Dragging Theo out of the cafeteria room wasn't something I wanted to do everyday.

All along the way he wanted to keep beating Jax up.

Jax, with the bloody nose and face.

Jax, the one who's arm is crossed in front of me right now because we had to scram before Principal Greer saw me in between a fight. Again. Yeah, that wouldn't be a good look at all. I couldn't get in trouble again because my parents would kill me.

Theo couldn't get in trouble because Alpha Grayson and Aunt Julia would fillet him for breakfast.

Somehow, some way I managed to get Theo to shift and run it out and Abby was right- the only one who could stop Theo was me. It took some extra physical strength to literally drag my best friend outside, but it worked magically.

I sat on the teacher's desk in one abandoned classroom, Maddox being really still in the far corner as if any sudden movement from Jax would cause him to panic. He got the brunt of the trying to stop the fight, but if either one of them had hurt Maddox, I'd kill them. No one hurts Maddox.

But Jax and Theo hitting each other? Them I could handle. They fought and bickered. Everyone fought and bickered with Theo. It was normal.

"What happened between you two?" I asked Jax, the next culprit. Trying to see what between what transpired. Fighting at school was stupid.

I'd know.

Later on, I'd speak with Theo to see why he would take a swing at Jax, but I wanted to hear it from Jax's perspective.

"I don't know," Jax's tone held no friendliness. "He's crazy."

Couldn't argue with that. My best friend is kind of crazy. His dad, Alpha Grayson, was also on the crazy side and a bit notorious. I think that's settled down once he had children, but Theo is a wild child. He's a complete daredevil and would do anything that bought out an adrenaline rush like skydiving or jumping off cliffs for fun. Crazy as he was, he'd never hit one of his friends unless provoked.

"Yeah something must have happened," I sighed. "So tell me or I'll just get it from Theo. But I do want to get both sides of the story."

Silence.

So we're going this route then. I could be here all day.

"I might have kind of told him to hit me if he wasn't a coward," Jax admitted, finally after a long stretch.

I glanced at Maddox. Of course. What else could it be?

"Well then," I sighed.

Maddox signed,

"Abby?" I ventured out loud. Jax looked up sharply at me.

"Don't," Jax warned, getting up, shaking his head. "Just....don't."

After pup number two got calm- well, as long as he wasn't going to pick any more fights- I needed to check pup number one.

Even though I knew I missed class, looking up for my friends were more important. Pretty sure I could say something to one of the teachers about taking care of myself. Or whatever. If they even cared which most of them did. Alpha Heidi did a good task in looking up the best wolves to be teachers.

Maddox wondered if I was okay being alone as I was ready to exit the school, and I didn't want him to miss class just because of me.

I signed to him towards the hallways where the students were all loitering or just hanging outside.

Maddox hesitated before he nodded. I walked outside, heading to the dorms where there were other wolves there who were missing class on purpose. Like me. Before I went to see him, I grabbed Theo's gym bag that had his extra clothes so he could have something to wear.

I ventured a little into the woods calling out, "Theo!"

The growl behind me made me turn around and his large brown wolf bared his teeth at me before shifting. Naked as the day he was born.

Immediately, I threw the shorts at him. "No one wants to see that," I commented offhandedly.

"Trust me, I think a few guys and gals would love to see some of what I got," Theo chuckled, but he put on the shorts, walking barefoot.

"Cooled off?" I asked him. Theo threw a look in my direction, clenching his jaw.

"Sorry if I hit you."

"You couldn't hit me," I grinned at him, and he tried to take a jab at me, but I stepped back. "Seriously, Theo what-"

"I'm protecting Abby!" Theo said. "Abby is practically my little sister. You are literally my brother."

"What?" Theo turned back, groaning. A couple of wolves passing by looked at him weirdly, all of them checking him out. Theo unabashedly checked them back out.

"Theo."

Theo winked at one of the male wolves and turned to me. "Oh yeah, well, Jax shouldn't have called me a coward and forced my hand. Or accused me of being unlovable."

I frowned. Jax said that? About Theo? He should know how Theo felt about saying he was unlovable.

"Hm, unfortunately you know I love you," I reminded him.

Theo cleared his throat, "Sure."

"Theo." I stopped walking, making sure he understood. He took a few steps forward, but I forced him to turn around. "I do love you- you're literally my brother. You do know I'm here for you with whatever, right?"

Theo exhaled. "I know. It's just...I feel like the same can be applied to you, West. Don't-don't keep things from me. Why can't you trust me enough too?"

"I do trust you-"

"It's like there's something going on, but I keep telling myself you would tell me. Everything. You tell me everything." Theo's deep green eyes met mine. "You would tell me if something was bothering you, wouldn't you? I feel like you're so distant recently."

Gosh, here I was angry at Wyatt for being distant towards me I was doing the same exact thing to Theo. Guilt ate at me. "I'm sorry for that," I meant it. Theo joined soccer because of me. He could say he did it otherwise, but I knew it was for me. He wouldn't have it I didn't join. "I don't mean to do it. I'd tell you." Except that I have a mate.

Theo nodded slowly, "Good."

"So....What about Abby has to do for the fight?" I persisted.

"Uh..." Theo shrugged. "Nothing important." Both of them are saying that, but I knew Theo better. He wouldn't hit Jax.

Then it hit me. I totally froze up. Oh shoot. Oh no.

"What time is it?" I panicked, checking my phone not waiting for him to get his phone out. My phone read 3:30. I couldn't forget! "I have to be at the-"

"He's there!" I heard someone shout. Before the entrance to the large dorm buildings, I saw Blaine and Penelope talking to Jax, who was pointing at me. "I knew he would be here," Jax said, walking over to us, but when he noticed Theo, he ignored him.

"What's wrong?" I asked, noticing Blaine's worried face.

"You're not at the elementary school?" Penelope asked me, her voice rising a little. "I thought she'd be okay if she would be with you but-" Penelope swallowed.

"Who? Is it-" something in my gut wrenched. That's when I knew. "Edith? Is it Edith? Where is she?"

"The elementary school, but we got an email from the school alerting us of a rogue attack at the elementary school," Penelope replied.

Something inside of almost me ripped apart, Salvatore's little semblance that I had of control.

He was getting restless. It was getting to a really bad point. So much that I had to bend down and Theo and Jax asked me if I was okay, but I nodded. The intense wave of Salvatore trying to get out made me hold my stomach.

"Is he okay?" Penelope asked from a distance, but I tried to shove Salvatore away- not now, I thought. Later. We had to shift later. There was no way Salvatore wasn't going to shift if Edith was in danger.

That sated him for a second.

"I'm okay," I took a deep breath, getting up now but Theo gave me a worried look, but I nodded again, "I'm okay."

"She hasn't been responding to our text messages," Blaine said quietly.

That's it. "I'm going." I tried to take a step forward to the parking lot, but Jax blocked me, crossing his arms.

"You can't go in there," Jax said nonsensical. "I won't let you."

"Look at that, something we both agree on," Theo snarled at him- obviously not over their fight yet, taking a step in front of me too.

A growl erupted from me, causing Jax to shrink back. Theo held his ground.

"Move out of my way," my voice was harsh but I didn't care. I was going to the school. No one could stop me.

Edith's in there.

Penelope seemed to know what I was thinking, and a look of sheer determination was on her face. "I'm coming with you."

"Me too," Blaine stated firmly.

Edith wouldn't forgive me if I let them enter. "You guys should make sure no other rogue is out here," I said. "I'll go inside-"

"Whoa whoa whoa there," Theo cut me off really quickly. "You're not going where there's a rogue in there!"

"Hey buddy, I don't think anything is going to stop West from going inside." Penelope narrowed her eyes at Theo.

Theo's eyes flared up, wondering who it was that talked to him like that.

"Listen here, buddy, there's no way I'm letting this guy risk his life when I'm not there," Theo sneered then faced me. "I'm coming with you."

"Great, I guess we're all going," Jax grumbled.

I already was halfway into the parking lot.