by Cheree Alsop
“What makes you think we can trust him?”
She shrugged, her eyes wide as she held the crowbar tighter. “He fought Vic. Right now, that’s enough for me.”
“What’s going on over there?”
Alex’s heart slowed at the sound of a trigger being cocked. The girls scattered behind him. Alex charged at the man who appeared around the corner. The man’s eyes widened and he stumbled backwards, squeezing the trigger as he did so. The bullet drove into the ceiling.
Alex latched onto the man’s arm and ground down, forcing him to drop the gun as his bones were crushed. To his surprise, the blonde girl followed, picking up the gun as soon as it hit the ground. She aimed it at the man.
He writhed on the floor in pain, holding his bleeding arm and cursing without looking at her.
“Come on, Abby, let’s go,” one of the other girls urged.
Alex ghosted beside them as they ran up the ramp toward the exit. Shouts caught his ear from below. He heard Vic’s angry voice followed by Cruz’s. Footsteps thundered after them. The girls ran, but they wouldn’t be fast enough. More footsteps came down from above. They would be cornered like the police officers.
The girls slowed when they saw that they were trapped. Abby waved her gun, aiming first at Cruz’s group from below, then at the others who came up behind them. Alex snarled as he placed himself between them and Cruz’s men.
“Now, now, lower your gun,” Cruz said. “You can’t kill us all.”
“I can kill you,” Abby said, her eyes bright with fear as she aimed the gun at Cruz’s chest. Her fingers shook and the gun wavered even though she fought to hold it steady.
“You’re just going to end up hurting yourself,” Cruz said in a cajoling tone. “Just give me the gun and we’ll pretend this never happened.”
He took a step forward. Alex took a step forward as well. Cruz paused at the vehemence in his angry growl.
“We got off on the wrong foot,” Cruz said, raising his hands. He glanced sideways. Alex followed his gaze and saw three more gang members round the corner with machine guns. “I’d like to fix this without bloodshed.”
“Yeah, right,” Abby replied. “We’re not going back.”
“No, we’re not,” another girl echoed, her voice near hysteria. “We’ll never go back!”
Alex was prepared to attack the gunmen. If he could give the girls enough space to run, they might be able to make it past the corner to the road beyond. They were so close. He wouldn’t let them go back if he could help it.
“I hoped it wouldn’t come to this,” Cruz said. He glanced at his men. The guns were raised. Alex took a step forward. He wouldn’t have much time. His breath sounded loud in his ears.
Cruz gave a half-shrug. “I guess this is—”
“Let them go, Cruz.”
Relief washed over Alex at the sound of Officer Dune’s voice.
“I have two dozen officers up here who would like nothing more than the chance at a little revenge for Officer Smith,” Officer Dune continued. Alex could tell by the sound of numerous footsteps that the officer wasn’t bluffing.
Cruz and his men glanced at each other. At that moment, Cruz’s cellphone rang. He put it up to his ear.
“There are cops all over the garage,” the voice on the other end of the phone said. “They’re armed to the teeth.”
Cruz lowered his cellphone without speaking. He looked so angry a vein stood out along the side of his neck. He glared from the girls to Alex, then to his men. He finally motioned for his men to back up.
“I should have shot you when I had the chance,” Cruz shouted.
“Yeah, you should have,” Officer Dune replied.
As soon as the Fivers were clear, the girls ran up the ramp. Alex followed close behind, careful to keep an eye on the gang members in case Cruz changed his mind.
He was met with the sight of six police cars, an ambulance, and a concerned looking Officer Dune.
“You couldn’t have waited?” the officer demanded.
Alex watched as Abby collapsed in an officer’s arms. Now that she didn’t need to be brave any longer, she was a terrified girl who wanted nothing more than to return to her family. The other three girls looked just as eager to get way from the Fivers territory.
“I’m glad you didn’t,” Officer Dune concluded quietly. “They needed you.” He paused, then said, “I guess you’re not forced to be a wolf any longer.”
Alex realized that the sun was starting to rise. The pull of the moon had lost its strength sometime while he was in the parking garage, and he hadn’t noticed. Weariness settled around him like a blanket, and he didn’t have the moonlight to speed the healing process. He turned away and limped along the wall.
“Wait,” Officer Dune called.
Alex wondered if the officer would try to arrest him. It was a crime to be a werewolf after all. He glanced back.
Officer Dune stopped. He looked back at the officers near the mouth of the garage, and he appeared to realize the same thing Alex had. It was the officer’s duty to bring him in.
Officer Dune rubbed the back of his neck. “I need some sleep.”
Alex waited, confused by the officer’s line of thought.
Officer Dune smiled. “I suppose weariness makes us all see things, like vigilante werewolves fighting crime and defying bullets.” He shook his head. “I’m going to go get some much needed rest and relaxation.”
Alex watched the officer make his way back to his companions. The fact that the officer was alive at all made him extremely happy. Things could have gone much, much worse.
Alex limped slowly through alleys and streets in the weak light of predawn. He only scared two pedestrians by accident, and was glad when they had the sense to cross to the other side of the street and let him pass by in peace.
It was only through sheer strength of will that Alex was able to phase and pull on the black hoodie and pants he had left behind Sarah’s apartment. It took a bit more time to make it to Cherish’s. He eased the fire escape ladder down and managed to pull himself up to the landing. By the time he laid on the metal bars, he was shaking from cold and exhaustion to such an extent that he could no longer move of his own will.
“Alex?”
The sound of the window sliding up was followed by Cherish’s exclamation of, “Oh my gosh, Alex!”
“I’m...okay,” he forced out between chattering teeth.
“Mom!” Cherish called.
A few seconds later, hands slid beneath his shoulders and helped him climb inside. He collapsed below the window.
“You can’t have me here...you could get in trouble.” Alex shut his eyes, willing the warmth from the apartment to seep into his body faster.
“We don’t care about the consequences,” Mrs. Summers replied. “Come lay on the couch, darling. We need to get you warmed up.”
“I thought werewolves didn’t get cold,” Cherish said.
“We...don’t,” Alex told her through chattering teeth.
As soon as he settled on the couch, Alex felt himself slip away. The warmth after such a beating and the freezing cold made it too hard to concentrate on anything at all.
“Alex, stay with us,” Mrs. Summers said with an edge of worry.
“Trent...headset...helmet,” Alex forced out before his voice faded.
***
The sound of familiar voices pushed through the darkness. Alex couldn’t place them anywhere that they belonged together. The thought made him open his eyes.
He saw Mrs. Summers sitting on the armchair beside the couch. She held a blanket on her lap that she was sewing. Upon seeing him awake, she set it down and scooted to the edge of the chair.
“You gave us quite the fright.”
“I’m really sorry,” Alex apologized. He frowned, trying to remember what had happened. “I heard someone...”
“Someone familiar?” Mrs. Summers guessed. She smiled and called, “Jericho, Cherish, he’s awake.”
&nbs
p; “Jericho?” Alex repeated.
“Someone had to make sure you survived the morning,” Jericho said, walking in from the hallway. He smiled down at Alex. “Sounds like you had quite the night.”
Alex sat up as Cherish followed Jericho into the room. “’Morning, sleepy head.”
Alex couldn’t figure out what was going on. “How did you, I mean...”
Jericho grinned. “How am I here?”
“Your cryptic message of Trent and the headset and something about your helmet led me to talk to Trent. He sent Jericho,” Cherish explained in a way that said she was very happy about it.
Alex looked at Mrs. Summers. She gave him a warm smile, her eyes twinkling. “It’s been a good two days.”
“Two days!” Alex replied in shock.
Jericho patted Alex’s shoulder. “You had some recovering to do. I’m just glad you had the sense to make friends who don’t fear werewolves.”
“We’re pretty werewolf casual around here,” Cherish said. She shrugged. “I always knew we were dog people more than cat people.”
“Cherish!” Mrs. Summers scolded.
“It’s alright,” Jericho told her. “Alex risked his life trying to save a cat from one of the packs at our school a while back. I don’t think he’s a cat person either after that.” At Alex’s dismayed look, Jericho smiled. “Kalia told me.”
The sound of Kalia’s name brought everything back. Alex rested his head in his hands.
“I’m sorry,” Jericho said, his voice suddenly quiet. “I’m really sorry, Alex.”
Alex let out a slow breath and met his friend’s gaze. “It’s going to be okay.”
Chapter Eight
“I just couldn’t get Kalia out of my mind,” Alex said quietly. He leaned against the edge of the roof and studied the street below. “I had to do something, or I was going to go crazy.”
Jericho held Cherish’s cellphone which showed the news article from the girls Alex had rescued. They looked much better in clean clothes and back with their families.
“You saved all of those girls,” he said from his seat next to Alex on the roof.
“I’m tired of bullies and people who think they can control anyone else out of fear,” Alex replied. He fought back the urge to shiver. The hoodie shouldn’t even have been necessary, yet if he let his guard down, the cold crept in.
“Those girls were lucky you came.”
“They were brave,” Alex told the Alpha. “Braver than they should have needed to be.”
“Same with you,” Jericho said, his gaze on the horizon. “You’ve been through a lot.”
Alex’s chest clenched. He wasn’t in a stable place of mind to talk about those things. He forced a light tone. “You and Cherish seemed to hit it off.”
It was Jericho’s turn to hesitate. When he met Alex’s questioning gaze, the Alpha couldn’t fight back the smile that spread across his face. “She’s a nice girl.”
“She’s a great girl,” Alex agreed. “You couldn’t find better if you tried.”
“She said she was determined not to find a guy until she earned her doctorate.”
Alex shrugged, fighting back a small smile. “Sometimes these things happen. Don’t fight it. I can tell by the look on your face that you’re smitten by her.”
“But what if she doesn’t feel the same way?” Jericho asked with the first hint of concern in his voice.
“I know what I saw,” Alex told him. “She likes you, but give her time so you don’t scare her away. Werewolves can be pretty darn persistent. Once a werewolf finds the person who completes them, they don’t give up.”
“Like you with Siale?” Jericho asked.
Siale’s name sent a surge of want through Alex so sharp he could barely breathe. He had to call her, to talk to her, to do anything that would let him be near her again.
"Like me and Siale,” Alex agreed.
“She’s one of the reasons I’m here.”
That surprised Alex. “I thought I was the reason you’re here.”
“Trent told me you went on some hero vigilante bender and he was worried about you.” He shrugged. “I might still feel a bit of responsibility for you because you were my Second and would probably still be if it wasn’t for the crazy new term rules.” Jericho’s smile faltered and Alex felt the first shadow of worry. “But Siale’s the one I’m really concerned about.”
“What’s going on?”
“She wanders around aimlessly, like she has nowhere to go. She doesn’t laugh or smile anymore. It’s like with you not around, she’s lost her purpose.”
The Alpha’s words sent a rush of apprehension through Alex so sharp he could barely breathe. When he had spoken to Siale at the funeral, she acted like nothing was wrong. The thought that she may have been pretending she was fine to give Alex the time he needed to get through his own problems made his heart ache. Had he truly been so selfish?
He stood. “I need to call her.”
Jericho chuckled. “I’ll give you some privacy.”
“I don’t want to be rude,” Alex hedged.
The Alpha held up a hand. “You look like you’re ready to jump off this roof if it will get you to her faster. Call her before we have to fix your broken legs or something.” Jericho tossed him the headset Cherish had taken from the motorcycle helmet.
Alex waited for Jericho to head back downstairs before he pushed the button on the headset.
“Trent, you there?”
“Of course,” the werewolf replied immediately. “I’ve been on pins and needles waiting to hear whether you died or not.”
“I haven’t died,” Alex told him with a begrudging smile. “I’m feeling a lot better, actually.”
“That’s good, because according to Jericho, you looked like death warmed over when he got there, and it sounded like he was putting it lightly for Cassie’s sake because she was in the Wolf Den when he called.”
The thought of his sister worrying made Alex uneasy. “Please tell her I’m okay.”
“I already have,” Trent reassured him. He cleared his throat. “Now I assume you’ve called for a reason.”
“Can I talk to Siale?”
“There it is,” Trent said triumphantly. His voice became muffled as he turned away from the microphone. “I told you less than five minutes.”
“I’m not giving you my Twinkie.”
“We made a bet and I won.”
“I never agreed to it!” Brock argued.
“Fine.” Trent’s voice became louder again. “I’ll send the call up.” Alex could hear the smile in his friend’s voice when he said, “I installed a private line in her room because I figured you would call at random hours and wish to be paged through.”
“I appreciate your genius,” Alex said with only a hint of sarcasm.
“I know you do,” Trent replied.
The sound of Siale’s voice when she answered the phone a minute later made Alex’s knees weak. Hearing her talk filled him and reminded him at the same time how empty he was without her.
“Alex?”
He fought back a smile of embarrassment, telling himself that there was no one to see it. “Hi, Siale. I’m sorry. I’m just wondering how I was able to go this long without hearing you talk.”
“I feel the same way,” she replied, but her gentle tone softened the words.
Alex leaned against the edge of the roof and buried his face in one hand. “I just needed to talk to you, to remember...” He tried to phrase what he wanted to say, but he felt like it was all coming out wrong. “Siale, I miss you so much. I can’t go back, but without you, I’m just spinning in circles and if I don’t stop I’m probably going to do something crazier than I just did.”
“Which sounded pretty crazy,” Siale said, her tone softly musing.
Alex fought back a half laugh, half sob. “Yeah, it was,” he admitted. “But the girls are safe now.”
“Trent showed me what was on the news. You are a hero to them.”
“Yeah, but you are making a difference,” Siale pointed out. “I mean a real difference. You made a difference to those girls and their families. Do you think they’re going to forget that they owe the safety of their daughters, their sisters, their friends to a werewolf? Never.”
Alex hunched over, holding onto the headset as if it was a lifeline. “You make it sound like so much more than it was.”
“What was it?” she asked gently.
Alex thought for a moment. He remembered the helpless frustration of seeing Kalia’s body be lowered into the ground and him unable to do anything to stop it. He heard the sobs of her mother as she left her daughter at the cemetery.
“I was going to explode. I had to do something after Kalia...” He shook his head. “I can’t breathe without remembering. I can’t close my eyes without hearing the gunshot. There’s no escape, Siale.” The panic he felt welled too close to the surface. “What do I do? I hoped fighting the gangs and freeing girls from the Saa would help me cope, but the pain doesn’t go away.”
“Alex, I need to see you.”
Alex shook his head, but before he could deny her request, Siale said, “I need to know that you’re okay. You’ve got to give me that. I can’t just keep telling myself you’re fine. I need to know.”
“I’m not fine,” Alex admitted. The words were so hard to say, yet the second they left his lips, he knew they were true.
“I know,” she replied. “That’s why I need you to meet me.”
“Where?”
“Anywhere,” she said, the relief clear in her tone that he was willing. “What’s halfway? I’ll get the motorcycle from Trent.”
That brought a smile to Alex’s face. “You think he’ll let you?”
“I’ll talk him into it.”
The thought of Siale riding an unfamiliar motorcycle through the night struck Alex wrong. “I’ll meet you in the forest.”
“The Academy’s forest?” Siale asked in surprise.
“Yeah, Rafe’s forest. I’ll call you when I get there.”
“You’re leaving now?”
“Right now,” Alex said. He couldn’t help the smile that touched his face at the happiness in her voice. He was going to Siale, his Siale. “I’ll see you soon.”
