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

test. All of it,” he reiterated, glancing around. “The way you handle each situation will be ranked, and that ranking will let the Academy know which house you belong in.”

“That’s pretty vague,” Penelope said and snorted. “I’m just praying I don’t wind up in Legacy house. Or Familiar. Claw is the only way to go.” She looked at me then. “Right?”

Hell, if I knew. “What’s wrong with Legacy?”

“Only that every last one of them is an uppity snob,” she roared.

Several students looked her way, their faces angry.

One, in particular, did look like an uppity snob. “You don’t know what you’re talking about, dog.” He sniffed and looked away. Several of his friends laughed.

Wyatt clenched his teeth together. “I’m not allowed to say more. It’s against the rules,” he added. “But I will say everyone is entitled to their own opinion.” He looked directly at Penelope. “Not everyone from Legacy house is a snob. I know several who are really cool. Friends even.”

She squinted ruefully. “If you say so. Then she batted her eyelashes. “You look like the kind of guy who breaks the rules. Can’t you give us a hint?” She stuck her shoulder into his chest.

I felt my eyes get wide, and something within me growled. What was Penelope playing at?

Wyatt shook his head. “I’ll only say that the test has already started.” He gave her a look that said she’d better be careful.

“How would anyone know?” Penelope asked, scouring the landscape and the sky for cameras or some sort of drone.

He leaned down, so his face was at her level. “You’re wolf blood, but I’m sure you’re aware there are also magic and vampire bloods too?” He tilted his head to one side, waiting for her response.

That was news to me. What the what? Vampires? Witches? What the everloving what?

“Sure, yeah?” Penelope appeared confused and worked to grasp what he was getting at.

“Well, some of our academy advisers are magic and vampire bloods. They assist with protecting the Academy just as there are wolf bloods who are advisers in the vampire and magic blood academies.”

“So, you’re suggesting we are being watched with magic?” I asked, just to verify. “Like a spell or something?” A chill ran through me. Vampires? Bloodsucking beings that didn’t like the sun and needed blood to survive? And magic? Spells and potions and cauldrons filled with green goo?

Wyatt straightened and crossed his arms. “That’s exactly right.” His lips pushed up into a smile, and my heart stopped, and I felt breathless. At the same time, I kind of despised him. This was a new feeling. When I first saw him in the coffee shop, I only thought he was gorgeous. Why was I suddenly wanting him and hating him at the same time? It really hurt my head. Without thinking, I rubbed my palms against my temples. What was wrong with me?

Mine, came the response from deep inside my brain. I knew without knowing how that voice was my wolf talking, and if she had a say, he would be mine. But—

“Are you okay, Diana?” Wyatt asked.

I glanced up and met his eyes. They were gold and green and had me internally panting. “Yeah. Just a little headache. No biggie.”

“I don’t have a headache,” Penelope said.

If she wasn’t careful, she was going to get punched in the teeth.

At those dark thoughts, it was like the sky wanted to show the world what I was feeling. The sun vanished, and dark clouds rolled in. The air turned cold, causing my breath to come out in smoky puffs. It was only September, but the sky didn’t care, and it started to snow.

Penelope held out her hands. “Is this a spell too?”

Wyatt glanced up and then moved closer, so close, I got a hint of his scent. Then he whispered. “That shouldn’t even be a question.” Then to me, he said, “Watch yourself, Diana.” His lips brushed against my ear, and tingles skittered along my skin.

“I-I will,” I responded, fighting against the part of myself that was repulsed and turned, so my face was only inches from his. I would barely have to lean forward, and my lips would be on his. My wolf whined with need. “Thank you,” I said, meeting his eyes.

A beat.

Two beats.

He cleared his throat and stood, taking a few steps back. There was a howl from the direction of the forest in the distance.

My head felt fuzzy like the air was thinner without Wyatt so close. The snow fell even harder now, in thick flakes, and they stuck to the grass. As a group, we migrated closer together to keep warm. It was cold. So cold. I wrapped my sweater around myself, grateful I had it and worked to keep my teeth from chattering. Penelope’s skin turned red from the frigid air.

Before anyone could freak out too much, sleds appeared from nowhere and were pulled by horses. The horses were brown with black spots, and the sleds were shiny black. They stuck out against the white powder that had already risen to cover the tops of my boots. On one of the panels of the sled were three pictures. A wolf head, two paws, and a full moon. I guessed they represented the three houses.

Five sleds pulled to a stop one after the other around the circular driveway. The horses were restless. Some moved their heads up and down while others pounded the ground, probably because they were in such close proximity to a whole bunch of young wolves.

While the people steering the sleds worked to keep the horses calm, a man wearing a light gray suit, matching shirt, and azure tie opened the double doors to the Academy entrance and descended the steps. His dark hair was slicked back, showing off an angled face.

My vision lasered in on him without even meaning to, and I was able to see that his eyes were like mine. Icy. It was my father.

“Welcome to the Wolf Blood Academy,” he said, raising his hand as he