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

During my first test, I thought about her and me running. But something changed since then. Now, there was Wyatt. Even thinking about leaving made my stomach turn and my heart race. I couldn’t leave him. “Mom,” I said, wishing she would calm down. “Come back upstairs. Let’s talk.” If she wouldn’t go with me to the ceremony, then I wouldn’t go either. She could tell me more about what was happening.

She pursed her lips tight, considering my request.

“Stella,” my dad yelled from across the entryway.

Immediately, her mind was made up. I saw it in her eyes. “Goodbye, Diana. Watch yourself and trust no one, especially not Wyatt Wright.” With that, she dashed across the entryway and disappeared outside.

I looked at my dad. He waved me over.

My shoulders slumped. I was worried about my mom, but I didn’t know how to help her. Dad might know, though. I went to his side. “What’s wrong with mom?” I asked.

He eyed me shrewdly. “What isn’t wrong with your mother?” He clucked his tongue and took me by the arm. “The ceremony is about to start. You’ll be a Legacy, same as me,” he said, giving me a wry smile.

I had about a million questions for him, but he was walking quickly, and I had to hurry to keep up. “Fine.” I didn’t know enough about the houses to be for or against one or the other. But if Wyatt would be in Legacy house, then so would I. After the ceremony, I would get answers from him. I clasped my hands together, feeling like a lamb led to the slaughter.

My heart ached over Penelope’s death, the news about Wyatt, and my mom leaving. I felt like I was dreaming, that none of this could be real. I even hoped it wasn’t. But deep down, I knew the truth. As weird and chaotic as it was, this was my life now.

Oakus dug his little claws into my side as though he sensed my thoughts. I stuck my hand in my pocket. He wrapped his hands around one of my fingers and squeezed.

Chapter Seventeen

Before the doors to the auditorium opened, I could feel the electricity of bodies in the room, like an obnoxious hum. Two young boys, probably no more than ten or twelve, stood on either side of the double doors. As soon as my father came into view, they snapped to attention and opened the door.

“Evening, sir,” one of them said.

My father didn’t respond, just strode through.

A young woman directed us through all of the curtains until I could see the stage. “There you are, sir,” she said, indicating he should go out.

I peeked beyond the curtains and could see the auditorium was enormous with enough seating for thousands. “How is this done?” I asked.

“Magic is our lifeblood,” the girl said.

I looked at her. Was that supposed to mean something?

She gave me a smile, one that said she was terrified of me. “You’d better go find a seat.”

My father glanced back at me. He didn’t smile. He didn’t say anything. Just looked at me like he was looking at a shiny new toy. Then he rolled his shoulders back and walked out onto the stage. As he went, he waved. The crowd went wild. The noise so thunderous, it almost hurt my ears.

“This way,” the girl said.

Reluctantly, I followed as she led me behind several black curtains, down some stairs, and up until we somehow were in the area with all of the seats.

“Sit here,” she said. Then left.

I glanced around for Wyatt, but the lights were dimmed, and there were so many people. No way would I find him. But I hoped he’d see me. So I stood there until someone in the row behind me told me to sit down.

One teacher spoke about the initiates and how great we did this year. Another talked about coming up with the tests and thanked those that helped. Finally, my father stood.

The clapping went on for several minutes until my father put out his hands and indicated they should stop. When there was finally silence, he smiled. “It’s so great to have you all here. This year marks the one-hundredth year since the Wolf Blood Academy opened.”

The crowd cheered.

“It also marks the first year my daughter was able to participate.”

The crowd cheered again, although with less enthusiasm than before.

I sank down in my seat as a drone camera found me and put my face up on the jumbo screens on either side of the stage.

“Are you ready to be introduced to this year’s initiates and discover which house they belong in?”

Once again, the crowd went wild.

They started from the last place and went one by one through each student until it was Wyatt’s turn. When he came up, my father did his best to keep his demeanor professional, but I saw it waver. He leaned in and said something to Wyatt before standing tall. “Legacy house,” he shouted.

Everyone cheered.

Dad handed him a royal blue sweater with a wolf head on the pocket. I’d come to learn that one represented his house.

Then it was my turn. Dad called me on stage. I was nervous but made my way up. He gave me a brilliantly fake smile. “As I said earlier, this is my daughter’s first year at the Academy even though she is eighteen and should be graduating. Because of these extenuating circumstances and the fact that her wolf is silver, she will be placed in Legacy house, though she only has one year to complete all of her studies before she must graduate.” He looked at me like the loving father he wasn’t. “It will be difficult, but with the help of our amazing faculty as well as the Legacy house students, I feel confident you’ll be able to succeed.” He handed me a royal blue sweater, the same as Wyatt’s.

I was barely able to move. What was he doing