by Cheree Alsop
“Here, try this.”
She opened her eyes and saw what he was holding. He set the folded towel in her hands. She pressed it to her forehead. A little sound of relief escaped her. “That’s helps,” she admitted.
Alex waited with her. The helplessness he felt to ease the pain made him pace the stairs, opening and closing his hands in frustration.
Kalia finally let out her breath in a sigh. She sat back against the wall and lowered the rag. “It’s gone,” she said.
“Just like that?”
Kalia nodded. “It comes on in an instant and leaves like nothing happened.” She met his gaze and her eyes narrowed slightly as if she remembered who she was talking to. She stood up and wavered slightly.
Alex put out a hand to help her, but she took a firm grip on the railing. “I’m fine,” she said, the chill back in her voice. “Thank you for your assistance.”
Alex watched her walk down the stairs as if nothing had happened. He didn’t move. He couldn’t. As much as he wanted to join his pack in the first feast of the new term, too many emotions battled through him.
He had been Kalia’s only friend last year and had thrown that away with the paranoia that she was leaking information to Drogan. Drogan and his father the General had destroyed too many relationships in Alex’s life, and he had let the man with the mismatched eyes ruin yet another. Alex hated himself for how he had acted. He had been stabbed and shot during his battles to survive the last school year, yet the wound that hurt the most was seeing the loss in Kalia’s eyes. He had betrayed her friendship when he questioned her loyalty and he destroyed her confidence in him.
Seeing her hurting and weak made his heart go out to her, yet she refused his help after she realized who was there. He walked down the stairs and turned away from the sound of revelry and laughter in the Great Hall.
Alex pushed open the backdoors and wandered outside.
“Not the social type?”
Alex jumped. He hadn’t expected anyone to be outside with the dinner going on and had let down his guard. He schooled his face to a smile when he turned around.
“Oh, hey Tennison. I thought you’d be in eating with the rest of the pack,” Alex said upon spotting the tall, lanky new Lifer.
Tennison shook his head. “I’m not much for that stuff.”
“Uh, stuff like eating?” Alex said. When the werewolf didn’t respond, Alex tried a different tactic. “So what do you think of the Academy?”
Tennison looked up at the spires that reached into the evening sky. He gave a small shrug of his bony shoulders. “It’s alright.”
Alex fought back the sudden surge of protectiveness toward the Academy. It might just be a school to the Termers, but to the Lifers, it was home. Alex suddenly realized that to Tennison, it was also home. He didn’t know what had happened in the boy’s life, but they were both orphans through whatever twist of fate had thrown them together.
“It’s really not that bad,” Alex said, his tone understanding. “It has a tendency to grow on you.”
“It feels hollow,” Tennison replied quietly without looking at Alex.
Alex breathed out quietly through his nose the way he would in wolf form to clear his senses. Tennison was obviously going through a loss. He was avoiding the crowd as much as Alex. That gave Alex an idea. “Want to go for a walk?” he asked.
Tennison gave him a searching look; Alex had the feeling it was the first time the new Lifer had really looked at anything since reaching the Academy. His pale eyes were clear and contained a hint of surprise. “Uh, sure?”
“I’ll take that as an answer instead of a question,” Alex replied, leading the way to the gate. Alex opened it and stepped out.
Tennison paused at the wall. “Are we allowed in the forest?”
“Mostly,” Alex said, pausing a few feet into the trees. He looked over his shoulder at the student. “Don’t worry. I’m the Second of our pack. If anyone’s going to get in trouble, it’ll be me, and I don’t get into trouble.” He paused, then said, “Much.”
“That’s reassuring,” Tennison muttered, following Alex through the heavy metal gate.
Alex stepped behind a tree. He turned around to take off his clothes when he found Tennison behind him.
“Uh, you might want to find your own tree,” Alex suggested.
“To what?” Tennison asked.
Alex smiled. “To phase.”
“Here? Now?” Tennison looked shocked.
“Werewolves were meant to run,” Alex explained. “There are no rules here against phasing.”
He went to another tree and left Tennison standing at the last one with his mouth open.
It only took a few minutes for Tennison to join him beneath the trees in wolf form. Tennison’s gray coat was a shade lighter than Alex’s, and he looked unsure of himself, as if he hadn’t spent enough time as a wolf to be used to the form. Alex trotted a few paces away. He didn’t turn back to look, but listened for Tennison to catch up before he took off running. The other wolf fell in beside him.
Alex had never taken anyone on his favorite run. He meant to just show Tennison the rise the Alphas liked to jump off of into the river, but something changed his mind. He led the way deeper beneath the trees, letting the muscle memory of a thousand such runs guide his paws.
The air cooled as the shadows grew deeper and Alex relied on his hearing and smell to keep on the right path along with his sight. The grays and blacks of the wolf’s eyesight made it easier to pick out shapes amid the darkness. The scent of the thick pine needles that carpeted the forest floor tingled in his sensitive nose. He took a deep breath of the crisp night air and let it out with a wolfish smile. Forgetting the werewolf beside him completely, Alex stretched his legs out, pushing himself at his hardest run.
By the time he reached the junction where the train rounded the corner at close to seven o-clock morning and night, Alex felt his heart stuttering. He grimaced and slowed. Though he tried to push himself further in the hopes that strengthening his heart would fix the problem, it refused to go away. His breath caught in his throat as it stuttered again. Alex stopped running, knowing that if he continued and his heart gave one of its big jumps, he would fall and probably slam into a tree like the other times he refused to listen to his body.
Tennison was right behind him. Alex was shocked that the werewolf had kept up, but he shouldn’t have been. Tennison had the same lanky build as he did in human form; his longer legs had probably allowed him to keep up easier than Alex thought. Alex wondered if the student used to run track at his last school; no human would have stood a chance.
There was a look of joy on Tennison’s face. It was amazing how expressive a wolf could be, given that smiling revealed fangs and looked more like a snarl. Rafe highly discouraged the expression, saying that a smile could easily start a fight based on misunderstanding. Tennison must have known that, because he didn’t smile. Instead, his ears were high and his pale eyes were bright as he looked around at the forest. He lifted one paw and then the other as if he couldn’t stay in one place.
Alex gave a soft snort and began to trot down the decline. Tennison surprised him by racing past. The werewolf stopped and barked a challenge. Alex fought back a grin as he ran to catch up. Instead of stopping, he sped past the wolf. He heard Tennison fall in quickly behind. The two of them raced back to the Academy, their footsteps even and joy singing in Alex’s heart at the run.
Chapter Three
“I’ve never run as a wolf,” Tennison said after they had phased and were walking back to the Academy.
“Never?” Alex asked, amazed.
Tennison shook his head. “My parents thought it would draw too much attention to be outside as a wolf, so we stayed in the house.” He looked like he wanted to say more, but then he closed his mouth, withdrawing.
Alex chose a different topic. “I thought I lost you back there.”
Tennison gave a wolfish snort. “Like you could have. I had miles left i
n me.”
“Me, too,” Alex said, though his heart said otherwise. He pulled open the backdoor and led the way to the Great Hall. He opened the door, than quickly shut it again. “Don’t go in there!”
“What’s wrong?” Tennison asked. He reached for the door.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Alex told him.
When Tennison pulled the huge door open, two rolls and a bowl of chili came flying through. He shut it quickly. “What’s going on?” he asked.
“We apparently missed the feast, but made it in time for the annual food fight,” Alex said, peeking back through the door.
Packs were huddled under tables while others ran around in groups. He grinned at the sight of Boris and Torin leading their packs like Jericho had done last year, taking down the others with precision attacks of vegetables and turkey legs.
“Annual? As in this happens every year?” Tennison asked. At Alex’s nod, the new Lifer shook his head. “This place is strange.”
“Well, we’re supposed to be in there bonding with our pack,” Alex explained.
Tennison looked at him like he was from another planet. “Throwing food at other students is bonding?”
“If you do it as a pack, yes,” Alex replied. “I think this is one experience you need to participate in.”
Tennison shook his head quickly. “No, thank you. I’d rather stay out here.”
Alex grinned. “You have no choice. As your Second, I command you to participate in the food fight.” He looked through the crack in the door again. “Our pack is getting pummeled. It’s our fault for leaving them short-handed. I say we make up for the difference.”
Tennison looked ready to argue. He crossed the hallway. Alex thought the werewolf was going to leave, but Tennison crouched and picked up the two rolls. “For Pack Jericho?” he asked.
Alex grinned and caught the roll Tennison tossed him. “For Pack Jericho.”
Alex pulled open the door with Tennison right behind him. “Jericho!” they yelled. Immediately, every manner of food that had once occupied the tables sailed through the air toward them. Before the werewolves could do much more than duck, they were coated from head to toe in turkey, mashed potatoes, chili, and various types of steamed vegetables.
Tennison wiped potatoes out of one eye. “This is bonding?”
“Don’t you feel it?” Alex said with a laugh. “I’m all covered in bonding.”
“Defend our pack!” Jericho yelled from across the room.
“Pack Jericho!” the others replied.
The werewolves swarmed to their protection. Alex grinned at the sight of Tennison throwing rolls with Cassie and Caitlyn. The little seven-year-old had gravy in her white-blonde hair, and took a bite out of a roll before she threw it.
“Die, you pack vermin you,” the little girl yelled at the top of her lungs.
Everyone paused in what they were doing. Laughter began to bubble up from the crowd. Werewolves stepped from their hiding places armed with food in case the other packs decided to attack, but it was clear Caitlyn’s battle cry had taken the heat out of the battle.
Chuckles followed as brooms were handed out. Alex mopped up a particularly stubborn spattering of cranberry sauce near the door. Tennison paused next to him. “This place is getting better,” the new Lifer admitted.
“Just wait,” Alex replied. “You might even start to like it.”
Tennison smiled and pushed his broom in the other direction.
***
“I might not have Jaze’s, uh Dean Jaze’s, permission for a football team against other schools,” Vance said as soon as Pack Jericho reached the gym, “But that doesn’t mean we can’t start training.”
“Aw, man,” Trent whined.
“What’s wrong?” Boris demanded from the other side of the gym. “Scared?”
“Seriously?” Alex muttered under his breath. “First period and we’re already paired with Pack Boris?”
“The guy’s a troll,” Trent whispered to Tennison.
“Hey,” Kalia replied.
Trent’s eyes widened. “I thought-I thought you were mad at him,” the small werewolf stammered. He ran a hand across his buzzed head. “I didn’t mean any offense.”
“He’s still my brother,” Kalia replied.
“Are you sure?” Boris asked, glaring at her. “I think you forgot that during the Choosing Ceremony.”
Kalia met his glare with one of her own. “I remembered it quite well, thank you.”
Alex bit back a smile. Kalia had fire. At least with her on Pack Jericho, Boris’ attentions were focused on her.
As if he had overheard Alex’s thoughts, the Alpha’s gaze shifted to the fifteen-year-olds. “I blame you,” he mouthed.
A knot twisted in Alex’s stomach.
“Alright, ladies and girls,” Vance said, addressing the group as a whole. The girls snickered at the boys.
“You still have to play football,” Trent reminded his sister.
“This stinks,” Terith replied with a scowl.
Vance ignored them. “Get dressed and meet me out here in two minutes.”
Everyone knew that the physical education teacher truly meant two minutes. They scrambled toward the locker rooms to change.
“Football is just another excuse to hit people and not get in trouble for it,” Trent whined.
“It’s not that bad,” Marky replied. “I always watch football with my dad.”
Trent gave the eight-year-old a pointed look. “I have a feeling this is going to be a bit different.”
“I hope we get to pit packs against each other,” Boris said loudly from the next row of lockers. “Pack Jericho’s made of a bunch of scrawny wimps.”
“Hey!” Steven and Marky said at the same time.
“He’s right,” Trent told them, his tone weak.
Alex fought back a wave of frustration. His pack might not have been made of the strongest members. Besides Don, Jericho, Tennison, and himself, their strengths were centered on more practical subjects like math and history. They were going to get killed.
Pack Boris laughed on their way past. “See you at the slaughter,” Parker, Boris’ Second, said.
“Listen up,” Jericho told his pack as soon as the others were out of the locker room. “This isn’t going to be easy, but we can learn from it. Alex, I want you to be the quarterback.”
Alex stared at him. “I don’t remember the last time I threw a football,” he said.
It wasn’t true. Alex remembered standing in the backyard with his dad when he was seven, throwing the football back and forth between them. His dad was proud of how tight Alex’s spiral was getting, and Alex didn’t drop nearly as many catches as he used to.
“It’s alright,” Jericho told him. “We’ll probably have to hand it off a lot in the beginning anyway, but you need me and Don to protect you. I have a feeling Boris is going to send everything he can your way.”
“What gave you that feeling?” Trent asked a bit snidely. “The target painted on his back?”
Jericho ignored him and looked at the other boys. “Who can run?”
“Tennison,” Alex said into the silence.
Jericho glanced at the new Lifer and nodded. “Good. Let’s make this happen.”
“Two minutes has passed, ladies,” Vance called. “Pack Jericho owes me ten laps at the end of practice.”
“He’s already calling it practice,” Trent muttered. “Isn’t it gym class?”
“Not anymore,” Jericho replied over his shoulder.
Vance lined them up in packs.
“The girls are playing with us?” Boris asked skeptically.
Vance raised his eyebrows. The effect made the huge, hulking werewolf look even more like a bear. “Do you have a problem with that? Maybe we should pit boys against girls. They’re already faster than you, and I’ve never seen an angry she-wolf I’d want to mess with.”
Boris glanced at Pack Jericho. Alex realized the Alpha was worried abo
ut his sister. Since she hadn’t shown any other traits of a werewolf other than her eyes changing colors, she didn’t have the same strength and speed as the rest of the students.
“Uh, Kalia,” Alex said. “Why don’t you fall back? The front line looks ready to kill anyone in their path.”
It was completely true. Pack Boris chomped at the bit; their monster-sized defensive line made Pack Jericho’s look like preschoolers. Alex thought it was a good call, but Kalia gave him a look that threatened death as she fell back behind Talia and Trent. The siblings looked from Kalia to Alex.
“Do you want her to suffocate you in your sleep?” Cassie asked, her tone only half-joking.
“I’m trying to keep her from getting hurt,” Alex argued. “I thought she would appreciate it.”
Cassie shook her head. “You have a lot to learn about girls.”
Alex met Boris’ gaze. The Alpha gave a little chuckle. Alex was glad that Kalia’s brother found the situation humorous. He only wished Kalia felt the same.
“Ready,” Vance called.
Alex blew out a breath of frustration and hunched over behind Marky.
“Hike,” Alex shouted. He caught the ball and backpedaled a few steps. Pack Boris’ offensive line shoved aside Alex’s defense like they weren’t even trying. Within seconds, Alex was flat on his back with the ball clutched tightly to his chest and four of Boris’ werewolves laughing down at him.
“Sorry, Alex,” Amos said. The huge werewolf did indeed look sorry for smashing Alex into the ground.
Amos grabbed him by the shoulders and lifted him back to his feet as if he weighed less than a kitten. “No harm done,” Alex said, though his ribs and bruised chest argued otherwise.
“Alright, alright,” Vance said with what could almost be taken for a smile. “Let’s try not to kill Alex. He may be a bit short for a quarterback, but I’m sure Jericho has his reasons for choosing him."
“So we can kill him,” Parker called out. Everyone on Pack Boris laughed.
Alex set the ball back in the middle.