“Bastard…” I hiss, low, just for him, and his blue eyes sparkle with a playfulness I don’t recognize.What the fuck is happening today? Has the universe shifted on its axis?
“She’s thinking of my cock, slamming into-”
“Are you going to talk to me or keep toying with the Human?” Matteo demands, cutting Quil’s words off, and I nearly thank him for it.
Matteo must be from one of the rival packs sent to secure future treaties among the surrounding packs. The Alphas assumed that sending their children to the same schools would foster a friendship between them. For Coal and Matteo, it seems to be working since they aren’t killing each other, yet. Although, they don’t seem to like each other much.
Primal Moon is the largest, and as far as I can tell the strongest, pack. But I think at some point Michael realized that if all the packs banded together, they could overpowerhim. Which is how Primal Moon Academy most likely came to be.
The tattoo I see on Matteo’s wrist as he waves a hand at Coal, lets me know he’s a part of Black Moon, and not just that, but he’s the future Alpha. Only the future Alphas are marked with a tattoo. A pitch black crescent moon with a thin black circle around it. Coal’s tattoo is the same size, but with a wolf print, and a thicker black circle around it.
I take a deep breath. Black Moon already has a solid truce with Primal. It’s Shadow Moon Pack that is on thin ice here.
Michael and the Alpha of Shadow Moon are nothing alike from what I’ve heard in passing over the years. Michael doesn’t like that Shadow Moon doesn’t mistreat their Humans. I don’t really know where the line for Shadow Moon is, though.
The son of the Alpha of the Shadow Moon Pack is said to be a ruthless fighter, but a very kind man, and has been running his pack beside his father for years.
At best, there’s a thin tolerance between the two packs.
Coal loosens his grip on my leg, his attention moving to where my leg is already starting to bruise from his punishing grip.
I don’t even flinch when he presses the bruises. The fact that the pain sends a shiver of pleasure across my skin makes me question my sanity.
Matteo starts growling, but I can’t tell why. I’m so surprised that I lift my gaze to his face, our eyes meeting once again, but this time, I don’t look away. His amber eyes are so familiar, and I get lost in them, forgetting my place. I must have seen him around before, but I don’t know him. Matteo isn’t a familiar name.
Staring was a big mistake.
Coal grips my chin, forcing me to look into his sapphire eyes.
“Are you challenging the son of an Alpha?” I expect fury, but instead, I find malicious joy.
“No,” I whisper through clenched teeth. Dropping my eyes to the floor once again.
“I didn’t think so, flower. Now be a good girl and finish Matteo’s assignment too, for forgetting your place.”
I bite my lip, holding in my response. If I give him a reason to, Coal will do something shitty, and at this point, I don’t fucking know what he’ll actually do.
Spank me again? In front of the entire class? In private, where no one can see me struggle,or submit…
After Matteo takes a seat beside Quil, I do as I’m told. Counting down the minutes until I can escape, I dare to hope I have at least some freedom from Coal in this Academy. If I have to spend every day doing his work, and taking his abuse, I’ll go insane.
I thought turning twenty last year would give me slightly more freedom. I could make choices for myself, to a certain extent. I could find a mostly decent family to work for, maybe be a cook or a maid. Take my life into my own hands.
What I really wanted was to be a healer, like Genny’s mom, but I gave up that dream long ago. I am not skilled in mixing herbs, and if a Wolf I disliked was injured, I don’t know if I could just overlook their mistreatment of me, and other Humans, to help them.
Genny’s mother is a better Human than I. Wolves are dicks. I no longer want to help others.
I would have settled for a cleaning placement, but I don’t see Coal letting that happen now. I sigh, remembering the old Wolf in Primal Moon that was always kind to me,and feeling slightly guilty for all my resentment and generalization. Annie was a good woman.
When I was young, we spent a lot of time at the Alpha’s home because of my mother. His house is massive, and no one ever noticed me sneaking away. I would spend most of my time a few houses away with Annie.
Annie never made me feel like I was trash. She was also a nanny and helped raise a lot of young Wolves over the years. Annie had an Avowed servant who she treated well. I had hoped to become her Avowed as well, but she passed a few years ago. I still miss her. The only Wolf I will ever miss, most likely… Well, her, and Bunny. But I never truly knew Bunny. I only knew him in his shifted form. A beautiful white Wolf.
Delilah
At the end of class, we gather our things, and Coal has me carry his bag and Quil's books. I’m forced to walk them to their next class before I can head to my own, making me arrive just after the bell rings. Not a good look for my first day.
At least this is Art. Neither Coal nor Quil would ever take this course. I’ll be stuck with them later today, though. I have a feeling Combat won't be as enjoyable as Art.
