by Cheree Alsop
They swam to shore and were met by the rest of Pack Alex and Pack Jericho.
“Ready to head back?” Siale asked quietly.
Alex nodded. He put an arm around her shoulders and held her close to him as they took the journey through the abnormally quiet forest. It felt as though even the trees still lingered, caught in the song of the wolves who had howled their torment to the moon.
Meredith met them at the Academy steps. She gave Cassie and Alex both a hug. “They’re going to bury Nikki tomorrow in the town where she and Jaze met,” she told them, her words soft. “Kaynan and Grace are keeping vigil.”
Worry for the dean filled Alex. “Where’s Jaze?”
Meredith’s expression was sad when she replied, “I sent him to bed. He looked like he was ready to drop.”
Alex held open the door for his pack mates and mother to walk through.
“Are you coming?” Siale asked when he paused on the stairs to their quarters.
“I’ll be up in a bit,” Alex replied. “I just want to check on Jaze.”
She gave him a soft kiss. “You care so much,” she said. The little furrow that formed between her eyebrows whenever she was worried about him was there.
He brushed her arm with his hand. “I’ll be up soon; I promise.”
He jogged back down the stairs, then walked soundlessly along the hallway to the quarters Jaze and Nikki had shared. Nikki had insisted that the door never be locked in case Alex or Cassie needed them. Finding it still unlocked touched Alex. He pushed the door open and closed it softly behind him.
His sneakers sunk into the carpet when he walked down the hall to Jaze’s room. He knew the photographs on the walls by heart and didn’t need to look at them to feel Nikki’s smile in the one where she crouched next to Cassie to look at the grasshopper the little girl had found, or the picture of Nikki laughing after she had pushed Jaze into the lake, followed by the next one where Jaze pulled Nikki in with him.
Alex lingered by his favorite one. It was a photograph of him shortly after he had arrived at the Academy with Cassie. He remembered the moment well. He had climbed onto the wall to see the trees he could smell on the other side. The seemingly endless expanse of forest called to him, beckoning for him to jump down and just be a wolf, to run wild and free away from the pain of the world, to just be an animal and forget about the sorrow that dogged his every step.
Nikki had been the one to find him. The picture was of her sitting next to him, her arm around his shoulders and her own gaze on the trees beyond.
“It would be nice to just be a wolf, wouldn’t it?” his young self had asked her.
“Yes,” she had agreed with a smile. “It definitely would. But you know what?”
“What?”
“You would miss what makes being a werewolf special,” she had replied.
Alex remembered his doubt when he asked, “What makes being a werewolf special?”
“Well,” Nikki replied. “This, for one thing. Don’t you think you would miss talking?”
Alex had shaken his head. “I could do without talking,” he replied with certainty.
The memory of her fond smile still lingered in his mind. “You remind me so much of your brother. Jet didn’t talk much, either, but when he did speak, he said a whole lot with just a few words.”
Alex liked the thought that he was similar to his brother.
“What else would I miss?”
Nikki thought about it for a moment. “Fingers. You wouldn’t be able to make things or color. You’d have paws your whole life.”
Young Alex had stretched out his hand and studied it. “It is pretty cool to make things,” he had finally admitted. “Chet says he can teach me how to fight.”
Nikki nodded. “Fighting’s pretty cool, especially if you can help those who are weaker.”
“That’s what Jet did,” Alex said with a smile. He gave a determined little nod. “That’s what I’m going to do. I guess I better stay a werewolf, huh?”
“I think that’s wise,” Nikki had replied.
Alex set a hand on the picture. It made his heart ache to think that he wouldn’t hear her voice ever again.
As if to contradict him, Alex heard Nikki’s voice as clear as day say, “This is the happiest moment of my life.”
Alex’s heart slowed and he crossed the hall.
Chapter Seventeen
A light flickered in the living room. Alex paused in the doorway, uncertain about what he would find. The scene in front of him broke his heart.
Jaze slept on the couch with little baby Vicki curled next to him and protect by his arm from rolling off the side. She looked so comfortable and perfect sleeping in her father’s embrace. Her cheeks were rosy and little wisps of curly blond hair showed beneath her tiny pink cap.
Alex’s gaze strayed to the little boy sitting on the floor in front of the couch. Little William had his knees under his chin and his arms around his legs. His gaze was locked on the screen of the television Alex couldn’t see from his vantage point.
Alex stepped into the room. He knew what he would find, and how hard it would be to face. He let out a slow breath and turned to see Nikki on the television in her wedding dress. Her smile was huge as she walked with Jaze down the aisle.
“I miss her.”
Alex’s gaze shifted back to William. The three year old boy kept his gaze on the screen.
“I miss her, too,” Alex said softly.
“When will she come back?”
Alex closed his eyes for a moment. He opened them and crouched in front of the little boy who was like a brother to him.
“What did your dad say?” Alex asked. His gaze flickered to Jaze, but neither the dean nor the little baby gave any sign that his quiet voice disturbed their slumber.
William dropped his gaze to the floor. “He said she had to go away, and we wouldn’t see her again for a long time.” The little boy frowned in concentration as if it was important to him that he got his father’s words right. “He said she left to go see her mommy and daddy who were very far away.”
Tears filled Alex’s eyes. He sat on the ground. At his motion, the little boy climbed on his lap as if he just wanted to be held. Alex cuddled him close against his chest.
“She loves you very much, do you know that?” Alex asked. His voice cracked on the question.
William nodded, his cowlicked blond hair tickling Alex’s chin. “She told me every day.”
Alex smiled despite the tears that began to run down his cheeks. “That’s good,” he told the little boy. “Because it’s true. Never forget that.”
“Daddy said the same thing.”
Alex nodded. A sob of loss filled his chest, but he kept it at bay. “You…you’ve made her very proud,” he said. “Are you going to help your dad with baby Vicki?”
William nodded and he peered around Alex at his sister with a warm smile. “Daddy said Mommy gave her to us as a goodbye gift, and that it’s my job to watch over her.”
Alex smiled and wiped his tears on his sleeve. “He’s right. Sisters are very important.”
“Like Cassie?” William asked in his little voice.
Alex nodded. “Just like Cassie. Can you take care of Vicki the way I do Cass?”
“I will,” William promised. “Because Mommy said if I did, I would always have a best friend.” The little boy paused, then said, “But how long do I have to take care of her before I get a dog?”
Alex gave a soft laugh. “I think she meant that Vicki would be your best friend.”
William looked a little disappointed. “So no dog?”
Alex shook his head. “But sisters are great.”
“I suppose,” William replied with a little sigh. “But she doesn’t want me yet.”
“Don’t worry,” Alex reassured him. “Soon, she’ll be old enough to walk and play, and then you’re going to have a great time together.”
“Promise?” William asked doubtfully.
“I pr
omise.”
William gave a little nod and climbed down from Alex’s lap. He sat on the floor and turned his attention back to the video. “Daddy said I can watch this whenever I want.” He looked at Alex. “It’s when they decided to be my mommy and daddy.”
A wave of emotions filled Alex at the sight of Nikki and Jaze kissing. He felt like he either needed to smile or cry, and crying wouldn’t help little William at all. He settled for saying, “I know they’re very happy they decided to be your mommy and daddy.”
William nodded. “Mommy told me that, too, before she went away.”
Alex attempted a happy smile, but it came out sad. “You know, my parents went away when I was only a bit older than you.”
“Both of them?” William asked in surprise.
Alex nodded. “That’s when I came to live here.”
“With my mommy and daddy.”
Alex smiled. “Your mommy and daddy took good care of me and Cassie.”
“Will you be here to take care of me?”
Alex stared at the little boy. William’s eyes were the same beautiful blue his mother’s had been. Alex could almost see Nikki looking at him with a matching hopeful expression.
“Of course,” Alex promised. “I’ll always be here for you.”
A yawn escaped the little boy.
“Are you getting tired?” Alex asked. A glance at the clock on the wall said it was far later than he had expected.
William nodded wordlessly.
“I’ll tuck you in,” Alex told him.
Alex turned the television off and walked with William to his bedroom. The little boy climbed on his bed and waited for Alex to pull up the covers. Alex kissed William on the forehead.
“Goodnight, Will. We’ll hang out a lot more while your mom’s gone, okay?”
“Okay,” William replied with a tired smile. “I like that. It’ll give me something to do while I wait for Vicki to be able to play.”
“Good; it’s a deal, then,” Alex promised. He turned off the light.
The steady sound of William sleeping breaths filled the air. Alex shook his head, amazed at how quickly the little boy had fallen asleep.
“Goodnight, William,” he whispered.
Alex made his way back up the hallway. One more glance showed Jaze and Vicki still asleep on the couch. Alex wondered if he should help Jaze to bed, but thought maybe Jaze was avoiding sleeping without Nikki at his side. After checking to make sure Vicki was alright, Alex walked quietly back down the hall and shut the door.
The sight of Siale sitting on the carpet across the hall waiting for him filled him with an overwhelming need to hold her. She crossed to him silently and rested her head against his chest. He closed his eyes and, for the first time in what felt like way too long, he relished just having her in his arms.
Her sage and lavender scent filled him with each breath. He thought of how much it meant to him to have her scent around him every day. It was strengthening and filling. He thought about the first time he had smelled it in the hospital after they had been rescued from the body pit. He had fallen asleep in his bed and had a horrible nightmare about her dying in the pit. As soon as he awoke, he went to check on her, but her room was empty. Only the scent of sage and lavender remained, teasing him, beckoning to him. He knew at that moment that he would never be the same.
“I have an idea,” he told Siale.
Ten minutes later, they were in the helicopter with Trent at the controls and Jordan in the seat next to him. Jordan’s spikey red hair stood out all around the headset she wore.
“I’m not sure Jaze would approve of this mission,” Trent said for the tenth time.
“Brock let us go,” Jordan reminded him. “He must have thought it was a good idea.”
“I wouldn’t get you in trouble,” Alex told Trent. “You know how careful I am about following the rules.”
Trent gave a snort of disbelief and Jordan laughed.
“Anything to help Jaze is a good idea,” Siale said. “It’ll be worth it; trust us.”
Alex and Siale’s fingers were intertwined as they sat side by side on the back seat.
“Thank you for coming with me,” Alex told her.
She smiled up at him. “I want to be a part of this. It’s important, and I get to be with you. I’ve missed you.”
Alex lifted up his arm and she leaned against his side. He traced patterns on her arm and was amazed at how soft her skin felt beneath his touch. She did the same to his palm, lingering on the scars that traced his hand and reminded him of all it had taken to get to that point.
“This is it,” Trent called a while later.
Alex looked out the window as the helicopter settled between long rows of short buildings. The gray light of dawn brushed the horizon, revealing more sheds in the distance.
“Will you guys stay with the helicopter in case anyone comes to check it out?” Alex asked Trent and Jordan. “I’d hate to get it confiscated or something.”
“Four teenagers flying a helicopter early in the morning shouldn’t cause too much controversy,” Jordan said with a wink.
“I was going to get a hamburger,” Trent replied wryly. “Think I can pull this thing up to a fast food window?”
Alex laughed. “If you’re not here when we get back, we’ll look for a burger joint with a helicopter wedged in the drive through.”
He and Siale held hands while they walked between the buildings.
“Jaze used to tell me about this place.” Alex looked around at the long stretches of pavement between the sheds. “He said they played football and hockey here. All the kids used to sneak out of their houses after curfew and hang out.”
“Why was there a curfew?” Siale asked.
“Well,” Alex replied with a grin. “There were rumors of werewolves in these parts. Who would have thought?”
Siale laughed. “Apparently, they were right!”
They stepped through the opening in the fence and followed the path across a long parking lot next to an abandoned shopping center. A lone streetlamp flickered in the middle of the parking lot. Alex brushed it with his fingertips when they passed by.
“It’s strange to think about growing up in a time when nobody knew werewolves existed,” Siale mused. “I mean, we are so free now, at least at the school. Could you imagine going to a school where everyone was human and you had to hide what you were?”
Alex’s sneakers crunched on the dry grass that lined the alley between the fences where they walked.
“It might be fun,” he replied. “But Jaze said when he first got here, the local pack didn’t exactly like him.”
Siale looked at him. “That was Chet’s pack, right?”
Alex nodded. “And get this, Nikki used to be Chet’s girlfriend!”
Siale stared at him. “No way! Did she know he was a werewolf?”
Alex shook his head with a grin. “Nope. She had no idea.”
Siale smiled back. “That’s amazing. I’ll bet they have quite the story.”
Alex nodded. “We’ll have to ask Jaze to tell us all of it.” He paused, then said a bit quieter, “Someday.”
The hushed scent told him he was at the right place. “This is it,” he told his fiancé.” He looked at the back of the house Jaze had once shown him.
The Carso house and the house next door were still unoccupied. Signs had been posted on the doors and windows, but the lettering was faded and illegible. A punching bag hung in the back of the Carso house. It was tattered and worn from years of swinging in the tree. The leather on the outside was shredded and it looked as though a family of squirrels had taken up residence inside for the last several years.
Alex jumped the back fence and turned to help Siale, but found her already on the other side.
She smiled at him. “Werewolf, remember?”
“I was trying to be a gentleman,” he pointed out.
She grinned. “We’ll have to find a bigger fence, then.”
Alex
smiled and walked through the backyard. He paused by the punching bag, amazed the straps and chain still held. He ran his fingers along the worn leather and tattered cloth.
“It feels like we’re walking through the ghost of memories,” Siale said softly.
Alex looked up to find her gaze on the fence between the two houses. The wood was missing in places and broken in others. Alex hoped what he was looking for was there.
“That’s why we’re here,” he said.
He made his way to her side and crouched. After a few minutes of careful searching, he grabbed two of the wooden slats.
“These are the ones I need,” he said more to himself than to Siale.
Taking care not to ruin them, Alex used his werewolf strength to pry the boards from the fence. He checked the scent of the wood and broke the two boards in half, then leaned the upper parts back against the fence.
“It looks happy,” Siale noted.
Alex glanced back. The fence almost looked like a half smile the way it leaned forward into the Carso yard. It warmed him to think of leaving the backyard that way, smiling at the memories of two people who had fallen in love and created a legacy that would remember them forever.
Chapter Eighteen
“Jaze?” Alex tapped on the open door to Jaze’s office. It was the first time the dean hadn’t heard him and just welcomed him in.
Jaze looked up in surprise and gave Alex a small smile. “Sorry; my thoughts were elsewhere. Come in.”
Alex and Siale entered with Cassie and Tennison close behind. Trent and Jordan lingered in the doorway.
“It’s good to see all of you,” Jaze said. “Can I help with something?”
“We made you a present,” Alex told the dean.
Jaze watched him with a curious expression. “A present for me?”
Alex nodded. “We all worked together. It’s, well, you’ll see.”
Cassie handed Jaze the gift.
He looked down at the wrapping for a moment as if he didn’t know what to expect.
“Open it,” Cassie urged. “You’ll like it.”
“Alright,” the dean replied with a note of uncertainty.
He slid his finger beneath the paper Siale had wrapped it in and broke the tape. The blue and green paper fell away to reveal the frame.