It is the night of the Blood Moon. Which means that every non mated wolf in The Academy has crammed into the forest where there's a burning campfire blazing high enough to roast the heavens.
Which also means every non wolf is supposed to be cuddled up in bed somewhere, drooling into their pillows and minding their mortal business. Which is exactly what I should have been doing.
Except no, here I am, plastered against the rough bark of a tree, silently regretting my life choices while crickets scream their lungs out and Raja Finns is crunched a centimeter away spying on the ceremony with a big binocular glued to her face.
I had promised Moira Files that I would convince Jordan to attend. Apparently he hadn't needed much convincing because Dammy and Michael had literally half dragged him reluctantly to it. A few minutes ago I had taken the binoculars from Raja and I had seen the entire length and breath of that trademark smirk plastered on a very uninterested bored face.
I hadn't promised Moira Files I would be spying on the ceremony. Raja Finns had literally half dragged me half asleep out here in a teary pout.
"Do you mind?" I hissed as Raja practically jabbed me in the ribs with her binoculars.
"Ssshhh" She shot back , swathing her hand at me like I was an annoying mosquito "you will make me miss it"
"Miss what?" Wolves standing around a bonfire?"
Her eyes flick away from the lenses just long enough to glare at me "This is serious, Night . " Her voice has all the gloom of a tragic movie "What if Dammy gets claimed?... What if ...."
I sigh, leaning harder into the tree bark.
"Raja, if the universe declares that Dammy belongs to someone else..."
Raja instantly places a hand on my mouth, cutting me off "Oh please, I don't want to think about it ".
"I see" I snort as she releases her hand and tightens it desperately around the binoculars while I sulkingly resign myself to babysitting her for the rest of the night. Or till whenever the god-damned ceremony draws to a close.
A couple of miserable minutes later despite the crickets chirruping loudly and the red moon hovering unsmilingly above like an angry mother, I am finding it nearly impossible to keep awake.
My eyes are shutting and opening. And finally shutting blissfully for a longer time until I find myself almost suffocated in a bear hug. I open my eyes to find Raja tentatively shaking me awake in a mad dance of ecstasy .
"Goodness gracious, Night. You won't believe this " Raja is grinning from ear to ear.
"Don't tell me Dammy got claimed by an ugly girl you can easily outshine" I mutter dryly.
"It is even way better than that " She giggles "He didn't get claimed at all."
"How is that possible?" I snatch the binoculars from her .
"His wolf didn't match anyone in sight " Raja is saying while I peek in to find Dammy Brentwood standing on a lonesome circle, surrounded by two werewolf elders.
"What does this mean then for you?" I ask, dropping the binoculars and wishing my glaring curiosity was less obvious.
"Well it surely buys Dammy and I another full year of uninterrupted orgasms" Raja sighs softly "Until...."
"Until next year's Blood Moon Ceremony decides otherwise " I finish for her although something tugged at my chest.
Shit. I was wishing Jordan Files would get the same thing. Wishing he would be exonerated for a full year ...
So that what ? I wince.
Uninterrupted orgasms? Hell no. Night Carter. You are definitely not falling for this arrogant pompous non human creature.
Who is six hundred percent good in bed.
Who I have always dreamed of shagging again... With all my disvirgined lack of dick_nity.
"Look, it's Jordan's turn" Raja's voice pulls me out of my thoughts. She's staring into those damned binoculars. And I realize I'm running out of breath.
My heart is thundering. My face feels scorched. My throat hurts.
"Can we skip that part and go home now" I managed to say, twisting Raja's arms with all frantic desperation "I've got an early morning test so I need every bit of rest." I lie.
"Fine" Raja rolls her eyes and adjusts her hoody . She drops the lens to the ground while I stretch and fake yawn tiredly for additional emphasis.
Suddenly there's a loud howl that freezes us and then a horrendous smattering cry. I dive for the binoculars and peer.
Jordan Files is walking away in a swaggerish bounce. A thousand pair of eyes are fixed at him with undisguised shock.
On the raised podium where the council of elders sits, a woman is sobbing loudly into the night. I peer closer.
Moira Files.
In a white chalked circle, a girl stands with downcast gloom etched all over a beautiful face. My throat burns. My hands grip the lens tighter.
Minata Straus.
___________________________________________
Four days later, it is all the entire school talks about.
"I can't believe Jordan Files rejected his fated mate" Cassidy says, digging reluctantly into her food.
We were seated in the crowded cafeteria. Cassidy. Peach . And I. A caricature of the Black Colony Colonels because now Hari Spence had taken to sitting instead with his fanged girlfriend whom he had introduced to us a couple of days ago. A chubby girl named Brenda.
"Typical" Peach snorts , her eyes glued to her phone "The news is all over Insta. Let me see. Minata Straus. Shadow Arts Department ".
"Nightie, is that not your department?" Cassidy asks, her head hunched beside Peach, staring wide eyed into the phone.
"Of course it is" Peach answers for me . I drown my discomfort in a glass of water.
"Is that the girl that got spurned ?" Cassidy has her eyes plastered to the door.
"How could anyone reject this" Peach too is staring at the doorway.
I follow their gaze.
Minata Straus is walking in with a graceful sobriety. A hush practically descends on the entire cafeteria crowd. I watch as a thousand pair of eyes follow her while she grabs her tray on the counter.
My stomach churns.
Minata Straus is picture perfect. Raven hair. Doe eyes. An enviable IQ. She's literally the best in Trig Class. And was currently contesting for the position of the Chief Editor of the school magazine.
Which everyone had no doubt she would win.
How on Earth could someone reject this, I wondered sullenly.
Except of course a certain famous werewolf whose arrogance was well documented. And had practically shot up in the last few days.
Typical.
"I heard her followers has increased by the thousands since that accursed Blood Moon night" Peach leaned in conspiratorially.
"And Jordan's has decreased by a very considerable number too" Cassidy adds.
"Speak of the devil" Peach nods her head to the door and our eyes follow her.
Jordan Files is perched on the doorway with the infuriating characteristic nonchalance that makes me want to fling a tray on his head.
Why is my food suddenly tasteless in my mouth.
There's an excited squeak in the crowd as Jordan's swaggerish walk is followed by Dammy Brentwood and Michael Shawn. Its fuhking Moon Sol, I hear a few giggles.
Jordan Files might have lost a sizable amount of Insta followers but as usual the boyband still commands awe with their magnetic entrances although this time most of the phone cameras were trained on Michael Shawn.
I heard Michael Shawn had being mated to a wolf named Shiloh.
"She's not even that much Porsche" Peach was glaring at her phone with an analytical scowl.
"Who?" I ask, speaking for the first time. My voice was breathless.
"Shiloh Johansen. Michael's mate" Cassidy answers.
I snatch the phone from Peach's hands, my curiosity almost blinding me.
"Up until the Blood Moon Ceremony, she was just an ugly little werewolf fast sinking into obscurity with only two Insta followers" Peach hisses unimpressed "Well Michael's acceptance of her has catapulted her into the world of fame"
"Couldn't the universe or whatever the shit these folks believe in" Cassidy whines "Couldn't they have mated Michael to someone a bit remarkable. That ugly bitch don't deserve him"
"Emphasis on ugly " Peach laughs .
Shiloh Johansen is not really ugly, I realize as I stare into the phone. She's just a bit plain and has features remotely unremarkable. Her eyes are too large. Her hair is in outdated ponytails. Freckles glare at you from every corner of her face.
And yet, Michael Shawn had accepted her as his fated mate.
"And that pompous, proud idiotic Jordan rejected the very beautiful Minata Straus" Cassidy voices out my thoughts.
"And why would he do that?" Peach is incredulous. I hand her back her phone and concentrate on my food. Which is still surprisingly tasteless in my mouth.
"How on earth would anyone know why " Cassidy shrugs listlessly "Probably to boost his ego "
"Typical" Peach agrees.
"Night, what do you think ?" Cassidy is looking intently at me. Peach too.
Fuck.
I slam two hurried spoonfuls of rice into my mouth and intentionally choke on it.
"Go easy , Flamehead" Peach pats my back and passes me a glass of water. The bell for the next class rings.
Mercifully.
"I think I have class to attend" I sneer listlessly, grabbing my bag and my overcoat. And my legs piloting me faster than my damning thoughts.