“Wait a second,” Luca says, cocking his head and looking the larger candidate up and down. “How do we even know we’re looking for the same girl?” I snap my attention to the other guy as I subtly move further back into the pool, seeking shadow. God, if the moon could just slip back behind the Acade
He grins again and nods to me one last time before turning and running off. I stay in the shadows for a few minutes, casting out my hearing and making sure that it’s absolutely silent around me for a few minutes. And then, when I hear nothing in the grasses around me – not even a single cricket –
“Would you get up!?” I start awake to see Rafe’s face peering over the edge of the bunk, frowning at me. “Seriously, Ari! The bell rang like ten minutes ago – I have no idea how you’re still asleep!” I glare at my brother a little, already in a bad mood, wondering how he’d feel if he got about t
“No time,” Rafe snaps, grabbing my arm the second I finish tucking my hair in and hauling me to my feet. “We go now or we miss breakfast. And if we miss breakfast, we miss rankings, which we desperately need to know. So, let’s move!” Jesse still smirks at me as we both hurry along behind my brothe
“Oh god,” I groan, sinking my face into my hands, my dreams of becoming an Academy cadet suddenly slipping through my fingers. “Don’t worry about it, Ari,” Jesse murmurs, wrapping an arm around my shoulder and giving me a manly squeeze. “We’ll train you up good. You just had one bad day, and they
But no. Rafe grabbed my arm and hauled me towards the last task of the day: a five-mile run that left me gasping for air because Jesse and Rafe refused to let me finish last again and made me keep up with them the whole time. Honestly, I had thought I was a good runner – I’m usually pretty fast – bu
“Ari’s just curious, Rafe,” Jesse says, still laughing and grinning, looking around to see if anyone noticed, but there’s no one behind us in line for the shower stalls yet and everyone else is too busy to care. “He’s led a sheltered life.” “And he’s going to continue to lead a sheltered life,” Ra
When Rafe strides away, Jesse finishes dressing and sits down on his bunk, patting the spot next to him in invitation. Knowing I can’t avoid it, I sigh and sit down. “Come on, Ari,” he says, friendly but stern. “Spill. I know something’s up.” “It’s nothing,” I mutter, not able to look him in the
I laugh, pointing at the big plate of apple pie on the table. “Well, I’m glad to see that you’re feeling cheerful,” I say, grinning at her. “I am!” she says, happily plopping down next to Jesse and reaching for the pie, pulling it all onto her lap and digging in with a fork. “I don’t think that an
Jesse’s eyes open first, and then Midnight’s, slow and sleepy. “How do you feel?” I ask quietly, leaning towards her, able to see her better now in the dawn light that streams through the windows. “What happened?” Jackson asks. I turn to see him standing at the door and I smile, reaching out a h
I hold my breath as I watch my cousin cross the newly formed bond in his soul, watch him hold the Goddess fire to the side as he wraps his arm around his little mate, holding her close to his chest, pressing a kiss to her hair. She cries into his chest for a moment, her hands wrapped tight in the fa
“Um,” Midnight says, her voice high and humming. “No, please. I mean. I don’t want to hurt the pups but…” she bites her lip. “I think…I think my wolf needs her now.” Jesse reaches an arm out, wrapping it around Midnight’s shoulders and tugging her close. “It won’t hurt the pups.” He looks up at Ja
Ariel moves ahead of Jesse, quietly opening the bedroom door and then the front door, clearing the way. Jesse passively bids Jackson and Marigold goodnight as he goes, but his mind is distracted. He doesn’t even see if Marigold is still awake. Instead, he just keeps his eyes on the grass in front
Midnight bursts into tears, looking down at her wolf, her entire body starting to tremble. “I – I didn’t know,” she whispers, starting to shake her head. “Mids,” Jesse calls, his voice breaking, kneeling down at the edge of his soul and reaching for her. “Midnight, please, are you okay?” She jus
I exhale slowly, my fingers twisting in my wolf’s fur as I look over at Jesse, standing next to me, his wolf at his side. “This is weird, cousin,” he says with a little grimace. “Welcome…to my soul.” “It’s nice here,” I say, nodding, looking around at the mostly-blank space that looks precisely
I nod, understanding and crossing to the bed, climbing onto it to sit between them. Jesse turns more fully towards me so that we make a neat little triangle. “What are you thinking, Midnight?” I ask softly, wanting her full opinion. “I’m thinking that it’s a bad choice either way,” she grumbles,
Midnight’s eyes go wide as she stares up at dad. “We do?” “Yes,” he says, nodding gravely and tilting his head towards the door. “Come on.” Jesse moves to stand up but dad puts a hand out towards him. “If Midnight is mature enough to enroll at this school then she’s got to start to make her own