The Werewolf Academy Series Boxed Set

by Cheree Alsop

  Torin rolled to the side. Sid bit his shoulder, trying to help right his Alpha. Another heave from Amos sent them both tumbling over the edge of the net. Luckily, the fall wasn’t far, but it left the Termer Alpha and his Second on the ground and out of the challenge.

  Alex fought back a grin as he made his way carefully around Amos. The huge werewolf had almost untangled himself from the net. Jericho was already on the other side and running for the next obstacle. Cassie and Tennison crossed with Alex as Trent, Terith, and several from Pack Torin followed.

  Logs on bearings made up the next challenge. Alex set a paw carefully on the first horizontal beam. It rolled beneath his weight. Ahead, Jericho carefully crossed to the final log. Alex gritted his teeth. There was only one way he was going to catch his Alpha. He backed up as the rest of his pack mates who had made it to that point watched. Gathering his legs beneath him, he took a flying leap across the rolling beams.

  Alex landed close to the end, but the logs beneath his feet rolled, pinning his paws beneath him. Alex tried to struggle. When he pulled, the log behind him rolled forward, pulling his legs down further. Alex was completely stuck.

  Jericho glanced back and a wolfish grin crossed his face when he saw his Second’s predicament. He trotted back to the edge of the platform. Alex caught the Alpha’s quizzical expression and tried to shrug his shoulders. He had no idea how to get himself out. He gave a huff of wolf laughter. Jericho answered with the same.

  The log behind Alex began to roll in the opposite direction. Alex glanced back to see Cassie and Tennison standing carefully on the other logs with their paws on the beam. Working as a team, they walked it backwards. It looked ridiculous, but it work. Alex was able to free his paws. He scrambled for the edge of the platform where Jericho waited. Both Cassie and Tennison reached the platform with them. The laughter in Cassie’s eyes echoed how Alex felt. It had been a foolhardy move, and yes, his sister had been the one to free him.

  Alex ducked his head with his ears back, indicating that the other two wolves should go first. Cassie nipped his shoulder as she trotted past, her dark blue eyes alight with teasing. Alex swallowed his pride and followed them, knowing he wouldn’t have reached the platform if it wasn’t for their help.

  The next obstacle was narrow with two beams on either side, but a huge hole in the middle. The wolves were forced to walk slowly in single file, keeping an eye on their paws as they paced carefully, placing one paw on the beam to the side before lifting the other. It was a strange way for a wolf to walk, but eventually, the werewolves made it across.

  Alex was beginning to think that the obstacle course might not be so bad until he reached the next challenge. A series of wooden beams several feet apart and rising in height led to the next platform. Each wolf was required to jump from one to the next, but the platforms were narrow; they barely gave enough room for the werewolf to stand with all four paws. They were also sloped without traction for paws or claws to catch.

  Jericho attempted the first one. He slid to the edge and managed to jump before he fell. He performed the feat again, but at the third one, he didn’t land it straight and slipped off the platform to the net below. Jericho rolled off the net the ground and looked up at those who remained of his pack and Pack Torin.

  Tennison attempted the challenge next. His stride was longer than either Alex or Cassie, and he jumped as though it was second nature. The werewolf was almost to the end when his back paws slipped on the leap. He scrambled for purchase on the next ledge, but couldn’t find any.

  A yip of fear left Cassie as Tennison fell to the net below. He rolled unscathed to the ground and joined Jericho. The rest of the wolves gathered around them to watch Alex, Cassie, and two of Pack Torin who remained.

  Alex gave Cassie an encouraging nod. His sister snorted and trotted to the edge of the platform. She landed on the first ledge and her paws slipped, sending her to the net below. Alex couldn’t tell if she had done it by accident or by choice, but she didn’t look too put out as she joined Tennison on the ground. She had never been one to enjoy the spotlight. Alex wouldn’t be surprised if his twin had fallen on purpose just to keep so many students from watching her.

  Alex was about to attempt the leap when a shoulder pushed him aside. Justice, another member of Torin’s pack who had taken a considerable disliking to Alex, glared at him with his ears back.

  Alex debating about fighting the wolf; he could throw him off the ledge and disqualify the student, or watch him fail in his attempt to cross the course. Alex decided that the latter would be more fun. He tipped his head to indicate Justice could have the right of way and sat at the side, an innocent bystander.

  Justice gave a strong snort, stating in wolf fashion that the course was his to complete. Alex watched the wolf make his way to the back of the platform, then rush forward for the first leap. At the last second, Alex stuck out his nose and caught Justice’s back leg. The werewolf missed the ledge entirely and fell straight down to the ropes below. A growl of rage reached Alex’s ears. He gave an answering huff of laughter.

  The final member of Torin’s pack waited quietly. Lee had never been a confrontational student. Alex figured that the only reason Torin chose the Termer every year was to ensure that his pack mates passed their classes. Lee was extremely smart and excelled at all of their studies. Alex had no doubt the student was personally responsible for the advancement through the terms of the entire Pack Torin.

  Alex tipped his head toward the course, indicating for Lee to go first. Lee gave him a searching look. Alex knew the student was wondering if he would also be tripped. Alex gave a wolfish grin and made his way to the furthest end of the platform. He sat down and waited for Lee.

  The student studied the course ahead. He gathered his legs underneath him and jumped, landing well on the first ledge. He made it to the second, then the third. He leaped for the fourth, but hit the ledge with too much force. His paws skittered off the end. He grappled for a second to stay on, but the angled ledge proved too much. Alex watched the final werewolf fall to the net.

  Alex rose. All eyes were on him. He had never jumped ledges like those in front of him. Boulders were easier with their varied sides and friction from the rocks, but smooth ledges appeared to be a completely different obstacle.

  Rafe barked from above. A surge of determination rose in Alex’s chest at the encouragement. He advanced to the edge. The next ledge didn’t look that far away. Alex took a few steps back, leaped forward, and landed on the angled surface.

  His claws scratched the smooth wood as he scrambled to stay on. The angle was too steep. Alex could either jump or fall. He bunched his legs together and sprang for the next ledge. He jumped for the next as quickly as he could. A cadence of gather, leap, gather, leap followed until Alex was at the second to last ledge. Wolf howls and barks called up from below as the other students cheered him on.

  “You’ve got this, Alex,” Kalia yelled.

  Alex’s paws were slipping. He would only have one chance. He pulled his legs beneath him, felt his muscles tighten with anticipation, and sprang just as his heart decided to skip a beat.

  His trajectory was so off that he barely caught the edge of the last ledge before he was falling. The distance from the obstacle to the net had seemed a lot further, but he hit the ropes in what felt like less than a second. His heart thundered in his chest as he fought to catch his breath. He rolled to the edge of the net and reached the ground. The students in wolf form around him bumped his shoulder and grinned good-naturedly. They had all attempted the course and failed.

  Colleen smiled at them. “I didn’t say it would be easy,” she said with a wink. “Perhaps you’ll get further tomorrow.”

  With that, she released the class to phase back to human form and return to the school.

  “At least you’ll have a good appetite for lunch,” she called after them.

  “That’s for sure,” Trent replied when he was in human form again. He jogged to catch up to Pack Jer
icho. “I’m starving.”

  “I could eat a whole cow,” Pip exclaimed at the werewolf’s side.

  “Stupid course,” Torin muttered. “Who ever heard of a wolf climbing ropes? That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen.”

  Alex couldn’t help himself. “You did look pretty stupid up there,” he replied.

  Amos gave a deep laugh behind Alex. “Torin look stupid,” the big werewolf huffed.

  Torin grabbed Alex by the front of his shirt and pinned him to a tree. “What did you say, Stray?” the Alpha demanded.

  Alex forced an innocent expression on his face; it was harder than he thought it would be. “I said the ropes were pretty stupid up there.”

  “Let him go, Torin,” Jericho said.

  Torin lifted his teeth in a snarl. “Watch yourself, Stray,” the Termer said with enough zest to leave spit on Alex’s cheek.

  Alex wiped it away. “Oh, I will,” he reassured the Alpha.

  Torin let him go and stormed away, leaving the rest of his pack to catch up.

  “What was that?” Jericho asked.

  Alex shrugged. “Guess I should think before I speak,” he replied noncommittally.

  “Guess you should,” Jericho replied, unconvinced.

  Chapter Six

  “I’m really not sure why werewolves have to take poetry,” Boris grumbled from the back of Professor Grace’s classroom.

  Grace smiled, her sightless blue eyes creasing at the corners. “I’m glad you asked, Boris. Poetry is a form of art.”

  “Like with colors and stuff?” Parker, Boris’ Second, asked dryly.

  “Exactly,” Grace replied.

  Alex knew the professor good enough to know that she heard Parker’s sarcasm. She felt for the edge of her desk and took a seat on the wooden chair.

  “The cadence of the velvet paws

  Thrummed softly in my ears.

  My heart’s staccato rhythm

  Chased away my tears.

  I lost myself beneath the trees,

  Their shelter overhead.

  I found myself a quiet place,

  Soft pine needles my bed.

  I closed my eyes and shut it out,

  The pain and fears were gone.

  I heard it then, the quiet whisper,

  Of a wolven song.

  The howls rose all around me,

  Tremors starting in my chest.

  The forest sounds all died away,

  As more howls joined the rest.

  I was swept away by song,

  It touched my heart and soul.

  I closed my eyes and fell asleep,

  As exhaustion took its toll.

  When I awoke, the day had lightened,

  The forest was no more.

  My room was filled with silence,

  And the wolves were just from lore.

  Yet there upon my pillow,

  Sat a single silver hair;

  It matched the autumn forest,

  And the wolves I had seen there.

  I held it and I smiled,

  As one tiny tear broke free;

  I would never be alone,

  For the wolves watched over me.”

  Boris broke the silence that followed Grace’s recitation. “What was that?”

  “A poem,” Grace replied simply. “I’ll teach you how to write them.”

  “Too many words,” Amos said.

  Grace nodded. “Not all poems need to have many words. You don’t even need to rhyme. A poem comes from your heart and gives you the means to express yourself. I’ll help you, Amos.”

  “I learn poems,” Amos replied with a proud smile.

  “Us, too,” Cassie said.

  Grace smiled at her in gratitude.

  ***

  “Seriously? Economics and geometry? What are we, Einsteins?” Marky protested when geometry with Meredith had finished and they were trailing out of the classroom.

  “Actually, yes,” Meredith said.

  At Marky’s incredulous look, Meredith explained, “Werewolves are brilliant. You might not know it, but every year you have here at the Academy is equal to three years in a regular human school. Why else do you think the younger members of your packs are in the same classes as the older ones? We might give them easier problems, but you are all on a learning curve much higher than you would be if you went to a regular school.”

  “So you’re saying that geometry is hard because it is, actually, hard?” Marky asked. “I’m not dumb?”

  Meredith shook her head with a warm smile. “Quite the opposite. You’re all amazing. By the time you finish here, you’ll be head and shoulders above the students at any college you want to go to. The geometry I’m teaching is actually prepped for a college ten-ten course.” At their blank looks, she explained, “That means the type of course you would take your first year in college. By the time you guys are done here, we’re going to have a hard time finding enough classes to challenge you.”

  “You’ve already done it,” Pip said.

  “It’s not that bad,” Trent countered. “I’ll teach you.”

  “Thank you, Trent.”

  Meredith smiled. “That’s why we teach in packs, because each of you has your own strengths. Help each other keep up, and you’ll do just fine.”

  “I’m not so sure about some of those other packs,” Pip said when they left the classroom. “I mean, how’s the likes of Parker or Sid supposed to learn college level geometry?”

  Jericho stopped the small werewolf with a hand on his shoulder. “Careful, Pip. There are a lot of ears out here.” He gave the werewolf a smile. “Though not as big as yours.”

  Pip grinned, proud of his unusual large features.

  “But you’ve got to take care what you say and who you say it around,” Jericho warned.

  “I will,” Pip promised.

  The little werewolf hurried to catch up to Marky and Trent. Jericho shook his head with a glance at Alex. “That one’s going to get himself killed.”

  “He keeps us on our toes,” Alex agreed. He turned down the next hall.

  “Coming to dinner?” Jericho called.

  Alex nodded. “I’ll be there. I just left my notebook in combat training.”

  “Catch you later,” Jericho replied.

  Alex hurried down the hall. He hadn’t left his notebook in the classroom. In fact, he held it in his hand, but something kept him walking down the hall. He wasn’t one to put aside hunches. They had saved his life on more than one occasion, and he knew better than to second-guess them. The feeling intensified when the sound of commotion caught his ears.

  “Do it again,” someone said.

  Laughter broke out.

  “Look at it,” another voice called. “It’s hilarious.”

  A strange hissing noise came to Alex’s ears followed by more laughter. He jogged forward.

  “Throw it.”

  Alex recognized Sid’s voice. The sound made him bare his teeth.

  “Watch it squirm,” Torin said.

  A yowl of pain sent a shiver down Alex’s spine. He paused in the doorway at the sight of Torin’s entire pack in the combat training room.

  Against instincts that screamed for self-preservation, Alex asked, “What are you guys doing?”

  All of the werewolves turned at the sound of his voice. Several shuffled sideways as if trying to hide something from him. A scent touched his nose. He peered through their feet, trying to see the source. To Alex’s dismay, a little black kitten sat huddled on the floor in obvious pain.

  “Go away, Alex,” Torin growled. The kitten tried to walk forward. Torin kicked it back.

  Anger ran through Alex’s body. He stepped into the room. “Leave it alone.”

  Torin’s gaze narrowed. “No.”

  Alex clenched and unclenched his fists. He knew he was stupid to press the situation. One werewolf against fourteen, with one of them an Alpha, was a losing situation no matter how he looked at it. But he couldn’t leave the helple
ss animal to be tortured by whatever means Torin found amusing.

  He took another step forward. “Leave. This. Room.” He spaced the words careful so that they would sink into Torin’s thick skull.

  The Alpha’s eyes narrowed at the insult. “Careful, Alex,” Torin said quietly, his tone dangerous. “You just crossed a line and your Alpha’s not here to protect you.”

  Torin walked away from the kitten. The rest of the pack followed. The animal sat hunched near the wall as if hoping to avoid further attention.

  “I crossed the line long ago,” Alex replied. Drawing Torin’s attention away from the kitten and to himself was stupid, but he couldn’t help himself. Seeing a bully pick on a defenseless target filled his vision with red. Thoughts of Drogan walking toward him as he protected his twin sister ran through his mind. The knife dripped blood fresh from slaying his parents. Drogan’s mismatched eyes bored into his thoughts.

  “You’ve been asking for this for a long time,” Torin said. The rest of his pack fell in around Alex, cutting off his escape.

  “You have no idea,” Alex replied. He swung at Torin.

  Torin ducked. Alex anticipated the Alpha’s reaction and lashed out with his left hand. His fist caught Torin in the face. Alex dropped and kicked out, sweeping the Alpha’s legs out from under him. Alex was about to jump on Torin when hands grabbed him from behind, pinning his arms. Alex struggled, but Sid and Justice tightened their grips.

  Torin climbed to his feet. He wiped a few drops of blood from the corner of his lip and looked down at the red smeared across the back of his hand. Torin’s jaw clenched with fury.

  “I’m going to make sure you regret not dying with your parents, Stray,” Torin growled. His fist connected with Alex’s face, then his stomach.

  Hands tightened as the punches met their marks. Alex tried to fight. He scraped his heel along Sid’s shin and tried to knee Justice in the groin, but more hands reached around, holding him fast.

  Torin’s knuckles bloodied. Alex couldn’t think through the fog that filled his mind. His heart stuttered. He tried to free his arms. The pressure increased. His heart skipped another beat. Alex’s knees gave out. He wanted to fight back, but his body wouldn’t respond.