Werewolf Academy 07 Chosen (19 page)

“
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 together 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,” he 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.

“
J-Jericho,” he forced out.

A reassuring hand gripped his arm.

“
We’ve got him,” Jaze said, his voice gentle. “He’s coming home, too.”

Alex felt himself be set on the floor of the helicopter. He tried to move and another stabbing pain shot through his chest. His back arched as he fought to draw in breath.

“
The other lung!” Kaynan said.

A force slammed into his chest. He drew a sharp breath and the drowning sensation lessened. Despite the voices repeating his name, Alex couldn’t keep awake. His muscles relaxed and he gave into the embrace of darkness.

***

The beeping that filled Alex’s ears when he awoke was disorienting. Images raced through his mind and he couldn’t figure out when or where he was. He thought he and Siale had just been freed from the body pit, then memories of awakening in the cage with Dr. Kamala watching him sent shudders down his spine that turned into shivers from cold. But werewolves weren’t supposed to get cold. Alex realized he was kneeling in the snow with a body in his arms. Each tear that fell from his eyes turned to icicles before they hit the ground and shattered into a million pieces.

The memories changed. Alex was kneeling on the forest floor and another body lay in front of him. He clutched something in his hand so hard it cut into his skin. Alex opened his hand and looked down at the ring. Jericho had meant to propose to Cherish. The Alpha was in love with a human who loved him back just as much. It was beautiful. It was lost.

Alex opened his eyes. The room was dark. The steady beeping near his head let him know that he was hooked up to monitors. He took a slow breath to keep his heartbeat measured so as not to alarm his mom. He needed a minute to think things through.

Jericho was gone. Drogan’s Demons had killed another of his friends, another werewolf who could never be replaced and who had been torn out of the life he deserved to live.

Alex rubbed his eyes. His head ached. He couldn’t remember when it had ever hurt so badly. He tried to sit up, but movement made pain flood through his lungs with such knife-edged agony he could barely breathe.

Alex pulled the hospital gown down far enough to see his chest. The light of the moon that spilled through the window revealed bruises splayed all down his torso. He could tell with the simple movement that worse bruising covered his back. He wondered how many ribs he had broken. Perhaps jumping off a building and crashing through trees before landing on his back on the forest floor had been a bad idea. He hadn’t been able to save Jericho.

Alex ignored the pain and pushed up slowly. Sitting made the stabbing pain worse. Alex gave up sitting and slid his feet to the tiled floor of the medical wing of the Academy he knew very well. It was both a relief and a humbling experience to stand there because even though it took some pressure off the breathing, standing made him realize how very weak he was.

He ran his hand along the bed.

“
Alex?”