Chapter 6

Katherine POV

Morning came too quickly. I dressed in a white sweater, black leggings, socks, and hiking boots. I grabbed my water bottle and slipped out of the house, walking along decaying streets toward the nearby forest entrance.

The Portland area forest preserve welcomed me with its familiar earthy scent. I chose a different path today, determined to familiarize myself with the terrain—crucial knowledge for my mission. I'd already mapped several trails as I adapted to Portland's geography. If emergency evacuation became necessary, I needed to know how to escape safely, potentially with the triplets in tow.

Deep in the forest, I detected movement—branches snapping beneath heavy weights. I paused, scanning the direction of the sound, but saw nothing. If Portland North werewolf pack members were patrolling, I'd have sensed their presence regardless of how dense the forest was. I continued hiking, returning home to find Mary awake in the kitchen. I bypassed her without a word, collecting clothes before heading to the bathroom.

After showering and dressing for school, I checked that I had everything I needed. I descended the stairs, ignoring Mary in the kitchen, and walked straight out the front door. Glancing at my watch, I mentally calculated my weekly wolfsbane injection schedule, ensuring my werewolf heritage remained hidden in the school environment.

En route to school, I stopped at a local coffee shop. The caffeine was necessary after my disturbed night. Arriving at Portland Public High, I found Jasmine waiting by the front entrance.

"Hi," I said.

"Hey, tired?" Jasmine asked, eyeing my large coffee.

"Yeah, rough night," I answered vaguely, unwilling to share my home troubles.

"Gotcha. Looking forward to today?" Jasmine asked.

"Why? What's happening?"

"Bella's on a rampage. She hates that you stood up to her yesterday." I merely rolled my eyes.

"Bitches like that never know when to quit," I sighed, thinking about how Beta Noah's daughter considered herself the future Luna.

Walking into school with Jasmine, I noticed people staring.

"What the fuck is going on?" I asked.

"You know Bella can't keep her mouth shut."

"So she's been talking about me to the whole school."

Jasmine looked around, shaking her head. "I think she's been threatening to come after you."

Caspian approached us. Jasmine greeted him first, as I wasn't supposed to know him. On the surface, Jasmine knew this "ordinary" high school student better than I did.

"I hope you're ready for today," Caspian said to me.

"What are you talking about?"

"She's planning to take you out in gym class and make it look like an accident." I nodded, keeping my expression neutral.

Jasmine looked increasingly worried while I calmly retrieved books from my locker.

"What are you going to do?" Caspian asked through telepathy, unheard by Jasmine.

"That bitch isn't taking me down," I replied. He gave me a slight smile.

Both Caspian and Jasmine turned to look down the hallway. I followed their gaze to see the triplets approaching. They passed by as I expected, but each one—Samuel, Edward, and Lucius—watched me intently as they walked. My skin tingled in response to their gaze, the mate bond humming just beneath the surface despite my efforts to suppress it.

I caught Caspian's strange look, understanding today would bring trouble. I sighed and continued down the hall with Jasmine and Caspian.

The day progressed with the triplets ensuring they sat around me in every class and at the adjacent table during lunch. Their presence made everyone at our table nervous, but I tried to ignore them, unwilling to reveal my true identity as their destined mate.

After lunch, I knew what awaited me. Jasmine and I headed to the locker room, changed, and proceeded to the gym.

We played volleyball again, but this time I was in the first group, with Bella volunteering to play as well. Caspian sat in the bleachers waiting for the second round.

I noticed the triplets were on my team today, while Bella stood on the opposite side of the net, wearing a malicious smile.

"I won't hold back today, bitch," Bella said. I sneered back.

"Counting on it," I replied, silently controlling the FIRE power surging within me.

Once the game started, Bella aimed every ball at me until the coach finally told me to move back from the net.

Even with my retreat, Bella persisted, targeting me with every possession. The triplets positioned themselves protectively in front of me—Samuel vigilant, Edward almost eager for conflict, and Lucius concerned.

Caspian sat nearby, focusing intently on Bella: "She's going to aim at the girl next to you so it rebounds and hits you," he warned through telepathy.

Sure enough, when Bella's strike hit the girl beside me, I leaned back, the ball merely grazing my face. I helped the injured girl up, who needed substitution. The coach, however, didn't reprimand Bella.

"The coach is human. Why hasn't he benched Bella yet?" I mentally asked Caspian.

"He's too afraid. She's Beta Noah's daughter, important in the Portland North werewolf pack," Caspian replied.

When the game ended, a furious Bella rushed under the net directly at me, fists clenched at her sides.

"Bella," Samuel called, his voice carrying Alpha command. She ignored him, charging toward me. Just as she reached to grab me, I sidestepped and pushed her to the ground.

Everyone froze. I stood over Bella, sneering. Undeterred, she swept my legs from under me, and I hit the floor hard. This time, as I tried to get up, Bella was faster. Her eyes flashed golden, a sign her wolf was close to the surface. She grabbed me by the throat, lifting me slightly.

"You think you're special?" she hissed. "You're nothing."

I struggled to break her grip without revealing my true strength, the edges of my vision starting to blur. Just as I considered unleashing my powers, Samuel appeared behind Bella, his hand clamping down on her wrist with brutal force.

"Release her. Now." His voice was low, dangerous, laced with Alpha power.

Edward flanked him, a predatory smile on his face. "Really bad move, Bella."

Lucius stood on her other side, his usually gentle eyes cold. "Don't make this worse for yourself."

The pressure on my throat vanished as Bella released me, stumbling back from the triplets. I gasped for air, my hand reflexively touching my neck.

"This isn't over," Bella spat at me before backing away.

Samuel reached down, offering his hand. I hesitated before taking it, a jolt of electricity racing up my arm at his touch. His eyes widened slightly—he felt it too.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it.

"I'm fine," I managed, pulling my hand away too quickly. "I don't need saving."

"Clearly," Edward said with a smirk, eyeing Bella's retreating form. "But it was fun to watch."

"Katherine, go to the locker room," the coach finally intervened. "Jasmine, go with her."

Jasmine pulled me away while everyone stared. I caught her sidelong glance as we entered the locker room.

"How did you almost take down a werewolf?" Jasmine muttered to herself, but I overheard, realizing I'd nearly exposed my mixed-blood identity.

Even more concerning was the lingering warmth in my hand where Samuel had touched me, and the strange sense of security I'd felt surrounded by the triplets. I was getting too close, feeling too much. This wasn't part of the plan.