Chapter 1
Teddy
One minute, fifty-eight seconds.
That was the time on the enchanted clock when my hand hit the touchpad. I surfaced, gasping as I pulled off my goggles. I was fast, but not fast enough. Two lanes down from me, there was another guy from Moonhaven, his arms raised in the air in triumph.
Second place again.
The crowd was roaring, but all I could do was heave myself out of the pool, disappointed by my results yet again. I was the fastest freestyle swimmer on the Widdershins Academy team in the witch division. But every time we had a meet, I always came in second. I thought my Junior year would be different, that I’dfinallystart winning. But already I’d been proven wrong on our very first meet.
“Great job, Teddy!” Gavin said, a big smile on his face as he handed me a towel. “That was incredible!”
“Right,” I grumbled, taking the towel and heading for the bench. “Another silver, never gold.”
Coach Mathers approached, her webbed fingers clasping a clipboard. “You shaved three seconds off your personal best, Voss. Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
I nodded, but didn’t feel any better. Three seconds wasn’t enough when Moonhaven’s star swimmer had just broken the regional record. I wrapped the towel around my shoulders, water dripping down my purple speedo onto the tile floor.
“The team needs you for the relay,” Coach added, her expectant gaze on me.
“I’m sitting this one out,” I replied, already turning toward the lockers. “I think I pulled something. Don’t want to risk an injury.”
It was a lie, and I was pretty sure Coach Mathers knew it. But she didn’t try to stop me.
“Get some rest, Voss,” she called back. “See you at practice on Monday.”
I raised a hand in reply, but didn’t look back.
The locker room was mercifully empty when I pushed through the door. Everyone else was still out watching the meet, cheering on our team. I didn’t want their sympathetic looks or hollow encouragement, anyway.
I yanked open my locker and grabbed my shower caddy, the metal door clanging against the next locker. The sound echoed through the empty space, matching my mood perfectly.
“Stupid,” I muttered to myself, stripping off my swim cap and tossing it onto the bench. “Always second place. Fucking tired of it.”
The hot water of the shower did little to wash away my frustration. I’d been training harder than ever over the past summer. Morning practices, extra laps after everyone left, and I’d even been giving up my beloved late-night snacks. All for what? To watch some Moonhaven witch with perfect technique touch the wall before me.Again.
I scrubbed shampoo through my hair with more force than necessary, wincing when my fingers caught in a tangle. Coach Mathers didn’t understand. Neither did my teammates. Theywere happy with improvement, with personal bests. I needed to win if I was ever going to get my father off my back.
After toweling off and changing into sweats, I stuffed my wet gear into my bag. The sounds of cheering filtered through the walls, marking the start of the relay I’d skipped. A twinge of guilt hit me. I should be out there supporting my team. But the thought of watching another Widdershins loss was too much today.
As I headed for the exit, the door swung open, and Coach Flannery walked in. His massive frame nearly filled the doorway, and his blue eyes found mine immediately.
“Leaving already, Voss?” he asked, his voice surprisingly gentle for such a large man.
“I’ve got spellcraft homework,” I mumbled, adjusting my bag strap. “Professor Blackwood’s assignment is due Monday.”
Coach Flannery’s nostrils flared slightly. It was a subtle werewolf tell that I’d learned meant he was scenting emotions. Great. Just what I needed.
“I don’t need a pep talk,” I said, holding up a hand before he could speak. “I just need time alone and to get this project done. I can’t be valedictorian next year if I start slacking off on homework.”
Coach Flannery crossed his arms over his broad chest. Even in his human form, there was something distinctly wolfish about him. Maybe it was the way he seemed to assess everything with that penetrating gaze.
“Academics are important,” he acknowledged with a nod. “But you know what I smell right now, Voss? Disappointment. Anger. And something else...fear.”
I snorted, trying to push past him. “I’m not afraid of anything.”
“Look,” he said, lowering his voice even though we were alone, “I watched your race. You’re getting better every time you hit the water. Your form is technically perfect.”