Monday morning arrived with a gray sky and a thicker weight in Koda's chest. He crept out of the house early, his bruises hidden beneath long sleeves and a hoodie. His ribs ached with each step, and a dark bruise bloomed across his jaw. He'd done his best to cover it, but makeup could only do so much.
His stepfather had been worse than usual the night before.
He hadn't even remembered what triggered it. Maybe a misplaced spoon. Maybe nothing at all.
By the time he reached school, the buzzing in his ears hadn't stopped. The hallways were louder than usual, too bright, too sharp. He walked with his head down.
"Koda?"
He turned to find Zara and Nova by their lockers. Zara's expression shifted from cheerful to concerned in half a second.
"What happened to your face?" she asked, already stepping closer.
"Nothing. Just... fell."
"That's a lie," Nova said, sharp. "Who did this?"
"I told you, I fell."
Nova's eyes narrowed. "You think we're stupid?"
Before Koda could answer, Tristian appeared behind him. His gaze flickered over the bruises, then to Koda's shaking hands. He didn't ask. He didn't need to.
Instead, he placed a gentle hand on Koda's shoulder and said, "Let's get to class."
________________________________________
Throughout the day, the bruises spoke louder than Koda's voice. Students whispered. Some stared. A few teachers glanced but said nothing.
The pack—Zara, Nova, Jace, Tala, Eliah, Kairo, and Orion—hovered more than usual.
During lunch, Koda barely touched his food. The cafeteria spun around him. His stomach turned.
Tristian sat silently across from him, watching every twitch of his fingers.
"You need to eat," Tristian said quietly.
"I'm fine."
"You're not."
Koda forced a bite down. It felt like sawdust.
Moments later, his vision blurred. A loud ringing filled his ears.
"I think... I need to—"
His sentence was cut short as he collapsed, tray crashing to the floor.
"Koda!" Zara screamed.
Nova was already kneeling by him. "He's burning up."
Tristian was on his knees in an instant, gathering Koda into his arms.
"He's got a fever. And his pulse is weak."
"He needs a hospital," Kairo said urgently.
"I'm taking him," Tristian growled. "Now."
No one argued.
________________________________________
The hospital room was sterile, too white. Machines beeped steadily. Koda lay unconscious, face pale, dark lashes fanned across his cheekbones.
Tristian hadn't left his side.
The nurse had asked if he was a brother. Tristian had said yes without hesitation.
Koda stirred after hours. His eyes fluttered open.
Tristian leaned forward, his voice low. "Hey. You're okay. You fainted. You're safe."
Koda blinked slowly. "Hospital?"
"You were burning up. Probably an infection from the bruises."
Koda turned away. "Sorry."
Tristian's jaw tightened. "Don't apologize. Ever. This isn't your fault."
Silence fell.
Koda's voice cracked. "He was drunk. I didn't... I didn't even say anything. He just... snapped."
"I know."
Koda's eyes met his. "You saw, didn't you? Back at my house."
Tristian nodded slowly. "Yeah. I saw more than enough. And I should've done something right then."
Koda's breath hitched. "Why didn't you say anything?"
"I wanted you to tell me on your own terms," Tristian said softly. "I didn't want to scare you off or make you feel cornered."
He reached out and gently took Koda's hand.
"You're not alone anymore," he said.
Koda didn't pull away.
And for the first time, he believed it.
________________________________________
Outside the room, the rest of the pack waited. Zara paced, her hands wringing nervously.
Nova reached out, catching her arm. "Hey. He's strong. He'll be alright."
Zara's eyes glistened. "I should've noticed sooner. He came to school like that, and I didn't—"
Nova stepped closer, brushing a thumb gently under her eye. "You did notice. We all did. But he's good at hiding things."
Zara leaned into her slightly. "It's just… it hurts seeing him like this."
Nova gave her a small smile. "You care. That's what makes you different."
Their eyes met. A quiet moment lingered between them before Zara nodded, calming just a little.
Orion stood a short distance away, arms folded, gaze fixed on the door but alert to everything around him. Silent but present.
"He's going to be okay," Tristian told them when he emerged.
But his expression was thunderous.
"We're ending this."
They all nodded.
No one needed to ask what he meant.
This wasn't just about protecting Koda anymore.
It was about vengeance.
And pack.
And justice.
Together.
Whatever came next, they were ready.