by Cheree Alsop
“Nicely done,” the deep voice said.
Alex grabbed one of the guns and crossed to the cell.
“How many are down here?” he asked the werewolf who took up most of the small enclosure.
“A dozen,” the werewolf replied. He coughed, a deep, wracking sound that told Alex he needed to get the werewolf to the safe house and medical care as quickly as possible.
Alex slammed the gun down on the lock to the cell. It broke easily. He yanked the cage open, glad the gloves Jaze had given him kept the silver that coated the bars from touching his skin.
He ducked under the werewolf’s arm and helped him to his feet. The werewolf leaned heavily to one side. It took Alex a moment to realize that the werewolf was missing an entire foot. He put most of his substantial weight on Alex. When the werewolf’s hand gripped his shoulder, Alex noticed he was missing three fingers as well.
“What happened to you?” Alex asked quietly as he helped the hulking werewolf into the corridor.
The werewolf kept his gaze from his hand and foot as though the sight of them sickened him. “Experimentation at its finest.”
Alex’s stomach tightened. “You mean they cut parts off of you?”
The werewolf nodded. “They wanted to see if they would regenerate.”
Alex spoke through clenched teeth. “We heal, not regenerate. Body parts don’t grow back.”
“They eventually figured that out,” the werewolf said, nodding his massive head toward a cell where a girl gripped the bars with one hand. Alex didn’t need to wonder where her other hand was.
He touched his earpiece again. “These werewolves have been experimented on.”
“You know to expect that,” Jaze’s steady voice replied. “We’ll get them to a safe house and help them find their families.”
Alex knew that would be Jaze’s answer, yet he hoped there was a different one. After all he had seen in the rescues they made, there had to be some way to stop it.
They had Drogan. The thought reassured him. Both Drogan and his father, the General, had been fond of experimenting on werewolves. Since Drogan’s capture seven months ago, finding such facilities had become much harder. Either the General had shifted his interests in his effort to locate his son, or he was getting cleverer in his locations. Either way, Alex was just happy to get the werewolves out of his grasp.
“Good work,” Kaynan said, his red eyes flashing as he passed Alex at the door.
Chet and Dray helped assist the werewolf through the grate in the floor Alex had found on their sweep of the warehouse. The stench of the long deceased experiment victims on the bottom floor had masked the scent of the live werewolves beneath. Alex had bumped a table and dropped a beaker from it. When he bent to pick the glass object up, the slight brush of stale air had hinted of what was beneath the grate. He thanked his instincts that pressed him to investigate.
“Easy does it, sir,” Vance told the lumbering werewolf who made even the bearlike professor look small. “We’ll get you away from this place and somewhere you can take it easy for a while.”
“Do you think I could have a hamburger?” the werewolf asked as he accepted Vance’s assistance to climb into the waiting SUV. The vehicle shifted under his weight.
“I’ll get you a hamburger myself,” Vance promised.
The werewolf gave him a grateful smile. “Make it a dozen. I’ve been craving hamburgers for months.”
Vance answered with a rare smile of his own. “You’ll have your hamburgers, sir.”
Alex smiled as he hurried back down the warehouse steps. It wasn’t often someone broke through Vance’s tough shell, yet the professor had a caring heart he seldom let show. If Alex mentioned anything to the students back at the Academy, Vance would deny it until he was blue and then make Alex run laps until he was as well.
“I’ve got you,” Jaze said.
Alex crouched to grab the young woman’s good hand as Jaze caught her gently under the elbow and lifted her up to the warehouse floor.
The woman didn’t speak. The fear in her eyes ate at Alex’s heart. Her hair was matted and dirty. She kept looking around her as if afraid the General’s men would beat her for escaping.
“You’re safe with us,” Alex reassured her.
Her gaze locked on his. Alex paused, caught by her expression. Her eyes were dark, but there was a flicker of light in their depths, as if now that she was free of her cage, the woman was trying to break through from her protective walls as well.
She set a hand on Alex’s cheek. He almost jerked back in surprise, but held still, aware that she posed no threat.
After looking at him for several seconds that felt like an eternity, the woman patted his cheek and nodded. She took a deep breath, let it go, and took a step away from him, continuing to the vehicles with Jaze. Alex stared after her, wondering what had just happened.
“Sometimes we need to be reassured that there is still good left in the world,” Dray said quietly from the grate.
“I don’t know if I’m the best reassurance,” Alex said.
Dray smiled. “A kid like you running around with Jaze Carso freeing captive werewolves? I think you’ll do.”
Alex rolled his eyes as he levered himself into the dark hole beneath the grate again. “Sure. It sounds awesome when you put it like that.”
“It is like that,” Dray called after him.
Brock’s voice spoke into Alex’s earpiece. The other werewolves who were helping prisoners out of the cells paused as they heard Brock’s words, too. “We’ve tripped an alarm.”
“I thought you checked everything,” Jaze replied.
“We did,” Brock said. “We cut the power and swept for bugs and sensors. I don’t know what it was.”
Mouse took over. “I’m guessing the General set up a secondary security system using battery-powered radio transmitters and receivers. We’re trying to locate it, but knowing the General, it’ll take longer to find it than it will to blow this place.”
Lyra, Mouse’s wife, said, “If this is the case, we can interfere with the signal electromagnetically, but I don’t think we have the time.”
“Better safe than sorry,” Jaze replied. “My pack, get the remaining three werewolves into the vehicles. Black Team, run a final sweep of the floor to ensure we covered the area. Agent Sullivan, meet up with Mouse at the helicopter. If he finds the radio frequency, we might be able to trace it to the source.”
“Will do,” Darian, the leader of the Black Team, replied.
“Got it,” Agent Sullivan said.
“Come on,” Chet called from down the corridor. “Let’s get these werewolves out of here.”
Alex helped an older man with a patch over his eye and a woman who stumbled on poorly healed feet toward the grate. A quick sweep showed that there were no more survivors in the underground corridors. Sorrow and anger at the bodies that had been left without care in other cells filled Alex with such frustration he wanted to hit something.
Jaze met him at the grate.
“That’s the last of them,” Alex said.
Jaze nodded, reading the expression on Alex’s face. “I know how you feel, trust me.”
Alex shook his head. “It’s wrong, Jaze.” He couldn’t reign in the frustration. Every cell in his body screamed for him to punch something, to end the terror werewolves were being put through just for being werewolves. He clenched and unclenched his fists, trying to find control.
Jaze let out a slow breath. “We’ve got Drogan. It’s only a matter of time before we find the General.”
“But what if someone else takes over and does the same thing?” Alex asked, his tone adamant as the smell of carnage from below tangled in his nose.
“Then we’ll stop them,” Jaze replied firmly. “And if someone takes it up after that, we’ll stop them, too. We’ll fight until there is no more fighting left to do.”
“When will that be?” Alex asked quietly.
Jaze shook his head. “There’
s no way of knowing. Soon, I hope.” His dark brown eyes were adamant when he said, “But we won’t stop until every werewolf is safe.”
Alex nodded. It was all they could do and he knew it. But when they found places like the warehouse, it didn’t feel like enough. No werewolf should have to go through the things he had seen. They deserved to be safe and free.
“That’s why we do it,” Jaze said, guessing his thoughts. “And why we won’t stop.”
“I know,” Alex replied. He followed at Jaze’s side to the exit of the warehouse. The sound of the chopper blades hit the air with a steady thump-thump, pushing against them when they stepped out of the wide doors.
Alex spoke over the force of the helicopter. “My pack wants to help us.”
“Your pack?” Jaze asked with a hint of humor in his eyes.
Alex shrugged as heat colored his cheeks. “Jericho’s pack. They want to help like they did when you guys were trapped.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Jaze replied.
Mouse hurried up to them, his small frame a thin shadow in the night. “We have sixty seconds on my count,” the professor said, his gaze on the ground near Jaze’s feet. “We’re still trying to block the source.”
“Don’t,” Jaze replied.
Mouse paused and looked from Jaze to the warehouse. Alex nodded his acceptance of the dean’s decision. A place like the warehouse shouldn’t exist. They would ensure that it no longer did.
“Right,” Mouse said. He touched his earpiece. “Cancel the pulse,” he told Lyra. “We’re going to leave it.”
“Then you better get over here,” Lyra replied.
“Are all the werewolves clear?” Jaze asked Chet as he and Dray fell in with them on their jog toward the helicopter.
“Clear and accounted for,” Chet answered.
Jaze climbed into the helicopter and held out a hand for Alex. He pulled the student in next to him.
“Let’s get some distance between us and this place,” Jaze called.
Mouse slipped on the headset. “My thoughts exactly,” he answered, lifting the chopper into the air.
Alex watched as they cleared the parking lot of the abandoned warehouse. The few members of the General’s guard they had captured there were long gone with Agent Sullivan and the Global Protection Agency. Headlights from the SUVs shone along the road as they made their way to one of Jaze’s safe houses.
The werewolves would have a chance to recuperate, to find their families if they had any, and to start over. Alex wished they could do more for them. He thought of the woman who had set her hand on his cheek and hoped she would find the good in the world she was looking for.
The explosion rocked the sky as fire tore through the warehouse like a hungry animal.
“It’s burning pretty quick,” Jaze said into his headset. “Give it five, then call the fire department. I want to make sure there’s nothing to be found when they get there.”
“Got it,” Lyra answered from the seat next to Mouse.
Alex sat back and watched the pulsing yellow and orange lights reach for the night sky. The helicopter turned north, away from the light and devastation. The glow of the half-moon drifted reassuring through the window and brushed Alex’s arm. He turned his hand over, letting the light rest on his palm. He wondered if the werewolves below felt the same peace that filled him at the touch of pale light. He hoped they did. He leaned his head against the window and closed his eyes, watching the burned imprint of the flames dance in his memory.
Chapter Two
“You stink,” Cassie said when Alex stepped into Pack Jericho’s common room.
“Hello to you, too,” Alex replied, accepting his twin sister’s hug. “I’ll go shower.”
“Don’t mind her,” Tennison said, his tall, thin frame appearing behind Cassie. “She’s just mad you missed the Choosing Ceremony.”
Alex glanced back at Jericho who lounged on the couch behind them. “I assume I got Chosen.”
“It was a close thing,” Jericho replied. At Alex’s raised eyebrows, the Alpha laughed. “Of course you’re my Second. Who else would it be?”
Alex tipped his head toward his sister’s boyfriend. “Tennison, here, would make a much more docile choice.”
“Alex,” Cassie said, rolling her eyes.
Tennison shrugged, smiling at Alex’s sarcasm. “You’d probably have fewer scuffs with Pack Boris and Pack Torin, but somehow I don’t think you like avoiding them.”
Jericho chuckled. “As much as it doesn’t make sense, Alex’s sense of rebellion has given us something to rally behind. I suppose seeking out contention does have its benefits.”
Alex dropped onto the couch across from Jericho. “Not seeking it out,” he protested. “It just happens to find me.”
“Sure it does,” Cassie said.
“Sure what does?”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat. He turned to see Kalia leaning in the doorway from the girls’ quarters.
“Sure contention just has a way of finding me,” Alex said. He couldn’t help but smile at the way her eyes lit up when she looked at him. Her gaze was pale, icy blue, but he knew from more intimate conversations that her irises held so many colors of blue he didn’t know the name of them all. The thought of seeing her again had made the helicopter ride home feel so much longer. Now that she stood in front of him, he didn’t know what to say.
Her eyes creased at the corners when she answered, “It does have a way of finding you.”
Alex allowed a hurt expression to cross his face. “Is everyone against me? I leave for one night and come back to an Academy full of Termers and my own pack suddenly turncoat?” He studied Kalia’s face, trying not to be distracted by the way her white-blonde hair swept across her chin as she looked down at him. She had cut it during the break. It used to brush her shoulders, now it was jaw-length and made her look stunning as she stared down at him, her eyes glittering and stark amid the white. “Have you been convincing them not to trust me?”
Kalia nodded. “I figure you need one less pack in your fan club.”
Alex laughed. “I don’t have a fan club.”
She was about to reply when a blur of curly blonde hair rushed by her and jumped over the couch onto Alex’s lap.
“I’m so glad you’re back!” little Caitlyn said, planting a kiss on Alex’s cheek. “I missed you.”
At Alex’s surprised look, Cassie laughed. “She did that to every werewolf in our pack.”
Caitlyn nodded, her green eyes wide. The youngest member of Pack Jericho sighed, “It was such a long summer. I missed everyone.”
Alex smiled down at the eight year old. “We missed you, too.”
“Really?” she asked.
It was hard not to laugh at the amazement in her voice, but Alex managed to keep a straight face. “Really.”
Caitlyn kissed him on the cheek one more time, then rushed from the room again.
“Where is she going?”
“To unpack,” Caitlyn called down the hall.
“Hi, Alex.”
Alex grinned at the huge werewolf who ducked through the door from the boys’ hallway.
“Amos, you’re back!” Alex exclaimed.
“Parker no like me,” Amos explained.
Alex laughed. “I can’t blame him. You broke his arm twice last term.” He winked at the huge werewolf. “Maybe the other packs thought you did it on purpose and didn’t choose you so we could.”
“That’s what I told him,” Jericho said. The eighteen year old Alpha leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “At least this term we got everyone we wanted.”
There was something in his tone that caught Alex’s attention. “Who else did we get?”
“I’m not sure if you’ll be happy about it,” a familiar voice said.
The sight of Pip standing behind Amos made Alex’s breath catch in his throat. The small werewolf with huge ears had almost gotten him and Cassie killed two terms back when he gave Drogan infor
mation on their whereabouts in order to protect his family Drogan was holding captive. Alex had forgiven him, but couldn’t deny that it had been a relief not to have him at the Academy last term.
He took a calming breath and rose from the couch.
Pip blinked at him. The small werewolf looked as though he wished he could disappear into the doorframe he leaned against.
Alex felt Cassie’s gaze on his back as he crossed to the werewolf. He held out a hand. “It’s good to have you back.”
“R-really?” Pip asked. At Alex’s nod, the little werewolf shook the Second’s hand. “If there’s anything you need, anything at all, I’ll get it for you.” Pip said quickly, relief in his voice. “Do you want cookies, socks, a television?”
Alex shook his head with a laugh. “I don’t need anything.” He paused. “You could get a television in here?”
“I could try?” Pip said, doubt heavy in his voice.
Alex grinned. “I really don’t need anything, Pip. I’m glad you’re here.”
“Me, too,” Cassie said from behind Alex. “Is your family okay?” Only she and Alex knew the details of what had happened, but knowing that Jaze was able to free Pip’s family and send them all to safety had made everything worth it.
Pip nodded. “They’re great. This term is going to be a lot better than my first one.”
“Definitely,” Alex replied. He looked back at Jericho. “You’ve built us a good pack.”
Jericho gave a nonchalant shrug. “I tried.” He grinned at his Second, his brown eyes glittering. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to make things interesting.”
Alex nodded. “That’s a promise.” A thought occurred to him. “I missed the food fight, so let’s go for a run.”
