Chapter 46

Chapter 46
HARLEY

As the bell rang, signaling the end of class, Mr. Lee gathered his papers and left the room, nodding briefly to us as he exited. The moment the door closed behind him, our class captain, Aaron, jumped up from his seat and strode to the front of the room, a wide grin on his face.

“Alright, everyone!” Aaron called out, clapping his hands to get our attention. “Who’s down for a party at my place this weekend? Tomorrow night!”

A cheer went up, and a few people started whooping and clapping, clearly thrilled by the idea. Aaron’s parties were legendary, and everyone knew he went all out with music, food, and everything else. I could feel the buzz of excitement spreading through the room as people started making plans, already talking about what they’d wear and who they’d go with.

“Everyone’s invited!” Aaron added, holding his arms out. “Bring whoever you want! It’s gonna be epic!”

He left the front of the room, grinning as he returned to his seat, and I couldn’t help but smile. It had been ages since I’d let myself relax and have fun, and a party sounded like the perfect escape.

Just then, Jessica, a friend from earlier days who I hadn’t hung out with in a while, appeared beside me, nudging my shoulder. “Hey, Harley! I hope to see you at the party,” she said, her eyes sparkling with excitement. “We need to catch up!”

I smiled back at her, nodding. “Yeah, absolutely. It’ll be fun!”

Jessica flashed a grin and squeezed my arm before heading back to her desk. I felt a genuine warmth spread through me—Jessica and I had drifted apart a bit, but she’d always been someone I enjoyed spending time with. I was looking forward to reconnecting with her.

As I turned back, my smile faltered. Across the room, I caught sight of Juliet, my stepsister, leaning close to Matt—my ex-boyfriend. They were laughing about something, and I watched as she touched his arm lightly, her face turned up toward him in that flirty way she had. Jealousy twisted in my stomach, sharp and sudden. I didn’t have any feelings left for Matt, but seeing him so close to Juliet, laughing and clearly enjoying her attention, felt like salt in an old wound.

Before I could dwell on it, I felt a presence beside me, and I looked up to see Shane standing there, a soft smile on his face. “Hey,” he said, his voice warm. “How was your night?”

My jealousy melted away, replaced by a surge of relief and happiness at seeing him. I smiled up at him, nodding. “It was… good,” I replied, a little shyly. “Thank you for staying over.”

He shrugged, a smirk on his face. “Anything for my mate.” His words sent a thrill through me, but before I could reply, he tilted his head, his eyes bright with curiosity. “Hey, are you going to Aaron’s party tomorrow?”

I chuckled, nodding. “Yeah. I think I could use a little fun. Are you going?”

Shane grinned, looking more excited than I’d ever seen him. “Hell yes. I could use a good distraction too.” He held out his arm, and I looped mine through it as we walked out of the classroom together, heading toward the hallway. It felt so natural, so comfortable, like we were just two regular students without a world of complications hanging over our heads.

As we made our way down the hall, though, something caught my attention. Just up ahead, by the lockers, I saw Lauren talking to the same two guys I’d seen her with earlier that morning. There was something about the way they were huddled together, speaking in low voices, that made my instincts prick with curiosity.

I stopped in my tracks, pulling Shane back with me. “Wait a minute,” I whispered, my gaze fixed on them.

“What?” Shane glanced at me, a slight frown on his face. “What’s wrong?”

I hesitated, watching the three of them closely. “Can you… can you hear what they’re saying?” I asked softly, hoping he might be able to pick up on their conversation.

He shook his head, looking puzzled. “No, they’re too far away. Why?”

I didn’t answer right away, my focus narrowing on Lauren and the two guys. It was strange—though they were across the hallway, I started to catch snippets of their conversation, as if their voices were slowly growing clearer.

“Change of plans,” I heard Lauren say, her voice filled with urgency. “It looks like Harley has powers.”

One of the men’s voices replied, low and shocked. “What?! How do you know?”

I strained to hear, my heart pounding as their words became sharper, more distinct. It was like a veil had lifted, and I could hear every word despite the distance. “She told me about some… dream,” Lauren said, sounding frustrated. “She’s a mystic witch, and that means she could become powerful. If she figures it out, she could be a threat.”

The other man swore under his breath. “A mystic witch? Are you serious?”

“Yes,” Lauren hissed. “We need to let Roy know before she becomes too strong. He’ll know what to do.”

I felt a chill rush through me, my skin prickling with the weight of their words. A mystic witch? They were talking about me. I could feel my pulse racing, a strange sensation washing over me as I realized that somehow, I was hearing their conversation clearly—far more clearly than I should have been able to.

As if sensing my gaze, Lauren suddenly turned, her eyes locking onto mine. For a second, surprise flickered in her expression, but she quickly covered it with a bright, innocent smile. She raised her hand, waving at me casually.

I forced a smile, lifting my hand in response, though my heart was racing with anxiety. Lauren was working with Roy. She was feeding him information about me. The realization hit me like a slap, and I turned to Shane, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Shane,” I whispered, leaning closer, “Lauren’s working for Roy.”

He stared at me, his expression shifting from confusion to shock. “What? How do you know that?”

I hesitated, trying to make sense of what had just happened. “I… I just heard them talking. They were across the hall, but I could hear them, clear as day. She was saying that I’m… that I’m a mystic witch.”

He looked at me, his brow furrowed, trying to process my words. “That doesn’t make sense, Harley. You shouldn’t be able to hear them from that far away, you’re human, remember?.”

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “I know, but I heard them, Shane. I don’t know how, but… I think it’s a part of whatever’s happening to me. I think I… I have powers.”

AUTHORS POV

Shane’s eyes widened, a flicker of surprise mingling with awe. Just as he opened his mouth to say something, his expression shifted, his eyes unfocusing as if he was hearing something deep within himself.

Shane. A voice echoed in his mind, powerful and familiar. She’s telling the truth. We’re lucky.

It was Caspian, Shane’s wolf spirit, speaking to him. Shane’s expression changed, and I watched as something in him seemed to… shift, his presence growing stronger, more grounded.

As he came back to himself, he looked at Harley, a mixture of shock and excitement lighting up his gaze. “Harley… I can feel it. Your power. Just being near you… it’s making me stronger.”

She blinked, taken aback. “Wait… really? You feel different?”

He nodded, awe in his expression. “Yes. Caspian… my wolf… he’s stirring, responding to you. It’s like whatever strength I lost is starting to come back, piece by piece.”

A rush of relief and disbelief washed over her. This was real. Whatever powers she had, they were affecting Shane, restoring him. But at the same time, fear crept in, remembering what Lauren had said to those men.

“They know, Shane,” she whispered, glancing back toward the hallway where Lauren had been standing. “They know I’m a mystic witch, and they’re going to tell Roy. He’s going to try to stop me before I can figure this out.”

Shane’s expression hardened, a fierce determination in his eyes. “Then we’ll be ready for him. You’re not alone in this, Harley. We’ll figure out how to harness your powers together. Whatever they are, they’re part of who you are, and no one—not Roy, not anyone—will take that from you.”

His words gave her strength, a surge of courage settling over her. She didn’t fully understand what was happening, or what these powers meant, but with Shane by her side, she felt ready to face it. Whatever challenges lay ahead, whatever Roy had planned—she wouldn’t face it alone.

She took a deep breath, nodding as she met his gaze. “Alright,” she said softly, feeling the weight of the unknown lift slightly. “Then let’s do this. Together.”