The Good Wolves

Chapter 19

I was surprised to see Mim on the bus the next morning. Dominic, of course, was gone to watch Knox.

"Sorry for yesterday," Mim said the second I sat down.

"It's fine. I understand," I told her.

"Thanks for, you know, saving me."

"It was no problem."

"I'm normally a lot more kick ass."

"Okay," I laughed.

"Seriously," her eyes bugged.

"I believe you."

"You'll see eventually," she said. "But really, thanks for saving me. I owe you."

"You owe me?" I asked, and she nodded. "So could you do something for me?"

"Anything," she answered.

"You work in the office, don't you? I need you to make sure I'm not marked absent when I'm watching Knox."

"I can do that," she said.

"And one more thing. I'm planning on being absent a few other times," I told her.

"What for?"

"I'm thinking of taking some shifts from people, and I don't want Dominic knowing."

Mim looked nervously out the window. "I won't tell him. On one condition."

"Shoot," I said.

"You ask Knox if he's the one who blew up the building. And if he is, you let me see him so I can beat him up."

"It's a deal," I said. "Just don't tell Dominic."

"You don't tell him either," she said as we pulled up next to the school.

I ran into the school in search of Amelia, who was supposed to be watching Knox the next day. I planned on taking her spot.

"Amelia," I caught up to her in the hallway.

"Oh, hey," she said sadly. She had deep bags under her eyes, and frizzy hair. I had forgotten that she had gone through a break up.

"How are you?" I asked.

"I'm okay. I really didn't mean to hurt him, you know. That's why I didn't tell him. I wanted to keep him safe."

"I get it," I said. "Do you want me to take your shift tomorrow?"

"Really?" She asked.

"It's no problem."

"Thanks," she said. "I figure Dominic wouldn't let me go anyways. I think I'm out of the pack."

"Out of the pack? It works that way?"

"It's not a blood thing, Lana. Packs are determined by love. And if I'm not their friend anymore, they don't love me. And if they don't love me, I'm out of the pack."

"I'm sorry," I said.

"It's not your fault. But if they're okay with you taking my spot on the schedule, go ahead," she started to walk off.

"Wait," I called, and she turned back. "Why did you do it? Why did you bring Knox straight to the pack if you knew you were going to get in trouble?"

"I guess some part of me wanted to get caught," she looked at the ground.

I nodded and went my own way. I felt bad for her. She made a mistake years ago, and she's still being punished for it.

"Why are you talking to Amelia?" Sophie came up to me.