by Cheree Alsop
“The humans have problems too,” Alex said softly. He glanced over his shoulder at Meredith. “Their city is a mess. There’s a place called the Saa where gangs and thugs live who pretty much run the city after sundown. Cherish’s friends don’t even dare go outside at night, and for a good reason.” He thought of the thugs with knives. “It’s like two packs trying to live in one territory, only one is living in peace, and the other is determined to tear everything apart.”
“You worry about them,” Meredith surmised.
Alex turned around to face her. “I do, a lot. They shouldn’t have to live in fear.”
Meredith’s gaze moved from Alex’s face to the Academy. “That’s why Jaze built this place, so you wouldn’t have to live in fear, either.”
Alex’s brow furrowed. “Maybe we have a lot more in common with the humans than we think.”
“Maybe,” Meredith conceded softly.
“There’s a leak from the gas line,” Trent called from beside the motorcycle. “You’re lucky you didn’t blow yourself up. I’m going to have to check the engine casings, cables, and forks. I wouldn’t be surprised if you bent the steering stem bearing. Your shifting lever’s also messed up. How did you get home?”
Alex and Meredith exchanged a glance.
“Good luck,” Meredith whispered.
“Thanks” Alex said. “I’m going to need it.”
“I’ll catch you inside,” his mother said.
Alex jogged across the grass to Trent. The scrawny werewolf looked at his bloodstained chest and merely shook his head. “You should get cleaned up.”
“I could drive it inside,” Alex offered.
Trent put up a hand. “No need,” he said. “We don’t want to start it up again until I’ve had a chance to take it apart. There are a few upgrades I’ve been wanting to make to the engine anyway.”
“You have to take it apart?” The thought of the beautiful motorcycle lying in pieces made Alex cringe.
Trent nodded, rubbing his hands together as if he relished the thought. “It’s the only way to ensure you haven’t damaged more of the engine that I can see here. Give me a week.”
“Fine,” Alex finally let in. “How about putting a deer guard on the front of it when you’re done.”
Trent laughed. “That would look amazing. Like a train. You could catch more deer for Rafe’s pack.”
“On second thought, let’s not do that.”
Trent chuckled as Alex pushed the bike toward the Academy.
Exhausted but happy at the day’s events, Alex stepped into what he thought would be the sleeping Pack Jericho’s quarters. He froze when a set of icy blue eyes locked on his.
“What on earth happened?” Kalia demanded. She rose from the couch, her gaze on his chest.
“Nothing,” Alex said. “This is deer blood.”
“We need to get you cleaned up,” she said hurrying over to him. “What if some of this blood is really yours and you don’t know—”
“Kalia, I’m fine,” Alex protested. He backed away.
“Alex, you’re not fine. You look like death right now.”
“Thanks,” Alex said wryly.
Kalia steered him toward the shower rooms. He wanted to tell her that her hands were getting dirty, but knew she would just ignore him. She reached in and turned on one of the showers.
“Kalia, this is getting out of hand,” Alex argued.
“Don’t take that tone with me, Alex. You could be hurt and not even know it. Now change out of those clothes.”
Alex’s mouth dropped open. “Kalia, seriously. I can take care of myself.”
She put her hands on her hips and tapped one toe on the floor. “I’m not so sure about that. Now that I’m an Alpha, next term, things are going to be different.”
Alex rolled his eyes. “I’m going to shower, and I need you to leave while I do.”
“What clothes are you going to change into when you’re done?”
Alex hadn’t thought that far ahead. He shrugged. “I’ll figure it out.”
Kalia sighed. “Fine, but I’m going to wait on the couch so you can call me if you need me.”
Alex’s frustration finally got the better of him. “I don’t need you. When are you going to figure that out?”
The look of hurt that swept across Kalia’s face made Alex immediately regret his words.
“Kalia, I—”
She stormed out of the shower room without looking back. A few seconds later, the unmistakable bang of her door slamming shut let Alex know she didn’t care about waking up the entire pack, and the other packs sleeping down the main hall as well.
Later, Alex padded to his room in his soggy wolf form. He pushed the door open with his nose and collapsed on the bed without bothering to phase. If the room smelled like a wet dog the next morning, maybe it would be enough to keep Kalia from tormenting him.
Chapter Seven
Alex ran through the woods in wolf form. The snow was long gone and the fresh smell of loam beneath his paws filled him with joy. The Termers had left a few days ago, and Alex was relieved he didn’t have to worry about Kalia for a few months. The furry tail Professor Colleen had doused in orange oil coated his mouth with bitterness. He wondered if Professor Chet had given input to the scent. He enjoyed tormenting the students in his own small ways.
The shushing sound of footprints warned him a second before a cream-colored wolf would have slammed into his side. Alex jumped out of the way and Cassie skittered to a stop in the meadow, her tongue out and dark blue eyes dancing with laughter. Tennison appeared a second later, his lanky wolf stride effortlessly eating up the forest floor. Alex darted past them both, keeping his prize away from them as he loped deeper into the forest.
The sound of other paws reached Alex’s ears as additional Lifers fought to claim the prize for themselves. A reward of Cook Jerald’s famous blackberry cream cheese pie awaited whichever Lifer returned the fox tail Colleen had hidden deep in the forest. Alex loved blackberry cream cheese pie and was determined to be the one to claim it. Whether he shared it with his twin sister and her boyfriend teetered on how much they interfered with him winning the reward.
Tennison beat him at the next turn and made a grab for the tail. Alex spun to the right. The tall werewolf’s fangs snapped shut millimeters from the prize. Cassie had anticipated the move and was already there. Only Alex’s quick reflexes saved him. He jerked his head up, flinging the tail into the air. Both werewolves stopped short in surprise, giving Alex the chance to leap over Cassie and catch it in his mouth before it hit the ground. He took off again in a cloud of dirt and pine needles his sister would no doubt scold him for later.
Two gray forms blocked the path to the next clearing. Alex could either take the long way around and risk running into Torin and Sid, or take his chances with Trent and Terith. Alex loped toward the siblings, sizing them up. Terith’s stance was firm, and she had a mock snarl on her face. Trent’s eyes widened at Alex’s approach. Alex galloped through the sunflower meadow without slowing. Just before he bowled the siblings over, Alex gathered his legs and leaped.
The wind rustled through Alex’s dark gray fur, tormenting him with the thought of actually flying. The sunflowers parted beneath him in the wake of his jump. Landing between the trees at the edge of the clearing would be perfect. Alex looked down at the siblings, expecting to see them both staring up at him wide-eyed as he jumped over them. Instead, Terith had bowled her brother over and was using him as leverage, her paws on his shoulders as she reached for the fox tail that dangled from Alex’s jaws.
The werewolf managed to grab the tip of the tail as Alex passed overhead. The sudden halt to his momentum flung Alex so hard into the dirt that he lay there stunned for a moment. His head shook back and forth, and it took him a few seconds to realize that it was Terith attempting to yank the tail from his jaws.
Alex gave his head one hard shake and then rolled over, pinning the tail beneath his shoulder as he did so. T
he movement threw a surprise Terith to the ground, driving her snout into the dirt. She was forced to let go of the tail and dodge out of the way before Alex rolled over her as well. Faster than they were prepared to react, Alex had his legs back underneath him and was running again.
By this time, Cassie and Tennison were on his heels. Terith and Trent quickly fell in behind. Alex could hear the thunder of paws in the forest on either side. He had to do something to lose them all, or it was going to be an all-out fight for possession of the tail.
A thought occurred to him. He altered his course slightly and felt the ground begin to rise beneath his paws. He would have grinned except for the risk of losing the orange-oil coated tail. Cassie pushed to catch up, no doubt guessing his intentions. Alex ducked his head and ran faster, driving his legs to even greater speeds. He reached the boulders and began to jump, scrambling up one and leaping for the next as soon as he could get his paws beneath him. The werewolves kept close behind.
Alex broke through the top of the steep rise into the bright noonday sunlight. The rays reflected off the lake far below, illuminating the jump he had only made one other time. Barks sounded behind him. He recognized Cassie’s voice without looking back. The others would be below her, gaining on Alex’s position. There was only one way to shake them completely.
Alex clenched his teeth and leaped off the cliff.
The water rushed to meet him. As soon as he hit the mirror surface, the air he had sucked in burst out of his lungs. His paws began to paddle on instinct while his brain screamed at him for taking stupid risks with his life all for a fox tail and a piece of pie. The other irrational side of him replied that it was totally worth it just to annoy Cassie.
Alex’s head broke the surface. He took in huge gulping breaths, then realized gulping breaths shouldn’t have been so easy with his mouth closed. He looked around quickly for the fox tail and found it drifting near the shore. Alex quickly swam over to it. The thought wasn’t lost on him that he had also doggy paddled the last time he had jumped off the cliff, and he hadn’t been in wolf form. At least swimming that way was much less tease-able as an actual animal because it was his only option.
As soon as Alex’s paws touched the sandy bottom of the small lake, a growl met his ears. The fur stood up on the back of Alex’s neck. The sound was a challenge, and an Alpha challenge at that.
With his ears back, Alex looked up into Torin’s dark face. The werewolf’s green eyes bored into his, daring him to accept the challenge or give up the fox tail. Alex knew he wouldn’t be permitted on shore without choosing one or the other.
A glance to the left showed Cassie and the others bunched near the shore. Apparently it was a lot easier to climb down the cliff than it had to climb up. They looked agitated at Torin’s challenge, but none of them could do anything against the Alpha.
Torin’s ears flattened back and he growled again.
Alex thought quickly through his options. He could choose to fight the Alpha, but Torin had Sid at his back. Alex still had the painful memory of being beaten by Torin’s pack over rescuing a kitten. Sid had proved he wouldn’t hesitate to jump in despite rank duel protocol. If Sid dove into the fight, Alex knew the rest of the Lifers would race to defend him. He didn’t want any of his friends hurt over a fox tail and a pie.
Alex jerked his head sideways, flinging the tail at Torin. The one satisfaction he received was when Torin missed the grab and the tail smacked Sid wetly in the face before falling to the ground. Torin picked it up and trotted back into the woods. Sid snarled at Alex, then followed the Alpha back toward the Academy.
Alex stepped slowly from the lake and shook himself on the beach. Cassie snorted, and he turned to find his friends covered in the water he had rid from his coat. Alex smothered a grin at Cassie’s bared teeth. His sister shook her head and started back along the path. The others followed her, and Alex fell in behind.
Gone was the lightness of their steps and the laughter in their eyes. Torin had singlehandedly stolen the thrill of the chase. Alex bit back the urge to give the Alpha a piece of his mind. It would only get him into another fight and perhaps risk his pack mates as well. Alex snorted softly, his eyes on the forest around them.
A pine branch had fallen next to the trail. With its brown needles and layered twigs, it looked a lot like the fox tail. On a whim, Alex grabbed it in his mouth. He fought back the urge to spit it out again. Pine sap tasted almost as bad as the orange oil had. The combination of both of them in his mouth left a taste nobody would enjoy.
Ignoring the unpleasantness, Alex trotted to the front of the group. He spun without warning, forcing the others to stop or run into him. At Cassie’s questioning gaze, Alex turned his head from side to side, flourishing the pine branch.
Tennison gave a wolfish grin and tried to bite the branch. Alex backed up just fast enough to keep it out of the werewolf’s reach. Cassie snorted a laugh and joined in. Soon, the four Lifers were chasing Alex through the forest again. He led them down every path he knew, jumping over fallen trees and darting under windrows carved into tunnels by the water that overflowed the river in the spring. By the time they piled through the Academy gates, everyone’s good humor had been restored.
Alex trotted into the Academy with his head held high.
Pack Torin lounged in human form on the steps below their Alpha. Torin held up the pie he ate by himself as Alex’s pack trotted up the stairs.
“Looks like you made it home with a pathetic branch,” the Alpha noted. “Perhaps Cook Jerald will turn it into sap soup for you.”
Sid and the other Lifers snickered. Alex rolled his eyes at them. As he climbed past Torin, he allowed his back paws to slip on the wooden stairs. The loss of balance made him fall into Torin’s back, which in turn sent the Alpha’s face directly into the blackberry cream cheese pie.
“You did that on purpose!” Torin yelled.
Alex widened his eyes dramatically, but he couldn’t help a snort of laughter at the look of Torin’s cream cheese covered face. Even the other Lifers on the stairs were having a hard time controlling their expressions. Sid actually chuckled before covering his mouth at Torin’s enraged glare.
“You think you can get away with anything,” Torin said, his eyes narrowed in anger. “I’ll get you back. Just you wait.”
Alex hurried to the top of the steps filled with wry gratitude that the Alpha was so bad at trash talking. Instead of quaking in fear of retaliation, he couldn’t stop picturing Torin’s face covered in frosting. Giving him the fox tail had been well worth it.
Chapter Eight
Summer passed quickly at the Academy. Soon, it was time for the Termers to arrive again. The Lifers had been asked to gather before the buses came. Jaze actually looked nervous as he stood on the raised stage at the end of the Great Hall. The professors behind him looked almost as concerned. Alex wondered what was going on. A glance back at Cassie showed the same trepidation on her face.
“I’ve asked you all here before the term students arrive for a very important reason. Things are going to change this school year, and I ask each of you to be patient and to go along with the changes. It will be different, it may be difficult, but I’m asking you to trust me.”
A howl cut through the air. Anticipation surged through Alex. His muscles tensed as he waited for the dean to release them.
Jaze smiled, his brown eyes bright. “They’ve arrived. Let’s go welcome the Termers to our new year at the Academy.”
Students rushed out the doors to the Academy courtyard. As much as Alex wanted to be the first one to the buses and cars, he held back for the other Lifers to hurry by.
“Alex.”
He turned to see Jaze approaching. The dean gave him a warm smile. “You ready for this?”
Alex nodded, though his chest tightened at the thought of Siale and Kalia being under the same roof.
“Just promise me one thing,” Jaze said. “Trust me.”
The request surprised Alex. Jaze was th
e only father figure in his life, and had done everything in his power to help Alex and Cassie through their trials. “Of course I trust you.”
The dean let out a breath. “I just have a feeling that if you go along with what’s going to happen this term, the rest of the werewolves will follow.”
Alex gave a wry smile. “You might be overestimating my impact here.”
“I don’t think so,” Jaze said with an answering smile. He looked out the wide glass doors, watching the students file from the vehicles in the courtyard. Lifers rushed to welcome their friends back.
Alex searched for wavy brown hair and soft gray eyes.
“You’d better go,” Jaze said with understanding in his voice. “She’s bound to be looking for you, and I wouldn’t want her to get overwhelmed.”
At that moment, Boris grabbed Parker, his usual Second, and got into a mock wrestling match with the werewolf in the middle of the courtyard. Soon, all of Pack Boris was involved in an all-out battle.
“What’s overwhelming?” Alex asked dryly.
He heard Jaze chuckle as he hurried out the door.
Alex’s heart slowed the moment his eyes locked on Siale. She stepped slowly from the bus, her gray eyes wide as she looked around at the student-filled courtyard. Her hand hesitated on the door frame as though she debated whether to step down or return inside. The expression of uncertainty that crossed her face gripped Alex’s heart. He rushed through the crowd.
“Siale!”
At his voice, the uncertainty swept from her face as though it had never existed. She quickly searched the crowd, and when her eyes met his, Alex stopped in his tracks so quickly he was almost ran over by Shannon and Shaylee.
“Out of the way, Alex,” Shannon snapped.
“Seriously, dude. Watch where you’re going,” her twin echoed.
“Sorry,” Alex said reflexively, his attention completely on Siale.
The way her mouth pulled into a smile made his heart stutter. He put a hand to it, willing it to calm. He had forgotten the way her gaze made him feel. It was as if she saw every corner of his soul, the dark along with the light. He felt bare and exposed, but safe at the same time as if whatever she found was exactly what she was looking for.
