by Cheree Alsop
“It’s not Todd’s fault he has to chase Jordy all over the nursery to get his clothes on,” Elizabeth pointed out. She gave a fake yawn, covering her mouth with a dainty hand. “I don’t know how anyone can keep up with those two rascals.”
Kalia caught Alex’s gaze and rolled her eyes. Alex smiled in return.
Breakfast went rather quickly with the younger children begging their elders to hurry so they could run into the sitting room to see what presents waited for them under the tree. Even Kalia was caught up in the excitement. Alex trailed behind. He knew not to expect anything. He was a stranger to the house, and longed to be back with Cassie at the Academy where the familiarity of the holiday and a family to share it with was enough of a gift.
Mr. Dickson waited for him near the door to the sitting room.
“We didn’t expect you to be with us,” he began by way of explanation for the lack of presents.
“It’s okay,” Alex replied. “I really don’t need anything.”
“Just the same,” Mr. Dickson said. “Here’s a little token of my appreciation for the other night. This one can switch from manual to automatic. I’d recommend the automatic for starters.”
He took Alex’s hand and set something in it. Alex stared down at the set of keys on his palm.
“Take it for a joy ride,” Mr. Dickson said.
Alex looked up at him. “You know I’m fifteen, right?”
Mr. Dickson shrugged. “Anyone who can take on four adult men by himself is old enough to drive in my book.”
“What if I wreck it?” Alex asked.
Mr. Dickson chuckled. “I’ll just report it stolen.”
At Alex’s hesitation, Kalia’s father gave him a push toward the garage. “Go on. Be back by lunch.” He paused. “Try not to destroy it. It’s one of my favorites.”
Alex walked numbly in the direction Mr. Dickson had indicated. He pulled open the door to the garage. The lights turned on automatically and he stared. Henry had shown him the cars on their tour through the house, but at that time they were only vehicles, not something Alex had been given ownership of for the next four hours. He wondered which one Mr. Dickson had deemed fit for a stranger.
The key was red and had a horse on its hind legs in gold on the side. Alex may have been sheltered at the Academy, but he still knew the symbol for a Ferrari when he saw one. Sure it was a joke, Alex searched for a car to fit the symbol. With a start, he found himself staring at a bright red Ferrari that looked as though it had never been driven in its life.
The side garage door slid up. Alex squinted at the sudden sunlight. Boris stood near the door.
“I think this might be a mistake,” Alex said uncertainly.
“Own it,” Boris replied. “If Dad gave you the key, you can’t go back inside until you’ve driven it.”
Alex stared at him.
Boris indicated the car. “Drive, Alex,” he said in a tone that left no room for argument.
Alex opened the door. He carefully sat down on the black leather seat afraid of accidentally scratching it. The crisp smell of a new car filled his nose. “You sure about this?” he asked.
“Is this your first time driving?” Boris asked with a smirk. At Alex’s nod, he grinned. “Then I’m sure. Put the key in, turn it on. Okay, now push the start button.”
Alex pushed the starter. The engine roared to life. He stared, amazing at the rumble that came from beneath the hood. He put his left foot on the left pedal and pushed it. Nothing happened. He put his right foot on the other pedal. The engine roared. Alex quickly took his foot off.
“You need to put it in gear,” Boris explained, sliding into the passenger seat. At Alex’s blank look, Boris pointed down. “Put your right foot on the brake, the one on the left.”
“Shouldn’t I use my left foot because it’s on the left?”
Boris shook his head. “You don’t use your left foot at all.”
“Why not?”
Boris stared at him. “You just don’t, okay? Do you want to drive?”
Alex nodded.
“Okay, then put your right foot on the brake.”
Alex did as instructed.
“Pull the paddle next to your right hand.”
As Alex let off the brake, the car began to move forward. A smile crept across Alex’s face.
“It’s in automatic right now,” Boris said, reaching for his seatbelt. “We’ll work on manual shifting later. For now, I’m going to try to survive this. Put your seatbelt on. You may be a werewolf, but rolling a Ferrari is a bit more painful than you might expect.”
Alex clicked the belt on and glanced at him. “You sound like you’re talking from experience.”
“Let’s just say I’m amazed Dad’s letting you drive the new one,” Boris said, emphasizing the new.
Alex smiled as he drove carefully down the driveway.
“Jordy can run faster than this,” Boris pointed out.
Alex stepped on the gas. The tires spun, then caught, jerking them forward with a speed that took Alex by surprise. It was only with his werewolf reflexes that he was able to keep the car from slamming into a tree. He pulled it back onto the long driveway with his heart thundering in his chest.
Boris gave a surprised laugh. “I can’t believe you did that.”
Alex didn’t know if he referred to almost wrecking the car, or saving it. Either way worked. He gave a tight laugh. “I know, right?”
He turned his concentration to the road. As they drove through the city, Alex ignored the urge to brake with his left foot. Eventually, he got used to using the right for everything. They soon made it through the city limits and left the houses and buildings far behind.
“We should just keep going,” Boris said after a long while of companionable silence had passed.
Alex glanced at him, wondering if the werewolf was joking.
“We could drive on forever, or until the gas runs out,” Boris continued. He linked his fingers behind his head, his gaze out at the expanse of land that stretched on before them. “There’s got to be somewhere in this world that isn’t crowded with fences, buildings, or stop signs.” He looked at Alex. “Or humans.”
“It’s not that bad,” Alex said.
“Oh, really?” Boris replied. “You’ve been sheltered at the Academy the last seven years. You get one taste of my home life and you think that’s it?” Boris’ voice became passionate. “Don’t you realize there’s a reason all those werewolves go to Red’s warehouse to phase? We’re still number one on the humans’ hit list. They fear us, and so they kill us. It’s that simple.”
Alex shook his head, surprised at the turn the conversation had taken. “I don’t think it’s that simple.”
“Really?” The disbelief in Boris’ voice colored the air. “Hasn’t Drogan taken a personal interest in wiping you and your sister from this world?” At Alex’s stunned look, Boris gave a humorless smile. “Students talk, Alex. A human has been trying to kill you, and yet you don’t believe it’s that bad? Maybe you need to value your life a bit more.”
“But your parents are human,” Alex pointed out.
“And they remind me of it every time I come home,” Boris replied angrily. “We’re different, Alex. We’re beasts, and you don’t believe humans see the need to wipe us from this earth even after the genocide and everything you’ve been through. I don’t get it.”
“It’s not that,” Alex protested. He waved his hand, indicating the town they were driving through. “I have a hard time believing that all humans want to kill us. I doubt it’s their main agenda.”
“You don’t think they’d shoot you on sight if you phased in front of them?” Boris pressed.
Alex hesitated.
“See,” Boris replied smugly. “We’re monsters. Humans fear monsters. Humans kill what they fear. It’s that simple.”
Alex carefully turned the car around in a small church parking lot. He didn’t trust his skills enough to do it on the main road, even with the
lack of traffic that early on Christmas morning.
“I choose to believe there’s good out there,” Alex said quietly after a few minutes of silence had passed.
Boris snorted. “Good for humans; not good for werewolves.”
“Believe what you want.”
Several more minutes went by. Finally, Boris shook his head. “Seriously, dude. After all your family’s been through, why keep believing that there’s good left to be found? They killed your brother and your parents. Jet became a martyr for us, someone to rally behind because he wasn’t afraid to lay down his life to protect those he cared about. Did the humans spare him? No.”
Alex winced at the sharpness of Boris’ tone.
“They slaughtered most of the werewolf race,” Boris continued. “We need to be prepared to fight back and establish our place in this world. We shouldn’t have to hide the rest of our lives.”
“We should be able to live together in peace.”
Boris stared at him. “Jaze thought so. Remember what happened when he told the world about werewolves? Even his allies turned against us.”
“I don’t believe every human had a gun.”
“Yeah, well I believe that the ones who did more than made up for those who didn’t,” Boris replied. “That includes my family.”
Alex stared at him. “My family killed your family.”
“And vice versa, I’m sure,” Boris said sullenly. “In war, all the sides begin to look alike, especially when you suddenly find yourself an ally for the other side.” The Alpha looked out the window, the reflection of his expression dark. “I phased right after my seventh birthday party. It was a full moon that night. Luckily, Mom hadn’t been thrilled with the idea of a sleepover and sent everyone home after Jonathan sleepwalked and peed in the fridge.” He snorted. “Who would have thought such an act saved all their lives.”
Boris glanced at Alex. “I have no doubts what my father would have done to protect his family against rumors that he had werewolves for kids. I thought he was going to kill me. I remember not knowing what was going on, then suddenly being a wolf. I stared up at him, filled with fear. He took a step toward the rifle he kept above the living room door.” The bitterness of his voice twisted his face. “He actually took a step toward the gun. Then Mom set a hand on his arm. He took one last look at me and stormed from the room. That was the last time I ever felt like my dad really saw me.”
“But he protects you,” Alex said quietly. “He didn’t want you to go the other night because he didn’t want you involved in the trouble he had made for himself.”
“He said that?” Boris asked with a brush of surprise in his voice.
Alex nodded.
Boris gave a noncommittal huff and leaned back against the seat.
“It must be nice living at the Academy,” Boris said above the hum of the wheels over the pavement and the roar of the well-timed engine.
“Sometimes,” Alex replied. He tipped his head to indicate the buildings flying past them. “But wolves weren’t meant to stay behind walls.”
“Beats getting shot at.”
Alex nodded. The scar from the bullet wound in his thigh gave a reminding throb. “Yes, it does.”
He pulled carefully down the Dicksons’ driveway. Henry met them outside the garage.
“I’ll park it, sir,” he said, opening the door for Alex.
“I can try,” Alex replied. At Henry’s look, he laughed. “Just kidding. I’ve been lucky so far. I don’t want to push it.”
Henry winked. “This is my only chance to drive it, so you’re doing us both a favor.”
Alex grinned and stepped aside so the servant could slide onto the seat.
“One could get used to this,” Henry said.
“I know what you mean,” Alex told him. They both laughed.
Chapter Twenty-eight
Cassie ran outside the second the limousine pulled up in the Academy courtyard. Alex laughed when he stepped from the car and she threw her arms around his neck.
“I missed you so much!” she exclaimed.
“See,” Boris said to Kalia as they climbed out behind Alex. “It’s normal for brothers and sisters to actually get along.”
“I like our way better,” Kalia replied, punching Boris in the arm.
“Me, too,” he said with a good-natured grin. “Should I flush your favorite shirt down the toilet?”
“If you do, your brush will follow,” Kalia retorted.
Alex and Cassie stared at Boris. The big Alpha shrugged. “So I have a good brush.” He ran a hand through his white-blond hair. “Got to keep this looking good.”
Kalia rolled her eyes.
Alex laughed. “Let’s get inside. I’m starving.”
He and Cassie were about to hurry in when he noticed Kalia struggling with her suitcase.
He took it from her and hefted it easily with his werewolf strength. “After you, ladies.”
Kalia and Cassie exchanged a look. Cassie laughed. “Apparently going home with you has been good for him.”
Kalia smiled back. “We’ll see how long it lasts. They’re all animals out here.” Both girls burst into laughter.
“Alright, alright,” Alex told them. “Get inside.”
They ran ahead of him as he and Boris carried the luggage.
“Girls,” Boris said with a shake of his head.
Pack Jericho met them in the common room.
“Good to see you survived the holiday,” Jericho told him, slapping Alex on the back.
“You, too,” Alex replied. “Any excitement while I was gone?”
“Trent managed to blow up a wall in Professor Mouse’s chemistry lab,” Terith told him.
“Terith!” Trent rebuked her. “You promised you’d keep that a secret!”
“The whole school felt it,” Jericho replied to save Terith from her brother’s wrath. “It took them two days to clean all the walls.”
“What were you doing?” Alex asked. “We don’t even have chemistry this term.”
Trent gave an embarrassed shrug. “I was trying to perfect a formula for a high-nitrogen chemical fertilizer to use in Professor Dray’s greenhouses. He said he would give me extra credit.” Trent blushed. “But I had a little accident involving tipping over the Bunsen burner.”
“He was flirting with Cherish,” Terith put in.
“Raynen’s Second, really?” Jericho replied interestedly.
Trent waved his hand. “That’s beside the point! Anyway, the flame accidentally ignited the ammonium nitrate mixture and the rest is still being scrubbed off the walls.”
“It stinks in there,” little Caitlyn said with a giggle.
Alex grinned. “Sounds exciting. So Cherish, huh?”
“That’s not the point!” Trent argued. Everyone laughed.
“Amos and Parker got into a fight,” Jericho said. “Apparently Pack Boris had a hard time not fighting the entire holiday with their Alpha gone. Parker told Amos he couldn’t have any of the cookies they were serving with Christmas dinner because he wanted Amos to clean the toilets in Pack Boris’ quarters.”
Alex tried to picture the huge werewolf fighting Parker. “I can guess who won.”
Jericho nodded. “Amos broke Parker’s other arm, then ate his own cookies and Parker’s. I’m glad I don’t have to sort that one out.”
Alex shrugged. “Maybe Boris will let Amos be in our pack again next year.”
“We can hope,” Jericho replied.
Alex put his things back in his room. He stood there for a moment breathing in the familiar scents. It felt so good to be home.
Alex began to unpack his suitcase.
“Have you seen Jaze?” Alex asked when Cassie’s familiar footsteps paused in the doorway along with another set he recognized.
“We haven’t,” Tennison replied.
Cassie smiled. “I’m sure he’s enjoying some family time with Nikki and baby William during the holidays.”
Alex nodded. “I c
an’t blame him.” He picked up something from his bag. “Want to go with me to give this to Meredith?”
Cassie’s eyes widened when she took the object from Alex. It was a snow globe with a family of wolves inside. They lounged in a snow-laden forest. One of the pups was tackling another while the parents relaxed beneath the trees.
“It’s beautiful,” Cassie exclaimed.
“Think she’ll like it?”
“She’ll love it,” his sister gushed. “Let’s go give it to her.”
“I’ll catch you afterwards,” Tennison said.
To Alex’s surprise, Cassie stood on her tiptoes and kissed the skinny werewolf on the cheek. “Okay, see you soon.”
She skipped out of the room ahead of Alex.
He looked at Tennison. The werewolf had the presence of mind to look somewhat abashed. “Uh, sorry about that. She’s a bit free with her affection.”
Alex tried not to let it bother him. “That’s okay. I’m glad you two are happy.”
Tennison nodded. “I’m not going to hurt her; don’t worry.”
Alex gave him a level look. “I’m trusting you.”
Tennison nodded again. “You saved my life. I’m not going to stab you in the back.”
“Thanks,” Alex said, though worry for his sister still lingered around the edges of his mind.
“You coming, Alex?” Cassie called from the common room.
“I’d better go,” Alex said. He hurried from Tennison, sure it would do him good to put some space between himself and his sister’s chosen boyfriend for the moment.
He followed Cassie down the stairs to the medical wing. They found Meredith in the back mending a rip in a hospital gown. Meredith’s smile lit the room when she saw the twins enter.
“No matter how careful you tell werewolves to be with these things, they just don’t know their own strength,” Meredith said, putting her sewing aside to embrace the siblings. “It’s so good to have you back, Alex.”
“Good to be back,” Alex replied.
When Meredith let them go, Cassie cleared her throat pointedly.
“Oh, uh, we brought you a Christmas present,” Alex said quickly.
Cassie put it in her aunt’s hands.
