Werewolf Academy Book 5: Lost (15 page)

Chapter Seventeen

Trent and the others ushered the humans back, clearing the center of the courtyard for Alex and Boris.

“I didn’t let her die,” Alex said quietly, circling the Alpha.

“She’s not here, is she?” Boris demanded. “You failed her, Alex. You let her down.”

Alex pushed away the emotions that rose at the Alpha’s words. He tried to tell himself that Boris was just behaving as a brother would. He wanted to blame someone, anyone. The hardest part was telling himself that he didn’t deserve it.

“Did you even fight for her, Alex?” Boris asked.

“Yes,” Alex said quietly.

“What was that?” Boris pressed.

After everything he had been through, Alex’s temper snapped. “Yes, I fought for her!” He advanced on the Alpha. Surprised, Boris fell back a few steps. “I tore the General’s army apart trying to get to her. I killed a hundred of them with my bare hands.”

Alex followed Boris across the courtyard. “When I made it to the door and found her in the snow, she was already gone.” Alex swallowed, pushing down the knot that formed in his throat at the memory. “They shot her in the head, Boris. I couldn’t do anything to save her. I know I failed her.” He clenched his hands into fists again. “I feel the guilt every day I’m still alive and she’s buried in the ground.”

Boris held up his hands. “Take it easy, Alex. I didn’t know.”

Alex couldn’t think past his thundering heart. It skipped a beat, then another. His rage was blinding, consuming his thoughts, filling him with memories of Kalia’s still body, the way the snow melted from the heat of the blood that surrounded her, the sight of snowflakes landing on her skin and melting until her body chilled to the pointed that they no longer melted.

“You challenged me to a rank duel, so fight me,” Alex growled in a voice he no longer recognized.

Boris advanced on him. The Alpha threw a left, then a right. Alex dodged the left and caught the right with his elbow. He turned inward, using his momentum to throw Boris off balance. Alex spun in a tight circle and kicked, connecting with Boris’ cheekbone. The Alpha staggered backwards holding his face.

Alex dove at him, driving the Alpha onto his back on the ground. Alex landed two punches before Boris threw him off. He jumped back, dodging the Alpha’s kick at his stomach, and leaped forward in time to grab Boris’ leg before he could reset. Alex threw himself to the side, keeping a tight grip on the Alpha’s knee. Boris was flung over Alex to the cement.

Alex landed on the Alpha’s back and locked an arm around his neck. Boris tried to elbow him in the side, but Alex ignored the pain. He drove his knee into the Alpha’s back and pulled up, bending the Alpha’s spine. Boris claws at Alex’s arm, struggling to breathe.

“Say it,” Alex demanded. “Say you give up.”

“I...give...up,” Boris sputtered.

Alex held him for a moment longer. When he let the Alpha go, Boris fell to the ground gasping for air.

Alex stood slowly. His limbs shook with adrenaline. He tried to make sense of what had just happened. He had beaten an Alpha, and hadn’t morphed to do so. Boris had barely touched him. The battle had been fought in front of the entire school, as well as the humans from Greyton. Alex didn’t know what to do.

Clapping began near Jet’s statue. Alex glanced over to see Trent heading the applause. Soon, the entire courtyard was clapping and cheering, the humans included. Alex met Jaze’s gaze. The dean gave an approving nod, his expression questioning. Alex lifted his shoulders in a small shrug. He couldn’t explain what had happened if he tried.

“That was amazing,” Trent said, patting Alex on the back as the rest of the werewolves closed in. “Talk about putting Boris in his place.”

“I didn’t want to,” Alex replied. “He deserves to be upset.”

“Don’t worry,” Trent said reassuringly. “The Alphas won’t be messing with you for a while.”

“What was that?” Cassie demanded, reaching Alex.

“I’m not sure,” Alex admitted.

Cassie gave her brother a quick hug. “I was afraid I was going to see you get thrashed within an inch of your life.”

“That makes two of us,” Alex replied.

Cassie shook her head. Her gaze shifted to the humans behind Alex. “Well, maybe we should see about that tour.”

“Good idea,” Siale replied, slipping her arm through Alex’s. “A change of scenery would be good for everyone.”

The feeling of her hand on his arm helped Alex center himself. He was able to push away thoughts of the fights, and felt only a touch of guilt when they made their way past Boris and his pack on the stairs.

“So grays aren’t supposed to beat Alphas?” he heard Cherish whisper to Jericho as they fell in behind the group.

“I don’t think it’s so much that they’re not supposed to, but more of that they never have. Alphas are stronger for a reason. It brings order and unity. If grays could defeat Alphas, the entire pack hierarchy would be thrown out of whack.”

“Like it just was?” Cherish said.

Alex didn’t hear Jericho’s reply.

“Don’t worry,” Siale said quietly. Her fingers brushed Alex’s arm reassuringly. “Things will figure themselves out. You did what you had to. It’ll be okay.”

“I hope so,” Alex replied.

She leaned over and kissed him softly on the cheek.

Alex took a calming breath. “Keep doing that and I won’t remember anything else,” he told her.

Siale smiled, her eyes dancing as she walked beside him.

When the tour was over, many of the werewolves walked with the humans back to the courtyard.

“What are you planning to do?” Cherish asked when they neared the gate.

Siale stood a few feet away, giving Alex his space. He met her gaze. Now that he was back at the Academy, even with the chaos his fight with Boris would no doubt cause, the thought of leaving her again was almost too much to bear. Alex gave her a warm smile.

“I think I’ll be staying here for a while.”

The answering smile that spread across Siale’s face let him know he had made the right decision.

“Can’t blame you there,” Josh said, slapping Alex’s shoulder on his way to the gate.

“I’ll walk you guys out,” Alex told them.

They found the adults waiting with Jaze just outside the gate as the first light of dawn brushed the gray walls. By the looks of things, they had experienced an enjoyable night as well.

“Nothing like a headlong flight followed by a firefight to get the old heart racing again,” Anders said, shaking Jaze’s hand. “It was a pleasure to meet you. Alex’s presence has been invaluable in Greyton. I’m planning to get a pack together to keep up what he started.”

“Really?” Alex asked, amazed and relieved. The hardest part with choosing to stay at the Academy had been the thought of leaving Greyton just when he was beginning to make true difference.

“Really,” Anders replied. “The police officers seem willing to work somewhat with werewolves if we’re fighting for the good of the city. It might be a good move all around.” He held out a hand. “You’ve given some pretty tough shoes to follow.”

Alex shook it. “I think you’re going to manage just fine.” He nodded at the humans around them. “You have some pretty good backup.”

“Don’t be a stranger,” Mrs. Summers said, giving Alex a hug. “Our couch and fire escape are going to miss you.”

“And I’m going to miss your amazing cooking. I might have to catch a few Sundays,” Alex told her.

“I sure hope you do,” she replied, her eyes glittering brightly.

Jericho and Cherish brought up the rear of the group. Alex could have focused on their conversation to hear what they were saying to each other, but he chose to give them their privacy. Cherish’s hand held in Jericho’s said plenty. She looked as reluctant as Alex felt to have the humans leave.

“We may have to rethink the structure of a few things,” Jaze was saying to Mrs. Summers. “It’s been nice having more humans here.”

“You grew up with human friends, right?” she asked.

Jaze nodded. “Some of my closest friends are still human. I hear you lost a friend who was a werewolf.”

Mrs. Summers nodded. “I would love to find her again, though I know after everything that’s happened the odds of her being alive are slim.” Her voice fell away.

Jaze gave her a warm smile. “Don’t worry. If she’s out there, we’ll find her. My team doesn’t know the meaning of give up.”

“I’m glad to see where Alex has learned his determination,” Mrs. Summers replied.

They reached the turn in the road where the cars were parked. Alex picked up his motorcycle helmet and turned it over in his hands as Jericho and Cherish parted ways.

“Promise me you’ll come visit,” Cherish said.

“I promise,” Jericho told her. He hesitated, then pulled her close and kissed her soundly on the lips. “That’s so you don’t forget me,” he said when he stepped back.

Cherish’s cheeks were bright red and her smile made the morning light look dim as she stared at him. “I couldn’t forget you,” she replied, touching her fingers to her lips. “Never ever.”

“Sounds like we’ll have more of you over to visit,” Mrs. Summers noted with a satisfied nod. She looked extremely pleased at the relationship developing between her daughter and Jericho. “You boys take care of yourselves.”

“We will,” Alex and Jericho replied at the same time.

Alex shoved the helmet on his head. He waited until the last of the cars had pulled back down the winding road, and then kicked his motorcycle into gear. He pulled up next to Jericho.

“Need a ride, Romeo?”

Jericho chuckled and climbed on the back. “There’s only one thing I can say to you,” the Alpha told him above the roar of the engine.

“What’s that?” Alex asked curiously.

“Thank goodness you decided to become a vigilante,” Jericho replied. “Otherwise, I would never have found Cherish.”

Alex grinned. “You’re welcome.”

He steered them through the gates and drove the motorcycle to Trent’s workroom. Parking it in the corner, Alex led the way through the hallway to the main Academy corridor.

He slowed at the sight of his mother waiting with her back to him.

“She’s been worried sick since you left,” Jericho told him quietly. “You might want to take it easy on her.”

“Thanks for the advice,” Alex whispered.

“No problem. Catch you later.” Jericho left Alex standing in the hallway.

“Uh, looking for me?” Alex asked hesitantly.

Meredith turned without a word and gave him a tight hug. She stepped back, holding him at arm’s length to look at him. “I have so much to say to you.” She paused and a small smile touched her lips. “Most of all, I’m glad you’re safe and you’ve come home. I was so worried.”

Alex’s eyes burned. He blinked, refusing to let the sudden tears fall. “Thank you for giving me the time I needed.”

“I’m here if you ever need to talk,” his mother said.

“I know,” he told her. “That’s why you’re so great.”

She gave him another hug and blinked as her own tears threatened to fall. “Go to Siale and your sister. I don’t want to keep you. I just wanted to let you know that it hasn’t been home here without you.”

“I’m glad to be back,” Alex said honestly.

Meredith left him at the stairs. Alex walked up them, worried about what he would find when he reached Pack Torin’s quarters. After fighting Alphas and causing dissention with the students, Alex doubted he would be Torin’s Second, let alone still have a place in the pack.

The entire room fell completely silent when he entered. The mismatched pack Torin had been forced to choose when the normal rules of the Ceremony were changed lounged around the room in obvious discomfort. Torin stood by the fireplace and turned when the door closed behind Alex.

Alex wondered if the Alpha would fight him or force him from the room. After beating both Torin and Boris, Alex had no idea where he stood. He might be cast away from all of them, shunned. No Gray had ever beaten an Alpha. There weren’t guidelines for what happened if one did. Maybe he had only succeeded in getting himself cast away from every place he belonged.

Torin eyed him silently, his expression unreadable. “The toilets are dirty,” the Alpha finally said, his voice level.

As much as Alex hated cleaning toilets, the words were as much of an acceptance as he was going to get from the Alpha. He nodded with a feeling of relief. “I’ll take care of it.” He turned away.

“Alex.”

He paused, hesitation making his heart stutter.

“As my Second, you can assign the duty to someone else,” Torin concluded quietly.

Alex fought back a smile. “It’s okay. I’ve been gone a while. I should pay my dues.”

He swore he saw the faintest smile in return from the Lifer Alpha.

***

Later that night, Jaze found him sitting at the base of Jet’s statue.

“It’s good to have you back,” the dean said.

“It’s nice to be here,” Alex replied. He smiled up at the stars. “Really nice. I’ve missed it.”

Jaze leaned against the base of the statue. “You shook things up.”

Alex nodded. “I thought it would be good for the humans to see that werewolves aren’t that bad. If they realize how much we have in common, maybe they won’t be so afraid. They did come all this way to help us.”

“I’m grateful for the humans, and while it was a risk letting them come inside the Academy, I understand your reasons for it, but that’s not was I’m talking about.” At Alex’s look, the dean said, “I mean you beating Boris.”

Alex took a steeling breath. “I figured that was coming.”

Jaze tipped his head back to look at the sky. “There’s no protocol for a Gray beating an Alpha, but you’ve beaten two of them.” He looked down at Alex. “If an Alpha beats an Alpha, they inherit the pack. It keeps order; a weak Alpha has no right to lead those beneath him or her. But a Gray beating an Alpha is a different matter. In all honesty, you should run both Boris and Torin’s packs.”

Alex’s heart fell. “I don’t want to.”

“It’s the way it should be,” Jaze said, his expression one of understanding. “In the world outside the Academy, you would have to take over. That’s the way it must be to keep order and discipline. Grays won’t follow a weak Alpha, and if you beat one, then whatever color your coat might be, instinct dictates that you are the best choice to lead.”

Alex shook his head. “I can’t, Jaze. There’s no way I should be in charge of anyone, let alone two packs.”

“You beat Boris in front of the entire school,” Jaze pointed out. “And Trent announced you beat Torin as well. It was obvious by Torin’s reaction that it’s true.”

Alex had to nod in answer to the dean’s close scrutiny. “But I had to. In both instances, they attacked me. It wasn’t the other way around.”

“There has to be consequences,” Jaze said quietly.

Panic pierced Alex’s heart. He had to make the dean understand. There was no way he could do what Jaze was asking him to. He stood. “Jaze, I can’t lead. I’m barely together as it is. After losing Kalia and everything else that’s happened, I’m a breath away from going over the edge. That’s why I had to go to Greyton. Fighting gangs and making the streets safer was something I could do to avoid thinking about everything else.”

He took a calming breath in an effort to slow his racing heart. “You can’t put someone in charge that isn’t fit to lead. I know my flaws. I wouldn’t make a good leader. Please don’t place me in a position where I will fail those under me. Boris and Torin are good at their jobs,” he gave a wry smile, “As hard as it is for me to admit. They should keep their positions.”

Jaze was silent for so long Alex wasn’t sure what to think. When the dean finally spoke, his words were quiet. “Those who are the best at leading know their faults and turn them into strengths. It’s those who think they’re perfect that are the true danger.” He sighed. “I understand your concerns, and I’ll go with your wishes this once, but if you beat them again, we’re going to have a serious problem on our hands.”

“I understand. Thank you,” Alex said.

He listened to the dean head back to the school, relieved that he had just avoided what would possibly be the worst decision of his life.