ANMELDENMaverick POV I'm still studying the sketch when my phone rings. Mom. I answer without taking my eyes off the page."Hey, there he is," she says, her smile evident in her voice. "You didn't call last night.""I texted.""You texted one word, Maverick. I raised you better than that."I sigh. On a good day, I'd banter with her, but the girl's denial has put me in no mood for it."So, how are you settling in? Is your room all right? What about food?""The room's fine. Small, but they're feeding me." I run a finger along the edge of my sketchbook. "The food isn't as good as yours, though.""That's hardly news." She scoffs. "I miss you, son. Everyone does. I still don't know why you had to go all that way.""I'll visit next weekend. I promise."She sighs. "Have you seen Jake?"I pause, closing my sketchbook."I have. He wasn't particularly happy to see me, but that's okay."Another sigh. She's been sighing over Jake and me since we were kids."Son, please give him some grace. You know how
Maverick POVFor as long as I can remember, I've been good at spotting liars. Maybe it's because I hate lying so much. To me, it's cowardice to have the truth lodged in your heart and still choose to spit out lies.Which is exactly how I feel about the girl I've spent the last twelve months looking for, who just stood in front of me and denied knowing me.It makes no sense. Her actions contradict her words. I can see the recognition in those eyes, yet her denial keeps ringing in my head as I make my way to my room in Blue Hall."I think you've got me confused with someone else."I scoff, standing with my hands on my hips, staring at nothing.There's nothing ordinary about her.Those unusually green eyes, with the thin silver ring around each iris. Her hair pulled back so tightly it must hurt, silver streaks catching the light from the windows. And that mouth, naturally plump, as though the goddess herself spent extra time perfecting it. Don't even get me started on her body. The unifo
Advanced Mathematics is the last lecture of the day, and nobody seems particularly keen to be there.The lecturer drops a pile of papers on his desk and turns to the board. He writes one word in large letters:TEST.The room erupts. Everyone starts complaining that he never told us to prepare.He ignores them.He writes a compound-interest question on the board and tells us to show our workings. We have ten minutes.A groan ripples through the room.I sit by the window, still too distracted by Maverick’s presence at this school to think about much else.The question is a good one. Not particularly difficult, but designed to catch you out.I finish in five minutes and check my answers twice before putting down my pen. Then I look out at the rink across the lawn, its roof catching the last of the light.Jake and one of his hockey friends are seated directly in front of me. India is several rows ahead.Neither Jake nor his seatmate seems to be making much effort with the questions.When
We’re heading back to the dorm for a siesta after a grueling morning of physical fitness and a boring geography lecture that nearly made my eyes close in class when I hear people running excitedly.I stop before I get swept along and move to the side of the road, hands clasped behind my back.Then I follow the crowd. It would be strange not to.Two long, dark-green buses have pulled up beside the fountain, dust clinging to their sides. Their doors fold open, and students begin filing down with bags slung over their shoulders. Some stop on the gravel to stretch and look up at the towers.I spot Jessica in the crowd and wave as I make my way over.“They’re finalists,” she says. “Exchange finalists. They’re only here to do research, and they’re hot. Goddess!”She fans herself dramatically.I look again, but it’s difficult to make out faces from here. Mostly, I see the tops of heads and the shape of shoulders. A group of Year Ones has gathered on the lawn to stare, while a prefect tries t
“Excuse me, everyone. Sorry to interrupt.”The principal beams across the room, making the teacher pause.“I just wanted you all to know that Stella Thompson has achieved the first perfect placement score this school has seen in over twenty years. She’ll be moving straight into Year Two academics. Isn’t that wonderful?”Silence falls. More than thirty faces turn towards me. I wish the ground would open up and swallow me.As if that isn’t bad enough, India sits in the second row, glaring daggers at me.“That is a wonderful achievement, Stella,” the teacher says, glancing at me over his shoulder without smiling.I can tell Year Two doesn’t usually welcome new faces. Everyone here started together and has known one another for a year and a term. They don’t look particularly welcoming, and with India in this class, I have no idea what to expect.“Principal Miller, if I may,” India says, raising her hand. “Isn’t it standard procedure for students to complete all the modules, with Year One
I stare at Grandfather, my eyes widening."Brookville?"He nods. "The next entrance examination is in three weeks. That's plenty of time to prepare."Brookville Academy sits across the valley. On clear days, I can see its towers from the pear tree. I've looked at them my whole life.Every wolf attends Brookville or a similar institution once they come of age, usually at eighteen or older, and they graduate as full members of wolf society. Students are expected to have shifted, and their days begin with pre-dawn parades, followed by strength training, drills, runs through the woods, lectures, and examinations. Fail, and you're disqualified. In my region, a wolf without a Brookville seal can't sit on a council, lead a patrol, or be counted as a grown member of the pack, no matter how old they are.Grandfather always said I would never need one. Schools, he insisted, were for spoiled young wolves with no calling. He taught me himself, every day of my life: accounting, arithmetic, tax law
LISA POVThe digital numbers on my alarm clock glowed a steady red. I watched them tick by from 5:59 to 6:00. My skin felt cold, and a dull ache rested at the back of my eyes after spending the night awake. I could hear the muffled sound of the television.I headed for the door. The living room was
CAMERON POVRage tightened in my ribs, making breathing feel like an effort. I turned away from my sister and mate and leaned against the wall. "I won't do it. I have no interest in this absurd contract, and nothing you say will change my mind."Nadia stepped closer and placed her hand between my sh
The wooden floor of the community center felt cold beneath my sandals.“I’ll volunteer.”A girl in the back row let out a loud snort. Beside me, Sasha’s hand clamped onto my wrist, her fingers digging into my skin to pull me back down. I did not look at her. I knew that if I met her eyes, the logic
My father was screwing his secretary when I pushed his office door open. Wet slaps and grunts filled the room as he drove into her against the desk.My mother had spent three hours over the stove, squinting at a recipe she had memorized years ago. She packed my father's lunch and made me promise to







