I quickly look away from their table and stare at Mia. She’s looking at me with the same level of confusion that I’m sure she’s seeing in my eyes. I refuse to talk about it here, to many ears, and now that Dallas put an x on my back, everybody is going to be trying to hear what I have to say about this. She must read my mind, because she clears her face and just starts eating her snacks. I look down, he got me some crackers filled with cheese, chocolate donuts, turkey sandwich, and a power drink. Though it was a kind gesture, I can’t trust any of these things. I push them to the side and look up at Mia, she offers me some of her chocolate donuts, but I refuse. This event has my stomach in knots, waiting to see what is about to happen.

When the lunch bell finally rings, interrupting my very quiet lunch period, I jump up and try and file out of there as quickly as possible after saying goodbye to Mia. I throw away all the snacks he gave me, normally I would try and give them back so it’s not a money waste if there really isn’t anything wrong with them, but I have no intentions of talking to Dallas ever again. Not that I said anything to him this time.

I finally make it out of the lunchroom and start heading to fourth period, AP Geography. I feel someone running up behind me, I tense my whole body getting ready for whatever was coming, but to my surprise nothing happens. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to do anything. Just thought I could walk you to class.” Dallas says kindly, and I just keep walking trying to pretend he isn’t there. “I see you didn’t like the snacks I bought for you.” He says, I just turn my head towards him and give him a small smile then look forward. Why is he talking to me? He lets out a small laugh, “Oh come on Aims, I know you can talk. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have heard your joke. You not like your snacks?” He pleads with me. Aims? Did he just give me a nickname, or does he think my names Aims?

Whatever, I decide to talk so maybe then he’ll leave me alone. “I liked the snacks you picked out fine, Dals. I just wasn’t hungry. You don’t need to walk me to class, I know where my class is, but thank you. I’d rather walk alone.” I retort starting to get angry, I’d rather they just did whatever they were planning. I don’t like this make friends with the enemy bullshit. He lets out a small laugh, “Dals?” Is all he says. He seems to be thinking about something, “I like it. I can assume that wasn’t the reaction you were going for though. Do you not like your new nickname? I could always pick something else.” He says jokingly, but I’ve had enough. “I don’t care what you call me. I don’t care what you do. Can you stop pretending to be nice to me, and get on with whatever you were sent to do to me?” I stop in the hallway, he stops to causing a slight traffic jam, and I stare him in the eyes. A flash of guilt washes over him, but then he seems sad. “I’m not pretending Aims. Look I get it, but honestly, I’m not planning anything.” He responds with so much kindness that I almost believe him, until I look over and see Cole and Walker trying to be nonchalant not twenty feet away from us. Walker has golden blonde hair, with blue eyes, with pale olive skin, and just a little taller than Cole and Dallas. Cole has dark brown curly hair, dark eyes, and milk chocolate colored skin. They all have muscles for days and look like they get their hair cut by the same barber. I point over to his friends, “Good try.” I say, and when he looks to see where I’m pointing, I take off.

I’m completely distracted the rest of the day, even in art with Mia. The teacher is talking about an abstract painting that she did. She’s always talking about the paintings she’s made. I’ve seen a few, it’s honestly a shame she wound up being a high school art teacher. She could sell her paintings, but she says when she tried she couldn’t part with them. They all hold a spot in her heart and just wasn’t willing to give them up. “Do you think this is all apart of some lame joke?” I whisper to Mia, she looks over at me sadly. “I mean, maybe, but maybe, he just wants to be your friend. You know, you’re not impossible to like, Amy. Plus, Dallas is the nicest of the goons.” She says giving me a wink and grabs my arm. “In this pack, there’s a low chance of that.” I say rolling my eyes. “I don’t know... I really love you, I don’t see it being that big of a stretch.” I purse my lips and turn back toward the teacher. I don’t hear anything she says, Dallas has already taken over my mind. Granted maybe that’s what they want, to make me constantly think about what they plan to do. Unfortunately, it’s working.

My last class of the day, I have with Cole. He doesn’t sit right next to me, but he sits closer to me than he normally does. I try like hell to not look at him, but I can feel his stare on me throughout the whole class. All of the sudden a note falls onto my desk, I internally groan. Why me? If I don’t open it, that might earn me a beating. Not directly from Cole, because the goons have never been apart of that part of my life, but he just has to talk to the right people. I internally groan again and go to open the note. All that’s written on it is, So... You and Dallas? I look over at Cole, who has a wide grin on his face, urging me to answer the note. What would I even say? Yes, your friend won’t leave me alone. There is no me and Dallas. Has Dallas not informed them about whatever he’s doing? Is he in this alone? Or is this just them trying to make me go crazy. I really don’t know if I can handle this. I decide I’ll just accept the consequences and wad up the paper and throw it in the trash can closest to me.

I’m so excited when I hear the final bell ring, I race to stand and run out the door, with Mia not far behind me. We laugh as we start walking to the bikes, she has a car, but she likes to bike. She says she likes the cool air to wake her up in the mornings. As we get closer, we see no other then Dallas, waiting by the bike rack. What the hell? Why can’t I get rid of him today? This just solidifies my thoughts that something is up.

Every fiber of my being is telling me just to forget about my bike a walk home, so that’s what I decide to do. I tell Mia goodbye and make a left starting my journey home. I can hear someone running up to me, which makes me want to run, but if it’s Dallas I won’t win, and I’ll just be out of breath by time he catches me. “Slow down! I just want to talk!” Dallas yells from behind me. I slow down slightly and turn around walking backwards. “What do you want to talk about Dals? Honestly, you’ve known me your whole life and barely spoke to me before everyone realized I was human. We can’t have much to say to each other.” I shout back at him, then I realize he has my bike, great, guess I’ll have to buy a new lock. I stop walking and stare at him confused. He looks down with a shy smile, “I didn’t want you to have to walk all the way home.” He says lowly, as he gets closer to me. He looks up at me with a smirk on his face. “So, Dals is staying?” He asks with a small laugh. I can’t help it, I start laughing. I grab my bike and start walking next to it. “So, is my bike going to fall apart when I get on it?” I ask only half joking. I see a hint of anger go through his eyes, but then it’s replaced with a gentle smile. “No. Your bike is fine. I know you will probably never trust me, but I’m honestly not here to hurt you.”

We walk in silence for a little while, until I can’t take it anymore. “Okay, say I believe this isn’t a plan to hurt me. What is it then? Why are you talking to me all of the sudden?” He looks down shyly, “Well, I just want to get to know you, Aims. I don’t understand why if I am being honest, but I really would like to get to know you better.”

So, they’re really packing it on deep. Man, whatever they have planned this time must be a big one. I’m clearly not going to be able to get rid of him though, so maybe I’ll just go along with the plan. I’ll know something is coming, so when it happens, I won’t be surprised, and then all of this will be over. “Okay, what do you want to know?” I ask, deciding to go with the flow. He smiles brightly at me, “Oh, um okay, well, what’s your favorite thing to do?” I smile thinking back to the times with Liam and I would play games in the creeks, where we had to kill the dragon, or save the princess. When we found the secret tunnel and followed it all the way across town, but those days are over. “Well, I don’t do much outside of school. I enjoy going to the movies with Mia. Sometimes we’re the only ones in the theater we’ll make up our own lines to the movie.” I answer, looking over at him. He laughs, seemingly picturing us doing that. “Do you like going to parties?” He asks, I just look at him like he’s stupid. “Right... Well, Liam’s having a party this weekend. You should come. Broaden your horizons, before you do what you want to do in life.” He says. So, is this the plan? Get me to go to a party and then embarrass me in front of everybody? Honestly, I’d rather whatever was going to happen, happen at school. I don’t want to waste my time outside of school, hating life. “Oh, sorry, I can’t this weekend. I have plans.” I say quickly. He just nods his head, “Maybe next time then.” He says, as we’re only a few houses down from mine.

He stops in front of my house and seems to be thinking about something. “Okay, well, bye.” I rush and start to make my way up the driveway. He grabs my arm and stops me. “Can I get your number?” He asks shyly. I must look alarmed, because he rushes to explain, “Nothing creepy. I promise. Just want to be able to text my new friend.” New friend? Is that what he wants me to think? I give him my number, because it wouldn’t matter if I didn’t, he’d find a way to get it. He smiles and waves goodbye as he runs over to Liam’s house.

I walk into my bedroom and flop myself onto the bed, and instantly get a text from Mia.

*We have a lot to discuss! * -Mia

*Indeed! *- Me

*I’ll be over in 10! *-Mia

I sigh and get up to head to the kitchen for some snacks

I watch as my Gamma runs to my house from Amy’s. What the fuck is he doing? Why is he talking to her all of the sudden? And why is it pissing me off so bad?

Once he steps inside, I grab him by the throat and throw him into the wall. “What the fuck are you doing?” I yell, not understanding my own emotions. “Put him down, Liam.” My father comes out of nowhere and calmly commands me. I growl but let my friend down. He smirks up at me, “Goddess, I was only talking to her. What’s the big deal?” Dallas asks. That’s the problem, I don’t know what the big deal is. I haven’t spoken to Amy since we were twelve. Why do I care that he’s talking to her. When I saw him talking to her at lunch though it took everything in me not to rip his head off, now he’s walking her home. Fuck! I need to get myself under control.

“The problem is that she’s human. She shouldn’t even know about our existence, let alone start seeing any of us!” I shout, still not having my temper one hundred percent under control. My dad walks over, being a busy body today of all days. “I don’t see the problem. She already knows of our existence, her and her mom don’t go around telling anybody, and Dallas still has a couple months until he turns eighteen. Let’em have some fun, until he can find his mate.” My anger flares at him saying let them have some fun. Is my dad the new pimp of the pack? I growl at my dad, giving him warning to leave us alone, but he is the Alpha of the pack. There isn’t much I can do if he wants to stay. He laughs at me and goes on his merry way. Just then Cole and Walker come into the house. I look through the door and see Amy greeting Mia at her door, before Cole shuts the door interrupting my stalking.

Luckily, no one seems to notice. I finally give up on Dallas and we all move to the game room. I grab a pool stick and so does Walker, and I go to break. “So, what’s up with you and Amy?” Cole asks Dallas, while they both grab a drink from mini fridge. He smirks at me and then answers Cole, “I’m not sure. She said something funny in the lunch line today, and now I can’t stop thinking about her.” My pool stick breaks from the pressure I had it under while listening to him. He smirks over at me again, “Future Alpha over here doesn’t want me to be talking to her though.” They all look over at me questioningly. I shrug and grab a beer from the fridge. I don’t know what they want me to say, and I have no idea what I want to say, so I’ll just stay quiet.

“When I asked her, what was going on, she wasn’t very friendly.” Cole says laughing, Dallas looks at him with murder in his eyes. “What did you say?” He asks accusingly, Cole smirks. “Just asked her what was going on and she waded up my note and threw it away!” Cole says looking hurt. A small laugh comes from Dallas, “I invited her to the party this weekend.” Dallas informs us not remarking on Cole talking to Amy, causing my hair to stand on ends. “You did what?” I shout, they all look at me confused but they try and laugh it off. “Is she coming?” Walker asks, I intently listen. For some reason I’m not sure which answer I’m hoping for. “No, she says she has plans.” Dallas answers, and for some reason I deflate a little. Walker laughs, and speaks, “Well, that’s bullshit.” I look at him confused. He rolls his eyes, “Mia’s coming to the party. Mia’s her only friend. She has no plans she just didn’t want to come with you.” He explains looking straight at Dallas and smirks at him, I see him deflate just a little. I don’t know why, but that makes me smile.

He hops off the counter he was leaning against and pulls out his phone. He starts texting someone. Cole laughs, “Are you texting her?” Dallas smirks and nods. The fact that he has her number has me feeling a certain type of way, but I don’t understand it.

Soon, we hear his phone chime, and we all seem interested on what she has to say. “Says her mom wants to hang out with her on Saturday, so she’s spending the day with her.” Dallas smirks. I can tell he has a plan, but I still don’t think it’s the best idea to have her come to the party. She gets bullied enough at school, who knows how much worse it could be without any adults. “Whatcha thinking?” Cole asks Dallas. He looks up at us with a big smile, “I’m thinking, mom’s love me.” That gets a laugh from everybody but me.

“It’s really not a good idea. Clara and the girls are going to be here, and you know how they are with her. Plus, Olive has a thing for you, it’ll get that much worse for her if Olive sees her hanging out with you.” I try and reason with them, because clearly I would have to Alpha command them to listen to me at this point, and I don’t have that ability just yet. Walker and Cole seem to think about it, but Dallas has anger written all over his face. “I’ll kill all of them if they lay a finger on her.” He says slowly, and murderously. I’ve literally never seen him act like that in my life. Does he actually have feelings for her? How? They literally just started talking today.

I look at him like he’s grown an extra head. He seems to cool off, but I guess I was wrong. “Just keep your slut and her friends away from us.” He says calmly, but a growl comes from the back of his throat. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me, then he walks out of the room. A few seconds later I hear my front door slam shut. What the fuck just happened? I look at Walker and Cole, who look just as dumbfounded as me. Cole speaks first, “Fuck, did she put a love spell on him or something? What the fuck was that?”

I don’t think she could have put a love spell on him. All witches live outside pack lands, and she never leaves. How would she have gotten ahold of one? The question still needs an answer, because I don’t know why my gamma is acting like that. “Yeah, we’re gonna have to figure out what’s going on, because that.” I gesture toward the door, “can’t be happening.”

I see my mom coming downstairs, but she stops in the doorway. “A love spell? Seriously?” My mom says, while rolling her eyes. She’s always had a soft spot for Amy, she was never happy with me that I cut off contact with her. “Did you see him?” Walker asks her, gesturing at the door. She laughs, “You guys ever think maybe if you got to know her, you’d like her to? You boys sit over here in your ivory tower and think because she’s not a part of it that she isn’t worth it. And as someone who does love her, I can promise you she’s worth it. And Liam before you got your wolf you thought she was worth it to. You boys still have so much growing up to do.” She rolls her eyes and walks back up the stairs.

Leave it to my mom to throw me under the bus and walk away. What is up with my parents today, all team Amy right now. Not saying they don’t love her, but they aren’t usually so blatant about throwing it in my face.

I look over at my friends and shrug, not wanting any questions. I grab another beer while Walker and Cole grab the remotes, to start playing some video game. What is going on right now? Everything feels off. It can’t all be just because Dallas wants to be with Amy.