by Cheree Alsop
Alex spoke into his earpiece, “Darian, how much time do you need to get the humans clear?”
“We’re working on the last two,” the leader of the Black Team replied. “Give me five minutes. I can send four men down to you.”
“Do it,” Alex answered.
If the bomb went off, they would all be dead anyway. With the uncertainty of what lay beneath the door, Alex didn’t want to risk being caught without the ability to defend his teams.
“Go ahead,” Alex told Trent.
“The truck driver is definitely under orders,” Jericho said. “He’s to drive around back and wait beneath a stand of aspens. The guy’s armed for bear.” He paused, then said, “Correction. He was armed for bear. Dray has relieved him of his weapons and Terith now has the truck’s keys. The driver is enjoying a close introduction to the pavement.”
“Good,” Alex replied. A thought occurred to him. “Jericho, take the driver and Terith with you and drive the truck to the aspens. If something goes wrong here, Drogan might still try to escape. Dray—”
“I’ll be in the back,” the werewolf replied. “The element of surprise could still be on our side.”
“Gently,” Mouse said to Trent.
Alex’s attention darted back to the small werewolf.
Trent’s hands shook as he detached one of the glass vials of liquid from the bomb. He held it up slowly and handed the vial to Alex.
“Don’t drop that,” the werewolf said.
Alex stared at the container in his hands. He heard the members of the Black Team come into the room, and felt as much as saw Kaynan and Rafe enter as well. All werewolves waited silently for Trent to do his job.
Alex’s hands felt sweaty. He wiped one hand and then the other on his pants. Just holding the vial in one hand felt like flirting with certain death. He doubted his promise to his mother that he would be careful covered holding a glass container of explosive liquid. The sarcastic side of him said that he should get someone to take a picture just to show her how very bad he was at keeping his promises.
“Got it,” Trent said. The small werewolf held up a vial of colorless liquid.
He noticed Alex’s worried expression concerning the vial in his hands.
“It’s okay,” Trent told him. “You’re holding diesel fuel. This is the stuff you have to be careful with. Drogan’s concentration of Nitromethane and ammonium nitrate could level this place in a matter of seconds.” He set the vial gently to one side. “As long as they don’t mix, we’re fine.”
Alex eyed the container he held. “Are you sure?”
“You can smell it, right?” Trent asked.
Alex focused on the vial. Now that he was concentrating on identifying the liquid instead of being afraid of losing his hand or worse, he recognized the heavy, oily sulfur scent that was much thicker than gasoline. Still careful not to disturb the diesel fuel overly much, he set it gently against the wall.
“So we can open it?” Alex asked.
“You can,” Trent replied. At Alex’s questioning look, the werewolf explained, “I’ve got the bomb off, but the bolts are another matter. Unless you know where some bolt cutters are…”
Alex let the Demon through. The beast had been raging beneath his skin with the promise of Drogan feet below them. It took two seconds to channel that strength and tear the trap door from the floor. Chunks of cement and metal ripped free with it.
Alex tossed the door to the side. He willed the Demon to back off, knowing he needed his mind clear to face whatever they met below the basement. The blue faded from his thoughts and he felt like himself again.
A glance to the right showed the Black Team staring at him. Vance and Chet looked at each other. Alex took a calming breath.
“Let’s go,” he said.
“I don’t know if you should—”
Alex jumped into the hole, cutting off any protest Trent had. He hit the ground and drew his gun. The darkness was so complete even his werewolf eyesight had a hard time cutting through.
“Are you still alive?” Trent called down.
Alex glanced up at the gray square above his head. A ladder reached it from the wall.
“I’m alive,” Alex answered. “Come on down.”
Trent reached for the ladder. Vance and Chet jumped down the way Alex had. Both Alphas straightened and looked around. Three members of the Black Team followed.
“Ever heard of lighting?” Chet grumbled.
“How about cleaning the floor?” Vance replied. “This place stinks and I don’t know what I’m stepping in.”
A sound cut through the darkness. Everyone froze.
“Well done, Alex.”
Alex bared his teeth at his brother’s hate-filled voice.
“I wasn’t sure if you would be able to open the door,” the Extremist continued from the far end of the room.
Alex peered in the direction of his brother’s voice, but he couldn’t pierce the darkness. The impression he got was that they were in a far bigger room than he had first thought. Drogan’s voice echoed slightly.
“In fact, I half-hoped you would blow yourself to pieces and end my headache, but I’m apparently not that lucky.”
“Give up, Drogan,” Alex growled. He took a step forward to place himself between the Extremist and his team.
“I’m far from giving up.”
Alex squinted when Drogan struck a flare. The Extremist held up the red light. It sputtered, and twelve other reflective eyes were revealed.
“What are those?” Chet demanded with true fear in his voice.
Alex took in the creatures’ wolfish heads, clawed hands, and bulky muscles. His heart slowed.
“Demons,” he and Trent said at the same time.
He looked up at his friend who was halfway down the ladder.
Trent’s face was pale and eyes wide. “We’re in trouble.”
The flare died and the sound of claws on cement filled the air.
“Get out of here!” Alex yelled.
“You can’t save them,” Drogan called. “You can’t save any of them, Alex. You’ll watch them bleed and die.”
“Darian get everyone to the choppers. Leave, now!” Alex shouted.
He shoved the members of the Black Team toward the ladder. Chet jumped and caught the edge of the trapdoor just as Trent disappeared through.
“Come on!” the Alpha yelled.
Vance threw one of the members of the Black Team up and he grabbed Chet’s hand. The werewolf pulled him through. The other two scrambled for the ladder.
Alex and Vance turned to face the onslaught. Alex let go of his self-control. The Demon surged through him with fury and blue light. Alex let out a growl of rage and charged the first Demon with the strength of a bull.
Instead of being thrown back the way a werewolf would, the Demon matched him strength for strength. Another barreled up behind the first. Her momentum shoved Alex back. His claws scraped along the concrete as he fought to keep them from Vance and the others.
The Demons were fast. Alex caught claws and returned blows, but every time he shoved one free, another was there to take its place. They shoved him back to the ladder just as the last member of the Black Team was being pulled through the hole.
A female Demon leaped and caught the werewolf by the ankle. Chet’s hold slipped and they both plummeted to the floor. The Demons closed in. Vance threw himself on top of the fray. Even the huge werewolf looked small compared to the hulking bodies of the Demons Drogan had created. Claws and fangs pummeled the Alpha as he fought to pull the team member free.
Alex couldn’t get past the two Demons he fought in order to help Vance. Instead of taking them down, Alex changed tactics. He charged at both Demons. The attack caught them off-guard, allowing him to shove them back toward their companions. The Demon on his left swiped at his eyes. Alex ducked and grabbed the ankle of the werewolf Vance fought to save. He fell backward and used his momentum to pull the werewolf free. He shoved the team mate towa
rd the ladder. To the werewolf’s credit, he began to pull himself up the rungs despite his wounds. Hands reached down to help.
“Vance!” Alex roared.
The werewolf spotted him through the fight. Blood streamed from a huge gash along the Alpha’s forehead and he looked as though he was standing by mere will alone. The Demons would tear the coach apart. Alex knew he had one chance to save his professor.
“Drogan.”
The rage-filled growl that echoed through the room turned the head of every Demon.
Alex took a step toward the back of the room. He knew that threatening the Demons’ Alpha would mean his death, but it was the only way he could think of to draw the attention away from Vance.
“I’ll kill you, Drogan,” he said, walking further from the trapdoor.
A glance over his shoulder showed the Demons following. Vance stumbled to the ladder. Chet quickly climbed down along with Kaynan and Rafe. They pulled the wounded werewolf up.
Alex continued talking, knowing that the longer he distracted the Demons, the more time he gave the teams to get clear of the mansion. “You’ve crossed a line, Drogan. You created Demons. What were you thinking?”
Silence met his question. Alex had expected as much. He knew Drogan wouldn’t disappear into a hole if there weren’t at least a few escape routes on the other end. He could only wonder how long his ruse would keep the Demons following him. The scraping of their claws sent chills of true fear down his spine. They were almost to him. He didn’t dare to look over his shoulder.
“Here goes nothing,” he whispered.
Alex channeled his Demon strength and ran at the wall. He leaped and hit high on the wall with both clawed feet. Shoving backwards and slightly to the right, Alex tucked and flipped. He hit the ground so hard his claws tore massive cracks into the floor. A quick check showed the Demons behind him and the trapdoor in front with no one in the way.
“I can’t believe that worked,” Alex exclaimed.
Growls of outrage met his words. Alex scrambled backwards and ran for the trapdoor. The Demons followed hot on his heels. A claw caught his shoulder. Alex threw himself into the air.
He reached, but he had mistimed his leap. The trapdoor was too far away. He could hear the Demons massing beneath him, ready to tear him apart. Alex couldn’t beat Demons that matched him strength for strength. There were too many of them. His only hope was that his team would get clear before they made it through the door.
A hand caught his clawed one. Alex stared up into Trent’s panicked face.
“I’m not leaving you behind!” Trent said.
The small werewolf pulled. Kaynan and Rafe grabbed Alex’s other hand. One quick yank lifted him clear of the hole.
Chapter Thirteen
Alex grabbed the trapdoor from beside the wall and slammed it onto the hole. The raging force of the Demons pounded against it.
“Get everyone to the helicopters,” Alex yelled above the chaos.
“The Black Team is clear,” Kaynan replied, scrambling to help him hold the door. “Our chopper is in the yard.”
The thud of a Demon’s body hit the bottom of the door so hard that massive cracks spider-webbed out from cement around the hole. Alex and Kaynan stared at each other.
“Run,” Alex said. He looked at Trent and Rafe. “Get out of here; I’ll come after you.”
“Are you sure?” Trent asked. The small werewolf looked completely terrified.
Another thud hit the door. The ground shuddered.
“I’m sure,” Alex replied. “Run. Now!”
At Alex’s command, Rafe and Trent took off for the stairs. Kaynan continued to hold on.
“Go,” Alex barked. “That’s an order!”
Kaynan stayed for one more slam, then ran after the others.
Alex drove his claws into the cement around the trapdoor. With each attack, the flooring crumbled further. Two more blows and he knew there wouldn’t be a floor left to hold onto.
Alex prayed that his team mates and pack mates had made it onto the helicopter. His earpiece had fallen out when he morphed into the Demon, otherwise he would tell them to take off. Maybe Trent had seen the futility of remaining. If the Demons got to the helicopter, they would all be killed. Alex could only hope his team was far out of reach.
The floor shook with the next slam. Alex’s claws broke free. There were twelve Demons in the room below him and Alex had no way to hold them back. Staying in the basement would be a death sentence. As much as he wanted to fight them all regardless of the losing battle it would be, the wolf drive for self-preservation took over. Alex shoved the door down and scrambled backwards across the crumbling floor. The Demons surged out, werewolf-human-Demon nightmares that could match his strength and were fueled by Drogan’s hatred.
Alex took the stairs four at a time. He flew through the mansion’s huge entrance hall and out the front doors someone had thoughtfully left open. The sound of the Demons charging after him gave fuel to his flight.
Alex was relieved at the sight of the empty front lawn. The helicopters had taken off. Both teams were gone and the humans with them. He spun, ready to take down however many of the Demons he could.
They spilled out the door. The heavy beating of a chopper sounded in the air. Alex looked up to see the Academy’s helicopter lowering above his head. Jericho and Tennison knelt on one of the struts holding a rope ladder. It wavered in the air a few feet above Alex’s head.
“Jump!” Tennison yelled.
“Hurry, Alex!” Cassie shouted.
Alex jumped just as the charging Demons swarmed into the yard. He grabbed the last rung of the ladder and was jerked into the air. The Demons scrambled on top of each other. One, a wild-eyed female with patchy red hair and fangs that protruded from her jaws, jumped off the others and latched onto Alex’s ankle. He let out a yell as her claws tore into his foot. Alex kicked, attempting to unlatch her as the helicopter rose above the mansion.
She scrabbled to pull herself up and drove her other set of claws deep into Alex’s calf. He kicked, but she wouldn’t let go. Panic filled Alex. He couldn’t let the Demon get to his friends. If she reached the helicopter, there was no doubt of the carnage that would ensue. He had only one choice. Alex grabbed the rope ladder with one hand and raised his other to slice through it with his claws.
The Demon’s grip loosened. Alex looked down to see darts protruding from her chest and shoulders. He glanced up and gave a sigh of relief at the sight of a gun in the hand of every werewolf in the helicopter. Four more shots followed. The Demon struggled to hold on. A dart hit her clawed hand. She let go and plummeted to the earth. Alex watched with a faint shred of hope that she would be killed on impact. Drogan’s creations had been bred for one thing, to kill every creature in their path. One less Demon could save hundreds, if not thousands, of lives.
To Alex’s dismay, at the last moment the Demon spun in the air and landed on the sidewalk hard enough to split the cement. The other Demons massed on the mansion’s front lawn and roared their anger that he had escaped. The battle wasn’t over by far.
Alex let his Demon fade as Trent steered the helicopter over the trees. He climbed slowly up the ladder. Hands grabbed his arms and pulled him into the chopper.
Cassie stared at him. “Alex, that was too close,” she said with tears in her eyes. She hugged him tight.
“Is Alex okay?” Alex heard Siale ask over and over again in Cassie’s headset.
“Yes, he’s okay,” Trent reassured her. The little werewolf threw Alex a look that said it had been a close one.
“Talk to Siale,” Cassie told him. She put a headset on Alex’s head.
“Hey, Siale,” he managed to get out. Dray pulled him up onto a seat. He glanced over to see Vance bandaged and passed out on the floor.
“Alex,” she said, her voice cracking with relief. “Are you alright?”
“I’m good,” he told her. “But we have a serious problem. Tell Jaze—”
“He
knows what’s going on. He’ll meet you in the Wolf Den when you land,” Brock replied.
The human’s voice had a touch of distance to it Alex didn’t recognize. “Is everything okay with the baby?” he asked.
“She’s healthy,” Brock answered. He paused, then said, “But Nikki’s struggling to hang on.”
The look on Cassie’s face told Alex everything he needed to know. He let his head fall back against the helicopter wall and looked out the window. After the battle they had fought and the danger that loomed for werewolves and humans alike, he could barely comprehend the thought of losing Nikki. She had been a mother for him when he arrived at the Academy. Her quiet confidence and the way she had loved him and Cassie when they were newly orphaned was such an example of selflessness that the thought of her gone from his life gave him physical pain.
“Let’s wrap your leg.”
Alex looked down at Jericho. The Alpha indicated the blood streaming down Alex’s calf to the floor of the helicopter. Alex nodded numbly. The Alpha worked with fast but gentle fingers. Alex closed his eyes and let his mind wander.
“You have to eat something.”
“I’m not hungry,” Alex’s young self replied.
Nikki crouched in front of him and held out a bowl of ice cream.
“Everybody loves ice cream,” she coaxed.
Alex shook his head. His black hair fell in front of his eyes. “I don’t like ice cream,” he lied.
Nikki gave a little questioning sound that made Alex glance up.
“You know,” she said, her voice kind. “It’s impossible to stay lost inside yourself forever.”
“Lost inside myself?” Alex repeated.
He didn’t know why he answered her. He wanted to stay mad at the world. His parents had been murdered, he and Cassie had been shipped off to the Academy, and Jet, his rock, his idol, his big brother, had been killed. Starving himself was the only form of control he felt he had left. He had stubbornly not eaten for three days despite Cook Jerald coming up with the most tantalizing dishes she could create. Alex just couldn’t find the ability to care anymore.
