Chapter 46 FOURTY six
The morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the Blackthorn pack house, painting golden stripes across the long breakfast table. Plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, fresh bread, and fruit sat mostly untouched. The air smelled like coffee and tension.
Harper had already left.
She slipped out before anyone could say much, backpack slung over one shoulder, hair tied back in a messy ponytail, emerald dress from last night replaced with dark jeans and a simple black hoodie. She didn’t say goodbye. Didn’t look back. Just walked out the front door like she couldn’t breathe inside those walls anymore.
Samantha stared at the empty doorway, fork halfway to her mouth. “She left without eating?”
Kai shrugged, calmly spreading butter on his toast. “She does that sometimes.”
Koda—or rather, The One wearing Koda’s skin—sat across from them. He hadn’t touched his food either. His eyes followed the empty space where Harper had been. When the front door clicked shut, something dark flickered across his face.
He stood abruptly. Chair scraped loud against the floor.
Samantha blinked up at him. “Koda? You’re not eating?”
He didn’t answer. Just grabbed his leather jacket from the back of the chair and headed for the door.
“Wait—” Samantha started.
The One didn’t wait.
Kai watched him go without surprise. He took another bite of toast, chewed slowly. “He’s fine, Mom.”
Samantha frowned. “He’s been… different since the ceremony. Your father thinks he’s in control now. That the darkness is gone. But I don’t know…”
Kai set his knife down. Quiet. “It’s not gone.”
Samantha’s eyes widened. “What?”
Kai glanced toward the door. “I told Harper last week. When we were alone in the library. I said, ‘That’s not Koda anymore.’ She looked at me like I’d slapped her. Then she said, ‘It is him. It’s still him.’ She won’t let anyone lock him up again. Not in the dungeon. Not anywhere. She can’t stand seeing him hurt.”
Samantha pressed a hand to her chest. “She… cares that much?”
Kai gave a small, sad smile. “More than she admits.”
The One had already caught up to that conversation in memory. He remembered teasing her about it later, in the rose garden shadows. “You like me, princess. Admit it. You’d rather see the monster walk free than watch Koda bleed in chains.”
She hadn’t denied it. Just glared and walked away.
Now, at school.
The parking lot was full of shiny cars and loud music. Wolves from every rank mixed together—alphas in designer jackets, betas laughing too loud, omegas keeping their heads down. Harper stood near the front steps with Catherine, her best friend since middle school. Catherine was short, curly-haired, always wearing bright colors. Today it was a yellow sweater that looked like sunshine.
They were talking about nothing—homework, the weekend, stupid pack gossip—when Molly appeared.
Molly strutted over like she owned the sidewalk. Blonde curls bouncing, lip gloss shining, new mate mark peeking from the collar of her shirt. She stopped right in front of Harper, arms crossed.
“If it isn’t the mateless, wolfless wannabe,” Molly said, voice dripping sugar and venom.
Catherine’s head snapped up. “Molly.”
Molly ignored her. Kept staring at Harper. “Still waiting for your big moment? Still hoping the Moon Goddess remembers you exist?”
Harper didn’t flinch. She just looked back, calm. Tired.
Catherine stepped forward. “Molly, just because you found your mate doesn’t mean others won’t one day.”
Molly laughed. Sharp. “Well, some of us are just special. And some of us are losers.”
A new voice cut through the air. Low. Cold. Dangerous.
“If I remember correctly, the guy rejected you.”
They all turned.
Koda stood there.
Black hoodie up, hands in pockets, eyes half-lidded like he hadn’t slept in days. But the way he looked at Molly… it wasn’t tired. It was bored. Like she was an insect buzzing too close.
Molly’s face flushed red. “Koda.”
She liked him. Everyone knew. She’d tried flirting with him for years—batting lashes, spilling drinks “accidentally,” brushing against him in hallways. He never looked twice. His eyes always drifted somewhere else. Usually toward Harper.
That made Molly hate her more.
“Move,” he said.
Molly stood in his path. Blocking the steps.
She blinked. Then scrambled aside so fast she almost tripped.
The One walked past her without another glance. Straight to Harper.
He stopped close. Too close. Looked down at her with that faint red glow only she could see.
“Princess,” he said softly. “You left this morning without telling me.”
Harper almost choked on air.
Catherine’s mouth fell open.
Molly froze mid-step.
“What?” Catherine whispered, eyes huge.
The One frowned at Harper’s reaction. “Why do you look shocked? I asked why you left me this morning.”
Harper coughed. Hard. Face burning.
“Uhm… Catherine, I’ll talk to you later.”
Catherine reached out. “Wait, Harper—what the hell—”
But Harper was already moving. She ducked under his arm and ran—actually ran—toward the side of the building. Sneakers slapping concrete.
The One watched her go. Smiled. Small. Predatory.
Molly stepped forward, voice sharp. “What is the relationship between you and that loser?”
The One turned slowly. Looked at her.
For a second, the red in his eyes flared bright. Like fire behind glass.
“I feel like smashing your head open,” he said. Calm. Almost polite. “But I won’t. Because princess will be mad.”
Molly’s face went white.
Catherine’s went paler.
The One walked away. Casual. Like he hadn’t just threatened murder in the middle of the school courtyard.
He found Harper around the corner, leaning against the brick wall, breathing hard. Hands on her knees.
He stopped a few feet away. Tilted his head.
“You ran.”
She straightened. Glared. “You called me princess. In front of everyone.”
“And?”
“And now Catherine thinks we’re… something. And Molly’s going to spread it everywhere. And—” She rubbed her face. “You can’t just say things like that.”
“Why not?” He stepped closer. “It’s true. You’re my princess. My storm. My little key to everything.”
“Stop.”
He didn’t stop. He reached out. Tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. Fingers lingered.
“You’re scared they’ll figure it out,” he murmured. “That I’m not your sweet Koda anymore. That the monster likes you too.”
Harper slapped his hand away. “I’m scared they’ll lock you up again. Or kill you. Or both.”
He studied her. Quiet for once.
“You really would protect me. Even knowing what I am.”
“I protect Koda,” she said. “And you’re still wearing his body. So yes.”
He laughed. Soft. Dark.
“You’re impossible.”
“You’re dangerous.”
“Yet here you are. Not running anymore.”
She looked away. Toward the parking lot. Toward the normal life she couldn’t have.
“I don’t want you hurt,” she whispered. “Not him. Not… whatever you are.”
The One stepped even closer. Until their shoes touched.
“Then don’t make me chase you every morning,” he said. “Stay. Eat breakfast with me. Let me walk you to class. Let me pretend, just for a few hours, that I’m not planning to burn this whole world down.”
Harper met his eyes.
The red was still there. But softer now. Almost… tired.
She sighed.
“Fine.”
His smile grew. Real this time. Almost Koda’s.
“But no more ‘princess’ in public.”
“No promises.”
She rolled her eyes. But she didn’t move away when he took her hand.
They walked back toward the main entrance together.
Side by side.
Not touching anymore.
But close.
Catherine waited at the steps, arms crossed, eyebrows sky-high.
Molly stood a few feet away, whispering furiously to a group of girls.
The bell rang.
Students poured inside.
Harper glanced up at The One.
“You behave today.”
He smirked.
“No promises.”
She shook her head. But the corner of her mouth lifted. Just a little.
Inside the school hallways smelled like old books and teenage sweat. Lockers slammed. Voices echoed. Normal chaos.
The One walked Harper to her first class—English. He leaned against the wall outside the door while she gathered her books.
Catherine caught up, breathless.
“Okay. Spill. Now.”
Harper sighed. “It’s complicated.”
“Complicated how? He called you princess. Koda Blackthorn doesn’t call anyone princess.”
Harper looked toward him. He was watching them. Casual. But eyes never left her.
“He’s… going through something,” Harper said finally. “Since the ceremony.”
Catherine frowned. “The darkness thing? The moon goddess said—”
“It’s under control,” Harper cut in. Too fast.
Catherine didn’t look convinced.
But she didn’t push.
Not yet.
The One pushed off the wall. Walked over.
“Class time, princess.”
Catherine’s jaw dropped again.
Harper groaned. “I said no public—”
He ignored her. Opened the classroom door for her. Bowed slightly. Mocking. Charming.
“Ladies first.”
Harper walked in, face red.
The One followed.
Sat in the back row.
Watched her the whole period.