Brotherhood of the Wolf

Chapter 9.2: Bon Voyage

Over the next few day, I'm happy to fully throw myself into once again just teaching my classes. At least work briefly gets my mind off what went down between Calhoun and the police captain.

I even volunteer for my department head's request to do extra peer reviews. Reading other anthropologists' research papers before publication always comes at the worst time, pays absolutely nothing and gets minimal thanks, but I'll happily do it if it means that I'll spend less effort on overthinking my exceedingly complicated life.

But once again, it seems like fate has other plans when on Friday afternoon, I find another note waiting for me at home.

A rush of excitement runs through me at the prospect of getting another private message from Clayton, who I haven't even glimpsed from afar—much less talked to—since Tuesday night. I know that he should be aware of what I think happened at the lake, but I haven't yet found the right time and place to hold that conversation.

Between having Lark around, witnessing a potential criminal cover-up, and counting down the days to another full moon, I'm currently questioning my own ability to make good decisions. Especially after nearly kissing Clayton in the SUV.

Okay, so that might actually be the biggest reason I've been avoiding him. But that doesn't make my other reasons less valid. It's just that I could probably have told him about Calhoun's sneaky dealings a lot easier if I wasn't spending much of my other thoughts on those fleeting seconds where out lips almost touched.

But what I think is a note is just a flyer. The students in Jules' dorm are having a fundraiser to help her parents pay to expand the search for the missing girl. Reading between the lines, it's fairly obvious that the Woodhurst police department isn't doing enough to find her. And knowing what I saw at the lake, I can't say I'm surprised.

When I get inside, my phone pings and I'm ready to see another enthusiastic text from Lark about one more thing she's just learned about waitressing, but the message isn't from my sister. I'm about to delete the text from the unknown caller with a local area code when the word Duchess catches my eye. Opening the notification, I read the full contents:

TONIGHT 9pm. Duchess Hall. Robes required.

This can't be from anyone else, but the Allegheny pack.

I didn't expect my first formal invitation to one of their ceremonies to come via text message. Imagining Carlos or Clayton's assistant Patty managing a distribution list full of werewolves is pretty darn funny. If Clayton is doing the administrative stuff himself, then that's even funnier.

I look back at the message, but the recipients have all been blind copied so no one can respond in a way that everyone else would see. Too bad. What I wouldn't give for an Allegheny pack group chat!

At least this means that I'll likely get to see Clayton soon. Between the anticipation of that and the task of finding something quick and affordable for dinner that isn't pizza, the hours until I need to head out pass by in no time.

I see a few familiar faces from campus the closer I get to the building.

Selina and Kate, coaches with the women's crew team, are up on the path ahead of me, walking toward Duchess Hall. Tony, a sweet older man from the facilities department, and I get to the gap in the fence guarding its perimeter at the same time and he helps me avoid getting snagged in the cut chain links. And Galina is waiting just inside the entrance, handing me an extra robe and mask she's brought.

"Dry clean only, right?" I ask (only halfway joking) as I give my new pastry chef friend a hug.

She gives me a squeeze. "These aren't your usual academic gowns so I'm afraid it's strictly hand wash until we get a wolf-run cleaners on campus," she says with shrug.