Filed to story: Shifter Academy: Taming Her Wild Mates (Ivy) Book PDF Free
“Maybe I can climb on your back, Rafe,” Ben murmurs, working hard to keep humor in his voice, “You can carry me through like a little monkey on your shoulder. Might be my only chance anymore.”
“You’re not slow, man,” Luca says to Ben, his voice kind. “I think you just get in your head. You just need to go full wolf tomorrow, tear it to pieces – no hesitation.”
Ben puts on a brave smile and nods to us before half-heartedly tucking into his food again.
“You do too,” Luca murmurs to me, giving me a nudge. And my stomach drops a little as I look up at him, because he’s right. 70 – it’s not a bad spot, but it’s not in the clear, and the obstacle course tomorrow is heavily weighted in the final ranking. And considering that I consistently come in last?
I am absolutely in no way safe.
I nod and swallow against the lump that forms in my throat, looking down at my food.
“You’re going to do it, Ivi,” my brother says, and I look up to see his steady gaze on me. He holds my eyes with his green ones, nodding to me once. “You didn’t come all this way to fail now. Don’t even let it into your head. Yes?”
I nod to him, forcing myself to smile, and then I square my shoulders and exhale a deep breath.
Because Rafe’s right.
Even if tomorrow is the trail of my life? There’s absolutely no way I’m letting this beat me.
Our group sticks together as we head into the barracks for our final night, which pleases me because even though Jesse sticks close to my side – clearly wanting a word with me – there’s no opportunity for it with everyone around. The five of us hang out for another hour or so around the Sinclair bunks, which pleases me, because honestly I think I’m starting to get an idea of what it would be like to all be together in the Academy. It feels like it would be really fun, honestly – a lot of friendship alongside the incredible amount of work that we’re expected to perform. As I lean back against Rafe’s pillow, smiling around at my family and my friends, I think that…well, it kind of sounds great.
My mind wanders, dreaming a bit about what it will be like inside. Will there be like, gathering spaces for us to hang out like this? Or will our rooms be like little stone cells… I mean, it is an ancient castle retrofitted into a school. Where the hell do they put everyone?
The Hidden Princess At All-boys Alpha Academy
Are fresh candidates relegated to the dungeons?
The lights flash once, letting us know that it’s very near time for lights-out, and Rafe curses as he sits up on the other side of the bed. “I need to brush my teeth,” he murmurs and we all agree, getting to our feet and gathering our wash-up supplies for one last trip to the bathroom before sleep.
Apparently, every other candidate in the barrack was likewise distracted, because it’s kind of a mad rush in there. Rafe, standing stoically by my side, finishes brushing his teeth first and glances anxiously at the urinals. “Just go,” I mumble, waving him off with my mouth still full of toothbrush and toothpaste. “I’ll be ten feet away -“
“Fine,” he growls, glancing at me. “Stay right here, Ivi,” and then he dashes off. I sigh and continue brushing my teeth, my eyebrows going up when my gaze catches on Alan Wright, of all people, standing in the middle of the room, glaring at me. When our eyes meet, he frowns and draws a finger across his throat, a clear threat. My face crinkles in distaste as I turn away from him, wondering what the hell his problem is. I mean, he’s still top ten with my brother and cousin – But then my mind flashes back to the ranking list, and I remember seeing Perry Gibson and Graham Wright listed below me –
Shit.
I bend over, spitting my toothpaste out, trying to move past the not-so-veiled threat at Alan Wright is making against me – Honestly, I’m just not used to people not liking me – as a Princess it was kind of my job to be well-liked, and whether or not people faked it they were generally pretty nice to me –
I sigh as I straighten up, feeling Rafe’s large form coming back to my side.
“Rafe,” I sigh, “I’ve got to tell you about Alan Wright -“
But as I turn, and his pine-and-ember scent hits me, and I tilt my head back to look up and up and up…
I realize that…it is not Rafe standing next to me.
My eyes go wide and my mouth forms into a little o as I stare up into the gloomy face of my other mate.
“Alan Wright’s been messing with you?” Jackson asks, his voice rumbling in his chest. “Um, are you one to talk?” I hear myself spit out at him, and then I gasp a little, shocked that I would say that – say anything to make him mad –
I step back, looking anxiously towards the door, when suddenly his hand wraps around my upper arm.
It happens again, as it always does – the pulse that moves through the air – and my head spins back, staring up at him, wary –
“No,” he says, frowning at me, stepping closer as I pull back, “don’t -“
“Don’t what?” I breathe, my voice starting to shake a little as I tug against his hand. I mean, Alan Wright draws a finger across his neck, but Jackson tried to choke me yesterday –
“Don’t be – scared -” Jackson says, his words faltering as he looks at me anxiously, almost like he’s fumbling for words. I hesitate, but then tug again at my arm still in his hand. “Then let go of me,” I say, a little bit between my teeth.
He does, instantly. “Please don’t run,” he murmurs. And I shock myself by…complying. Instead of bolting, I peer up at him, confused as hell but curious. “What the hell is going on, Jackson?” I hiss. “Yesterday you try to kill me and now you’re asking me not to run?”
“I wasn’t trying to kill you,” he says, frowning down at me like I’m a little stupid. “If I was trying to kill you, Clark, you’d be dead -“
“Great!” I say, my voice heavy with sarcasm as I look up at him with wide eyes. “Well, in an attempt to avoid your next attempt, I’m going to go hide in my bunk -“
