Induction (Wolf Blood Academy Book 2)

  Induction

  Wolf Blood Academy Book Two

  RaShelle Workman

  Copyright © 2021 by RaShelle Workman

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  Cover by: Crooked Sixpence Book Covers

  Edited by: Debbie Davis

  RaShelle’s website: www.rashelleworkman.org

  For Jacob.

  Thanks for the long talks about what became the Shade Rasa. You’re the most amazing to infinity and beyond plus one.

  Contents

  Introduction

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  About the Author

  Also by RaShelle Workman

  Introduction

  The Wolf Blood Academy gave me an ultimatum. Either attend and take my place in the pack or my family suffers the consequences.

  I played my part and became part of the pack, but it’s all deception. Isn’t it?

  My friends say I sold out, but Legacy House is where I belong.

  Until several from my house wind up dead. Determined to find out who’s behind the murders, I uncover secrets that were best left buried, including evidence that suggests someone I care about might be the killer.

  I don’t know who to trust and I find myself confiding in the unlikeliest ally.

  _________

  Wolf Blood Academy Series:

  Initiation

  Induction

  Inheritance

  Chapter One

  Diana

  Change was inevitable. In theory, I understood the concept. In practice… I didn’t like it.

  Even after a month of attending copious amounts of classes at the Wolf Blood Academy, I was still adjusting. At least I’d grown accustomed to the wolf part of myself. Sort of.

  “Diana, are you awake?”

  I’d been staring at the ceiling in our dorm room for an hour, my hands behind my head. At her question, I rolled onto my side, peering over the edge of my top bunk. “Hey, Chloe. Yeah, just not ready to get out of bed yet,” I said. “Did you want to shower first?” My head hurt, which usually happened after one of my nightmares, especially when I spent so much time thinking about it.

  “Sure.” Chloe climbed out of bed. “Thanks.” She quickly threw her covers up in an effort to make her bed. Chloe was shorter than me and a little heavier. Not overweight, just soft and womanly in all the right places. She wore her long brown hair in a messy bun on top of her head at night, and I watched it bounce around until she was finished.

  “Did you sleep okay?” I asked, hoping I hadn’t screamed during the night again. It sometimes happened, especially why I found myself surrounded by monsters. That was why I slept on the top bunk. Chloe said she felt safer being closer to the exit.

  “Yeah, you mumbled Wyatt’s name a few times, but other than that, it was fine.” She shrugged and went to the dresser, grabbing things to put on.

  Was it sad she knew exactly what I was asking? “Sorry about that,” I said but was relieved. She was mostly up to speed on Wyatt.

  “No worries.” She smiled kindly, and it lit up her feminine face. Even her dark eyes seemed to beam. She was kind. And didn’t act like a Legacy, not even a little bit.

  Usually, Chloe spent some time writing in her journal while I got ready and stuffed it between her mattresses when I finished. Now, she disappeared into the bathroom. I lay back on my pillow, adjusting the covers, so they were tucked up tight against my armpits. It was a Monday. Another week of learning more about Wolf Bloods and the monsters of the Shade. Another week of watching those students in my house walk and talk and act like they were better than everyone else. Except for Chloe. She and I did our best to make sure those in the Claw and Familiar houses could see that not all of us were jerks. Chloe was my only friend in Legacy house too. So, I was glad she and I were on the same page when it came to how we treated others.

  I closed my eyes. Immediately an image of Wyatt came to mind. That was the worst part of all. It’d been four weeks without Wyatt.

  “Stop it,” I hissed, dragging my eyes open, forcing myself not to think about him.

  It still blew my mind that not too long ago, I’d been working at a coffee shop with my best friend, Ember, and worrying about ordinary high school things like falling for the hot guy, ACT’s, and getting into a good college.

  Now I knew I wasn’t just an average human but belonged to a long line of Wolf Bloods, which made me a shifter. And not just into any wolf either but a silver wolf. Supposedly, the rarest kind of all wolves. Plus, I could call forth some sort of ghost wolf, though that was a secret only myself and Wyatt knew about.

  The most significant alteration in my life was my capability to speak with the monsters of the Shade. The details around why that was possible were non-existent. I still knew next to nothing about why I could do that. But it wasn’t like I had anyone to talk to about my issue either. The only person who knew was Wyatt. And he’d made me swear not to tell anyone. As far as I knew, he hadn’t said anything either.

  We hadn’t spoken since right after the placing ceremony. The one where I somehow came out of initiation in the lead and was placed in Legacy house. When the ceremony ended, I confronted Wyatt about trying to kill me. I hadn’t believed my mom when she told me it’d been him, but Wyatt confirmed it. And I was still so damn angry. Sure, he’d also saved me, but that was beside the point. Why would he do such a thing? I was ready to hear the answer. But he was gone. According to his friend, Nick, he’d been sent out by his father on a mission of some kind.

  Then there was our blood bond.

  Apparently, that was unusual as well. Even though I was utterly furious with him, my wolf didn’t care. At thoughts of Wyatt, my wolf shook herself awake and declared the truth.

  Mine.

  I sighed heavily. It was challenging to feel so much love and hate for the same person. Last week, my wolf had been so distraught, she called out to him. But there was no answer. Either he was too far away or had somehow shut me out.

  Movement on my right side startled me out of my thoughts, and I lifted the covers to let Oakus out. My little monster friend flicked its tongue in the air, tasting. “I’m hungry, Moonlight.” His sharp claws clung to the skin on my arm, but it didn’t hurt.

  “Maybe you should go back to the Shade. I’m sure your mother misses you.” I stroked the top of his head as I spoke.

  “You’re trying to get rid of me?” He looked sad.

  “Not even. I just don’t want Kya to hunt you down. That would be difficult to explain. Plus, she might hurt a student. Or be hurt.” That would be awful too.

  Oakus closed his eyes a moment. Then looked directly at me. The creature was the one constant in my life, and I loved him without remorse. “You’re right. I must go.” He nuzzled my neck and then took off toward the window. I jumped out of bed and opened it for him.

  “You’ll be alright?” I asked, glancing down at the landscape below. The Shade Rasa looked lovely and less ominous in the early morning light.

  “Of course, Moonlight.” He blew me a kiss. Scurried out onto the window ledge and then made his way down the side of the building.

  I watched as long as possible to make sure he got off the Academy gro
unds without issue. But I didn’t need to worry. He was stealthy as a lupangus should be. Once he was out of sight, I took some underthings from my dresser. Chloe had been in the bathroom for a long time. Longer than usual by a lot.

  I went over to the door and listened using my better-than-average hearing. The shower was still running, the water drowning out any other possible noises. Usually, she would hum or sing loudly while she got ready. There wasn’t any of that either—only stillness.

  Worry skittered up my spine. I knocked. “Chloe? Everything okay in there?” I asked and waited for an answer that didn’t come. I knocked again, a little louder this time. “Please, just let me know you’re okay.” When she didn’t respond, I pounded on the door. “I’m coming in. If you’re naked, cover up the important bits,” I said and paused long enough for her to say something, but again, there was quiet.

  Before I found out I wasn’t an average human, I’d been taking karate. It was my outlet and way to feel like I had some control in a sometimes overwhelming world, like how I took care of my mom. Helped pays the bills. Fed her. All those things a parent was supposed to do for their child. Of course, when my years of training mattered, I’d frozen like a sugary popsicle, but that was then.

  Here at the Academy, I took Brawling 101. In the class, we were taught how to fight and defend ourselves, whether in our wolf form or not. It was my favorite class. Every time I punched an opponent in the face, I thought of Wyatt.

  Calling on my training, I leaned back on one foot and kicked in the door, aiming for the knob with the heel. There was a crack, and the door flew open, banging against the wall.

  Immediately, I was struck with the scent of death. Bitter copper and gore. Chloe was lying on her back on the floor in front of the sink. Eyes open, staring at something beyond our mortal existence. Dead. There was no question. I ran to her side anyway, calling her name over and over.

  “Chloe. Hey, come on. Wake up.” We were shifters, and one of the benefits of having wolves within was speedy healing. As I thought of that, I shook her shoulder. Then noticed the angle of her neck and how her head was nearly severed off.

  I felt like I was moving at a snail’s pace. Staring at her wound along with the smaller gouges across her chest, like those from a wolf’s claws. Then I checked her pulse. There wasn’t one, so I performed CPR. One of her hands was covered in blood like she’d tried to stop the bleeding. It rested against the white of her PJ top, leaving a smattering of blood. I pumped my palms against her chest, paused and breathed into her mouth, then paused again. Over and over.

  It was no use. But I didn’t stop until someone pulled me away. There was shouting and words being spoken. I couldn’t hear them. All I heard was the pounding of my pulse in my ears and awful screaming that I knew came from me.

  No doubt, I was in shock.

  My hands were pulled behind my back. Cuffed, muting my wolf, so she felt very far away. Still, it didn’t register what was happening. Then I was being walked out of the dormitory area and dragged through halls I hadn’t ventured into before. They were dark and dingy. Occasionally, Rasa Keepers were standing stoically along the way. I guessed they were guarding something but didn’t care what.

  After a time, the air got cooler, and we descended some stairs. There, the walls were no longer papered in pretty patterns but made of concrete and then dirt.

  Cells were separated by concrete walls and metal bars. A guard turned a key and yanked open a door. It screeched as metal rubbed against metal, making my tummy feel queasy.

  “Get your ass in there,” one of the male guards said, and I was flung into a cell. I tripped and fell, skinning my knees.

  The pain lanced through my agony over my roommate being dead, but I was still too numb to stop crying. Tucking my knees against my chest, I wrapped my arms around them and cried and cried until my throat was raw and my voice was gone.

  My reaction was over the death of Chloe, of course. But seeing her like that brought back memories of Penelope’s death as well. Not only that, but my brain went deeper to how I’d almost been killed in the woods.

  On top of that were thoughts the last month. School. The initiation process and falling for Wyatt. But I didn’t stop there and let my mind wander back to the day my dad left mom and me. Abandoned us.

  It was like every buried and horrific memory from my short eighteen years of life came to the surface and strangled my mind. I fell onto the frigid ground, keeping myself curled into a tight ball, hoping I could hold myself together.

  At some point, I fell asleep, exhaustion taking over.

  Consciousness returned with the sound of annoying screeching.

  “It’s about time, Moonlight.” The male voice cut through my slumber.

  I jumped to my feet, my wolf working to find a place in me as she skittered along the surface of my skin. “Dad?” I asked, rubbing my eyes. My hands were still cuffed together, but it definitely was him. He wore a dark suit with his tie loosened and at an angle while his shirt was unbuttoned. Even in the darkness of my cell, I saw his icy eyes, so similar to mine. His dark hair wasn’t slicked back the way he usually wore it but loose and wilder. Not only that, but he smelled like the wind, and I guessed he’d probably gone for a run. Which made me wonder what he looked like as a wolf.

  He gave me a grim smile, one that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. My wolf growled, low and menacing, though the cuffs had her too muffled to do any good. Or maybe that was me. Both of us. Either way, I wasn’t happy to see the man who donated sperm and then took off when the going got hard.

  “You killed your roommate,” he said flatly. “That’s two dead roommates in two months.” He eyed me shrewdly. “Do you have a problem sharing?”

  “No,” I barked, tucking my knees against my chest and holding them tight against me. “I didn’t kill Chloe. I found her like that.” Despite whatever magic was numbing my wolf capabilities, I felt my eyes shift.

  My dad sat up straight. “If you say so.” His eyebrows scrunched together, and he stood, towering over me. “As of now, there is no physical proof to link you to the murder. It also helps that you are my daughter and of Royal blood.” He lifted his chin as coldness filtered out of his eyes. “I mean, we are wolf bloods, and it’s survival of the fittest.”

  I stood up again, lifting my chin as he had done. “I didn’t kill her,” I reiterated.

  He pretended not to hear. “It only makes sense you’d want to show dominance over a lesser wolf, and you’re still learning how to control yourself,” he said, leaning into my space. It was a sign of aggression. I felt his Alpha pressing against my wolf, telling me he was in charge. “But killing is rarely permitted.”

  I refused to back down, though the word rarely hung in my thoughts. When was it permitted to kill? I didn’t want to know. I pushed back with my wolf, feeling her energy even with the cuffs still on. Because I was an Alpha too. That much was made clear from the initiation process. “I swear to you I did not kill her.” My wolf faltered as an image of Chloe’s dead body filled my mind. “She was a friend.”

  “How disappointing,” he said, his shoulders sagging. “Look, you don’t have to pretend with me. But let’s say I believe you.” He reached out for my hands, but I pulled away.

  Anger crossed his features, and his wolf power worked to overpower me. I resisted until sweat beaded on my brow. Blowing out a breath, I gave in, whining and lowering my head.

  “That’s my girl.” He patted my arm, then produced a key and unlocked my cuffs.

  As soon as they were on the ground, my wolf sprang to life inside me, and I had to work to tamp her down. “Are you letting me go?” That surprised me.

  “Of course I am.” He went to the cage door and yanked it open. “The Rasa Keepers are looking into Chloe’s death. They are convinced you’re the murderer, but because of who you are and who I am, they will listen to me.” He stood aside and indicated I should exit. “If there is proof you killed her, I will do all I can to help,
but it will be difficult. So be careful from now on. The story circulating will be that Chloe chose to sneak out of the Academy after curfew, and she was attacked by a monster from the Shade. If you know what’s good for you, you’ll stick to that story.” His Alpha authority shoved against mine.

  I wanted to shove back. Desperately. But I needed to hold my wolf in check since he was helping me. At least that was how it seemed.

  “I can’t lie, though,” I said, panting as I fought against my wolf.

  “Look, I want to believe you aren’t a murderer, but we haven’t had the chance to get to know one another. What you need to understand is that two things will happen if you don’t do exactly as I say.” He grabbed my arm and squeezed, his claws gouging my skin.

  “What?” I asked through clenched teeth.

  “The first is your mother. She will be killed for your treachery.” His eyes flashed as his face took on that of a wolf.

  He was so keen to shield his reputation, he would threaten my mother to do it.

  “No,” I gasped, knowing he had me. It’d been my job to protect her for years. I couldn’t stop now. The man was despicable.

  “That’s right,” he said, disgust on his face. “But if that isn’t enough of an incentive, then I’ll make sure Wyatt—”

  I pulled away, growling as my wolf fought against him, rippling along my skin in a fury. “Don’t you dare hurt him.” I was madder than hell at Wyatt, but we were still bonded, and I would fight until my last breath to safeguard him as well. That knowledge rocked into me, and I backed down. “Please, Dad. I’ll say what you want me to.” It wasn’t like I actually knew what happened to her anyway. Might as well say what my dad wanted. I didn’t have the correct story.