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“What does that mean?” she asked. There was a wariness in her voice, her posture loosening slightly.
Good. Maybe she was finally listening.
“It means Master Grey thinks there’s a chance you could be in danger, so he assigned you as my ward, and he must have told the Alphas and the captains,” he said tightly.
“So, what, you’re my father?”
Kent threw up a little in his mouth. “Gods, no,” he said. “I’m just going to keep an eye on you.”
“Is Master Grey worried something might happen to me, or I might do something to them?” Foster asked in a quiet voice.
Kent gave himself a moment to think about how he wanted to answer.
“All I know,” he said, “is we’re stuck with each other. Whether we like it or not.” He paused. “I have to go to the full moon celebration. Don’t leave the room tonight. For anyone.”
“Do you think –”
“I don’t know.” He wouldn’t let her finish the sentence. “But after everything that’s happened, I don’t want you to leave the confines of my room. Do you understand?”
He couldn’t leave until she nodded, and thank Gods she did without one of her smart retorts.
“Good. Right now, it’s the only place you’re safe.”
Embyrlyn
The full moon ritual was something every wolf in Bloodmoon Academy looked forward to because it allowed us one night of absolute freedom to be our true selves.
Once dusk hit, we filed in four lines at the front gates, representing each pack that made up the academy. Despite my assignment to Elite squad teams, I filed in with the Fire Pack. Viktor King wasn’t here yet, nor was his lieutenant and while we waited for everyone to show up, I couldn’t help but wonder what, exactly, would happen tonight.
I crossed my arms over my chest, forcing myself to look straight ahead. I didn’t want to search for Kazu, didn’t want him to pick up on the fact that I was looking for him. I expected him back at my room, but when he didn’t show, I was sure he was blowing me off.
I frowned, squeezing my arms tighter around my body. What did I expect? Did I actually think he was going to go through with taking my virginity?
I chuckled, though the sound was hollow. The last few hours had me properly freaking out, but there was that small part of me, the one that thought maybe…
But no.
It was stupid.
Once we were all present, Captain Kent Byron led the packs out of the iron gates and through the fields before coming to the border of the forest. He recited the rules and expectations — only cross through the forest as a wolf and only cross back as human — and with that, the transformations began.
I forgot all about Kazu, about the Scarlet mission, about the Light Bringers and my virginity, and even Dade. This time, when my wolf pushed against my skin, I allowed her to come out, to flip my flesh inside out. My teeth elongated, my nails grew into claws, and the hair on my body shot out like I was a model for some shampoo company.
I couldn’t hide who I was, not with pink fur, but that didn’t matter either.
There must have been a patch of rain because the forest grass was wet without being muddy. It felt like a soothing balm against the pads of my paws, and before I knew it, I was running, galloping, jumping and leaping.
I wasn’t sure how long I had been frolicking out there, but it wasn’t long before the howling started. A wolfsong to the moon goddess who looked after her pack. I tipped my head back and howled along with everyone else, putting everything I could into it. It felt…good. Freeing.
I grinned, my tongue flopping out. I shook my fur, from my shoulders all the way to my tail, before I stretched out.
Gods, this felt good.
So, so good.
I had found a spot in the forest by myself. It was nice to have space when I lived with so many people and saw so many faces. Hell, I hadn’t even noticed Felix. Strange, because we typically sought each other out at one point during these rituals. Regardless, I was enjoying the solitude too much to worry about it.
And then I saw him.
