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“All right,” dad says, clapping his hands together and nodding. “If that’s all, let’s break up for the evening and meet again in the morning to get started –“

“Sir?” Shayne calls, sitting up in her seat and raising her hand.

Dad pauses, turning to her, and then nods.

Shayne cocks her head to the side. “Sir, if we’re going to start tomorrow…what are we supposed to do tonight?”

“You have debriefing materials,” dad says, nodding to the packet in each of our hands. “I’d encourage you to study them. I expect you all to get an early night’s sleep so that you’re fresh tomorrow. The Corporals who have been assigned as your guards will ensure your safety so there’s no reason not to sleep well.”

Dad turns to Cole, who nods, confirming this.

“All right!” dad says, turning sharply away, his action a dismissal in itself. “07:00 hours! I’ll see you then!”

Everyone starts to stand up, Shay, Grace, and I with them. Our Alpha guards surround us, moving forward, again herding us like farm animals out of the tent and across the clearing to another tent even larger the first, though dark green this time. I scowl, glaring around at the wolves, not liking this whole method of moving us without telling us where we’re going.

But my eyebrows raise with pleasure when we step into the tent and see that it’s a little barracks all set up for us – and that, honestly, it looks quite cozy. Twenty beds all lined up in four neat rows of five, with five more behind another curtain for the boys amongst us. Then, in the far corner, an exit that I assume leads to some kind of bathroom and showers.

I grin, looking around, thinking that it all looks very cute.

“God, what a dump,” Shayne murmurs at my side, shaking her head.

I burst out laughing, giving her a playful shove. “It’s nice!”

“It’shorrible,” she says, rolling her eyes at me even as she strides forward, spotting our three backpacks resting on beds in the far corner. I grin, pleased to see that our assigned bunks are far from the door and the bathroom, certainly the best available. “We’re going to be packed in here with everyone? What if someone snores?”

“Oh, we’ll be too tired to care,” I say, laughing and plopping down on the middle bed, admiring the springy cot and the cute little locker at the foot of the bed for my personal items. There’s even a little bathing kit waiting for me! I grin, picking it up, starting to inspect.

“I think it’s nice too,” Grace says, looking around and settling on the third bed, closest to the door, leaving the furthest one for Shayne.

“Yeah, but that’s because you two are…sporty and outdoorsy,” Shayne murmurs, narrowing her eyes as she looks around, watching all our fellow students claim their bunks. “You think discomfort is fun.”

I laugh at Shay, who famously likes comfort and luxury, shaking my head and putting my bathing kit aside in favor of my debriefing packet. I start to page through it, intrigued, when suddenly it’s smacked out of my hands.

I gasp, whipping my head up to Shayne. “What are you doing?”

“Oh, put that down,” she says, unzipping her backpack and starting to root through it. “We’ve got more important things to do.”

“Likewhat?” I ask, glaring at her and reaching for my packet again.

“Likethis,” she says, grinning at me wickedly as she pulls a bottle of tequila from her bag.

“Oh, Shayne,” Grace whispers, pressing her fingertips to her lips, eyes wide. “That’s…that’s bad.”

“It’s not bad,” Shay says, frowning down at the bottle. “It’sveryhigh quality.”

“It’scontraband!” Grace snaps.

“Whocares,” Shayne says, tilting her head back in a moan. “There are boys! Tall ones! Hot ones!Wolfones! AndIam going to gohang outwith them and you’re coming with me! For friendship and solidarity!”

I just stare at my friend, shocked, completely frozen with fear at the suggestion.

Out – outthere? With theboys– the Alphas? What on earth is she thinking?

Chapter 8 – Fraternization

Nadia

“I’mnotgoing out there, Shay,” I say, narrowing my eyes and crossing my arms.