by Cheree Alsop
—Mari, Amazon Reviewer
“. . . I’ve fallen for the characters and their world. I’ve even gone on to share (this book) with my sister. . .So many moments made me smile as well as several which brought tears from the attachment; not sad tears, I might add. When I started Shadows, I didn’t expect much because I assumed it was like most of the books I’ve read lately. But this book was one of the few books to make me happy I was wrong and find myself so far into the books that I lost track of time, ending up reading to the point that my body said I was too tired to continue reading! I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book. . . Some of my new favorite quotes will be coming from this lovely novel. Thank you to Cheree Alsop for allowing the budding thoughts to come to life. I am a very hooked reader.”
—Stephanie Roberts, Amazon Reviewer
“This was a heart-warming tale of rags to riches. It was also wonderfully described and the characters were vivid and vibrant; a story that teaches of love defying boundaries and of people finding acceptance.”
—Sara Phillip, Book Reviewer
“This is the best book I have ever had the pleasure of reading. . . It literally has everything, drama, action, fighting, romance, adventure, & suspense. . . Nexa is one of the most incredible female protagonists ever written. . .It literally had me on pins & needles the ENTIRE time. . . I cannot recommend this book highly enough. Please give yourself a wonderful treat & read this book… you will NOT be disappointed!!!”
—Jess- Goodreads Reviewer
“Took my breath away; excitement, adventure and suspense. . . This author has extracted a tender subject and created a supernatural fantasy about seeing beyond the surface of an individual. . . Also the romantic scenes would make a girl swoon. . . The fights between allies and foes and blood lust would attract the male readers. . .The conclusion was so powerful and scary this reader was sitting on the edge of her seat.”
—Susan Mahoney, Book Blogger
“Adventure, incredible amounts of imagination and description go into this world! It is a buy now, don't leave the couch until the last chapter has reached an end kind of read!”
—Malcay- Amazon Reviewer
“The high action tale with the underlying love story that unfolds makes you want to keep reading and not put it down. I can't wait until the next book in the Shadows Series comes out.”
—Karen- Amazon Reviewer
“Really enjoyed this book. A modern fairy tale complete with Kings and Queens, Princesses and Princes, castles and the damsel is not quite in distress. LOVE IT.”
—Braine, Talk Supe- Book Blogger
“. . . It’s refreshing to see a female character portrayed without the girly cliches most writers fall into. She is someone I would like to meet in real life, and it is nice to read the first person POV of a character who is so well-round that she is brave, but still has the softer feminine side that defines her character. A definite must read.”
—S. Teppen- Goodreads Reviewer
“I really enjoyed this book and had a hard time putting it down. . . This premise is interesting and the world building was intriguing. The author infused the tale with the feeling of suspicion and fear . . . The author does a great job with characterization and you grow to really feel for the characters throughout especially as they change and begin to see Nexa's point of view. . . I did enjoy the book and the originality. I would recommend this for young adult fantasy lovers. It's more of a mild dark fantasy, but it would definitely fall more in the traditional fantasy genre. ”
—Jill- Goodreads Reviewer
Dawn is the reminder that each day starts with hope.
Chose to hang onto that token of light,
And let it shine with every action.
Impact the lives around you
With the brightness you carry inside.
Thank you to my family,
For the light and joy of
Each and every day.
I love you.
Chapter One
Alex ducked between the buildings. His breath fogged in the crisp winter air as he crouched with his shoulder against the bricks. His ears strained to catch the first whisper of footsteps through the snow.
It had only been two days since the battle against General Jared Carso beneath the mall. The directions Alex had given the General led to the park in Greyton where Alex had learned how to play his first game of soccer. He regretted that it had been the first location to come to his mind, but he couldn’t take it back.
Motion caught his gaze. He studied Trent crouched in the alley across the park. His friend’s eyes were wide, but Alex knew the werewolf would cover his back no matter what. Cassie and Tennison were across the street to Alex’s left. The slight whisper of snow brushing from the roof told of the werewolves waiting above. Jaze’s pack, the Black Team, and Pack Jericho, the pack Alex belonged to, hid in strategic positions around the square the park occupied and on top of the building across the street.
Brock’s contacts had informed him that the General’s men were headed in the direction of the park. Alex’s hands clenched and unclenched. He wanted to make the man pay for the fear he had seen in Kalia’s eyes. It didn’t help that the General was his father. Alex fought back a growl. Sharing blood definitely didn’t make the heart any fonder.
A laugh caught his attention.
“Kids are coming this way,” Dray said into Alex’s earpiece.
“We need to get them clear of the park,” Brock answered.
“We can’t blow our position,” Chet replied.
Five students came into view. Alex’s heart skipped a beat when he recognized Cherish and some of the other students he had played soccer with over the summer. Cherish wore a red bandana instead of a green one over her long black hair, and she was bundled up in a huge coat and a green scarf. Tanner and Sarah walked hand in hand, while Jen ran on ahead and scooped up a snowball to throw at Josh. Jen’s red hair was a bright counterbalance to her gray coat.
“I know them,” Alex said quietly.
He felt the attention of every werewolf hidden around the park lock on him.
“You know them?” Cassie repeated in shock.
Trent spoke up. “Are they the ones you met on that trip?”
“Yeah,” Alex answered. He wasn’t sure what to do. The thought of the General’s Extremist army and hounds reaching the park while the humans were there sent chills down his spine.
“You need to get them out of there,” Jaze replied, his voice commanding. “The General’s men have arrived.”
At that moment, four black SUVs pulled up to the curb that fronted the park.
“Go, Alex,” Trent urged. “You don’t have any time.”
Alex ran through the snow toward the students. They slowed at the sight of his approach.
“Alex?” Cherish said in surprise.
Sarah grinned. “I didn’t think we’d see you again.”
“Yeah,” her boyfriend Tanner said. “I thought you went to some faraway school or something.”
“You guys have got to get out of here,” Alex told them. He grabbed Cherish’s arm. “You’re in danger.”
Cherish stared at him. “In danger?” Doubt laced her voice. “Here?” She looked around pointedly, and her gaze locked on the men filing out of the SUVs.
“You mean them?” Josh asked, his curly brown hair visible around the edges of his beanie.
“Yeah.” Alex kept his voice steady despite the way his heart thundered in his chest. “They’re not here to talk.”
The men pulled guns from the vehicles.
Alex heard sharp breaths of surprise from his friends.
“I think we should go,” Jen said, clutching Josh’s arm, her eyes filled with fright.
“I agree,” Sarah echoed, her face pale at the sight of the weapons.
“There’s no time,” Alex told them as Jaze said the same words into his earpiece. “Follow me.”
The students ran across the park in Alex’s tr
acks. He led them to the alley he had left and herded them to the big garbage containers at the end. There was a gap behind them that would work as a temporary hiding place.
“Keep low and stay here,” Alex said. He was grateful when they listened.
Tanner pulled Sarah against him, shielding her with his body while Josh did the same for Jen.
Cherish was the closest to the fence that made up the end of the alley. She stared at Alex.
“Just don’t move,” Alex told her. “I’ll keep you safe.”
Gunshots erupted in the park. Alex drew his gun and shot two Extremists as they darted across the mouth of the alley. He ran to the opening and fired, taking down two more headed for Trent’s hiding place. Other shots rang out, echoing against the buildings as Extremists and werewolves tried to take each other out.
Someone let out a yelp of pain on the rooftop above Alex. More Extremists were massing across the park. Apparently the vehicles on the street hadn’t been their only means of transportation. Men in black and gray swarmed from one of the buildings. Alex lost sight of Trent.
Taking careful aim, Alex took out three more men near the vehicles. Another hid behind what remained of a snowman. Alex’s breath sounded harsh to his ears. He let it out slowly and squeezed the trigger. The man grabbed his shoulder, then fell to the ground as the tranquilizer took effect.
Bullets hit the wall near Alex’s head. He ducked as dust from the bricks peppered his hair.
“Alex, be careful!”
Alex looked back to see Sarah peaking around the corner.
“Are you crazy?” Tanner said, his eyes wide as he pulled her back. “You’re going to get yourself shot!”
Alex glanced back at the park in time to see four men taking advantage of his distraction to rush the alley. He fired four times. Three of the men stopped in their tracks while a bullet from the fourth tugged at Alex’s sleeve. He shot the man in the chest. The Extremist crashed to the ground and his gun clattered across the sidewalk. Alex turned on his knee and shot three more men crouched near Trent’s alley.
There were so many Extremists. They hadn’t expected so many. The amount of men Alex had taken down was nothing compared to the Extremists who continued to flood into the park from the streets, the alleys, and the building adjacent to it. Alex didn’t know if the men enjoyed being shot by tranquilizers or if the General had them brainwashed like his hounds to do anything he asked. Whenever one was shot, there were two more to take the Extremist’s place.
Jen screamed behind him. Alex spun to see three Extremists climbing down the fire escape near the middle of the alley. A fence and the garbage containers blocked off the back; his friends were trapped between the Extremists and any chance of escape.
Alex thought quickly. Two men at the mouth of the alley; two more by Trent. Three by the vehicles and one by the snowman. Four men at the alley, and then another bullet for the one that went wide. Three more by Trent’s alley. The Glock held fifteen bullets in the clip and one in the chamber. He was out.
The Extremists pointed their weapons at the students. Alex needed speed and strength. He had no choices left.
Alex tore off his shirt and phased. His paws hit the ground twice before he leaped. He slammed into the back of one man and jumped as the man hit fell. Alex grabbed the second man’s gun hand and used his body weight to drag the man to the ground. He released the man’s arm and barreled into the third Extremist before the man could bring his gun up. The man hit the wall and collapsed. Alex spun back around in time to see the first man reaching for the gun he had dropped.
A growl rumbled from Alex’s chest and he bared his fangs. The man froze with his fingers inches from the weapon. He met Alex’s fury-filled gaze and slowly withdrew his hand. Alex moved to the middle of the alley, placing himself between the Extremists and his friends. He met the men’s gazes one at a time with his low growl resounding through the alley.
Alex didn’t want to tear their throats out. Shooting men using tranquilizers bullets was a lot different than ending their lives with his fangs. He had killed enough to know the consequences. The alarm on the Extremists’ faces ate at him, but he would do what was needed in order to protect the humans behind him. The fear that wafted from his friends filled him with resolve. He placed one paw forward.
“I’ve got them, Alex!”
Three shots rang out. Cries of pain followed and the men in front of him collapsed. Alex lifted his gaze to Trent who leaned against the alley wall, his eyes wide and chest heaving. A sheen of sweat showed through the small werewolf’s buzzed hair.
Alex realized that the sounds of gunfire had stopped. A glance past Trent revealed the park, its snow broken by the bodies of Extremists Jaze’s pack and the Black Team gathered up. Chet helped Dray to one of the vehicles. The professor had a bandage around his leg but still had the strength to smile.
“Told you we’d get home before dinner,” Dray said.
“It’ll be a close thing,” Chet replied with his usual frustrated tone. “I hope Cook Jerald didn’t feed everything to those vermin.”
“And by vermin, you mean the students,” Dray replied as they passed from Alex’s view.
“Who else would I mean?” Chet growled.
Relief filled Alex. The firefight was over. From what he had seen, the General had kept out of sight, but the werewolves had taken down a significant number of Extremists. It would be up to the Global Protection Agency to take care of them and they would be unable to hunt werewolves any longer.
“A-Alex?”
Alex’s relief snuffed out like a match dunked in water. For a brief second, he had forgotten the human students he had protected. They had trusted him and treated him like one of their own. They had given him something invaluable, the feeling of fitting in when the rest of the world regarded his kind with only fear. He had never felt like just another person, but the day he played soccer with them and ate breakfast at the diner, he had forgotten he was different. Now, he had lost that gift.
Alex turned slowly and faced the five students. They stood close to the garbage containers as though debating whether they were truly safe. All eyes traveled from the downed Extremists to Alex. He knew he looked formidable. Werewolves maintained the same weight when phasing since mass couldn’t just disappear, and a hundred and sixty-five pound wolf was huge. He wondered how they would look if they saw Vance phase.
“I have your clothes,” Trent said quietly. “I’ll meet you at the car.”
Alex turned away from the scent of fear and the eyes wide with disbelief. He held his head high, though he felt like dragging it on the ground. The Extremists had taken everything from him; it was just one more brick on his shoulders.
Alex phased in the SUV and pulled on his clothes. He sat for a moment contemplating what had happened, reliving the cool metal of his gun in his hand and the way the targets fell as each bullet hit. He pushed his finger through the hole the bullet had torn through his sleeve, grateful it hadn’t clipped him. Werewolves healed fast, but bullet holes still hurt.
A tap on the glass jerked him out of his haze of senseless thoughts. He realized that his hands were shaking. He rubbed them together with the understanding that even though he had gone through numerous rescues with Jaze and fired his gun dozens of times, he was still experiencing the effects of shock. Perhaps one never got used to the feeling of shooting another person, no matter their intentions.
He shook his head with a wry smile and pushed the door open.
“What do you—” Alex stared at the five humans waiting beside Jaze.
The dean gave him a smile that said he understood the werewolf’s surprise. “Your friends wanted to talk to you.” Jaze’s emphasis on the word friends made Alex look at them again.
None of the five students looked scared now that the attack had passed. Jen and Sarah were still pale, but Cherish gave him a smile.
“Who would have thought?” she said in her straightforward way.
Tanner pushed his
blond hair off his head. “Seriously. I don’t think I would have believed it if I hadn’t seen it.”
“There was that fight with the gang,” Josh pointed out. “We should have known.” At Jaze’s surprised look, Josh took off his beanie and studied the ground.
“Fight with the gang?” Jaze asked.
Alex put on his most innocent expression. “It wasn’t a gang, really. There were three thugs who wanted my motorcycle. I talked them out of it.” He shrugged. “It was civil, really.”
Tanner and Josh both smothered laughs.
Jaze rolled his eyes. “Somehow, I don’t believe you.” He gave Alex a small smile. “The police are on their way; the GPA can’t stall much longer. We’ll be leaving in a few minutes.”
“Got it,” Alex replied.
The humans watched Jaze walk over to several men in black with the letters GPA on their backs.
“That’s really him, isn’t it?” Cherish asked quietly.
Alex was surprised by the look of awe on their faces. “You know Jaze?”
Josh put his beanie back on. “Everyone knows about Jaze Carso. He’s a legend, even with us.”
Alex felt the distance the words immediately put between him and the five humans. He was a werewolf; he wasn’t one of them. He wondered why it hurt so badly to be reminded of it.
“Have dinner at my house.”
Everyone stared at Cherish. Alex couldn’t force down his shock when he realized she was talking to him.
“What?” he asked even though he had heard her clearly.
“Have dinner at my house,” Cherish repeated. She looked at her friends. “You saved our lives, Alex. If you hadn’t done, well, what you did back there, we’d be dead right now. I saw the way those men looked at us.”
