Werewolf Academy Book 6: Vengeance (19 page)

He nodded. “It’s the least I can do.” He gave her a straight look. “You were the best mother to me and Cassie two orphans could have asked for. Even with Mom here now, I’ll never forget that. Let me be an appreciative son and give you a break.”

Nikki caught him up in a hug. When she let him go, she was unsuccessfully blinking back tears.

His chest tightened. “Did I say something wrong?”

She shook her head quickly. “Pregnancy comes with a heightened sense of smell as well as an exciting array of sporadic emotions. I never know when they’re going to hit.” She wiped her eyes and gave him a watery smile. “I’m just proud of you, Alex. You’re an amazing person.”

“Thank you,” he replied, giving her another hug.

Chapter Twenty-three

After everything was cleaned up, Meredith, along with Cherish’s mother, Mrs. Summers, came back with enough sandwiches and sodas for all who had helped.

“Thanks for giving us the chance to do this,” Alex told Officer Dune as they waited outside near the doors of the school.

The officer nodded. “It doesn’t make up for what I did, but I’m happy I could help.” He indicated the officers talking with parents near the cars. “I’ll go make sure everyone’s alright.”

Most of the students besides Cherish’s little group had left. Though there were a few who had been tended to by Meredith and Nyra’s ministrations, the rest went home only a bit shaken and more excited about their part in the night.

“Did you see their teeth?” Alex heard one student in a blood-spattered tuxedo exclaim as they walked out the front doors. “I swear they were as long as my arm!”

“I’m pretty sure you call those fangs,” the girl at his side answered, “And you can ask Jesse about how long they are. He got bit by them.”

“Did you see Gentry?” another girl asked. She held up the hem of her dress; it had dark red stains along the bottom. “She screamed so loud I think she scared one of them!”

“I was screaming, too,” a boy with dyed green hair admitted. “That was scary.”

The girl holding his arm nodded in emphatic agreement. “Let’s hope we don’t have to do that again,” she said, glancing at the tarped pile of bodies that were being loaded into the back of a black, unmarked moving truck.

“The werewolves said we got them all. How cool is that?” Josh, Cherish’s friend, told Jen.

She worried a strand of her bright red hair around her finger nervously. “It’s cool as long as they stay dead.”

“They’re not going to come alive again,” Tanner, Sarah’s boyfriend said. He gave Alex a worried look. “Are they?”

Alex shook his head. “They’re dead. All of them.” He smiled. “We couldn’t have done it without you guys. Thank you.”

“Thank you,” Principal Dalton replied from where he and Mayor Hendricks waited by the row of cars that left with the students. “You gave us the opportunity to fight back.”

Alex walked over and shook both of their hands. “You gave us the same thing,” he told the men. “I don’t know how else we could have pulled it off. Thanks to the bravery of your students and staff, a threat to the nation was stopped today.”

“Anything we can do to help defeat Drogan, you let us know,” the mayor replied.

“I doubt he’ll fall for something like this again, but we’ve taken away his army. Drogan’s alone.” For some reason, the thought didn’t reassure Alex the way it seemed to with the others.

“Let him rot,” Josh said as he opened the car door for Jen and helped her inside.

Tanner did the same for Sarah.

Before taking her seat, Sarah gave Alex a quick hug. “Thanks again, Alex,” she said. She kissed him on the cheek. “You were great.”

Alex smiled as Tanner shut the door. The human turned to Alex.

“Thanks again, man. Come play soccer with us sometime,” Tanner told him.

“I will,” Alex promised. He watched them go.

“You’re welcome here, you know,” Principal Dalton said.

At Alex’s questioning look, the mayor nodded in agreement. “We’ve been working on the legislation. If we can get the government to recognize werewolves as citizens, it won’t be a problem.”

“Are you serious?” Alex asked in shock. “You would let werewolves come to this school?”

Principal Dalton opened his hand to indicate the building behind them. “You’ve already been at the school. There would just be classes involved instead of only dancing.”

“Do you think the students would accept us?” The thought of attending the school as an actual part of the student body sent a thrum of excitement through Alex.

“I do,” the principal replied. “There will be some controversy at first for sure, but people will get used to the idea.”

Mayor Hendricks set a hand on Alex’s shoulder. “Give us time, Alex. We can remove prejudice if we can erase fear, and I think you’ve taken many steps towards doing just that.” The mayor nodded behind Alex.

He turned to see a reporter talking in front of a news camera. A smile crossed his face when he recognized Cooper Peterson, the reporter who had been captive in the hospital with him when Drogan held everyone hostage, and the same man who had made the first national plea for werewolves to be given the chance to live as equals among humans.

“As you can see,” Cooper was saying. “They are loading the bodies of the slain mutants while I speak. Chief Harrington confirmed just moments ago that all of the mutants have been killed. Thanks to the efforts of Jaze Carso and his werewolf task force working in conjunction with Greyton City and our brave men and women of the police department, as well as,” he looked over his shoulder to confirm that the agents of the GPA were still there, “Members of several other unidentified departments that I assume to be government related, Greyton High School will be cleared of the remnants of this battle and life will continue much safer than before.”

Cooper’s gaze locked on Alex. His smile deepened and he motioned to the werewolf.

“Excuse me, please,” Alex told the mayor and principal.

He walked to Cooper’s side. “I can’t believe our luck,” Cooper said into the camera. “Here is Alex Davies, the werewolf we have been told helped to instigate the anti-mutant attack. Alex has become a familiar face in the efforts to improve werewolf-human relations. I’m not surprised to find Mr. Davies at the forefront of the efforts to relieve the nation of the threat brought about by Drogan Carso. Alex, do you have anything to say?”

Alex let out a slow breath to center himself and smiled. “It’s good to see you again, Cooper.”

“Same to you,” the reporter replied with true gratitude. “Things are improving.”

“Very much so,” Alex said. He motioned behind him to where the back doors of the truck were being closed. “The curs, I mean mutants,” he corrected himself, “are gone. Families can breathe easier knowing that they don’t have to be afraid to shop or spend time outside their homes. I am so grateful to have been involved in this confrontation. The citizens of Greyton have again shown amazing bravery, and their willingness to accommodate our needs in this attack has allowed us to destroy the threat entirely.” He thought of Drogan. The Extremist had escaped yet again. The threat wasn’t quite over.

Alex faced the camera. If Drogan was watching, he wanted to leave a message that would hit home hard. “Drogan, you’re finished. If you’re smart, you’ll go hide in a corner somewhere and leave werewolves and humans to live in peace. The world is changing. Peace is attainable, and the families of this nation deserve to live unafraid no matter what their race.” He swallowed and took a risk. “Brother, let it go. Please. I’m begging you to let peace have a chance. Stop hurting the innocent. Nobody should have to live in fear, and you have the choice. Just let it go. Please.” He turned back to Cooper. “I’d better get back and help with the cleanup. Thank you for what you do. I appreciate it.”

“We’re happy to do our part,” the reporter replied, shaking Alex’s hand. “Thank you for your time.”

Alex saw Siale out of the corner of his eye. A smile spread across his face. “Can I introduce you to someone?”

“Anyone,” Cooper replied with a hint of surprise.

“Siale?” Alex called.

She came over with a questioning look at the camera. Alex introduced her to Cooper. “Cooper Peterson, this is Siale Andrews, my fiancé.”

Cooper’s answering smile was huge when he shook Siale’s hand. “I am so glad to meet you. I didn’t know Alex was engaged. Are you a werewolf, too?”

Siale looked at Alex. He left it up to her to choose what she wanted to say.

She nodded and gave the camera a warm smile. “I am a werewolf, and I’m so happy. Alex proposed to me at sunset on the beach a few weeks back, and I couldn’t be happier. He’s a romantic at heart.”

Cooper chuckled and spoke into the microphone. “I apologize to all of you ladies who had your hearts set on our dashing Alex, but he’s been taken by this beautiful young woman. I wish them all the happiness in the world, and,” he turned back to Alex and Siale, “Maybe I can get an invitation to the wedding?”

He left the question hanging. Alex made a split-second decision. “Who knows,” he replied. “Maybe everyone will.”

“What do you mean?” Cooper asked.

Alex looked at Siale. “What do you think about having a public wedding?”

Siale looked a bit taken back, but she nodded. “I think that would be wonderful.”

“There you have it,” Cooper said. The fact that he had the biggest story in the nation in regards to both the mutant elimination and Alex’s wedding was evident by his grin.

When the camera turned off, Cooper gave Alex an apologetic smile. “Sorry for putting you on the spot there. That was amazing!”

Alex looked at Siale. “Are you sure that’s okay? I should have talked to you first.”

Siale shook her head. “Everyone knows you. If our wedding will help people feel better about werewolves, then I think we really should.”

Alex kissed her. “You are amazing.”

She smiled up at him. “That’s why I’m marrying you.”

Alex chuckled. He glanced up and realized Cooper was still standing there. “Uh, sorry. Sometimes we get a bit carried away.”

“That’s alright,” Cooper replied. “That’s how it’s supposed to be when you’re young and in love.” He smiled at Siale. “Ever since we first aired what happened in the hospital, we’ve gotten more letters about Alex than any other single event. Having a young person who has been so brave acting as the forefront of the werewolf movement has been a wonderful thing. Everyone loves a wedding. I can guarantee that letting the nation watch is going to do wonders for easing prejudices.”

“I’m happy it’ll help,” Siale said.

Alex could see the effect she had on the reporter. Siale’s soft smile and sincere gray eyes could win anyone over.

“It’s great to meet you, Siale,” Cooper was telling her. “I look forward to spending more time with you both as the wedding draws near.”

“Thank you very much,” she replied. She met Alex’s gaze. “I’m going to go see if your mother or Nyra needs help with the food.” She gave a little wave to Cooper and the cameraman. “It’s nice meeting you.”

“How’d you pull off that one?” Cooper asked as they watched Siale enter the school.

“Flat out luck,” Alex replied.

That brought a chuckle from Cooper. “I need some more luck,” he said.

When Alex reached the mayor and Principal Dalton again, he found Jaze talking to both men.

“Your student has become quite the public speaker,” Mayor Hendricks noted with an approving nod at Alex.

“He’s taught me a thing or two, that’s for sure,” Jaze replied. He gave Alex a searching look. “Did you really just invite the entire nation to your wedding?”

Alex fought back a surge of embarrassment. “That may have been rash.”

“I think it was brilliant,” Mayor Hendricks said. “In fact, let us host your wedding here.” He paused, then quickly told Alex, “If, of course, you’d like that. I don’t want to rush you into things or make decisions for you, just know that Greyton City is more than happy to open its doors for such an event.” He winked. “It’s been nice to give Greyton the chance for positive media. We’re rising as a recommended place to live. Being the city responsible for taking down Drogan’s mutant army will definitely help.”

“You don’t think the fact that it was a target will make people more wary to come here?” Principal Dalton asked.

“I don’t think so,” the mayor replied. They wandered away discussing the prospects.

“You do whatever you’d like,” Jaze told Alex quietly. The dean’s gave Alex’s shoulder a fatherly squeeze. “If you want to get married in front of four people or thousands, you let me know.” He paused, then said, “I say four because your mother, Nikki, Red, and I insist on being there. Of course, then there is Cassie and Tennison, and Trent and Jordan, and well, maybe a few more than four.”

Alex laughed. “Of course. I couldn’t imagine it any other way.”

“Jaze, guess what!”

Both werewolves turned expectantly at the sound of Brock’s voice. The human with the spikey brown hair who was the head of security at the Academy grinned. “They actually know what Jarlsberg cheese is, and they put it on a sandwich! It’s the best thing ever!”

“I thought you were supposed to be running DNA checks on the curs,” Jaze said, giving his friend a quizzical look.

Brock waved his sandwich and a piece of tomato fell onto the sidewalk. “Mouse and I already did that. There are nineteen vials in the SUV waiting to go home with us.” The skinny human shrugged. “Can’t do more than that, so I thought I’d grab a bite to eat before I waste away.”

“I don’t think that’s possible,” Jaze said.

Brock nodded. He glanced over Jaze’s shoulder and his eyes widened. Alex and Jaze turned.

“See, Ashley, Jarlsberg is the perfect cheese to pair with honey baked ham and spicy mustard,” a woman with curly blonde hair was telling Mrs. Summers.

Alex recognized Jennifer Stauffer as Cherish’s mother’s best friend from high school. Since Jaze reunited them, the werewolf had moved to Greyton to be closer to her friend. They both worked together at the diner where Mrs. Summers supported her and Cherish.