Moon Called : Werewolf Academy (Book 1)

Chapter 7

I puff out another breath. If I don’t stop exhaling so much, I’ll faint. “Fine. Let’s do this.”

Elijah leads me through a narrow corridor bright with candlelight, down several flights of stairs, and into an extensive dark passage. Along the way, we spot Cass. He’s draped against a wall, busy charming a circle of girls and clearly forgetting Elijah had asked him to go get this Humphrey person. Elijah’s jaw tightens into a hard line. Based on the way he is glaring at Cass, it is clear that Cass’s little ‘detour’ isn’t going unpunished.

“Exactly where are we going?” I press a hand to my stomach, worming closer to him. I’m overrun with the sudden fear of getting snatched and dragged into a dungeon somewhere.

The further we walk, the darker and creepier it gets.

Elijah’s attention snaps to me. “To Humphrey. She’s the werewolf high priestess. Also known as the headmistress of the academy.”

“And does she live down here?” my eyes dart around nervously.

“No. This is usually where she works during the night.” He turns to face a geometric symbol with a wolf in the center, carved into the stone wall. Raising a hand, he presses a palm against it. A click sounds, and the wall melts away. “She rarely sleeps.”

I stare in awe at the open space where the wall had been. It takes me a few heartbeats to find my voice. “Another werewolf perk?”

“Nah, I can only wish,” he laughs. “She uses potions to keep herself awake. But,” he lowers his voice, “she’s like a hundred and two. We’re pretty sure she’s mixing an anti-aging potion in there as well. Never say it to her face, though—she’s very sensitive about the topic.”

“Okay?”

He slants closer when the door to an ancient-looking office swings open. “You’ll see what I mean.”

As we step in, the scent of burning sandalwood and an array of other sweet spices encloses me. My eyes track the source. It’s a small marble bowl burning a range of dried herbs on a wooden desk.

My nose wrinkles. “Isn’t she worried about fire hazards?”

“No, she does not,” a sharp, firm voice makes the muscles in my back tense up. I turn to look toward the obscure part of the room, where a woman spoke from. I can only see the hem of her shamrock-green dress peeking out from underneath the shadows. “That’s the beauty of magic. Especially if you understand how to preserve control over it.”

I bite into my cheek, peeking at Elijah, who shakes his head. I take it as a cue to remain silent.

The woman sighs and gets up. When she steps into the light, I can’t help the gasp that escapes from between my lips.

My hand flies to my mouth. “Your dress is beautiful,” I compliment, attempting to redeem the slip.

The woman—well, should I rather say, girl—offers a sweet smile. “Thank you, dear. I’m quite fond of it.”

I glance at Elijah with a quizzical look.

He nods. “This is the high priestess and headmistress of the academy, Mrs. Humphrey. Mrs. Humphrey, this is Hailey Woods. She’s the new pup I retrieved.”

The girl, with lips painted scarlet, smiles. She doesn’t look a day over twelve. Her long, raven curls frame her porcelain-skinned, doll-like face.

“Aren’t you supposed to take her to the dorm and help her settle in?” She pins Elijah with an inquisitive look. “Or did something go wrong?”

“Not exactly.” Elijah sets down both my duffel bags on the floor. I forgot about them. And, come to think of it, I don’t recall seeing him carry them until now. “Let me show you. Hailey?”

I nod, tossing my hair back over my shoulder to expose my neck to Mrs. Humphrey.

She gasps, rounding her desk to get to my side and seizing me by the arm. “My dear girl, the huntress must think highly of you.”

I blink. “How so?”

“You’re granted a very special gift.” She turns to Elijah. “This girl, she isn’t the first. If you paid attention in history class, you’d know what this means, boy.”

Elijah’s cheeks flush. “I didn’t realize history was interesting.”

Mrs. Humphrey’s lips curve down. “The huntress only gifts her most favored followers with this.” She nods toward the marking on my neck. “Only the best of our people, among our rulers and highest stationed, receive this.”

“I don’t follow. I mean, it can’t be,” I waver. “There’s nothing great about me.”

“Not according to our gracious Diana,” Mrs. Humphrey maintains. “Girl, you have no idea what you’re in for.”

Elijah blows out a breath. “So, she’s got some kind of higher calling?”

“Precisely.” Mrs. Humphrey raises a petite hand, motioning toward a chair. “Come. Sit, please.”

“I still don’t understand how she could favor me.” I sink into the plush armchair on the opposite side of the headmistress’s desk. “There’s literally nothing special about me. I suck at school. I don’t have friends. Luca, he marked me and now everyone thinks—” I hesitate, remembering where I am and in whose company I am. I doubt anyone here will appreciate me implying that they’re freaks.

My gaze bounces to Elijah. He appears to be decent. I’m not sure how I feel about the high priestess yet.

I redirect my attention to the lady in question. “People back home aren’t exactly fond of werewolves. My parents—people at school used to tell me scary stories about your kind.”

Mrs. Humphrey lowers herself into a chair behind her desk. “Your kind?” She arches a brow. “Don’t you mean our kind? You’re one of us now, dear.”

I bite the inside of my cheek. “It all feels so surreal.”

“I understand; I’ve been through it myself.” She gestures toward Elijah. “Unlike him, who was born into this world, I was an outsider, like you. I grew up in a quaint little neighborhood with strict, religious human parents. They believed I was a demon spawn—a punishment for their sins. Eventually, they kicked me out of the only home I had ever known. I remember it as if it were yesterday. But, despite it all, this world has turned out to be the best thing that ever happened to me.”

I swallow the lump stuck inside my throat. Look, my parents aren’t great, but they are still my family. They are all I have. Drunks or not. “It’s—how do I forget them?”

Mrs. Humphrey reaches across her desk and takes hold of my hand, squeezing it. I shudder. Her skin is like ice. “Dear, as impossible as it seems, you will. They are nothing other than negligent if they can throw you away like that.” It almost sounds like she’s saying it more for her own benefit than mine, making me wonder if it’s sincere. She pats my hand and offers a gentle smile before straightening up in her seat. “I’m aware of what the outside world thinks of us. They believe us to be beasts. Cruel, bloodthirsty murderers. I promise you, child, we are anything but.”

Elijah shifts beside me, giving off the impression that he wants to add to the conversation but decides against it.

“Like humans, we have those among us who drift from our morals and do appalling things. We stand out compared to them. Thus, they naturally turn all the negative attention to us instead of seeing their own as capable of abominable doings. It’s in a human’s nature to want to be faultless and to turn a blind eye to what is true.”

I nod, crossing my legs.

“Tell me, girl, what’s the worst thing you have ever done?”

“Does it matter?” I falter.