Koda's week started out like any other—until it didn't.
He couldn't quite explain it. There was a tension beneath his skin, a humming. Sometimes it felt like anxiety, a buzzing pressure that made it hard to sit still. Other times, it was the opposite—a strange warmth that bloomed in his chest, especially when Tristian was nearby.
And the voice? Louder now. Not always words. Sometimes just sensations. A flicker of heat, a sharp surge of alertness when Tristian walked past him in the hallway.
He chalked it up to stress, to lack of sleep, to anything but what it really was: the beginning of something old, primal, and irrevocably changing.
---
By Wednesday, he was walking into the cafeteria, lunch tray in hand, trying not to make eye contact with anyone. Zara had promised to meet him, but she wasn't at their usual corner table.
He glanced around.
"Koda!"
He turned.
Zara was waving at him from the center table—the one that used to be occupied by the senior jocks, now completely taken over by the mysterious transfer students.
Tristian's pack.
Koda hesitated, heart skipping. Every instinct told him to turn around, to hide in the corner.
But Zara grinned and waved again. "Come on, I want to introduce you!"
He forced his legs to move.
The table was full of energy—low conversation, subtle laughter. As he approached, Koda recognized a few of the faces: Nova, the tall girl with a sharp jaw and a commanding presence; Kairo, lean and calm, the new Beta; Tala, eyes bright with curiosity; and Mace, the quiet one who exuded danger even while doing nothing at all. Alongside them were four more: Renzo, the sharp-tongued Zeta with a quiet charisma; Jace, the Gamma with an easy grin and sharp eyes; Eliah, the Scout whose movements were fluid and watchful; and Orion, the silent observer at the end of the table with thoughtful eyes that missed nothing, now confirmed as the Head Warrior.
"This is Koda," Zara announced as he sat down.
"Hey," Nova said, offering a fist bump. "Took you long enough to sit with us."
"I—uh—" Koda started, but she winked.
"I'm Nova. And these troublemakers are Kairo, Tala, Mace, Renzo, Jace, Eliah—and the quiet one is Orion."
Each of them gave him a different sort of greeting.
Kairo nodded once, a deep, assessing look in his eye. Tala smiled warmly, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear. Mace said nothing, but Koda felt seen in a way that made the hairs on his neck stand up. Renzo gave him a casual salute with a sly grin, while Jace simply said, "Sup." Eliah offered a curt nod but studied him for a second longer than necessary. Orion just watched him, silent, unreadable, before returning his attention to the conversation.
He took a bite of his sandwich and tried to act normal.
"Zara was just telling us about the time she punched that guy in eighth grade," Tala said.
"He had it coming," Zara muttered, stealing a fry from Koda's tray.
"You sound like Nova," Koda said before he could stop himself.
Nova laughed. "We'll get along just fine."
As the table slipped into easy conversation, Koda started to relax. They were different, sure, but not in the way he feared. They were sharp, yes, and something about them hummed with hidden strength—but they weren't cruel. And they looked at him like he mattered.
Then the air changed.
Koda felt it before he saw him.
Tristian entered the cafeteria, alone. The hum beneath Koda's skin became a roar.
Tristian's eyes swept the room, paused on their table, and held.
He walked over, graceful and calm. The conversation around Koda fell to a hush.
"Mind if I sit?" Tristian asked, voice like velvet.
Nova scooted over without a word. Tristian sat beside her, directly across from Koda.
"Hey," he said, eyes locking with Koda's.
"Hi."
Something about the air felt different now. Denser. Like it held secrets.
As the others resumed chatting, Koda found it hard to focus. Every time Tristian leaned forward, every brush of his arm against the table, sent tiny jolts through Koda's body.
And then she arrived.
Lila.
A senior, tall and gorgeous, all curves and confidence.
She sashayed over to their table, flashing a smile at Tristian. "Didn't know you ate with the commoners."
Tristian barely glanced up. "Didn't know you still hung around high schools."
Nova snorted into her drink. Zara covered her mouth to hide a grin. Even Jace raised his brows.
But Lila didn't give up. She leaned down, placing a manicured hand on Tristian's shoulder.
"You know, if you ever get bored with the kids—"
Before Tristian could respond, Kairo leaned forward with a lazy smirk. "Lila, sweetheart, he already said no. You're embarrassing yourself."
Renzo added, "Try the debate club. They love dramatic monologues."
Jace chimed in with a grin, "Or the drama club. You'd fit right in."
Even Orion raised an eyebrow and sipped his drink a little slower, a silent judgment that made Lila falter.
The table chuckled softly, the kind of laughter that wrapped around Lila like a closing curtain.
Lila's smile thinned. "You guys are weird."
"We're exclusive," Nova replied sweetly.
Lila huffed and strutted off, her heels clacking louder than necessary.
"You okay?" Zara whispered.
Koda blinked. "Yeah. Just... weird vibe."
She smirked. "You'll get used to it. They attract attention."
Later, as the bell rang and they packed up their trays, Nova and Zara lingered by the door.
"Walk you to class?" Nova asked.
Zara hesitated. "Sure."
Koda caught the glances. The slight smile on Nova's lips. The way Zara didn't pull her hand away when their fingers brushed.
Huh.
He turned to find Tristian watching him again.
"See you after class?" Tristian asked.
Koda nodded. "Yeah."
They parted ways, but that strange feeling lingered. Like a thread had been tied around his chest and was being gently tugged forward.
And somewhere inside, the voice whispered:
*You're waking up.*