by Cheree Alsop
The ball was in his hands. He backpedaled a few steps and scanned the field for an open receiver. Torin darted left while Boris ran past the player who was covering him with just enough speed to make it look natural. Alex’s senses told him a sack was closing in. He threw the ball, then went down with the impact from two members of the opposing team. A glance through the bodies around him showed Boris jumping up to catch the ball. The werewolf brought it to the crook of his arm and ran to the end zone.
Alex let out a whoop. So what if Boris ran just a bit faster than the humans. It didn’t matter if one of the Alphas who made Alex’s school life miserable had just scored. His team was jumping up and down. Finally, they were going to feel what it meant to win.
After shutting down the other team’s attempt to score, Alex was back on the line. Coach Vance had changed the lineup and Amos was on his right. He studied the opposing team. They were fueled up, ready to stop the drive. Alex smiled.
“Hike.”
Alex scanned the field. Boris and Torin were doing a good job of acting like their opposition could keep up. Tennison cut around Torin, using the hulking werewolf to shave off the student who kept pace with him. Alex let the ball fly. As soon as he let go, a member of the other team slammed into him and he hit the ground.
“No hurt Alex.”
Alex’s heart skipped a beat at the sound of rage in Amos’ voice. He looked up in time to see the huge werewolf shove players aside as though they were made of paper. There was no doubt in his mind that Amos was about to slam the Centerville player who had just tackled him. If that happened, the student would be hurt or worse. At the sight of Amos’ flaring nostrils and small flashing eyes, Alex knew it would be much worse.
He shoved the student away from him and charged across the field. Blue touched the edges of his vision. He hit Amos with the force of a battering ram, pummeling the werewolf to the ground. Time slowed around them. Alex’s heart thundered in his chest. He willed his breathing to steady. The realization of what he had just done filled him.
He had tackled a member of his own team who outweighed him by more than a hundred pounds. His momentum had stopped the charging werewolf in his tracks and thrown him onto his back. What did that look like to the Ridgeline fans? How could he play it off?
Amos looked up at him with wide eyes.
“Alex tackle Amos.”
Alex nodded. “You were going to hurt that boy.”
“He hurt Alex.” Confusion was bright in the werewolf’s eyes.
Alex said quietly, “I’m a werewolf, remember? They can’t hurt me.”
“Alex no hurt?”
When Alex shook his head, relief was clear on the hulking werewolf’s face.
“I need you to do something for me,” Alex said, making sure Amos heard the urgency in his tone.
“Anything for Alex.”
Alex smiled. “Good. I want you to get up and start laughing.”
“Uh, okay.”
Amos clambered to his feet and started laughing. Alex slapped him on the shoulder and laughed with him as though they were friends who had just been fooling around. A few members of their team caught on and joined in the laughter. Chuckles rose from the crowd.
Torin grabbed Alex’s shoulder. “Good job,” the Alpha said quietly.
Alex glanced around. No one appeared concerned about the quarterback tackling the huge werewolf. The other team was lining up again after Tennison’s touchdown. It was time to get off the field.
“Good move,” Coach Vance told Alex quietly. “I thought Amos was going to kill him for sure.”
“I did, too,” Alex replied. He smiled at the sight of Amos talking to Cassie near the fence that separated the stands from the field. Alex jogged over to them. “I hope I didn’t hurt you.”
Amos gave a deep chuckle. “Alex hurt Amos. No way. Amos tough.”
Alex grinned. “That’s right. You’re tough. Too tough for the other team, if you know what I mean.”
Amos nodded his big head. “Cassie tell me they break easy. I play careful.”
“Good.” Alex replied. He threw his sister a grateful look. “Thanks.”
Cassie shrugged. “What are sisters for if not to keep her brother’s teammates from smashing the other team into a pulp to protect him?”
Alex laughed. “I didn’t think I needed a bodyguard.”
That made another smile grow on Amos’ face. “I bodyguard.” He gave a deep laugh and ambled over to Coach Vance. Alex could hear him telling the coach the same thing.
“Better be careful,” Kalia warned, leaning over from Cassie’s far side. “Amos might start following you around wherever you go.”
Alex shrugged. “He’s good company.” At the girls’ looks, he said, “Not much of a conversationalist, but he has a great sense of humor.”
Siale gave him a warm smile from her seat beside Cassie. “You’re a good guy.”
Alex winked at her. “Don’t spread that around. I don’t want to ruin my reputation.”
“It’s already ruined,” Kalia said dryly.
“Alex,” Coach Vance barked.
Alex looked over his shoulder. “I’ve got to go.”
“Don’t get killed out there,” Siale told him.
Alex gave her a smile, grateful for her support.
“I’ll try not,” he said. “But I can’t promise anything.”
Siale and Cassie laughed as he hurried back to Vance’s side.
The ride home after their win felt completely different from the losses they had been forced to take. Alex sat in the back of the bus with Siale. Cassie and Tennison had the seat on their left with Trent and Jordan one seat ahead of them. Kalia had surprised him by taking the seat in front of him and Siale; Torin insisted on sitting with her.
“That was an awesome game,” Siale said. “You guys won, but didn’t make it look easy.”
“Who would have thought football meant acting,” Trent put in. “I think I could do well on a stage.”
“Maybe we should ask Nikki about setting up a drama class,” Cassie suggested.
“Don’t you dare.”
Everyone fell quiet at Torin’s irate words. “The last thing I want to do is get out on a stage rehearsing some girly play.”
“I think it might be nice,” Kalia said. “You might be good at it.”
She glanced at Alex. Her eyes tightened slightly at the corners, but her expression remained carefully even. He realized she was toying with the Alpha.
“Well, uh, maybe,” Torin said with doubt in his voice. He hesitated, then nodded. “I suppose so. If I tried it, I would definitely be good at it.”
Cassie lifted her eyebrows at Alex. He smothered a laugh.
Coach Vance’s voice crackled on the intercom, cutting through their conversation. “I know it’s been hard on you to give up so many games, but I’m proud of you guys.”
The players exchanged surprised looks, amazed to hear such positive words.
Vance waved a hand as if he knew what they were thinking. “You can all just wipe the confusion off your faces. I know I’m hard to deal with, but life isn’t always easy.” A hint of sadness showed in his eyes before he shook his head. “But it’s worth living. Make sure you do your best in everything, even losing.” He held up a football. “This is the game ball. I’m giving it to the werewolf who deserves it the most.”
He walked down the aisle between the seats. The bus swayed and he caught his balance with a hand on the ceiling.
“Seriously, Kaynan? Are you trying to kill me?” he called over his shoulder.
“If I knew it was that easy,” the red-eyed werewolf replied, grinning into the mirror above the driver seat.
Coach Vance shook his head. Alex though he heard the coach mutter the word, “Clones.”
“This ball goes to Alex,” Vance said, handing over the football. He gave Alex a smile. It looked rusty on his face as if it had been a long time since his lips had been forced to do such a thing. “You took us through a frustratin
g losing season, and helped us win the last game with style. And,” he held up a hand to stifle the applause. “You took Amos down before he could kill that player.”
Everyone looked at the huge werewolf who took up an entire seat by himself. “Alex smash Amos,” he said with a deep laugh.
The bus erupted into answering laughter. Werewolves leaned over and patted Alex’s shoulders. He sat back with a feeling of accomplishment. Siale kissed him on the cheek. He offered her the football.
She shook her head. “Keep it. You’ve earned it.” She smiled at him. “Maybe you can teach me how to throw it.”
“I’d be glad to,” he promised.
Siale leaned against him. He wrapped an arm around her shoulder and caught Cassie’s eyes from the next seat. She was snuggled against Tennison. They both smiled at him. Alex tipped his head back and closed his eyes, completely content.
Kalia’s voice penetrated his wall of calm. “You guys all need to get a room. It’s disgusting.”
“I think they’re cute,” Terith replied.
Alex opened his eyes to see Kalia’s annoyed look. “They don’t have to shove it in our faces.”
“If you want to cuddle, I’m available,” Torin offered.
She rolled her eyes. “If I wanted to cuddle with a stinky, small-brained dolt, I’d go find a bear.”
Torin refused to be cowed. “They’re all hibernating right now.” He grinned. “That’s right. I listened in class. Would a bear know that?”
“Yeah,” Kalia replied dryly. “It’s the one hibernating.”
Kalia was leaning against the window with her arm over the back of the seat. Torin put his hand over hers. “I guarantee I’d make you happy.”
“As if,” she said. She pulled her hand away and glared sullenly out the window.
Alex held Siale closer, completely aware that if she hadn’t come into his life, he would be the one sitting next to Kalia.
Chapter Twenty
“You asked for me?” Alex said, knocking on the open door of Jaze’s office.
The dean looked up from the stack of papers he was perusing. “Alex, yes.” He rose. “Please come in and shut the door.”
As soon as it was closed, Jaze opened the hidden panel in the wall and led the way through. Alex walked quietly behind the dean down to the small monitoring room that was Brock’s normal working space when they weren’t on missions. As soon as the door slid open, Brock swiveled around.
“We’re positive. She can’t go back there,” the human said.
“Who are we talking about?” Alex asked. One glance at the surveillance cameras showed exactly who they meant. The Dickson’s mansion appeared solitary and silent on its vast expanse of grass. He stepped closer, peering at the screens intently.
“Kalia Dickson’s home is being watched,” Brock said.
“I see that,” Alex replied.
Brock shook his head. “Not by us. By them.” He pointed at the monitor.
At that moment, a dark shadow broke from the wall and skirted around the perimeter. Moonlight reflected off of the scope of the rifle the form held in his hands.
Alex’s heart sped up. “We’ve got to warn them!”
“They’ve been warned,” Jaze said quietly. At Alex’s questioning look, he explained, “I’ve already spoken to Adam Dickson and he’s increased his security, but evidence says they’re the General’s men.”
“Probably waiting for Kalia and Boris to arrive home for the holiday break,” Brock concluded.
Alex let out a breath. “They have to stay here.”
“Mr. Dickson agrees. I’ll tell Kalia.” Jaze’s tone said the dean knew exactly how Kalia felt about any time she spent at the Academy. Asking her to stay through the break would be like pulling teeth.
“No, I should tell her,” Alex replied. “But she’ll kill me for sure.”
“Better you than me,” Brock told them. He took a big bite of a granola bar. The crunch of the grains sounded loud in the small security room.
“I could talk to her,” Jaze said. “But she might take it better coming from you.”
Alex nodded. “I’ll do it, but if you don’t see me around tomorrow, you might want to send out a search for my body.”
“Will do,” Jaze replied with a sympathetic smile.
Alex wandered down the hallway wondering how to break the news to Kalia and her explosive brother. He rounded the corner and ran straight into her so fast they hit foreheads.
“Ow!” Kalia exclaimed, rubbing her head. “Watch where you’re walking.”
Alex barely kept himself from replying that she could do the same. He gave her a tentative smile. “Actually, I was looking for you.”
Kalia crossed her arms, her expression skeptical. “Why were you looking for me?”
Alex didn’t know how to put it into words. He stood there for a minute trying to collect his thoughts, but there was something in her icy blue gaze that kept him from speaking. He knew what it was, recognized it from all of the hours they had spent together. He knew Kalia well enough to see hope when he saw it. For that brief moment, she hoped he was looking for her for many different reasons than being forced to spend the break at the Academy.
“Kalia, we need to talk,” Alex told her. He took her hand, a gesture that had once sent tingles up his arm but now filled him with a longing to hold Siale’s hand instead. He led Kalia outside away from the prying eyes of the few students who wandered the corridors at night. He gestured to the steps and waited until she took a seat, her gaze still distrustful.
Alex glanced around, making sure they were alone. He caught himself clenching and unclenching his hands, and shoved them in his pockets. “Kalia, I know how you feel.”
The hope brightened. The faintest hint of a smile showed on Kalia’s lips.
Alex shook his head quickly before she grabbed onto something that wasn’t there. “You are not the one for me, and I can’t be the one for you.”
The hope vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by anger. “How do you know?” Kalia demanded. She rose and grabbed his arm. “How can you really know, Alex? You haven’t given me a chance since Siale showed up. I’m invisible.” Her voice wavered slightly. “I feel like you don’t see me anymore.”
“Of course I see you,” Alex replied. “You’re my friend.”
“Just a friend?” Kalia shot back.
“Yes,” Alex said, shaking free of her grasp. “Just a friend. A very good friend. Someone I care about.” Again the flicker. Alex let out a frustrated breath. “As a friend, but no more than that.”
Kalia grimaced. “How can you go from mooning after me last term to pretending I don’t exist this term?”
Alex held back the urge to point out that he hadn’t been mooning after her. Instead, he closed his eyes and squeezed them with one hand in an attempt to clear his mind. “Kalia, Siale is my one.”
The small gasp that escaped her lips broke his heart. He had never said the words because he knew how bad it would hurt her. Watching her shake her head, her eyes wide with disbelief, only made the pain of the truth that much harder to bear.
“I don’t believe you, Alex,” she said. “There has to be a way to show you that you’re wrong. There has to be something I can—”
Without warning, Kalia leaned forward and kissed him. She kept a hand on the back of his head, holding him there as she pressed her mouth firmly against his. Alex could feel her passion, her love, and her desperation in the kiss. He tried to fight it, but her Alpha strength came into play. Alex glanced behind Kalia to the doors. Siale stood there; loss filled her soft gray eyes when she met Alex’s gaze.
Anger surged through him. The blue rush flooded his vision. “Kalia, no!” he said, shoving her away. A glance back up at the doors showed Siale gone.
“Tell me you didn’t feel anything,” Kalia demanded.
“I didn’t feel anything,” Alex replied. He glared at her. “Don’t do that again.”
“You liked it.”
> Alex grimaced. “It was like kissing my sister.”
Kalia’s mouth fell open. She tried to talk, but no words came out.
Angry that she had possibly hurt things between him and Siale, Alex pushed past her up the stairs. “You and I are never going to happen, Kalia. You need to accept that.” He looked back down to see tears in her eyes as she watched him. He grabbed a door handle. “Your house is being watched by the General’s men. You and Boris have to stay here for the break.”
He pulled the door open and stormed inside.
Familiar footsteps hurried up the stairs. Alex ran forward in time to see Siale reach the top. “Siale, wait,” he called.
A door slammed before he reached the last step. Alex ran to the end and pulled open the door to Pack Jericho’s quarters. He stopped short at the sight of Jericho and the rest of the pack standing around Siale. She turned at the sound of the door opening. Tears ran down her cheeks, but she didn’t speak.
Jericho’s hand was on her shoulder. He met Alex’s gaze with a stony glare. “Get out of here.”
“I need to talk to Siale,” Alex told his old Alpha.
“Not if she doesn’t want to talk to you,” Jericho replied. “She’s my Second, and I won’t let you hurt her.”
Rage burned through Alex. For a moment, he wanted to attack Jericho and teach the Alpha what it meant to stand in his way. Reason washed away the anger before he took a step. Jericho was an Alpha protecting his Second. The werewolf would have done the same to defend Alex, and he had. Jericho chose Siale after promising Alex that he would take care of her. Alex was just witnessing the Alpha holding up his end of the promise.
Alex forced his muscles to relax. He looked at Siale, willing her to listen. “Siale, please. We need to talk,” he said gently.
It took a moment for her eyes to lift to his. The bare, pain-filled gaze stole his breath. He could only hold out a hand, his expression pleading.
Siale took a step forward. Pack Jericho moved with her in case she needed him. She drew in a steeling breath and stood straighter. “I’m okay,” she said, her voice almost steady.
“Are you sure?” Jericho asked.
At Siale’s answering nod, he motioned for the rest of his pack to step back. Siale crossed to the door. Alex held it open for her to pass through to the hallway.
