Zodiac Academy 3: The Reckoning
The Reckoning: Chapter 8

TORY AND I HEADED to our Earth Elemental Class after lunch, moving through The Wailing Wood at a casual pace. As we drew toward the northern edge of the forest a pssst caught my ear and we both paused.

Tyler leaned out from behind a tree, frantically waving us over.

I frowned, drifting nearer a little cautiously. “What are you doing?”

He pointed up the muddy track and mouthed, “Seniors.”

“I’m sick of Hell Week already,” Tory muttered as we moved into the trees to join Tyler. A couple more freshmen wandered up the path and I spotted Kylie amongst them. Tyler encouraged us deeper into the shadows and we stepped out of sight.

They headed past us up the track and screams carried into the air as a trembling earthquake rocked the ground.

I braced myself on Tory’s arm, my heart pounding a little harder.

Tyler started stripping out of his clothes, placing them into a backpack. “I’ll carry you guys there?” he offered and my mouth parted.

“You don’t have to do that,” I said.

“I owe you one.” He shrugged, pulling off his clothes and stuffing them into the bag before passing it to Tory.

I barely had a second to react to Tyler standing butt naked before us as he sprang forward and his body morphed into a beautiful silver Pegasus. He flexed his wings, arching his brows in a way which was so un-horsey that it made me laugh.

“Hey- did you hear that?” a voice called from beyond the trees. “Fresh meat!” A stampede of feet headed our way and I gasped. Tory and I hurried to climb onto him but something latched around my legs and my stomach lurched. I was yanked backwards, tumbling through the undergrowth with a shout of anger.

Tyler whinnied loudly, rearing up and Tory clambered onto his back, desperately holding onto his mane.

I kicked out at the vines binding my legs as I was dumped unceremoniously on the path before a group of older students in dark robes and creepy white masks.

“Prepare to suffer!” crowed the girl at the head of the group.

The sound of cantering hooves filled my ears and Tyler leapt over me with a furious neigh, his head bowed low as he aimed his shining horn at the seniors.

They scattered around him and started casting vines to try and snare him in a web. I severed the vines around my ankles with a blast of fire, scrambling upright as Tyler leapt into the air with two powerful wing beats.

“Darcy!” Tory yelled, thumping Tyler in the neck to get his attention.

One of the seniors turned toward me and I cast an air shield around myself just in time as more vines shot my way. Tyler wheeled around, his head grazing the canopy and sending a smattering of orange tipped leaves and a cloud of glitter tumbling down over the seniors. He swept toward me and Tory leaned down, holding out her hand.

I caught it with a whoop of triumph, forcing air beneath my feet so I was propelled up behind her. My thighs clamped around Tyler’s belly as he broke through the canopy and the seniors started laughing as we flew to safety.

I was once again sailing away from harm on the back of a Pegasus and I grinned widely, clutching onto Tory’s waist as we soared over The Wailing Wood towards Earth Cave. Anyone who thought the Pegasus Order were weak was absolutely deluded. Being beautiful certainly didn’t make them any less badass.

Tyler swooped toward the rocky ground below, circling down to land outside Earth Cave where students were filing inside for the lesson, eyeing us curiously.

I spotted Kylie trudging up from the wood, covered from head to toe in mud alongside a few other freshmen behind her. Her hair was in full snake mode, her eyes two raging slits. Tory and I started laughing and Tyler neighed, trotting on the spot to show his amusement. She shot a glare our way and the snakes on her head hissed at us before she stalked into the cave, a stream of curses leaving her lips as she went. 

I slid off of Tyler’s back and Tory passed him his backpack as he changed into his Fae form, leaving nothing to the imagination as he stood stark naked before us. He grinned broadly, taking his bag and starting to dress.

“Thank you,” I said.

“Yeah seriously, if you ever need a favour just let us know,” Tory said as Tyler buckled up his belt.

“Well…there is something you could do for me actually.” He pushed a hand into his blonde-tipped hair.

“Anything,” I said with a shrug.

“Your friend Sofia…she’s cute. Reckon you could, you know, big me up to her bit? Maybe you could mention how I soared in like a hero and saved your asses?” He eyed us hopefully, his soft brown eyes glittering.

“Oh, well she’s seeing-” I started, about to tell him about Diego but Tory elbowed me in the ribs.

“Of course we will,” Tory said brightly and Tyler beamed, his skin actually seeming to shine for a moment.

“I’ll catch you up.” He nodded to the cave as he continued to dress and we headed inside.

I linked my arm with Tory’s, leaning in close. “Why did you say that? Diego and her…”

“Diego and her what? He’s had plenty of time to define the relationship.”

“I guess that’s true…maybe letting him know he’s got competition will make him ask her out officially.”

Tory nodded. “Exactly. It’s win-win for Sofia. She can take her pick.”

I grinned conspiratorially at her. “Well we’d better let her know at dinner then while Diego’s around.”

Tory giggled softly. “She’s gonna freak.”

“Do you think she likes him too?” I glanced over my shoulder, but Tyler still wasn’t following us.

“Who knows? Tyler’s hot. Did you see those abs?”

I nodded, biting my lip to hold back my laughter. “He’d be a solid eight without those frosted tips. He looks like a nineties boyband member.”

“I hope you’re not talking about me,” Seth’s voice made my heart nearly stop.

I looked up, finding him standing at the end of the tunnel. Caleb stepped up beside him and they both started smiling. Like actually smiling.

Before I answered, Seth broke into song, cracking out the Backstreet Boys classic, I Want It That Way.

Caleb picked up the next line on cue and Seth started clicking his fingers to the beat.
They both started dancing, sashaying their way toward us and I stared on in surprise. Seth looked to Caleb and they both belted out the last line of the chorus together with their hands on their hearts.

“Oh my god, puke,” Tory said and I blew out a laugh. “If you keep singing at us I’ll throat punch you like I did to Max.”

Caleb shot to her side in a blur of motion, slinging his arm around her shoulders. “Ohh what beautiful poetry you weave for me, sweetheart. Gets me so hard.”

She ducked out of his hold and we both glared at him in a perfectly symmetrical back off stare. I knew Tory was into him, but she wouldn’t let it be seen in public. Besides, I couldn’t really blame her when I looked at that roguish smile and set of stacked muscles. I wasn’t really one to judge considering my own fanged crush either…

As we drew closer to Seth, he moved to my side while Caleb kept to Tory’s. I felt like we were being penned in and it made my heart tick a little faster.

“Can I have a word, babe?” Seth whispered to me, surprisingly not touching me yet.

“No,” I said instantly.

He looked to Caleb and nodded. My heart lurched as Caleb picked Tory up, tossing her over his shoulder and sprinting away into the cave system, her scream calling back to us. My mouth fell open and Seth grinned at me, catching my hand as I went to run after her.

He twirled me around like we were dancing, pulling me into his chest and locking his arm around my waist. “Don’t worry about her, you know as well as I do those two have been hooking up. She’s gonna be more than fine.”

“Good for her. I’d like to be fine too, so if you could just get your grubby paws off of me that would be swell.” I pushed him and he released me. I backed up a step, then two, surprised when he didn’t grab me again. I went to walk away, but his eyes softened and he gave me a heart-melting expression that made me pause. 

“What is that look for?” I asked uncertainly, unable to help myself. Damn puppy dog face.

“I just wanna talk to you for one minute. If you don’t like what I have to say, you can walk away and never talk to me again.”

“I like the sound of that second part,” I mused and his eyes grew wider. His hair was long and shiny around his shoulders and I frowned as I realised he wasn’t scratching. “How’s your fleas?”

“All gone,” he said brightly. “Prestos ordered in the best flea dip in Solaria. My entire pack is clean.” His face fell as he mentioned his pack and a low whine left his throat.

My throat tightened as I recalled the glassy eyes of his pack member Ashanti on the battlefield.

“I’m sorry about your friend,” I said gently. No one had deserved to die that day. And I could see how much it was hurting him, asshole or not.

“Yeah…” He cleared his throat, glancing away.

I sighed. “One minute?”

“One minute.” He turned to me, smiling again as he stepped forward, drawing back his muscular shoulders.

I raised my brows, waiting for him to start and spotted Tyler heading past us, nodding to me as he went.

When we were alone again, I eyed the sharp lines of Seth’s handsome face and he took a measured breath, preparing for whatever he was about to say. “I have a proposal for you.”

“I’m not really looking to get married right now,” I taunted and he grinned demonically.

“Not that kind of proposal. Although, now you mention it…” He smirked and I rolled my eyes.

“Thirty seconds are gone already.”

“Okay so…don’t say no to this immediately, but I want you to come and meet me tonight-”

“No,” I cut over him. “No way.”

He bobbed on his heels, reaching toward me like he longed to touch me but I jerked backwards so he couldn’t. A frustrated growl left his throat and he pushed his roaming hand into his hair instead. “You’re making this really hard on me, babe.”

“I really don’t care,” I said with a shrug.

His eyes darkened. “Look, I’m giving you a choice in this before I have to force it. Don’t underestimate me being an Alpha. It runs right through to my damn soul and you’re in my pack. I have to initiate you. There isn’t a way out of it, alright? If you keep making me wait, do you know what’s gonna happen?”

“No…” I said, my heart thumping out of rhythm.

“I’ll lose control. I’ll put you in line whether you want me to or not. And it won’t be the cuddly nice way.”

“But I don’t want to be a part of your pack,” I said in horror. And I certainly didn’t want to be forced into it.

“I know, I know. But we gotta jump through the hoops. First, I’ll initiate you, then I’ll work out the details to make sure I can kick you out and we can all go back to normal.”

I frowned, considering his words. If he really was going to flip on me one of these days and force me into his pack, I didn’t have much choice. 

“What do I have to do exactly?” I narrowed my eyes and he gave me that hungry look which made fear flicker inside me.

“Meet me alone after dinner.”

“Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.” I folded my arms and he gritted his teeth.

“Darcy,” he snarled. “You’re not getting the message here.”

“I’m getting it loud and clear. I don’t trust you, Seth Capella. Do you really think I’d be stupid enough to meet you alone after what you did to me?”

His brows drew together and he pulled his Atlas from his pocket. “I thought you’d say that, so…” He lifted the Atlas, tapping something on it then mine pinged in response to whatever he’d sent.

I went to take it out but he shifted forward, taking hold of my wrist with a serious look. “That email is for your eyes only. I’m desperate here, that’s why I’m doing this. It will show you how serious I am about this. I don’t want to hurt you. But if you refuse to meet me tonight, it will only be another day or two before I lose control.” His grip on my arm tightened and my breathing quickened from the intensity of his tone. “That message is ammo against me. I’m trusting you not to use it. But if I screw with you tonight in any way, you’ve got it as a back up, okay babe?”

I nodded, falling still as his hand slid into my hair, fear dripping down my spine as I called on my magic, preparing to throw him off. He moved forward in a flash, pressing his lips to my forehead before darting away into class. The heated mark of his kiss turned cold as I swivelled around, staring after him and wondering what the hell he’d just sent me.

***

I sat in The Orb with my friends and a large group of the A.S.S at dinner time. I still hadn’t looked at the email Seth had sent, not having had a moment alone to do so since classes had finished.

Diego and Sofia sat opposite us and Tory gave me a pointed look before resting her elbows on the table. “So, guess who we bumped into today, Sofia?”

“I dunno, the Heirs?” she said with a frown.

“Nope, Tyler Corbin. He swooped in and saved us from a bunch of Earth seniors who were about to go mega Hell Week on us.” Tory beamed and Sofia nodded, seeming confused as to why Tory was telling her this.

“That’s nice of him,” she said with a smile.

“And he mentioned something that might interest you,” I said with a grin.

“What?” Diego questioned before she could, frowning as he looked between us.

“He has a crush on Sofia,” I whispered, glancing across the room to where Tyler was sitting with some of the Pegasus crowd.

“Liar!” Sofia squeaked, her cheeks flushing pink.

“Nope, it’s totally true,” Tory promised.

Diego looked over his shoulder, his eyes not-so-subtly narrowing on Tyler. “That pendejo?” he muttered. “I don’t trust him.”

“Well I do,” I said brightly and Diego looked to me, his lips pursing. I sensed Tory holding back a laugh beside me and felt one bubbling in my own throat. Well if Diego wasn’t going to define things with Sofia, why shouldn’t she have other options?

“You should go over there,” Tory said in encouragement.

Geraldine shifted closer, clearly having been listening in and I spotted Angelica smiling over at Sofia without blinking.

“Did I hear correctly?” Geraldine asked. “Do you have a suitor vying for your hand, Sofia?”

“I wouldn’t put it like that,” Sofia giggled, hiding her face in her hands.

“You must go to him! Your love awaits!” Geraldine said loud enough to draw attention from the Pegasus table and plenty of others.

Tyler glanced at Sofia hopefully then turned back to his friends who all started prodding and elbowing him.

“Oh my god,” I said excitedly as Tyler rose to his feet.

“What?” Sofia hissed, her eyes Bambi wide.

“He’s coming over,” I laughed, schooling my expression as Tyler arrived behind her and Diego’s hand curled tightly around his fork.

The entirety of the A.S.S fell quiet, looking at him expectantly.

“Hey Sofia,” Tyler said, clearing his throat, turning slightly red himself with so many eyes on him.

“Hi Tyler,” Sofia breathed as she turned around.

Geraldine was half out of her seat, her eyes sparkling as she stared at Tyler, totally absorbed in the moment.

“So um…there’s a fair on in Tucana on Sunday. I thought maybe…after my Earth Trial in the morning we could head over there…together?”

“Say yes,” Geraldine whispered as she cupped her mouth with her hand.

“Yeah, I’d like that,” Sofia said, smiling shyly as Tyler sucked on his lower lip and nodded.

“Well I’ll see you then, then.” He moved backwards as if to leave then swooped down and planted a kiss on her cheek. The Pegasus herd started slapping the table and neighing as he headed back to join them, leaving Sofia bright scarlet and grinning her head off. Diego looked ready to skewer Tyler with his fork, but Sofia looked so happy that I couldn’t feel too bad for him.

You should have asked her out then, Diego!

I sipped my orange juice, smiling as Tory started helping Sofia decide what to wear on Sunday. I sensed another online shopping delivery in the works and wondered if she might be forming an addiction.

“Well gravy on toast, this calls for a celebration!” Geraldine announced, jumping from her seat and heading off toward the spread of food and drinks on the other side of The Orb.

She returned a moment later with a huge pitcher of some bright pink cocktail, placing it down at the heart of the table and pouring out glasses for everyone.

“Hey, I know a drinking game we can play?” Diego offered, his mood taking a brighter turn. He looked to Sofia, nudging her hopefully. 

She eyed the alcohol with a giggle. “I’m in.”

“Me too.” Tory picked up her glass.

Geraldine took a large swig of her own drink. “I must sadly decline. I’ll stick to one glass or my wild and wicked side will come out. And as it’s a Tuesday night, I’ll keep her locked up tight.”

“Boo, I want to meet her,” Tory complained.

I sighed with disappointment. “I really wanna play but Seth begged me to meet him tonight and apparently if I don’t he’s gonna go wolf crazy on me.”

“Nooo.” Tory leaned against me dramatically. “Don’t go.”

“I’ll come back,” I promised.

She leaned in to whisper in my ear. “Okay but be careful. Me and the Ass club will be on hand for back up. Oh and you have to tell me what’s in that email the second you open it.”

I hooked her little finger with mine. “Promise.” I rose from my seat. “I’ll catch you later guys.”

A chorus of goodbyes sounded from the Ass club and I waved as I headed away.

Part of me wanted to just stay here and open the email, but it didn’t seem right doing it in front of the whole A.S.S. Not that I owed Seth anything, but the way he’d acted earlier made me think it was a good idea to open it in private.

As I jogged away from The Orb, I headed along a winding path which passed through Fire Territory. It was a slightly longer route to Aer Tower but I’d be less likely to meet any Hell Week opportunists along the way. I breathed in the night air with a smile on my face, taking my time as I headed north through Fire Territory, then curving east to avoid The Wailing Wood.

It was still another hour until curfew began but the sun was long set, the path lit by burning torches. My Atlas pinged and I took it out, wondering if it was Seth shooting me a reminder about tonight.

Was I really going to meet up with him alone? I guessed that depended on whatever he’d sent me.

Instead of finding a message from him, my heart pumped out of rhythm as I found one from Orion instead. I hadn’t replied to his message last night, I just…couldn’t. I didn’t know what he wanted from me, it was too confusing. He said he couldn’t think straight around me and I seriously reciprocated that feeling, but I also knew that I wasn’t going to make some rash decision just because my libido went from zero to a thousand every time I was around him. If we went down that route, gave into that urge, it could end in absolute disaster. But hell, it was the strongest temptation I’d ever resisted.

I took a steadying breath and opened the message.

Lance:

You do like keeping a guy in suspense don’t you?

Darcy:

For someone who was very clear about what does and doesn’t happen above swimming pools, I’m surprised you’re still looking for the answer to your last question.

Lance:

What about the question before that then?

Green or blue?

A smile gnawed into my cheeks as I thought up my reply.

Darcy:

What difference does it make to you aside from being able to tell me and my sister apart?

Lance:

Blue means you like me.

A surprised laugh tore from my throat and I rolled my eyes to the sky as I closed in on Aer Tower.

Darcy:

That makes no sense. Besides, blue hair meant something to me once, but I don’t need it anymore.

I reached Aer Tower just as my Atlas pinged again, but I stuffed it firmly away, casting air at the triangular symbol above the door and heading inside. I hurried upstairs with a burning need to read that message but I held out all the way until I got into my room. 

I pushed the door closed, dumping my bag on the bed and fishing my Atlas back out. I stripped my blazer off, dropping onto my desk chair and switching on the lamp beside my sketchbooks. When I checked my messages, I found two from Orion.

Lance:

I know what it meant. Darius told me after the Fall Party. But I have my own (better) meaning and Solaria has one too.

P.S

I fully intend to break that guy’s legs once you give me his name by the way.

Lance:

I guess you’re about to go back to radio silence so for what it’s worth…

In Solaria blue means royal.

And to me, blue means you.

I swear I reread that last sentence a hundred times, my ears ringing and my heart thrashing in my chest. Blue means you.

My eyes whipped back to the first message and pockets of heat burst in my cheeks.

A knock came at my door and I jolted out of my reverie, standing up and pulling it open.

Seth stood there with a vulnerable look on his face and magic automatically rushed to my fingertips.

“Yes?” I demanded, fire blazing in my palms.

“Have you watched it yet?” he asked with a strange smile pulling at his mouth.

“Watched what?” I frowned.

“The video I sent you. It’s your ammo against me tonight.”

“Oh… no I haven’t.” I glanced over at my Atlas and my heart smashed into my throat as I spotted the gleaming Aquarius Moonstone sitting beyond it. Oh shit!

“I’ll watch it now.” I slammed the door in his face, rushing to my desk and stuffing the Moonstone into the top drawer. If he ever found out what I’d done, he’d kill me. He’d lost his entire pack because of the fleas I’d summoned – which had been a definite bonus but now meant his fury would be tenfold.

“That hit me in the face you know,” he said from the other side of the door and I answered with a laugh. “I’m just gonna wait right here.”

“Do what you want, mutt,” I said under my breath, navigating my way to the email he’d sent me and clicking the video to play it.

The recording was taken in Seth’s room and I frowned as he stepped in front of the camera in his school uniform. You Can Leave Your Hat On by Tom Jones started playing and my mouth fell open as Seth tugged off his blazer to the raunchy music, swinging it over his head and tossing it onto the bed.

“Oh my god,” I breathed, unable to stop watching as his strip show played out. He was over-dramatic on purpose, pulling out his hair and whipping it in a circle before ripping off his shirt and sending buttons flying everywhere.

I started laughing and heard Seth chuckle out in the corridor. In the video, he sprang onto the bed, looking like stripper Tarzan as he dove off of it and skidded across the floor on his knees right up to the camera. As he started unbuttoning his pants, I had the feeling this strip show was going to go all the way, so I tapped the screen to turn it off. I got to my feet, shaking my head with another laugh as I opened the door again. 

I folded my arms, trying to school my expression as I leaned against the doorframe. “And what exactly was that video supposed to achieve? That’s not ammo, you get naked ten times a day to change into your Order form.”

“True, but did you watch until the end?” He quirked a brow and I shook my head. He nudged his way past me, his fingers brushing my arm as he went. He picked up my Atlas, sliding the video to the last frame and holding it out to show me.

“This better not be a freeze frame of your dick,” I muttered and he snorted as I took it from him.

“You’d need a wide-angle lens to fit it all in if it was.”

“Yeah keep telling yourself that.” I looked at the screen and found he was now holding a sign over his junk that said I renounce my claim to the throne of Solaria.

“If you sell this image to the press, I’m royally fucked,” Seth said with a grim smile.

“Seth,” I gasped, looking up at him with my heart in my throat. “Why would you give me this?”

“Well it’s only yours for the next…” He checked his watch. “Four hours. At midnight it will automatically delete. So you’ve got that long to destroy my life if you choose to.”

My throat tightened and I stared at him for a long moment before finally nodding. This wolf pack initiation thing must have meant a helluva lot to him if he was willing to risk me giving this video to the press. So my instincts told me I was safe.

“Do you trust me then babe…just for tonight?” he asked hopefully.

“I’ll never trust you,” I said bitterly. “But so long as I’ve got this, I know you’ll behave.”

“Good, that was the plan,” he said brightly.

“So what do I have to do?” I asked cautiously, recalling how he’d rubbed himself all over me the last time this subject had come up.

“Well like I said before, you have to challenge me or please me. You can’t challenge me because I’ll win and I can’t hold back or it doesn’t count.”

“I think I’d prefer that to the other thing though,” I said, wrinkling my nose.

He reached out to touch me again then withdrew his hand, shifting uncomfortably like it was really difficult for him to keep his paws off of me. “Well you don’t have to screw me to make it work. As much as my particular pack like to go all the way with each other, that’s not the only way to please me.”

“Good, because like I said before-”

“You’d rather never fuck anyone again than screw me. Yeah I remember, babe. Kinda hard for a guy to forget something like that.” He arched a brow at me and a laugh escaped my throat. That sounded even better being echoed back to me from his lips.

“What do I have to do then, buy you a present?” I jibed.

He barked a laugh. “Nope.” He held out his hand. “Come with me, we’re going on an adventure.”

I ignored his hand, grabbing my coat and picking up my Atlas. I forwarded the email to Tory with the message ‘if you don’t hear from me by 11:30, send this to the press’. Seth watched the whole time, making no move to stop me, then I tucked my Atlas into my pocket. 

“Lead the way,” I said, wanting to get this over with.

He grinned devilishly before snatching my palm and tugging me out of the door. I turned back, scrambling to lock up before he pulled me away, running into the stairwell and dragging me after him.

“It’s nearly curfew,” I warned as I tried to keep up.

“Sure is.” He led me out of the exit at the bottom of Aer Tower and my Atlas pinged.

Tory:

Holy shit – be careful, Darcy!

We’re still drinking in The Orb. Come join us when you’re done.

I looked up with a grin, tucking my Atlas away and Seth tugged me into a run.

“What are we doing?” I laughed, unable to help it as the cold wind blustered around me and the lambent moon shone down on us, its bulbous form nearly full.

“Awooo!” Seth howled up to the celestial being above and the sound set my heart pounding and the hairs rising along the back of my neck. “You’re coming on a run with me.”

He released my hand, pulling off his clothes and stuffing them in his backpack before tossing it to me. I caught it, putting it on as he twisted away from me and tore into his huge white form, his fur rippling in the crazy wind that beat around us. He lifted his head and a true howl left his throat, the piercing sound sending a shiver right down my spine and setting my pulse racing.

He lowered down to let me get on his back and I climbed onto him with a little thrill dancing in my chest. With the weapon I had against him, for once I really believed he wasn’t going to risk pissing me off. Sᴇaʀch Thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

I locked my knees behind his shoulders, winding my fingers into his silky fur as he rose to his feet. I clutched on tighter, having forgotten how large he really was as he bounded away across the sprawling flatlands that led to the eastern cliff.

The air swirled around us, bringing the briny tang of the sea under my nose. The sound of crashing waves grew louder as we neared the cliff edge and I gasped, clutching on tighter as Seth veered sharply right, racing alongside the sheer drop. The moonlight caught on the cresting the waves, making the wild ocean sparkle like rhinestones.

A whoop of excitement escaped me as I held on tightly, adrenaline bouncing through my veins like lightning.

Seth turned down the steep steps that led to Air Cove and my heart lurched upwards as he sprinted down them at high speed. I clutched onto him for dear life as he sprang from the final few steps and his paws smashed into the sand, spraying it up behind him as he bounded toward the sea.

“Woah woah woah!” I cried as he made a beeline right for the waves. “Seth!” I screamed and he released a bark which sounded an awful lot like a laugh.

He turned at the last second, splashing through the shallow tide as it drew in around his paws and racing for the other end of the beach. The world became a blur as he charged across the land, intermittently howling to the moon as he went.

He eventually slowed to a halt and I couldn’t stop smiling as I slid off of him and leaned back against a large boulder, shaking with adrenaline.

Seth returned to his Fae form and I passed him the backpack of clothes, turning away as he got dressed. After a minute he cleared his throat and I glanced back to find he’d dropped down to sit on a flat rock jutting from the sand. “Are you gonna join me?”

“It must be almost curfew,” I said hesitantly, vaguely wondering if Tory and the others might have headed back to one of our Houses so I could go meet them.

“Five minutes?” he asked with a soft whine. “We’ll be back before any teachers find us.”

I bit my lip, the thrill of the ride still running through my veins. I did have that video after all and I wasn’t totally untrained these days. If he tried anything maybe I’d be able to blast him to smithereens with my newfound fire powers.

I moved to the edge of the rock, sitting a few feet away from him and gazing out at the dark ocean.

“Have I passed your initiation yet?” I asked, glancing at him.

“Not yet,” he murmured.

“What else have I got to do?” I asked suspiciously, the high of the run starting to wear off.

“We need to bond a bit,” he said stiffly.

I narrowed my eyes. “Like how?”

“Nothing sexual, babe. Jeez. I gave you my word, didn’t I?”

“You’ve lied to me before,” I reminded him.

“I know,” he sighed. “This isn’t like that.”

“And what was that like exactly?” I asked coldly.

“That was business. This is pleasure.” He grinned mischievously and some of my rage ebbed away a bit. But certainly not all of it. I’d kind of enjoyed the evening so far, but it was definitely easier to like Seth when he was a giant fluffy wolf who couldn’t talk.

I waited for more of an explanation on what I was supposed to do and he slid closer so he was within arm’s reach. I gave him a stare that warned him not to touch me and he didn’t.

He sighed, looking up at the stars blazing above us. “Sex is so much easier than this.”

I watched him in my periphery not sure how to respond to that.

“Do you want to hear a story?” he asked and my brows arched.

“Okay,” I agreed and he dropped his head to stare at the sea.

“In my family we have this tradition called Forging. Every cub has to go through it to prove they’re strong enough to be a part of the pack.”

I turned to look at him, intrigued by that. “What does it involve?”

His throat bobbed and he didn’t look at me as the continued, “You have to survive a week on your own on Fable Mountain in Northern Solaria.” He glanced at me. “This will sound a little fucked up, but it’s the way of wolves so don’t judge my parents too hard.”

“Alright,” I breathed, my skin prickling at the tension in his voice.

“Cubs don’t get named until after their Forging because a lot of them don’t make it back. The idea is to weed out the weak to keep the pack strong. It’s been done for generations but a lot of Werewolves have given up the custom because it’s so ruthless.”

I nodded, my mouth drying up at the idea of parents leaving their children to fend for themselves like that, knowing they might not come home.

“What was it like?” I asked in a strained voice.

“I was only five,” he said quietly. “Dad told me to spend the week in my wolf form, he said it was easier that way. It was so long ago but I can still remember every day vividly.” He cleared his throat, a vulnerable look gripping his features. “I remember my parents walking me up the mountain through the thickest snow I’d ever seen. I thought it was a game, I remember laughing and playing. I didn’t really get it until they left me there in a cave with no food, no water, nothing.” He swallowed thickly and my heart stung as I pictured him as a small white wolf cub abandoned to fend for himself like that.

“That’s awful,” I whispered, threading my cold fingers together.

“I don’t blame them. I love my parents. They made me strong,” he said fiercely and I could see he really meant that.

“How did you survive?” I asked.

“I nearly didn’t,” he muttered. “There was a blizzard that week. The snow was so thick I only had to step outside the cave to be blinded by the endless fog. So I holed up in there, frozen to the bone, starving and…alone.” His jaw tightened. “I’d never been alone before. I’ve got a lot of family. We always slept together and I didn’t realise how painful it would be to be cut off like that.” He rubbed a hand over his face with a sigh. “Do you remember what you said to me the other week, how I didn’t break you…I forged you?” He looked to me and my stomach clenched as I nodded. “It made me realise how much I’ve become like my parents. After I survived that week on the mountain, I vowed that if I ever had a family of my own that I’d never put them through that. But somewhere along the way, I forgot that promise I made to myself.”

We sat in silence and I tried to imagine what it would have been like to grow up in this cutthroat world. Would I be as hard-hearted as the Heirs if the King and Queen had raised me?

“How did you survive that week?” I asked.

“Well…the snow packed up so high outside the cave that it eventually kept the wind out. I got water from the ice, but I didn’t eat anything. I was weak as hell by the time my parents came back and dug me out. But I survived so… I passed.”

I reached out, resting a hand on Seth’s arm, my eyes watering at the horrible image he’d conjured in my mind. He looked to me with a taut frown, releasing a low whine. An instinct rose in me and I wasn’t sure if I should act on it, but he seriously looked like he needed a hug. I shuffled closer as I decided to give in to the feeling and wrapped my arms around him.

He buried his face in my neck and as I tried to pull back, he held me there a moment longer, making my heart judder.

“Seth,” I warned and he quickly released me.

I scooted away again with a lump in my throat. There really was something to this whole Alpha wolf thing. His aura was designed to dominate, to make me want to bow to his commands and please him. But I wasn’t a wolf. And I wouldn’t ever act like I was either.

He gasped suddenly, resting a hand on his chest. “Oh thank fuck for that.”

“What?” I asked in confusion.

“Welcome to the pack, babe. You’re officially initiated.”

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