Chapter 7

Noah leaned forward, his eyes intense. "You're not dangerous. You're scared and confused and you didn't ask for any of this."

"You don't know that. What if I hurt someone? What if I can't control it?"

"Then I'll help you learn to control it."

"Noah—"

"I'm not letting them kill you, Yuna." His voice was low, fierce. "I don't care what my father says. I don't care what I was taught. You're not a monster."

The conviction in his voice made Yuna's chest ache. He believed it. He actually believed she was worth saving.

"The mate bond," Yuna said quietly. "Is that why you're doing this? Because of what you feel?"

Noah's jaw tightened. "I'm doing this because it's right."

"But the bond—"

"Complicates things. Yes." Noah stood abruptly, pacing. "But that's not why I'm helping you. I'm helping you because you deserve to live, Yuna. Bond or no bond."

Yuna stood too, closing the distance between them. "Your father will kill you if he finds out."

"Let me worry about my father."

"I'm serious, Noah. I can't let you throw away your entire life for me."

"It's my life to throw away."

They stood inches apart, the tension crackling between them. Yuna could feel her heart racing, could feel the pull of the bond drawing her closer.

Noah's phone buzzed, shattering the moment. He pulled it out and cursed under his breath.

"What is it?"

"My father. He wants me home now for patrol training." Noah looked at her, conflict written all over his face. "Will you be okay getting back to your dorm?"

"I'll be fine."

Noah hesitated, then pressed the modified charm into her palm. "Wear this tomorrow. Don't let anyone see you put it on. Just slip it under your shirt before the distribution."

"Okay."

"And Yuna?" Noah's expression was serious. "Stay away from Megan. Whatever she's planning, don't give her ammunition."

"I'll try."

Noah left first, disappearing down the stairs. Yuna waited a few minutes before following, clutching the charm so tightly it left marks on her palm.

When she got back to the dorm, Camille was waiting up, sitting cross legged on her bed with a bag of chips.

"Okay, now you really need to tell me what's going on," Camille said. "And I'm not taking 'nothing' for an answer."

Yuna sat on her own bed, exhausted. "I don't even know where to start."

"Start with Noah Phillips. Since when are you two holding hands and meeting in secret?"

"It's complicated."

"Everything is complicated with you lately." Camille's expression softened. "Yuna, you're my best friend. I know when you're hiding something. Please, just talk to me."

Yuna wanted to tell her. Desperately. But how could she explain any of this without sounding insane?

"Noah's just been helping me deal with everything," Yuna said carefully. "After the Christopher thing. He's been really kind."

"Kind?" Camille raised an eyebrow. "The Noah Phillips I know doesn't do kind. He barely talks to anyone outside of basketball."

"Maybe you don't know him as well as you think."

Camille studied her for a long moment. "You like him."

"What? No, I—"

"You do. Oh my God, you actually like him." Camille's eyes went wide. "Does he like you back? Is that what the hand holding was about?"

"Camille, please—"

"This is huge! Noah Phillips, the most eligible guy on campus, and you! How did this even happen?"

"Nothing's happening," Yuna insisted, but she could feel her cheeks burning. "We're just friends."

"Friends who hold hands and meet in secret libraries. Sure."

A loud bang echoed from somewhere downstairs, followed by shouting. Both girls jumped.

"What was that?" Yuna whispered.

They crept to the door and opened it. Other students were poking their heads out of their rooms, looking confused and alarmed.

More shouting. Then a scream.

"Everyone stay in your rooms!" A voice bellowed from downstairs. Coach Sullivan.

Camille and Yuna exchanged terrified looks.

"Do you think it's the kitsune?" Camille breathed.

Before Yuna could answer, footsteps thundered up the stairs. Andrew Phillips appeared, flanked by two other hunters, all of them armed with silver weapons.

"Nobody leaves their rooms," Andrew ordered. "We're doing a sweep of the building."

His eyes landed on Yuna, and for one horrible moment, she was certain he knew. Certain he could somehow see through her skin to the fox spirit underneath.

But then he moved on, barking orders to his team.

Camille pulled Yuna back inside and locked the door.

"This is insane," Camille whispered. "Do you think they found something?"

Yuna clutched the modified charm in her pocket, her hands shaking.

"I don't know."