by Cheree Alsop
A gray and white form caught up to Alex’s right side. He gave Siale a wolfish grin and glanced forward again in time to see the trees give way to the wide-swept meadows below them. It was one of his favorite places, the point where the forest thinned and the valley coasted down in a blanket of wildflowers lit by the light of the full moon.
He and Siale stopped at the edge of the trees to catch their breath. They had run all night, enjoying the quiet of the forest while held in wolf form by the full moon.
Cassie and Tennison trotted up to Alex’s left side while Trent and Jordan stopped near Siale’s right. Terith and Von had stopped to catch fish in the stream. Jericho stood behind Alex, his black coat blending with the shadows. The wind danced through the leaves of the small bushes and grass high enough to brush a stag’s belly. The clover and dew scent of rabbits tickled Alex’s nose. He wanted to jump into the grass and start a hunt for the spirited creatures, but they didn’t have much time until the sun rose, and Alex was anxious to get back.
A glance at the lightening horizon said they were pushing it as it was. Alex couldn’t fight the thought of danger that whispered in the back of his mind. He didn’t want to keep his pack of friends out any later than they needed to be. Jericho gave a small huff. Alex nodded in agreement. He turned away from the beckoning meadows.
As if she read his concern and wanted to lighten the mood, Siale gave Alex’s shoulder a soft nip and darted away, beckoning him to join in the chase. Soon, all of the wolves were dashing through the trees playing tag as they made their way back to the Academy.
Nobody stood a chance when Jericho was it. Only Tennison could best him in speed, but the Alpha was faster and older, cutting past trees and leaping bushes with a strength only those with a black coat had.
Alex ran with the Alpha at his heels. Despite the other werewolves running around them, Jericho was intent on catching Alex in the final tag of the game. Alex lowered his head, determined to make it through the Academy gate before Jericho caught him. He ducked under a low-sweeping branch and juked to the left, then right, dodging trees with a skill he had achieved through much practice, yet Jericho persisted.
The thick rock walls and the iron gate loomed into sight past the trees. Alex could feel as much as hear Jericho’s pursuit. He had only one more chance to throw the Alpha off and make it through without being tagged, but it was a long shot.
When Alex jumped, he felt the minute brush of air as Jericho’s teeth barely missed his ankle. Alex landed on the lowest branch of the thick, ancient oak tree that sprawled near the Academy wall. He teetered back and forth, reminded why wolves don’t climb trees. Several feet of empty space followed before the wall. Alex glanced back and gave a wolfish grin at the look of surprise on Jericho’s face before he leaped to the wall. He gave a bark of triumph, and the Alpha answered with his own toothy grin. Alex jumped off the other side.
He yelped when he landed on the bushes he had completely forgotten about. He scrambled through the scratchy branches and managed to right himself with some dignity still intact when the wolves burst through the gate. They greeted Alex with snorts and huffs of laughter which he returned. Siale reached out with her muzzle and withdrew something from the top of his head. Alex had to grin at the sight of the branch of leaves from one of the bushes.
The werewolf students phased behind the trees and pulled on the clothes they had left there.
“Did you forget about the bushes?” Cassie asked.
“Completely,” Alex told his sister.
“We practically lived in them growing up,” she reminded him.
Siale slipped her arm through Alex’s. “It’s okay. I thought it was hilarious.”
Alex grinned at Cassie. “See? There are benefits to being a klutz once in a while.” He gave Siale a light kiss. “I’ll be your idiot.”
Siale laughed. “That’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever said to me.”
“I have a lot more where that came from,” Alex told her, pulling her close as they walked up the stairs. “I can also be your fool, your dope, or your moron.”
“My Prince Charming?”
Alex shook his head. “Way too much pressure.”
Siale’s smile made his breath catch in his throat. “At least I know where the line is.”
Alex couldn’t help himself. He pulled her close and kissed her. She stepped back with a laugh, glancing behind them. “You’re going to get us in trouble.”
“Don’t worry. Everyone else is still running around. We started early and they’re getting back late.”
“Not everyone,” Trent reminded him. “We’re still here watching you guys make out.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “It was just a kiss,” he said with a laugh.
He opened the door to the Academy.
“Where are you going?” Siale asked.
“I need to run up to Pack Torin’s quarters for a sec.”
“Going to clean the toilets?” Jericho questioned.
Alex grinned. “Something like that. What are you guys up to?”
“I want to watch the sunrise from the courtyard,” Siale said. “We’ll meet you by Jet’s statue?”
“It’s a date,” Alex replied.
She smiled at him and he ducked inside.
Alex hurried up the stairs. As much as he hated to admit it, he really was going to clean the toilets. Torin had given him the job when he chose Alex as his Second. It was a punishment, but it kept the peace between them. With everything he had done to ruin relationships between him and the Alphas at the Academy, he owed it to Torin to do something for being kept around. If he hurried, he would still be able to catch the sunrise before the rest of the werewolves showed up.
Alex reached the top of the stairs only to stop short at the sight of the entire Pack Boris waiting for him at the end of the hallway.
“Hey, Alex,” Boris said.
Alex turned to leave, but two more members of Pack Boris jogged up the stairs behind him.
“What is this, Boris?” Alex asked levelly.
Boris gave a humorless smile. “I saw you leave early and took a chance on the fact that you’d come back early, too.” Hatred filled his icy blue eyes that used to match his sister Kalia’s exactly. “It’s time for you to stop getting away with everything. Why can’t you just die, Alex?” he asked, his voice thick with anger. “We’re going to make you wish you’d stayed gone.”
“I’ve beaten you before,” Alex reminded him.
“Because you’re a mutant freak,” Boris replied, his tone cold. “But I have a pack for a reason.”
“Why?” Alex asked, forcing his tone to remain light. “So they can do your dirty work for you?”
Boris’ eyes narrowed. “So we can deal out a little payback.”
Alex bent his knees, his hands ready. “Bring it, Boris. I’m not afraid of any werewolf who would follow you.”
It might have been foolish to say, but Alex was angry enough that he was past caring. Ambushing him outside of his room was as much of an impingement of territory as a wolf could stand, and the wolf inside of him was gnashing its teeth for payback of its own.
Nate attacked first. Alex flipped him onto his back and turned to the right in time to catch Daniel’s fist and use the momentum of his punch to throw him into two other Grays. Alex blocked a kick, but caught Boris’ punch directly on his left ear. The impact made him stagger. Two punches to the kidneys forced him turn to defend himself. He slammed a haymaker into Mitch’s jaw, dropping him, and ducked in time to avoid an identical punch to his face. He followed with two blows to his attacker’s stomach along with an elbow to the back when the werewolf bent over.
He was about to throw Ken into his pack mates when a sound caught Alex’s ear.
“Did you hear that?” he asked, rising.
“I heard the sound of your bones breaking,” Daniel said.
Alex rolled his eyes at Pack Boris’ Second. “Did you work on that comeback all night?”
Dani
el growled and tackled Alex around the waist. He fell backwards and kicked out, sending Daniel flying over his head. He jumped back to his feet only to be grabbed from behind.
“Enough,” Boris yelled. He stood with his back to the stairs and his full attention on Alex. “You deserve to suffer for Kalia. She’s dead because of you!”
Alex didn’t struggle. The guilt he carried made the Alpha’s words ring true. He couldn’t blame Boris for hating him. Kalia would still be alive if it wasn’t for the fact that she liked Alex and the General found out about it.
“Fine,” Alex said quietly. He stopped struggling against the arms that held him.
“What was that?” Boris asked, his tone suspicious.
“Do what you want. Maybe it’ll help you feel better.”
Boris’ eyes narrowed. He stalked forward, watching Alex as though he expected him to fight free.
“Breaking your face will make me feel better,” the Alpha said.
Alex didn’t flinch from Boris’ fist when it hit his face. The impact of the Alpha’s knuckles turned him halfway around. Alex gritted his teeth and straightened back up. Hands grabbed his shoulders. The Alpha hit him again.
Alex stood up again with the taste of blood in his mouth. The voice in the back of his mind said that the fact that the taste was familiar wasn’t a good thing. Alex ignored it.
Boris slammed a fist into his stomach.
Alex doubled over with a gasp that he tried to stifle.
“Good one,” Daniel said.
“Shut up,” Boris snapped.
“Quiet.”
Everyone stared at Alex in surprise. He tipped his head to the side, trying to hear the sound again. There it was. A scream called faintly up the stairs.
“Don’t you dare tell Boris to—”
“Quiet,” Alex and Boris repeated.
Boris walked toward the stairs. Alex took a step forward, but members of Pack Boris pulled him back.
A scraping sound came up the stairs. Alex was about to ask Boris what he saw when the werewolf turned around with wide eyes. Before he could move, a cur leaped up the last few feet of steps and tackled the Alpha.
The hulking, misshapen wolf creature pinned Boris to the ground. Its human-like head bared teeth that jutted out in all directions. Boris struggled, but the cur’s sharp black claws dug into his shoulders. The Alpha gave a yell of pain.
Several members of Pack Boris screamed.
“What is that?” Daniel demanded, his voice high with panic.
Alex crossed the hallway in two strides and dove into the creature, throwing it off of Boris and down the stairs. It scrambled back to its feet and ran up the stairs again, its claws gouging huge chunks out of the wood.
Boris and Alex met the cur’s headlong rush. Boris grunted when one of its claws slammed into his stomach. The creature was huge and strong. Alex knew they couldn’t beat it with sheer strength. It shoved them backwards as though they weighed nothing. He needed to morph. He tried to force it to happen.
“Attack!” Boris yelled.
Chapter Eight
Pack Boris obeyed. The dozen werewolves ran to them, charging into the creature with the force of a battering ram. They forced it back toward the stairs. Daniel reached Alex’s side. Boris crouched, tearing the claws from his stomach and getting better leverage with his shoulder. Nate caught its paw before it could wreck more havoc on the Alpha.
They were almost to the stairs. The cur’s claws gouged the carpet and wood. It fought, pushing them back. Mitch yelled when the claws slashed across his chest. Alex knew the cur would tear all of them apart. They were students who deserved to live, not be slain by some experiment gone wrong.
Alex felt the change. Blue touched his vision. His muscles lengthened. He could feel the strength surge through his limbs.
With a growl, Alex shoved back. The other werewolves fell to either side. Alex caught the cur in a bear hug and leaped, throwing them both off the stairs.
They hit about halfway down. Alex landed hard on top of the creature. It gave a strangled yelp and its neck twisted beneath Alex. He felt as much as heard it snap. They rolled a few more feet, but the cur was deadweight. Alex kicked free and climbed back to his feet. The morph faded, leaving him human once more.
“What was that?” Mitch asked, clutching his bleeding chest.
“I don’t know,” Boris replied. His shoulder and stomach bled, but he didn’t appear to notice.
More screams sounded from below. Alex took off down the stairs four at a time. The second his foot touched the bottom, three curs looked over from the students they were terrorizing. They turned away from their prey and stalked toward him.
Ice ran through Alex’s veins. It was obvious by their actions that they had come to the Academy to find him. Students were being hurt and possibly killed. He had to stop it.
“I’m over here,” he yelled.
“Alex, be quiet!” Pip said from where he cowered in a corner near the Great Hall. “They’ll kill you!”
“I’ve got to get them out of here,” Alex replied.
The three curs stalked closer. Two more appeared from the Great Hall. Alex fell back toward the doors. If he could get all of them to follow him, the students might be safe.
“Come get me,” he yelled again.
“Get me, too,” Pip called, standing up.
Alex stared at the little werewolf with big ears who had almost gotten both him and Cassie killed a few years back. “Stay there,” he ordered.
Pip nodded, his eyes wide as if he had just realized the consequences of gaining the curs’ attention.
More screams came from down the professors’ hall.
“Come on,” Alex yelled. “This way, you cowards!”
Two more curs appeared from that hallway. Growls filled the air as the beasts pursued Alex. He backed toward the doors that led outside. As soon as his back touched the glass, he shoved the doors open and ran outside. The seven curs took off after him.
They were fast, faster than Alex could run in human form. Fear raced through him at the thought of being torn apart by their lethal black claws. He had no doubt Drogan had given them his scent. The Extremist had vowed to kill him. Alex knew it was his fault the curs were at the Academy. He had to get them away from the students.
Claws tore down his back. Alex let out a yell and spun around. The adrenaline surged through his body, forcing him to morph. He blinked and blue filled his vision. The curs attacked as his body changed. Alex was buried beneath a pile of writhing, angry creatures caught between being human and werewolf. They were so heavy. Teeth tore into his shoulder and his thigh. The pain made him morph faster. Strength poured through him. He heaved upward, shoving the bodies away.
As soon as they were clear, Alex took off between the trees. The curs crashed through the forest after him. Their snarls and angry roars filled the air, driving him to run faster. He might have been strong in rage mode, but he knew better than to think he could take them all on.
Alex didn’t know where to go. The curs were gaining on him. Claws reached out and snagged his ankle. Alex tripped and rolled, coming to a stop against the trunk of a tree with enough force that the branches shook and leaves rained down. He ducked and a set of claws scored the tree trunk where his head had been. Alex lashed out, catching the creature across the face. It reared up with a cry of pain, clawing at its damaged eyes. Alex scrambled out from beneath it and took off running again.
Unable to think of anywhere else to go, Alex made for the cliff. He reached the boulders and took them two at a time. He could feel the hot breath of the closest cur as he climbed. He didn’t dare look back. There were so many of them. Alex refused to call for help. Any who came would surely be killed by Drogan’s mutated beasts. Alex was sure he would die in the forest he loved so much.
He reached the cliff top and wavered near the edge above the lake. The six curs who had made it reached the top and advanced toward him. Their snarls left no doubt that they had been
sent to kill him. Drogan was no longer playing around. Alex was about to be shredded to pieces by his half-brother’s creations.
After they were finished with him, Alex knew they would attack the Academy again. He wouldn’t be able to protect the students, Siale, or his mother. Cassie and Tennison would be in danger. He couldn’t keep them away from Trent.
The thoughts filled him with desperation. He looked around quickly. There was one more chance. It was a slim one, he knew, but if he could face them one at a time, perhaps he could take a few down with him and minimize the damage they would wreck on the Academy.
The curs were almost to him. Alex backed up to the edge of the cliff. He felt the blood streaming down his back. His ankle didn’t want to hold his weight. He could imagine what it would feel like to be torn apart by the serrated claws and jagged teeth in front of him. He wouldn’t let it happen to the other students.
Alex grabbed the first cur by the head. Before it could move, he lunged backwards, pulling it over the cliff edge with him. Everything slowed. The creature’s teeth grabbed his shoulder, grounding down against his collar bone. Alex yelled as its claws tore at his chest. Remembering the cur on the stairs, he wrapped his arms around its head and neck, holding tight. He jerked his body to the right, managing to turn them just before they hit the water.
The icy cold of the lake enveloped him. The creature struggled as they were pulled down to the bottom, deeper than Alex had ever been. He felt it panic and push to get free. Its claws raked his sides, but he didn’t let go. The cur’s struggles became stronger. Alex heard the repercussions of other curs hitting the water. His lungs burned, but he still held on.
A moment later, the cur’s struggling ceased. Alex pushed away from the body, his lungs screaming. He fought back the impulse to breathe and kicked for the surface.
As soon as Alex’s head broke through to air, he gasped, pulling in huge breaths. He looked around quickly. He could see huge rings in the water where the other curs had landed, but they hadn’t broken the surface yet. Alex swam quickly to the closest one.
