Werewolf Academy Book 2: Hunted (26 page)

The car pulled to a stop near a small park lined with trees. No one was in sight. Mr. Dickson climbed out of the car when the driver opened the door, then motioned for Alex to do the same.

“Wait in the limo,” Mr. Dickson told the driver. The man nodded and retreated to his station.

A
lex relished the light of the almost full moon as it settled on his shoulders like a comforting blanket, calming his nerves. A few minutes later, Alex caught the scent of several men. He watched as shadows separated from the darkness of the trees and made their way toward the pair.

“Just hold your ground,” Mr. Dickson said under his breath.

Alex didn’t know if Kalia’s father was talking to him or just thinking aloud.

“Strange time for a meeting, don’t you thi
nk?” A man wearing black slacks, a blue button-up shirt, and a black baseball hat said.

“
As good a time as any,” Mr. Dickson replied.

“That’s what I told him,” an older man with wiry gray hair replied, nudging the younger one in the side.

The four men with them were huge. Alex wouldn’t have been surprised to find out they had bears in their ancestry. None of the other men spoke; they didn’t need to. It was clear by their humorless stares and crossed arms that they would mean trouble if things went other than the way their bosses wanted.

“
I appreciate you coming out,” Mr. Dickson said. He handed each of the two men a piece of paper from the envelope.

“What is this?” the older man asked.

The younger one read through the page quickly. “You’re dismissing us as clients?” he exclaimed.

Mr. Dickson nodded. “It’s a matter of protocol,” he
replied. “Donny Junior, you’ve skipped your parole and refused to appear in court even after I told you it was mandatory.” The older man gave the younger one a hard look. “And Donny Senior, I hear rumors that you’ve gotten more guns.”

It was clear by the older man’s silence that the rumors were true.

Mr. Dickson shook his head. “I warned you both that violation of the limits of your release terms would mean a dismissal of my services. I already put my neck on the line for you two, and you’ve thrown that away with your actions.” He pointed at the papers they held. “Those documents state exactly what I am telling you. I dismiss you from my services and I will no longer be acting as your attorney.”

Donny Senior’s face hardened. “
I say when you’re done with us, Mr. Dickson, and you are not done with us.”

He motioned and the four men stepped forward.
Mr. Dickson fell back behind Alex.

“I’m sorry, Adam, but
I think you should reconsider your decision,” Donny Junior said.

“I don’t reconsider decisions like this, Donny. You’re too big of a risk,” Mr. Dickson replied.

“I think you might,” Donny Senior told him flatly.

The four thugs closed in. Alex raised his fists.

Donny Senior laughed. “What is this? Some kind of juvenile security in training?”

“He’s all the security I need,”
Mr. Dickson replied.

One of the men reached o
ver Alex intent on Mr. Dickson.

T
o Alex, time slowed.

Alex’s body fell into the training cadence Chet had worked so hard to teach the students. He bent one knee and drove his fist into the man’s groin. When the man bent over, Alex slammed both fists into the man’s back. He fell to the ground with a cry of pain.

“What is this?” Donny Senior demanded, all humor vanishing from his voice.

“Like I said,” Mr. Dickson repeated. “He’s all the security I need.”

“Finish them,” Donny Junior growled, lifting his lips to show gold-plated teeth.

“Where do you find these guys?” Alex asked.

“I’ve rethought my profession many times, believe me,” Mr. Dickson replied tightly.

The three remaining thugs crowded in.

Alex sidestepped a punch and brought both arms together in a scissor hold that snapped the man’s elbow. He dropped and spun, kicking the legs out from beneath the thug. The man landed heavily on his back. Alex jumped over him, barreling a two-legged kick into the next man’s chest. The thug fell backwards into the last man. Alex rolled when he hit the ground and came up in a defensive crouch.

The first man was back on his feet. His face twisted in rage.

“I’ll kill you!” he yelled.

The man planted his feet and swung boxing style. Alex ducked inside the man’s reach and jumped up, smashing the man’s nose with the top of his head. The
thug staggered backwards as blood flowed down his face.

Another tried to pin Alex in a bear hug. He stomped down on the man’s instep, slammed his elbow into the man’s groin, ducked under his arms, and drove the same elbow into the man’s back to send him crashing to the ground.

“Alex!”

Mr. Dickson’s strained cry caught Alex’s attention. He turned in time to see the other two thugs advancing on the man. One thug held his elbow.

Alex crossed the space between them in less than a second. He jumped and spun. His foot connected with the back of both of the men’s heads before they could reach Mr. Dickson. Donny Senior’s warning cry called behind them too late. Both the thugs stumbled, then collapsed to the ground.

Alex’s heart stuttered. He landed and his knees hit the
pavement. He knelt there for a moment willing his heart to cooperate.

“Alex, behind you,” Mr. Dickson warned.

Alex glanced back to see the man with the broken nose running toward him with a crowbar.

Alex caught the crowbar at the last second as it barreled toward his head. He spun to the side, using the momentum the thug had already built to drive the crowbar into the ground. He rolled over the man’s back and slammed his elbow into the side of the man’s head. The thug fell to the pavement in a motionless heap.

All four thugs were on the ground, two of them moaning and writhing in pain.

“I think we’re done here,” Mr. Dickson said, straightening his tie.

“This is bad business and you know it,” Donny Senior protested.

Mr. Dickson closed the space between them. “Bad business is getting your little gun trade noticed by the feds in the first place. Bad business is raising up your son to follow in your footsteps even though you know it’s going to get him killed.” He looked back at the fallen thugs. “Bad business is not knowing when to call it quits. Well I know when to call it quits, and you’d best be accepting my resignation this time.”

Donny Senior looked from Mr. Dickson to Alex, then back. He finally nodded and held out a hand. “Thanks for all you’ve done.”

Mr. Dickson accepted the handshake. “Just make sure it’s worth it. I don’t think any other attorney is going to save your hide if you get taken in again. Do your family a favor, Donny. Retire, and make sure Junior here does the same.” Mr. Dickson tipped his head toward the road. “Come on, Alex.”

Alex followed slowly after Mr. Dickson. Tingles ran up his spine, giving him the sensation that he was being watched. He looked back to reassure himself that the thugs were still down. It looked like the Donnys were going to have a heck of a time getting them back on their feet.

“You didn’t turn into a wolf,” Mr. Dickson noted, his attention on the pair of headlights coming toward them.

“You protect your family your own way, and I protect mine,” Alex replied quietly.

Both of them were silent all the way back to the house. Mr. Dickson didn’t spe
ak again until they climbed out of the car.

“Thanks, Alex. I appreciate not having to involve Boris in this,” Mr. Dickson said.

Alex gave him a steady look. “Like you told Donny Senior, it might be time to call it quits.”

Mr. Dickson cracked an actual smile at that. He chuckle
d as he made his way up the steps. “Sage advice, my boy. Sage advice.” He went inside.

Alex took a few minutes to co
llect himself before following.

Alex lay on his bed. He couldn’t sleep. Thoughts of the Academy, of Cassie, and of the fight kept circling through his head. He wanted to go home. He missed the Academy, the familiarity of the forest, being with his sister and pack, and the professors. He missed baby William, and he missed Aunt Meredith.

It was amazing to know that with Aunt Meredith there, they were no longer orphans. Jaze and Nikki had done so much for them, but there was a great difference between them and baby William. Even though Alex regarded him as a brother, he knew deep down that they didn’t share blood. Blood between werewolves was a powerful thing. It was nice knowing that he and Cassie weren’t the only ones left in their bloodline.

Aunt Meredith
was so kind. It was as if she, too, felt the relief of not being alone. He felt better knowing that she and Cassie were together. Cassie also had Tennison. Alex’s heart twisted as he wondered whether she missed him as much as he missed her. She was probably busy having fun and keeping Tennison from jumping off cliffs in his sleep. Alex snorted and rolled over. If anyone could help Tennison, it was Cassie.

Someone banged on his door. Alex sat straight up.

“Alex, open the door,” Boris growled.

“Now what?” Alex muttered.

He climbed out of bed and made his way to the white panel door. He turned the lock and opened it just a crack.

“What do you want?”

Boris shoved the door open, propelling Alex back into the room.

“Think I couldn’t protect my dad?” he demanded, charging in with his eyes wild and fists clenched.

Alex held up his hands against the Alpha’s onslaught. “I was just doing what he asked me to.”

“Yeah? Did you forget that family takes care of their own?”

Boris grabbed Alex by the front of his shirt and threw him against the wall.

Alex hit the floor and came up with his fists
clenched. Boris tried to grab his shirt again. Alex ducked under his hand and rolled, landing a punch to Boris’ kidney before dancing out of the way.

“I knew you shouldn’t have come here,” Boris growled, his icy blue eyes filled with fire.

He lunged. Alex jumped back, but tripped over a lamp table. Boris grabbed him by the arm and flung him into the mantle above the fireplace. Fancy vases and statues fell to the floor with a crash. Alex landed on his feet. Fire filled his limbs. He could no longer think past the red that took over his vision.

A
sudden rush of strength fueled Alex’s body. An animalistic roar of rage left his mouth as he charged at Boris. The Alpha’s eyes widened as Alex rammed into him like a bull, slamming the Alpha to the ground. Alex punched Boris’ face and chest. He felt the Alpha’s nose break beneath his fist.

“Your dad wanted me to go because I’m expendable,” he shouted. “If I didn’t, he said he’d send me back to the Academy where I’m a threat to everyone I care about.” The words pounded through Alex’s chest with every beat of his heart. “He asked me to protect you. He made me fight them because he cares about you and I have no one out here.”

Alex’s heart skipped a beat before he hit Boris’ face again. He tried to lift his fist, but it refused to cooperate. Darkness swarmed his vision. His heart skipped two more beats. He slid to the ground and lay on his back, gasping and trying to will his heart to respond. The fight had been too much. After defending Mr. Dickson, then being attacked by Boris, his heart had finally had enough.

“Alex?” he heard Boris ask. The sound was muted and heavy as though it came from miles away in a fog.

Someone shook his shoulders. Alex couldn’t respond. Fingers pressed against his neck. A heavy fist slammed against his chest. Alex thought vaguely that Boris’ attempt to kill him when he was already down was a coward’s decision.

Alex’s heart gave a weak beat in response to the blow. He felt the life-giving blood surge through his body. It was all he could do to lay there and hope it would beat again. It did.

“Alex.” Boris’ voice was stronger this time.

Alex forced his eyes to open.

Boris was kneeling beside him, his blue eyes wide and blond hair a mess. Blood smeared below the Alpha’s nose where the break was already healing. Alex could feel his own injuries mending.

“Alex, are you okay?” Boris asked.

Alex took a testing breath. His heartbeat sounded normal. He nodded. “I think so.”

He tried to push himself up to a sitting position.
Boris grabbed his arm and helped him.

“What was that?” Boris demanded.

Alex was quiet for a few minutes. He didn’t know how much he wanted to admit, but it was obvious he had to say something. He let out a slow breath. “My heart acts up sometimes.”

Boris
silently took that in. The Alpha finally looked around the room. “We made a mess.”

“I’m surprised nobody came to see what the noise was,” Alex noted.

Boris shook his head. “They’re used to me breaking things. They probably just thought you did the same.” His voice lowered with a hint of self-loathing. “It’s safer for them not to interfere.”