío’s jaw clenched. “I think I’ve proven that I know how to keep a secret from the others.”

  Javi and I shared a look. It was true, if anyone could keep the GRIMMs from finding out the truth, he could.

  “But… what about your trial? You’re already in trouble with the GRIMM.”