Chapter 6 Six
Harper’s POV
I wasn’t shocked by what had just happened.
After my mother agreed to marry that man, this was expected. Of course his kids were going to come after me. I slowly looked around, taking in the sight of students laughing, pointing, whispering. Their voices blended into one cruel noise, making my blood boil.
Who did they think they were, laughing at me like this? How heartless could these fools be?
My gaze lifted, and there they were—Koda and Kai—standing comfortably among the crowd, both of them smirking like they had just won something. The slimy fish stuck in my hair slid down my neck and onto my uniform, making my stomach twist as the stench hit my nose.
Anger burned hotter in my chest.
No, Harper. Don’t give them the satisfaction they want, I told myself. Ignore these losers.
Without saying a word, I turned and walked away.
Gasps followed me. So did laughter.
I didn’t look back.
Don’t turn around. Just keep walking.
My shoes echoed against the hallway floor as I moved forward, my uniform dripping, my hands clenched into fists. Then I nearly collided with someone.
“Hey, Harper—… whoa.”
Catherine stumbled back the moment she caught the smell. I winced.
Gosh, I hate this school, I thought bitterly. And I hate those brothers even more.
“Oh my goodness, Harper,” Catherine said, covering her nose slightly. “Why do you smell like rotten fish?”
Because someone dumped a bucket of it on me, I wanted to snap. The words sat on the tip of my tongue, sharp and ready. But the genuine concern in her eyes stopped me.
“I… accidentally got it on me,” I lied.
Well—not completely. If I had sensed those fools coming, I would’ve dodged it. But I couldn’t.
This is what I get for being wolfless, I thought bitterly. I can’t even sense danger.
Maybe people were right. Maybe I really was pathetic.
“Don’t worry, Harper,” Catherine said gently, placing a hand on my arm. “Let’s go to the bathroom.”
I hesitated, my shoulders slumping.
“What’s wrong?” she asked.
“I don’t have anything to change into,” I muttered.
Catherine smiled at me, warm and reassuring.
“Don’t worry,” she said. “I have a spare uniform.”
The bathroom was empty when we stepped inside.
Thank God.
Catherine locked the door behind us, the click echoing louder than it should have. The smell hit the moment I moved closer to the sink—rotting fish, sour and thick, clinging to me like it had soaked into my skin.
I swallowed hard.
“This is… bad,” Catherine said softly, not in a cruel way—more like she didn’t know what else to say.
“I know,” I muttered.
I turned on the faucet, the sound of rushing water filling the silence as I leaned over the sink. Fish scales clung to my hair, tangled in the strands. Bits of slime slid down my fingers as I tried to pull them out, my stomach churning.
I scrubbed harder.
Water splashed onto my uniform, onto the floor, onto my hands—but the smell wouldn’t go away. It felt like it was inside me now, like no amount of soap could wash it off.
Catherine quietly placed her bag on the counter and pulled out a neatly folded uniform. “You can change into this once you’re done,” she said gently.
I nodded, unable to look at her.
My eyes lifted to the mirror.
I barely recognized the girl staring back at me.
My hair was soaked and clumped together, my eyes red and glossy, my cheeks pale. Fish water streaked down my neck, staining the collar of my uniform. I looked… small. Weak.
This is what they see, I thought. This is what an omega without a wolf looks like.
My hands shook as I scrubbed my arms, my neck, anywhere the water had touched. My throat burned, and before I could stop myself, a tear slipped free—then another.
I angrily wiped them away.
No. Don’t cry. Don’t give them that too.
“You don’t deserve this,” Catherine said suddenly, her voice firm.
I laughed weakly. “Apparently I do.”
She frowned. “Harper—”
“It’s fine,” I cut in quickly. “I’m used to it.”
That wasn’t entirely a lie.
Once I was as clean as I could get, I peeled off the ruined uniform, my fingers stiff as I changed into Catherine’s spare. It was a little loose on me, but I didn’t care. Anything was better than smelling like decay.
I tied my damp hair into a messy knot, staring at my reflection again.
They think they’ve won, I realized.
Koda. Kai. Their smug faces flashed in my mind, and something twisted deep in my chest—not fear this time.
Something colder.
“I won’t let them break me,” I whispered, more to myself than to Catherine.
She looked at me, surprised, then smiled softly. “Good. Because I’ve got your back.”
I nodded.
But as we unlocked the bathroom door, one thought echoed loudly in my head—
This isn’t over.
And deep down, I knew it.
——
I sat through the longest hour of math class, my leg bouncing nonstop beneath the desk. Numbers blurred together on the board, my mind far away. When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, I let out a breath I didn’t realize I’d been holding.
P.E.
Great.
I dragged myself to the locker room, already exhausted, and the moment I stepped inside, my stomach sank.
My locker was open.
Just great.
I walked toward it slowly, dread crawling up my spine. I reached inside and pulled out my P.E. sportswear—and froze.
Slime.
Thick, sticky, disgusting slime coated the fabric, dripping between my fingers and onto the floor.
My vision went white.
Anger slammed into me so hard my hands started shaking. My chest rose and fell rapidly as I tried to breathe in… and out… but it felt like fire was burning through my veins.
I lifted my head and noticed a few students watching me, whispering, laughing behind their hands.
That did it.
“Which one of you losers did this?” I yelled.
The laughter stopped instantly.
“You think this is funny, huh?” I shouted again, my voice echoing through the locker room as every single person turned to look at me. “I don’t know what you’re trying to gain by this, but I promise you—it won’t work, you fucking losers.”
I dropped the ruined uniform on the floor like it was trash and turned away, my hands clenched so tightly my nails bit into my palms.
I had barely taken a few steps when I stopped.
They were standing right in front of me.
Koda.
Kai.
And a group of guys gathered around them.
Their attention snapped to me immediately. Koda stopped talking mid-sentence, his eyes darkening.
“Isn’t that the girl who hit you with a ball?” one of the guys said.
I rolled my eyes.
“Yup,” Koda replied coldly.
“Did she apologize?” the guy asked.
“Not even slightly, Scott,” another one chimed in.
I shook my head slowly.
Were these idiots serious?
Apologize? After everything they’d done?
I turned to walk away—but suddenly, something slammed into my back.
A basketball.
“Hey, tenth grader,” a guy called out. “Give me my ball.”
I slowly turned around.
Did he really just throw a ball at me?
“Nice shot, Liam,” Scott laughed, high-fiving him.
“What are you doing, Koda?” Kai muttered.
Koda nodded once and stepped forward, stopping right in front of me. He was freakishly tall, towering over me like a wall.
“Give me my ball, missy,” he said, looking down at me like I was dirt.
I was holding everything inside me not to punch him straight in the gut.
“Didn’t you hear me?” he yelled.
I inhaled sharply.
“Calm down, Harper,” I muttered through clenched teeth.
Koda burst out laughing. “Are you guys seeing this?”
Before he could say another word, I turned and walked away, leaving them staring after me.
“Wow,” someone muttered behind me. “Someone’s feisty.”
Maybe Liam. Maybe Scott.
I didn’t give two fucks.
I was halfway down the hallway when something made me stop.
A guy had a girl pinned against the lockers—his hand wrapped tightly around her throat. Her feet barely touched the floor as she clawed at his arm.
My blood boiled.
Is every boy in this school useless?
I didn’t think. I didn’t hesitate.
“Hey!” I shouted, using every ounce of strength I had to shove him away from her.
The girl stumbled free and ran without looking back.
The guy turned slowly toward me, rage burning in his eyes.
“You’re dead meat,” he growled.
My throat went dry as his eyes flashed yellow.
Oh no.