Werewolf Academy Book 2: Hunted (34 page)

She
stepped quickly around the chair and knelt down in front of Alex. “These look like they’re from one of our guns,” the werewolf said, her gaze on the three bullet holes as she pressed bandages against Alex’s stomach.

Alex thought wearily that they sure hurt a lot more than the tiny holes looked like they would.

“You’ve lost a lot of blood,” Jaze said. “We need to get you home.”

Alex nodded. “
Home sounds good,” he said, his words just above a whisper.

Jaze gave him a warm smile. “We almost didn’t find you.”

“You got Drogan,” Alex said.

“You got Drogan,” Jaze replied.

Both of them watched Kaynan and Chet lift Drogan and drag him not so gently from the room. A moan of pain came from the man.

“He’s not dead?” Alex asked.

Jaze shook his head. “Sleeping agents.” His voice said he preferred it to be different. “He’ll be well sedated on his way to the GPA. We’ll deal with him there.”

Alex winced as Lyra pushed harder on his stomach.

“We need to get Alex to surgery. There are silver shards in the wound that will have to be removed so he doesn’t get an infection,” Lyra told Jaze.

Jaze nodded. “There’s no time to waste.” He shifted his gaze. “Get him to the helicopter.”

Vance knelt beside Alex and picked him up.

“Not again,” Alex protested. “I can walk.”

“I don’t believe you,” Vance replied.

Every step flooded Alex with pain.

“Just think of it as if you have your own personal servant,” Vance told him.

Alex stared at the huge werewolf.

Vance cracked a smile. “Yeah, Jaze told me what horrible living conditions you were in over Christmas. Now I wish I’d sent you to my mom’s.”

Alex
chuckled, then winced and doubled over at the pain through his stomach.

“Easy there, chief,” Vance replied quietly. “Maybe cut down on the laughter until you don’t have a gaping hole in your stomach.”

“Good idea,” Alex replied tightly.

Drogan’s words pressed against Alex’s mind as the sedation from surgery wore off. The General, Jason Carso, was their father. If that was the case, everything he knew about his childhood was skewed. His parents, his relationship to Jet, even his revenge against Drogan.

His stomach twisted at the realization that Drogan was his half-brother. Being related to the man made him feel sick. Yet he and Cassie had Jet’s dark blue eyes. There had been a kinship there he couldn’t deny. There was no way it was true.

Understanding flooded him so sharply he couldn’t catch his breath for a minute. His heart skipped several beats. The monitors that
had been beeping quietly sounded an alarm. Footsteps hurried into the room. He heard voices talking as the monitors were quickly checked.

A hand touched his forehead, brushing back his tangled black hair. He opened his eyes to see Meredith looking down at him.

“Hi, Mom,” he forced through his throat that was so dry his voice cracked.

Meredith’s blue eyes filled up with tears. “Oh, Alex,” she said softly.

“What does he mean?” Cassie asked from the other side of the bed. She looked from Alex back to Meredith. “Why did he say that?”

Alex took a shuddering breath and turned his head to face his sister. “She saved us, Cass. She gave us to her sister and brother-in-law after their baby was stolen.
” He took a shallow breath. “She was afraid the General would find her. She saved our lives.” He winced at the thought that the General was their father. He took another breath and felt the pain in his ribs ease. “Meredith is our mother.”

Alex’s gaze shifted to the form standing in the doorway. Jaze watched
him with sad eyes. At Alex’s questioning look, the dean nodded, confirming Alex’s words.

Alex slipped his hand under Meredith’s. Tears streamed down her face.
“My little boy,” she said in a sob.

Cassie ducked under Meredith’s arm. It was clear by her expression that Cassie didn’t understand it all yet, but she trusted her brother. Alex gave her a weak smile. “It’s okay, Cass.”

She nodded. “I know it is. We’re going to be alright.”

Alex smiled and let his eyes droop shut. Memories of being a child at his father’s knee filled with the wonder of the world held him. He saw Jet there, lying on the grass watching the moon and speaking of hope. Mom stood in the doorway with her soft smile on her face, her eyes so warm and deep like
her sister who turned out to be their birth mother. They were family. Nothing could change that. If anything, he and Cassie had been given a gift. They had a mother again; they were home. Alex drifted off to a sleep that was filled with peace.

Cheree Alsop is the mother of a beautiful, talented daughter and amazing twin sons who fill every day with joy and laughter. She is married to her best friend, Michael, the light of her life and her soulmate who shares her dreams and inspires her by reading the first drafts and adding depth to the stories. Cheree is currently working as an independent author and mother. She enjoys reading, riding her motorcycle on warm nights, and playing with her twins while planning her next book.

Cheree and Michael live in Utah where they rock out, enjoy the outdoors, plan great adventures, and never stop dreaming.

Check out Cheree’s other books at
www.chereealsop.com

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Look for Werewolf Academy Book 3: Instinct