by G. K. DeRosa
That’s putting it mildly. I stared at the old skeleton key, flipping it in my palm. “What do I do with this?”
He pushed back the thick mossy curtain covering the entrance, and a wooden door appeared. “Works just like any other key.”
Smartass. “Thanks.” I wiggled it into the opening and with a squeal, the door groaned open. The scent of musty earth and moisture assaulted my delicate wolfy senses, and my nostrils flared. It took a second for my eyes to adjust to the darkness, and once they did the long, narrow earthen corridor stretched before me.
Vander fumbled with something, muttering, then dim light filled the tunnel. He appeared in the doorway with a lantern clenched in his fist, juggling my bags on his opposite shoulder. He pointed down the passageway. “If you make a quick left, you’ll find your room. If you keep going straight, you’ll run into the main tunnel which weaves through the entire hill. From there you can reach any of the dorms.”
“Okay.” I scanned the dim enclosure, imagining hundreds of insects burrowing into the dark crevices. Please tell me there’s electricity.
“Just go look at your room before you judge.”
I must’ve been making my resting witch face. I forced a smile and compelled my feet forward. Behind me, Vander lit a series of torches bathing the space in a warm glow. I reached another door, also wood, but not the type you’d see in a regular home. No, this door looked like the bark of a tree. Rough and full of notches and grooves, like someone had shaved off the bark of a great willow and thrown a knob and some hinges on it.
Turning the handle, I held my breath. The door popped open, and my eyes bugged out. A cute apartment stretched before me, complete with modern conveniences like actual electricity. It had a log cabin feel with light maple walls, a matching ceiling and floor. If I didn’t know any better, I’d never guess I was inside a hill. To my extreme relief, no bugs crept between the wooden planks, and the whole place was sealed shut to the nature surrounding us. One side of the apartment even had windows!
Vander dropped my duffle bags by the door and shot me a smirk. “You see? Not so bad, right?”
It wasn’t anywhere as modern as the great Aristaeus’s home, but it was cute, quaint and most of all, functional. A kitchenette with a mini fridge, microwave and a sink sat on one side of the decently sized space and a little living room was nestled in the opposite corner.
“The bedroom is through there and the bathroom too.”
“Sweet!” I’d had to share a bathroom for way too long. “Wait a second, no roommate?”
He shook his head. “I told you, it’s summer so the campus is quiet. You get this place all to yourself. Until Hunter figures out where you belong, anyway.”
I shoved down the swirl of excitement at the sound of his name. Not my Hunter. It was going to take a while for my heart to understand the difference. “How long do you think that’ll be?”
Vander shrugged. “Not sure. He’s got a lot on his plate right now, but he’ll get to it when he can. I know this is really bugging him, and he’s not one to back down from a puzzle.”
“When you say you know it’s bugging him, does that mean you can sense what he’s feeling through the pack bond?” I wasn’t sure I liked everyone knowing my business.
“Only when he lets me in. As beta, he has much more control than the rest of us. But yes, sometimes I feel flares of emotions from my own pack. You will too.”
I chewed on his words. Still wasn’t sure I’d get used to that. “Can Aristaeus just jump into my head without my permission?”
He cocked a brow, and a grin pulled at his lips. “Well, he should be able to, but you’re proving a little difficult.”
Good. My she-wolf purred. She was not having any of this.
“Anyway, I have to run but give me your phone and I’ll program my number so you can call me if you need anything. One more thing, if anyone asks, say you’re from the Crescent Pack. That’s my pack, so it’ll make sense that we’re hanging out.”
“Got it. Crescent.”
He pointed toward the tunnels. “There’s a grocery store, café, gym, and all that right on campus. I’m sorry I can’t take you on a tour, but with the pack council assembling today I need to return to Silverstalker Lair.”
“Sure, no problem,” I answered, handing him my phone. “I appreciate your help. I guess I should’ve thanked you earlier for rescuing me. If Balderrin had just thrown me to the wolves, I would’ve been pretty lost.” I shot him a teasing grin.
“I see what you did there.” He chuckled and waggled a finger at me. “I’ll try to check in with you tomorrow, and if you run into any trouble, let me know.”
“Trouble?” I hadn’t even thought about the chances of having another run-in with that rogue wolf.
He waved a nonchalant hand. “I’m sure you’ll be fine. Forget I said anything.” He turned toward the door and dread pooled in my gut.
Sure, easy-peasy.
“One more thing.” He spun back with one hand on the doorknob. “Don’t forget you have a direct line to the beta. Hunter might seem a little cranky, but he protects his wolves. If anything bad really does happen, don’t hesitate to contact him.”
“Okay.” Yeah, right. Even if I could figure out how to do that, I’d never go running to the great beta with my furry tail between my legs.
As soon as Vander was gone, I folded onto the cozy couch and stretched out my legs. It had been the longest day ever. I grabbed my phone and found a dozen messages from Cass. She was never going to believe the day I’d had.
I started typing out a response to my bestie, and a smile split my lips. It hadn’t even been a full day since I’d seen her, and I missed her already. I hoped she could get her butt over to Moon Valley soon. Tomorrow I’d need to figure out where the Royal Pack lived in relation to my dorm. I hoped Cass and I would live close by. I hadn’t seen any cars in Moon Valley or any other form of mass transportation. Did the wolves just walk or run everywhere?
I dismissed the thoughts for now and focused on my phone, trying to figure out where to start.
Me: So I met Aristaeus…
Literally, a second later I got a response.
Cass: OMG, is he as gorgeous as I remember?
He’d actually gotten more attractive in the past four years, but he was also kind of a dick so I wouldn’t admit that to my best friend.
Me: I guess.
Cass: Oh right, because no one can hold a candle to your mysterious Hunter.
Me: Funny story actually…
Chapter Fifteen
Holy werewolf hotness… Compelled by some freakish wolf magnet, my eyes fixed on the alpha heir as he tracked across the quad. Shirtless. I sat up, abandoning my picnic table sunbathing as heat seeped from the tips of my toes to the tips of my ears. Beads of sweat glistened off Aristaeus’s sculpted torso, leisurely drifting down his carved abs.
A group of wolves parted at his approach, each and every one bowing their heads. As soon as he’d passed, the females’ hungry eyes trailed after the impressive beta. A twinge of jealousy flared, and my wolf wriggled uncomfortably. That was unexpected.
Aristaeus angled his body toward me, and my eyes focused on the massive wolf tattoo on his bicep. I’d completely forgotten about it. I’d seen it peeking out from under his shirtsleeve on Initiation day all those years ago.
Now in its fully glory, it was breathtaking. A jet-black wolf head, fierce maw agape with razor sharp teeth and piercing golden eyes. It took me a second to realize why the beast was growing bigger.
Crap, he’s coming toward me!
I ripped my eyes away from his perfect form and sank back on the table. Please don’t let him see me, please don’t let him see me. I peered out from the corner of my eye as he stalked closer, an evil grin curling his lips. Dammit.
The air grew thinner the closer he got, invisible bands shooting out and wrapping around my chest. How did he do that? I struggled against his crushing presence, the pressure he exerted by his pr
oximity. My wolf growled and clawed to the surface. An overwhelming desire to run took hold of me—of her.
I leapt up, but it was too late. Aristaeus loomed over me with a backpack slung over his shoulder. His hand closed around my bicep, and he forced me back onto the bench. “We need to talk.”
“Okay. No need to manhandle me with those big paws.” I wrenched free of his grasp, and his lips twitched. I scooted to the far side of the picnic table to be as far from his oppressive beta magic as possible. “So, what’s up? Did you figure it out?”
He stood there watching me, those intense eyes boring a hole into my brain. A memory flashed across my mind from my first day at Arcane—that look. It was the exact same one he’d given me all those years ago. The same one I’d seen yesterday and the same one furrowing his brow right now. Why did it always feel like I was some puzzle he couldn’t quite figure out?
I waved my hand at him when he didn’t respond, his eyes still drilling into me. “Hello?”
Aristaeus blew out a breath and grabbed the t-shirt tucked into his shorts, tugging it over his head. Phew, at least I wouldn’t be distracted by those ridiculous pecs anymore. He folded his tall frame atop the picnic table. Rubbing at his temples, he peered down at me. “It’s customary to lower your gaze when your beta addresses you.”
My eyes rolled so hard I lost sight of the arrogant beta for a few seconds.
He cleared his throat, crossing his big arms across his thick, barrel chest.
“Ugh, fine.” I dipped my gaze to the lush grass beneath the table. This was so ludicrous.
“I need more of your blood. To repeat the spell.”
I tried not to wince and for a second I was glad I wasn’t looking into those piercing irises. “You’re going to bleed me right here out in the open? And can I look up yet? It’s kinda hard to talk like this.”
“Yes.”
“Yes, I can look up or yes, you’re going to take a dagger to my hand at the picnic table?”
“Look up,” he muttered.
I met his gaze and the deep green had softened, a tad. He glanced around the quad. A few students lingered on the grassy lawn, and all eyes were trained on the supreme beta and me. Maybe it was the same wolfy magnet I’d felt earlier.
“I’m just saying if you want to keep this on the downlow, you probably shouldn’t slash my wrist in front of an audience.”
“Right,” he growled. “We’ll go to your room then.”
A shudder raced up my spine. I wasn’t sure I could be in close quarters with this guy without doing something I’d regret. Whether it was jump him or fight him, I wasn’t quite sure. My wolfy emotions were all over the place. “That’s not exactly what I was thinking.”
“You have a problem with me in your home?”
This time my gaze dropped of its own accord. “No, it’s just kind of a mess. I’m not really settled, ya know?”
“I’m here on official business, not a social call, Sierra.”
The sultry lilt of my name on his lips warmed my insides in a way that should not have been legal. “Okay, okay, let’s go.” I slid off the bench and pointed between the buildings. I hadn’t had much time to get the lay of the land this morning, but I had found a shortcut to my dorm.
“I know,” he muttered.
“You know what?”
“Where your dorm is.”
That was weird, right? Did he know where all of his new wolves resided?
Before we made it to the passageway between the buildings, two males appeared, each shirtless. The taller one had hair as dark as the beta’s, the sleek black reflecting a bluish tinge. He and the other guy dipped their heads for a fraction of a second before turning to the surly male beside me.
“I thought that was you at the gym, Hunter,” said the dark-haired one.
Ah, now the sweaty, bare-chestedness made sense.
“How is it the future supreme alpha is gracing us with his presence today?” The other guy sneered, showcasing pointy incisors.
“I needed to get away from Lucien’s constant yapping during the meeting,” Aristaeus snarled.
Both males went rigid. I had no idea what was going on, but even I could feel the tension swarming the air. After an incredibly uncomfortable moment of silence, I held out my hand to the nearest wolf. “I’m Sierra, new wolf, just registered yesterday.”
The dark-haired guy took my hand and Aristaeus bristled, a menacing growl splitting the thick air. Ignoring the outburst, the male said, “Well, new wolf, it’s nice to have you at the university. I’m Ransom De La Sangue and this is my younger brother, Castor. I’m sorry you’ve had to suffer the presence of our suffocating supreme beta.” He turned to Aristaeus and smirked. “Is she Dragos?”
“No, Crescent.”
Ah okay, my pack, now I knew what they were talking about.
“Too bad. We could have used a cute she-wolf in the Royals.” He eyed me like I was a hot fudge sundae.
My ears perked up. “Wait, you’re in the Royal Pack?”
“I am the Royal Pack, Violet.” His eyes drifted down my dark hair, to the deep purple tips.
Aristaeus grunted. “You won’t be alpha for some time, Ransom. Lucien is nowhere near retirement.”
“Hold up, wolfy.” I threw my hand up at Aristaeus. “My best friend Cass is going to be the new healer for the Royal Pack.”
Ransom and Castor both nodded. “Yes, I remember father mentioning a new witch starting soon.”
“She’s the best. You guys are going to love her!” I couldn’t wait to tell my bestie I’d met some wolves from her new pack. She’d totally go nuts over Ransom with his dark, rakish good looks.
“Poor girl stuck with the Royals, and to tend to that alpha…” Aristaeus shot the brothers a snide grin and shifted his backpack to his other shoulder.
I raised my hand to stop the ridiculous male posturing. “Sorry, I’m confused. New werewolf here, remember? I thought your dad was the alpha, Aristaeus?”
A broad smile lit up his face, softening his hard expression. “He is. My father holds the trifecta of titles. He’s the Supreme Alpha of all shifters, High Alpha of all the wolf packs, and Alpha of the Dragos Pack. Ransom and Castor’s father, Lucien, is only the alpha of their pack, the Royals.”
“So much bullshit hierarchy,” Ransom spat. “But the Alpha Trials are coming, and there could be a change in the new order.”
That was the second time I’d heard that mentioned. Vander had promised to explain but never did. I turned to my new friend, Ransom, who seemed more forthcoming than my wolfy escort. “What are the Alpha Trials?”
A glimmer sparked across the attractive wolf’s eye. “A chance for the betas of each of the wolf packs to battle it out for title of High Alpha.”
Aristaeus cocked his head at me, the usual disdain in his expression absent. “You see, it is very rare for the same male to hold all three titles, as my father has for the past decade. He fought hard to earn those designations, but now, with my twenty-fifth birthday approaching, he’s decided not to compete for the title, allowing me the honor.”
“Too bad your family won’t hold the trifecta much longer.” Ransom nudged Aristaeus in the side, but he didn’t crack a smile. “Come on, Hunter. You can’t handle a little friendly competition? We used to be friends before you became so serious. What happened?”
“I grew up, and you still haven’t.” He leveled his friend with a glacial glare.
“Don’t be angry just because your father decreed you couldn’t be supreme alpha until you found a mate.”
Aristaeus tensed beside me, anger rolling off his broad shoulders in waves. “Don’t worry about my love life, Ransom. I do just fine.”
He chuckled. “I don’t doubt it. Who wouldn’t want to bed the alpha heir?”
I’d had just about enough of this conversation. I wrapped my fingers around Aristaeus’s bicep, or at least tried, and tugged. “Come on, let’s do that thing we had to do.”
Ransom and Castor�
�s eyes darted to my hand. To my fingers clasped around the great beta’s arm. Oops, was that not allowed?
No. Aristaeus’s growl boomed across my skull.
I dropped his arm, my fingers stinging as if they’d been burned.
“Sierra grew up in the human world and recently attended Arcane Academy. Her wolf appeared for the first time only a few days ago.”
The brothers nodded quickly. As if my huge faux pax suddenly made perfect sense. Poor little wolf newbie.
“Well then,” said Ransom, his dark brown eyes fixing on mine. “I’d be more than happy to show you around Moon Valley. There’s a lot I can teach the young wolf.”
I opened my mouth to thank him, but Aristaeus cut me off. “That won’t be necessary.”
“What, why not?” I spun at him. As my beta you can’t tell me who to hang out with, can you? I broadcasted my thoughts to him, hoping it worked.
I can.
I threw my hands on my hips and glared up at the insufferable wolf. No, actually you can’t. Because your stupid pack bond doesn’t work on me. Turning to Ransom, I gave him a smile. “I’d love that.” I dug my phone out of my pocket and handed it to him. “Program your number in, and I’ll shoot you a text. I don’t know anyone else here besides Aristaeus and Vander, and Cass doesn’t arrive for another few weeks.”
Aristaeus’s dark glare bored into the side of my face as Ransom punched numbers into my phone. I ignored him.
“By the way, where do the Royals live?” I prayed it was within running distance.
Ransom pointed over the hills behind the university. “Just on the other side of the valley. You’ll be close to your friend and since I’m taking a few advanced classes here over the summer, I can bring her along with me when she’s free.”
“That would be amazing,” I squealed. With Cass here, it would definitely start to feel more like home. “Thank you!”
Aristaeus’s hand clamped around my elbow, and he steered me away from the Royal brothers. “While it’s been fun, we must get going,” he muttered.
“See you soon, Violet.” Ransom waggled his fingers at me as Aristaeus towed me away.