Chapter 10

Camille laughed in disbelief.

"That's not funny, Yuna."

"I'm not joking."

The laughter died. Camille looked between Yuna and Noah, her expression shifting from amusement to confusion to dawning horror.

"You're serious."

"Yes."

"You're the kitsune." Camille's voice came out barely above a whisper. "The creature everyone's terrified of. The thing the hunters are trying to kill. That's you."

Yuna nodded, unable to speak past the lump in her throat.

Camille took a step back, her hand flying to her mouth. "Oh my God. Oh my God, Yuna, do you have any idea how insane that sounds?"

"I know."

"No, you don't." Camille was starting to hyperventilate. "They're hunting you. Andrew Phillips, the chief hunter, is hunting you. And you're just standing here in a bathroom like this is normal?"

"Camille, please—"

"Don't." Camille held up a hand. "I need a minute. I need to think."

She paced the small space, her breathing ragged. Noah stood silently by the door, watching her carefully. Probably calculating whether he needed to stop her from leaving.

"When did this happen?" Camille finally asked. "When did you become a... a kitsune?"

"Two days ago. During the tournament."

"The tournament. When you suddenly played like a professional." Camille's eyes widened. "The transformation. That's why you ran to the bathroom."

"Yes."

"And the bracelet your father gave you. That's what was keeping you human."

"I think so. I don't really understand it myself."

Camille looked at Noah. "And you know about this. You've been helping her hide."

"Yes," Noah said simply.

"Why? You're the hunter's son. You're supposed to kill creatures like her, not protect them."

"She's not a creature," Noah said, his voice hard. "She's a person."

"A person who turns into a nine tailed fox!"

"I didn't ask for this," Yuna said, her voice breaking. "I didn't want any of this. I'm scared, Camille. I'm terrified every second of every day that someone's going to figure it out and kill me."

Tears started streaming down her face. She couldn't stop them.

"I don't know what I am. I don't know how to control it. All I know is that if anyone finds out, I'm dead. And now you know, and I'm so sorry for putting you in this position, but I couldn't keep lying to you."

Camille stared at her for a long moment. Then, slowly, she crossed the space between them and pulled Yuna into a fierce hug.

"You're an idiot," she said, her own voice thick with tears. "Such an idiot."

Yuna hugged her back, sobbing into her shoulder.

"I'm your best friend," Camille said. "Did you really think I would turn you in?"

"I don't know. I was so scared—"

"Of course you were. You're being hunted by literally everyone." Camille pulled back, gripping Yuna's shoulders. "But we're going to figure this out, okay? You're not alone anymore."

"We?" Noah asked, one eyebrow raised.

"Yes, we," Camille said firmly. "I'm helping now. Whether you like it or not."

"This isn't a game, Camille. If someone finds out you knew and didn't report it—"

"Then I'm as guilty as you are." Camille crossed her arms. "So I guess we're all criminals now. Congratulations."

Despite everything, Yuna almost laughed. Leave it to Camille to jump headfirst into danger without a second thought.

"Okay," Noah said after a moment. "If you're really doing this, there are rules. First, you don't tell anyone. Not your family, not other friends, no one."

"Obviously."

"Second, if anyone asks you anything suspicious, you play dumb. You don't know anything about kitsunes. You don't know why Yuna's acting strange. You're just a worried friend."

"I can do that."

"Third, and this is important." Noah's expression turned deadly serious. "If things go wrong, if we get caught, you pretend you were being deceived too. You act shocked and betrayed. You save yourself."

"I'm not going to—"

"You will," Noah said firmly. "Because at least one of us needs to survive this."

The weight of his words settled over them like a shroud.

Camille looked at Yuna, really looked at her, seeing her friend in a completely new light. "How are you even functioning right now? Knowing that every day could be your last?"

"I don't know," Yuna admitted. "I just keep moving forward because stopping means dying."

A knock on the bathroom door made all three of them jump.

"Anyone in there?" A teacher's voice. "The distribution is over. Everyone needs to return to class."

"Just a minute!" Camille called out. She turned back to Yuna. "Can you make it through the day with those charms?"

"I have to."

"Okay. Then we act normal. We go to class, we smile, we pretend everything is fine."

They filed out of the bathroom. The teacher gave them a curious look but didn't ask questions. Students were still milling around the hallways, all wearing their new silver charms.

Yuna felt the constant burn of the silver against her skin, fighting with Noah's modified version. It was like having two opposing forces battling inside her chest. Exhausting and painful.

"I'll see you later," Noah said quietly before heading toward his own class.

Yuna watched him go, feeling that familiar pull of the mate bond. Even in the middle of all this chaos, part of her just wanted to follow him. To stay close where she felt safe.

"Come on," Camille said, linking their arms. "Let's get through this day."

They made it to their first class, Literature, and slid into their usual seats near the back. Professor Wright, Megan's father, stood at the front, his expression grim.

"I'm sure you're all aware of the situation," he began without preamble. "The kitsune threat. The silver charms are a necessary precaution, but they are not foolproof. Everyone needs to remain vigilant."

Megan sat in the front row, looking smug. When she turned to glance back at Yuna, her smile was pure malice.

"Professor Wright," Megan called out, raising her hand. "What if someone was acting suspicious? Like, really suspicious. Should we report them even if we're not completely sure?"

"Absolutely," Professor Wright said. "Better safe than sorry."

Megan's eyes locked onto Yuna. The message was clear. I'm watching you.

Yuna's hands clenched under the desk. The silver charm burned hotter, responding to her rising anger and fear.

"Ignore her," Camille whispered. "She's just trying to get a reaction."

But as class continued, Yuna noticed other students glancing her way. Whispers passing between them. Megan had been busy spreading rumors, it seemed.

By lunch, the entire cafeteria was buzzing with speculation.

"I heard she's been acting weird since the tournament."

"Someone said she attacked Megan for no reason."

"And she's suddenly dating Noah Phillips? That's suspicious."

Yuna sat at their usual table, trying to eat, but the food turned to ash in her mouth. Every glance felt like an accusation. Every whisper a death sentence.

Noah appeared beside her, setting his tray down without asking.

"You shouldn't sit with me," Yuna said quietly. "People are already talking."

"Let them talk."

"Noah—"

"I'm not leaving you alone right now. You look like you're about to pass out."

He was right. The constant battle between the two charms was draining her energy. Her vision kept blurring at the edges, and waves of heat rolled through her body.

"How much longer can she last like this?" Camille asked quietly.

"I don't know," Noah admitted. "Maybe a few days. Maybe less."

"Then what do we do?"

Before anyone could answer, a commotion erupted across the cafeteria. Students were crowding around something, phones out, filming.

"What's going on?" Yuna asked.

They pushed through the crowd to see Christopher standing in the middle, his face pale, staring at his hands.

His hands that were covered in white fur.

"What's happening to me?" Christopher's voice cracked with panic. "What is this?"

The cafeteria exploded into chaos. Students screamed and scrambled backward. Someone shouted for the hunters.

And Christopher stood there, transforming, white fur spreading across his body exactly like Yuna's had.

Yuna's blood turned to ice. That wasn't possible. Christopher wasn't a kitsune.

Unless someone had framed him.

Andrew Phillips burst into the cafeteria with four other hunters, silver weapons drawn.

"Everyone back!" he commanded. "Nobody move!"

Christopher looked up, saw the hunters, saw the weapons pointed at him, and did the only thing he could.

He ran.