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

I forced myself not to roll my eyes, not that I didn’t believe him. Without a doubt, he would make sure I suffered. But since he kicked me out of the Keepers, I never became a part of his pack. That meant I didn’t have to obey him unconditionally. “Got it,” I said and left, closing the door behind me.

The guys were waiting in the hall. They wore their Keepers uniform.

A pang of envy rolled off me, but I forced myself to smile.

“How screwed are you?” Nick asked.

I shrugged, pushing past them and heading to the exit. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Butch clapped me on the shoulder. “Why you wearing that uniform?” He eyed my sweater with disdain.

 “Do you have to work here?” Logan asked.

I gave them the details. “It just means I have to do the initiation again, same as the newbies.” I shoved open the doors. The sun hit my face, and I lifted it, allowing the light to burn away all the ick at being around my father.

“That’s horrible,” Sundance groaned.

“Yeah, but this time I know what I’m doing. It’ll be easy.” I wanted to brush them off and find Diana, but I owed them an explanation. So I turned. Rolling my shoulders back, I crossed my arms. “Look, what I did by saving Diana wasn’t cool. I know that. Especially since I didn’t talk to you about it first. I’m sorry,” I added, though I felt no remorse or weakness. I regretted that I wasn’t in the Keepers with them, but I would do it all again if necessary.

Logan spoke first. “Yeah, what you did sucked.” He shrugged. “But, at least the rest of us are part of the Shade Keepers.” He was already higher in rank than the rest of them, as I knew he would be. Now that he was where he wanted to be, he’s shown all of his power.

My father came out of his office. “Keepers, report,” he shouted.

They all snapped to attention, and I was forgotten. It hurt, but there was nothing to be done. I had to do this, and my father made me promise not to tell the others the details of my new orders or their possible punishment if I failed.

My thoughts were supercharged and focused. Not on reclaiming my status in the Keepers. Nor did I waste my thoughts on my old pack and their needs. I was selfishly focused on Diana. Part of me wished I could go back to the way things were before I bit her. Saved her from certain death. But my choice had changed the course of both of our lives. Mine because I was no longer living for only myself. It was all about Diana.

Hers? She didn’t know it yet, but we were meant to be together, and I intended to make sure her time at the Academy was as successful as possible.

A black limo came to a stop in front of the Academy steps. Even though I remained calm, my heart was racing. I hadn’t seen her face, yet I was already a mess.

When the door opened, I snapped to attention, sitting up.

She stepped out nervously, unsure about this place.

There were dozens of other students and even parents milling about. Laughing. Excitement and expectation snapped in the air like a flag in a gale-force windstorm.

All of that faded, and there was just her. I held my breath as she spoke with the driver. He pointed toward the check-in tent. She lifted a hand to shade the sun from her eyes and glanced over. Then she thanked him and headed there. Her back to me, my wolf howled. I was down the steps and onto the grass in seconds, tracking her like prey. Her long blond hair hung long and danced in the Wyoming breeze. She wore jeans and a white button-up, tucked into her jeans. Over that was a long, red sweater, like a cape and black boots that came up to her knees.

She was standing in line, talking to a girl with short black hair and a nose ring. I tried to listen in on what they were saying, but there was too much interference around me.

So I watched as she went through the line, tracking her movements, scanning and searching for a sign that I’d somehow ruined her by nearly killing her. She seemed nervous but no more so than the rest of the newbies.

Finished, she came out from under the shadow of the tent. Her eyes down, she was focused on the papers in her hands, probably wondering how to find her room.

I stepped into her path. “Hi Diana,” I said, my voice not sounding like my own.

She gasped and took a step back, using the papers to shade the sun as she looked at me. First confused and then surprised. “Wyatt.” The way she said my name had my heart picking up speed.

“You’re going here?” she asked. Again she seemed surprised.

“Yep, this is the place I call home,” I admitted, forcing myself to smile. Because what the hell was I doing? Any second she’d recognize me as the man who left her to drown.

“But then that means…” Her voice trailed off, and her dazzling bright blue eyes widened as though she was seeing me for the first time. She stepped in close and then thought better of the move and went back. “You’re a—like me, I guess.” Her smile vanished, and I sensed she was terrified about what that meant. It had only been a few days since she got her invitation. She must be freaking out. I couldn’t imagine having lived my whole life without knowing who or what I really was. Talk about an identity crisis. I wanted to drag her into a hug and hold her until she felt completely safe and ready to take on all that it meant to attend the Academy.

“More or less,” I admitted.

“Oh.” She pushed up the