The Crimson Pack

~20~

I enter the class and see the boys sitting in the back, notebooks in front of them. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion and slowly walk towards them. When Dallas sees me he smiles mischievously and pulls me onto his lap. I squeak and try and move off, which earns me a playful pinch to my side. I still and sit as still as a statue on the edge of his legs.

"Here baby." Micah says, handing me a Starbucks cup. I give him a thankful smile and take a short sip. A caffe mocha. I sigh and lean more against Dallas as he pulls me closer to his front. I look down at the notebooks and see Jonah pull out a computer.

"So last night, when we left you at home, and before dinner, we all made a presentation about the basics of shifters." Jonah states. He loads it up and places it in front of me. After 10 minutes of class and their presentation I start zoning out, staring blankly at the notebook. When one of the guys would say something I would blindly write what sounded important. Around 20 minutes later I hear someone calling my name.

"Dana." Hayden snaps his fingers in front of my downcast eyes. I snap my gaze to him.

"Yes." I clear my throat. I feel Dallas' chest rumble beneath me with repressed laughter. "What?" I ask, confused.

"Dana." Dallas begins. "You wrote down that the only time you'll eat Mexican cuisine is when they serve baptisms." At this, the others laugh. I look down and see that that was an actual sentence my mind conjured. I frantically erase it and close my notebook with a 'humph' and lean against Dallas. We stay like that for a while before the guys put their notebooks and computer away. The bell is due to ring in 5 minutes when Chase- Dallas' dad- walks to us.

"Boys." He greets. "Dana." He glances down at my covered shoulder and plops down at the empty seat.

"What did we discuss gentlemen? You couldn't have waited one more day?" He growls out menacingly. The others tense up and move so I'm more securely surrounded.

"What're your parents going to say? Especially you Hayden?" Chase laughs humorlessly. "Your mom is going to have a shit fit." Hayden winces. My heart lurches with guilt at the revelation that I'm straining his relationship with his mom. I set down the coffee and stand up from Dallas' lap.

"What's wrong sweetheart?" Hayden asks, straining to take my hand in his. I remember the link and quickly put up a mental wall.

"Nothing, I'm still just tired." I smile at him and grab my bag. "I'll meet you guys in the cafeteria." I wasn't planning on going to the cafeteria, but what they don't know won't hurt them. As the bell rings I walk out, waving to them. I drop my smile and walk towards the exit closest to the woods. I felt a pull to go to the cliff that I saw in my daydream. I walk through the football field and reach the woods. Hitching my bag higher on my shoulder I start jogging east.

I quickly pass the lake and keep running. I finally reach the clearing in my daydream and drop my backpack. I drop to my knees, feeling the blades of grass bow beneath my weight. Tears begin streaming down my face. Why am I crying, I think to myself. I feel a hand on my shoulder and look behind me to see nobody there. I look back in front of me and feel it again, this time on both shoulders, pressing me closer to the ground. I feel weightless as my chest finally brushes against the ground.

"Rise." I raise my head robotically, my body not my own. A beautiful woman is standing before me. She has long white hair that flows down to her knees and grey-almost-white eyes. Her face is blemish free and freckled. She's wearing a baggy dark dress that covers her feet and a veil covering part of her hair.

"Who are you?" I ask, my mouth dry.

"I am Selene, the moon goddess." She crouches down to my level as I slowly rise out of my bowed state. I shift so my knees are in a more comfortable position.