The Crimson Pack

~19~

So the more I think about it, the more I think that Dana is going to end up on straight TikTok, and honestly, I hate that. 

Also, when I put in the thing about religion in TKAMB, I actually wrote that as a main theme and got a B on the essay and was really upset.

----

"Where are my grandparents?" I ask the guys.

"Pack house." Micah replies. I absentmindedly nod, getting anxious of the party tonight and meeting the pack.

"Why're you anxious?" Hayden, Dallas, and Micah ask, echoing each other, worry painted their features. Stupid link

"Just the party." I answer, getting up and rinsing out my bowl.

"It'll be fine." Arms wrap around my waist and hug me from behind. Jonah. I sigh into the hug, humming in approval when he begins to rock us back and forth.

"Sorry to hurry you love bugs but we have to get going." Hayden says, dropping his bowl in the sink. We separate and head out of the door. I lock the door behind us and walk into the truck, squished between Micah and Jonah. I see my black backpack on Micah's lap.

The ride to school is uneventful. We listen to the local news and weather reports before getting stuck in traffic on Main Street. It's spent in a comforting silence as we all enjoy the heat from the heaters. We pull up to the school with only a few minutes to spare. The boys get out and Micah helps me down. I wince at the soreness in my shoulders and he pulls me into his embrace, hugging my side to his.

We walk hand in hand to the front entrance, trailing after the others. People gathered in the front lawn whisper and some even point. I start to get nervous and Micah rubs my arm, pulling me closer to him and sending a warning glance to the others. We finally get inside and I sigh at the warmth. Micah walks us to a row of lockers, where the other guys are. He lets go of me, making sure to hold my hand, and puts in the combo. He pulls out his bag and shrugs it on, still carrying mine.

"Morning guys." A guy and a girl come up. The guy is about average height to the others- 6'1, with dancing blue eyes and dark hair. The girl is a strawberry blonde with pale green eyes and taller than me. I can smell they're mated but can't smell their rank.

"Morning Daniel, Cassandra." Jonah nods to them. The girl rushes over to me and looks down.

"Oh my, aren't you just the cutest little thing." She pinches my cheeks, fawning over me.

"Cassie." The guy- Daniel- warns. She pouts at him and takes her hands reluctantly off my cheeks.

"Hi," I squeak.

"I'm Cassie. You must be Dana. I'm the Beta female." She sticks her hand out formally, giggling. I place mine tentatively and she shakes it with a tight grip. My wolf huffs, liking the firm handshake and show of maturity. I shake back, hissing when my shoulder pulls at the motion.

"Ohh, that's a mean bite you got there." She points out, looking at my exposed collarbone.

"Hurt like a bitch." I mumble tiredly. My eyes widen and I open my mouth to say something when Cassie starts giggling. I look to the guys and see them all staring with confused amusement.

"We're going to be best friends." Cassie exclaims once she stopped laughing. The bell chooses to ring then and there and my men- ahem, the guys- come up to me and kiss me on the cheek, telling me they'll see me soon. Cassie does the same to Daniel as he walks away with the guys. Hayden stays behind and holds my hand.

"Well aren't you two the cutest?" Cassie mocks from next to us as we all start to make our way to physics. I blush and look away. Focusing on the floor.

"I do agree that I am pretty cute," Hayden comments. Cassie scoffs as we arrive at the physics room and walk towards the lacrosse team. Hayden sits closer to the guys and Cassie sits on the other side of me.

"I'm not sure how we're gonna be able to hear let alone learn with these jackasses." Cassie points to the lacrosse team, her top lip lifted in feigned disgust. I laugh along with her and a comfortable silence falls between us before the teacher strolls in. Hayden focuses on the guys for the first half but during the last half he set his arm across the back of my chair.

"Anyways." Cassie starts, turning towards me. "What're you gonna wear to the party tonight?" The teacher drones on and on but I quit listening and turn towards her.

"I'm not sure. I think I brought like one dress with me. It's an old dress from a funeral I attended with my mom." I tell her.

"I think that's gonna go good with your hair color. Maybe with a nude lip, can I help with your makeup after school?" She rushes out the last part.

"Sure." We continue talking about random topics for another 10 minutes until the bell rings. I stand up and throw everything in my backpack, seeing Cassie gone.

"She's making out with Daniel." Hayden explains as he holds my hand and guides me through the halls. He hands me off to Jonah, who gives me a dazzling smile. I smile sheepishly back as he walks me to my English class. I wave goodbye to him and walk in, seeing Stephanie and her friends. The girl I beat the shit out of yesterday had a bandage around her nose and two black eyes, sloppily hidden behind makeup.

I pay them no mind and walk to one of the desks next to the wall. The teacher walks up to me and tells me what I missed. I nod along, not paying any attention, and he goes to the front to begin the lesson.

"Okay class, settle down. Today we're going to talk about the main themes in To Kill a Mockingbird. Who'd like to begin?" He begins. Hands start to be raised and he calls on one. Stephanie.

"Race."

"Yes Ms. Killian, what about race?" He inquires.

"There was a black guy, and he went to prison." She replies in a 'duh' attitude.

"And why was that important to the theme of race?"

"He was black. Everyone else was white." She looks proud of herself at her statement. The teacher sighs and writes RACE up on the board for themes. Almost every other hand lowers. He calls on others, and by the time only 10 minutes are remaining the only other themes are SOCIAL DARWINISM and GENDER. I raise my hand hesitantly.

"Yes Ms. Gardner." The teachers eyes light up, asking me to save him. All eyes turn to me.

"Religion."

"Yes, what about it?" He sounds interested, leaning towards me, looking somewhat proud.

"Well in the book, it talks about going to church and religion constantly. The main character was raised religious, and it was seen as immoral to not be, in Alabama. Even the title, To Kill a Mockingbird, came from the sentence, 'it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.' If we're talking about how Tom Robinson is the mockingbird, then Atticus and the main character was talking about how it was a sin to segregate and kill innocent people just because of their skin color." (Ps. It's been a while since I've read TKAM, so forgive me- the writer- if this doesn't sound essay-worthy.)

The teacher looks to be in deep thought before turning around and writing RELIGION. The bells rings shortly afterwards, and everyone files out. I walk out of the door and walk towards the awaited hell. I mean it isn't that bad, but I certainly won't admit that out loud.