by Cheree Alsop
Alex was glad he had regained enough composure not to jump.
“Sweep the area. Let’s see if Drogan’s left us a trail,” Jaze commanded.
Alex followed the dean from room to room. Jaze checked papers and searched through garbage cans. Alex was about to ask what they hoped to find when one of the men called over the headset, “Got something.”
Mouse went immediately into the next room.
“What is it?” Jaze asked.
“Two phone numbers and a name,” Mouse answered. “By the slant of the writing, they were written quickly.”
“Good,” Jaze replied. “Let’s finish the sweep and head back.”
Alex followed Jaze back to the SUV. With the adrenaline fading, his nerves were shot. He collapsed next to the dean in the vehicle.
“What’d you think?” Jaze asked.
Alex studied the house. “The fact that he was here gives me the creeps.”
Jaze nodded. “Cameras will be set up, but Drogan’s smart enough not to return to a place he’s already used. That’s why our surveillance has such a hard time catching him.”
“Back to the bat cave?” Alex asked.
Jaze cracked a smile. “Yeah. We’ll trace the numbers and name. Hopefully it’ll give us the lead we’re looking for. Drogan’s good at not leaving anything substantial behind, but this time he appeared to have left in a hurry. Perhaps he got sloppy.”
Alex tipped his head back as Mouse started the vehicle. He dozed in and out on their way back to the Academy. He opened his eyes in time to see Mouse turn onto the train tracks he had ran beside many times. Mouse turned off almost instantly toward what appeared to be a rock wall that made up one side of the ridge. Alex let out a snort of amazement as the rocks fell to the side like the panel in the surveillance room and Mouse entered without slowing.
“This place just keeps getting better,” Alex breathed.
Jaze chuckled and gave an approving nod. “Glad you like it.”
“Do I get to go next time?” Alex was almost afraid to ask, but not knowing felt even harder. He was afraid to have it all taken away. He feared that Jaze had only invited him along because the dean knew the house was empty. If there was danger, he might not be able to go. But he needed it. The want to do more than sit by waiting for the shooter’s accuracy to improve would drive him crazy.
“Of course,” Jaze said, looking over at him. “You’re in now. Just make smart decisions and try to keep up with school.”
“I will,” Alex promised. He fought back a smile, worried that too much enthusiasm would make Jaze second-guess his decision.
He climbed out of the SUV and breathed in the earthy, cool, metallic-tinged scent of the cavern. The prospect of the phone numbers and what they would find filled him with excitement.
Alex followed Brock up a path that led through the walls of the Academy. He could hear the students in the classrooms, and smiled at the fact that he was going to be able to help protect them and their families.
Alex wondered how Brock could make his way through the maze of paths as though he was able to see in the dark and smell the scents as good as a werewolf.
Brock pushed a panel open and motioned for Alex to step inside. Alex obeyed, and found himself next to the fireplace in Pack Jericho’s common room.
“That’s cool,” Alex said.
Brock nodded. “It definitely makes keeping what you call the bat cave a secret.”
Alex gave the human a tired grin. “As long as you don’t have a meatball sandwich.”
Brock laughed. “Yes. That’s one I’ve had to keep in mind. You werewolves with your sharper senses make being sneaky with tasty food a bit more difficult.”
“You’ve done a good job this far,” Alex admitted.
Brock stepped back through the panel. “Get some sleep, Alex. You look like you need it.”
Alex didn’t have the strength to argue. He crossed to his room and was asleep before his head hit the pillow.
***
“Where have you been?”
Alex opened his eyes to see Kalia sitting on the floor with her back against the wall opposite from his bed.
“Uh, sleeping?” Alex said, rubbing his eyes.
“Is your shoulder feeling better?” Kalia asked.
Alex was surprised to realize he was using his injured arm without pain. He rolled it experimentally. “Yes, it is. It barely hurts,” he said.
She gave a small smile. “Oh, to be a werewolf.”
He sat up gingerly and pushed the hair out of his eyes. “Did you seriously just say that?”
“I was kidding,” Kalia replied dryly. “You were just a target for a homicidal maniac. You think I want that?”
Alex nodded with mock severity.
Kalia rolled her eyes and pushed up to her feet. She headed for the door.
“Where are you going?” Alex asked, surprised by her sudden departure.
“I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Now that I know you are, I’ve got to get back to class.” She gave him a level look. “Some of us actually have to go to school.”
A thought occurred to Alex. “You missed me.”
Kalia’s mouth fell open. “Don’t flatter yourself,” she replied before storming to the door.
Alex stood up to go after her. The sudden movement made him lightheaded. He caught himself against the corner of the bed.
Kalia hurried back and ducked under his arm. “You’re an idiot, Alex Davies. You know that?”
He nodded as she helped him sit down. “I was just going to class like you suggested.”
She looked at him with her hands on her hips. “You stay there until morning. I don’t want to hear of you moving from this spot.”
Alex forced back the smile that threatened to cross his face. He watched her walk to the door. She hesitated and looked back at him as if certain he would be up again.
Something about the way her light blue gaze creased slightly at the corners made his heart jump.
“Stay there,” she said.
“I will,” Alex promised.
She disappeared through the door. He listened to her footsteps as she crossed the empty commons room and stepped into the hallway.
“Girls,” Alex said quietly. He let his head rest against the pillow for a few minutes. Though he still felt lightheaded, his stomach growled, demanding to be filled.
“Kalia’s going to kill me,” Alex said aloud as he sat up again. For some reason, the thought made him smile. He rose to his feet slower this time and waited until his head stopped spinning. He took a few testing steps. He felt so much better than he had when he went to bed that he could barely believe it. His shoulder no longer ached, and even though he was tired, he felt almost normal.
Footsteps sounded down the hall and the door to his room opened before he could sit back down.
Cassie looked surprised to see him standing.
Alex froze midflight back to his bed. “I thought you were Kalia,” he said.
“Why would Kalia be in here?” Cassie asked.
Alex shrugged sheepishly.
Cassie shook her head. “I was just coming to see if you wanted some lunch.”
“I thought I missed it.” Alex had completely lost track of time. He looked around, but there was nothing to help him except the light that pooled through his window to create a rectangle on the soft beige carpet. Even Kalia had failed to mention what class she was hurrying to.
“It’s just after two,” Cassie explained. “Jaze asked Cook Jerald to keep a plate for you. He figured you’d be famished when you woke up.”
Alex was grateful for the dean’s foresight. “He was right.”
“I’ll bring it up,” Cassie offered.
Alex shook his head. “I need to move around. I think it’d be good for me.”
She looked him up and down worriedly. “Are you sure?”
“Trust me,” Alex told his sister. “I know what I can do.”
“I’m not so sure
about that,” she replied, but she sighed and led the way to the door.
“Shouldn’t you be in English?” Alex asked as he followed his twin down the stairs.
“Grace won’t mind if I’m late, especially if I tell her why.”
Alex thought of Kalia’s warning. “Don’t mention that I went to eat.”
Cassie looked at him with an expression that said she wondered if he had gone crazy. “Why not?”
Alex knew the look would only intensify if he explained. “Just don’t, okay? Tell them you brought me the food or something.”
Cassie looked completely baffled. “You want me to lie about where you ate your food?”
Alex shrugged. “I want you to not tell anyone that I left my room. It’s not that difficult.”
“Did you hit your head when you fell off that cliff?”
“Probably,” Alex replied.
Cassie just shook her head and led the way to the Great Hall.
Alex sat down to wait while she went to get his food from the cook. He rested his elbows on the table. A thought occurred to him. Alex looked around, wondering where the secret entrance would be. He made a mental note to start exploring the passageways behind the walls so that he could learn them as well as Brock.
Chapter Fifteen
“Wake up, Alex.”
Alex startled at the sight of red eyes peering down at him. He blinked, and realized it was Professor Kaynan.
“Are you coming or what?” Kaynan asked with a half-smile.
“Coming where?” Alex asked groggily.
“We tracked down the numbers,” Kaynan replied.
Ice ran through Alex’s veins. He sat up quickly and pulled on a shirt and socks without a word. Kaynan was already waiting in the common room when Alex reached it. The sound of snoring came from further down the hall. Don snorted and muttered in his sleeping before the sound of him rolling over drifted to them.
“What time is it?” Alex asked.
“About one-thirty.” Kaynan replied, holding open the panel beside the fireplace.
Alex followed Kaynan inside. His wolven eyes adjusted easily to the sudden darkness. The soft fall of the professor’s footsteps was the only sound in the tunnel that led below the Academy. “So the numbers lead to an address?” Alex asked.
Kaynan shook his head. “I wish it was that simple, and so does Mouse. The numbers led to a dead end. Burner phones. But Mouse was able to track down the purchase location, then pull up the credit card number used to buy the phones. The credit card had already been cancelled. However, Mouse worked his magic and was able to find an address behind the card.”
“Let me guess,” Alex said. “It was a dead end.”
“Now you’re getting it,” Kaynan replied, throwing a smile over his shoulder. “Mouse’s team didn’t find anything at the address, but he did find a reference to a small business that used the address for a supply drop.”
“What business?”
Kaynan grinned. “That’s the ironic part. It’s a silver refining company.”
“Oh, great,” Alex grumbled.
Kaynan huffed a laugh as he pushed open the panel to the small surveillance room below the closet. “Yeah, I know. You werewolves and your silver allergies.”
“You’re not allergic to silver?” Alex was amazed.
Kaynan shook his head. “One of perks of being made into a werewolf instead of born.” His voice took on a forbidding tone. “Dark red fur, eyes that haunt even the bravest man’s nightmares, and the ability to get shot by silver without dying.”
“You’ve almost died a few times, need I remind you?” Jaze said from his seat at the table when they turned the corner. The rest of the professors were there waiting for them.
Kaynan shrugged. “So I figured Mouse’s life was worth more than my measly existence. I don’t see Lyra complaining.”
Lyra shook her head, her blonde braids sliding across her shoulders. “I’m forever in your debt.”
“You weren’t even there,” Kaynan pointed out.
“Yeah, but I wouldn’t have my Mousy if it wasn’t for you.” She kissed Professor Mouse on the cheek.
Mouse’s face turned red and he adjusted his glasses, but he didn’t pull his hand out of his wife’s grasp.
Alex didn’t know how he felt about the professors’ open displays of affection. Usually they were so quiet about their relationship. Both came across as shy and reserved, yet it was obvious by the smiles they exchanged that they were very happy with each other.
“Anyway, as I was saying,” Kaynan continued, “The silver business happens to have a very well-known investor.”
“Drogan,” Alex guessed.
Kaynan nodded. “Correct. Now we’re on our way to the last address Drogan used to collect his return on the investment. It’s a solid lead.”
“How’s your shoulder?” Lyra asked.
Alex tested the range of motion. “Good. It barely hurts.”
Lyra nodded. “The power of the moon is amazing.”
Caden appeared from the panel that led down to the cavern. He carried a vast array of weapons.
“Weapons for the masses,” the human said, passing them around. “We have your standard Glocks, a couple of Colts, and a Kahr PM9 with an extra clip for Lyra.” Caden winked at her. “I included the tritium night sights. I think you might need them.”
“You realize you’re talking to a werewolf, right?” Brock asked, climbing through the panel after his cousin. “They can already see in the dark.”
“It makes aiming easier,” Caden argued. “That way she doesn’t have to worry about sights and shooting and all that.”
“You’re probably just making her nervous,” Brock pointed out.
“I’m really fine,” Lyra said, accepting the small handgun.
Caden nodded. “See, she’s fine. You don’t have to worry.” He grinned at Lyra. “And it’s all because of the tritium night sights.”
Brock rolled his eyes and Mouse chuckled. It was the first time Alex could ever recall hearing the quiet professor laugh.
“Oh, I almost forgot,” Caden said. He took a gun from his pocket and set it on the table in front of Alex. “A Glock nine millimeter for the kid.”
The professors immediately began to argue the decision. Alex sat back as far away from the gun as he could get. It looked innocent enough, but getting shot definitely gave one a certain respect for firearms, kind-of like the way getting stung by a bee made one more cautious around them, only about a thousand times worse.
“I don’t think that’s necessary,” Chet said from his seat near Jaze. “He has anger issues.”
“Oh, he has anger issues?” Dray replied, his light eyebrows lifted.
“I don’t think students should have guns at school,” Lyra said. She gave Alex a warm smile. “No offense.”
“I agree,” Alex replied.
Kaynan was busy arguing with Colleen. “If he needs to defend himself, it could be necessary.”
“But he’s too young to be going anyway,” Colleen pointed out, her violet gaze passionate.
“It’s not as if he’s going to kill anyone,” Vance said.
Jaze stood. The professors immediately quieted. “Alex, pick up the gun,” Jaze said in a level voice.
As much as Alex didn’t want to, he knew Jaze had his best interest at heart. Alex picked up the Ruger. It felt heavier than he had expected, and the metal was cold. The touch of it sent a prickle along his arm.
Jaze leaned his hands on the table and looked at each professor in turn. “You know why Alex is here. You agreed that he should be included in our team.”
“We didn’t know...” Colleen began. At Jaze’s searching look, she let out a breath and nodded. “We agreed.”
“It’s going to be dangerous. Alex knows the risks as much as any of us. He’s bled for this cause.” Jaze met Alex’s gaze. “Are you ready?”
Alex looked at the gun in his hands. He took a steeling breath, then nodded. “I’m
ready.”
“Let’s go.”
At Jaze’s words everyone stood. Alex fell in behind the dean as he led the way through the passage to the cavern below. To Alex’s surprise, everyone filed into the huge helicopter near the southern wall. Mouse sat at the controls and pulled headset over his ears. Brock sat beside him and did the same.
“I told you a helicopter would be handy,” Mouse said.
“Sure, rub it in,” Kaynan replied into a headset as Alex took a seat next to him.
“How does the helicopter...” Alex’s words dropped away when Mouse pushed a button.
The ceiling of the cavern above Alex split in two and lifted away from them. Mouse started the rotors. Jaze slid the door shut as the helicopter lifted into the air. They rose into the night sky. Alex leaned across Kaynan to see the greenhouses Dray was building. The path between them split neatly in two with the sidewalk on one side. The greenhouses stood elevated above Dray’s gardens. As soon as the helicopter cleared the ground, Mouse pushed another button and the greenhouses slid around and lowered back into place.
“I’m not sure how that’s going to affect the equilibrium of the plants,” Dray said over the intercom.
Jaze laughed. “I think they’ll survive.”
“Last time we give Mouse free reign over the blueprints,” Brock said.
Everyone laughed.
“We’ll be there in fifty-four minutes,” Mouse said quietly from the front seat.
The group quieted. All eyes turned to Jaze. He tipped his head to Brock. “What have we got?”
Brock spun in his seat as if he had been waiting for the question. He held up a small screen that showed the layout of a house.
“Heat surveillance reveals at least two-dozen individuals.”
The small sounds of surprise that went up from the group let Alex know that the amount hadn’t been expected.
Brock met Jaze’s gaze. “I think this may be it.”
Jaze nodded. He reached over and tapped Mouse on the shoulder. “Call the GPA and the Black Team. Have them meet us on the perimeter. We’ll move in on my cue.”
Mouse nodded. He switched his headset to a different channel. Alex could hear him relaying Jaze’s words over the sound of the rotors.