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

“I’m staying with the original group. That’s part of the challenge. If you go ahead, then we’re all going to lose points. This is a team effort, remember?” He sounded frustrated and disappointed.

“Penelope? Billie?” She met their eyes and held it. “If our group is bigger, then we won’t lose points, they will.”

“I’m staying. Idiots,” Penelope said and then said something else under her breath.

“Whatever,” Holly huffed and jogged over to the entrance of the maze.

Wyatt put himself between her and the opening, baring his teeth in a low growl.

“Move it, Wyatt! We don’t care if you did this before.” Holly moved around him as though knowing his stance was just a threat and one he wouldn’t follow through.

Billie seemed unable to decide but finally went with Vivian and the others. That left Fallon, Penelope, Wyatt, and me.

“Great! We’ve lost before we’ve even completed the damn trial,” Penelope said, her wolf sharpening her features.

“Sorry,” I whispered, knowing somehow this was my fault.

“Don’t be. You aren’t the jerk who took half our team with you.” She patted me on the shoulder. Then looked at Wyatt. “How do you want to work this?”

He whined, came forward and nudged me, then turned to face Fallon and Penelope.

“I mean, I get that Diana has some extra skills,” Fallon began, holding out his hands. “The problem is she doesn’t seem confident enough to use them.”

“Fallon is right,” I said. “You lead.”

Wyatt whined.

“But I think we should just stick together and tackle whatever comes our way,” I added. “Sound like a plan?”

Penelope shrugged. “It’s the only plan.”

Wyatt went over to the obstacle opening, glanced back, and then went in.

Chapter Eleven

For ten minutes, the four of us moved along at a medium jog following after Wyatt. I figured he was trying to make up time. The twists and turns were like any corn maze. Hard, dirt-covered ground and even a faint stench of popcorn filled the air.

Oakus had his talons permanently buried in my side until it was numb with pain.

“I like this one,” Fallon said, coming up beside Penelope. “It isn’t as scary as the lava.”

“I have a feeling it isn’t going to stay this way,” I said over my shoulder, sensing danger.

“Diana’s right. Don’t get complacent,” Penelope added.

At that moment, someone screamed.

“See?” Penelope said.

Wyatt picked up the pace, and so did I. Penelope and Fallon kept up and were close behind. After an incredibly sharp turn, Wyatt slid to a stop, and I ran into him.

“Oof.” I moved to stand at his shoulder.

The other half of our team was in a predicament. Cohen was stretched across an opening while Vivian and Holly had their arms wrapped around him.

“Hurry up,” Cohen grunted.

Without missing a beat, Wyatt jumped across the opening and then put his paws on Cohen’s arms.

Cohen cried out as Wyatt’s sharp claws dug into his biceps.

I hurried over and took hold of Cohen’s feet.

“Thank you,” Cohen said, his voice filled with pain.

Pen wrapped her arms around my waist.

“Hurry up and cross,” Fallon said, leaning over and taking Holly’s hand.

The opening went the full length of the maze, so there was no way to cross except doing it the way Wyatt did, by becoming a wolf. Holly and her group had decided not to change.

I peered over into the opening. Something was down there in the darkness. Whatever it was, it kept squeaking. I looked closer, using my wolf senses. My eyes zeroed in on thousands of rats, only these didn’t look quite right. They had fangs sort of like… “Are those vampire rats?” I asked, my stomach turning in revulsion.

“I think so,” Holly said as she made it to the other side and stood, adjusting her clothes.

I shuddered. I didn’t like rats under normal circumstances, but these were worse. There were so many down there, and they seemed to be swarming over something. “Where’s Billie?” I asked, my heart picking up speed.

Holly looked away.

“Where is she?” My pulse was ratcheting so fast I thought everyone would hear it, but I didn’t care.

Vivian made it across and shook her head. “She fell,” she admitted, giving Holly a sideways glance.

“She was weak,” Holly said, her face filled with disgust before starting away from the rest of us.

“I think all of her muscles have crowded out her brain cells. That girl is dumb as a rock,” Penelope said.

“But she’ll be okay?” I looked at Wyatt when I asked because he’d said no one would die, but Billie wasn’t moving.

He whined. I wasn’t sure what that meant. “We can’t leave her,” I added.

Cohen kicked out of my grasp and lifted himself up on the other side before Fallon, Pen, and I could cross.

“Rude,” Penelope said.

He rubbed at his arms. They were dripping blood. “Damn, man. That wasn’t necessary. I had them,” he said but took off.

Vivian gave us a look and shrugged before going after them.

“Ungrateful assholes,” Fallon said.

“Yeah,” I said, and wondered how we were going to cross. But I didn’t need to wonder long. Wyatt stood on all fours and barked.

Penelope and I moved out of the way as he jumped back across to our side. He lay down.

“You go first,” I said to Penelope.

She climbed on, but Wyatt didn’t move.

“I think he wants you to climb on as well,” Fallon said.

“Okay.” Nervously, I took a seat behind Penelope. When I was situated, I waited for him to move, but he just growled and barked.

“Are you sure you can carry all three of us?” Fallon asked.

Wyatt barked again.

Fallon climbed on.

Wyatt backed up as far as he could and leaped at the last minute, pushing off on the edge of the opening. I heard myself scream and hung on for dear life. It only lasted a couple of seconds, and Wyatt landed on the other side.

Once we were off his back, Wyatt lay down, looking over the edge of the opening and did a pant whine.

“Is there anything we can do?” Fallon asked. He didn’t seem convinced.

“Yes,” I said, pushing up the sleeves