Bonded Read Online Free Page A

Alphas don’t send
wusses to the Academy.”
    “Yeah. Most of the
cadets have a reputation for being pains in the ass.”
    “That’s what I
need; weres that are just this side of rogue: smart and aggressive,
dominant yet still manageable under the right leadership.”
    “Well this is the
place to look. I tell you, Reno, I’ve got a couple cadets in my
computer class that...”
    Reno let Brad talk
while his attention shifted to studying the ivy covered buildings,
residences, parking lots, and pathways that made up the Academy. It
was Lycan Link’s version of a university combined with a training
ground. Many Lycans went to ‘human’ schools, but some—usually the
most dominant males and some females—chose the Academy instead.
    Reno laughed
ruefully to himself. Chose wasn’t always the proper term. To
be sure, some came for academic training in courses such as
computers, medicine, or law—members of that group were considered
regular students. Others, however, were sent by the pack Alpha
whether they wanted to go or not, having been deemed either too
unruly or having shown signs of becoming future pack leaders. They
entered into the ‘cadet’ program, which was far more gruelling and
strict. In that respect, the Academy served as a reform school and
holding ground for weres that didn’t fit into a pack’s present
hierarchy.
    In ancient times,
such weres would simply have been killed or at least driven from
the pack and left to survive on their own. However, Lycans were
considerably more enlightened now and the Academy served as their
second chance. After training in how to control their inner wolf,
some of the cadets returned to serve their packs in positions of
authority, but not all were that lucky.
    There were cases
where the pack Alpha still viewed the young males as too great a
threat and barred them from coming back which left the now homeless
Lycans in difficult circumstances. They could seek out a new pack,
provided any would take them in. Some tried to establish their own
packs while still others ended up wandering the world as a rogue.
Lycan Link did its best to take in as many as it could, finding
them a spot in the vast organization that served weres around the
world. While working for Lycan Link wasn’t the same as living in a
pack, it did provide a refuge and sense of purpose. Reno knew that
from personal experience.
    “Have you checked
out the Black Devils?” Brad nudged him, and Reno left his reverie
behind to look where his friend was pointing. He focussed his gaze
on three cadets who were sprawled in the shade of a tree. They
appeared strikingly similar from a distance.
    “Black Devils?” He
frowned. “I haven’t heard of them.”
    “They’ve been
keeping a low profile lately, but they’re as black as the ace of
spades when they shift.”
    Given their
colouring that made sense so he nodded. “What about the devil
part?”
    Brad snorted.
“Campus gossip is that those three get into more trouble than any
three hundred cadets combined. And their interest in the local
ladies contributes to the devil moniker as well.”
    Reno shrugged.
“High spirits are common here and dominant males have to get the
energy out somehow.” He chuckled as he mentally reminisced about
his own experiences at the Academy. “My days here weren’t exactly
pristine.”
    “Yeah, well they
do it better than anyone else. Rumour also has it that they’re
possessed. Devil-demons, if you know what I mean. Faster, sharper
senses, more intuitive; they could ace every course if they
tried.”
    “But they
don’t?”
    “Well, one does.
Kane. He’s the youngest and most serious of the lot and tries to
keep the other two in check. Lord only knows what they’d get into
otherwise. He’ll likely head home when he graduates and become a
co-Beta. His file indicates he’s in line as the next Alpha if he
just bides his time.”
    “Dipping into the
files, Brad?” Reno looked at his companion out of the corner of