Chapter Three

The Werewolf Academy was nothing like I'd pictured in my head. I'd saved myself from looking it all up on the internet, wanting to keep everything a surprise and damn, what a surprise it was.

For some reason, I'd conjured up a vision of a castle-like place with sprawling forest behind the building and foreboding mountains in the background.

This place was the absolute opposite.

The school encompassed a huge building with what had to be twenty or more floors. It blended into the backdrop of the city, but I bet none of the humans walking the sidewalks, gripping their iced coffees and with phones glued to their ears, had a clue that within those walls were creatures that were supposed to be contained in books and movies.

Armed with everything that belonged to me and hope for a new life, I walked into the building and to the office where I presented the papers that had come in the box with the DNA results from the Shifter Ancestry Department.

The results that told me I had two sisters.

"We were told you were coming tomorrow," the woman at the desk said. "But it's a good thing I plan ahead. I have your schedule here along with your dorm assignment. Luck has shone down on you, Kiki. We had a student drop out just last week and able to get you accommodations. You have a roommate but she's a nice girl."

"Thank you."

She nodded. "Books and materials are already in your room. We have no uniforms here, so you can wear your street clothes. Rulebook and handbook are in your packet along with your room key."

The clock on the wall ticked, and I looked up to see it was noon. My stomach rumbled in response.

"It's lunchtime," the woman said to me. "How about you put your things here, behind my desk while you get something to eat. The dining hall is one floor up. I'm sure there will be a flood of kids headed the same way. You can't miss it."

I was leery of going alone, but my stomach pushed me forward, along with the hope that I might see my sisters here. I had a picture of them, but I also assumed that since they were here together, I would find them sitting side by side, sharing secrets and laughter. Yeah, even foster care hadn't knocked the last bit of sunshine out of me.

The woman in the office was right. I had no trouble finding the dining hall. I stood right inside the doorway and, while I was definitely hungry, something else tugged at my attention. Across the large room was a table with six men with one redheaded woman and another with brown hair and purple streaks in it.

I pulled out my phone from my pocket and looked at the picture of a picture I'd taken from the file in the box. There they were.

No time like the present.

"Excuse me?" I said, arriving at the table. All eight of them turned their attention on me, making me gulp for air. Gods, maybe this wasn't such a good idea. "Is this seat taken?" Not waiting for their answer, I sat next to one of the big guys, but no one spoke. "Finally I found you two."

"Do we know you?" the one with purple hair asked. Ava was her name.

"Jeez." I let out a nervous laugh. "I'm terrible. I am Kiki. I was sent results of a DNA test from the Shifter Ancestry Department. I was told you and Minx are my sisters. I just arrived here."

Minx laughed and shook her head. "Boys, we're going to take Kiki to the next table and talk to our new sister. Bodhi, would you mind getting her a plate, please?" The man stood and kissed Minx right on the lips, lingering there for two Mississippis longer than I expected. They must be mates. But there were six men there. There was something about the way they watched when Minx and Ava moved. A predatory quality about it. That plus the way their male and female scents mingled together led me to one conclusion. They were all mates.

My sisters had a reverse harem? Was that a thing outside of shifter books?

We moved to another table. They brought their food and appeared unbothered by having a sister appear out of nowhere. Did they know about me?

Ava sat across from me. "So, Kiki, you are our sister?"

"Yes. I-I'm sorry to barge in on your lunch. I should've planned this better but I saw you and…well, I've never had any family before. Perhaps I am a bit eager."

Minx patted my shoulder. "It's okay. At this point, I'm not surprised. What did you mean you don't have any family?"

Bodhi set a tray holding a burger and fries as well as a bottle of water in front of me then smiled and returned to the other table. I gobbled a big bite of burger before continuing. "I've been in foster care all my life."

I didn't want them to pity me, but that was the truth.

"Foster care? So do you know who your father or your mother is?" Minx said. "Or were, since you said you have no family." Her mates, or who I assumed were her mates, kept looking over.

"No. Do you?" That would be an odd question, usually, but they didn't react as if they thought so.

Ava nodded. "My parents passed away, but my mother was my real mother. The man who raised me, my mother's husband, was, as it turned out, my stepfather. But I never knew that until he was gone."

I shifted to face Minx. "My mom finally admitted that her husband wasn't my biological father. That's pretty much all we know. My mom won't talk about who my father was."

We all had shit backstories for sure. "I was left in a basket at the fire station."

"How did you find out we were here?" Ava asked, pulling her hair up into a bun. "How did you know what we looked like?"

"I aged out of the system and before I left my foster home, I received a box. It had a DNA test. So, I took it. Then my results came back with pictures of you two saying we were sisters but it didn't tell me how. And I had a scholarship to this academy. I honestly didn't question it. It was accept the scholarship or try to make it on my own. Plus, like I said, I've never had family. So you two share the same father?"

They both nodded.

"Then I must share a father with you too."

Ava began to laugh then covered her mouth with her hand. "I'm sorry, but is anyone else thinking that our dad was a straight-up player? I mean…think about it."

We laughed together, and my wolf settled into this position among them. She accepted Ava and Minx as her sisters and our pack. Wasn't that a new feeling…good, but I'd learned not to trust "good." Still, I craved that belonging with every cell of my body. Of both my bodies.

"She's not wrong." Minx shrugged. "I know this is weird, but Ava and I have become best friends along the way. And you're our sister, too, so we can help you get settled here."

"Hey, let me see your schedule." Ava held out her hand. "Where is your dorm?"

"Oh." How easily they had accepted me into their fold. I'd imagined having to prove myself or earn their trust, but I was relieved I didn't. "I had to leave all my things in the front office so I could get lunch. I think the secretary was eager to get to her lunch as well."

"Let's go, then," Minx said.

I blurted out. "Are those your mates?"

Ava's eyes widened. "Minx! Where are our manners?"

Minx snorted. "I have manners. I thought it would be a bit overwhelming for her. Two sisters and six brothers-in-law all in one sitting?"

"I don't mind."

Ava led me over and introduced all of their mates, telling me which ones were hers and which ones belonged to Minx. "Let's go get that schedule. I want to see if we have classes together."

It might take me a minute to remember who was who and which sister they belonged with. But their mates were also pack, my wolf informed me. My wariness and edge were not shared by the wolf who had been waiting for this her whole existence.