by Cheree Alsop
At the end of the interview, Lizzie stood and surprised Alex by giving him a hug. “Well, Alex, I can’t guarantee that you’re going to change to world with this article, but I know your story sure changed the way I think about werewolves.”
“A little difference in opinion can go a long way,” Mrs. Summers said.
“That’s right,” Lizzie replied. “One step at a time, and I think this is a huge step.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Masters,” Alex told her.
“Take care of yourself, Alex. We’ll see what happens.”
Chapter Twelve
“I read your interview.”
Alex smiled at Officer Dune’s way of delving into a topic without preamble. He pushed off from the wall and walked beside the officer as he left the hospital.
“And?”
Officer Dune glanced at him. “You’ve been through more than I hope my children ever experience. It’s commendable that you’re still here.”
“But?” Alex asked, hearing the unspoken word.
The officer sighed. “But your hope of getting the police department to accept working with werewolves might be a bit overreaching. With all you’ve done, you’re still considered a vigilante.”
Alex nodded. “I accept that. But you’re not slapping those handcuffs on me.” It was more of a question than a statement.
Officer Dune chuckled. “I’ve seen what you can do. These little cuffs aren’t going to hold you long. Besides, I want to show you something.”
Alex was intrigued as he followed to officer down the road. To his surprise, Officer Dune led him to the police department.
“Is this supposed to be a very obvious trap?” Alex asked, hesitating at the bottom of the stairs.
Officer Dune looked back at him, his eyes creased in amusement. “The Chief’s at home and this is a follow-up from our previous conversation. Show a bit of trust. We both know you can always fight your way out if things get hairy.”
Alex let out a slow breath and followed the officer up the stairs. He pulled his hoodie over his head, but still felt conspicuous as he followed Officer Dune down the hallway. The scent made him smile before the officer even stopped at the door.
“You got them.”
Officer Dune chuckled. “There’s no surprising a werewolf, is there?” He pulled open the door. Immediately, the sound of barking, whining, and growling flooded out.
Alex was amazed at the amount of large, dark-coated dogs the officer had been able to round up. As soon as Alex stepped into the room, the attention of every beast focused on him. Growls and barks echoed off the walls. The officers who held their leashes were hard put to hold the animals back.
Alex kept his focus on the dogs. He walked forward, fully aware that they wanted to tear him apart out of fear. They snarled and lunged, more than a dozen dogs driven to aggression toward his wolf heritage.
“Back, Dolly,” an officer called.
“Sit, Thrasher, sit!” another yelled.
Alex reached the center of the room. The dogs fought their handlers, pulling at their leashes to get free.
A huge shepherd mix tore out from his handler’s grasp. The animal leaped through the fray and lunged for Alex.
Alex caught the animal by his throat and the scruff of his neck. The huge dog’s teeth snapped shut inches from Alex’s face. He dropped to his knees, his gaze locked on the dog’s. A low growl sounded from Alex’s throat, too quiet for the human handlers to hear above the frenzied barking. Alex’s wolf side fought to break free, to attack the dogs and show them who was in charge. Alex let it through for the briefest moment. His eyes shone gold, and the growl he gave took on the depth and tones of a wolf.
Immediately, the dog he faced dropped its gaze, its ears held back against its skull and its eyes lowered. The other dogs around Alex stopped barking. They crouched, groveling at his feet.
“Seriously?” an officer demanded to Officer Dune. “He’s the werewolf?”
“You brought him to the precinct?” another asked.
“He’s just a kid,” someone else noted. “How could he be the werewolf?”
Alex kept his attention on the dogs. They were no longer fighting their handlers, their focus completely on Alex. The officers who held their leashes watched the werewolf with mixed expressions of amazement, fear, and respect.
At Alex’s motion, every dog sat. He studied the mixture of dog breeds in front of him.
“Where did you get them all?” he asked.
“The pounds, mostly,” Officer Dune answered. “A few were already part of our K-9 patrol. When I suggested adding more animals to increase the protection of our officers, the Chief was all over it.”
“Yeah, but he thought you were going to use them to bring in the werewolf,” a female officer pointed out.
“He’d be furious if he knew the werewolf was in on the plan,” another answered. The man sat a hand on the head of his massive mastiff, his gaze on Alex.
“The werewolf has a name,” Officer Dune said. “Alex, these are the officers of Greyton who have sworn to protect its citizens with their lives.”
A young man with buzzed black hair stepped forward. “We’re grateful for what you’ve done,” he said, holding out a hand.
Alex read the man’s nametag as he shook his hand. “Thank you, Officer Michelson.”
“He’s right about the Chief wanting you behind bars,” Officer Michelson said. “You’re lucky he’s not here.”
“It was Alex’s idea to use the dogs,” Officer Dune explained. “I figured he deserved to see that I took his suggestion to heart.”
“I’ll get out of your way,” Alex replied. “I’m glad you’ll have the dogs on your side.”
Officer Dune followed him outside. “Sorry about my men.”
“They’re nervous about working with a werewolf,” Alex told him. “It’s understandable. I think the dogs are going to be a big asset.”
“It was a good idea,” the officer agreed. “I just want them to know who the true enemy is here.”
“We’ll keep working on it,” Alex said. “Trust and fear can’t survive together. If I can give them something to believe in, maybe it’ll give them a reason to soften the prejudice a bit.”
Officer Dune nodded. “I’ll keep working at it on my end. In the meantime, take some care. We’ve heard reports of silver bullets and knives on the streets. I think Taden took your threat to heart.”
“It might be time to pay him a visit.”
The officer shook his head. “It’s one thing to prevent trouble. It’s another by far to go looking for it. Hang low, Alex. Taking down the Saa is going to require patience. Rushing in headlong will only get you hurt or worse.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Alex replied. He turned to walk away, but Officer Dune stopped him.
“My daughter says to tell you hi.” At Alex’s surprised look, the officer smoothed his close-trimmed beard with one hand self-consciously. “One of the girls you helped free was a classmate of hers. She’s very grateful.”
“What did you tell her?” Alex asked curiously.
“The truth,” Officer Dune replied. “I don’t hide anything from Jamie.”
Alex cracked a smile. “So she knows I’m a loose cannon?”
The officer nodded. “And that you have a death wish and do things like run back into the Fivers without backup.”
“And she still wanted to say hi? You better keep an eye on that girl.”
Officer Dune laughed. “I will. Trust me.”
“Take care, Officer,” Alex said.
“You, too. Alex. Don’t do anything stupid I’m going to have to tell my daughter about later.”
Alex chuckled as he walked away. When he reached the alley below Cherish’s fire escape, Alex phased. He pushed his clothes to the side and shook to settle his fur. It felt good to be a wolf again.
Alex stalked the streets of Greyton. He could smell scents of distress, a woman’s fear, a child’s tears, and silver.
The smell of the metal made the fur rise on the back of Alex’s neck. The gangs were definitely better armed than they had been.
Alex heard a faint cry. He turned down the next street, his paws beating a quiet cadence along the pavement.
“Don’t shoot!”
The panicked voice led Alex to a small market at the end of the block. A quick glance through the window showed two men in masks holding guns. The cashier was busy emptying dollar bills into the backpack one of the men held.
“Whatever you want,” the cashier said, his hands shaking as he withdrew the last of the bills. “Just don’t shoot. I have a family.”
“Lift up the tray,” the taller of the two men demanded.
The man’s face paled. He lifted up the cash tray to reveal bigger bills hidden underneath.
“Nice try,” the thug said with a sneer. He raised his gun to hit the man with it.
Alex shoved the door open using his shoulder and gave a loud snarl. All three men froze.
“The Demon,” the smaller thug said. He raised his gun.
Alex dove to the side as the bullet buried into the floor. He leaped, slamming his front paws into the man’s chest. The thug hit the floor. The gun slid out of his hand and beneath a shelf. Alex leaped off him to the taller man, grabbing his gun hand before the man could shoot.
“Let go!” the man yelled.
Alex bit down and the man dropped the gun as he was dragged to the floor. Alex released his hold and latched onto the man’s throat. He knew he could finish him. It would take a simple bite to end the man’s life. The fear he smelled from the cashier filled him with rage. He had to fight to keep his heartbeat steady.
Slowly, Alex backed away. He kept a steady growl, warning the man that if he made any sudden moves, he wouldn’t get away lightly.
As soon as Alex’s teeth were clear, the thug scrambled backwards. He reached for the backpack. Alex took a step forward, the vehemence in his growl increasing.
“Leave it!” the smaller man said. “Let’s get out of here!”
He helped the bigger one to his feet and they both ran for the door. When they were gone, Alex picked up the backpack in his teeth. He rose on his hind legs and set the bag on the counter.
The cashier watched him with wide eyes.
“Uh...thank you,” the man said, his tone uncertain.
Alex snorted softly and returned to the floor. He paced out the door, glad the cashier had survived the night.
Chapter Thirteen
Alex spent the next few nights roaming alleys and taking down gang members. He thwarted robberies, stopped break-ins, and prevented hold-ups. He took the time to follow students from the school to their homes, and made sure that teachers weren’t hassled on their way out to their cars.
He returned to Cherish’s late one night and climbed the fire escape in time to hear the worried voice of a father.
“They left a sign, a red knife with a black circle around it. Jake and Marnie never hurt anyone. They’ve got to be terrified.”
Alex studied the man through the window. His hands shook as he spoke to Mrs. Summers, sitting on the couch across from her armchair. She had a hand on his arm, her eyebrows pulled together in worry.
“We’ll let Alex know. I’m sure he can help get them back,” Cherish said from her seat at the table.
“I sure hope so,” the father replied. “They’re my babies. I just don’t know what to do.”
“We’ll call you if we hear anything, David,” Mrs. Summers promised. “I’ve got your phone number.”
“Thank you, Ashley. Thank you very much,” David replied.
She shut the door behind him. Cherish glanced out the window and her eyes met Alex’s. He pushed the pane open.
“They took his twins. I babysit Jake and Marnie for Mr. Jackson. They’re only seven,” Cherish told Alex as he climbed inside.
“That’s young for the gangs,” Alex replied, surprised.
Mrs. Summers nodded worriedly. “The police are searching for them, but David’s out of his mind with worry. I don’t know if there’s anything more you can do.”
Alex ducked back out the window.
“Where are you going?” Cherish called.
“To do more,” Alex said. He jumped off the fire escape.
As soon as his sneakers hit the ground, Alex took off running. He knew the path to the Saa by heart, and took the most direct route. He questioned whether he should phase, but figured he would wait until he got there, then see what he was up against. Sometimes confronting the gangs in human form was easier because at least he could attempt to reason with them before attacking.
Alex reached Taden’s hideout without being stopped. It seemed everyone knew to leave the kid wearing the black hoodie with the silver seven on the shoulder alone.
“What are you—”
The man screamed when Alex grabbed him by the throat and threw him to the curb. Alex pulled the door open and stormed inside.
“Taden!”
His yell echoed down the corridor. Members of the gang stared at him in surprise. Two men stalked toward Alex.
“You sure you want to do this?” Alex asked, his voice a low growl.
“I could ask you the same thing,” the burly man on the right said. He carried a heavy chain with spikes on one end.
His skinny companion withdrew a knife. Alex heard the scuff of a shoe as the man from the street made it back inside. Alex moved a few steps toward the wall and angled his body so that his back was protected. The man from the street held a club and looked mad enough to tear Alex’s head off.
“You made a bad decision,” the man said.
“Funny, I was going to say the same thing to you about coming back in here,” Alex replied.
The man raised the club.
Alex hit the man twice in the chest and spun in time to avoid a swipe of the knife. A hiss warned him and he ducked a split second before the chain flew past where his head had been. Alex spun on one knee and hit the first man in the groin, then chopped the second behind the knee. The man yelled and stumbled.
Alex rose and kicked the man with the chain in the chest, throwing him backwards. He slammed an elbow into the first man’s back, drove a fist into the man with the knife’s jaw, and spun with a kick that caught the first man directly in the ear, dropping him to the ground.
Alex dodged to the right, but was a hair too slow to avoid the chain. It wrapped around his chest. A gasp of surprised pain tore from him when the spikes hit home.
The man holding the chain smiled. “That’s right, wolf boy. We’ve gotten our hands on some silver.”
Alex pushed the chain away, gritting his teeth when the touch of the metal burned his hands. The man with the knife attempted a swipe at his chest. Alex lunged backwards, and the chains wrapped around his ankles.
Alex hit the floor hard. He rolled to the left, knocking the legs out from the man with the chain. He kicked free of the burning metal and rose. He forced down a cry of pain as the knife blade sliced across his back.
Alex grabbed the man’s hand and turned inward, forcing the man to turn with him. Alex tore the knife from his hand and used the momentum to throw the man against the wall. He faced the man with the chain once more.
“Impressive,” a voice said.
Alex glanced behind him to see Taden, the leader of the Red Dagger gang. The man stood with a dozen others, each armed with knives or chains. The scent of silver was heavy in the air.
“I was hoping you’d come,” Taden said. “As I think you’ve noticed, we’re better prepared this time.”
“I told you to leave kids alone. Turn them over to me,” Alex replied. “Nobody needs to get hurt.”
Taden gave a humorless smile. “I’m counting on you getting hurt. Payback’s coming with a whole lot of pain, Demon.”
Taden’s men and women began to circle Alex. Instincts told him to fall back, but gang members were already behind him, blocking his escape. Alex was out of options.
> The men attacked from both sides. Alex dropped to one knee, elbowed the man on his right in the stomach, slammed his fist into the man on his left’s groin, and drove his elbow up into the first man’s chin, dropping him to the floor. Alex spun to the right, taking out two more with a sweep of his leg.
A knife caught him in the shoulder as he rose. Alex sucked in a breath at the pain, grabbed his assailant’s wrist, broke his hold on the knife, and threw the blade into another man’s thigh. He blocked a chain aimed for his head. The silver links wrapped tightly around his right arm. Alex pulled forward and slammed a heel palm into the man’s nose.
He used the chain around his arm to block the slice of blade, drove his fist into another man’s face, and threw the chain at a woman running at him. The links wrapped around her legs, taking her down.
Four men rushed Alex. Chains hissed through the air. Alex dodged one set, blocked a thrust knife, broke the man’s arm, and used his momentum to throw the man into two others. He blocked another blade, but a chain wrapped around his ankle, locking tight with the spikes. The man jerked it back and Alex fell to the ground. He rolled to avoid a knife, but couldn’t kick clear of the chain. Fists hammered his back and a club slammed into his side. His ribs gave.
Alex felt the first whispers of panic. His heart began to thunder in his chest. He slammed his fist into one man’s knee, dislocating it backwards. He tried to pry the chain off his ankle but his hands burned at the touch. A woman stabbed at his eye. Alex jerked back. He let out a cry of pain as a knife sunk deep into the back of his right shoulder.
Instincts took over. Alex phased so fast his attackers were thrown back. His ankle slipped clear of the chain as he lunged, bringing down first one man, then another. Cries of terror echoed through the corridor. His vision was a blur of red. Alex fought until every armed gang member lay moaning on the floor. Those who weren’t armed ran away from him down the hall.
Alex stalked Taden, cornering the man near the stairs. The man turned, his eyes wide with fright.
“I’m sorry, man. Don’t do this. We’ll let the kids go.”
Alex’s rumbling snarl filled the air. The scent of urine touched his nose as Taden wet himself. He fumbled for the door to the basement.