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

moment, thinking not for the first time that she harbored secrets. Clung to them like letting go would kill her. I decided to ask her about it. “What’s wrong with the forest?”

“Nothing,” she said and went back to watching her show.

It was always the same. “Okay.” I darted out the door.

Karate class was great, the same as always. Kicking ass and sparring helped alleviate all of the tension.

At eight, Ember showed up, and we played racquetball for an hour. She didn’t tease me as badly as I thought she would about the guy in the café and what a fool I’d made of myself.

“Thanks, Ember. This was fun. Same time Friday?” I asked when we reached her car.

“We’re already on the schedule.” Her eyes twinkled. “Unless that guy comes back and asks you out again. Then you say yes, got it?” She slapped my arm.

“Yeah,” I said and laughed, hugging her. “You’re the best.”

I watched her get into her car and then made my way over to mine. Even after nine, the parking lot was pretty full. Noises and shouts could be heard from inside the building, but out here, it was quiet. I glanced up at the night sky. The moon was nearly full and hung brightly. Millions of stars shone. It was one of the best things about living in a small town like Wildwood. The night sky was glorious.

From the corner of one eye, I caught movement and turned. Across from me and two cars down were two people getting hot and heavy. The guy seemed to swallow her. He was so much bigger.

Something about the situation felt off.

I debated what to do, but I felt like I should make sure the girl was okay. “Hey,” I called out.

They didn’t respond, and I decided just to leave them be and unlocked my door. At that moment, the guy lifted his head. His eyes flashed or seemed to glow. And his teeth? They reminded me of fangs.

I was losing my mind.

The guy smiled, and a shiver ran through me. “Did you want to join us?”

“No,” I said and swallowed. But I still couldn’t let it alone. “Girl, are you okay?”

The girl turned to me with a smile and a wave. “I’m better than okay,” she said, but I noticed she held a hand to her neck.

“Cool,” I said with a rush of relief. Something was still off, but whatever it might be, it was out of my league.

On the drive home, I kept thinking about Wyatt. I couldn’t help it.

Around two, after I finished my homework, I lay in bed, trying to sleep. Wyatt and our conversation kept coming to mind. I hoped he came back. With my luck, he was probably just passing through. I’d missed my chance with the hottest guy in the world.

Chapter Three

Wyatt didn’t come back. Regret pressed heavily in my heart. After finishing my shift three nights later, I turned off all the lights and grabbed the trash on my way out. I hefted the bulging bags to the giant garbage can and tossed them in before brushing off my hands on my pants. On the way to my car, as I fished for my keys, a shadow crossed my path.

Directly in front of me stood an enormous man wearing all black. That wasn’t what was sketchy. It was the black ski mask that had my hairs up. Four more men appeared behind him. All of them dressed the same.

The leader rushed me. At that moment, it was like time froze. Or at least I did. All of my karate training went out of the window like I hadn’t been kicking ass the last decade. Instead of taking a stance or roundhouse kicking him in the head, I was immobilized like a rabbit in headlights. Before that moment, I hadn’t understood terror. Hardships? Sure. Failure? Definitely. But fear? Not like this.

As he grabbed me, I raised my hands to protect my face. The leader slapped my hands away. “Stay quiet, Moonlight.” His voice was low and came out in a snarl.

He knew my first name, though I hadn’t gone by it since forever. I preferred my middle name. “You—”

“She’s hot,” one of the others said, interrupting me as he came around the leader. “Are you sure we have to kill her?” He shoved me against my car.

“We could keep her,” another voice said. “Like a pet.” He clapped his hands together silently. “She can’t belong to a Legacy family. Look at her. She’s too tame. Like a puppy.”

“Shut it,” my attacker snapped, his eyes never leaving mine. It was too dark, and I couldn’t make out the color. “We have a job to do. Let’s get it done.”

Was that hesitation I detected rolling off him?

I opened my mouth to scream.

“Don’t even think about it.” He pressed a finger to my lips and pulled me to him, so close I could see the beads of sweat on his bronzed skin where his mask met the collar of his shirt. His scent pummeled my nose, a heady combination of fresh-cut wood and spice. It triggered a memory, but I couldn’t grab hold of where or how I knew it. Him. “If you let out so much as a peep, your mother will die.” His other hand circled my neck. “Nod, if you understand.”

I did as he commanded, biting my lips together to keep my teeth from chattering. The car door handle dug painfully into my back.

“Good.” He threw me over his shoulder like I weighed nothing more than feathers. “Make a sound and your dead. Fight me, and you’re dead.” Then he took off running. He and the others made their way out of the parking lot, crossing and heading down my street.

If I screamed, someone would hear me. I opened my mouth, but before I got it out, a wolf howled.

“Do it, and I’ll kill your mother in front of you on your ugly lawn,” the guy holding me snarled.

Tears formed on my