During lunch, River, Reese and Penny join me at the lycans' table like before. This is the first time they join the table when Milan is around. She just raises an eyebrow when my werewolf friends take their seat at the table.

Constantine takes my hand in his as soon as we're seated. He leans down and burrows his face against my neck, breathing in deeply. I lift my head up above Constantine's just in time to see Milan watching us with narrowed eyes before she looks away.

The table is awfully quiet. All the lycans seem okay, but my were friends seem tense. I feel a sense of dread hitting the pit of my stomach not long after. Ezra is very uneasy and restless. Nobody seems to be interested in talking.

The feeling of sickness increases and I glance over at Milan. She looks innocent, but I sense the source of angst coming from her.

I remember what Serena told me the other night, so I concentrate in trying to project my alpha and lycan dominance. Instead of dominating, I project it as a protection for my friends and myself.

Gosh, I've never done this before. This better work, otherwise I'll wreck my friends even more! After a while, a sense of relief fills me. My were friends seem more relaxed. Wow, I can't believe it's working! I observe Milan's eyes widen. Now I'm sure she's doing this on purpose.

Milan isn't even sparing me a glance, but I see a gleeful glint in her eyes and I can feel her projecting even stronger wave of dominance. It's taking more and more out of me to keep my guard up. I can feel Ezra's struggle to keep me protected. This is the first time I've ever done anything like this. Before long, I can feel my energy slipping.

That sickening feeling in my stomach is back. Ezra is defiant, but she's weakening and it's getting worse every second. I glance at Serena in panic. She looks back at me with that unreadable serene expression, but I suddenly feel her protective, calming presence wrapping around me. I know Ezra has long bonded with her lycan, Ambrosia.

I think only the three of us, Milan, Serena, and myself are aware of the power play that's going on at this table right now.

My three werewolf friends are looking sick and pale. Penny excuses herself early. She throws most of her lunch away. River and Reese follow soon after. They hadn't eaten much. My friends never threw away good food. This is not okay with me. I feel like screaming at her, but I grit my teeth, trying to calm myself.

Right after Penny, Reese and River left the table, Milan looks up and watches me speculatively for a while.

"We had fun in Russia, too bad you didn't come with us," she says to me finally, her beautifully manicured fingers touching Constantine's arm.

That's news to me. I didn't know she went with them. "Well, good for you. I'm glad you had fun." Something twisted in my chest.

"So Genesis, let's hang out after school today," she suggests suddenly. "We can watch a movie, or go shopping or something. Yeah, shopping sounds like fun, don't you think? I could use a new pair of shoes, or two."

"Uh, no thanks," I answer. As if I'd go anywhere with her after what she did just now. I'd rather have lunch with a boa constrictor.

"Look, I know you don't have much money. Don't worry, I'll pay for everything!" She sounds enthusiastic and innocent. I can see the steely glint and challenge in her eyes and hear the insult.

"No, thanks. I have tons of homework today."

"Okay, what about tomorrow? We can do our homework together," she asks hopefully.

I glance casually at Serena. I can see some emotions in her eyes, but her face is still a blank mask of serenity.

Caspian, Lazarus, and Constantine are staring at us, listening to our exchange.

"No, that's okay," I reply. I can see what she's doing, but there is nothing I can do about it.

"Well...what about any other day then?" she asks uncertainly. Well, hell and damnation! She's a very good actress, and persistent.

"No...I have things to do," I answer. That makes me sound like a heartless bitch.

"Oh, okay...." she manages to sound sad. Her beautiful eyes downcast, and her shoulders slump forward, looking hurt and disappointed. Then she looks up into Constantine's eyes with those big sad eyes. If I didn't know any better, I'd feel very sorry for her.

I've been feeling pissed off the whole day at school today. The anger is just simmering underneath the surface. It's bad enough that Milan pulled that stunt on me, but that she had to go and involved my unsuspecting friends too, that's just low in my book. Nobody messes with my friends.

Constantine seems to be aware of my mood today. We are both very quiet on the drive back. When we arrive in front of my driveway, he kills the engine.

"Sunshine," he sighs. "What's the matter?"

"Nothing," I answer. "All is good."

"No, don't give me that. Talk to me," he takes my hand in his.

"You really want to know what's wrong?" I ask him. "I'll tell you what's wrong. It's wrong when Milan used her dominance over me and my friends. That's uncalled for."

"Sunshine, I'm sorry about that..."

"And why do you have to say sorry for everything that she did? Like ALL the time?" I'm on a roll now and can't seem to stop talking. "What have we done to her to deserve that?"

"Listen, Genesis...she can't help it. She didn't mean to make you or your friends uncomfortable. She explained to us how she can't control it." For some reason him defending Milan rubs me the wrong way.

"And you believe her?"

"Of course, why shouldn't I believe her? We've been friends for a long time."

Yeah, and I only know him for less than a month. Why would he believe me over her?

"Genesis, she's really making an effort to be friends with you. She never made an effort like that with anyone before. You hurt her feelings today."

What??? Now I'm bristling. "Yeah, I'm sure she's very hurt," I scoff.

"It's not easy for her. She's used to have things a certain way, it's hard for her to adjust to something new....but I can tell that she really wants to be your friend."

"Have you ever slept with her?" I shouldn't have asked, but some stupid part in me needs to know. Maybe I'm secretly a glutton for punishment.

My question is met with silence. That's answer enough for me. I try to open the door, but he clicks the lock on.

"It happened before I met you," he explains. "Long before I met you."

"Yeah, okay," and that makes it all better. I know I shouldn't be mad at something that happened before we even met, but I am. It hurts just to imagine him ever being with Milan that way. I'm aware that Ezra is more lycan than wolf by now and I can feel her hatred for Milan since lunchtime and it's affecting me. She's possessive too, and this is not helping.

"Genesis, I'm sorry. I don't know how else to apologize for something that happened before I met you. I'm not a player, but I never claimed to be a monk either," he sighs, running his fingers through his hair, making it messier than it already was. "Look, she was there for me when I needed somebody. She's been a good friend to me...and that's all we are now. Good friends. That's why I want you two to be friends. I just want us all to get along. Just give her another chance, sweetheart. She can be really nice."

"Yeah, she's awesome," I say flatly. One big happy family. Sure. I hate, hate, hate the way he's always defending her. I hate that she's important to him. I hate that they used to be more than friends.

"Look, I need to go now. I think I'm just tired, that's all." I think I've heard enough.

"Okay then," he says carefully. "Can I come in and just...hold you?"

"No!" I answer quickly. "I just need some space, you know?"

There's a look of hurt flashes in his eyes before he blinks once and it's gone. His face now is a blank mask of indifference.

Something in my heart twisted painfully. Why do I feel like crying now? I unlock the door, grip the handle and push it open.

"I'm coming to pick you up for school tomorrow," he informs me stiffly.

Don't bother, I want to say, but I nod and walk out without looking back. If I look back, I know for sure I'm going to burst into tears right in front of him.

I'm so pissed and hurt right now. Heat starts to spread in my chest just from thinking about Milan. I'm pissed off that he's taking her side. It feels like he's choosing her over me. I'm pissed off that they used to be lovers. I'm actually pissed off that she went with them to Russia and he didn't tell me about it. I'm also pissed off that I'm pissed off about it. Arrgghh...I'm so pissed off that I'm pissed off that I'm not making any sense anymore.

I burst into tears as soon as I reach my room. How did this happen? I started off today with a feeling like I can fly, now I'm feeling like I'm dying inside. That warmth in my chest is growing. I know that when a lycan phase when she or he is feeling angry, the outcome is never good. I just want to sit here and feel sorry for myself. So I keep myself from phasing and cry till I fall asleep.

I wake up an hour later still feeling sad. At least I'm not angry anymore...just sad. I reach for Ezra and phase into my lycan. I stand in front of the mirror and watch in fascination as I begin changing. My eyes turn all black. I notice that my vision doesn't turn red while phasing when I'm not consumed by anger. Certain colors disappear or pale away, while some other colors become sharper. Red in color disappears, but red in temperature is very vivid as I detect heat. I can see my own heart pumping crimson red in my chest.

Dark blue veins appear around my eyes. They snake out all over my face, then spread down all over my body. My limbs elongated. I begin to grow bigger and taller...and feel more powerful. I can feel Ezra taking over most of my feelings.

While I'm still changing, I jump out of the window with one swift kick.

I don't know how far I went, but I feel better when I arrive back home. I take a long hot shower and I fall asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow. It doesn't last too long though, I wake up before dawn feeling restless again.

I miss Constantine. I don't think he stopped by like he always did last night. I know I asked for space, but I'm feeling pissed about that and that makes me feeling mad all over again about other stuff too. I think I'm going crazy. He's driving me crazy.

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Nicole❤