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

“Some of the lupangus’s venom touched him,” Butch said, coming out from behind the curtain in a pair of royal blue sweatpants. The color meant he belonged to Legacy house, the same as the rest of my pack and me.

For a minute, I listened to Butch tell Dr. Nonna the story as the others chimed in when they thought of something important. I needed to see my dad. Behind the curtain, I shifted. Pulled on sweatpants and snuck out of the infirmary. Barefoot and shirtless, I headed along the musty and shadowy corridors filled with velvet wallpaper and pictures of people who lived hundreds of years ago. When I reached a set of stairs, I went down. Deep beneath the Academy was my father’s office. The smell of damp earth and decaying books filled the dusty air.

The Academy was so enormous, it took ten minutes to get to my father, even at a jog. I wasn’t winded. Physical fatigue was rare in wolf bloods. A blessing from the Shade, I thought, and I was glad I didn’t still have the other wolves in my head. That kind of thinking could get me into trouble.

A sympathizer. That was what I’d be called.

At my father’s office, I read the title on the open door. PROTECTIVE SERVICES. It might as well say “custodian” for all my dad thought of his day job. At the Academy, his official position was to keep the grounds, students, and teachers safe, but he believed he should be running the school. His role as Alpha of the Shade Keepers was prestigious, and he strutted around like everyone should respect the powerful position he held. I knew him too well to respect him.

When my dad saw me, he waved me in and indicated I should sit.

I snarled internally and went over to one of the cherry-red leather chairs and fell into it, draping one leg over the arm.

My father used the swivel on his chair to turn away, speaking in hushed tones to someone on the phone.

Part of me wanted to eavesdrop. Instead, I debated whether or not to tell him off. Too soon, Dad hung up and came back around.

“Did Sundance make it to the infirmary?” He sounded concerned, but I knew he didn’t care.

“Yeah, Doc Nonna is treating him,” I said, squeezing my hands into fists at my sides. “What’s the mission?” I decided not to call him out on what he’d done with the monster. It would only lead to more tension, and I didn’t need that in my life.

“Sit up straight,” he snapped, his eyes flashing to wolf. Now that I was part of the Keepers, he had power over me, though I still held dominance over my little pack—at least until I allowed myself to become part of the Shade Keeper’s pack.

Reluctantly I did as he asked, resting my bare feet on his lush black carpet.

“Good.” He donned a pair of wire-rimmed glasses and picked up a pen. “There’s a girl who needs to die.” He paused and jotted something down. “Her name is Moonlight Valene,” he said and handed me what he’d written.

The last name was familiar, of course. “As in Dean Valene?” He’d written an address in Wildwood.

“You’ll find her there. I want your pack to hunt her down and kill her.” He crossed his hands over his chest and sat back like we were discussing the weather.

I set down the paper like it was on fire. “Why?” I asked. If I was going to kill someone, I needed more.

My father leaned forward. “You are part of our community’s most elite pack now.” His eyebrows narrowed. “Are you already questioning orders? Did I make a mistake by ensuring your admittance?”

I ground my teeth together. “No, sir,” I snapped and stood, giving him a salute. Questions pummeled my brain. Who was this girl that the Shade Keepers would order her dead? What did she do? And on and on.

Dad rolled his eyes. “Good. Get it done quickly. No excuses.” He picked up the phone and pressed a button. “That’ll be all,” he said and waved me away.

I straightened and headed out of his office. I’d killed before. That was one of my secrets, and my father knew it, but I knew his too. Would I become like him?

At the moment, the answer seemed easy.

Yes.

Chapter Two

Diana

One more customer and I was done for the night.

Mercifully, he was gorgeous. Tall with the exact right amount of muscles bulging around his navy tee. The shirt seemed to enhance them, and I thought about what it would be like to lick his abs and then shook that random thought away. What the heck? I wasn’t that kind of girl. Still, I couldn’t help admiring him. Dark hair that was longer than what was in style hung in his eyes. When the light struck it just right, there was a hint of red.

Dangerous, my inner voice whispered.

“Hey,” he said when it was his turn at the counter.

“Hi. What can I get you?” I was supposed to say, “Welcome to Wildwood Coffee. How can I make your day bright?” But I was too tired.

He pushed his hair out of his eyes, and my heart might have momentarily stopped. They were… unreal. Bright yellow around the edges that faded into green and then blue. Someone might say they were hazel, but that description didn’t do them justice. Maybe it was because of the dark lashes framing his eyes. I didn’t know, but I was gawking.

My thighs began to quiver when he smiled. His lips were kissable. From somewhere deep inside came one word. Mine. It’d been months since I kissed anyone. My mind tallied while I waited for him to respond, and I didn’t like the answer—more than a year. I hadn’t kissed or been kissed since the end of my sophomore year. Then, it hadn’t been great either. I’d just turned sixteen, and the boy had been all lips and too much slobber. But this guy? Those lips?

Mine! 

I