The Werewolf Academy Series Boxed Set

by Cheree Alsop

  “Alex, it’s okay,” Meredith said.

  He shook his head. “Nothing’s okay.” His voice sounded deeper and gruff. He fled to the door of the classroom. When he shoved it open, it rebounded against the hallway wall hard enough that the doorknob left a hole.

  “See, he’s a freak,” Sid’s voice echoed down the hall.

  “Sid, shut up,” Torin and Jericho replied at the same time.

  ***

  A knock sounded at the door. Alex glanced up, expecting to see Jaze. Instead, he was surprised to see Professor Dray standing there. Dray gave him a kind smile.

  “Rough day?”

  Alex was sitting on his bed with his knees up, his unmade blankets a mess around his ankles. He huffed a sullen chuckle. “You could say that.”

  “Mind if I come in?”

  When Alex shook his head, Dray entered the room. He glanced around at the sparse furnishings. A shirt had been flung on the only chair, and Alex’s shoes sat beneath the window where he had tossed them.

  “You keep it clean.”

  “Force of habit. We used to share a room and Cassie would get furious if I made a mess,” Alex replied. He tried to smile, but failed entirely.

  Dray moved the shirt to the desk and took a seat on the chair. He was silent a few moments before he said, “I thought I was the only one.”

  Alex was surprised at the professor’s words. Dray was one of the few Grays who taught at the Academy. The other professors and especially Jaze always treated him as an equal. He carried his share during the missions, and though he might not have been as strong as an Alpha, he never complained or shirked from anything Jaze asked of him.

  “The only one what?” Alex asked quietly.

  Dray’s brow creased and he was silent as though searching for where to start. He finally glanced at Alex and asked, “What do you know of my past?”

  Surprised by the question, Alex thought for a minute. “Uh, not much. You like plants, so maybe you were a farmer?”

  Dray laughed, a lighthearted sound that lifted Alex’s heart from the trouble he dwelled in. “You’re right about that,” Dray admitted. “I guess the greenhouses gave me away, huh?” He swept a hand through his sun-bleached blond hair. “I was adopted when I was a baby, and my parents didn’t know a thing about werewolves.” He shook his head with an expression of awe. “I don’t even know how they kept me around after my first phase, but they did. I guess living on a farm gets one used to animals.” He winked at Alex.

  Alex couldn’t help but smile back at the professor’s cheerfulness.

  Dray sat back and linked his fingers together over his crossed knee. “I thought I was the only werewolf in existence. It was hard hiding what I was. I didn’t even know there were others like me until I met Gem. Then an Alpha-less pack started making trouble. That’s when I met Jaze.” His forehead furrowed slightly. “Jaze helped me out, and I helped him after he and his pack were taken by some bad men.”

  “Extremists?” Alex asked.

  Dray nodded. “The worst sort. They would have killed him.”

  The thought of Jaze near death made Alex’s stomach clench. “What happened?”

  “I saved him, but when I returned home, the rogue pack attacked.” Dray’s words weren’t boastful or arrogant. They were quiet and pondering as though he was still trying to figure out what happened. When he spoke, his voice had the distant cast of someone captured in the memories he spoke of. “They were hurting students and teachers at my school. I couldn’t let it happen, so I phased and fought them. The leader had me pinned. He was going to kill me.” Dray rubbed his eyes. “But I couldn’t die like an animal, so I forced myself to phase.”

  “When you were dying?” Alex knew such a phase could kill a werewolf who was mortally wounded.

  Dray nodded. “My body morphed into a creature that wasn’t human or werewolf, but something in-between.”

  Alex sat up straight. “That’s what mine did. I’ve felt it a few times, and this time it happened for real in front of everyone.” He let out a breath and his shoulders slumped. “I feel like a freak.”

  Dray shook his head. “You’re not a freak. You’re something different, something I thought only I was until I heard Meredith telling Jaze what happened to you. Jaze was there when I morphed, and he wanted me to talk to you about it.”

  Alex scooted back so he could lean against the wall. “So has it happened since then or was that the only time?”

  “That was the only time.” Dray must have read the disappointment on Alex’s face because he continued, “But my goal is for it to happen again.”

  “Why?” Alex wondered why anyone would do something that would make them so different, so obviously apart from anyone else they knew.

  “Because it might be a way to help.” There was a hint of embarrassment in Dray’s voice as if the professor was speaking of something he had never said before. His blue gaze met Alex’s. “Haven’t you ever wanted to be an Alpha so you could be strong enough to protect those you care about?”

  The words echoed the hidden feelings in Alex’s heart so strongly he could barely breathe. He wanted to be like Jet. He wanted to act fearlessly and be able to defend those who needed him. He wanted to keep Cassie and Meredith safe. Yet his heart failed him and he had barely survived his encounters with Drogan and in the pit. How was he to make a difference?

  Dray nodded. He didn’t need to ask to know the truth in Alex’s gaze. “We’ll figure it out together.”

  Alex spoke the words he was dreading. “But what if they’re afraid of me?” he asked, gesturing to indicate the rest of the Academy.

  “They’ll learn to respect you,” Dray answered.

  Chapter Twenty-three

  “You sure you’re alright?”

  Alex and Kalia sat on the top step of the stairs overlooking the courtyard. The buses and other vehicles would arrive any minute to take the Termers away. Kalia had asked Alex to wait with her. Given the uncomfortable stares from the students who had been in Meredith’s class when Alex morphed, as Professor Dray called it, Alex was more than willing to get away for a bit.

  “I’m fine,” Alex replied. He ran a finger down the black zipper along Kalia’s pink polka dot luggage. “Dray says he went through the same thing. We’ll figure it out.”

  “I hope so,” Kalia said. At Alex’s glance, she looked out over the snow-covered courtyard. “It’s hard to be the one who’s different from anybody else.”

  A wave of sadness swept through Alex. “Kalia, I—”

  She shook her head. “Don’t. Just don’t.” Her gaze met his. The icy blue of her irises stood out in sharp contrast to her pale skin and the white fur-lined hood of her coat. “I know you’ve been through a lot this term. You don’t have to explain yourself to me.”

  The sound of vehicles driving up the road reached Alex’s ears. He grabbed a handful of snow and clenched it in his fist. “I feel horrible for how I’ve treated you.”

  “Yet I’m still here,” Kalia said. A smile lifted the corners of her eyes. “And I’m not going anywhere.”

  Alex barely dared to ask, “What are you waiting for?”

  Kalia’s smile deepened. “For you to get your head straight and realize that someone cares about all the things you’re going through. I’m not going to give up on you, Alex.”

  Alex wanted to tell her that things were different. He didn’t feel the same way she did. He used to; at least he thought he did, but it wasn’t that way anymore. He didn’t know how to put it into words without hurting her. He didn’t want to be the one to cause the sorrow in her eyes. She deserved to be happy. He truly cared about her, just not the way she looked back at him.

  Her eyes glowed and her cheeks were rosy from the cold. There was warmth in her gaze as she studied him sitting on the top step with the suitcase in between them. He knew she wanted to hug him and maybe kiss him on the cheek or more before she left. He didn’t know how to tell her that it wouldn’t matter, that it would be
like the kiss of a friend, not the boyfriend who would pine away after her while she was gone.

  “Kalia, I need you to know that—”

  “The cars are here, Alex. My mom’s going to be upset if I’m late.” Kalia stood just as the doors behind them opened and Boris brushed past her.

  Kalia’s brother turned and glared at Alex. He nodded toward his sister, then closed his hand into a fist threateningly without saying a word.

  When Kalia turned back around with her suitcase in her hand, Boris walked away as though nothing had happened.

  “I’ll see you when the break is over,” Kalia said. She kissed Alex on the cheek. “Hopefully you’ll be ready to ask me to a certain dance when I get back.”

  Her eyes sparkled with anticipation for a brief moment before she turned and joined the crowd of students hurrying down the steps.

  Alex watched after her, following the white hood of her thick coat as she joined Boris at the limousine. Her mother motioned for them to climb inside. Kalia waved as though she knew Alex would be watching her, then disappeared into the car after her brother.

  “At least life will be simpler for a while,” Trent said, stopping near Alex’s elbow.

  Alex glanced at his friend. “How so?”

  Trent ran a hand over his buzzed head. “One less unstable werewolf ready to flip out.”

  Alex chuckled. “You’re left with the most unstable one.”

  Trent grinned in reply. “Says who?”

  Alex opened the door and let Trent pass inside. He glanced back one more time to see the limousine leading the way back through the gate.

  ***

  Alex made his way outside early the next morning for his usual run with the train. He was a bit late due to Cook Jerald’s amazing pancakes. Dray and Gem had sat at Pack Jericho’s table, and they got into a debate as to whether flapjacks and pancakes were the same thing.

  Anticipation for the run made Alex smile. He was about to pull off his shirt when he heard footsteps, many of them. He gritted his teeth as he turned slowly around.

  “Where you off to?” Torin’s easy tone was belied by the tightness around his eyes as he and his pack walked through the gate.

  “Just going for a run,” Alex replied, taking a few steps back to keep them all in sight.

  Pack Torin spread out on either side of him.

  “I think that’s just what we wanted, too. Wasn’t it, mates?”

  The pack laughed at their Alpha’s words. Sid cackled the loudest. He cracked his knuckles and grinned at Alex like a maniac.

  “We definitely wanted a run. And you know what a run needs, Alex?” Sid’s eyes narrowed. “Something to chase.”

  Alex’s blood ran cold. He couldn’t take on the entire pack by himself, and out in the woods, accidents happened. He had no doubt Torin carried a grudge about Kalia. The Alpha planned to get even.

  “Better start running,” Torin suggested.

  Alex tore off his shirt and leaped. He phased into a wolf before his paws touched the ground, and he took off running through the trees that had been his playground since he was little.

  The sound of werewolves phasing and chasing him spurred him on faster. He usually conserved his energy until the train, but if he could lose most of the pack, he might have a chance to circle back around and reach the safety of the Academy. There was no way Torin’s entire pack would attack him with the rest of the students as witnesses. Werewolves had honor; at least Torin’s honor applied when other werewolves were around to see it.

  Alex’s heart stuttered. He clenched his jaw, willing it to steady. Having his heart fail when Pack Torin chased him would be the worst possible thing that could happen. He had to stay strong. The sound of paws on the snow closed the gap between them. He forced his muscles to hold. He had to make it back to the Academy.

  His heart stuttered again. It was sooner than it usually started to falter, though the adrenaline of being chased by a blood-thirsty pack definitely didn’t help. Alex ducked his head, forcing his paws faster.

  A thought occurred to him. If he couldn’t outrun the pack with his unsteady heart, he might be able to lose them another way. It was a shot in the dark, but would be better than feeling the fangs that were hot on his heels.

  Alex galloped toward the clearing. Before he could reach it, his heart stuttered again and his legs gave out, sending him rolling into a tree. His side slammed into the trunk and his breath was forced out in a painful gasp. Alex gave a shallow, testing breath. The answering pain let him know that his ribs were bruised but not broken.

  A bark sounded. Alex got up just as Sid and Torin appeared. Howls of victory tore from their throats. Alex sped away with the werewolves only a few feet behind. He had to breathe in shallow gasps as he fought to push himself faster. He would only have one chance.

  Alex burst into the clearing and headed straight for Professor Colleen’s obstacle course. Nobody had made it to the top. If he could just clear the lower obstacles, he might be able to leave the wolves behind.

  Alex hit the ramp without slowing. His paws scrambled in the snow, but he pushed himself up. Torin’s teeth snapped shut inches from his back foot. He pulled it up and cleared the ramp. Torin and Sid slid back down. Both wolves took running leaps at the ramp again. Alex knew it was only a matter of time before they made it.

  He focused on the rope net, setting one paw carefully on the rope before moving the others. He hooked his front paws over the ropes to better stabilize himself and inched along. He heard Torin and several others reach the top of the ramp, but refused to look back. He was almost to the other side of the rope net before it began to shake. He kept careful focus, hooking his front paws, then working the back ones. He finally reached the other side.

  A glance back showed four members of Pack Torin starting the rope net. When one moved, the net would shake and the others scrambled for stability. Alex was grateful he had been able to cross alone.

  Alex set his paws carefully on the next challenge, remembering his last attempt to cross the logs with bearings. He wouldn’t have his pack ready to assist him if he got stuck again. Keeping that in mind, he worked his way across with small steps. When the logs began to turn, he stopped, willing them to remain stable. He could hear wolves reaching the other side of the rope net. If any tried to cross the logs, he would fall for sure.

  Alex was close to the other end when he felt the logs move under someone else’s weight. He gathered his feet beneath him and sprang. His front paws hit the platform, but his back paws slipped off. He scrabbled against the snow-covered wood. His claws finally found purchase and he was able to pull himself up.

  Alex’s heart thundered in his chest. He didn’t look back this time. Determined to make it to the top where Torin couldn’t reach him, Alex set his paws carefully on the next obstacle, the wooden beams with the hole in the middle. Making sure his paws didn’t slip on the slick surface, Alex shuffled slowly, moving one side, then the other in a skiing type motion. He fought back a grin at the thought of a werewolf skiing in wolf form. If he suggested it, Trent would no doubt come up with a way for it to happen.

  One of Alex’s back paws slipped. He braced with his other three paws and willed his mind to focus. If he fell to the snow that was getting further below, Pack Torin would be on him like, well, like wolves on prey. Already, several members circled beneath him, barking and whining for him to fall.

  Alex reached the platform and caught his breath. He had never passed the next challenge. The rising wooden beams had barely enough room to land and turn around. Colleen and Rafe usually kept them cleared, but with school out for the break, snow covered each platform, making footing uncertain at best.

  Maybe he had made it far enough. Alex looked back and was surprised to see Sid and Justice reach the end of the turning logs. They wouldn’t give up with their target so close. He had no choice.

  Alex backed up a few paces, then ran and leaped. He landed on the first platform and was surprised to find that the snow
cushioned his impact, making it easier to stop instead of sliding off the platform. He remembered the rough grains of the wood from the first time he encountered the obstacle. It had enough traction to keep the snow from being slippery. The snow had actually made the obstacle easier instead of more difficult.

  Alex leaped to the next platform. He knew that if the obstacle was easy for him, Sid and Justice would be close behind. He had no idea where Torin had gone, but if he failed, the Alpha would no doubt be there to make sure he knew what a bad mistake it had been.

  Alex reached the top of the rising platforms. He had never been so high on the obstacle course. The snow was far below. The sight of the wolves milling around barking for his blood sent a chill up his spine. He turned to the next obstacle.

  Wooden panels balanced on poles spread before him on an incline. He put a testing paw on the first one. It tipped sideways with the weight. If he didn’t center himself properly with his weight on both sides of the panel, it would spin vertical and he would plummet to the ground.

  A growl came from behind him. Alex’s heart slowed at the sight of Sid reaching the middle of the inclined platforms. The gray wolf flattened his ears and growled again. Apparently Sid had decided that the obstacle course would be a great place to continue their rank duel. As much as Alex relished the thought of pummeling Sid once more, if the Second managed to push him off the course to the ground, Alex would no doubt pay severely. He turned his attention back to the platforms.

  Placing his front paws on the left side and his back on the right proved too risky. He couldn’t gauge the distances between front and back, and moving to the next platform meant shifting his weight, a dangerous thing when the platform pivoted at the slightest change.

  Alex stepped off the platform again. He could hear Sid getting closer, every leap lessening the gap between the two Seconds. The scent of Sid’s eagerness drifted with his sour smell. Alex grimaced. He set his front paws on the rocking platform and carefully worked his way forward until he could put his back paws on as well. There was a breathtaking moment when he had one back paw on and was hurrying to put the second one down. The platform slid left, then slowly righted itself until Alex was standing straight again.