by Cheree Alsop
Within the space of a heartbeat, Red had Alex caught in a hug even tighter that Cassie’s had been.
“You saved my daughter’s life,” Red said, his voice tight.
“Dad, let him breathe,” Siale told her dad with a small laugh, trying to push his arms away. “He just got shot.”
Red held Alex back at arm’s length and looked him up and down. “You look like crap,” he said.
Alex couldn’t help the grin that spread across his face. “Thanks to your daughter, I’m alive to feel that way. She and Kalia got the bullet out.”
Red’s eyes flicked to Kalia who waited somewhat sulkily beside her brother. “You’re Kalia?” Red exclaimed.
At Kalia’s nod, Red let out a whoop. “Mission accomplished, boys and girls!” he said loud enough that the entire warehouse couldn’t help but overhear. “Kalia is here safe and sound!”
Cheers went up through the room. Alex could hear the occupants of the now crowded operating room taking up the shouts as well. Boris actually smiled with everyone’s joy that his sister had made it back safely.
Red set a hand on Kalia’s shoulder. “When Jaze told me about his student being captured, I couldn’t stop thinking of Siale and how I felt when she was taken.” He looked at his daughter. “I never gave up looking, and I would have stopped at nothing to find you.” His gaze brightened with tears as he looked back at Kalia. “Those of us who were injured or killed saving you would gladly do it again. I’m so happy you’re here safe.”
Kalia smiled as tears trailed down her cheeks. Cassie hugged her again and Colleen followed. Soon all of the werewolves from the Academy and many more from Red’s warehouse were caught up in a huge, solemn group hug. Relief and determination filled the room. They had survived. They had accomplished their mission and the General was gone from their city, for now at least. Together, the werewolves would do all that they could to protect each other and fight as one. They were a family; they were a pack.
The werewolves from the warehouse hurried away to help those who were injured. Alex sank onto the couch, unable to stand any longer.
“Get some rest,” Jaze said, reading his exhausted expression. “We’ll do what we can to help here.”
Kalia tried to linger, but Boris pulled her away, demanding to find out what had happened after she was taken from the car.
Siale patted a pillow that rested against the arm of the couch. “Come on. You know you need it.”
Alex lay down without arguing. His shoulder throbbed, reminding him how lucky he had been. His eyes slipped closed despite his werewolf instincts that demanded he stay alert. The silver, fighting, and the flight for their lives had taken so much out of him. He felt himself drifting to sleep.
“I didn’t think it would be like that.”
Alex didn’t know how much time had passed. He opened his eyes to find Siale sitting with her back against the couch. Her brown hair fell around her shoulders in waves that brushed his bare chest. Her scent filled his nose, chasing away the smells of werewolves, bandages, blood, and dust from the warehouse.
She spoke softly as if to herself. He wondered if she thought he was already asleep.
“I kept dreaming about meeting you again,” Siale said without turning around. “I kept imagining what it would be like. You saved me down there. If it wasn’t for you keeping pressure on my wounds and fighting to help me stay awake, I would have died like the rest of the werewolves.” Her voice quivered. “I think I wanted to die.”
Alex didn’t know what to say. Hearing the pain in her voice made his chest ache. He wanted to hold her and comfort her, but didn’t know if it would be too much too quickly. He didn’t want to scare her away.
“Hearing you talk gave me something to focus on,” Siale continued. “Your words were like an anchor holding me fast in the middle of a storm that tried to pull me under until I drowned.” Her voice caught. “I-I lived through so much at that place, and I saw so much. I was ready to give up.” Her shoulders hunched as though the admission weighed her down. She leaned her forehead against her bent knees. “I’m still not sure why I survived.”
“Because I asked you to stay with me.” Alex’s words were soft, a whisper.
Siale turned to look at him. What he saw in the soft gray depths of her eyes ate at him. There was pain and a glimmer of haunted horror that reflected how he had felt when he saw his parents die. He remembered Red mentioning that he had lost both his wife and his daughter. Alex wondered if she had seen her mom killed. He swallowed against his tightening throat.
There was raw honesty in her voice when she said, “You told me you would fight for me whenever I stopped fighting. I held that in my heart and repeated it so many times it’s become a part of me. You gave me what I needed to live; you told me stories about your life. You were my lifeline, and then you were gone.” She lowered her head. “I thought I would never see you again.”
Alex didn’t care that his shoulder throbbed when he reached out to her. He put his fingers beneath her chin and lifted gently. She peered at him from her lowered eyelashes that failed to hide the tears she tried to keep from falling.
“I never stopped thinking of you,” he admitted.
“Why?” she asked and there was a tone to her voice as though the answer was the very most important thing in the world.
Alex said the truth the only way he knew how. “Because when you left, you took a part of me with you.”
Her tears broke free, slipping down her cheeks to pool on his palm.
“I’m broken,” she said, her voice wavering.
Alex lifted one corner of his mouth in a half-smile. “I don’t know where the scars end and I begin anymore.”
She set a hand so gently on his injured arm that he barely felt it, but warmth ran through the wound and straight to his soul.
“I know where you begin.”
Her words healed something inside of him, connecting things that had jagged edges and frayed ends. He sucked in a breath, accepting it, grateful for it.
She moved her hand to his cheek. His skin tingled beneath her touch. “Sleep, Alex. I’ll keep you safe.”
He closed his eyes, aware of the protector who watched over him. She was fragile and cracked, a piece of glass traced by lines ready to shatter, yet she still stood as he did. The thought calmed his heart.
“Thank you,” he whispered.
He heard her quiet outlet of breath as though she gave a small laugh without a sound. He could picture her smile touching her soft gray eyes, eyes that were no longer filled with physical pain. The hand that touched his cheek again was steady and warm.
“Thank you, Alex Carso.”
Chapter Thirty-one
Alex and Terith stood out the Dickson mansion at sunset. Kalia and Mr. Dickson waited beside them.
“Are you sure this was a good idea?” Mr. Dickson asked.
“Definitely,” Alex replied.
Boris let out a breath of defeat. “He’s wrecked it for sure.”
Kalia shook her head. “You should see him fly a helicopter.”
At that moment, the roar of a well-tuned engine caught Alex’s ears. He straightened.
“What?” Mr. Dickson asked. “Do you hear him?”
Boris nodded. Alex and Kalia exchanged a look. At the sound of things, the Ferrari was going well over a hundred miles per hour.
Trent had the good sense to slow down before he reached the road that fronted the mansion. He turned into the driveway with the biggest smile on his face that Alex had ever seen.
“There will be no living with him after this,” Terith said with a shake of her head.
Alex grinned. “I promised him he’d drive a Ferrari.”
Mr. Dickson held out his hand. “So we’re even?”
Kalia rolled her eyes. “Seriously, Dad? Letting Trent drive the Ferrari is how you repay Alex for saving my life?”
Alex chuckled. “Don’t worry, Kalia. You’re worth every penny.”
Kalia blew ou
t a frustrated breath and slugged Alex’s shoulder. She then stormed off into the mansion.
Boris leaned over to Alex. “I hear Siale’s coming to school next term.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat, but he gave a small shrug, careful not to let his feelings show. “That’s what Jaze said.”
Boris crossed his arms with a huge grin. “You’re lucky you missed the dance, but you can’t avoid my sister forever. This next term is going to be great. I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
Trent climbed out of the car and tossed the key to Alex. “That was amazing!” he exclaimed.
Mr. Dickson took the key from Alex before the werewolf could get any other ideas.
“Like I said, a promise is a promise,” Alex told his friend.
“Ready?” Jaze called from where he waited with Mouse near the helicopter.
“Ready,” Alex said. He shook Mr. Dickson’s hand, then jogged with the others to where the dean waited.
“Can I fly it?” Trent asked as the others climbed into the helicopter.
“I’ve got this,” Mouse said.
“I think we could get some more power out of this engine if you’ll let me tamper with it for a bit,” Trent said encouragingly.
“It flies just fine,” Mouse replied. He paused, then handed Trent the headset for the other seat.
“Really?” Trent asked in shock.
Mouse glanced back at Jaze. The dean shrugged. “You’d probably do better than I do.”
Trent jumped into the front seat with a huge grin. “This is the best day ever!”
Alex set a hand on the werewolf’s shoulder as he climbed into the helicopter. “You deserve it,” he said.
He sat back and watched the details of the ground get smaller and smaller. Next term was going to be interesting. He tipped his head back.
“Everything okay?” Jaze asked.
Alex smiled at the dean. “Everything’s great.” He closed his eyes and listened to the whirl of the blades as they turned toward home.
About the Author
Cheree Alsop has published over 25 books, including two series through Stonehouse Ink. She is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts and giving much appreciated critiques. Cheree is currently working as an independent author and mother. She enjoys reading, riding her motorcycle on warm nights, playing with her twins while planning her next book, and rocking out as the bass player of the band Alien Landslide.
Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great adventures, and never stop dreaming.
Check out Cheree’s other books at www.chereealsop.com
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Look for Werewolf Academy Book 4: Taken
