by G. K. DeRosa
My eyes bounced to Vander and I gave him my best wordless wtf?
Another tremor rolled across him, the muscled planes of his back tensing and releasing in rapid fire. He arched back and his eyes opened, and a streak of gold flashed across the white.
What the…?
My pulse skyrocketed, but in the space of a heartbeat the golden hue was gone.
“Hunter, are you okay?” Vander reached over me to place his hand on his friend’s shoulder. “Hunter!”
The name was so jarring I pressed my hands over my ears. Not my Hunter, not my Hunter. I repeated the phrase over and over again until my heart lessened its manic throbs.
Aristaeus coughed and spluttered, and the lavender haze spewed from his mouth and slithered back into the dark vessel. His eyes were wide, the deep green a rolling valley of turmoil as he leapt up.
“What did you see?” Vander asked.
The beta’s eyes darted from his friend to me. “Nothing. I can’t determine her pack.” His brows slammed together as his piercing gaze drilled into me again. “What are you hiding?”
My head snapped back. “Me? I’m not hiding anything. I don’t know anything. You were supposed to be the all-knowing alpha heir that had all the answers.”
He scowled, and a sharp pop of bones crackled in the air as he cracked his knuckles again. “I need time to figure this out,” he growled and spun away.
“What about the blood bond?” Vander called out.
With a grunt, he trudged back toward us.
“At least she’ll be connected to you,” he continued.
Aristaeus’s lips curled and a tremor coursed up his back, making his shoulders bounce, as if the idea of being connected to me in any way made his skin crawl. Literally. He grabbed the dagger from the table and reached for my hand.
I had it cradled against my chest, still nursing the first wound.
“Again,” he hissed.
“Seriously?”
He grabbed my hand before I could stop him and slashed my palm with the biting blade. A curse slipped from my lips, and I didn’t even bother smothering it this time. “Why are you so dagger happy?” I cried.
His lips twitched, but the amusement died out a second later. Replaced by something completely unreadable. His head lowered to my palm, and his fingers tightened around my wrist. A flash of citrine streaked across the surface as he stared up at me beneath hooded lids. His tongue darted out, and he slowly dragged it over the cut on my hand.
My insides clenched as warmth spilled through my insides, and an embarrassing squeak slid through my gritted teeth. Mother shifter! Heat sizzled in the air, and I sucked in a breath, my eyes fixed on the back of his head. A thick, wavy head of dark hair. His tongue moved painstakingly slowly over my skin, and I could’ve sworn even Vander squirmed beside me.
Finally, he lifted his gaze. Our eyes locked, and the moment lasted an eternity. My insides still buzzed from the feel of his tongue, the warmth of his breath.
Aristaeus blinked rapidly and whatever had come over him, dissipated. He straightened, clearing his throat and ran his tongue over his bottom lip. My blood still stained his mouth. Another low growl vibrated the air, and my she-wolf flared at the sound emanating from the beta’s chest.
“Why didn’t you exchange…?” Vander motioned with his hands, pressing his two palms together.
“No,” he growled. “Not yet.”
It took my hazy mind a second to catch onto their conversation. That—whatever it was—had been the hottest, most intense, yet mildly disturbing ritual I’d ever experienced. And that wasn’t even the normal blood bonding procedure? Would I be tortured with a dagger yet again?
I glanced up to find Aristaeus glaring down at me. Again. Whatever magical fog had come over him had cleared, leaving only the surly wolf before me. Pointing his finger, he fixed his emerald eyes to mine. “If anyone asks which pack you belong to, lie. And no shifting in public until I figure this out. Do not tell anyone about what happened today, do you understand me, little wolf? I invoke the pack oath, the bloodlink of our pack bond. You must do as I say.”
My chest tightened, invisible bands of iron wrapping across my torso. My wolf fought against the restraints, wriggling beneath his steely glare. No! Her thundering response echoed across my mind. I chomped down on my lower lip to keep the word from tumbling out. Instead, I forced myself to nod.
Aristaeus turned his fiery glare to his friend. “Get her settled, and we’ll talk again later.”
“But where?” Vander’s brows nearly reached his hairline. “Which pack…”
A snarl rent the air, and Aristaeus stomped toward the door at the opposite side of the room. “Put her in a dorm on campus,” he growled. “I’ll sort out the rest tomorrow.” Vander opened his mouth again, but the beta interjected before he could get a word out. “Just do it,” he barked.
Chapter Thirteen
Vander pointed at the tallest structure at the base of the sprawling valley. “That’s it, Moon Valley University or MVU as I call it.” The five-story stone building, covered in climbing vines, was situated on the edge of the central district and backed against rolling hills. After our little stroll today, I’d realized werewolf territory was organized into a series of concentric circles. The center making up the downtown, the open-air markets we’d walked through and a few wolfish governmental buildings that Vander had pointed out.
Silverstalker Lair sat on the opposite end of the valley, built into the highest mountain across from the university. It loomed over the entire territory, the soaring peak keeping an eye over the vale. My thoughts circled back to the angry beta and his final words as we left. Why was it such a big deal that he couldn’t figure out which pack I belonged to? And if my glowing wolf was no big deal, why couldn’t I shift?
Vander hadn’t spoken much during the impromptu tour of the town, other than to point out major sites. Whatever had happened in there had bugged out the friendly wolf, and I wasn’t sure if bringing it up was a good idea.
What I was sure of was that I was not looking forward to return to dorm life. I’d only just escaped. I eyed the main building, surprised there was no imposing gate like the one surrounding Arcane. In fact, there was nothing that looked very collegiate about it at all, except for the climbing vines which reminded me of Ivy League schools back in the human world. A few students milled about the campus as Vander led me through the quad, some in wolf form laying out on the lawn but most on two legs. A few shorter buildings encircled the main one, signs labeling the structures – Woodland Hall, Darkpaw Auditorium, Steelfang Lounge and of course, the main building we were approaching, Silverstalker Grand Hall.
“Do I really have to live in a dorm again?” I turned to my silent escort, screwing my lips into a pout.
“It should only be temporary, until Hunter figures out where you belong,” Vander replied, and I could’ve sworn he winced right after the words were out.
“Has this ever happened before? That he couldn’t place a wolf?”
Vander’s brows shot to his hairline. “What did you just say?”
“I asked if this was the first time Hunter failed in determining in which pack a wolf belonged.” His mouth formed a capital O now, and I was more confused than ever. “What?”
“Aristaeus invoked the pack oath. You shouldn’t even be able to speak of what happened.”
Oops. “But I’m not telling anyone new, just you.”
Vander’s light brows knitted, and a vein in his forehead started twerking overtime. “Still…” His eyes glazed over, and his tense expression went slack.
I waved my hand an inch from his face, but he didn’t even react. “Hello? You still with me?”
He blinked, and he was suddenly back. “Hunter wants to try something.”
“Hunter?” I glanced at his hands, as if I’d somehow missed an incoming text message, but there was no phone.
Vander grabbed my arm and steered me away from the hall to a small picnic table in th
e shade of a tall willow. He dropped my duffle bags on the floor and folded onto the bench. “We really need to get you into that Werewolf 101 class.” He pointed at his temple. “As supreme beta, Hunter can communicate mentally with any member of his packs. It’s no easy feat connecting to hundreds of wolves, and it’s rare for a beta to already have that gift. Usually, it’s an ability reserved only for alphas.”
Mind. Blown. “Aristaeus was just talking to you?” I propped my hands on my hips.
“Yup. I told him how you blew right through the oath, and he wasn’t happy.”
Great. As if the guy didn’t hate me enough already. For no apparent reason. “I didn’t mean to,” I muttered. It’s not my fault his stupid oath didn’t work on me.
“I know. Maybe things work different with you since you’re a half-blood or whatever.” It was the first time he’d used the phrase and unlike my magical brethren, it didn’t sound like a four-letter word coming from his mouth. “He wants to talk to you.”
My eyes bugged out. I wasn’t sure how I felt about him lurking around in my innermost thoughts.
“Try to relax. Close your eyes and open up your mind.”
I did as I was told, but whenever someone told me to relax it was hard not to tense up. It was like physically impossible. My fingers curled into my palm, but I fought to wrench them free. When nothing happened for a long moment, I hazarded a peek through slitted lids.
“Are you even trying?” Vander snapped.
“Yes!”
His eyes glazed over again, and I assumed he was having a mental convo with the great Aristaeus. I tapped my foot on the concrete, my knee bouncing up and down. His expression cleared, and he focused his kind hazel eyes on me. “He says your wolf is fighting him. You need to let him in.”
I huffed out a breath and folded my arms across my chest. “I’m not sure how I feel about some stranger poking around in my mind.”
“He’s not some stranger, he’s the supreme beta of all wolves, of all shifters. He’s your beta. He took your blood, you have a direct connection now.”
I wanted to ask him why we hadn’t exchanged blood like he’d insinuated we should have, but I shelved the question for now. I assumed the beta didn’t like to be kept waiting.
“Try again, please.” Vander shot me the sweetest puppy dog eyes, and I couldn’t help but relent.
“Only for you because you’ve been nice to me. Not so much for the supreme beta.”
His hand closed around my shoulder, and he gave me a reassuring smile. “Give Hunter a break. He’s under a lot of pressure right now, especially with the Alpha Trials coming up.”
“The what?”
Vander raised his hand, and his eyes went blank again. What the heck were the Alpha Trials? I blinked and he was back. “I’ll tell you more about it later. I need you to try again. Think about your wolf, really feel her, and assure her that Hunter isn’t a threat.”
Was I really sure of that though? “Okay,” I huffed. Maybe I was the problem here. I’d been tortured by my supposed people for so long I didn’t want to let anyone else in. Hi girl, nice, wolfy. Aristaeus is our friend. He wants to talk to us, let’s let him in, ummkay?
I could almost feel her furry head butting against my ribs, her sharp claws pawing at my insides. Then she simmered. An invisible band tightened around my skull, and my fingers lifted to my temples. I circled, trying to release the sudden pressure.
“Don’t fight him, Sierra. Let him in.”
I squeezed my eyes shut and breathed through the mounting force.
Finally, little wolf. Must you fight me with everything? Aristaeus’s rumbly voice echoed across my mind.
My eyes snapped open and I jolted up, sliding right off the bench. My butt smacked the ground with a thud, and pain streaked up my tailbone. Son of a shifter!
Watch your tongue. I could’ve sworn he was laughing at me.
Okay so you’re in, now what? I grumbled through our mental connection.
Now we find out why you can get around my pack blood bond.
Maybe it’s because you didn’t do the blood thing right. I’d been meaning to get an answer about that.
For a new wolf, you sure have a lot of opinions. And I did do it right, I only didn’t complete the circle.
Because you don’t want me tied back to you? I’d figured that part out myself. Generally, bonds are two-sided. That much I’d learned from my years with the witches.
Not yet.
Because you don’t know which pack I belong to?
Stop that! You shouldn’t even be able to speak of that.
And yet here I am doing just that. Albeit, mentally. Which is totally weird. For some reason, I found the beta less intimidating when I didn’t have to look at him. It seemed to go both ways. The hateful edge to his tone had simmered.
I was sure I heard a laugh that time.
At least now I know we are linked. I simply have to figure out why you can ignore my order.
Maybe because my wolf doesn’t like to bow down to yours. Oops, did I just think that out loud?
He grunted, and the sound vibrated through my insides. So weird. I’ll let you get back to your tour. I’m sure you’re tired and would like to get settled after what you’ve been through.
Thanks, I would. Try to figure out this puzzle soon though, I don’t want to spend another four years in a dorm.
Believe me, I’m working on it, little wolf.
For the first time when he called me by my nickname, it didn’t sound like a curse. Point for Sierra!
The pressure on my skull subsided, and my eyes focused on the smiling face in front of me.
“Good chat?” Vander munched on an apple, stretched across the top of the picnic table. Where had that come from?
“Yeah, very enlightening.” I pointed at Silverstalker Hall. “Can we get this over with already?” I reached for one of my duffle bags, but Vander beat me to it.
“I got these.” He ticked his head down the path to the entrance of the university. “Let’s get you registered so they can assign you a room.”
My shoulders sagged as if I were the one carrying the heavy bags.
“Don’t worry. It won’t be as bad as Arcane. I promise.” He steered me toward the building, and my eyes fixed on the verdant vines. They climbed up and down the roughhewn stone as if trying to absorb the structure into the earth. “Plus, it’s not like high school. You’ll take a couple classes here and there, but once you’ve been cleared control-wise, you don’t have to stay to complete your degree if you choose not to.”
I held onto his words as we crossed the threshold into Silverstalker Grand Hall. Here we go again.
Chapter Fourteen
I hugged my class schedule tight to my chest as Vander and I emerged from the admissions hall and onto the sunny streets. Like Maginaria, the shifter realm seemed to be blessed with decent weather. I didn’t think I would’ve survived if I’d turned out to be half-Fae and been shipped off to the Winter Court. A chill skirted up my spine at the thought. Winters in North Carolina had been mild, situated in a small town, coincidentally also in a valley, and that was cold enough for me.
Vander led the way out into the sunny courtyard. A few students still milled about on the quad, but it was nothing compared to the hustle and bustle at Arcane. From my short time in werewolf territory, I’d noticed the wolves were generally more laid back than my witchy counterparts.
“It’s pretty quiet around campus.” I cocked my head at Vander.
“We’re in between sessions right now. Summer session starts next week, so you’re right in the nick of time.”
“Oh, right.” Apparently, MVU ran on a similar schedule as Arcane. I glanced at the paper clenched against my chest. It didn’t seem too bad. Only two or three classes a day, four days a week:
Werewolf 101
History of Shifters
Claws and Fangs
Vander had assured me that once I passed those three classes, I’d be good to
go. How hard could it be?
We rounded the back of the main hall, and the earth began to incline. Glancing up, my gaze landed on a slowly rising hill dotted with dozens of what looked like caves. The rustic wolfy abodes stretched out across the face of three of the lush hills surrounding campus.
“That’s the dorm?”
“Yup. Lupine Hills. Most of the students live locally so there wasn’t a need to build more dormitories. There are probably less than a hundred who live on campus.”
“I’m going to live in a cave?” My voice rose a few octaves.
He rolled his eyes. “I promise they’re better than they look.”
“Umhmm.”
Vander motioned to the grassy steps built into the hill and motioned for me to go first. “Your room is on the sixth level, number four-thirty-eight.”
“I hope that means I have a nice view.”
He chuckled and hauled my bags further up his broad shoulders.
“Are you sure you don’t me to carry one?”
“Nah, I got it. I usually train a few hours a day, so I’ll count this as part of my workout.”
Meanwhile, I was already panting. Physical endurance wasn’t something they focused on at Arcane. I’d have to up my game if I’d be trudging up and down this hill a few times a day. “Dammit, I lost count. Is this the sixth level or are we up one more?” My words came out in ragged spurts.
“One more.” Vander skirted around me and took the last few steps two at a time.
The man was a beast. I followed him along the inclined pathway, peering into the caves—I mean dorms, as we went. Pale green moss covered most of the entries, but some had wider openings. Still, I couldn’t make out much of anything besides dark tunnels.
Eew, bugs. I hoped I wouldn’t have creepy crawly creatures as roommates.
“This is it.” Vander stopped, and I smacked into the duffle bag slung over his back. A curtain of greenery concealed what I supposed was my new home.
“Sorry.”
He smirked and handed me a key. “No worries. I’m sure this must all be a bit overwhelming.”