The Lycademy - Fire and Death

1. Family should stick together

-Vaughn's P. O. V.-

This was exciting, this was f*****g great actually. The three years without any of my parents constantly nagging me about everything starts today. This will be legendary, epic, over the top and simply the best time of my life. Like the longest bachelor party of my life after which I have to become an adult. But let's not think about this now. For now, let's just enjoy it.

"Could you take your f*****g feet from the board? You're not in Kansas anymore, Dorothy." - Titus scowled at me from the driver's seat. I shot him my signature smirk to push his buttons even more.

"Is that the proper way to address your Alpha?" - I asked narrowing my eyes, but keeping my smile in place.

"Mustang is an autonomous zone, enclave if you will and I'm the king in this castle, so take those damn feet off if you don't want me to break them." - he threatened without an ounce of humor and I knew that for this damn car he could actually do this. When the Beta boy finally finds his Mate that girl will have to have quite a battle over the first place in his heart, unless she'll be equally nuts.

" Fine. Whatever." - I said sitting up straight - "But you know that car is like twice your age. It's a piece of junk."

"You're a piece of junk, Mustang is classic, not that you would know anything about it's worth or what the class actually is." - Titus fought back. I swear that damn car is the only thing that makes him this riled up. My future Beta could probably start riots if anyone would so much as scratch it.

"Gentlemen. Could we… just not. For once. Please." - Peter said with an exasperated sigh from the back seat.

The Gamma boy was always the balm to our itches, the voice of reason to our spats, the stoic one to Titus and I's hot tempers. And together with his cousin, my best friend, who is equally calm and collected they keep our group in balance.

The Four Horsemen of Apocalypse, as my Mom likes to call us. We have been inseparable since we were in diapers. We grew up together, went through a whole lot of s**t together. Funny, scary, hard, we did it all.

We had a temporary lapse for the last two years when Peter and Titus went to Lycademy, leaving me and Cole to fend for ourselves. But today it all changes. Today is the day the four of us will be once again in the same place for all times. And I can't f*****g wait. Let's hope that the old castle is ready for us.

"Actually, why didn't we take the SUV? This shoe box car didn't even cram out luggage." - Cole asked from behind my back.

"Don't you remember? The Alpha boy wanted us all to go together." - Titus answered.

"Yeah, I remember, but why not take a bigger ride? That way our warriors wouldn't have to take our shit." - Cole pointed out.

"Vaughn wanted to go together, Titus wanted to take the Mustang and we" - Pet pointed between him and Cole -" just went with a compromise. Like always." - Peter said in a bored tone and turned to look out the window. Classic Martinez.

I chuckled to myself and focused my sight on the landscape ahead of us. We were leaving traces of civilization behind us, which means we are getting close. At least I hope so.

"Are we there yet?" - I asked my two older friends.

"What are you a f*****g donkey?" - Titus snorted, making me roll my eyes at his antics - "Almost, five more minutes." - he added, after he had his fun with my impatience.

Five minutes. That's all and I'll finally be out of my father's judging gaze for a good while. It's not that I have anything against my father, it's just he's acting like a hawk constantly hovering over my head. Always lurking in the corridors, thinking he's sneaky enough to stay unnoticed. And when it's not him, it's either my Mom or literally anyone from the Pack House. They try to keep a tight record of our every move and I honestly can't figure out why. From what I can tell, my Dad wasn't raised that way, because my Grandfather, even though he can be scary, is a rather laid back guy. So what's with all this overprotectiveness?!

Anyway, that's not the thing I should be focusing on right now. Freedom is.

Trees started to clear and the old massive stone building came into view. I suspect it will be large. After all, it has to be a home for about fifteen hundred students. But the monstrosity in front of us was enormous. They should probably chip us, in case anyone gets lost here. Now that I think about it, it wouldn't be totally horrible to get lost in the crowd. Being Alpha heir is fun and all, but there's nothing normal about growing up on a pedestal. All the expectations and eyes always following, that's like a part of my life. But for now, just for the next three years I'd like to be normal, just a completely ordinary wolf. That's all I ask. And then I can be whoever everyone expects me to be.

Titus drove through the massive iron gate straight to the parking lot the size of three football fields. I see that space isn't an issue here. That was expected. After all, werewolves need all the space they can get to not blow up the gasket.

Surprisingly, a familiar figure stood in the middle of the gravel lot and I knew that she was waiting there for us. Precisely for me. Eh, and here I thought I would be completely free, I guess I forgot about the small blonde-haired detail called Valkyrie. Alright, she's not that small for a woman, but she's still shorter than I am.

Titus parked close to the spot where she was standing and the four of us got out of the car.

"Welcome to the Lycademy, Cuz." - Val said with a wide grin spreading her arms for a hug.

I embraced her and squeezed tightly making her giggle. I really love that girl. She may be five years older than I am, but she's definitely my coolest relative. Valkyrie is not only an awesome fighter, with whom I never managed to win. Yet. But she doesn't give two shits about what others think of her. She should have taken over her own Pack as an Alpha good two years ago, but she decided she'd rather spend some quality time with her new, old Mate banging him happily. I like Rob, he's a perfect lemon to her tequilas, but he's my Dad's age, so whenever he makes those f**k me eyes to my Cousin my skin kind of crawls. But hey, whatever makes her happy, right?

"Hey Cuz, or should I say Coach Morgan?" - I smirked at her when she released me from her embrace.

"Uu, I like the sound of that." - she grinned - "But for you I'm always Val."

"Where's your older half?" - I asked in a teasing tone. Valkyrie swatted me on my arm and threateningly pointed her finger at me.

"Be nice, if you piss him off he may break your bond before you even feel it. And then I will break your bones." - she said with narrowed eyes. I raised my hands in mocking surrender, biting my lips to not laugh.

"I yield!" - I said theatrically and she giggled again. - "But seriously, where is Rob? Did his deep grudges towards Cargaroughs go to another generation?"

"He has no grudges, he's with the Headmaster. Wor-king, something you probably can't understand, Golden Boy." - she crossed her arms over her chest. Man, she was so fun to tease and Rob was actually the only topic that threw her off that easily.

"Alright, that's fair, hurtful, but fair." - I said - "So tell me, Val, are you sent here to spy on me?"

She gasped and pressed her hand to her chest, and her wrist to her forehead, as if she was about to faint from this preposterous insinuation. She was sometimes such a goof.

We both started laughing and guys finally came closer to us. Each of my friends gave Valkyrie a kiss on her cheek and said their hellos. That was all Val, she could win over absolutely everyone, no matter the status, beliefs or personality, she was this ray of sunshine that made friends wherever she went. But you had to look closer at this blonde easy-going demeanor to see the deadliest woman I know. I sincerely don't wish for anyone to get on her bad side.

"Spying? SPYING?!" - she showed me a chain of keys dangling on her finger - "Here I came to give my favorite little Cousin some insight clues. But since you're accusing me of being a spy, I'll keep those to myself." - she said with a mischievous smile.

Knowing Val, whatever the hell those keys opened I wanted to have access to it. So I quickly reached to snap them from her hand, but she was faster and she closed her hand just in time for me to miss it.

" Alright. I'm sorry, I was a douche to suggest you are anything but cool and awesome." - I said with exasperation.

"And smart and badass." - she demanded.

"And smart and badass." - I repeated with a sigh.

She beamed and winked at my friends who all chuckled behind my back. Oh, they enjoyed me squirming in front of her. We'll see who will laugh last when they would like to join me in whatever place Val is offering.

" Fine. Take it." - she handed me the keys - "It's absolutely against the rules, so if anyone catches you with those I'm gonna deny my every connection with you or those keys."

"Sure, sure I remember the drill. But what are those for?" - I asked, looking at the keys.

"This one is from the staircase to the clock tower. I'm sure Martinez and Park will know where the entry is." - she said giving a pointed look to my Beta and Gamma, who both silently nodded - "And this one is to the exit through the changing rooms." - she pointed to the second key.

I looked at her in disbelief. No one can be that awesome with no ulterior motive.

"Thanks, but why?" - I asked suspiciously.

"I know you'll be doing things you're not supposed to" - she shrugged - "I just don't want you to get into troubles, so be smart about it."

"And that's it? No strings attached? Just my Cousin taking care of a family name?" - I frowned.

"Well…"

"I knew it! I knew it! I f*****g knew it! What do you want in return?" - I asked feeling like a champ that I saw right through her.

"I want you to take care of Gini." - she said biting her lip.

"Seriously?! But she's quirky." - I said wrinkling my nose.

If Valkyrie was my favorite Cousin, Virginia was her absolute opposite. She was meek, shy, she barely spoke, she never wanted to spar with any of us and the weirdest of all, she never made eye contact. It's too bad, because she was the only one my age and we could have been as close as Val and Vigo, but no, she was the odd one. I once had a theory that she was not even Alpha, but why wouldn't she be from two Alpha parents?

"She's not quirky, she's family, and you know that she's kind of a loner." - Valkyrie said, rolling her eyes.

"But Valll, I don't want to babysit her." - I whined.

"I don't want you to babysit her, just introduce her to a few wolves so she wouldn't be alone. Me and Vig will owe you one."

I watched her for a moment deciding if a perfect hideout and my personal escape from the castle were worth this. I must admit that Valkyrie played her cards wisely. Any other student would die for that opportunity on their first day here. But Gini was… just meh.

However, I know that the feeling is mutual so she may not even want to hang out with me. Let's hope for it.

"Fine, I'll take care of the Stiff." - I said finally with an exasperated sigh.

"Hey! Don't call her that. Family should stick together." - she scolded me but smiled either way - "So I guess welcome to Lycademy." - she said, making a courtesy bow and gesturing with her hand to the castle's gate with two wolves sitting on each side of them.

That should be fun. Even with Virginia tagging along.