Page 25 of Plug and Claim

“No…” It was unsettling that something so private would be so obvious to others. Byron and Mary had warned her that the students at Volmasque Academy were promiscuous, but they hadn’t known there was a special dress code for virgins. Clearly, there were a lot of fucked up things at the academy that weren’t public knowledge.

Her foster parents had done their best, but there was only so much intelligence they could gather when they were in hiding. They were paranoid, spending most of their time in the forest in their wolf form, not even trusting their own kind not to turn them in. The couple viewed their trips to the village as a necessary risk. They’d never stopped Kira from visiting Nordokk, though, for which she was thankful. She’d amassed a wealth of theories about the academy from the humans’ speculations, including the misconception that vampires slept in coffins.

Great, now she was imagining Nathaniel’s bed.

Kira gave her head a small shake to clear it and sank onto a chair.

“So…everyone will know I’m a virgin by the end of the day?”

“By lunchtime, more like,” Susie said. “But relax, this is good news! The alphas will be very interested in the fact that you’re still intact.”

Kira held up the white socks apprehensively. Why wear the socks if the wolves could tell she was a virgin just by smelling her? Bile crept up her throat as a horrible thought to her. “Is it only wolves who can…smell that I’m a…”

“A virgin?” Susie finished.

Kira sighed. “Yes. That.”

“Vampires have a shit-poor sense of smell, if that’s what you’re asking. On par with humans.”

Good.

The less Nathaniel knew about her private affairs, the better.

“Most first year females have to change their socks by the end of orientation week,” Susie said. “That’s when everyone gets recruited into packs. But as it’s the middle of the year, so you’re going to stand out.”

Kira groaned, unsure if that was a good thing. “Can’t I just wear the black socks?”

“No. Not until you’ve had sex for the first time.”

“This is disgusting. And sexist. The vampires are sick in the head for thinking up this stupid dress code.”

Susie shot her a strange look. “Actually, the white socks were proposed by wolf shifter students on the student council. Every shifter student voted, and it was a unanimous decision. If anything, the staff were allowing us a concession.”

So, we’re the ones sick in the head?

It made her head spin. The apple truly was rotten from the inside out.

A bell clanged somewhere outside the room.

“First period is starting soon,” Susie said anxiously. “Are you putting on the socks or not? Only, I want to get to the cafeteria before it closes…”

Kira was tempted to not wear any socks at all just to make a point—but she wasn’t here to be a lone wolf or rebel.

“Yes, sorry, of course,” Kira said, snapping out of her reverie. She pulled on a sock, rolling up the soft fabric until it nearly reached her mid-thigh. She hesitated before putting on the second. “Susie?”

“Yes, what is it?” Susie asked, waiting restlessly in the doorway.

“You said the alphas would be very interested in the fact that I’m a virgin. What does that mean, precisely?”

“It means that the packs will be practically fighting each other to convince you to join them.”

Kira’s eyes widened. “Really?”

“Oh, yes,” Susie said. “It puts you in a very good position. You’ll have your pick of the packs. But can I give you some advice? Don’t rush this decision. Keep those mutts drooling for a while. Oh, and stay away from the Populars, they’re full of bitches.”

Kira snorted. “Sure.” But as they hurried to breakfast, Kira’s thoughts had already drifted to Mark’s barrel chest and easy smile.

They hurriedly ate their food at the edge of the cafeteria in a window seat overlooking the grounds. The sky had turned grey, but the sight of the lush, green lawns and hedges had a calming effect on her—just like Mark had.