by Cheree Alsop
“You helped all of them,” Cherish explained, gesturing to the voices spilling down the hall. “When they heard you howl, they wanted to make sure you were alright. They want to show their support.”
“You don’t have to get up,” Tanner said, his voice apologetic. “We can tell them to leave.”
He turned to do just that.
Alex took a calming breath and rose to his feet using the windowsill for assistance. “No. It’s okay.”
Tanner hesitated near the hallway. “Are you sure?”
Alex nodded. “They came to check on me. That should count for something. I should be grateful they care.”
Tanner hurried to his side and ducked under his arm. As much as Alex would have preferred not to have help, he had only slept for perhaps an hour and his wounds were still raw.
“Thanks,” he told the teenager quietly.
“Don’t mention it,” Tanner replied. “Thanks to you, Sarah’s home. Ask for anything and it’s yours.”
“You’re changing things, Alex. You’re not just the Demon anymore,” Cherish said, her voice warm. “You’ve made an impact on everyone in Greyton. You’re changing it for good.”
The truth of Cherish’s words was apparent when Alex stepped into the hallway. Boys and girls of all ages looked up at Alex’s appearance. Faces were filled with gratitude and tears showed in many eyes. Alex was suddenly conscious of the bruises, healing wounds, and scars that covered his bare torso. He wished he had thought to throw on a shirt.
The crowd parted and the blonde girl from the back of the truck at the Fivers’ stepped forward. “I’m home thanks to you,” Abby said. She crossed to Alex and gave him a gentle hug. “I was so scared,” she whispered so only he could hear. “I was afraid they were going to kill me.”
“You were very brave,” Alex replied.
She stepped back, her eyes damp and a big smile on her face. “You helped me be brave,” she said.
“Does it hurt?”
Alex looked down to see a little boy close to Jake’s age standing near the door. He held the hand of an older student Alex recognized from a gas station when he had prevented a robbery.
Alex crouched gingerly so that he was eye level with the boy. “What was that?” he asked.
The boy pointed at his chest. “Does it hurt?”
Alex smiled. “Only when I breathe.”
The boy smiled back, his brown eyes huge in his little face. The boys and girls around them smiled, too.
“You helped Jeffy get home,” the little boy said, looking up at his older brother.
The boy held out a hand. Alex stood and shook it. “Glad I could help.”
“He had a gun to my head,” the teenager said. The shock of what he had been through was still audible in his words. “You jumped the counter and took him down without even hesitating. He could have killed you.”
“If I hesitated, he would have killed you,” Alex said, remembering.
The boy nodded. “I owe you my life.”
Alex shook his head. “I did what I did because I could. We can all make a difference, even if it’s just in the way we treat people. Just remember that werewolves aren’t as bad as we seem.”
A few laughs met his words.
“I’m not afraid of werewolves,” the little boy said.
“I’m glad,” Alex replied, tussling his hair.
A girl with short brown hair met his gaze. “You saved my sister from the Saa.”
“Mine, too,” a boy said.
“You stopped two guys who were trying to break into our apartment,” said a blonde girl Alex recognized.
“Your mother was brave,” Alex told her. “She tried to protect you. Everyone deserves to live without fear. That’s what I’m trying to give you, a city without dividing lines and terror in the streets at night.”
“You’re doing a good job,” Tanner said from the door.
“Yeah; we’re glad you’re okay,” a boy with bright red hair said from the back.
“You worried everyone,” the girl next to him seconded. “We heard your howl and everyone came to help.”
“It means a lot to me that you’re here,” Alex told them.
Several of the teenagers smiled in return.
Alex didn’t know what else to say. Their presence showed him just how much his actions had impacted Greyton. The fact that a single howl had brought so many of them to the Summers’ door made him speechless.
“We’ll, uh, let you get some rest,” a boy with dreadlocks said.
“Yeah,” a girl he recognized from the Saa said. “You deserve to take it easy. Just know that we’re here if you need us.”
“Thank you,” Alex told them. “It means a lot to me.” His head swam as he fought to catch up with everything that was happening.
“Take care, Alex,” Tanner said, patting his shoulder on the way past.
“Yeah, don’t worry about a thing,” Josh said. “We’ll keep the streets safe while you recover.”
Alex watched wordlessly as they flooded back down the hallway.
“I’m so sorry, Alex,” Cherish apologized, closing the door when he made it back inside. “I didn’t think about how it would be if you awoke with all of these people here. They were so worried about you. Everyone wanted to make sure you were okay, especially after all you’ve done for them. You’re a hero, Alex.”
“I’m just a werewolf,” Alex replied quietly. He shook his head. “I guess I figured they’d still be afraid.”
He sat back on the blanket that had been spread beneath the rectangle of moonlight.
“It’s hard to fear something you owe your life and safety to,” Cherish replied. “You’ve given people their lives back.”
Alex settled onto his back in the moonlight. Despite the pain in his ribs, he found he could breathe easier. He didn’t know if it was the fast healing of a werewolf, the unexpected meeting in the hallway with the humans he had impacted, or both, but he felt lighter and the pain didn’t bother him as much.
“Goodnight, Alex. Let me know if you need anything,” Cherish said. She reached up and turned off the hallway light.
“Goodnight, Cherish. Thank you,” Alex replied.
He fell back to sleep with a smile on his face.
Chapter Fifteen
The next evening, Alex sat at the table between Cherish and Tanner. Mrs. Summers had finished her shift at the diner and invited them all over for lasagna. Sarah and Jen were busy telling everyone about the upcoming dance at school. They were excited about dress colors and the fact that the dance was girls’ choice.
“Who are you asking?” Mrs. Summers asked her daughter.
“Oh, Mom,” Cherish replied, rolling her eyes. “You know I’m not going.”
“You don’t like dances?” Alex asked.
Tanner and Josh burst out laughing.
“Shut up,” Cherish scolded with a smile.
“She wouldn’t be caught dead at a dance,” Tanner said.
“I really think you’d like it if you tried,” Jen said, giving her a big smile. “It couldn’t hurt.”
“It could,” Cherish answered shortly. “I’ve got a biology test to study for and a midterm in AP Chemistry. I want to get into a good college.”
“Me, too,” Sarah said, spearing a piece of lettuce with her fork. “But I want to have fun before I get there, too.”
“I also have a shift at the hospital. I need to get all of my hours in before finals week,” Cherish said as if hoping the explanation would get them off her back.
“Well, I just think that you deserve to go to a few dances before you graduate,” Mrs. Summers said. “I want pictures of my little girl all dressed up to hang on our wall.”
“I know, Mom,” Cherish replied. “Maybe next time.”
A sound caught Alex’s attention. He turned his head, searching for the source. He realized it was coming from the small headset he had removed from his helmet and kept plugged in near the window.
Al
ex rose from the table and unplugged it.
“Alex?” Trent called, his voice frantic. “Alex, are you there? Alex, I need you!”
“Trent, what’s going on?” Alex asked.
“Oh, thank goodness,” Trent breathed. “Alex, we’re under attack.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat. “What? By whom?”
“Drogan, Alex. His men are on their way. Our drone spotted them in Haroldsburg.”
Alex grabbed his spare hoodie from the back of the couch. “I’m leaving right now.”
“Professor Mouse says our position is defensible, but Drogan knows the Academy is protected by only the professors. Mouse upgraded the security at the gate and on the road, but we’re worried about what happens if they break through. We can’t give them that chance, and the drone shows so many of them.”
“I can attack them from behind. If I can convince them that I have more strength with me, maybe I can get them to run. I’ll be there soon.”
“Be careful, Alex.”
“I will,” Alex promised.
He glanced back and realized everyone was watching him.
“What’s going on?” Tanner asked, already standing.
“The Academy’s under attack. Drogan’s going to kill the students,” Alex explained quickly, shoving open the window by habit. “I’ve got to go help.”
“You’re not going alone.”
Alex paused and looked back at Josh. The human was pulling on his coat.
“I can’t ask you to do that,” Alex replied.
“You didn’t. You don’t get a choice,” Tanner said.
Alex stared from the boys to Mrs. Summers. “What do you need?” she asked, her voice determined.
Alex thought quickly. The idea of putting humans at risk to save the Academy twisted wrong in his chest, but if he could figure out a way to do it without anyone getting hurt, it might be the chance the Academy needed.
“We need cars,” he said. “If we can show enough force, maybe Drogan will run.”
“Done,” Josh answered firmly. He pulled out his cellphone. Sarah and Jen began sending messages on theirs.
“Only involve our friends who already know Alex is a werewolf,” Tanner told them. “If everyone who came last night can find a vehicle, we might be able to make a difference.”
“Who came last night?” Mrs. Summers asked.
“Friends,” Cherish said. “They were worried about Alex. It was okay.”
At Mrs. Summers’ concerned look, Alex nodded. “They were showing support.” The thought of all of the students in the hallway following him to the Academy filled him with hope. “This just might work.” Another thought struck him. “I’ve got to go somewhere.”
“We’ll meet you at your motorcycle in ten minutes,” Cherish promised.
“It might be too dangerous,” Mrs. Summers said.
“If we can show enough force, we might be able to get them to leave the Academy without anyone getting hurt,” Tanner told her. “We’ve got to try.”
“I’m going with you,” Cherish’s mother insisted.
Alex ducked out the window and hurried down the fire escape. He shoved his helmet on and climbed onto the motorcycle. Kicking it into gear, Alex flew down the road.
“Anders,” Alex called, shoving open the door to the tattoo parlor.
The werewolf appeared from around the corner. “Alex, what’s going on?”
“I need your help. The Academy’s under attack. I need bodies, vehicles. We need a show of force to scare Drogan away before they hurt the students.”
Alex realized the three human tattoo artists who worked at the parlor were listening as well. He wondered if he had made a serious mistake.
The tall, skinny man with chains tattooed down both arms stood. “Don’t worry. We’ve got Anders’ back. We’ll be there.”
“Yeah, glad to help,” a woman with a shaved head and flowers tattooed along her skull told him. “We’ve got friends who will come. You helped save their kids.”
Relief filled Alex like an icy flood. “Great. Thank you.”
He rushed back outside. His breath fogged in the frigid evening air as he climbed back onto the motorcycle.
“I’ve got a human army,” Alex said into the headset.
“Great,” Trent replied. “Let’s hope it’s enough. The Black Team is on their way and the Global Protection Agency is sending a fleet, we just hope they’ll make it in time.”
“I’ll be there,” Alex promised.
Ten minutes later found Alex hurling down the road on his motorcycle. The headlights of dozens of cars followed him at speeds far greater than the road permitted. He pushed the motorcycle faster. The front tire slipped on a patch of ice. Alex let off the gas and kept the bike straight. As soon as the tires found traction, he gunned it again.
The lights of Haroldsburg appeared far faster than Alex had ever reached them before. The small town rushed by in a blur, and they were on the road to the Academy.
“Talk to me, Trent,” Alex said.
To his surprise, Jaze was the one who answered. “They’ve massed outside the gate,” the dean told him. “Brock and Mouse sent out warning shots from the helicopter. Drogan’s demanding that we either give you and Cassie up, or he’ll blow the walls.”
“What do you want me to do?” Alex asked, his heart racing as he pushed the motorcycle up the winding road.
“We’ll meet you at the hidden road with weapons for your friends. I’ll not have anyone running into a battle with Drogan unprepared. Their vehicles are blocking the road, so we’ll advance on foot.” Jaze hesitated, then said, “Are you sure you can trust the humans?”
The depth to the question said much more than the words. Alex knew Jaze had been betrayed by humans enough times to have cause to question. He was protecting his students, but so was Alex.
“I trust them,” he answered firmly.
“Alright,” Jaze said, his voice determined. “We’ll meet you at the road.”
Alex pulled off at the fork where bushes and a cleverly designed tree branch fence hid the dirt road from view. Tanner parked behind him and the rest of the vehicles followed.
“What’s the plan?” Tanner asked as soon as he reached Alex’s side.
The teenager’s breath clouded in the chilly night air, but he appeared not to notice the cold. His eyes searched the forest around them as if he expected Drogan’s men to appear at any moment. The other humans hurried up to them. Mrs. Summers held Cherish’s hand. The humans clumped together in groups, waiting with wide eyes and a faint hint of fear.
Most were high school students Alex recognized from talking with them in the Summers’ hallway. Anders’ companions and other adults waited near the back. Everyone had a reason to be there, whether Alex had saved someone they knew or them directly. The fact that so many had come filled him with hope that their mission would succeed.
“I don’t know how much you were told,” Alex said loud enough for everyone to hear. “But my school, Vicki Carso’s Preparatory Academy, is up the road. It’s an academy for werewolves.”
Whispers of shock rose at his statement. Alex held up a hand. Everyone fell immediately quiet again. “You trusted me enough to come here. I am being fully honest with you because you deserve it. A month ago, I killed General Jared Carso.” More talking erupted. Alex’s voice fell and they drew quiet to hear him. “The General killed my parents, my brother, and my friend along with many other werewolves who didn’t deserve to die. Now, his son is out for revenge against all werewolves, and I need you to help me stop him before he blows the walls and kills the students at the Academy.”
“What do you need us to do?” Josh asked in the silence that followed Alex’s words.
Alex turned toward the footsteps he heard in the forest. “My dean has weapons for you. We’re going to surround Drogan’s men from behind. At my command, start firing into the air. We’re hoping that if they think there are enough of us, they’ll have to fall back.”
/> “Won’t they run straight into us?” someone near the trees asked.
“They came by helicopter.”
Everyone turned at the sound of Jaze’s voice.
“That’s Jaze Carso,” a woman in a thick coat said.
“It’s really him!” a student exclaimed.
Jaze continued, “If we can get them to leave the same way, hopefully nobody will get hurt. That’s the goal, but we have to move quickly. Take the weapons my pack gives you and leave the safety on until Alex gives the command.”
Dray, Vance, Chet, and Caden walked through the crowd handing out guns. Fear and awe showed on the humans’ faces at the werewolves’ presence.
“This is the safety,” Vance said, showing one girl how to use her thumb to slide it off. “All of the guns are loaded with tranquilizers. Just try not to shoot each other.”
“Okay,” she replied, her voice uncertain. As soon as the huge werewolf stepped away, she showed her friends how to work their guns.
Jaze handed Alex a Glock. He shoved it into the waist of his pants.
“We either need to stall them long enough for the GPA to arrive, or chase them away through a display of force. The Black Team is flanking from the forest. Rafe’s wolves are taking up position near the gates. The older students are armed and stationed along the walls.”
“Where’re Cassie and Siale?” Alex asked.
“With your mother and the others in the Great Hall. They’re safe.”
Alex nodded. “Thank you, Jaze.”
“I’m going to head back to the gates to distract Drogan and give you time to get into position,” the dean replied quietly. “Be careful.”
“You, too,” Alex replied. He waited until Jaze and Dray disappeared back up the hidden road.
Chet nodded at Alex. “Let’s go,” he commanded.
The sound of dozens of footsteps crashing through the underbrush filled the night. Alex could smell Drogan’s soldiers. They had passed not long before. The heat of the bodies and the scent of silver in the guns made the hair on the back of Alex’s neck stand up. As Trent had said, there were many of them, possibly more than the students in the Academy and those behind Alex combined. If they didn’t succeed in convincing Drogan that they were surrounded, the Academy would be lost.
