Werewolf Academy Book 3: Instinct (13 page)

***

To Alex’s surprise, Jaze drove the SUV and he was the only other occupant. He couldn’t recall ever seeing the dean drive. Alex had assumed they were on their way to the airport, but Jaze passed it and drove through the city studying the buildings as though he knew them.

“Have you been here before?” Alex asked.

Jaze nodded. He was quiet for a few minutes before saying, “I used to live here back before the genocide.”

Alex saw the city in a new light. The buildings that brushed the sky had once decorated the dean’s horizon. Jaze was taking him to the place he used to call home.

“I was about your age when we moved here,” Jaze said, reaching the edge of the city and continuing south. “My dad was murdered and my whole life turned upside down. My mom hoped that by moving to a new city, we could hide from the past and start a different life.” He gave a humorless smile. “But as always seems to happen, the past caught up to us and I found myself at war with my uncle Mason, the General’s brother.”

Alex knew exactly how it felt to realize the one who had destroyed your family and everything around you was, in fact, family. He kept his gaze focused on the rolling hills that lined the horizon, forcing his thoughts away from the dark path they wished to take.

“Enough of that,” Jaze said, giving Alex a smile. “There were a lot of good times here, too.”

He pulled the car up next to a small house on a quiet street. The dean’s gaze tightened slightly at the sight of police tape around the perimeter of the yard and the one next door. The tape was tattered and old. It had broken in several places and fluttered in the faint morning breeze.

Jaze let out a slow breath and turned off the car. He got out and walked along the driveway. Alex followed quietly, unwilling to break the thick silence that fell around the dean’s shoulders like a cloak. Jaze stepped over the police tape that decorated the porch in yellow and black, and reached for the doorknob. It opened under his touch.

Beneath the musty, unlived-in scent that drifted out was a tangle of other scents, more pleasant ones. Alex smelled whispers of pasta, fresh bread, and laundry detergent. When he stepped inside after Jaze, he had to stop. Beneath the other scents were those ingrained into the house as if a part of it. Jaze was there, along with Nikki. There was a feminine, flowery scent Alex assumed once belonged to Mrs. Carso, Jaze’s mom. And there, amid the others, was Jet.

Alex closed his eyes. He could almost picture them at the house, friends whose lives were intertwined by the werewolves who were just starting to look to Jaze’s pack for safety. He swore he could hear the memories of laughter from the kitchen, and the joking of friends piled on the couch to watch movies. They had been a family as much as Alex, Cassie, and Meredith, and as much as the three of them with Jaze, Nikki, and baby William. Alex swallowed the lump in his throat at the thought of his first family, of Mom and Dad and playing games at the table with crackers and the cheese ball Mom always made.

Jaze’s footsteps made Alex open his eyes. He knew the dean saw more than just imagined memories as he walked through the living room and into the kitchen. Alex followed him, seeing the home beneath the dust that coated the couch, the shelves, the paperback book left open upside-down as though the reader had planned to return minutes later. Nothing was touched or tampered with. The house was frozen in time, plates were still in the strainer by the sink, the clock near the refrigerator had stopped at seven fifty-three, and only a few tracks of mice through the dust disturbed the scene.

Jaze paused by the backdoor. Alex glanced around him to see a lone black punching bag hanging from a tree in the backyard. The door slid open with a squeak of protest. Jaze stepped onto the brown lawn that crunched beneath his shoes. He crossed to the bag as if in a trance. Alex watched quietly as Jaze put his forehead against the bag. A stillness fell over the dean as though he was lost in his memories.

“Are you okay?” Alex asked quietly.

The chains rattled slightly, and a small smile chased the sorrow from the dean’s face. He stepped back. “Someday when things calm down, we’ll raise William here,” Jaze said. Alex didn’t know if the dean was speaking to him or just talking aloud, then Jaze turned with another smile. “It’s a good place to grow up. The schools are good; we could use Meg and Roger’s house for other werewolves.” His voice caught, but he pushed on, warming to the idea as he left the bag and walked to the fence. “Nikki would like that.”

“She lived next door?” Alex asked, joining him at the fence.

Jaze nodded. “We had the luck of moving in next to two Hunters.” He chuckled. “That made life exciting for a while.”

“I can imagine,” Alex said, thinking of his own experiences with Extremists.

He smiled. “It could have been far worse. We eventually worked things out.”

“I’m glad,” Alex said. “Nikki’s wonderful and William may be the most amazing baby in the world. He’s named after Jet, after all.” He smiled at the thought of the name his mom and dad had given their baby before he had been kidnapped.

Jaze grinned. “And you’re not biased.”

“Neither are you,” Alex replied.

Jaze laughed and ruffled his hair. “We’d better get you home. I don’t want to worry your sister any more than we already have. She’s probably waiting at the gates right now.”

“You’re probably right,” Alex agreed.

When they walked back through the house, Jaze held his head a bit higher as though imagining a future in the place helped alleviate the pain from seeing it in its current condition. He waited for Alex to pass, then shut the door almost reverently. Alex heard him whisper something that sounded like, “I can’t wait to bring them home,” before the dean stepped off the porch.

Chapter Eighteen

“YOU’RE BACK!” CASSIE KEPT exclaiming as she set a piece of welcome home cake in front of her brother.

The rest of Pack Jericho sat around the common room grinning and joking as though they couldn’t believe it, either.

“Hospitals aren’t my favorite,” Alex said, careful to keep a smile plastered on his face.

It felt strange to be back at the Academy and to know that classes began the next morning as if nothing had happened. He felt different, changed, as though spending the night in the hole of bodies had taken something from him. He hesitated, then admitted that it had given him something as well.

Everywhere he looked, he kept seeing things that reminded him of Siale. The color of the dove’s feathers in the painting near the door was the exact shade of her eyes. The brush of Kalia’s hand against his reminded him of the softness of Siale’s cheek on the backs of his fingers.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” Kalia said, her blue eyes lit with joy. “You scared us so badly.”

“Yeah,” little Caitlyn exclaimed, bouncing around on the couch and jostling everyone on it. “They said you were hurt, but you look okay to me.”

“I am okay,” Alex reassured her.

The little girl wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a tight squeeze before letting him go to bounce on the cushions again.

Alex balanced his cake in an effort to keep it from spilling on the ground. Cassie and Kalia had somehow convinced Cook Jerald to let them attempt their hand at cooking; the uncertain odor wafting from the said object made Alex question whether the cook had made a wise decision.

“At least Cook Jerald said we kept the kitchens clean,” Kalia explained.

“Yeah,” Cassie put in. “She said she would hire us, then she tasted the cake and said we better put our skills to use in something unrelated to the culinary field.”

Kalia shrugged her shoulders. “I think it tastes just fine.” Yet the cake on her plate had one bite taken out of the corner. Half of that bite still remained on the fork in her hand.

A glance around confirmed that everyone had barely nibbled at the cake.

“Cake good,” Amos declared.

“You can have mine,” Marky said quickly.

Amos stabbed the boy’s cake with his fork and shoved the whole thing in his mouth. He grinned around it. “Cake good,” he repeated.

A chorus of pack mates willing to share with the giant werewolf rose. A hurt look crossed Cassie’s face. Alex took another bite of his cake and forced a smile.

“It’s really not that bad,” he said, though a bitter powder coated his teeth and tongue, clinging like chalk that refused to go away.

Cassie fought back a smile. “It’s horrible,” she admitted. She set down her plate. There wasn’t even a bite taken out of her slice. “You’d think with the smell you wouldn’t have put it in your mouth. You should have a bit more self-respect than that.”

Alex laughed and set his plate down beside hers. Amos had already eaten half of the pack’s pieces. “At least it’s not going to waste,” Alex told his sister.

She sighed. “Oh well. At least we tried.”

“It means a lot to me,” Alex told her.

She smiled at him. “I’m just glad you’re back.”

“All of us are,” Tennison put in, leaning over the back of the couch near Cassie. “It’s too boring around here without you.”

“So I’d better come up with something interesting to do?” Alex asked.

“Actually,” Cassie replied, her eyes sparkling. “There’s something you don’t know.”

She and Kalia exchanged excited glances that made Alex wonder if he really wanted to know.

Unable to stand it any long, Cassie blurted out, “We’re going to have a dance!”

Alex stared from Cassie to Kalia to Jericho. “A dance?” he asked the Alpha uncertainly.

Jericho shrug, his expression touched with sympathy. “That’s what Professor Nikki announced at breakfast this morning.”

“When is it?” Alex asked; his voice might have squeaked slightly at the end. He swallowed past his dry throat.

“For New Year’s Eve,” Kalia said. “Couples can ask each other to go. It’s going to be so much fun!” There was no doubt about the smile on her face and the way she hovered close to him. She expected him to ask her.

A week ago, there would have been no question of Alex asking Kalia. He would have expected it, she no doubt would have, and apparently, by the smiles on the rest of the pack’s faces, so did they. But things had changed. Alex couldn’t explain it, and didn’t want to chase the joy from Kalia’s face, but the draw he had felt toward her was completely gone.

She was still the same sweet Kalia he cared about as a best friend. Her icy blue eyes creased with her smile that was becoming more of a constant since she had been with Pack Jericho. Her honey and clover scent tickled his nose within the smells of the rest of his pack mates, but the aroma didn’t pull him in like before.

He knew by looking at her that his altered feelings were one-sided. She went out of her way to brush his hand when she took his plate, and when she returned, she sat near enough that their knees touched.

Alex remembered the feeling of Siale’s head resting on his knee and the way her hair had fallen across her cheek. He had brushed it back softly, careful not to cause her any more pain with unnecessary movements. His fingers tingled with the memory of touching her skin.

Cassie’s voice jolted him back to the present. “I think he needs to rest.”

Alex blinked and willed his eyes to focus on his sister. “Sorry. I wasn’t listening.”

She smiled and Kalia patted his knee. “It’s okay. I was just saying we should see if Professor Nikki needs help planning the decorations. Christmas is only a week away, and New Year’s Eve will be right after the break, so she might need all the help she can get.” Her eyes sparkled with excitement. “That’s something Cassie and I can check on. I don’t think boys like to deal with decorations anyway.”

“Nut-uh,” Marky said. He was licking frosting off his fingers. At Kalia’s look, he shrugged. “The frosting’s good at least.”

Kalia swatted at him. “Get cleaned up. You look like you’ve been playing in the mud.”

“But it tastes better,” Marky said with a chocolate smile.

Cassie rolled her eyes and turned back to Alex. “Why don’t you get some sleep? We’ll bring you up some food from dinner.”

Alex gave his sister a grateful smile. “Thanks, Cass.”

“And I’ll make sure you get some of those rolls you like,” Kalia said.

Alex’s chest tightened when he nodded. “Thank you.”

He watched the rest of the pack retreat through the door.

“You alright?”

Alex hadn’t realized Jericho stayed behind. It was a testament to his exhausted nerves that the Alpha could stand behind him long enough for the others to exit and Alex not notice.

With the others gone, Alex was able to let down his guard slightly. He sat back on the couch. “Not exactly,” he admitted.

Jericho nodded. “I figured as much,” he said simply. He leaned against the opposite arm of the couch and crossed his arms. The tall, lean Alpha studied Alex solemnly. After a few minutes, he said quietly, “I almost thought I wouldn’t see you again.”

Alex forced a smile. “Did I disappoint you?”

Jericho gave an answering smile. “You would have if you hadn’t shown up. I think Cassie would have torn this place apart, and Kalia would’ve helped her.”

At the mention of Kalia’s name, Alex couldn’t help the frustration that crossed his face.

“Problems in paradise?” Jericho asked, his tone understanding.

Alex leaned forward so that his elbows rested on his knees and his face was hidden in his hands. He shook his head without looking at the Alpha. “I don’t know how I feel about anything anymore.”

Jericho set a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Take your time, Alex. You don’t have to decide about anything. It’s just a dance.”

Alex glanced sideways to meet the Alpha’s gaze. “It’s not just a dance. You saw it on her face, and you know how werewolves are. She thinks I’m the one.”

“And what do you think?”

Alex sighed. “I don’t know anymore, and I think that’s my answer.”

“And you’re afraid to tell her.”

Alex nodded.

Jericho gave a half-smile. “Can’t say I blame you. She’s a bit touchy.”

Alex blew out a breath. “That’s an understatement.”

Jericho stood up. “Well, Alex, I don’t pretend to understand your girl problems. I’m two years older than you, but I’ve been lucky to avoid the sights of any girl.” His tone said he wasn’t sure if that was a good thing. He shrugged. “A little sleep and some food will help. You look like you could use it.”

Alex gave a wry grin. “Thanks.”

Jericho slapped him on the shoulder. “Any time.” He winked. “But if I was you, I’d probably disappear before the girls return. It’ll probably just be Kalia who comes back with your food if I know anything about women.”

Alex stared at the door after the Alpha left. A few minutes later, he snapped out of the thoughtless daze at the sound of footsteps up the stairs. He hurried to the mantle and opened the hidden door to the tunnels. He stepped inside just before the door to Pack Jericho’s common room opened.

“I brought you...Alex?”

Alex’s heart ached at the sound of disappointment in Kalia’s voice. She had no doubt expected to find him still sitting on the couch waiting for her. After all the time he had been gone, he had no doubt she would want to talk. He just couldn’t muster up the energy to pretend to be fine and happy. He had already tried that and failed earlier with the rest of the pack.

He heard her walk to his room, then return. After a few minutes, the sound of her setting the plates on the table in the corner was followed by the door shutting again. Alex let out a slow breath. He eased the hidden panel aside slowly and peaked out. She was gone.

Alex looked at the bowl of stew and the plate laden with more rolls than one werewolf could or should eat in one sitting along with a very generous dollop of creamy butter. Alex looked around the room. It was bright and warm, the exact opposite of the feelings that pressed against his chest. He reached for the light switch, then paused. He didn’t want to have to explain to his pack mates why he was eating in the dark.

Alex picked up the bowl and plate and balanced them precariously in one hand while he opened the hidden panel again. He carried the food inside and shut the door. He slid down with his back against the wall and let out a slow breath. After a moment, he tore up a roll and set it in the stew. He took a bite and tried to ignore the darkness inside and out.