Moon Dancer - Hidden Wolf 1

Finley

I follow Jagger into homeroom with one thing on my mind.

Grayson.

I couldn't help but be hurt when she hadn't texted me. But I could understand it. It's not like we were friends or anything, I just thought that moment we shared had meant something to her. Not in an overbearing way, but on friendly terms.

Over the last few days I couldn't quell the anger that sizzled in my gut. What those girls had done to her...

I scan the classroom and I don't see her. I frown and follow Jagger to the back of the room.

He sits down next to a huddled figure in the back corner and it takes me a moment to realize that it's Grayson.

My frown deepens as I squint at her, trying to make sense of the blurred figure tucked against the wall.

Ares stands by my side, squinting too. I give him a glance and he returns my confused expression.

I look to my other side and Ryker gives me the same look.

All three of us didn't recognize her right away. Only Jagger had spotted her.

I blink my eyes rapidly and follow Jagger's path.

As I get closer to where Jagger is, my blinking has managed to clear up my eyes a little bit. Sure enough, Grayson's face becomes clear in my vision.

I take the seat in front of her, just like I had on Monday. Grayson is looking at her desk, ignoring Jagger as he rests his elbows on his knees, leaning into the aisle.

"Grayson?" Jagger says softly, focusing intently on her.

I push my bag under my desk and look back to Grayson. I hadn't realized how tiny she was, how small her body was. There were prominent dark bags under her eyes, the color drained from her skin. She wore a massive black sweatshirt that basically swallowed her, its hood pulled up and covering her hair and casting shadows on her face.

On top of her disheveled appearance, I can almost feel Grayson's discomfort and distress. It was written across her face.

I meet Jagger's eye and exchange a worried look with him.

Had something happened? We knew that some girls in our class were probably responsible for Grayson's tomato soup shower, but that had happened days ago. Had they done something to her this morning?

My lips thinned. It was frustrating not knowing a whole lot about this girl. I couldn't even make a ballpark guess at what could be wrong. Or how to help her.

Ryker settled in the seat next to me and cast a sweeping glance over his shoulder at Grayson and immediately frowned.

Ares sat next to Jagger and leaned back in his chair, his scowl present.

"She doesn't look good." Ryker mindlinked us.

I sniff the air, trying to pick out Grayson's scent. While she hadn't really smelled like anything, there was a weird sensation that had made my nose tingle when I breathed her in on Monday.

But that was not what happened now.

Instead I took in the faint scent of moldy wood, wetness and musk. I scrunched up my nose. "She smells weird today too." I mention quietly.

Jagger frowned and brought a hand out to touch Grayson's shoulder, but just before he could touch her, he seemed to think better of it and let his hand drop back to his side. He then tucked his legs back under his desk and leaned back in his chair. "I hate it when she gets like this" Jagger mutters, the nonchalant look back on his face. But I caught the way he still watched Grayson carefully.