Sweat beaded on my forehead as I focused on my hands. Joints cracked and the skin on the back of my hand moved like there was something crawling under it. I ignored the pain and kept a gentle pressure on the balloon so it didn’t drop to the floor. Fur sprouted from my hands, and then I felt the muscles in my forearm twitch in anticipation. I grit my teeth and willed them to stay human. The claws sprouting from the tips of my fingers wavered, and I took a steadying breath, and slowly pushed the transformation, so as not to puncture the balloon with their razor-sharp tips. And then a grin spread over my face.
I glanced to Jared and he raised a hand.
“Eachlais.”
The portal sprung into existence, and I dropped the balloon. I reached for the hem of my t-shirt, then realised I didn’t have time to shift back, remove my clothes, and then shift again, not if I wanted to find my rival and beat him.
I willed the heat to flash through me, cracking joints and twisting muscles. It took only seconds for the shift to race over me – it was like my body wanted to be all in the same form, and frankly, it was hard to disagree with that. It was creepy as all hell seeing wolf paws attached to human wrists. My clothes burst off me in tatters, and I landed on four legs in time to see Jared reaching for a broom. Beside it was a pile of fabric. My lips curved into a wolfish grin, then I dived through the portal.
I was in the woods, and my nostrils were immediately assaulted by a dozen scents. I could make out at least five separate shifter scents, three in wolf form, two in human. But it was hard to tell which was freshest. None of them smelled any stronger than the others, and frankly it was hard to make out anything at all above the stench of magic. I paused, and my lips peeled back in a grin again. The strongest scent. No-one said anything about it being a living creature I was tracking.
I sniffed the air again, bracing myself for the acrid tang. Someone had discharged a charm or a ward round here. I latched onto the trail, and followed it a few paces, but it came to an abrupt halt. I jerked to a stop, frowning. Instead of leading me to a fight, the strongest point of the trail was a dead end.
Except…
Except, I realised with a tingle of excitement, the magic from the charm would grow weaker with each passing moment, giving off less and less scent. I had to track it from the strongest point to the weakest. I turned tail and chased along the wooded track, my nose just an inch above the ground as I pounded along on four legs. I leapt fallen branches and dodged rabbit holes, and then, just as the scent became so weak I was worried I would lose it entirely, I burst from the trees and into a clearing. In the middle of the clearing, a circle was marked out in chalk. And in the middle of the circle, in his wolf form, stood Fletcher.
Shit.
Chapter Thirty-Two
I’d fully healed up by the last day of the semester a little over a week later – although it had been more than a little embarrassing turning up to the trials in front of the alpha pack black and blue and with a questionable limp. Or maybe it leant gravitas to my cases, who knew with those guys?
Not me, that was for sure – they had been deliberating for two days straight, and I hadn’t heard a word. And now, it looked like they’d keep me waiting beyond the end of the semester. I wondered if Draeven would send someone to bring me news when they reached a verdict, or if no-one would take the time to track down one Bitten cur.
“Are you going to keep looking out that window all day, or are you done?”
“Huh?” I turned and saw the other four watching me. “Oh, sorry. Yeah, I’m done.”
“Good,” Mei said, stooping to grab her bag in one hand, and reaching for Dean’s hand with her other. “Because they’re going to be giving out our results soon.”
“Aye, lass,” Cam said, wrapping his arms around my waist. “And breakfast.”
I turned round and caught his lips in mine.
“Eugh, that does it, I’m going,” Leo said, turning for the door. “Seriously, between the four of you, I don’t even know why I bother coming here anymore.”
I chuckled but caught Cam’s hand and followed Leo out of the room. The five of us made our way through the bustling hallways to the main hall for what would most likely be the last time. A strange melancholy settled over me. When I first came here, I couldn’t think of anything worse than being stuck inside the academy’s walls. But now I wasn’t sure I was ready to leave it all behind. Shaun had helped me redo my submission for UCL, complete with my cover story for the last three years, and I was finally on the verge of picking up my life where I’d left off almost three years ago. I should have been happy.
“What’s on yer mind, lass?” Cam said in my ear, as we collected our breakfast trays from Mickey. I shook my head.
“Nothing. Just thinking about our results.”
“Aye, and I’m a bear shifter,” he said. His smile took my breath away and drove my pity-party from my mind. Whatever happened after I left here, Cam was going to be a big part of my future.
The five of us headed to a table near the back of the hall and for a moment, the presence of food killed all pretence of conversation. Mickey’s cooking was definitely something I’d miss, and I was starting to understand why fully qualified shifters spent so much time at The Wolf and Sheep. After Draeven had saved the owner’s life during Brad’s attack, shifters were more welcome there than ever – and he’d promised me a discount. Which was great, since another three years studying at law school meant another three years with no real source of income.
I was so caught up in my thoughts – and yeah, okay, the food – that it took me a moment to realise that the whole room had gone silent. I twisted round to the door and saw why. Cam was still cramming food into his mouth, so I stomped on his foot. He hissed, almost committing death-by-egg in the process, and finally followed the direction of my gaze.
Alpha Draeven was here.
As I watched, he and Blake headed to the podium at the front of the hall.
“Good morning, everyone,” Blake said, and every eye in the room that hadn’t already been on him picked him out – and then moved to Draeven.
“Your exam results will be handed out to you shortly–” He nodded to a couple of the instructors, who started working their way round the hall armed with stacks of envelopes, “–but in the meantime, a few words. It has been a trying year, and I am proud of the actions of each and every one of you. As you all know, our community has grown in unexpected ways, and I hope those of you who will be returning next year will make our new students welcome.”
I glanced over at a small cluster of people round one table, whose ages varied and who hadn’t been here when the year started, and hoped that they had an easier ride of it than I had. None of them had shown any signs of magic, but they were still Bitten curs, and the shifter world still had a long way to go when it came to tolerance.
“Portals will be opened from mid-day to return each of you to your packs. Please see departure times at the back of the hall. The rest of the morning is yours to do with as you please.”
Blake stepped back from the podium and fell into conversation with Draeven. I strained my ears, trying to make out what they were saying. The soft thump of an envelope landing on the table cut across my focus, startling me. I glanced up guiltily into Shaun’s face.
“I’m sure if they’d wanted you to know what they were saying, they’d have invited you to join them,” he said. My cheeks heated, but he only smiled. “It’s been good working with you, Jade. Don’t be a stranger.”
“Uh, you’re assuming I passed.”
“Aren’t you?”
I blinked, but he was already turning to pass some envelopes to the next table along.
“Okay, that was weird,” I said, flipping over my envelope, and then froze, one finger under the flap. I had been assuming I’d pass. What if I didn’t, and had to repeat the year – what would happen to my UCL application then? I tilted my head, turning an analytical eye on the thought as it ran through my head. It didn’t bother me a
s much as it should have.
“Are ye going tae keep us in suspense all day, lass?”
“Hey, no-one’s stopping you opening yours first.”
“Good point,” Leo said, and tore open his envelope. He scanned it, then grinned. “Passed. Time to get rid of this cuff.”
He raised his wrist a fraction, flashing the cuff, and I smiled. The cuff was one thing I wouldn’t be missing about this place. The assignments were another.
Mei opened hers, and I didn’t need to see the smile on her face to know she’d passed. I knew that before we even walked into the room. No-one worked as hard as she did.
“Well?” Cam said, nudging me.
“Uh, you first.”
“Ah. A feral shifter doesnae scare ye, but an envelope?” He shook his head in mock disappointment, then ripped open his own. I twisted round to scan it and saw more than one subject marked with ‘excellent pass’. That was one of us spending next year in the highlands, at least.
I sucked in a breath and opened my envelope, scanning my result sheet for the words that would extend my sentence here. I wasn’t sure if I was pleased or disappointed when I didn’t find them.
“Well done, lass.”
A squeal erupted from somewhere across the hall, like nails down a chalkboard. I turned round and saw Madison hugging her intended, the heir to a small pack in Wales. No prizes for guessing what exam results she’d got. There was a time that the sight of her flaunting herself with her latest beau would have turned my stomach. Now it just filled me with pity.
I twisted back round in time to see Dean pulling his results from his envelope. I couldn’t read them from this side of the table, but the tightness left his eyes and the tension left his shoulders. Mei leaned close against him. I couldn’t help but feel that whatever future they were both going to face out there in the real world, they’d be facing it together. Madison might not have meant to, but she’d done him a favour last year.
He was still staring at his results when movement at the entrance of the hall caught my eye – the doors swung open, and a lithe figure stepped through, with dark hair hanging loose around her pale face. She paused to look around, then moved timidly into the hall, letting the doors swing shut behind her.
“Dean,” I hissed, kicking him under the table. He turned to me, and I nodded at the figure. His sister. Tara. His mouth popped open, and then pressed together in a wary smile.
“Yer did it, lass,” Cam murmured in my ear. I grinned. I had done it. If Tara was back, then the alpha pack had cleared her of all charges.
Her eyes flitted amongst the tables as she moved through the packed room, the tightness around her mouth the only sign she gave that she could hear the whispers following her. Eventually, she spotted an empty table off to one side and moved towards it, locking her gaze on it like accidentally meeting anyone’s eye would kill her.
“Tara,” I called, waving a hand in the air. Her head whipped to me and the room fell deathly silent. “Over here.”
For a moment, I thought she would ignore me – she’d barely spoken a dozen words to me at the trial – but then she turned and moved in our direction. The whispers started up again, and this time, I caught my name amongst them more than once. Whatever. People had gossiped about me before. It hadn’t killed me then, and it wasn’t about to kill me now.
Tara paused when she reached us, twisting and entwining her hands.
“Is it…” She flicked a glance at Dean and back to the table. “I mean, are you sure it’s okay for me to sit here?”
“Tara,” Dean said, and waited until she looked at him. “You will always be welcome at my table.” Mei squeezed his hand with a smile, and he amended, “Our table. What happened in the past is behind us.”
Tara offered Mei a shy smile and pulled out a chair. After a long moment, she sucked in a breath, and turned to me.
“Thank you. I, uh, I’d probably be dead right now if you hadn’t done what you did. And I was so horrible to you all year, I–”
“Tara.” I reached over and placed my hand over hers, pretending not to notice when she flinched. “I’m glad I could help. And it’s like Dean said, everything else is in the past now. The important thing is you’re safe.”
I frowned.
“But you didn’t get to take your exams.”
She looked faintly bemused, so I elaborated.
“You’re going to get held back a year. And your friends…”
“Yes. I’ve already spoken to Alpha Blake. I’ll be repeating first year, but it’s okay. Honestly. And I didn’t make that many friends this year, I was too busy… being stupid.”
She ducked her head and stared at the table. Yeah, I’d seen the sort of ‘friends’ she’d made at the start of the year. It wasn’t easy, being a cur and the daughter of a convicted traitor. Small wonder she was easy prey for Brad. In truth, it would probably do her some good to have a fresh start, surrounded by new faces. But I wasn’t about to let her carry her mistakes of this year with her.
“Not stupid,” I told her. “Believe me, you weren’t the only person to be taken in by them, nor the first.”
“Aye,” Cam said, nudging me with an elbow. “I dinnae think yer in bad company there, lass.”
I rolled my eyes, but my retort was cut off by someone at the front of the hall clearing his throat loudly.
“Congratulations to those of you who have passed,” Blake said, “and commiserations to those who have not. You will be free to begin your preparations to leave shortly, but first, our Alpha of Alphas, Alpha Draeven, would like a few words.”
Blake moved aside, making room for Draeven to step up to the podium. He’d never addressed the entire student body before, and I could practically smell the anticipation in the room.
“Good morning,” Alpha Draeven said, his low rumble carrying easily through the entire hall. Tara ducked her head, not quite looking at him. I didn’t blame her. He scared the crap out of me, and I’d been on his side.
“The atrocities committed last month will be remembered through the ages.” He swept his gaze throughout the hall, and not a single person met his eye. “As will the bravery of those who fought against the ferals carrying them out. The actions of Alpha Blake and your other instructors in defence of Sarrenauth were admiral. They did not act alone. Leo Boulton.”
Leo’s head snapped up, and he narrowly avoided making eye contact with Draeven in his shock.
“Some battles we fight with tooth and fang; others with words and diplomacy. Your negotiations with the Druid Grand Council spared a great many lives. For your actions, I acknowledge you, and appoint you official emissary of the alpha pack to the Druid Council.”
“Yes, Alpha Draeven,” Leo said, bowing his head deeply, but I could see the grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “I will not disappoint you.”
“I have no doubt.” He dipped his chin a fraction to Leo, and my friend’s chest swelled with pride. Draeven continued. “As an alpha, I am expected to fight to protect my pack. But sometimes, the best way to protect them is walking away from a fight. It takes a true alpha to recognise those times. Dean Cooper, rise.”
A dozen sharp whispers broke out around the hall, and quickly fell quiet as Dean scrambled to his feet.
“Many shifters here owe you their lives, and our community repays its debts. I award to you the rank of alpha, and dominion over the lands that were once your father’s. I have no doubt you will rule them fairly and with courage.”
“Thank you, Alpha Draeven. I will strive to be worthy of such an honour.”
Draeven dipped his chin again, and Dean sank back into his seat, looking dazed.
“I recognise also Cam Fraser of the Lachlan Pack, and the leopard shifter, Mei-Ling Yuán, for their roles in protecting and evacuating the students of this academy. Thanks to their combined actions, not a single student was killed… although one tried her best.”
Uh-oh.
Draeven’s eyes sought me out. I didn’t duck my c
hin – because why break the habit of the last three years? It meant I was probably the only person who caught the amused gleam in his eye.
“Jade Hart, wolf shifter and Bitten cur, I, Alpha Draeven, Alpha of Alphas, officially commend you for your actions during the battle of Sarrenauth Academy. You risked your life in defence of this academy and were instrumental in the defeat of its aggressors, at great personal sacrifice to yourself. Your commendation will be a matter of record, acknowledged by the entirety of the alpha pack. And I grant you a private audience. Immediately.”
I stared at him and blinked as he stepped down from the podium. The whispers had started up again – and this time my name featured more than a few times. It took Cam elbowing me in the ribs to break me from my daze.
“I dinnae think yer should keep Alpha Draeven waiting, lass.”
“Uh, yeah. Good idea.”
I got to my feet, almost sending my chair flying.
“Do yer want me to come with you?”
I shook my head. “I think he meant the whole private thing. I’ll be back soon.”
I hope.
I took a deep breath, then cut my way across the room and followed Draeven out into the hallway.
The door swung shut behind me, dulling the rising noise of chatter from the students. I dropped into a crouch on one knee and directed my gaze to his feet, because honestly, commended or not, I wasn’t completely sure I hadn’t somehow landed myself in a whole heap of trouble. Never mind ‘grant you a private audience’, he’d summoned me, and in my experience, that tended to end badly.
“I see you, Jade Hart. Rise.”
I got up, still keeping my eyes low.
“And I see your improvement in manners.” He snorted in amusement, and I lifted my head. Amusement was good, right? “You’ve come a long way in the last three years.”
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