Free Werewolf Academy Book 5: Lost by Cheree Alsop Page B

behind Sarah’s apartment. It took a bit more time to make it to Cherish’s. He eased the fire escape ladder down and managed to pull himself up to the landing. By the time he laid on the metal bars, he was shaking from cold and exhaustion to such an extent that he could no longer move of his own will.
    “Alex?”
    The sound of the window sliding up was followed by Cherish’s exclamation of, “Oh my gosh, Alex!”
    “I’m...okay,” he forced out between chattering teeth.
    “Mom!” Cherish called.
    A few seconds later, hands slid beneath his shoulders and helped him climb inside. He collapsed below the window.
    “You can’t have me here...you could get in trouble.” Alex shut his eyes, willing the warmth from the apartment to seep into his body faster.
    “We don’t care about the consequences,” Mrs. Summers replied. “Come lay on the couch, darling. We need to get you warmed up.”
    “I thought werewolves didn’t get cold,” Cherish said.
    “We...don’t,” Alex told her through chattering teeth.
    As soon as he settled on the couch, Alex felt himself slip away. The warmth after such a beating and the freezing cold made it too hard to concentrate on anything at all.
    “Alex, stay with us,” Mrs. Summers said with an edge of worry.
    “Trent...headset...helmet,” Alex forced out before his voice faded.

***
     
    The sound of familiar voices pushed through the darkness. Alex couldn’t place them anywhere that they belonged together. The thought made him open his eyes.
    He saw Mrs. Summers sitting on the armchair beside the couch. She held a blanket on her lap that she was sewing. Upon seeing him awake, she set it down and scooted to the edge of the chair.
    “You gave us quite the fright.”
    “I’m really sorry,” Alex apologized. He frowned, trying to remember what had happened. “I heard someone...”
    “Someone familiar?” Mrs. Summers guessed. She smiled and called, “Jericho, Cherish, he’s awake.”
    “Jericho?” Alex repeated.
    “Someone had to make sure you survived the morning,” Jericho said, walking in from the hallway. He smiled down at Alex. “Sounds like you had quite the night.”
    Alex sat up as Cherish followed Jericho into the room. “’Morning, sleepy head.”
    Alex couldn’t figure out what was going on. “How did you, I mean...”
    Jericho grinned. “How am I here?”
    “Your cryptic message of Trent and the headset and something about your helmet led me to talk to Trent. He sent Jericho,” Cherish explained in a way that said she was very happy about it.
    Alex looked at Mrs. Summers. She gave him a warm smile, her eyes twinkling. “It’s been a good two days.”
    “Two days!” Alex replied in shock.
    Jericho patted Alex’s shoulder. “You had some recovering to do. I’m just glad you had the sense to make friends who don’t fear werewolves.”
    “We’re pretty werewolf casual around here,” Cherish said. She shrugged. “I always knew we were dog people more than cat people.”
    “Cherish!” Mrs. Summers scolded.
    “It’s alright,” Jericho told her. “Alex risked his life trying to save a cat from one of the packs at our school a while back. I don’t think he’s a cat person either after that.” At Alex’s dismayed look, Jericho smiled. “Kalia told me.”
    The sound of Kalia’s name brought everything back. Alex rested his head in his hands.
    “I’m sorry,” Jericho said, his voice suddenly quiet. “I’m really sorry, Alex.”
    Alex let out a slow breath and met his friend’s gaze. “It’s going to be okay.”

Chapter Eight
     
    “I just couldn’t get Kalia out of my mind,” Alex said quietly. He leaned against the edge of the roof and studied the street below. “I had to do something, or I was going to go crazy.”
    Jericho held Cherish’s cellphone which showed the news article from the girls Alex had rescued. They looked much better in clean clothes and back with their families.
    “You saved all of those girls,” he