Flower Moon Rising (Lupine Hollow Academy Book 1)

by Quinn Arthurs

  “I didn’t see anything!” Chann objected with a pout. “I had my eyes closed. You were too busy muttering to yourself when I knocked, and I wanted to make sure you were okay.”

  “What did you think, someone was going to attack me in my own shower?” I seethed, stalking into my bedroom to grab clothing as he trailed after me.

  “Well, you were attacked in your own bedroom once before,” Zev pointed out helpfully. He was sprawled out on my bed with his eyes closed, making himself far too comfortable. I chucked a shoe at him, but the lazy bastard didn’t even bother opening an eye before he managed to catch it with ease. Over the last week, it’d become fairly easy to tell the pair apart, just as Shannon had promised me. They put on a good front, but the differences were there if anyone paid attention—from what I could tell, very few tried. Zev was more serious than his brother, more prone to brooding, sulking, or scowling despite his attempts to hide it by flirting and joking frequently. Chann’s humor and sweetness were as instinctual as his brother’s scowl, and he loved to laugh more than anything.

  “Bedroom, not bathroom,” I retorted. “Besides, you could hear me muttering to myself in the shower, that means you knew I wasn’t being attacked.”

  “For all I knew, you were muttering because you had a gag in your mouth,” Chann countered with a wink. I just groaned and threw another shoe at him. Although the twins were still in their uniforms, I took advantage of the lax evening rules, pulling a soft pair of leggings and an oversized school sweater from the closet. Even these pieces still prominently featured the school’s crest, marking me as a Lupine Hollow Pack member. An unprompted ache built for a moment in my throat as I wished that’s what I really was, rather than the interloper they happily accused me of being.

  “Nosy. That’s all the pair of you are is nosy.” I ducked back into the bathroom, tugging the door tightly closed so I could pull on the soft clothing. If I was going to spend another miserable evening in that damned library, then I was at least going to be comfortable doing it.

  “Come on then,” Chann encouraged me as I exited the bathroom, my damp hair hanging around my face. “If we’re going to keep being model students and studying until our eyes bleed, we may as well get on with it.”

  “Yeah, yeah.” I slid my saddle shoes back on, unwilling to have my toes frozen in my flip-flops. I grabbed my bag, making sure to lock the door securely behind us as we headed back to the library. At this point, I could probably have found my way blindfolded, but I was never allowed to wander the halls alone—not that I really wanted to. I was perfectly fine keeping my body in one piece. “Please tell me that next year I’ll have a different teacher,” I begged them.

  “Most likely,” Zev assured me, as we headed for our usual spots along the back wall, buried in the stacks of books. The first night we’d been in the library, we’d been the subject of many stares and whispers, but after some growling by Alarick and the twins, we’d been left in peace—a peace no one seemed anxious to break, as they gave our alcove a wide berth.

  The library probably would have been one of my favorite spots on campus with its dark wooden walls, plush velvet chairs, and comforting scents of books around me in the hushed air, however, at this point, it seemed to be as torturous as Ms. Shaw’s classroom. I knew the crazy woman would be throwing yet another impossible test at me. She didn’t even allow me a chance to learn anything to be tested on—she seemed solely focused on breaking my spirit, or at least crushing it further than she already had. I hadn’t considered myself dumb before entering this school, but now the thought was pounded into my head every day by the maniacally wicked wolf. As if that wasn’t bad enough, she adored Rhiannon, frequently singing the praises of the other girl as she glared down her tiny nose at me.

  “Pixie!” Shannon chirped, her usual warm smile a balm to my senses as I flopped down onto the chair next to her. I happily accepted the hug she offered. I’d already come to crave the constant physical contact of the shifters around me. “Here, look what I made you.” She pulled a pretty, woven cloth band from her bag and handed it to me. “For your hair,” she explained softly. “I thought you may be getting tired of bobby pins.”

  “Shannon, it’s beautiful.” I hugged her again, happily pulling the band on and adjusting it. Since it’s softer than the pins, it didn’t put as much pressure on my scalp and was a welcome relief. “I love it.”

  “It looks pretty on you.” She placed her bag back on the ground, giving me a shy smile.

  “Thank you. Really.” I pulled a stack of books and papers from my bag, sighing as I placed them around me on the table. “And so it begins.”

  “Do we really have to study again?” Zev whined. “There are so many more interesting things we could be doing.” He winked at me and I rolled my eyes. Zev’s standard with every breathing female seemed to be flirtation. Over the last week, I’d stopped taking it personally—or at least I’d tried to. I wasn’t exactly immune to a gorgeous guy flirting with me and looking at me the same way I stared at an ice-cream sundae.

  “The school year’s about to end, and at this rate, I’m not going to pass. I’m going to end up in summer school, alone on campus.” I shook my head, tugging my books firmly in front of me. “Not that I want to go away for the summer, since Lyle and I aren’t exactly close.” I winced at the understatement there. “It’s already going to be hard enough dealing with him when classes are out for the year. I don’t need the added stress of being alone and easy prey for Rhiannon, let alone convincing Lyle that I need to drive here every day while he reminds me how much of a failure I am.”

  “You wouldn’t be alone here,” Chann replied, his brow furrowed in concern as he leaned over and patted my hand. “You weren’t told? Our school goes all year round. It’s the easiest excuse to tell humans when we don’t break for the summer.” I blinked, at a loss for words.

  “To outsiders, we go on a schedule of forty-five days and then have a short break—about ten days or so. Some pack members take small vacations then, though many of us simply hang around campus or the nearby towns.”

  “Is that really why you’ve been studying so hard?” Shannon asked, running a comforting hand down my hair. “You worried you were going to fail your year?”

  “I still will,” I pointed out, my voice shaking slightly. “Shaw has it out for me. I’m not anywhere near as smart as all of you. There’s no way she’ll let me pass my grade. My only hope is that a new teacher will be put into place next year and I’ll be able to pass.” My voice quivered as I added, “I promised my mom I’d graduate. I can’t let her down. I just can’t.”

  “Shaw won’t fail you,” Zev assured me, his voice unusually soft. “Raff wouldn’t allow it.”

  I snorted. “What kind of school is that? Simply passing someone to just pass them?” I shook my head as color worked its way onto my cheeks, a physical flag to my shame. “I don’t want to be kicked through just because Raff doesn’t want me shaming the pack. I’ll only fail even harder next year.”

  “Haven’t you realized we do things differently here?” Shannon’s question was quiet, though there was no judgment in it. “It has nothing to do with Raff passing you simply because of you being part of our pack. We’re a family, Pixie. We focus on each other’s strengths, helping with any weaknesses.”

  “The curriculum is challenging, yes, but it’s not made to beat you down. It’s to figure out where your talents and interests are,” Zev explained, reaching across the table to stroke his hand over my arm.

  “I completely suck at science, especially chemistry,” Chann added with a nonchalant shrug. “I’ve got enough knowledge to pass the SATs and ACTs. I’m not aiming to take the AP tests in it though, so my focus is on English and politics.”

  “Really?” I questioned, hesitant to believe them. From my knowledge of the school, and all of the threats Ms. Shaw had been hissing in my ear, I was lowering the pack’s status every day. “Then what’s with all of the tests? And the attempts to fry my
brain?”

  Chann and Zev shrugged in unison before lounging back into their chairs. “We told you the teachers who transfer from other packs try to break us. We just do the best we can and make sure our scores in our other subjects—and any fights we’re involved in—go our way.”

  Tears built in my eyes as I rested my head on the table. “If you’re messing with me, I’m going to beat you over the head with this book.” I managed to get the words out around the lump in my throat.

  “Pixie, I’m so sorry.” Shannon wrapped her arms around me, tugging me over so I could lay my head on her chest as I pressed my eyes closed, hoping to prevent the flow of tears. “We should have explained everything better. I just thought you wanted to study. I mean, I like to. It’s how I give my strength to the pack. If I’d known you’d been stressing so badly over this, I would have told you sooner.”

  “Really, Pixie, it’s not a big deal,” Chann promised me, coming around the table to stroke a hand down my hair. “You aren’t going to fail. You won’t have to repeat the grade or explain anything to your uncle. We’ll be right here with you all summer and we can have as much fun as you want.”

  I felt so foolish nearly crying in relief, so I breathed deeply, enjoying Shannon’s subtle rose scent. “I’d like that,” I choked out.

  “How about we take a break tonight?” Zev suggested. “I’ve got to meet Alarick for a little bit, but we can do something relaxing. Watch a movie? Or show you the grounds?”

  I pulled away from Shannon, giving her a grateful smile as she continued to pet across my shoulder and arm, her touch soft and soothing. “I’d like that.” I hesitated for a moment, unsure of my footing before I added, “Would… would it be inappropriate if I asked if I could see you shift? I’ve never actually seen any of you in wolf form before.” I chuckled dryly as they shared a look between them. “If I’m going to be eaten by Rhiannon’s wolf, I’d at least like to know what I’m going to face. I’ve never even seen a wolf outside a movie or in the distance at a zoo.”

  “You don’t think you’ll, um, be upset by it?” Shannon inquired carefully.

  Maybe it was relief making me nearly manic, but I smiled madly as I shook my head. “No, not at all. I’m just curious.” I swiped my damp palms over my leggings. “If that’s not okay, I completely understand.”

  “We’d love to shift for you,” Chann blurted. “Our wolves are curious about you, and it’d be nice to run.”

  “That’s right!” I gasped, guilt eating at me. “You’ve been staying with me every day. Have you shifted at all?” I wasn’t exactly sure how that worked here, but I doubted it was normal for them, considering Raff had warned me I’d probably run into shifted pack members if I ventured onto the grounds.

  “No, it’d be a welcome relief,” Zev admitted. “Alarick’s just about done. I’ll grab him if you want. We can meet at the courtyard.”

  “I’ll take everyone’s bags up to the rooms,” Shannon offered, pushing to her feet. “Chann, are you okay staying with Pixie?”

  “Of course.” Chann flapped a negligent hand. “She’s safe with me.” Zev and Shannon scrambled from the room with a wave. “It’s about time for you to do a pack run. Besides, you’ve got to learn how to be a chew toy at some point.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  I giggled at his teasing words, stretching my arms out and beginning to wander amongst the nearby shelves. I hadn’t taken time to look at the books before, so I was taking advantage of this moment.

  “I really am sorry. If I’d known you didn’t understand, I would have clarified things for you.”

  “It’s okay. Honestly, there’s so much I don’t know. Every day I have more questions.”

  “You can ask me, you know. You don’t have to try and figure stuff out on your own.”

  “Most of my questions would be considered, well, rude.” I shrugged, not exactly apologizing for it, but explaining my thought process. He only chuckled.

  “Ask, Tinkerbell. You won’t learn otherwise.”

  “Well, it’s not really about the pack. Or at least, not totally.” I tugged down a book, enjoying the texture of the leather cover and the scent of the paper before I slid it back into place. “Like, why does Alarick automatically get to be the next alpha?”

  “It wasn’t automatic. At least not entirely,” Chann explained, watching me with amusement as we wandered through the stacks. “He proved his strength and his dominance over time. Add that to the fact his skill is an alpha based one, it wasn’t a far leap.”

  “So, is that why you’re a beta? I mean, because of your strength?”

  He made a face. “Partially. Betas offer our strength directly to the alpha, acting as bodyguards for him as well as protectors for the pack, so physical strength and trust are a large portion. However, other traits are necessary as well—strength of mind to challenge the alpha’s rulings should we need to, honesty, compassion for our fellow packmates…” He trailed off with a shrug. “With how close we are to Alarick, it was a natural choice.”

  I cocked my head, studying him as we walked. “Just because it’s natural doesn’t mean it’s what you want. Did you actually want to be beta? Or are you doing it for Alarick?”

  He paused, his suddenly serious green eyes meeting mine. It was odd to be staring into them when they weren’t crinkled with laughter. “Why would you ask me that?”

  I blushed, but didn’t look away. “Well, I’m curious. My mom always told me that I could do whatever I wanted to. I’ve wanted to be everything from a ballet dancer to an astronaut to an author. Now, I have no idea what I want to be, but you seem to have been in this role for a long time. I wondered if it’s because you wanted it, or if you didn’t have the same options.”

  He stepped close, heat from his body washing over me as our toes nearly touched. “No one’s ever asked me that before.” His words were a deep rumble, distracting me for a moment before I blinked at him in confusion.

  “Wait, what?”

  “No one’s ever asked if I wanted to be beta. Not once. Not my parents. Not even Alarick.”

  “Really?” I couldn’t begin to imagine having my future decided for me. “What about Zev?”

  He shook his head. “I think Zev really does want it. He’s never stopped talking about being a beta, not since we were young pups. Even before we were close friends with Alarick.”

  “So, if he’s going to be beta, then why don’t you do something else?” My words were soft, though I knew his hearing would pick them up. “I mean, most packs only have one beta, right? If he wants the position and you don’t, why don’t you do something else?”

  “We’re a set.”

  I scowled at that. “No, you’re not. I mean, you’re twins, yes. That doesn’t mean you have to be a matched set. You’re both very different people. You can have different futures.” I hesitated before I added, “Can’t you?”

  “Not here. Not easily, at least.”

  “Could you talk to Raff?” I suggested, unsure. “I mean, he let me into the pack. He seems to be willing to do things differently. Unless he isn’t allowed to choose for Alarick.”

  The scowl on his face had disappeared and he was staring at me in a way that made my stomach clench. “You see a lot, Pixie, do you know that? You’ve known us for only a little while and yet you see more about me than my own parents do.” He stroked a gentle hand down my cheek, sparks flaring in his wake as he swept his thumb over my lip. His eyes held mine, giving me time to pull away, before he brushed his mouth across mine in a featherlight caress. He pulled back for a moment, watching for any kind of negative reaction from me, before repeating the kiss. His mouth was more insistent this time as he pulled me into him, yanking me onto my tiptoes so he had easier access to my mouth. His tongue slipped across my bottom lip and I gasped, allowing him to plunge inside. His tongue danced around mine and he groaned, tilting his head to take the kiss deeper. I grasped onto his shirt, balancing myself on my toes as I kissed him back, feeling heat fl
ashing through me in waves.

  I reluctantly pulled away from the kiss, stroking my hand softly down his muscled arm. “You’re too tall,” I teased on a laugh, as I rubbed at the cramp in my foot—standing on tiptoe in saddle shoes wasn’t exactly easy.

  "Better hang on then," he whispered, wrapping his hands around my waist and yanking me into the air, molding my body against his as he pressed his mouth back to mine. My legs tightened around him as he gripped my hips, his mouth pressing desperately against my own as I tangled my hands into his hair. He tasted like coffee and chocolate, both sinful and addicting, and I moaned. The hard muscles of his abdomen weren’t forgiving at all as he kept me pressed flush against him. I was panting when he pulled away, breaking the kiss, and his eyes were nearly manic when they met mine.

  “Wow.”

  He chuckled, dropping my shaking legs and letting me slide down his body until my feet touched the floor. “Wow is right. You taste so sweet, I could keep this up all night.”

  “I think the others might miss us,” I admitted, the heat in my stomach cooling slightly. I really hoped this kiss didn’t affect anything with the friendships I’d begun to create here.

  Chann barked out a laugh, the light coming back to his eyes as he considered me. “True. Though I think I may be willing to risk it. However, my wolf would like his own chance to meet you.”

  “Well, come on then. At this rate, they’ll beat us there.” I tugged on his hand, leading him from the library. That had been one hell of a kiss, but I wasn’t sure how I wanted to handle it yet. If he was willing to keep it casual, then so was I. The air was chilly outside and as I shivered, Chann slipped out of his blazer, wrapping it tightly around me. The silk lining was warm from the heat of his body, and I buried my nose in it, enjoying his scent as he smirked at the motion. “Won’t you need this?” I inquired, though I was loath to give it up. The warmth was so nice.