Wunderhein Academy: Book 1- Awakening
Chapter 40

“Kitten.” Aleksei called out as he banged on her bedroom door a few hours later. “Are you awake?”

He halted dropping his fist onto the wood again when he smelt something weird in the air. He had been smelling it a lot lately. It was really annoying him. He turned to replace a group of boys, huddled together, watching him

Further along, he recognized one of the Loners glaring at him. The teen carried scratch marks on his face and his arm was in a splint, which shouldn’t be unusual but it still made the hairs on Aleksei’s neck stand on end. He narrowed his eyes and began to snarl at the teens when a sleep-filled voice from the other side of the door drew his attention back to the door.

“Lexie. Is that you?”

“Yes, it’s me.” He responded, shaking his head for a second, wishing he didn’t feel so disorientated. He was glad she had taken his advice and gone to sleep. “I picked up some medicine for you.”

“Fine. Come in.” The door opened and he had to force his jaw not to drop at the girl trying to rub the sleep from her eyes. Looking past her, he walked in, trying to replace something, anything, else to look at in her room.

The bed was a mess, so had been slept in. A pile of clothes lay on the floor, the small amount of blood showing an indication of why they were tossed there. He would have to take her on about that later.

“This another inspection?” The question came out as a yawn.

“Why didn’t you put some pants on before answering the door?” He grumbled without turning back to her.

“Huh. Forgot.” He heard rustling behind him. He didn’t need to turn around to be told she was grabbing a towel. He recognized the sound. He recognized many sounds from living at the school, especially those that had something to do with a fight. “You can turn around now.”

He turned and found her somewhat decent, at least more than the night her dad had dragged her along the corridors. She yawned again, her arms reaching up to the ceiling to stretch. He didn’t miss the pained expression on her face. For a moment, he could have sworn he felt a sting across his back.

“You were right about it feeling better open.” She continued before he managed to say anything. “It feels better now.”

He shook his head.

“You’re lucky it was me and not someone else at the door.”

“Like who?” She rolled her eyes.

“Any other guy here?” He rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Do you even remember you’re a girl?”

“This is stupid. Being a girl sucks.” She pouted.

“Hey don’t say that. You are what you are. Here.” He dug into his pocket and pulled out the tablets he had salvaged from the first aid box. Thank you, Dmitri, for snagging them from the nurses, he mused, handing the pain-killers towards her along with a tin cup of water. “Take this. It will stop the pain.”

Her eyes narrowed when she saw the tablets, she began to sniff them with suspicion. “Medics.”

He was surprised at the venom in her voice.

“It’s medicine.”

“I don’t do medics stuff.” She tried pushing the pills back to him, her face pulling up in disgust.

“Don’t be silly. This will help you.”

“No.”

“Just drink it.” He ordered, handing her the items again. “Now.”

Reluctantly she took the water and pills. He stepped forward and forced her jaw open with his thumb and forefinger, raising her head up so he could check she had swallowed everything. It was a trick he had to do with Boris often enough. The youngster refused to take anything that tasted disgusting. Satisfied, he let her go.

“Ow.” She looked at him in surprise as she rubbed her jaw. “What move was that?”

“The one I’ll use again on you the next time you skip on your vegetables.” He demonstrated, making a clawing motion with his fingers. “It’s great for forcing them down your throat. Ask Boris.”

“Meanie.” She whimpered slightly, glowering at him.

“You have to eat them.” His eyes narrowed as he watched her shifting from one foot to the other. “Have you noticed anything weird about your tattoo?”

“Duh. It’s on my back remember?” She rolled her eyes up to the ceiling again. It was becoming annoying. “I can’t check it.”

“Well, you should have thought of that before getting it there.” Aleksei pointed out, his eyes narrowing. “You’re supposed to watch out for infection.”

“It doesn’t feel infected.”

Aleksei’s hand clamped and un-clamped next to him. The Kitten he had known had given away hugs and kissed scrapped knees like team mother. So why wasn’t she freaking out about infections? He decided to change the subject. “Who did you go to?”

“That guy on the third floor. Fifth room on the right.”

“Good choice.” Aleksei nodded in approval, feeling slightly relieved. “He did mine too.”

At least he knew she’d be fine after a day or two. Squid kept his tools clean. He preferred his art to a quick score.

“It really hurts.” She admitted with a hint of reluctance in her voice.

“It will for a while.” Aleksei agreed, before softening his voice. “Did you wash the blood from it?”

“How? I can’t reach it.”

“You’re such a child.” Aleksei sighed. “Lie down. Let me take a look.”

“Hold on!” She exclaimed, her eyes looking as if they were about to burst from her head. “You were the one saying I’m a girl, remember? And telling me to cover myself.”

“I’m also the one saying that I’m your captain. Then again,” Aleksei shrugged. “Dmitri could check though if you want. He has more medical experience than I do.”

“You wouldn’t!” She gasped.

“On the bed and let me see.” He watched her grit her teeth as she tried to decide on the lesser evil before obey and walking over to lie down, turning her face to the wall. “Jackass Lexie.”

“Good. You still hate me.” Aleksei placed the tin cup on her makeshift bedside table before digging in her bathroom kit for a washcloth. Next, he wet it with the remainder of the water that remained in the cup. He halted when he heard her soft whimpers.

“Hey relax.” He tried soothing her. “It’s just gonna hurt for a second.”

“No, it’s not.” She shook her head. “It never does.”

He stopped at her words. Slowly he sat next to her on the bed. He noticed her stiffen more. The pain he imagined earlier hit him again. This time it wasn’t his back. His chest felt bad, like dull blackness as if all the sadness in the world had hit him at once, trying to smother him. Stunned, he forced air into his lungs and found the feeling had vanished as quickly as it had arrived. “Kitten... what do you think I’m going to do?”

“Hurt me.” He heard her whimper. “Like all the others did.”

Aleksei swallowed he closed his eyes. A torrent of emotions mixed through him. Bad ones. He felt his muscles tense up. He should have killed Balco that day. His eyes shot open as he found himself biting his lower lip.

The blooded tasted good. Too bad it was only his. He was in the mood for pig.

“I’m not going to hurt you.” Aleksei promised, leaning over her. ”I’m just going to lift your shirt a little so I can look at your ink. If you get uncomfortable just tell me to stop.”

“You mean it?” He watched her try to raise her head. “You’ll really stop?”

“You have my word as an Alpha and your Captain.” Aleksei agreed. “I won’t even start unless you say so.”

He waited while she remained silent. Finally, she nodded. “Ok.”

“Are you sure.”

“I’m an Alpha.” She began muttering. “Alpha’s aren’t scared.”

“You don’t seem scared. In fact, you’re really brave.” He began, slipping her shirt up enough to see the bloodied mark. She shuddered and he stopped. “Should I stop?”

“No.” She shook her head furiously, pounding it on the pillow. “Just get it over with.”

He took the wet washed cloth and rubbed it over her skin. She hissed slightly and gripped her blanket.

“You’re a lot braver than I was in fact.” He added, finishing clearing it up. He slipped her shirt down and heard her taking huge gulps of air.

“Is that it?”

“That’s it.” He leaned over and ruffled her hair. “It looks good. No infection. Keep it open tonight and I’ll check it again tomorrow.”

She sat up and he noticed her eyes looked red, the kind when you had been forcing yourself not to cry.

“Don’t worry.” He tried again. “You’ll have a perfect tattoo after this. It will be worth it.”

She nodded quickly and he took that as his cue to leave. He stood up and headed to the corner with her dirty things.

“I have some stuff I need to throw in the wash.” He began, picking them up. “I’ll throw these in as well for you and save you the trip.”

“Did you feel brave after your tattoo?”

The question took him by surprise.

“No.” Aleksei admitted. “I didn’t.”

He noticed her lower lip wobbling and sighed.

“When I got mine I was partly drunk.” He confessed. “The old team were having fun and they made us do shots. My tolerance for alcohol is low so I was gone pretty quickly. Next thing I knew I was waking up in pain and branded with the old logo on my arm. Dmitri was the one that told me what happened. He was pretty much sober for the whole thing. He was meant to get the logo too only his hide kept breaking the needles.”

Aleksei’s mouth drew into a thin line. For a moment he recalled the days afterward where he had been in agony and denied pain-killers because his old team-mates thought it was funny watching him in pain. Dmitri had been the one to hold his hand and comfort him while he had cried into the pillow in torment. If he had woken the others up, they would have only mocked him for being a sissy boy. Worse, it might have made his captain decide to remind him of his place. Dmitri had tried sneaking him something for the pain but had only received a beating for it.

“So you didn’t get it after a battle?” Kitten’s question brought Aleksei back to the present. He watched her fallen face.

“No. To be honest I hate mine.” He shrugged. “But I didn’t choose. You did.”

“Are you really mad at me for getting it?” The question came from an unsure voice.

“If you have to ask then you don’t deserve it.” He tried to hide his smile as she fell into a sulky silence. “l just wish you had asked first, so we could have warned you what this meant.”

“I don’t care.” She smiled softly. I still would have done it. The Alphas’ you used to have aren’t the ones I have now.”

He was at loss for words. He had never imagined she felt so strongly about the team. He had always figured they were just some guys passing through her life, here one day and forgotten the next.

He was about burst into a huge smile when he noticed her head beginning to droop and shoot up again.

“Go to sleep.” He ordered. “I’ll have someone keep an eye outside your door.”

She nodded sleepily before slipping down to rest her head back on her pillow.

Aleksei grabbed her key and slipped out, replaceing Dmitri sitting outside on the ground with a cigarette in his hand and his back resting against the wall.

“Still getting high?” The corner of Aleksei’s mouth lifted teasingly.

“Give me a break.” Dmitri closed his eyes. “I don’t normally get to smell anything that good around here.”

“How about I trade you? I’ll take guard duty.” Aleksei tossed the uniforms he was carrying towards Dmitri. The clothes fell snugly into his friend’s lap. “And you can have laundry.”

Dmitri looked at the items as if they were gold. Dmitri shoved his face in the clothing, inhaling deeply. Aleksei chuckled watching him. After a moment Dmitri’s head bounced up again, his eyes narrowed as he looked at Aleksei.

“Ya don’t trust me with her?” He accused. “That’s why ya want the trade-off.”

“To be honest, I don’t even trust myself with her.” Aleksei sat down next to Dmitri. “My head keeps going funny.”

“Awe, ya finally a man.” Dmitri faked wiping tears from his eyes. “I’m so proud.”

“I’m not kidding.” Aleksei replied grimly. “It’s not just me. Haven’t you noticed how all the guys are acting weird lately.”

“Ya know why, don’t ya?” Dmitri nudged him.

“I’m guessing you want to say it’s because she’s the only available girl in walking distance.” Aleksei replied tiredly as Dmitri held out her clothes and pointing to them as if hinting, a huge smile on the Sharks face.

“Ya ain’t missing much.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Aleksei rubbed the bridge of his nose for a moment. “She’s passed out so she can’t lock her door right now. Somehow locking her in for her own protection doesn’t seem like a good idea.”

“And sitting here all night does?” Aleksei didn’t miss the sarcasm in Dmitri’s voice.

“It’s one way of doing it.” Aleksei motioned to Dmitri with a hand. “Toss a cigarette here.”

Dmitri obeyed, grabbing the box and lighter that was next to him and throwing it to Aleksei. Aleksei caught the items easily before lighting a cigarette, pulling a face at the bitter taste. “This whole thing had me thinking back when I had to get my tattoo.”

“That was harsh.”

“And how.” Aleksei held the box and lighter back buck Dmitri waved them away. “And she failed her test. I saw the paper next to her bed.”

“That was all you looked at?” Dmitri rolled his eyes. “I didn’t train ya well.”

“Listen, I’m really not in the mood for this.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Dmitri waved a dismissive hand. “Ya wanted to sit here. Now ya get to listen to me.”

“Fine.” Aleksei rolled his eyes to the ceiling. “What is it?”

“Big fight happened not so long ago. Wasn’t pretty.” Dmitri lowered his voice. “Heard the guy didn’t make it.”

“Who was it?”

“Balco.” Dmitri took a drag from his cigarette as Aleksei’s eyes widened. “Was left with an apple stuffed in his mouth. No-one stepping forward for his rank.”

“When?” Aleksei’s voice darkened.

“He was found about thirty minutes or so.”

Aleksei’s mouth when dry. That was when he had felt the anger for the Pig. “Are you for real?”

“Ain’t much rank to take over anyway but he had some good loot.” Dmitri shrugged.

“Is there any idea who it was.”

“Nah. He was gutted and slashed.” Dmitri replied. “Only knew it was that Pig cause they left his head alone.”

“Something weird is going on.”

“So you say. Least he ain’t around to bother her no more.” Dmitri leaned back against the wall to look at Kittens door. “She’s a brave thing that one.”

“Yes.” Aleksei stared at the wall in front of him. “That’s why we have to look out for her, isn’t it? To keep her like that.”

“Better ya then me.” Dmitri killed his cigarette before hopping to his feet in one easy motion. “I’ll send a book for ya. And some coffee.”

“I’d appreciate that.” Aleksei settled himself more comfortably against the wall. Aleksei looked up to replace Dmitri watching him. His eyes shining eerily in the setting sun. Aleksei was about to say more when he noticed the blood on the clothes Dmitri was holding. Dmitri’s tongue was annoying his canine tooth, an indication his tooth was loose again. Dmitri was always losing teeth.

For a brief moment, it felt as is if time had stopped.

“Tell me it wasn’t you.” Aleksei whispered.

“Then don’t ask.” Dmitri shrugged.

“Dimi.” Aleksei jumped to his feet but found himself pinned to the wall. Dmitri’s face was close to his. A lifetime ago they would have been kids sharing whispers. Now he could smell the stale smoke on Dmitri’s breathe. A metallic smell surrounded Dmitri although it could have been the stained clothes belonging to Kitten. At least, Aleksei hopped it was Kittens.

“Ya wanted the pack protected.” Dmitri’s voice changed. The best Aleksei could describe it was salt getting under your nails. Scratchy. Different and strange. The Shark’s eyes diluted briefly. For a moment, Aleksei was sure Dmitri was going to bite him. Instead, the ‘Shark’ stepped back and held up the laundry. “Later Captain.”

“Later.” Aleksei watched Dmitri leave before turning to slam the stone wall.

The island was taking his best friend.

And he didn’t know how to help him.