Chapter 9 Nine
Harper’s POV
“Did you just kiss me?”
Koda’s voice was a low growl, vibrating with anger as he stared down at me like I had committed a crime.
Before I could even process the words, Kai burst out laughing.
“Oh wow,” he said, clapping once. “I didn’t know you had a thing for our future step-sister, Koda.”
“Don’t,” Koda snapped sharply, cutting Kai off without looking at him. His eyes never left me—dark, furious, accusing. “Watch your mouth.”
My heart pounded painfully in my chest. I pushed myself fully upright, brushing imaginary dirt off my clothes, refusing to let them see how shaken I was.
“What did you think you were doing,” Koda continued coldly, “running around like a mad woman?”
“Mad woman?” I repeated, scoffing despite the fear crawling up my spine.
“Yes,” Kai chimed in casually, leaning against the wall like this was pure entertainment. “That’s what it looked like.”
I clenched my jaw. “I was running because that beast was chasing me,” I yelled, my voice echoing down the hallway.
Kai’s smile vanished instantly.
“Hey,” he said sharply, pushing himself off the wall. “Don’t call him a beast. He has more right to wolf out than you ever will.”
The words hit like a slap.
I stiffened, heat flooding my face. “Excuse me?”
“And besides,” Koda added calmly, his tone somehow worse than Kai’s mocking, “he isn’t a beast. He’s a guardian wolf.”
I laughed bitterly. “Guardian? He looked more like he wanted to tear me apart.”
Kai snorted. “Must’ve not liked your ugly face. That’s why he chased you.”
That did it.
My hands curled into fists, nails digging into my palms. “You think you’re funny?”
“I think,” Kai replied smoothly, stepping closer, “that you should learn your place before you get yourself hurt.”
I tilted my head, meeting his gaze head-on. “Or what? You’ll sic your oversized dog on me?”
Koda moved then.
In a blink, he was in front of me, his presence overwhelming, his shadow swallowing me whole. I had to tilt my head back just to look at him.
“You don’t get to talk like that here,” he said quietly. “This is our house.”
“And I didn’t ask to be here,” I shot back. “Trust me, this is my worst nightmare too.”
Something flickered across his face—surprise, maybe—but it disappeared just as quickly.
“You were snooping,” Kai accused. “Running through halls you don’t belong in.”
“I was trying to get away from your psycho wolf!”
“You shouldn’t have been there in the first place,” Koda snapped. “That wing is restricted.”
“Well how was I supposed to know that?” I fired back. “You didn’t exactly give me a tour.”
Kai laughed again, slow and cruel. “Bold for a wolfless girl.”
There it was again.
Wolfless.
The word sank into my skin, burning. I swallowed hard, forcing myself not to look away.
“At least I don’t hide behind titles and wolves to feel powerful,” I said.
The air went deadly still.
Koda’s jaw tightened. His eyes darkened, something dangerous simmering beneath the surface.
“You’re in no position to insult us,” he said. “Especially after throwing yourself at me.”
“I did not throw myself at you!” I snapped. “You were in my way!”
Kai grinned. “Sure didn’t look like that from where I was standing. Lips pressed and everything.”
My cheeks burned. “It was an accident.”
“Accidents don’t happen in this house,” Koda said flatly.
Before I could respond, a deep growl echoed down the hallway—the same sound from earlier.
My blood ran cold.
Kai’s expression shifted instantly from amusement to alertness. “He’s still agitated.”
Koda glanced over his shoulder, then back at me. “You’ve caused enough trouble for one day.”
“Me?” I scoffed. “You’re the ones—”
“Enough,” he cut in sharply.
“Enough,” Koda said again, his voice clipped and final. “I don’t want to hear another word from you.”
I opened my mouth, ready to fire back, but he didn’t even give me the chance.
“Today is already a bad day,” he muttered, more to himself than anyone else. Then he turned and walked away, his broad shoulders tense, disappearing down the hall without looking back.
I stood there, stunned.
So that was it?
Just like that, he left—leaving me alone with Kai.
Or worse.
Kai watched his brother go, then slowly turned his attention back to me. The look on his face made my stomach twist—half amusement, half something darker.
He started walking away.
“What are you doing?” he called over his shoulder.
I blinked and glanced behind me, confused, before pointing at myself. “Me?”
“Yes, you, dummy,” he said without stopping.
I clenched my jaw and followed him, my footsteps echoing in the long hallway. “What do you want?”
He chuckled under his breath. “Funny. A minute ago, you were the one running around like you owned the place.”
I rolled my eyes. “You dragged me here. I didn’t ask for this.”
“Well,” he said, glancing back at me with a smirk, “you did ask for a tour. So congratulations—you’re getting one.”
“I never asked you for anything,” I snapped.
He stopped suddenly, making me nearly walk straight into his back. He turned, towering over me, eyes sharp.
“And besides,” he added coolly, “I can’t leave you unsupervised. Who knows who you’ll forcefully kiss next?”
My face burned. “It was an accident!” I yelled.
He laughed softly, clearly enjoying this far too much, and started walking again. “Sure it was.”
“I was being chased!” I said, quickening my pace to keep up with him. “By your so-called guardian wolf, might I add.”
“You shouldn’t have been where you didn’t belong,” Kai replied calmly. “Rule number one in this house.”
“Well maybe someone should’ve told me where I’m allowed to exist,” I shot back.
He paused again, this time turning fully toward me. “Careful,” he warned quietly. “You’re walking a thin line.”
I crossed my arms, refusing to back down. “Funny. I thought that was your specialty.”
For a split second, something unreadable flashed across his face. Then it was gone.
“Keep up,” he said flatly, continuing down the corridor. “This place is big. Easy to get lost.”
“I’m not scared of getting lost,” I muttered.
He smirked. “No. You should be scared of being found.”
That sent a chill down my spine.
As we walked deeper into the mansion, the halls grew quieter, darker, the air heavier—like the walls themselves were watching me.
And suddenly, I wasn’t sure whether following Kai was a mistake…
…or whether stopping would’ve been worse.