Initiation (Wolf Blood Academy Book 1) by RaShelle Workman (best book club books for discussion txt) 📕

than peace.” Anger flashed across her face, contradicting her words. “But I will not allow much more destruction. The world is dying, and humans are to blame.” Her face softened, and my heart warmed. I loved her already though I had no idea why. “That is enough for now. You will remember my words when you are ready. But I'll cast a spell against Wyatt. You may crave him, but you must resist. The fate of the world depends on you. Rest easy, Diana.” A tear fell from one of her eyes and dropped onto my cheek. “Until we meet again.”

Chapter Four

When I woke, I felt… good. Like I hadn’t nearly been drowned or had broken bones or was bitten by a wolf. In fact, I felt terrific. Maybe I was dead? That was a possibility. Birds chirped overhead, and little animals skittered around in the brush nearby. I opened my eyes. Light filtered in through the colorful trees. Leaves danced lazily, and the sky—at least the little bit I could see—was clear and blue.

I lifted one hand, studying my fingers. They looked the same aside from the dirt under my nails. Gingerly I sat, remembering that the rock had broken my ribs. I breathed in deep. There was no pain. I checked the bare heels of my feet, but the skin was pink and looked new.

“What the ever-loving hell?” Had I dreamed what happened last night? It was possible someone could’ve slipped something in my water while I was at work. A hand went to my head. My hair was tangled like a family of beavers had built a dam in there. I wasn’t sure if that was evidence for or against my dream theory.

I got to my feet and went over to the river. It was clear something had been dragged into and out of it. Not only that, but there were large paw prints all over the shore. Wolf, my mind shouted, and a surge of power rushed through me. My eyes narrowed, and my pupils zeroed in on my surroundings. I could see the very veins on the leaves and hear the tiniest of insects meandering in the dirt. I checked my shoulder where I’d been bitten. There were holes in my shirt, and when I pushed it away, I saw the scar where the wolf bit me, but the wound was completely healed.

Was the wolf still around? I tilted my head, listening for danger, but there was only a gentle calm. Strange, since I was in the Shade. A memory niggled at the back of my mind, but it was unreachable. Shaking my head, I started away from the river, searching for my shoes and socks. They weren’t anywhere. I guessed the crazy murderous men took them, so there would be no evidence of what they’d done.

Though I was deep in the forest and had never had a great sense of direction, I somehow knew which way would lead me back home. More than once on my walk, I froze after hearing the sound of something big moving. Each time, the niggling sensation returned. As though I should know what lay hidden beyond my sight. I hurried on until I reached the fence.

“Great,” I whispered.

On the other side of the fence, my neighbor Jessica was out in her yard, her back to me, and she was digging in her flowers, probably planting tulips for spring. I debated whether to ask Jessica for help, but my body had other plans. Before I knew what I was doing, I jumped over the fence and landed with a thud on the other side. “How?” I glanced back, unable to believe I did that.

Jessica heard me and turned, jumping to her feet. She held the mini shovel in front of her like a weapon and screamed. “Diana?” she asked, touching a gloved hand to her chest, leaving a dirty fingerprint.

“Yeah, sorry,” I said, holding up my hands, but continuing across her lawn, passing her house, and heading into the front yard. When I passed that and reached the sidewalk, I let out a huge breath. Relief caused my shoulders to sag, and I bent over, resting my hands on my thighs.

“Your mom has been worried sick. We all have,” Jessica said. She’d followed me. “Are you okay?”

Physically, yes. Mentally? That was to be determined. “Fine, thanks.” There were four police cars parked outside my house. Neighbors we hadn’t talked to in years lined the road, gawking from a distance.

My mom must be terrified. I ran down the middle of the road, waving my hands and shouting. “I’m here. I’m okay. Everything is fine.”

One of the officers saw me and drew his gun. I must have looked deranged.

“Hold it right there,” he shouted.

I lifted my hands and halted, a rock piercing the bottom of my foot. “It’s me,” I said, trying to ignore the pain. “I’m Diana. I’m okay.” How I was okay was still an unknown, but I wasn’t going to complain.

“Diana Valene?” he asked but didn’t lower his weapon.

“Yes. Is my mom okay?” I dropped my hands to my sides.

He kept the weapon pointed and spoke into his walkie. “I have a young woman claiming to be the missing Diana Valene here. Can you send out the mother?”

“Roger that.”

The screen door burst open, and my mom rushed out. “Diana!” Her PJ’s were covered by her ratty pink bathrobe, and her hair was pulled back in a high ponytail. She looked like she hadn’t slept in days. “Diana!”

“Mom,” I said, but didn’t move. There was still a gun aimed at my chest.

“Lower your weapon,” an older man ordered. His uniform matched the guy with the gun.

The police officer holstered the weapon reluctantly.

Relieved, I ran past him and into my mother’s arms. “I’m okay,” I said, hugging her tightly. “I’m so sorry to worry you.”

She was sobbing. “I thought I’d lost you, Di,” she said, stroking my hair. I was only an inch taller than her five feet three inches, so