What About Now?

Chapter 31 - Courage

No response.

Pegasus doesn't answer my silent plea for help.

This isn't happening! How can Kip, my history teacher of all people possibly know I was in the translucent stage? And then there's the Legend of the Sea. He knew this whole time. But why didn't he say anything. He could have ratted me out by now, but he didn't.

"Kailani," a melodic voice says in a singsong voice.

I lift my head to be met with Mrs. Ray's mischievous green eyes. She moves her eyes towards my blank paper and raises her eyebrows in surprise. She moves to sit in the vacant seat across from mine.

I audibly gulp and quickly glance around to the other working students. I sigh in relief when I notice they aren't watching our interaction and turn back to stare at Mrs. Ray's optimistic expression.

"Kailani, is everything alright?"

"Yeah of course," I answer quickly, maybe a little too quickly by her skeptical expression.

She leans forward and puts her hand over mine. "No Sweetheart, I mean are you alright."

I open my mouth to answer, but quickly close it. I glance at my blank piece of paper and then once more towards the other students, sighing as I compare their lengthy English paper to my nonexistent one.

"You look like you need some inspiration." Her cheerful smile quickly returns. She motions to get up but I reach out to keep prevent her from standing. "No, Mrs. Ray I promise I'm fine. I've Just got a lot on my mind right now."

Her face takes on a worried expression before realization crosses her face. " Omigodd... I'm so sorry!" He face morphs to understanding, whereas mine turns into confusion.

"Umm..You are?"

"How can I forget? You had history last period! What did my mate say? I swear, if he tells one more student that a werewolf Santa Claus exists he will be sleeping outside tonight."

I chuckle at the thought of a werewolf Santa Claus. I shake my head in amusement, remembering when my mom made me believe he was real, before registering her words. "Wait a second! Mr. Montgomery is your mate?"

"Oh sweetie, everyone knows we're mates. By the way what's your grade point average in his class?"

I sit stunned, barely muttering, "A, I think."

"Well if he catches you saying the double M word, not anymore."

She chuckles at her own words, breaking me away from my shock. "But your last name, it's-"

"I know.. But you've seen him haven't you? He get's so crazy about his last name, so for all intents and purposes, it's still Mrs. Ray in the academy."

I let out a genuine laugh at her words. A few students turn and smile, appearing elated by the sound of my happiness. However, noticing that I am disturbing them from their work I quickly stop. I move a blonde stand of hair behind my ear and feel rather embarrassed for laughing so loudly.

"No please, don't stop. You have a gorgeous laugh." She smiles even brighter then before.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't want to distract everyone else."

She turns to the students, quickly catching their beaming expressions. "Your happiness is no distraction. It's actually encouragement."

"I don't under-"

"When our Luna, our queen is happy, then the pack feels secure, safe. Everyone wants to see you smile. They can feel the warmth radiate off of you. It's a beautiful feeling."