I choke on my own scream as she kicks me again. The floor feels cool against the side of my face. Blood and the disgusting smell of the bathroom floods through my nose. Faint sounds of thuds and thumps and screaming. I can feel her kicking and stomping on me with full-blown rage. She growls like a savage-like a wolf-and I curl up but it does little to protect me from Ashenia's fury. What is happening here? It's an echo. The sound of her fists and feet connecting with my flesh cease. It takes me a moment to pick my head up and see a teacher standing at the door. "What's happening here?" I fall back down, and Ashenia sneers at me. Camilla and Dominique are shaking in the corner, staring at me with terror. The teacher growls lowly, but I'm not sure if it's a Wolf growl or them being really pissed off. I don't really quite feel right. My head spins and my body floats. Laughing. It's all that escapes my lips. So this is what it means to be in the center stage. I would have preferred to s

"Lilac." "Exorcisms and love," I fix Avianna a look, "Do Wolves get possessed?" "It can happen but we're mostly vulnerable to our Guides overtaking our bodies. Sometimes lilac is used in a ritual to help strengthen our skin side. I've heard of spirits possessing Prophets and Healers but never personally witnessed it. Dandelions?" "Calling upon spirits, wishing...seeing the future?" I search for the term for a moment, smiling when I recall it, "Divination." "Good. What about smudging?" "Smudging is cleansing aura of oneself or an object using herbs," My eyes are shut as I regurgitate what I've studied the past weeks, "The most common herbs used are sage, lavender, rosemary, and bay leaves." "Any other herbs you can use?" "Cloves. Cinnamon...Dill and..." After a moment, I come blank and look at her for help. "Ginger," She answers, "You forgot that one last time as well-so be sure to write it on your forehead or something. But other than that, you did a fantastic job." I stretch

The wolf lies on her side, shutting her eyes contently as the woman's hand run against her pale coat. She's less on edge around Ariella and the hooded woman. "Don't take offense, child," the woman speaks, "Iphigenia has to keep her guard up until you learn how to defend yourself and her. But here....here I can protect you." Here I can protect you. I look back at the wolf and then back at Ariella, who sits beside me quietly. "You're Hekate..." "I am." She continues to stroke the wolf... Iphigenia. That must have been who Leon spoke to whenever we came face to face. He wants to reach my Guide for some reason. "Be careful what you let consume your thoughts in your current form," Ariella whispers, "He can sense you." "That's how he found your sister," Hekate's voice is wispy again. A snake slithers from underneath her mask but she continues to fawn over my wolf, "She was searching for him after her room was broken into." My mind flashes back to the times where Leon had found me in

The pain in my chest only strengthens, to the point that I kneel under the force of the immense sadness. Loss. Rage. It churns and twists my heart like butter. "Avianna didn't tell me..." "Why is she sending you? She wouldn't have left that out unless you didn't have a choice." Though I'm crippled by his pain, I remember what Avianna told me-and what Hendrick reminded me weeks ago. No one can know what I am. "Because she's not sending me to The Order...not if I don't want to..." "But then why..." He regards me carefully, "Alora, don't lie to me." Even Hekate has now emphasized the importance of me not telling anyone. Not until the time is right. I need to know more before anything. I'm also becoming increasingly aware that there's something more between Hendrick and Ashenia than just an old relationship. They have a history that seems to not be entirely in the past. Despite everything, he refuses to push her away. She isn't his mate, but he feels connected to her. That has to say

All the air in my lungs escapes as I connect with the ground. I get up quickly, but not before Aiden's leg shoots out and into my chest. I'm down again, landing on my back with a loud umph. "You're still leaving yourself wide open when you get to your feet! No Wolf is going to let an opportunity like that slide-they're not going to let you recover!" He barks out as I pull myself to my feet again. "We don't fight fair, Alora." "How's she doing?" We both look up at Mira. She's walking into the ring with an easy smile, looking at the blood and dirt that covers me approvingly. "She's a good fighter. Good endurance and agility," He nods my way, "But she plays fair. Assumes everyone else does too." "Aiden's right-you don't have the brute strength of a werewolf, or even alycanthrope of your age that's grown up as a Wolf," Mira crosses her arms and regards me carefully, "You need to use every advantage you can get." I nod, wiping my mouth, "I can go again." Aiden shakes his head, "You'r