by Jen L. Grey
Year Two
Bloodshed Academy
Jen L. Grey
Copyright © 2020 by Jen L. Grey
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
About the Author
Also by Jen L. Grey
Chapter One
Flashes of the past surrounded me. Fall was upon us, but the memory of my teeth sinking into Ashley’s neck and the warm metallic taste of her blood filling my mouth made my eyes water. Even the way her body had looked as she took her last breath would always torment me. I’d killed out of self-preservation but having blood on my hands left me tainted.
Apparently, that made me worthy of The Elites. The letter that had been left on my pillow haunted me. At this point, I had the damn thing memorized, so I wasn’t sure why I even brought it with me.
Just thinking about it had the words appearing behind my closed eyelids.
Raven,
We’ve been watching you. Now we know you’re Elite material. Our mission is secret but very important. The very essence of our beliefs centers around improving the vitality of our supernatural society. To do this, we need strong leaders who can make hard decisions. If you decide you’d like to be part of this mission, leave a response at the place you took Ashley’s life.
Do not tell anyone, or there will be severe consequences.
-The Elites
“Raven, you’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?” Rage wrapped his muscular arm around me, his earthy scent filling my nose. He was my mate, the perfect other half to complete me. His shaggy brown hair had grown out a little more, and his chocolate eyes could undo me with just a look. The fact that he was so damn muscular and hot as hell was just an added bonus.
“Oof, you got some boney hips.” Damien groaned as I snuggled even more into Rage’s embrace.
The backseat was awfully small when I had a large man sitting on either side of me.
“I told her to sit up here with me, but you wouldn’t have it.” Cole glanced in the windshield mirror and stared straight at Rage. “She’d be safer up here than stuck between you two big cubs.” His blue eyes began to sparkle, and even though his window was down, his perfectly styled blond hair didn’t move at all. He loved giving Rage and Damien a hard time about their size because he was the smallest in both build and height than the other two.
Damien pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his golden eyes. “Wolves aren’t considered cubs.” It was always funny to watch Damien, the largest of all three and built like a freaking ford truck, put up with Cole’s smart mouth. He ran his free hand through his short auburn hair.
“I know. That’s why I called you that.” Cole grinned like he was proud of his accomplishment.
“People who put down others are trying to overcompensate for something.” Jess’s long ash blonde hair fell over her shoulder as she tilted her head. “So, what are you trying to overcompensate for?” Her violet eyes glowed. She was a force to be reckoned with despite her petite, waif-like frame.
“Me? Pfft.” Cole lifted his hand and waved it down his body. “This is absolute perfection in all ways and forms.”
It was odd to me that a vampire was so bubbly. If he’d heard me call him that, he’d probably have killed me.
“Don’t get all high and mighty just because you’re driving.” Jess leaned back in her seat. “Our first drive together, you almost killed us. One wrong move and it’s over.”
“Yeah, right.” Cole chuckled. “What’s a short fae like you going to do?”
She grinned and lifted her fingers, causing the car to reduce its speed. “Next time, I’ll stop it completely.”
Jess was one of my best friends. Well, to be fair, everyone in this car was one of my best friends. Somehow, even though I had never dreamed of going to the school Bloodshed Academy, I got three of the closest friends I’d ever had and a fucking awesome mate. “How about both of you stop before someone gets killed?”
“They bicker like an old married couple. Do you think that’s going to happen?” Rage arched a brow at me, and my heart kicked up a notch.
“Next time we stop, Damien can sit up front with Cole.” Then, Jess wouldn’t have to deal as much with his near-constant ramblings and chatter.
“What did I ever do to deserve your hate?” Damien clutched his heart before an evil smirk appeared. “Don’t worry. Your next training session will be my revenge.”
Thankfully that wouldn’t be for a few days yet. We were heading back to Clarksville, Tennessee to visit with my parents and other pack members for a night. I’d been extremely nervous about this because I knew my Mom would want to know what had happened to my crescent-shaped moon necklace once she saw my pendant from Rage. I hadn’t seen my parents in over a year, because at Christmas break, I wasn't allowed to leave campus. Since I hadn’t been in sync with my wolf, it was too risky to let me leave and visit family.
I’d been in a funk ever since I killed Ashley, so Rage talked the headmaster into letting us travel back to my home for the night. Her only stipulation was that her three most trusted students had to go with me, which so happened to be my mate and the other two knuckleheads in the car. Jess had refused to be left behind since all her ‘peeps’ were tagging along with me. Honestly, I felt the best when I was around the four of them anyways. They’d turned into more than friends—family.
“If you hurt her, I’ll kick your ass.” Rage glowered at him. “Bear shifter or not, I can take down your six hundred pound ass.” That was the only point of contention that he had with Damien. Damien had been training me to fight, and every time I’d come home with even a little scratch or bruise, Rage got angry.
“First off, I’m only six hundred pounds when I’m in my bear form.” Damien shook his head and met Rage’s gaze. “And secondly, be glad I’m training her or she wouldn’t be sitting here at this moment.”
That was a low blow, but it was a fact. Ashley had wanted me dead for many reasons, but the main one was Rage himself. She had wanted him, and it grossed me out to think about his and her physical relationship before I came to Bloodshed. I couldn’t hold it against him. It wasn’t like I was pure either. Still, because of Damien, I had been able to protect myself.
“Fine, but no revenge.” Rage’s hand tightened around my waist.
To be fair, Rage had a nightmare of his own that night. He saw me at the brink of death. It was something we were both getting through. Not something that would be quick and easy either. It was going to take time.
As we pulled into my parents' driveway, I wasn’t sure if coming back was the right thing. My parents knew I was dating someone, much to their chagrin, but not to the full extent of finding my true mate. They were hoping Greg and I would make up and get back together. After all, he was going to be the future alpha of our pack. For some reason, I always had a hard time letting them down. However, today, that was all going to change.
We all climbed ou
t of the car just as the front door swung open and both my parents rushed outside. When their eyes landed on the four people that traveled with me, they paused.
“Mom.” Cole cooed and strolled straight up to her, pulling her into a hug.
Mom’s body stiffened, but she was too shocked to resist the hug. She wrapped her thin arms around the vampire. Then she jerked back realizing who and what he was.
“Who the hell do you think you are?” Dad’s dark brown eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched at his sides. “You’re the one who took her away from us, and now you’re hugging my wife?”
“In all fairness, I was instructed to do that by the headmaster.” Cole threw both hands in the air like he was surrendering.
“Sorry, I didn’t know everyone was coming with me.” If I didn’t intervene my Dad might try to kill the annoying vampire. “Rage was coming originally, but the headmaster required that ding-a-ling,” I said as I pointed to Cole, “and my instructor to come too.”
Rage appeared next to me, taking my hand in his.
“Instructor?” Mom’s blue eyes raked scathingly over Damien. “First off, he’s a bear shifter and isn’t that old either.”
“Yes, I’m still a student, but I’ve helped other struggling shifters, so Isadora thought that I’d be the best fit for her.” Damien stepped next to me on my other side.
“And I came along because I’m her best friend.” Jess appeared next to Damien, her grin wide.
“If we are imposing on you, we can find somewhere else to stay.” Rage squeezed my hand.
“No, no.” Mom stepped back into the house and held the door open. “Of course, you’re all welcome to stay.”
Dad openly scowled at Rage’s and my joined hands. “But there will be a girls and boys room.”
“Of course.” Cole smiled and gave a quick glance in Rage’s direction. “I’m sure we’ll all follow that rule.”
“Let’s go in.” Cole was goading Rage, and now wasn’t the time for it. “I need something to drink anyway.”
Luckily, I could count on Jess to help me out. “Hell, yeah. I wanna see what your room looks like.”
“Excuse me?” Dad cleared his throat.
“I’ve got this.” Cole smirked at Dad. “She said, ‘hell, yeah …’”
“I know exactly what she said.” Dad crossed his arms, and a vein in his neck popped to the surface. “Although that’s not proper language from a lady.”
“Oh …” Cole waved his hands and shook his head. “Your first mistake was thinking she is a lady.”
“You jackass.” Jess placed her hands on her hips.
Cole leaned toward Dad as if he was telling him a secret. “See. My point is proven.”
I should’ve known Cole wouldn’t filter himself even with my parents. Honestly, that’s one reason why I loved him. He was who he was, and he wouldn’t be someone else just to please others. “So we’re here.” I walked into the house with Rage and the others close behind me. Dad finally entered the room as he stared all of us down.
The stairs were right in front of the door, but I turned left, heading into the living room. The television was on but muted. I headed to the worn, beige couch in the center as Rage and Damien sat beside me. Jess and Cole headed over to the matching loveseat while mom made her way to the recliner. Dad chose to stand, leaning on the wall behind mom’s chair.
“I’m sorry if we came off rude, but we weren’t expecting anyone else with Raven.” Mom smiled at my friends and sighed. “It’s overwhelming since we haven’t seen our baby in a while, and for her to show up with four other people … strangers…”
“Don’t worry.” Jess returned her smile. “We’ll make sure you get adequate alone-time with your daughter. I’m sure that the three bozos and I will find something to entertain us.”
“So you’re the one that my daughter is dating?” Dad frowned in Rage’s direction.
“Paul …” Mom glanced over her shoulder, giving him one of her infamous looks.
Luckily, I had warned Rage that my parents didn’t know that we were mates. I was afraid it would hurt his feelings, but it didn’t. He understood that my parents were already having a hard time adjusting to me being at Bloodshed, but he hoped that I’d tell them soon. I needed to and planned to do it on this trip, especially since they kept bringing up Greg every time we talked.
“You know y’all could’ve come to see me.” It upset me that they had refused to visit me on campus when they knew I couldn’t come home.
“Oh, we know honey.” Mom glanced at the carpet and picked at her fingernails. “But with you struggling so much with your wolf, we didn’t think it would be wise.”
I wanted to say, “Maybe it would’ve helped,” or, “Maybe if you hadn’t given me the necklace, I wouldn’t have struggled,” but it wouldn’t have changed anything. At the end of the trip, I wanted to have enjoyed my short two days stay here.
A knock on the door made the room eerily quiet.
“I’ll go get it.” Dad hurried out of the room like he couldn’t get away fast enough.
Mom bit her bottom lip, which was her tell, a definite sign for when she was unsure about something. Right as I was about to ask what was wrong, I heard an all too familiar voice.
“Hey, Paul. It looks like our special girl is back.” Jerry’s voice echoed all around the room.
If he was here, that also meant …
“I’d love a chance to talk to her when she has a second.” Greg’s tone was overly arrogant even from where I sat.
Rage tensed beside me. I squeezed his hand, trying to give comfort.
“Yeah, she’s right in here.” Dad appeared unsure, but he couldn’t refuse his alpha.
“I guess that vamp must have brought her here,” Greg muttered as they shuffled into the living room. Greg stopped in his tracks.
His dark brown eyes appeared black as he took in my hand joined with Rage’s. “What the hell?” His usual boyish good looks were a gave way to something darker.
“What my son meant to say is hello.” Jerry gave his son a warning glance and then turned to face everyone in the room. “We’ve been missing Raven badly. So, when we saw the red Audi parked out there, we just had to stop in.” Greg looked like an exact replica of Jerry when he was younger. “To be honest, we weren’t expecting a houseful of guests or we wouldn’t have barged in.”
“It’s no bother.” Mom laughed and stood. “We weren’t expecting a full house either, but I’m so glad they came. It’s nice to meet her friends.”
“How am I not surprised that you guys are together?” Greg scowled in Rage’s direction. “Let me guess. You guys started dating right after I left?”
The room became silent, but Rage met his eyes. “You will not talk to her that way.”
“Like hell I won’t.” Greg stiffened, and his eyes landed on me. “She will be mine again.”
That was all it took for Rage to come unhinged. “Let me be clear. She will never be yours.” He stood and quickly hurried over. He towered over Greg, staring him down. “You will respect her and realize you’ve lost her forever.”
“Hey now.” Jerry pushed his son a few steps back and placed himself between them. “You can’t come here and disrespect my son. This is our pack, not yours.” He turned to his son and pointed. “And you, behave yourself.”
Cole chuckled and leaned back in his seat. “This is going to be fun.”
Jerry’s eyes flashed as he took in the vampire. “Listen, bloodsucker, we don’t need any help from you.”
“If you expect respect, dog, then you need to learn to give it, too.” Cole’s voice turned cold, and he got to his feet, narrowing his eyes.
“Stop it.” This couldn’t be happening within the first few minutes of the visit. I could have bet my parents and Jerry had planned for Greg to talk to me so we could get back to what we were before Bloodshed. They hadn’t expected four other people to be with me, let alone my mate. “Let’s just clear this all up.” No one c
ould deny true mates. I turned and looked directly into Greg’s eyes. “We will never be getting back together.”
“Never?” Jerry huffed. “That’s a big statement.”
Rage’s jaw clenched, and his breathing increased.
I couldn’t imagine what he was feeling. If I were him, I probably would’ve lost it by now. Thinking of someone pursuing him made me crazy. It wasn’t fair to him, so I had to fix this fast. “It is, and that’s why I’m clarifying.” I took Rage’s hand in mine and squeezed it ever so lightly. “He is my true mate.”
“What?” Mom’s voice was barely a whisper. However, it wasn’t a look of surprise she was giving me. It was one of defeat.
“True mates don’t exist anymore.” Greg crossed his arms, ready to fight.
“Do you think you have a chance?” Cole stalked predatorily toward Greg as if he was prey.
“You always treated her like crap anyway.” Jess shook her head and wrinkled her nose. “It was appalling.”
“I did not.” Greg glanced at Jess. “See, this is the kind of lies she’s been fed the whole time at the academy.”
“Stop it,” Damien growled deep, and he appeared on my other side glaring at Jerry. “They are true mates, end of story. So what exactly are you trying to accomplish by being here?”
“She’s part of my pack.” Jerry lifted his head and straightened his shoulders. “We wanted to visit, and my son has been missing her.”
“You’ll find that we give zero fucks about a disillusioned asshole that’s pissed off because a girl doesn’t want to be his anymore.” Cole smirked and tilted his head.
-->