by Cheree Alsop
He looked around for Cassie. It took the pair a few more minutes, but soon, his sister came down the hall in her cream-colored wolf form. The cute wolf pup that followed close behind made him want to smile. Caitlyn had the pure white coat of a female Alpha. When she was old enough, the little girl would be one of the leaders of the packs at the Academy. But right now she had the gangly legs and fuzzy fur of a pup. She pranced around Cassie and bumped straight into Jericho. The Alpha gave a soft snort of laughter and used his nose to help her back to the huge paws she would eventually grow into.
A howl sounded in the courtyard. Jericho pushed the door open with his nose. They were met by packs swarming down the stairs.
Last year, the packs had gotten stuck in their haste to hurry down. This year, it appeared as though the night games had paid off. Each flowed in order from Alpha to Second, to the rest of the werewolves who followed without shoving those in front. If the organization of the packs was any indication, the games were going to be close.
Alex was happy to see Kalia by Professor Thorson. She spotted him in the crowd of wolves and smiled her gratitude. His chest tightened and he ducked his head.
“Your first mission is one of stealth,” Professor Thorson explained. “As a wolf, you may indeed require absolute silence when avoiding those who wish you harm, or in finding sustenance to fill your bellies. Last year, we created the challenges for you. This year, for the first challenge, you must rely on what you’ve been taught. Use Professor Colleen and Professor Rafe’s training to catch a bird of your choice and bring it back to me.”
The professor held up a finger. “But if the bird is harmed in any way, you forfeit the challenge. This is a test of your stealth as well as your ability to handle a delicate task.”
Torin snorted behind Alex. A few members of Pack Torin snorted their echoed opinions of the professor’s request. Alex didn’t doubt they would rather just kill the bird to make it easier.
On the edge of the clearing a group of wolves stood calmly watching the rest. Alex recognized Jaze’s black Alpha form at the head of the pack. As the rest of the students noticed them, the excitement increased. They were going to get the chance to pit their packs against the leaders of the school. Everyone was determined to win a medal for their Alpha.
Professor Thorson smiled at them. “But as a twist, the last two packs in each competition will be eliminated. Bring the bird back to me. The first pack here gets a medal, as long as the entire pack is together. Stay close, use teamwork, and strengthen the way you work within your pack. These games can be very beneficial to you as you learn to use each other’s strengths on these challenges.”
The werewolves moved within their packs, anxious to be off.
“Want to say it?” Professor Thorson asked Kalia.
“Say what?” she replied, her tone nervous.
He smiled at her. “Begin the games,” he whispered, though every wolf within the clearing heard.
Kalia lifted her voice. “Begin the games!” she yelled.
The wolves took off running.
Alex sniffed the air as they ran. Any birds close to the Academy would have been scared off by the ruckus the students made. Jericho must have had the same thought, because he led them through the bushes and off the trail deeper into the forest. Though they could hear the other packs behind them, they would soon be out of earshot.
A scent touched Alex’s nose. He gave a little huff of warning. The entire pack paused. A surge of pride ran through Alex at how well they obeyed. Even Caitlyn froze at Cassie’s side. The little white wolf looked like she could barely contain her excitement, but she glanced at Cassie and held perfectly still like her chosen mentor was doing.
Jericho followed the scent Alex had found. With soft paws, the black wolf made his way silently along the pine needle strewn forest floor. The pack stood behind Alex, watching their leader’s every step.
The scent of grouse was strong beneath the pines. A quiet cooing sound reached Alex’s sensitive ears. His muscles tensed.
Jericho gave a low, almost silent bark of command. Alex crouched and stalked around the other side of the low-swept pine. He could hear the abated breaths of the rest of their pack as they waited for their Alpha and Second.
Another coo sounded. Alex made out the reddish-brown form of a male grouse as it pecked at the earth beneath the tree. Other sounds indicated that there were more of the birds deeper in the forest. If one spotted the wolves and called a warning, the rest would be gone before the pair could reach them.
Alex glanced to the right. Jericho’s black coat was almost invisible in the deep shadows. The wolf was a few feet from the grouse and it hadn’t noticed him yet. Alex took another step forward. The grouse paused. Alex froze with a paw in the air. The bird began to eat again. Alex gently set the paw down and took another step.
Jericho was almost to the bird. The animal’s back was to the Alpha as it pecked at bugs hiding within the damp soil. Jericho inched forward. His paw found a twig. A slight snap sounded.
The bird’s head lifted. If it looked to the right, it would see Jericho and fly away, warning the rest of the birds in the area of the danger.
Alex gave a soft cough to catch the bird’s attention. The grouse’s head turned. Its beady eye stared directly at him. It froze for the briefest second. Jericho took advantage of the delay and crossed the rest of the space between them. In less than a heartbeat, Jericho had his jaws around the bird’s neck and a paw on its back. It squawked and flapped, trying to get away. The rest of the birds gave startled cries and took off; the beat of their wings said there were more of them than Alex had guessed. Jericho put a bit more pressure on bird’s back. The animal froze, terrified. Jericho shifted his grip from its neck to its back.
Jericho picked the bird up in his jaws softer than Alex had ever seen a wolf carry anything. Jericho gave Alex a wide-eyed look. Alex held in a laugh. Neither of them had been in that position before. He was glad he wasn’t the one with a mouth full of feathers that could try to escape at any moment.
The wolves of Pack Jericho stared at them when they passed. They fell in behind their Alpha and Second and the pack made their way swiftly back to the Academy.
Alex couldn’t believe any of the packs could have beaten their time. They had found birds faster than he had expected, caught the very first one, and were already on their return trip. No one could have been so lucky.
Chapter Eleven
They reached the clearing in front of the gate just in time to see Jaze with a mourning dove in his jaws. Professor Thorson accepted the small bird with great care. The dove sat quietly in his hand for a minute as though amazed it was still alive. The professor lifted his hand. Suddenly, the bird took flight. Within seconds, the animal was out of sight.
“Your bird was unharmed and you are the first pack to return,” Professor Thorson said proudly. “You have completed the first mission.” He picked up a medal on a ribbon and hung it around Jaze’s neck. “Wait beneath the trees for the next competition.”
Alex caught a gleam of competitiveness in the dean’s eyes when the pack trotted past. Alex snorted and Jaze flashed a wolfish smile.
“Go ahead and get their bird, my dear,” Professor Thorson instructed.
“Get the bird?” Kalia repeated, eyeing the grouse in Jericho’s mouth with uncertainty.
“Go ahead,” the professor urged. “I don’t imagine either of them is enjoying the situation much.”
Jericho shook his head. The grouse gave a squawk.
Kalia reached timidly for Jericho’s mouth. He opened his jaws. Before Kalia could touch the animal, the grouse gave a flap of its wings and burst into the air. Its scolding call echoed over the forest as it flew away.
Professor Thorson laughed. “Well, at least we know it was alright. Well done, Pack Jericho. Take a place with your elders.”
Though they hadn’t gotten first place, Alex was proud of how well their pack had listened to commands and acted within the forest.
Their pack settled on the grass a few paces from Jaze’s. The dean gave them a nod of approval. Pride swelled in Alex’s chest.
“Torin, really?”
The disappointment in the professor’s voice caught Alex’s attention. Pack Torin had reached the clearing. The Lifer Alpha carried a bird in his jaws that was clearly no longer alive. Blood coated the Alpha’s muzzle and chest. The bird’s neck hung at an unnatural angle. Neither the professor nor Kalia would take it. He deposited it at their feet.
“Pack Torin is disqualified,” Professor Thorson said with a shake of his head.
Torin trotted over to the other two packs with a pleased expression on his face.
A growl sounded. It wasn’t deep or loud, but the tone sent a shiver down Alex’s spine.
Torin stopped in his tracks, his attention on Jaze. The dean stood a few feet from the packs with his gaze on the Lifer Alpha. No words needed to be spoken to express the disapproval in Jaze’s gaze.
Torin’s head and tail lowered. He glanced back at his pack. None of them would meet his eyes. He paced to a spot in the clearing a bit further from the other packs and sat down more subdued than when he had entered.
Pack Shannon reached the clearing next. Shannon carried a grouse as well, but it was smaller than the one Pack Jericho had found, and had the lighter coloring of a female. When she spotted the dead bird, Shannon immediately sought out Torin. The disgust and anger in her glare let him know exactly how she felt.
Memories surged forward of the time Alex had helped Rafe’s wild wolf pack bring down an elk the previous year during wilderness education. Shannon had been the angriest about that, yet to Alex, it was different. The elk had fed Rafe’s pack. The animal was older, lame, and wouldn’t have survived winter. The wolves had done what they were supposed to do, fill their bellies and ensure that only the strongest animals went on to produce offspring and further the strength of their species.
But the bird Torin had killed proved no such purpose. It hadn’t died to feed hungry animals; in all appearances, it had been healthy and whole before Torin found it. The fact that the Alpha had killed the animal just because he found it humorous made Alex’s chest tightened. Death wasn’t something to be taken lightly. He knew the dean didn’t take it lightly either. There was no doubt Torin would receive further punishment for his actions.
“Come back in,” Professor Thorson yelled when Pack Miguel brought in a starling. Alex wondered where they had found the bird, but when the professor let it go, it flew haphazardly to the nearest tree, its wing whole but crooked as though it had broken it sometime not too long ago. He figured the bird probably found it easier to reach the lower branches close to the ground to rest; that was no doubt where Miguel had caught it.
Professor Thorson nodded at the group. “Well done, students. As some of you know, Pack Torin has been disqualified for failing to obey the rules of the competition and killing the bird they brought in. They will also be required clean the kitchen under Cook Jerald’s supervision for the rest of the month.” At the snorts and groans of protest from the pack, the professor speared them with a look. “Perhaps that will teach you to give more respect to life.” He gave a small smile. “Or at least instruct you that the consequences of actions may not be worth the enjoyment you received while doing them.”
Kalia whispered something to the professor that Alex couldn’t catch. A grin spread across the professor’s face. “Good suggestion,” he replied. He met Torin’s gaze. “I’m sure Cook Jerald also won’t mind preparing this bird as your next pack’s meal as well.”
Torin glared daggers at Kalia. She ignored him and glanced at Alex. He widened his eyes in a what-are-you-doing look. She gave a tiny shrug of her shoulders, her pale blue eyes sparkling in the moonlight.
Alex was glad that at least she was having a good time, but Torin wasn’t a pleasant enemy. Alex made a mental note to warn her when he could talk again.
“Packs Drake and Kelli are also eliminated for having the slowest completion time,” Professor Thorson informed them. The packs took up spots near Pack Torin to watch the rest of the full moon games. “Your next game is a race,” the professor continued. “You will be running to that ridge and back.” The professor pointed to the ridge students used to jump off into the small lake. It was about half a mile away. “The first pack to return here with all of their members wins the medal.” He lifted a pair of binoculars. “I’ll know if each of your pack members reaches the top.” The professor nodded his head at Kalia.
She raised a hand. All of the wolves tensed. She dropped it and shouted, “Go!”
Alex ran behind Jericho. The rest of their pack flowed close behind, jumping logs and dodging bushes as one. They could hear the other packs on either side of them. The trail was too crowded. Wolves began to fall back as their Alphas took them on other routes. Pack Boris pushed ahead. They ran over the wolves who wouldn’t get out of the way. Terith yelped when Boris shoved her with his shoulder into a tree trunk. Trent growled, but the Alpha and his pack was already past.
Jericho slowed just long enough for Terith to get her bearings, then he was racing again with the rest of them at his heels. Alex had no idea where Jaze’s pack was. No doubt they knew the forest better than any of the students. He could picture another medal around Jaze’s neck. The image spurred him to run faster.
The pack leaped another log of a tree whose trunk was colored black from the lightning strike that had killed it. A yip called behind him. He recognized Cassie’s voice. A glance back showed Cassie still behind the log. A little white head poked over. Caitlyn was having difficulty making it.
Alex barked to notify Jericho of what he was doing before he turned and galloped back to the pair. He leaped the log and spun. Using his teeth as gently as he could, he grabbed Caitlyn by the nape of her neck and lifted her over. She took off running behind Cassie as soon as her paws touched the ground. Alex raced after them. They reached Markey and Max. Alex stayed behind to help Caitlyn. He had to give the little werewolf credit. Even though she was at a disadvantage with the huge paws she hadn’t grown into yet, she pushed herself to keep up with Cassie.
Alex’s sister gave barks of encouragement whenever Caitlyn faltered. Alex lifted her over another log. The path began to ascend. They could hear the other packs around them. A glance back showed Pack Shannon close on their heels.
Jericho gave a sharp bark and turned off the trail. Everyone followed without question. Alex had explored the forest since they had first been taken to the Academy. He knew exactly where the Alpha was going. The ridge could be reached by the trail that ran up the backside, but it wound north in order to avoid the denser areas. A faint path made its way up the boulders and shale that created the face of the ridge. It was a harder climb and more perilous, but shaved a good amount of time off the climb. Alex knew because that was the trail he always chose.
Alex fought back a grin at the sight of Jaze’s pack above them. Of course the dean would know of the trail as well. Alex gritted his teeth. He was determined to help Jericho win the medal.
Caitlyn tried to leap the first big boulder. Alex slowed her with his shoulder before she crashed back to the ground. Cassie had reached the rock above. The rest of the pack scrambled up the path. Jericho was a black shadow on the boulders further up. It was a hard climb for even the larger wolves; there was no way Caitlyn would make it.
Alex grabbed Caitlyn gently by the scruff of the neck again. He was worried about hurting her, but he knew she would be heartbroken if her inability to climb made them lose the challenge.
Caitlyn hung quietly in his jaws as he made the first leap. His claws scrambled for purchase. He found a grip, and pulled himself up. He set her down and gave her a searching look. She gave an accepting yip, her green eyes bright in the moonlight. Alex grabbed her scruff again and jumped. It was easier the second time because he knew how the weight pulled. He set his paws more carefully, studied the rock above, and landed in the center.
By the time
they reached the middle, Alex was exhausted. It was a hard enough climb without carrying a werewolf pup. But Caitlyn held still even though he knew his fangs must hurt no matter how gently he tried to carry her.
Howls came down to them from the top of the ridge. A shiver ran down Alex’s spine. It was his pack, encouraging him and Caitlyn on their climb. He couldn’t respond as he carried her, but the little wolf raised her muzzle and howled back. The high, sweet sound almost made him smile and drop her. He reminded himself that wolves didn’t smile and leaped up the next boulder. The howls above him sounded louder.
Other voices mingled with his pack’s. Alex recognized Jaze’s voice among them. Jaze’s pack was howling their encouragement as well. Even though they were supposed to be in a challenge against each other, his pack was cheering for Alex and Caitlyn. Alex jumped up the next boulder, then the next. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, but it was strong and didn’t falter.
He took a deep breath and was about to leap again when a sound caught his attention. It was a high-pitched whining buzz that raced toward them. Jaze gave a bark of warning. Alex glanced over his shoulder in time to see a small object speeding toward them. He ducked to protect Caitlyn.
The missile hit the rock where his head had been. The force of the blow knocked Alex and Caitlyn from the side of the ridge. Alex managed to keep ahold of Caitlyn. He pulled her against his chest as they fell. He hit the ground on his back, the little wolf held tight against him.
Caitlyn’s yips of fear pounded against his ears that rang from the impact of the missile. The fact that they were in danger sounded over and over in his mind. He needed to make sure Cassie was safe, but his shoulder throbbed with pain and he couldn’t move.