Crescent Wolves - G. Bailey Page 0,45
The kiss is soothing, washing away the sound of Crystal's voice, and slowly I realize Landon is humming his own song against my lips. His siren song.
And it doesn't hurt me.
If anything, it pulls me to him like a gentle wave brushing against my skin. I sink my hands into his hair, forgetting the world except for Landon's kiss.
I forget everything except for how perfect Landon feels.
"Guys, stop!" Hazel whispers, grabbing my arm and shaking me a little.
Landon breaks away from me, but I'm still in a haze as I stare at him.
He looks in exactly the same haze as me, like both of us just realized something big. And we kind of did. I don't see how we can be just friends after this.
"I hope you all enjoyed my song. For the rest of the day, you may ask me any questions you like," Crystal says, and I turn to see Mr Hawthorne’s eyes on me, a frown etched onto his face. He shakes his head and walks out as Crystal starts answering the many questions thrown at her.
Landon was right, that was a test.
And I clearly just failed.
Chapter 19
"How was dragon shifter class?" Shade asks as I leave the table and he walks with me to our joint wolf shifter class in the forest. Out of all the classes, wolf shifter class is where I feel a little bit at home. We spend most of the classes in the forest, searching for our connection to nature and everything around us.
"I could hold my fire breathing for a minute. I see it as process. The teacher does not," I answer as we head outside and across the green to the meeting point.
Shade hums. "Even though you are connected to all the clans, I sense your wolf more than others. Maybe that is just simply because of my wolf."
"Will you shift for me today?" I ask as we head into the trees.
Shade smiles down at me and shakes his head."I'm not allowed to shift around others," he tells me, running his hand through his hair. "My wolf...has issues with dominance."
"Explain that one to me," I ask, feeling a little confused.
He sighs, looking around like something will save him from telling me this. "My wolf is an alpha, and he expects everyone to bow to him. Until we leave the academy, we can't make a pack and while I'm here, I'm protected from the alpha leaders challenging me."
"Would they challenge you?" I ask.
He nods, meeting my eyes. "My wolf would not rest until he is in charge and their wolf would not like having a threat out in the world. It would be a deathmatch with one alpha winning in the end."
Something in my chest hurts at the idea of Shade fighting anyone to the death for alpha rights. I don't get to reply as we come into the clearing with ten other wolf shifters waiting around Mr Hexin, the temporary wolf shifter teacher we have. Apparently there is a permanent teacher, but she is on maternity leave for the year.
I like Mr Hexin anyway, he has a warm feeling about him and he bothers to learn all his students’ names.
"Today we do not have much time in the forest. A storm is coming in and we all need to be inside. So off we go, find your place in the forest!" he shouts to us all. A student I don't know, a guy with brownish hair and blue eyes smiles at me as he passes us.
Shade places his hand on the middle of my back, leading me in the opposite direction of the guy, and I look up to see his usual playful smile gone, and instead he looks rather serious.
"Everything alright?" I ask Shade as we get deeper in the forest and Shade doesn't stop, his large footsteps eating up the ground. He comes to a halt and quicker than I can think, he pushes me behind his back.
"It's rude to follow someone in the woods, Tedore," Shade dryly comments. I peek around his shoulder to see the brown-haired guy from earlier and he isn't alone. At his side are three other guys, and I don't recognise them from our class. "And with three higher years to protect you? Are you afraid to challenge me alone?"
"Shade, get out of the way. It's the hybrid we want," Tedore admits, and my hands shake as fear takes over. "Our families want the hybrid gone."
Shade laughs and looks over his shoulder at