Werewolf Academy Book 7

by Cheree Alsop

  The thought both appealed to Alex and troubled him. “What if I mess up?”

  Jaze lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “We’ll deal with it if it comes to that. The curriculum from the Board of Education doesn’t give leeway for students caught up in midnight escapades freeing werewolves from the hands of malicious terrorists.”

  A pit formed in Alex’s stomach. “I have to give up the team?”

  When the dean shook his head, relief rushed through Alex.

  “Not at all,” Jaze said. “We couldn’t do it without you.”

  Alex decided it wasn’t time to point out that they had managed through the summer just fine without him. The voice in the back of his head argued right back that the key to defeating Drogan’s mutant army had been his idea.

  “We’ll just have to be more careful when we leave and make sure you get all of your schoolwork done in a timely manner.” The dean paused, then said, “Without your professors looking the other way.”

  “What?” Alex protested in a tone of false surprise. During the time when Siale was injured and several other occasions related to injuries or his determination to defeat his half-brother or the General, which turned out to be quite a few times, Alex knew his studies had slipped. Luckily, with Trent, Siale, and Cassie, along with a few professors like Professor Mouse and Professor Kaynan, he had still managed to squeak by to his senior year. That was apparently the last time it was going to happen.

  “Okay, fine,” he said. “I’ll get my studies done without help.”

  Siale took his hand next to her chair. “You’ll still have help if you need it,” she promised.

  The phone on Jaze’s desk rang.

  “I need to answer that,” the dean told them. He gave Alex a frank look. “I would appreciate it if you escorted Mr. O’Hare around the school and grounds, then brought him to lunch in the Great Hall. He can dine with the professors.”

  “I’ll do that,” Alex said. He rose to his feet and held out a hand to Siale. She walked with him toward the door.

  “Alex?”

  He turned at Jaze’s voice. “Yes?”

  “Mr. O’Hare is under your protection while he’s here at the Academy,” the dean said.

  Alex’s chest tightened. While the dean’s assignment of him to the government official may have been for the reasons he said, Mr. O’Hare’s obvious hatred for werewolves had the potential to make him a target for the other students. Werewolves were nothing if not territorial.

  “I’ll make sure he’s safe,” Alex promised.

  Jaze nodded and answered the phone.

  Alex pulled the door shut behind him just as the bell rang.

  “I’ve got to go assist Professor Colleen,” Siale said with an apologetic tone.

  “Go ahead,” Alex said. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Are you sure?” she asked, throwing a skeptical look down the hallway to where Mr. O’Hare’s makeshift office resided.

  “I’m sure,” Alex told her. He knew he shouldn’t, but he couldn’t help the impulse to pull her close and kiss her on the nose. She was just so cute when she worried, and kissing her like that made her giggle.

  She stepped back with a smile and a blush that ran across her cheeks. “You be careful, Alex Davies. Don’t start any of your disturbances.”

  Alex grinned at her. “I’d rather start some trouble.”

  She rolled her eyes with a laugh. “See you at lunch.”

  “Bye, love,” he replied.

  She paused on her way down the rapidly filling hallway and blew him a kiss. He smiled at the warmth that flooded his chest and watched her dark brown hair sway across her back as she walked toward Colleen’s classroom. He missed her already. Lunch seemed way too far away. He shook his head, amazed that at a second away from her, he was already thinking about when they would be back together.

  A chill ran down his spine. He glanced to his left and met Mr. O’Hare’s gaze. The man was watching him over the flood of students rushing to their next class. The disapproval on his face was stark before he turned away and disappeared back into his room. Alex took a steeling breath and followed.

  He found the man marking something down in a small notebook.

  “What are you writing?” Alex asked.

  The human paused and glanced at him. “I don’t have to explain anything to you,” he said cuttingly. “You will do what I ask, and only that. I won’t answer any questions you might have, so you should probably just save your breath. You’re going to need it when I get this place shut down.”

  The barb hit Alex like a knife in the ribs. He gritted his teeth. As much as he wanted to shout or tear the man’s tiny notebook apart, he reminded himself with considerable effort that he was the school’s first line of defense against the government that wanted to shut it down. He would try to maintain at least some semblance of control, and it was only the first day.

  “Are you ready for a tour of the Academy?”

  A hint of surprise showed in the man’s gaze before it was smothered in his disdain. “What? No growling or chewing up my homework like a bad little werewolf? I’m a bit disappointed, Alex. Perhaps all the rumors have been misplaced.”

  “Perhaps,” Alex replied with a forced smile that felt like plastic on his lips. “Give me time,” he muttered quietly so the man wouldn’t hear him.

  “Even though I feel it’s pointless to get familiar with this doomed establishment, it would be a relief to stretch my legs and get some fresh air. It does smell a bit like dog in here,” Mr. O’Hare noted. He brushed past Alex.

  When their shoulders touched, Alex felt the man shy away from him. A slight whiff of fear flooded in his wake.

  Alex stared after the man. Was it possible that his loathing was a front to hide fear at being in an Academy filled to the brim with students whose race he hated? Alex shook his head. If that was the case, Mr. O’Hare gotten himself into a nightmare.

  “Coming, Fido?” Mr. O’Hare asked.

  Alex was grateful all of the students had made it to their classrooms. He didn’t know if he would have been able to control himself otherwise. If a student attacked the representative from the Board of Education, Alex knew that would be it for the school. The human had no idea how dangerous Alex was. Or perhaps he did. The thought was unsettling. Would the man put himself in serious danger just to prove a point?

  Alex stifled a growl and followed Mr. O’Hare down the hallway.

  “Here is where Professor Mouse teaches biology, anatomy, and chemistry,” Alex explained a few classrooms later. A glance inside showed the desks full and students watching the small professor sketch a cell on the whiteboard.

  “A werewolf named after a mouse. A bit emasculating, don’t you think?”

  Mr. O’Hare walked off down the hallway without waiting for Alex’s reply.

  After a moment, the human said, “A bit like using the name Davies. Aren’t you really a Carso, like the General and his son who’s at the top of the nation’s most wanted list?” Mr. O’Hare glanced back over his shoulder to give Alex a dry look. “I suppose hiding out under the name Davies is wise considering your unsavory relations.”

  Alex bristled. “My sister and I were adopted. Our parents were Davies, so we kept the name. Carso is a good name, especially when you consider that Dean Jaze carries it.”

  Mr. O’Hare appeared unruffled at his outburst. “Claiming to be related to Jaze Carso isn’t exactly the best idea considering his own follies in werewolf and human relations. He was wanted for most of his life before opening this school.”

  Alex’s hands tightened into fists. “Jaze’s only folly was putting his life on the line a million times to save werewolves from the hands of humans who only wanted to hurt or kill them. Families were destroyed and even his own mother was killed. He lost friends in the battle, good friends.” Alex’s throat tightened and his voice cracked with his outrage. “Jaze is a hero.”

  Alex paused. His heart thundered in his chest and his hands opened and
closed. He wanted to make the man pay for his attack against Jaze. The dean had been like a father to him. He wouldn’t stand by while someone slandered Jaze’s name.

  Alex realized with a start that that was exactly what Mr. O’Hare wanted. Alex already knew the man’s goal was to provoke him into fighting. Mr. O’Hare’s stay would be cut short and his job done. Students fighting administration would without a doubt be entirely against the Board of Education’s policy. Why else would they only send one man to survey the school? Perhaps Mr. O’Hare was the only one who dared.

  Alex looked closer at the human. Mr. O’Hare’s lips were pressed into a tight line and he waited with anticipation on his face as though he knew what his words would mean. There was fear hiding in the depths of his cold green eyes. His glasses were held in one hand. Alex couldn’t remember when the man had taken them off. Perhaps he didn’t relish the thought of having them slammed into the bridge of his nose.

  Alex let out a slow breath. He willed his hands to relax and lifted his shoulders in a small shrug that felt like it weighed a thousand pounds.

  “If there wasn’t anyone holding true to the name, maybe I’d consider taking up the name Carso, but Jaze is doing a great job.” Alex forced a smile. “Someone needs to do the same for Davies. I guess they’ll have to settle for me.”

  He turned away before he could see the human’s expression. Turning his back on Mr. O’Hare meant going entirely against his instincts. Of any enemy he had, the human armed only with his tiny notebook was the most dangerous. Alex had no problem retaliating with only himself on the line, but if he lost control at all, the Academy would pay. Alex walked down the hallway with chills running along his spine.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing, Jaze,” he whispered quietly.

  Chapter Four

  “Your cafeteria smells better than most of the schools I’ve been to,” Mr. O’Hare noted when they reached the Great Hall for lunch.

  Alex looked at him in surprise. “You do this at other schools?”

  Mr. O’Hare gave him a look that said he clearly thought Alex was stupid. Alex was getting used to the expression.

  “Of course I’ve been to other schools. Checking for violations is my job.” His eyebrows pulled together in a disapproving expression. “Don’t assume your school is the only one on the verge of being shut down. There are plenty of violations out there. I just happen to be very good at what I do, and,” he hesitated, then said, “And the only one brave enough to come to an Academy of mutts who might want to eat me.”

  When they stepped into the Great Hall, every eye locked on them. Gazes shifted from Alex to Mr. O’Hare. The sounds of forks on trays and talking ceased. Torin rose halfway from his seat at his usual table; Shannon set a hand on his arm and he slowly settled back down with a glare at the human.

  Alex glanced at Pack Jericho. Trent met his gaze with a worried look. Jericho gave Alex a half-smile, though it didn’t touch the question in his eyes when he looked from Alex to the human.

  “What are you doing?” Cassie mouthed.

  Alex gave her what he hoped was a reassuring smile and motioned for Mr. O’Hare to follow him to the kitchen.

  “I’ve never felt more on the verge of death in my life,” the human muttered when the sounds of talking and eating picked up again. “They really do hate humans.”

  “They don’t hate humans,” Alex told him. “Professor Thorson is human, and Nikki, Dean Jaze’s wife. Humans aren’t the issue.”

  “Then what is?” Mr. O’Hare asked when they entered the kitchen. A breath of relief escaped him at being shielded from the accusing glares of the students.

  “Your obvious disdain for werewolves,” Alex told him. “They can smell it. It wafts from you like sour eggs.”

  The human stared at him. “You can smell how much I don’t like you?”

  Alex nodded. A brief rise of humor filled him at the dismay in the man’s voice. “It’s pretty obvious.”

  “Great,” Mr. O’Hare turned away and grabbed a tray from the table. “That’s got to be an infringement of privacy if I’ve ever seen one.”

  “We can’t help what we can smell,” Alex told him. “It’d be like telling a cow not to moo or a bird not to fly.”

  “You realized you just used all animal references in your example,” Mr. O’Hare replied drolly.

  Alex was aware of Cook Jerald watching them. She didn’t appear at all pleased to have Mr. O’Hare in her kitchen.

  “Werewolves are part animal, Mr. O’Hare,” Alex replied. “We’re not ashamed of our lineage, so the sooner you accept it, the better.”

  He expected a displeased reply from the human, but the man kept silent as Cook Jerald ladled pasta and her amazing made-from-scratch Alfredo sauce onto his tray. Alex followed behind.

  The human was about to enter the Great Hall again, but Alex grabbed his arm.

  Mr. O’Hare looked completely outraged that Alex would dare to touch him. Alex dropped his hand.

  “Look,” Alex said. “You may hate my guts and all of my race, but one thing is certain. You are a human in a school of werewolves, and your hatred follows you around so thick I can’t even smell the Alfredo right now.”

  Mr. O’Hare glanced at his tray and back at Alex.

  “You might find it annoying that Jaze assigned me to be your assistant, but after everything I’ve done here, I get a bit of respect from the students. Consider me your protection. I don’t want this Academy to fail.” His eyes narrowed and he gave the man a straight look. “No matter how much you might. So listen to me when I say that you need to either hide your hatred of werewolves better or carry silver in your pocket. Werewolves are loyal, and I don’t want you to get hurt because you can’t hide your disgust for children.”

  Mr. O’Hare was quiet for a moment before he said, “I have silver in my pocket.”

  “I know,” Alex replied. “I can smell it.”

  The man stared at him.

  Alex turned away and walked out the door. It wasn’t until the human wandered over to join the professors at their table that he felt like he could breathe again. He knew as a lone wolf that he should have sat alone, but spending so much time surrounded by such great quantities of hatred had exhausted him. He walked to Pack Jericho’s table and smiled at the empty seat Siale patted next to her.

  “Hey guys,” Alex said with an outlet of breath. He set the tray on the table harder then he intended.

  Siale leaned her head on his shoulder when he sat down. “Rough day?” she asked.

  “Yeah,” he admitted with a dry chuckle. “Class is easier than being an assistant to Mr. I-Hate-Werewolves.”

  “What’s the deal with that guy?” Trent asked. “Why is he here?”

  Alex glanced over his shoulder at the human. While the professors made small talk with Mr. O’Hare, it was obvious they were uncomfortable with his presence. Alex shook his head and turned back to his friends.

  “The esteemed Mr. O’Hare is here to shut down our school.”

  “What?” Terith exclaimed.

  “They can’t,” Cassie protested.

  Alex nodded. “My job is to prove that we have nothing to hide.”

  “But we have plenty to hide,” Jericho replied. “I’m sure students in other schools don’t run around at night rescuing their comrades.”

  “Yeah,” Alex said. “That’s why we’re going to have to be more careful. He can’t know when we get called out, and we can’t let missions with the team affect our schooling or assisting the professors. Got it?”

  Everyone nodded.

  “What if he looks for you and you’re gone?” Von asked. Terith’s boyfriend wasn’t on their team for missions with Jaze, but they had never hidden the missions from him. With his closeness to Terith, keeping secrets would have been impossible.

  If she trusted him so much, Alex decided he could as well. “Then you’ll have to cover for me. Think you can do that?”

  Von’s eyebrows rose at the enormity
of such a task, but he nodded quickly. “Yes, definitely. I can tell him you’re sick or something and,” he adjusted his glasses, “I can be his assistant until you are available again.”

  “I appreciate it,” Alex replied with a warm smile. “I need someone I can count on, and I know you’ll do a good job.” He hesitated, then told the werewolf, “Just be careful. He tries hard to rile students up. If we let down our guard at all and lash out, the Academy’s done for.”

  “What has he done?” Siale asked, her expression worried.

  Alex gave her a reassuring smile. “Nothing I couldn’t handle. We’ll be fine.”

  She smiled back at him. “I knew Dean Jaze picked the right werewolf for the job.” She paused, then leaned over and kissed him on the cheek as though she couldn’t help herself.

  “Careful, you two,” Jericho warned. “Public displays of affection are against school policy.”

  Everyone looked at the professors table. None of the teachers were talking and everyone ate their lunch in silence. Apparently Mr. O’Hare’s warm personality had gotten to them. Luckily, he didn’t seem to have noticed Siale’s kiss.

  “We’ll be more careful,” she said with a hint of reluctance in her voice.

  “I can’t blame you,” Jericho told her. “Maybe with the opening of the Academy to the public, we can allow human students in. I would love it if Cherish could be here. It’s hard to be so far away from her.”

  “That’s not a bad idea,” Terith said. “A lot of the students here haven’t had much exposure to humans besides the few we have at the Academy. It would be good for them to see that not all humans are out to kill them. We have as much prejudice to work through as the humans do. Welcoming human students to the Academy might be just the way to do that.”

  “As long as they don’t come in with as much hatred as your guy,” Cassie said. “I don’t know how you can stand to be around him with that stench.”

  “I don’t exactly have a choice,” Alex told his sister. “Believe me, both of us would rather be elsewhere. I’ll just have to do what I can to break him.”