Chapter One
Flashes of the past surrounded me. Fall was upon us, but the memory of my teeth sinking into Ashley’s neck and the warm metallic taste of her blood filling my mouth made my eyes water. Even the way her body had looked as she took her last breath would always torment me. I’d killed out of self-preservation but having blood on my hands left me tainted.
Apparently, that made me worthy of The Elites. The letter that had been left on my pillow haunted me. At this point, I had the damn thing memorized, so I wasn’t sure why I even brought it with me.
Just thinking about it had the words appearing behind my closed eyelids.
Raven,
We’ve been watching you. Now we know you’re Elite material. Our mission is secret but very important. The very essence of our beliefs centers around improving the vitality of our supernatural society. To do this, we need strong leaders who can make hard decisions. If you decide you’d like to be part of this mission, leave a response at the place you took Ashley’s life.
Do not tell anyone, or there will be severe consequences.
-The Elites
“Raven, you’re thinking about it again, aren’t you?” Rage wrapped his muscular arm around me, his earthy scent filling my nose. He was my mate, the perfect other half to complete me. His shaggy brown hair had grown out a little more, and his chocolate eyes could undo me with just a look. The fact that he was so damn muscular and hot as hell was just an added bonus.
“Oof, you got some boney hips.” Damien groaned as I snuggled even more into Rage’s embrace.
The backseat was awfully small when I had a large man sitting on either side of me.
“I told her to sit up here with me, but you wouldn’t have it.” Cole glanced in the windshield mirror and stared straight at Rage. “She’d be safer up here than stuck between you two big cubs.” His blue eyes began to sparkle, and even though his window was down, his perfectly styled blond hair didn’t move at all. He loved giving Rage and Damien a hard time about their size because he was the smallest in both build and height than the other two.
Damien pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his golden eyes. “Wolves aren’t considered cubs.” It was always funny to watch Damien, the largest of all three and built like a freaking ford truck, put up with Cole’s smart mouth. He ran his free hand through his short auburn hair.
“I know. That’s why I called you that.” Cole grinned like he was proud of his accomplishment.
“People who put down others are trying to overcompensate for something.” Jess’s long ash blonde hair fell over her shoulder as she tilted her head. “So, what are you trying to overcompensate for?” Her violet eyes glowed. She was a force to be reckoned with despite her petite, waif-like frame.
“Me? Pfft.” Cole lifted his hand and waved it down his body. “This is absolute perfection in all ways and forms.”
It was odd to me that a vampire was so bubbly. If he’d heard me call him that, he’d probably have killed me.
“Don’t get all high and mighty just because you’re driving.” Jess leaned back in her seat. “Our first drive together, you almost killed us. One wrong move and it’s over.”
“Yeah, right.” Cole chuckled. “What’s a short fae like you going to do?”
She grinned and lifted her fingers, causing the car to reduce its speed. “Next time, I’ll stop it completely.”
Jess was one of my best friends. Well, to be fair, everyone in this car was one of my best friends. Somehow, even though I had never dreamed of going to the school Bloodshed Academy, I got three of the closest friends I’d ever had and a fucking awesome mate. “How about both of you stop before someone gets killed?”
“They bicker like an old married couple. Do you think that’s going to happen?” Rage arched a brow at me, and my heart kicked up a notch.
“Next time we stop, Damien can sit up front with Cole.” Then, Jess wouldn’t have to deal as much with his near-constant ramblings and chatter.
“What did I ever do to deserve your hate?” Damien clutched his heart before an evil smirk appeared. “Don’t worry. Your next training session will be my revenge.”
Thankfully that wouldn’t be for a few days yet. We were heading back to Clarksville, Tennessee to visit with my parents and other pack members for a night. I’d been extremely nervous about this because I knew my Mom would want to know what had happened to my crescent-shaped moon necklace once she saw my pendant from Rage. I hadn’t seen my parents in over a year, because at Christmas break, I wasn't allowed to leave campus. Since I hadn’t been in sync with my wolf, it was too risky to let me leave and visit family.
I’d been in a funk ever since I killed Ashley, so Rage talked the headmaster into letting us travel back to my home for the night. Her only stipulation was that her three most trusted students had to go with me, which so happened to be my mate and the other two knuckleheads in the car. Jess had refused to be left behind since all her ‘peeps’ were tagging along with me. Honestly, I felt the best when I was around the four of them anyways. They’d turned into more than friends—family.
“If you hurt her, I’ll kick your ass.” Rage glowered at him. “Bear shifter or not, I can take down your six hundred pound ass.” That was the only point of contention that he had with Damien. Damien had been training me to fight, and every time I’d come home with even a little scratch or bruise, Rage got angry.
“First off, I’m only six hundred pounds when I’m in my bear form.” Damien shook his head and met Rage’s gaze. “And secondly, be glad I’m training her or she wouldn’t be sitting here at this moment.”
That was a low blow, but it was a fact. Ashley had wanted me dead for many reasons, but the main one was Rage himself. She had wanted him, and it grossed me out to think about his and her physical relationship before I came to Bloodshed. I couldn’t hold it against him. It wasn’t like I was pure either. Still, because of Damien, I had been able to protect myself.
“Fine, but no revenge.” Rage’s hand tightened around my waist.
To be fair, Rage had a nightmare of his own that night. He saw me at the brink of death. It was something we were both getting through. Not something that would be quick and easy either. It was going to take time.
As we pulled into my parents' driveway, I wasn’t sure if coming back was the right thing. My parents knew I was dating someone, much to their chagrin, but not to the full extent of finding my true mate. They were hoping Greg and I would make up and get back together. After all, he was going to be the future alpha of our pack. For some reason, I always had a hard time letting them down. However, today, that was all going to change.
We all climbed out of the car just as the front door swung open and both my parents rushed outside. When their eyes landed on the four people that traveled with me, they paused.
“Mom.” Cole cooed and strolled straight up to her, pulling her into a hug.
Mom’s body stiffened, but she was too shocked to resist the hug. She wrapped her thin arms around the vampire. Then she jerked back realizing who and what he was.