Moon Dancer - Hidden Wolf 1

Grayson

I purposely choose a seat in the middle of the classroom, knowing that the overflow of students will sit around me, hopefully not leaving four available seats around me. It might not be enough to sit away from all of the lead pack, but as long as they weren't surrounding me again I would be fine.

I would be fine.

Mr. Stevens started the attendance call, working his way down the aisles.

I slowly realized that none of the lead pack was here. Frowning slightly, I let myself slide more into my seat.

I had yelled at Ares.

It was practically social suicide. No one dared challenge the lead pack. Much less Ares.

I was hoping that the Alphas would keep their distance from me, especially since the whole school was watching us now. I would deal with the stares if it kept them at arm's length.

I also hoped that the girls from earlier would realize that I wanted nothing to do with the lead pack. One of the girls is in our History class, and I prayed to the Goddess she went straight to her friends during passing time.

Mr. Stevens got to me and stared at me for a moment before speaking. "Grayson. Welcome back. I hope you are feeling better." Then he flicked his eyes to the next person and continued.

The person sitting in front of me turned back to look at me, and she flicked her blonde hair over her shoulder. Her brown eyes flicked down and back up my body quickly.

I discretely breathed in her scent, immediately hit with a strong scent of daffodils. She was in the bathroom on Monday.

Quickly, I duck my head and avert my eyes to my lap.

She scoffed and turned back around.

Okay, maybe the girl didn't tell her friends. Or maybe they hated me for an entirely different reason. Get too close to the lead pack? Unacceptable. Make a fool out of the lead pack? Unforgivable.

It's not like I wanted to yell at Ares. Or even push him away.

My stomach sank. I had felt it in my chest when I said those words. When I saw the hurt flash through his eyes.

But I needed to push him away.

Larkin was watching me closely. I couldn't tell how closely he was observing me, especially in school, but I had to play it safe.

My stomach sank further when the door opened.

I didn't have to look up to see who it was.

Jagger's scent of sandalwood and sage hit me first, surging to me like a strong wave.

My hands tremble slightly in my lap.

"Take a seat." Mr. Stevens tells them, his voice giving away the fact that he doesn't actually care. With the lead pack, no teacher really did. No matter what they felt, the lead pack was untouchable.

Jagger walked down the aisle and stopped beside me.

I refused to look at him, not wanting any more attention that I had already received this morning.

"Jagger, is there a problem?" Mr. Stevens says from the front of the classroom.

I clench my hands in my lap, feeling everyone turning their heads in our direction.

They're not looking at you. Breathe.

Jagger just turns to the person sitting beside me. "Move." He says in his cold voice.

The boy swallows once and immediately stands up from his spot, quickly gathering his things.

"Really, Jagger?" Mr. Stevens says from the front of the room.