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

spoke. “It’s an honor to have you with us. You have been assigned rooms, and your bags are waiting there. They will remain untouched until…” He let his words fall away as his eyes wandered across the crowd before finally landing on me. “You complete your first test in our initiation process.” His eyes continued to roam. Relief washed over me when I was no longer pinned down by his gaze. “Some will find it easy. Others.” He shrugged. “Probably not so much.” Then he clasped his hands together, letting them rest in front of him. “Do your best, and you will end up in the house where you will find the most happiness throughout the remainder of your time here.” Then he reached into his breast pocket and removed the blue square, unfolding it. “Rest assured, no one will be sent home yet. So do your best.” He lifted the hand with the dangling pocket square above his head. “Let the initiation begin!” As he spoke, lightning zinged across the sky, followed by loud thunder.

Students, including Wyatt and Penelope, scrambled to get into the first sleigh. She quickly covered herself in a blanket, and I was glad she would be warm. I stayed back, watching. Waiting. Would my father want to speak to me? It seemed appropriate. I was his only child. Surely, he had to care at least a little bit. All I knew about wolves said that families stayed in their own pack. What had happened to fracture mine?

Is this really my life?

I left behind my best friend to be here. Trying to explain to Ember that I would attend a private school was challenging, to say the least. We both cried. Ember wanted to know how it was possible since my mom and I weren’t wealthy. I had to lie, though it was a good question. Who was fronting my tuition for the Academy? Or was that even a thing with wolves? I had no idea.

According to mom, my dad, the dean of the Academy, would take care of the bill. Yay him, I thought darkly as I studied him intently.

In the end, I had to sell to Ember that I wanted to go. That after what happened in the forest, I needed a break from Wildwood. We cried some more, but she grudgingly said she understood and wished me well as long as I promised to text often.

Ha!

From the looks of things, I wasn’t even getting a place to stay until this initiation process was over. I didn’t know how long it would take. Would there be sleeping or eating in between tests?

So many questions.

“Diana, are you coming or what?” That was Penelope. She indicated the seat beside her in the final sleigh, keeping her body buried under the thick blanket.

Without meaning to, I scanned for Wyatt. Somehow he was in the first sleigh. As though he knew my eyes were on him, he turned, giving me a look I couldn’t understand.

Blowing out a big breath, I ran over and climbed into the spot beside Penelope. She threw some of her blanket over my legs. I tucked my arms beneath and felt immediately warmer. “Thanks,” I said.

She smiled. “No problem.”

I turned to see what my dad was doing. He was still on the stairs, a mild expression on his face as he nodded and spoke with anyone who got close enough to hear him.

Then his eyes landed on mine. They seemed to pierce into my soul.

Don’t fail me, daughter. 

I flinched, blinking several times. Had that come from him? Or was that just what I imagined he would say? His gaze had already moved on, and then he turned and went back up the stairs, disappearing behind the red double doors.

Our sleigh lurched forward, and we were off. The horses stayed on the driveway a few seconds before the handlers veered the sleighs off and across the lawn. In front of us was a vast field followed by what looked like a coliseum. It was circular and rose up on the sides. I hoped that was where we were headed and not beyond to the Shade Rasa. The past few days had given me all of the forest I wanted.

When our sleigh slid to a stop, Penelope took my hand. She was afraid.

“What do you think we’re going to have to do?” she asked, biting her bottom lip.

“I have no idea, but it’ll be okay.” I patted her hand, hoping I was right.

A grizzly man with long dark hair and a matching beard shouted that we were to step off the sleighs and form a straight line before entering the facility. We were told to do so in a calm and orderly fashion. I hopped down and stood off to the side, waiting for Penelope and the other four students to get into line. That I was the last in line seemed appropriate. As the line moved, no one spoke. Anticipation charged the air all around us.

At the entrance, our one line broke into two. Penelope was instructed to go left, and I was told to go right. She gave me a hurried, imploring glance before heading through her door.

I went through the door on the right. It clicked shut behind me. In the low lights, I saw that I was in a sort of hallway. On the left were enormous concrete walls interspersed with open areas allowing me to see out onto the field. It was covered in grass, not snow. In the center of the field was a giant circle. Above it hung a circular cage. All around the field were bleachers filled with spectators.

“Are we going to play a game?” I heard the guy next to me ask.

If we were, it wouldn’t be like any game I’d seen or heard.

“Stop here,” a young man in uniform said. I halted as he indicated where I was to go.

On the right were stalls divided by metal and grates. Mine was the last in a long line of