‘Why didn’t you say anything? You let me carry on thinking you were responsible.’
He smiled at me and his eyes lit up. ‘You were dealing with enough without having to think about me and your mother, Mia. After Ethan injected you I spent hours at your side trying everything to save you. Cody told me what the two of you had overheard and I realised that was the trigger that forced your full shift to werewolf. I couldn’t spare you the anguish and pain of turning, but I most definitely wanted to save you from further despair.’
‘So you would have allowed me to think the worst of you to keep me safe?’
‘Always,’ he said softly.
It was at that moment I realised how far we’d come as father and daughter. He had lost the love of his life, and very nearly lost his only daughter, but instead he’d shown a strength of character that made me proud to call him family.
It wasn’t only me he was helping either. With the destruction of the Mills farm, Sebastian had offered his cottage to Zak and the pack. He had moved into rooms on the third floor of the academy so he could stay close to his work.
We had all found our way in the end. Elizabeth and I were due to return to our old dorm room. Lizzie wanted to continue with her studies but Miss Ross had other plans for me. With my personal knowledge of being a hybrid, and the realisation that it wasn’t as rare as we first thought, I’d been offered a position as a tutor. I was in the process of developing a new course about the history of the hybrid and the talents we possess to share with the students.
A hush fell over the room as Miss Ross called for attention.
‘I’d like to ask all the students to make their way through to the library, so please take your places as quickly as you can, and we’ll begin.’
We followed the crowd and spilled out into the library. The shelves had been pushed to the sides of the room, and hundreds of folding chairs filled every inch of the thick burgundy carpet except for a walkway through the centre.
We took our place on the front line where Miss Ross had put reserved signs on a row of seats. My skin tingled, and my stomach fluttered when I thought about the future. Not only the future of Hood Academy and its students, but my own outlook. I was a hybrid: half hunter and half wolf. I could do things that neither hunters nor wolves could do. My skills were unique, and I took a tremendous amount of pride in being different.
Miss Ross and Sebastian stood on a raised platform at the front of the room and addressed the group.
‘Welcome to Hood Academy, everyone. It’s a joy to see so many of you here.’ Miss Ross’s voice was clear and strong, and I glanced around at the shiny faces of the new students as they hung on her every word. They’d heard the stories of the war between hunters and wolves, and the sickening way the old headmaster, Parker, had used the students as weapons.
They’d also listened to the stories of hunters and wolves working together, of students lost in the woods and being rescued by the packs, the tales of wolves standing over students to keep them warm until help arrived, and the aid given to wolves by the girls who helped Miss Ross in the hospital that night.
Good overcame evil. Darkness turned to light. Miss Ross knew how to capture the imagination of these girls and mould them into honest, caring, and tolerant human beings.
‘It’s my pleasure to introduce a special guest to you all today. Someone who is a large part of this community and who has been a tireless friend to both Sebastian and me, and a champion for this school. May I present Zak Roberts, alpha of the Ravenshood pack.’
I felt the air leave the room as the students turned in their seats and sucked in a collective breath, watching the alpha pad down the red carpet. Zak had chosen to attend in his wolf form so that he could show the girls what they were up against if they decided to follow the old ways.
He was as big as a horse, his powerful limbs visible beneath his glossy fur. He looked magnificent, and I savoured the lightness in my chest as I watched my brother mount the platform and stand beside Sebastian.
The students remained silent as Miss Ross cleared her throat, none of them taking their eyes off Zak.
‘I’d also like to introduce a few other members of Zak’s pack. Gentlemen, if you could join us here for a moment.’ She motioned for Cody, Terry, and Byron, who bashfully inched out of their seats and strode to the front.
Terry grinned at the young girls in the front row, and I watched the red flush touch their cheeks in turn at his attention. Elizabeth giggled at my side too, and I rolled my eyes at her. Only Terry could manage to get half the school crushing on him.
‘These young men helped to secure the future of Hood Academy and the hunters’ oath. They fought side by side with some of our most determined hunters to banish evil and bring us into the light. Can we give them a round of applause?’
The library erupted into claps and cheers as my friends waved and grinned at the audience. Elizabeth and I joined the chorus of cheers and laughed as they each took a bow in turn.
Once the noise had died down Miss Ross winked at me from the stage.
‘Finally, I’d like to present to you one of our newest tutors, an ex-student, and a unique young woman. Mia, will you join me?’
Elizabeth squeezed my fingers as I stood and I felt her strength mesh with my own as I faced the sea of expectant faces. They seemed so young, and yet they were only a year or two younger than me. I’d turned seventeen during the weeks we spent destroying the Evermore warehouses and saving our friends. I’d registered the day but didn’t tell anyone. At the time it wasn’t important, but now I knew it had marked a new beginning for me.
‘Thanks, Miss Ross.’ I smiled across at my godmother, and she nodded. She knew I was ready to face the future and embrace who I was and I was grateful for her continued guidance. ‘I’m here to share something very special with you all. Something that will cement the future of this academy and give us all something to fight for. Standing together makes us stronger, and we can learn so much from one another. Zak is—’ I swept my hand out towards the alpha, who held his head high as he watched me speak. ‘Zak is not only a fierce and loyal alpha, but he is also my brother.’
There was a rippling of whispers from the students.
‘Cody isn’t just another member of Zak’s pack, he’s my boyfriend. Miss Ross is my godmother as well as my headmistress, and Dr Roberts, well, Sebastian is my father, and I am proud of each and every one of them. We have been through so much together, but we’re still here standing shoulder to shoulder, and that’s a beautiful thing.’
There were tears in Elizabeth’s eyes as I glanced over at my friend. Adam smiled up at me with a fire in his eyes that told me he was as much a member of my pack as everyone else. Cody, Terry, and Byron beamed at me from their seats, and near the back of the room, I caught the twirl of a pigtail as Ari bounced up and down in her seat.
History had been made today, and we were all a part of it. I felt the warmth of Zak’s fur as he moved to stand beside me and the touch of a cool hand slip into mine as Sebastian stood on my other side.
‘I’m so proud of you, Mia.’
I smiled up at the man who had saved me, even if I hadn’t known it at the time. I smiled at the man who had loved my mother unconditionally, and I smiled at the man he would become. ‘Thanks, Dad,’ I whispered.
I turned back to the assembled group and cleared my throat. ‘I’d like to share the hunters’ oath with you.’
As one, the students stood up and placed their hands on their chest. They waited eagerly for me to recite the words and invite them into the community. I’d never felt so proud in my life. Finally, I knew where I belonged, and I knew who I was, and as I glanced over at my friends, family, and pack, I knew I was home.
‘To every pack, a cub is born, and every hunter gets their dawn. Nurturing friendships that grow deeper, united together as an Oath Keeper.’
Thank you first and foremost to my parents for their unwavering support of everything I produce. Mum, you are the
best saleswoman in the world. Thank you.
Thank you to my daughter’s friend, Elizabeth, for the loan of your beautiful name—I hope our Elizabeth did you proud.
A huge thank you to the team at BHC Press for working on my book and turning it into a living entity. I’m pretty sure I shall continue to squeal with delight at every cover you produce for many years to come.
Thanks to my wonderful editor, Sooz, for believing in my story, guiding me when I had my dark moments, and patiently waiting for me to emerge from the treeline.
Shelley Wilson’s love of fantasy began at the tender age of eight when she followed Enid Blyton up a Magical Faraway Tree.
Inspired by Blyton’s make believe world, Shelley began to create her stories, weaving tales around faeries, witches and dragons.
Writing has always been Shelley’s first love, but she has also enjoyed a variety of job roles along the way; from waitressing to sales and marketing and even working as a turkey plucker.
Shelley lives in the West Midlands, UK with her three teenage children, two fish and a dragon called Roger. She is at her happiest with a slice of pizza in one hand, a latte in the other and Game of Thrones on the TV. She would love to live in the Shire but fears her five foot ten inch height may cause problems. She is an obsessive list writer, huge social media addict and a full-time day dreamer.
www.shelleywilsonauthor.co.uk
www.bhcpress.com
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