Werewolf Academy Book 1: Strays by Cheree Alsop Read Free Book Online

look. “You mess with one of us, you mess with all of us,” he replied in a tone that carried steel.
    Raynen looked up at Amos and Don as they squeezed through the doorway behind their Alpha.
    “We’re good,” Raynen muttered. He turned and barked, “Get out here.” He stalked down the hallway without waiting for his pack to respond.
    Jericho’s pack waited res pectfully until they were gone.
    “Let’s eat,” Jericho said simply before walking down the hall.
    The rest fell in line behind him. Cassie smiled at Alex. He couldn’t help a thrum of excitement that went through him at the thought that perhaps this term would be different from all the rest after all.

Chapter Three
     
    Each pack sat at their own rectangular table spaced along the Great Hall. A spread of turkey, baked potatoes, honeyed ham, fresh rolls, stuffing, and cranberry sauce filled each table. Spiced eggnog and horchata made up the drink choices along with iced water with floating lemon slices.
    “This is better than anything we eat at home!” Marky exclaimed.
    Alex gave the boy a warm smile. The werewolf was one of the new seven year olds at the Academy for their first term. He had become a part of their pack by default because it was either Marky, a Fifth Year named Justice who glared daggers at Alex and would no doubt kill him in his sleep if chosen for Jericho’s pack, or Brace, a werewolf Alex had scuffled with on a few occasions and chose not to put that on his pack.
    Seeing Marky’s expression as he took a bite of turkey convinced Alex that he had made the right decision. “You’ll eat good ever y day you’re here,” Alex told him.
    Marky’s wide green gaze widened. “You mean the Strays eat like this all year long?”
    A fierce rage swept through Alex. H is hands clenched into fists. Trent opened his mouth to snap at the werewolf, but Alex took a calming breath and held up a hand. Jericho watched them both with interest. “Marky, we prefer to be called Lifers instead of Strays. Just because we’re orphans doesn’t mean we don’t have a home. The Academy is our home.” Alex’s heart clenched away from the term, but he forced himself to continue, “If you want to make friends here, don’t use the term Stray again, okay?”
    Marky nodded, his eyes even wider. “I’m s-sorry, Alex.”
    “It’s alright,” Alex reassured him. “This is your first year. You’re still learning the ropes.”
    “Me, too, apparently,” Jericho said quiet ly when everyone else had returned to eating and talking. “For a second there, I thought you might actually attack him.”
    Alex hesitated, then nodded. “I almost did.” He met the Alpha’s gaze. “It’s a touchy subject.”
    Jericho nodded. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
    Alex felt eyes on him. He glanced over his shoulder to meet Boris’ gaze. The leader of the Termers glared at him. Alex stifled a sigh and turned back to the table. Apparently, he had made more than a few enemies at the Choosing.
    “You did a good job,” Cassie whispered.
    Alex smiled at her as she piled turkey between two rolls, smashed it down, and took a huge bite. Though Cassie was small, she put even more food away than Alex. She had a tendency to eat when nervous, so dining in the Great Hall actually helped to calm her fear of being around crowds.
    “Thanks,” Alex whispered back.

***
     
    Alex loved the soft shush of the grass beneath his feet as he made his way to the statue. It looked even bigger under the midnight sky, a huge Alpha wolf ready to protect the Academy should it come under threat.
    “No one would mess with you,” Alex said aloud. He took a deep breath of the cool night air; his senses flooded with the crisp scent of the pines that circled the Academy walls, the tangle of mois ture that hinted at rain, and the bare wisp of a small herd of deer that bounded away from the walls, probably being pursued by Rafe’s pack.
    “I wish you could smell this,” Alex said with a touch of