Werewolf Academy Book 4: Taken (5 page)

“What’s the
saw
?” Alex asked, repeating the word like it sounded.

“It’s the part of the city south of Angel Avenue, so S.A.A. We call it the Saa for short,” Josh explained. “Angel Avenue is at the end of the business section and the sky scrapers. After that, the city’s made up of slums.” He pulled his beanie down tighter as if even talking about the Saa made him nervous. “Everyone avoids the Saa.”

“Now the Saa’s coming to us,” Sarah said, her grip on Tanner’s arm tightening.

Chapter Four

Their footsteps echoed against the buildings that lined the sides of the road. Alex could hear the nervous breaths of his friends as they hurried past the alleys that branched away. They were almost to the building where Jen and Josh’s families lived. The humans were walking so fast Alex was amazed they didn’t break into a run.

A shadow detached from the next alley. Alex’s wolven eyesight revealed a man wearing a hoodie with the hood pulled up. The man shoved his hands in his pockets and ambled toward them as though not caring that they were there. It didn’t fool the humans any more than the scent of iron and determination that touched Alex’s nose belied the man’s casual demeanor.

“Oh no,” Sarah whispered.

Tanner pulled her close, shielding her with his body. Josh did the same. Jen’s fast breaths puffed in the icy evening air. They clung to the edge of the curb as they reached the man. It seemed he would let them go, but at the last second, he pulled out a knife and spun around.

“Give me your—”

Alex grabbed his wrist and ducked under it, flipping the man completely over. He hit the ground on his back and gave a yell of pain.

Alex glanced up in time to see another man come out of the same alley.

“Hey, get off him!” the man yelled. He was short and skinny and moved the lethal grace of a hunting cat. The man pulled out a knife as he ran toward them.

Alex met Josh’s terrified gaze. “I’ve got this,” he reassured his friends.

Josh pulled Jen back the way they had come. Tanner and Sarah followed close behind.

The man beneath Alex struggled. Alex stopped him with a straight punch to the jaw just as the shorter man reached them.

Alex jumped back in time to feel the knife catch in the front of his shirt. He punched the man in the ribs, then took a swing at the man’s head.

The skinny human ducked to the side, then lunged again with the deadly skill of a seasoned fighter. Alex blocked his arm and landed another punch before he was forced back by the knife. The man was quick, the blade appearing wherever Alex was, forcing him to guard when he wanted to end the fight and see his friends safely home.

The longer they stayed in the streets, the more likely of a target the humans were going to be. The sun had almost set completely, and only a few of the streetlights flickered to life, lighting lonely orbs along the barren sidewalks. Alex’s sensitive ears picked up the scuffs of shoes against cement. They were about to be in much bigger trouble.

Alex grabbed the knife by the blade. It was a stupid move, but it caught his attacker by surprise. Alex slammed a side kick into the skinny man’s ribs. He let go of the blade and backed up gasping. Alex kicked his left foot, then brought up the right. The ball of his foot connected with the man’s jaw with enough momentum to send him flying backwards into a motionless heap.

The silence that followed was broken only by Alex’s harsh breaths and the moans of men at his feet.

“Oh my gosh, Alex...” Jen began.

“We’ve got to go,” Alex told them. He searched both sides of the street. “Others are coming.”

None of them second-guessed Alex’s warning. They followed him across the street and down a block. More footsteps sounded. They would appear at any moment. Instinct warned Alex that if he didn’t act, his friends would be in danger again.

“This way,” he said, following his gut.

To his relief, the humans didn’t question trailing him into the alley and around the back side of the apartment building. He stood at the door studying the street as Josh and Jen hurried inside.

“Thank you so much,” Jen said. She threw her arms around his neck and gave him a tight hug. After, she took a surprised step back. “Geesh,” she said. “Werewolves are ripped.

“Jen.” Josh rolled his eyes.

A blush touched Jen’s cheeks. “Thanks again,” she said, slipping her hand into Josh’s.

They watched the pair climb the stairs until they were out of sight.

“We’re only two more blocks down,” Tanner told Alex. “Sarah’s apartment is before mine.”

“Let’s hurry,” Sarah said, her voice tight. “It’s getting darker.”

Tanner glanced at Alex’s hand. “Alex, you’re bleeding.”

Alex wiped his palm on his pants. “It’s already healing,” he said, holding it up. “No big deal.”

Tanner looked like he was about to say something, then he closed his mouth.

“Let’s get going,” Alex said.

Sarah led the way at almost a run. To everyone’s relief, they reached her building without being stopped. Alex waited near the outside doors while Tanner walked her up to her apartment. A few minutes later, he appeared again.

“This city’s messed up, huh?” Tanner said, drawing the hood of his blue coat over his short blond hair.

“It’s definitely not what I expected,” Alex replied. He pulled the door open and leading the way through. “Why do your families stay here?”

“Some parts are nice.” Tanner shoved his hands in his pockets and leaned against the wall. “And sometimes the scary stuff you know is easier to face than the stuff you don’t.”

Alex glanced at him in surprise. “Meaning you’d rather live with the thugs and gangs here instead of finding a place that might be better?”

“It might not,” Tanner said. He tipped his head back against the bricks. “My dad’s the CEO of Datacorp. I could switch to a private school, but I’d have to leave Sarah and the others behind.” He looked at Alex. “I won’t do that.”

Alex nodded in understanding. “So you protect them.”

Tanner snorted. “If you call cowering with the girls while you take care of armed robbers protection, then yeah.”

Alex chuckled. “I’m sure if I wasn’t here, you would have done something.”

“I would have given them my wallet and asked them to leave the girls alone.”

The honesty in Tanner’s voice said he was speaking from experience.

“Does that work?” Alex asked curiously.

Tanner’s gaze flitted to the street. “Sarah got hit once.” His clenched jaw said how much that affected him. “She was so scared that she was crying, and then he hit her. It left a bruise that took forever to go away.”

Alex’s voice was quiet when he said, “I can teach you how to defend them.”

Tanner looked at him, really looked at him, his green gaze searching as he took in Alex’s lack of jacket and his clenched fists. Alex couldn’t help the frustration that rose in him at the thought of his friends living lives of fear that could be stopped.

“Let me see your hand,” Tanner said.

Alex opened his fist. Dried blood showed where the knife had cut his palm. When he wiped it on his pants, he held out his hand again to reveal only a shallow mark where the wound had been.

“That’s amazing.” Tanner shook his head, his gaze darkening. “I can’t do what you do.”

“You don’t have to,” Alex told him. “And you don’t have to be helpless against these guys.”

Tanner walked slowly toward his building a block away. Alex followed quietly, checking with all of his senses for any danger by habit. His ears strained for the sound of feet while each breath was colored with scents of rubber and asphalt, the sour-sweet smell of fermenting garbage, and the merest whisper of rain that wafted with the evening breeze.

A candy wrapper swirled on the sidewalk. Tanner stepped on it without noticing. He reached the apartment building, and then hesitated at the steps.

“It would be nice not to be afraid,” Tanner finally said in a voice so quiet another human wouldn’t have heard it.

“Let me know when you’re ready,” Alex told him. “I can teach you, and you could teach them.”

“I’ll let you know,” Tanner replied. He jogged up the steps and put his hand on the door.

Alex turned away.

“Hey, Alex?”

When the werewolf glanced back, Tanner said, “Thanks again.”

“Anytime,” Alex replied with a wave.

Tanner smiled and ducked inside his apartment building.

Nobody bothered Alex on his way back to Cherish’s apartment. Whether they heard of him beating the two men or just had a shred of common sense, Alex didn’t know, but the darkness didn’t bother him any more than the shadows in the alleys and the voices that grew hushed when he passed by.

“You’re okay?” Cherish asked. Before Alex could say a word, she yelled over her shoulder. “He’s okay!”

“Of course he’s okay,” Mrs. Summers replied from the kitchen. “I told you not to worry.”

Alex fought back a smile. “You were worried about me?”

Cherish chuckled. “I guess I shouldn’t have been. Did everyone make it home safe?”

Alex nodded.

“Cocoa’s ready,” Mrs. Summers called. “Come get it while it’s hot.”

Alex followed Cherish into the kitchen. Mrs. Summers sat with them for a few minutes drinking the much smaller portion of hot chocolate she had poured for herself.

“Sounds like things are rough living here,” Alex said after a few minutes of silence.

Cherish nodded. She held the cup of cocoa with both hands as though trying to absorb all of the warmth. Both she and Mrs. Summers had blankets around their shoulders. Alex wondered why they didn’t just turn up the heat.

“It’s what it is,” Mrs. Summers replied. She smiled at her daughter. “We make due, and we’re comfortable enough for now.”

“For now?” Alex asked, picking up on the woman’s lingering tone.

“I’m going to be a doctor,” Cherish said with a determined expression. “Then I can get us somewhere better and save lives at the same time. That’s why I don’t have time for boys. I don’t need them interfering in my plans.”

“What if you interfere with theirs?” Alex asked.

Cherish’s eyes widened. “Whoa, now, wolfie boy. Just because you’re cute in a rugged you-don’t-know-how-attractive-you-are kind-of way, doesn’t mean that I—”

Alex almost held up both hands, which would have meant throwing his hot chocolate across the room. He stopped himself just in time. “It’s not like that at all!”

Cherish lifted her eyebrows in a pointed look of disbelief.

“My cocoa’s gone,” Mrs. Summers said, rising from the table and giving them both a warm smile. “Have a good night you two.”

Cherish shook her head after her mother set her empty mug in the sink and left the room.

“She’s about a subtle as a hammer.”

Alex laughed. “She means well.”

Cherish rolled her eyes. “She’s determined for me to have a boyfriend, and I think she finds you suitable for the job.”

“You don’t think she cares that I’m a werewolf?” Alex asked in surprise.

“No offense,” Cherish replied. “But I think she’d be thrilled if I fell for anything on two legs by this point. I’m just not in that mindset right now.”

“You don’t have to worry.” Alex sat back in his chair. “I have a gir...well, I have someone.”

One corner of Cherish’s mouth lifted in a half smile. “You just about said girlfriend.”

“Yeah.” Alex set his half-empty mug on the table. “I guess we haven’t exactly had a normal conversation, so I don’t know what you’d call it.”

“Then why did you say it?” Cherish’s voice was soft as if she guessed there was more to the story than Alex let on.

Alex debated whether to tell her. He was used to being closed in when it came to Siale. Tensions at the Academy with Kalia didn’t exactly leave room to discuss matters of the heart, and werewolves didn’t bring into the open anything that might be used against them as a weakness. Yet instinct bade him to trust Cherish, and his instincts had served him well so far.

He studied a drop of cocoa that was making its way slowly down the outside of his mug to join the small ring on the table.

“I saved her life and fell in love with her.” He glanced up at Cherish. “I really haven’t been able to think of much else since.”

Cherish’s mouth opened slightly as though she had expected anything but that. “I think if I found a boy who would say stuff like that to me, my mom could relax.”

Alex grinned, feeling foolish. “It’s not exactly a normal situation.”

Cherish took a sip of her hot chocolate, then said, “Which part? You saving lives or that a girl taking up all of your thoughts?”

“Uh, both, actually,” Alex replied. He quickly amended, “I do help Jaze save werewolves, but she was the first one I actually saved myself. I mean, without me, she wouldn’t have made it.” Thoughts of that night stormed his mind, the body pit, the darkness, feeling Siale’s life slip between his fingers with each heartbeat.

“Alex?”

Cherish’s voice was hesitant.

He looked up at her, shaken from his thoughts.

“Where did you go?” she asked gently. “You looked so...lost.”

Alex took a shuddering breath. “It wasn’t easy.” He sat up straighter, pushing the memories away. “And in answer to your second question, no, I don’t usually have a girl take up all of my thoughts. It’s confusing.”

Cherish smiled. “Sounds like it. That’s why I avoid relationships.”

Alex ran his fingers along the rough line on his palm that was all that was left of the knife wound. “It’s different for werewolves; at least, that’s what I’ve been told. We form a bond of sorts. It’s strong, so strong, and we both feel it. We’re pulled together.” He blew out a small breath. “I worry about her and can’t stop thinking of her, and I know it’s not going to go away until I know she’s safe beside me.”