by Cheree Alsop
“You guys,” Jaze said softly. He stared at the picture. It was one Cassie had found of Nikki and Jaze standing in front of the partially built Academy. The frame of the main building was visible while only a few wooden posts showed where the dorms would soon be. Jaze stood behind Nikki with his arms around her waist; the smile on her face was so bright it lit the entire picture. “This is beautiful,” Jaze said.
He moved the frame to look at the back and paused. Slowly, the dean lifted the frame to his nose. He sniffed it, then closed his eyes and inhaled.
“This was our fence,” he said in a voice just above a whisper. Tears escaped from his shut eyelids and his voice broke when he said, “This is where we truly became friends.”
Alex blinked back tears of his own. “Siale and I went there last night. I remembered the story you told me of when she was mad at you and you made her laugh.”
Jaze nodded. He opened his eyes and wiped his tears with his shoulder. He appeared unwilling to let go of the frame. “She had a right to be mad.” He smiled despite the sadness in his eyes. “I needed to apologize, so I did the manly thing and fake cried until she tried to comfort me.”
Alex gave a soft chuckle at the thought of the dean pretending to cry.
“That worked?” Tennison asked. “I’m going to have to try that.”
Jaze smiled. “It worked. She took pity on me, and when she found out I was faking, she stuck her hand through the fence and tried to slap me.” He paused, then said, “I caught her hand and kissed it. It was the first time I ever kissed her.”
After a few minutes of silence, Cassie asked, “So she forgave you after that?”
Jaze nodded. “She had no idea I was a werewolf. I probably should have told her then, but her parents were Hunters before there was a truce, and they probably would have killed me.”
“Good call,” Trent said.
The dean chuckled. “I guess it was.” He put the frame to his nose and sniffed it again. His voice was wistful when he said, “It’s amazing how the smells linger after all these years. So many stories and so many memories.” He smiled at all of them. “Thank you very much. I can’t even tell you how much this means to me. This is the best gift anyone could have given.”
One by one, the students hugged Jaze who had been like a father to each of them in his own way.
Siale was hugging him when Jaze’s phone beeped. Brock’s voice came over the intercom.
“Jaze, Drogan’s Demons just attacked a city in New Mexico. The city’s on lockdown. You need to come see this.”
“We’re on our way,” Jaze replied. He set the frame carefully on his desk and motioned for Alex to open the panel.
The werewolves rushed down the tunnel. When they reached the Wolf Den, Brock had every screen tuned to different news stations.
“There’re are other attacks in Utah and New York, and sightings of Demons in South Dakota,” Brock said quickly. “Attacks happen, humans are killed, and the Demons disappear before the police can do anything. It’s mass chaos!”
“No, it’s not.”
Everyone looked at Trent. The small werewolf studied the screen. “There’s a pattern.”
“I see it,” Jordan said.
Alex realized that besides their impromptu helicopter trip early that morning, it was Jordan’s first time in the Wolf Den. She seemed to handle the whole undercover mission base thing very well. Alex wondered how much Trent had told her about what they did.
“What’s the pattern?” Brock asked.
Trent pointed to the screens. “The attacks appear to be happening in succession, right? One after the other in random locations to throw the authorities off track?”
Brock nodded. “And your point is?” He looked so stressed out that the human didn’t have anything to eat even remotely close by.
“My point is…” Trent grabbed the pointer from Brock’s hand and followed the screens. “Look. One, two, three, or should I say nine, eight, seven.”
“I don’t see the pattern,” Tennison said.
Brock’s face washed white. “They’re places his father hit.”
“And in the same order,” Jaze concluded. His jaw clenched. “Alex, get your team. We know where he’s going to be.”
Caden had the guns and other weapons already out when they ran down the stairs to the helicopter.
“The GPA will meet you there,” Brock called over the sound of the chopper’s blades as Mouse prepared to take off. “The Black Team is on their way, as well as SWAT and the CIA. This is being handled as a terrorist threat.”
“It should be,” Jaze answered. “Keep me informed.”
“Be careful.”
Alex spotted Trent and Jordan near the stairs. Jordan held his hand with both of hers as if hesitant to let him leave.
“I’ll be with Alex, and he’s always careful,” Trent replied.
Jordan cracked a smile. “This isn’t a good time for jokes.”
“Sorry,” Trent apologized with an answering smile. He stood on his tiptoes and kissed her. He broke away from his fiancé with obvious reluctance. “I’ll see you soon,” he promised.
Siale walked down the stairs with an extra headset in her hand. “We could use another set of eyes up here at what Brock calls the Battle Station and I call his refrigerator.”
Jordan glanced at Brock. He shrugged with a sandwich in his hand that had appeared seemingly out of nowhere.
“What?” he asked with his mouth full. “I stress eat.”
“Seriously,” Siale said quietly. “We can really use you.”
Jordan accepted the headset. “I’m happy to help.”
Alex saw Trent mouth ‘thank you’ to Siale when Jordan’s back was turned.
“The usual?”
Alex turned back to Caden who held out his Glock. “Yes, with two more clips.”
“That crazy, huh?” Caden asked, shoving the extra clips into Alex’s vest besides the others he always carried.
Alex didn’t let his anxiety show when he replied, “We’re heading back to D Block where I killed the General. It’s going to be crazy.” The GPA hasn’t used it as a holding facility since Alex killed the man who was his father. The thought of going back there filled him with mixed emotions.
Alex wordlessly shrugged into the vest and followed the others to the helicopter.
Kaynan’s dark red eyes met Jaze’s. “It’s a trap.”
“That’s why we’re going,” Jaze replied. “Things need to end one way or another. Drogan’s not walking away from this one.”
“You really think he’ll be there?” Chet asked.
“I hope so,” Jaze said.
Alex was surprised to hear the anger in the dean’s words. Jaze met his gaze.
“I have some issues to address,” the dean said.
“If by issues, you mean you want to destroy him and his Demons so the killing and fear ends once and for all, then I have issues, too,” Alex replied.
Jaze cracked half a smile. “We have the same issues.”
The instant they landed at D Block, it was clear everything was different than they had planned. Bodies of GPA agents, men in SWAT uniforms, and other government officials lay torn and mangled across the roof as if ravaged by dogs. Alex and the others jumped out of the helicopter. Mouse lifted it clear immediately under Jaze’s orders so their escape wouldn’t be cut off.
“I can’t reach the Black Team,” Brock told them in their earpieces. “And the GPA gives only static.”
“We know why,” Jaze replied, his voice tight. “Call back any who respond. Tell them not to go to D Block.”
“I’ll try,” Brock said.
“Jaze?” Siale’s voice came over the ear monitors. “Heat signatures show four Demons still left in the building along with Drogan. They’re on the sixth floor.” She paused, then said in a worried voice, “I think they’re waiting for you.”
The scent of blood was so thick it was the only thing Alex could smell. His pack grouped toget
her in the middle of the carnage. Trent’s eyes were wide as he stared around at the limbs and torsos. A need to protect his team and whatever humans remained surged through Alex. Drogan was inside the building, and the Extremist was responsible for all of the death and destruction that had taken place. Alex needed to make him pay. He began to succumb to the Demon inside him that demanded to be free.
Jaze grabbed his arm. “Alex, wait. I can’t let you go rushing in there again like last time. I could just have easily have found you on the floor of that elevator instead of the General.”
Alex pushed down the blue that colored his vision with difficulty. “Four Demons did this much damage,” Alex said. “I’m the only one who stands a chance against them.”
Jaze nodded. “Yes, but only if you keep your wits. Don’t rush into this blindly. That’s what Drogan expects you to do.” He voice filled with intensity. “We need to bomb this building.”
Alex stared at him. It was the first time Jaze had ever recommended something so rash. With the werewolf’s need to retaliate against Drogan, Alex knew it must be something else guiding the Alpha’s decision.
Alex shook his head. “What if Drogan gets away?”
“Remember when we talked about instinct?” Jaze asked.
Alex nodded. “Instinct can be the hardest battle we face.”
“Exactly,” Jaze replied with his gaze on the door that led from the roof. “I want to fight Drogan as much as you do, but instinct warns me that I shouldn’t go through that door. I have too much to live for, and you do, too.”
Alex’s hands clenched into fists. “But what if there are humans down there.”
Jaze shook his head. “Not left alive.” He looked around at the bodies. “Trust me. We blow it.”
Alex hesitated, but Jaze had never steered him wrong. He finally nodded.
“Mouse,” Jaze said, “We need the explosives.”
The small werewolf landed the helicopter on the roof just long enough for Trent to grab the bag.
“Jericho and I will stay with Trent to make sure nothing goes wrong,” Alex said.
Jaze nodded. “We’ll set the explosives around the base and come back to pick you up. Be careful.”
“We will,” Alex replied.
His senses thrummed when the helicopter took off. The fact that four Demons waited in the building below along with his half-brother made the Demon pulse at the edge of his self-control. He followed Trent to the east corner and watched the small werewolf begin to set the explosives.
“Take your time,” Mouse said over their earpieces. “If we plan this right, we’ll bring the building down on top of them. Nothing could survive.”
“I hope so,” Trent muttered.
He finished placing the bundle, rechecked one thing, and then Alex followed him to the next corner.
A sound sent a shudder down Alex’s spine. Not wanting to distract Trent, Alex touched Jericho’s arm, then tipped his head at the door. Jericho nodded. Alex left Trent and quietly crossed to the closed metal door.
“The Demons are moving,” Siale said quietly.
“Got it,” Alex replied.
Trent had finished with the second charge and started the third when the sounds Alex had heard intensified. He let the Demon take over. His limbs elongated, his claws grew, and his shoulders tore through his shirt when he shoved his claws into the frame on either side of the door.
Chapter Nineteen
The Demons hit the door with the force of a battering ram. Huge chunks of cement from around the door cracked and fell. Alex scrambled to hold it. The Demons shoved again and his clawed feet slid backwards across the roof.
Jericho shoved his shoulder next to Alex’s.
“Almost done!” Trent said.
“Please hurry,” Alex replied, his voice gruff and scratchy.
Even with Jericho at his side, they were no match for four Demons. The entire frame was ripped free of the wall and the two werewolves slid an inch at a time backwards. Alex’s heartbeat thundered in his ears above the growls and clawing from behind the door. Four Demons against his one. The odds were stacked high against him.
The sound of the helicopter increased.
“Done!” Trent called.
There was no time. A glance behind Jericho showed that the helicopter was too far away. Trent stood at the edge of the roof watching in horror as the Demons forced their way through. All three werewolves would be killed like the scattered remains of the teams around them.
“Get Trent out of here.”
Alex stared at Jericho. “If I let go of this door, you’re dead!”
Jericho met Alex’s gaze. There wasn’t fear in the Alpha’s eyes, only determination. “Get Trent to safety. That is an order from your Alpha.”
No matter what had changed in Alex’s life, Jericho had been his leader through most of his time at the Academy. Alex’s instincts demanded that he listen. Trent was once in Jericho’s pack, and the werewolf was now under Alex’s. Both Alphas’ nature demanded that they protect their own.
Alex shoved the door as hard as he could to give Jericho a chance, then took off for Trent. He reached the small werewolf in three strides. Trent gave a small yelp when Alex grabbed him roughly beneath the arms. The helicopter was about ten feet away with its doors wide open. Alex didn’t slow down. He threw the small werewolf away from him as hard as he could.
Trent flew through the open door of the helicopter with surprising accuracy. Hands grabbed him to slow his landing. Alex spun on his heels.
Time slowed. The Demons were all over Jericho. Blood showed on claws and muzzles. The Alpha’s cries of pain sliced into Alex with brutal force. He couldn’t see anything but Jericho’s hand reaching out through the four demonic creatures. A shadow stood in the doorway with a pleased smile.
One word rang through the air. “Kill.”
The snarls of the Demons grew in answer and Jericho cried out in pain.
The bomb closest to Alex let out a soft beep and the second followed. The building was being detonated. It was the only chance they had to ensure that Drogan was in the building with four of his Demons. Alex stood in the middle of a death trap.
Alex did the last thing he knew anyone expected. He charged into the midst of the four Demons, grabbed Jericho from their clutches without slowing, and launched himself off the building.
“Alex!” he heard Siale cry into Jericho’s earpiece.
“No!” Trent shouted from the helicopter.
The building exploded.
Alex rolled to the right just before they hit the trees, shielding Jericho with his body. He slammed into one branch, then another. Two more branches and they landed on the ground so hard Alex felt like every rib in his body broke. He gasped for air as explosions ricocheted around them. Huge pieces of the building flew past, smashing through tree trunks and carving huge gouges through the earth.
Alex forced his battered body to turn so he could shelter Jericho from the debris.
Jericho moaned. The sound cut through the crash of the falling building and straight to Alex’s soul. The Demon faded from Alex, leaving him filled with pain from the fall as he stared down at his friend.
“Jer?” he forced out.
The Alpha moved his hand. Alex’s heart twisted. The werewolf’s stomach had been torn completely open. The blood and mess pooled around them.
Alex’s gaze clouded with tears. “Stay with me, Jericho.”
The werewolf opened his eyes. His gaze was hazy and it took him a minute to lock onto Alex. When he did, his lips moved in a small smile before they twisted into a grimace of pain.
Alex didn’t know what to do. He wanted to take away the werewolf’s pain. He wanted Jericho to stand up and laugh it off. He needed the Alpha to lead as he always had, to show Alex by example how an Alpha was supposed to act.
But it was impossible. Blood colored the werewolf’s teeth and trickled from the side of his mouth. Alex wiped it away.
“Jericho, don’t go,” h
e said, his voice breaking.
Jericho closed his eyes. He moved a bloody hand away from his stomach. It took Alex a second to realize the Alpha was trying to reach in his pocket.
“You need something in there?” Alex asked.
Jericho tried to speak, but gave up and instead nodded.
Alex reached into the Alpha’s pocket. His heart slowed when he found the small velvet ring box. He pulled it out and opened it slowly.
“Give…” Jericho said weakly. “Tell…Cherish…”
Alex nodded. He could barely see the ring through his tears. “I’ll tell her; I promise.”
Jericho gave one last smile, then closed his eyes.
“Jericho?”
The werewolf’s labored breathing stopped.
Alex shook his head. “No, Jer. Don’t go.”
Alex tried to draw in a breath, but it felt like his ribs were knives cutting into his lungs. Every breath gave the sensation that he was suffocating. He tried to suck in another gasp, but the pain was excruciating. Dark spots filled his vision. He clutched the ring box to his chest and fell into the grass next to the Alpha.
Thoughts of Siale filled his mind. He couldn’t let go. He fought to keep his mind alert and not give into the haze. The seconds felt like hours in the grass beneath the falling building.
“Alex?”
The voices sounded as though they called from a far distance. Alex tried to open his eyes, but his eyelids wouldn’t respond. He felt like he was drowning.
He didn’t know how much time had passed before people surrounded him and Jericho. He could hear frantic voices, but nothing penetrated the tar that coated his mind. He gasped, a horrible gurgling sound.
The tattered remains of his shirt were torn away. Someone put a hand on his chest. Words that sounded like, ‘I’m sorry, Alex’, reached his ears a second before something stabbed into his chest with such sharp pain Alex gasped. Some of the tightness released from his lungs and he drew in a ragged breath.
“Get him back to the Academy before we lose him,” Jaze’s strong voice commanded.
Hands grabbed Alex and lifted. He smothered a cry at the agony, but tears leaked from the corners of his eyes. Despite the haze, all Alex could think about was Jericho lying all alone on the forest floor.