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

of my sweater. If Oakus hadn’t been with me, I would’ve gotten rid of it like Wyatt did. “Hold my feet. I’ll reach down and get her,” I said, trying not to let my panic show.

“I’m taller,” Fallon said. His face was pale as a white sheet. “And I know I should tell you I’ll do it, but I can’t.” He was physically shaken. Obviously, the man didn’t like rats, and I couldn’t blame him.

“It’s okay. Wyatt, you hold Fallon’s legs. Then, Fallon, you hold Penelope.” I looked at her, and she nodded.

“I’ll hold yours,” she said.

“Alright. Let’s do this.” We got into position, and before I knew it, I was dangling down into a cavern full of vampire rats. It smelled horrible, a combination of mud and blood, and whatever else. It was disgusting. Oakus was still clinging to my side. I was so close to the rats that they noticed me and came closer in interest, but they wouldn’t get off Billie. I clapped my hands and tried shouting, but they didn’t seem to care. If I reached into them to get her, I’d wind up bitten by the vampire rats too. That didn’t seem like a good idea. I was already a disadvantage to the team. Having my blood sucked by a bunch of…

Oakus removed his hold on my side, climbing along my arm until he perched in my hand.

“Get back in my pocket. These things will eat you, too,” I whispered, moving my arm, but my sweater was dangling over my head. A couple of rats climbed on.

“How’s it going down there?” Penelope asked.

“Not great,” I answered truthfully, pulling out of my sweater. What was I going to do?

I had no answers, but suddenly a light began to shine from my hand. It was Oakus. He was lit up like a flashlight. At the light, the rats scurried away, and I could see Billie’s body. It was dirty and bloodied, but at least I could reach her. Oakus jumped onto Billie, and then I got my arms around her. “Pull me up,” I shouted. I didn’t want the others to see my little monster, but it would be worth it to save Billie.

She moaned as we started to lift her.

Oakus kept shining his light until I was nearly at the top of the opening, then he quickly hid behind my hair, and his light vanished.

A bit farther and Billie was out. I turned her onto her back.

“Billie?” I asked, feeling for a pulse. She was breathing. “She’s alive,” I said and sat back, relieved. The blood had all rushed into my head, and I saw spots, but it had to be done.

Fallon and Penelope surrounded her.

“How did you get the rats off her?” Fallon asked, his eyes shining with admiration.

I shrugged, rubbing at my temples. “They just all went away,” I lied. As I spoke, Penelope handed me my sweater. It had come up with Billie. “Thanks,” I put it on.

Wyatt trotted over and began nuzzling at Billie. Her clothes had dozens of holes in them, and he started to lick them.

“That’s right,” Penelope said. “Wolf spit can heal vampire bites,” she said, helping Wyatt find all of the bites. It looked like he was mauling her, but I watched in awe as the punctured skin healed and disappeared.

When he was done, Billie opened her eyes. “What the hell?” She jumped up, her wolf pushing against her frame.

“We saved you, num nuts. Your team left you and took off, but Diana refused to go on until you were safe. Before you get crazy, you should thank her,” Fallon said, running a hand through his hair.

“What he said,” Penelope added. “Plus, you’re okay. Wyatt healed all of your bites.”

Billie’s eyes were wild when she found mine. “Thanks?”

“It was a team effort,” I said, wishing she would stop looking at me.

“Wasn’t there a light?” she asked, looking around. She took several big breaths, absently playing with the holes in her shirt.

I tried to play it cool. Oakus had casually wandered back down and into my pocket. “Not me,” I said.

They were all looking at me like I had to have more to say. Like I had an extra phone or something, but I kept silent. Lying wouldn’t get me anywhere.

“Maybe it was your mutant—I mean monster power,” Fallon said.

I shrugged. That wasn’t a bad guess. He was close. “Maybe.”

Wyatt barked. His way of telling us we needed to stop chatting and move on. He trotted forward. I waited for everyone else. Billie was in front of me, and she paused until I caught up with her. “Thank you, Diana, for rescuing me.”

“It really was a group effort,” I said and smiled.

She returned it. “Friends?”

“I’d like that.”

Chapter Twelve

The next part of the obstacle course was climbing a steep and mountainous rock wall. The black and gray rocks looked savage with sharp edges pointing out at various intervals while other spots had indentations.

Penelope, Billy, and Fallon headed up first. Wyatt paced back and forth. I couldn’t decide whether he was trying to be there in case they fell or if it was because it would be difficult for him to climb in his wolf form. I guessed the latter, but couldn’t be sure.

“Why don’t you shift back?” I asked, knowing it would mean he’d be naked, but only until he reached the top and then he could change into his wolf form again.

Wyatt whined, but he seemed to be thinking about it. Then he nudged me toward the rock wall. I needed to get started, but I wanted to wait for him. We were a team, and that meant leaving no one behind.

Holly, Vivian, and Cohen had reached the top just as we arrived at the bottom. They made obscene gestures before continuing on.

Jerks!

But I was glad they were gone. They weren’t behaving the way a team should, and it irritated the hell out of me. Since their choices were out of my control, I focused on Wyatt.

“Or you