by Cheree Alsop
She looked up at him as they walked up the stairs together. “You’re cheesy.”
“And you like it.”
“I like it a lot,” she replied.
He sighed and stepped back. “I’d better let you get to bed. Coach Vance will be upset if I’m not in class tomorrow.”
“He better not make you work too hard. Your mom will give him a piece of her mind.”
“Don’t worry,” he reassured her. “Vance is a friend.”
He watched her walk to the door of Pack Jericho. She smiled at him and waved before closing the door behind her.
As soon as she was inside, a force slammed into him and pinned him to the wall. He struggled in Boris’ grip, but the Alpha lifted him by the throat.
“Think you’re so tough, Stray?” Boris demanded. “You don’t have everyone fooled by that act. It’s your fault my sister’s dead. You’re nothing but a murderer.”
Alex tried to pull the Alpha’s hand away, but his grip was too strong. “Boris, I’m sorry,” Alex forced out. “I know she’d be here if it wasn’t for me.”
Boris squeezed tighter, cutting off Alex’s air supply. Black pressed in at the edges of Alex’s vision. His head felt like it was going to explode.
“Alex, Siale wanted me to tell you—” Trent paused at the door to Pack Jericho’s quarters. His mouth fell open.
“You’re a waste of my time,” Boris growled. He let Alex go and stormed through the door to his rooms, slamming it shut behind him.
Alex leaned over with his hands on his knees, fighting to catch his breath. Trent hurried over and set a hand on his shoulder.
“Are you okay?”
Alex rubbed his neck as he straightened back up. “Fine.”
Trent gave him a searching look. “That didn’t look fine. It looked like Boris was trying to kill you while you’re weak.”
Alex let out a slow breath through his bruised throat. “I know what it feels like to hold all of the pain inside. He deserves to vent.”
Trent shook his head. “Not by killing you. You didn’t pull the trigger that killed Kalia, Alex.”
Alex closed his eyes, willing the pounding in his head to stop. “To him, I did.”
Trent let out a loud breath. “I’d recommend not wandering around this place alone.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Alex said.
Trent walked him to the door of Pack Torin’s quarters. The small werewolf made it a point to watch Alex close it behind him before Alex heard his footsteps walking away.
Chapter Twenty-seven
Alex was attempting to listen to Professor Mouse’s lecture in human and werewolf biology when Trent burst through the door. Every student looked up at his sudden entrance. Trent paused as if he just realized he had interrupted the lesson.
“Uh, sorry, Professor,” Trent said, not sounding the least bit apologetic in his haste. He searched the room and found Alex. “Can I borrow Alex for a minute?”
“He’s got a lot of work to do to catch up,” the professor said. “Will it take long?”
Trent shook his head quickly.
“Fine,” Professor Mouse allowed.
Alex left his books and hurried from the room. Trent was already halfway down the hall.
“Hey, wait up!” Alex called.
Trent turned so that he was walking backwards so quickly he was almost running. “Hurry! It’s worth it, trust me.”
Alex broke into a run, following Trent to Jaze’s office and through the panel. As soon as they reached the Wolf Den, Trent ran up the stairs to where Brock and Jaze already waited.
“Come on,” Trent called.
Alex grinned as he jogged up the steps after his friend.
“Are you supposed to be running around?” Jaze asked. “It’s only been a few days.”
“Yeah,” Brock seconded. “If you wear yourself out, Meredith’s already threatened to put everyone on lockdown until you get better.”
“I’m fine,” Alex replied. “It actually feels good to get moving again, and Trent said it was worth it.”
“Oh, it is,” Trent promised. “Push play, Brock.”
“I will when I’m ready,” Brock said. He shoved a couple of crackers in his mouth. “Okay, I’m ready,” he said through the mouthful. He hit a button on the keyboard in front of him.
“Good morning, citizens of Greyton City,” news reporter Cooper Peterson said with a bright smile, looking far better than he had the last time Alex saw him do a broadcast. “I have an interesting headline for you.” He picked up the sheet of paper in front of him. “Greyton High School has apparently agreed with our suggestion to improve relations between humans and werewolves. Their prom is scheduled for next weekend, and with the approval of Mayor Hendricks and the Greyton City Police Department, they have invited Alex Davies and his werewolf friends to join them.”
“What?” Alex said in shock.
“Yeah,” Trent told him. “You heard right. They want you to come for a dance, in a human school, with actual humans. Werewolves and humans, dancing together, in the school.”
“I get it,” Alex said. He shook his head. “I just don’t believe it.” He looked at the dean. “What do you think?”
“Well,” Jaze replied. “I think it would be rude not to go.”
“Really?” Alex was surprised. “You’d let werewolf students go to the prom? What about Drogan and the security risks? It’d be the perfect place for an attack, especially with all the media that’s bound to be present.”
“There are risks,” Jaze conceded. “We’ve already notified the Black Team and the GPA. We will make the area as secure as we possibly can.” He met Alex’s gaze. “But this opportunity is too priceless to pass up. Because of the steps you’ve taken, we’re being given the chance to make headway toward improving human and werewolf relationships. If the authorities of the city of Greyton are willing to take the risk, we will, too.”
Alex nodded in agreement. “It is worth it if we take the right precautions. We should only take the werewolves we can trust to handle the situation with care.”
“Give me a list of students you feel you would like to take with you, and I’ll run them by the professors,” Jaze said. “I’m sending Mouse with a team to sweep the area so we know what we’re dealing with.”
“Man, can you believe it?” Trent asked when they were walking down the hallway later. “Werewolf students at a human school dance?”
“That’s how it used to be,” Alex reminded him. “Except nobody knew they were werewolves. The hard part will be that anyone we take will be known for being part of our race.”
Trent’s steps slowed. “So they won’t be able to hide.”
Alex shook his head. “Not after this. It might be dangerous in the long run.”
“I didn’t think of it that way,” Trent said. “What do we do?”
“What Jaze told us to. We’ll make a list of students we can trust, and make sure everyone who goes knows what the danger is. I’m sure the news team will be there and possibly protestors.” He paused at the thought. “I’m not sure all of the parents are going to be thrilled about werewolves dancing with their students.”
“You mean we actually have to dance with humans?” Trent asked, trepidation suddenly filling his voice.
Alex chuckled. “Don’t worry. You can dance with Jordan.”
Trent glanced at him sideways. “You’ve noticed?”
Alex grinned at his friend. “You showed up to rescue me with Jordan at your side. That’s pretty obvious, especially since it means Jaze approved her to come with you. I take it you cleared things up?”
“Your advice was great,” Trent said. “I learned a ton about butterflies. They are actually quite fascinating! Did you know that there are over seventeen thousand and five hundred species of butterflies? Also, they are found in every continent except Antarctica, and some monarchs even migrate thousands of miles...”
“Fascinating,” Alex said, holding up a hand. “I�
�m glad learning about butterflies helped your relationship, but I think we have a task to do.”
“Oh, right!” Trent said, filled with enthusiasm. “I get to dance with Jordan. It’s going to be perfect. I wonder if she’s going to want us to match.”
“Match?” Alex asked.
“Well, yeah. There will be dresses and tuxedos, ties and corsages. I’ve always dreamed of a dance like this!” Trent grinned. “I sound just like one of the girls, but I don’t care!”
Alex listened to his friend talk about the details of the prom as they made their way back to Professor Mouse’s class. Trent was in the middle of a tirade wondering if they could get Jaze to let them rent a limo or perhaps he could just make one when Alex spoke up. “Uh, don’t you have a class right now?”
Trent glanced at the classroom. “Oh, yeah. I’m supposed to be learning about international trade and finance. Professor Thorson wasn’t thrilled when Brock called me out of class. I’d better go.” He ran up the hallway.
Alex was in Meredith’s English class when Jaze’s voice interrupted over the intercom.
“Professor Meredith, will you please sent Alex Davies to my office.”
Whispers filled the room. Meredith nodded at him.
“Stop getting into trouble,” Torin said when he walked past.
Alex shrugged. “It’s my nature.”
Torin laughed as the door shut.
Jaze was waiting outside his office. A few seconds later, Trent came running up.
“Oh good, you found him!” the werewolf breathed.
“What’s going on?” Alex asked.
“You have some visitors,” Jaze said. He tipped his head toward the front of the school.
Alex walked down the hall wondering what he would find. He reached the doors to the courtyard and stared.
Cherish and her friends from Greyton stood on the steps. As soon as Alex opened the door, she ran up and threw her arms around him.
“Thank you so much,” she said. He heard the tremor in her voice. “You saved my life.”
“It shouldn’t have been at risk in the first place,” Alex replied, filled with relief that she was alright. Jaze had told him that she made it through the hospital okay, but seeing her in person really made a difference.
“You did an amazing thing,” Tanner said.
“Yeah,” Josh agreed. “We were glued to the television. My grandfather was in the hospital and they wouldn’t let anyone close.”
“Is he okay?” Alex asked in concern.
Josh nodded. “Your werewolves got him out. He’s in the new Airdyne building they’re using as the hospital until they rebuild the one that burned.”
Alex nodded. “I’m glad I could help.” Beneath his smile, he warred with guilt. If Drogan hadn’t known he was the Demon of Greyton, the patients in the hospital wouldn’t have been in trouble. He pushed the thought down. “So, what brings you guys here? You know it’s not the best policy to show up at a school of werewolves whenever you feel like it.”
Sarah smiled. “You guys aren’t that bad.”
Alex gave her a mocking skeptical look. “Are you sure about that?”
She laughed. “Pretty sure.”
Jen cut in as though she couldn’t contain her excitement. “Did you see the invitation to the dance?”
“I did. It sounds like fun.”
Alex had to smile at the way she grabbed Josh’s hand and gave him a huge smile.
He didn’t want to stifle her enthusiasm, but he had to ask, “Are you sure it was thought through? It might bring some bad publicity to your school.”
“Why?” Jen asked. “Because we’re willing to put aside our prejudice and accept that you are normal like humans?”
“Jen, werewolves aren’t normal like humans,” Josh told her. “They’re a different race. That’s the point, though. We can accept our differences.”
Cherish nodded. “Yes, and it’s a big step for everyone. We want to make a difference.” She gave him a pleading look. “Come on, Alex. It’ll be great.”
Alex hesitated, wanting to draw out their tension, but at the anxious looks on their faces, he couldn’t keep them in suspense any longer. He nodded with a smile and relief filled their faces. “I already got it cleared with my dean. We’re looking forward to it.”
Cherish handed him a cellphone.
“What’s this for?”
“You should probably let our principal know. He was anxious to hear back,” she explained.
Alex realized she had already pressed the dial number. He could hear someone on the other end.
“Uh, hello?” Alex said, putting it to his ear.
“This is Principal Dalton.”
“Hi, Principal Dalton,” Alex said, surprised at how nervous he suddenly was. “This is Alex Davies.”
He heard the principal’s quick intake of breath. “Hello, Alex. It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I would like to thank you for your bravery at the hospital, and for bringing the girls home from the Saa.”
“I was happy to help,” Alex replied. He wasn’t sure where to go from there, and went with, “We saw the invitation to the prom. Are you sure you want werewolves at your school?”
“Don’t give him a chance to say no,” Jen scolded.
Cherish just smiled. “Don’t worry. He won’t.”
“Yes, we are,” the principal replied, his tone warm. “We want to thank you for what you did, and we would also like to be the first school to welcome werewolves with open arms.”
“I’ve cleared it with my dean. Is it alright if we bring chaperones?” Alex was worried how the principal might feel about adult werewolves in his school.
“I would expect it from any school we invite,” the principal replied. “I’m glad to hear your dean is open to the idea. Please have him give me a call and we’ll discuss the details. Our plan is to have the dance next Friday night.”
Alex thought quickly ahead and something occurred to him. “Would you mind if we changed it to Wednesday?”
Principal Dalton paused, then said, “I think that will work. Is there a reason for the change?”
Alex fought back a smile when he said, “Yes, Friday is the night of the full moon.”
The principal chuckled. “I almost ruined this thing before it even got going. Thanks for the catch.”
“No problem. We’ll see you on Wednesday and I’ll have Dean Jaze give you a call.”
He was about to hang up when the principal said, “Wait. Your dean is Jaze Carso?”
Cherish had overhead the principal’s surprise and was grinning.
“Yes,” Alex said. He figured if Principal Dalton had a problem with Jaze, he might as well get things over with before he involved his classmates. “He’s also like a father to me.”
There was a moment of silence, then the principal said, “I guess I shouldn’t expect less considering everything you’ve done for Greyton. Jaze Carso is welcome at our school.”
“Thank you,” Alex said, more relieved than he could voice. “Bye, Principal Dalton.”
“Goodbye, Alex. It was nice talking to you.”
Alex handed the phone back to Cherish feeling as though he had just been caught in a dream. Talking to a human high school principal who welcomed them with open arms was more nerve-wracking than he had thought it would be.
“I guess we’re going,” he said in answer to the expectant looks on his friends’ faces.
“Yay!” Jen and Sarah cheered.
“Are you bringing any cute werewolves?” Josh asked. Jen shoved his shoulder. “Just kidding!” he said, raising his hands in innocence.
“I think it’d be best if everyone I bring is in a couple, that way if the human students feel uncomfortable dancing with werewolves, there won’t be any awkwardness.”
Tanner nodded, but Alex caught Cherish’s crestfallen look.
He smiled, “All except for Jericho. I’m sure he’d want to go, but he doesn’t have a girl.”
; Everyone looked at Cherish. She blushed, but the smile that spread across her face was enough of an answer.
“You guys had better go. There are a few less friendly werewolves here,” he said, thinking of Boris.
“Sounds good. We’ll catch you Wednesday,” Tanner said.
Alex said his goodbyes and watch them head to Tanner’s car.
“Was that who I think it was?”
Alex turned at Jericho’s voice.
“Yes,” he answered. “You’re coming with me to a dance at Cherish’s school, and she’d like you to be her date.”
Jericho’s eyes widened and the smile that filled his face let Alex know what his answer would be.
“Is the dean okay with that?” the tall werewolf asked.
“He’s already approved it. I just need to gather the students who will cause the least amount of trouble.”
“So Boris and Torin are out,” Jericho stated.
Alex laughed. “Definitely. We’ll keep it small, just to make sure things go okay.”
“Good plan,” Jericho replied. A smile of anticipation lit his face.
Chapter Twenty-eight
The next day, Nikki and Jaze invited Alex and Siale to their wing of the Academy for breakfast. Little William insisted on sitting on Alex’s knee at the table. Alex watched with a proud smile as the two year old piled the eggs into his pancakes and took a bite.
“He eats just like you, Alex,” Jaze noted.
Nikki laughed. “Yes, he does. He refuses to eat pancakes without eggs because it’s not the way Uncle Alex does it.”
Alex laughed. “I’m glad I’m such a good influence.”
“Alec likes eggs,” William said with a huge smile that filled his big blue eyes.
“Yes, I do,” Alex confirmed, taking a bit of his own pancake egg sandwich. It was a bit difficult eating around the toddler, but he would much rather have the little boy sitting on his lap than across the table where his chair was supposed to be.
“You’re a good uncle,” Siale said from Alex’s left.
“I’m not here for him as much as I should be,” Alex told her.
“That’s true,” William said.
