**(Elliot's Perspective)**

Her name is Leah. She moves through the halls like a shadow, always alone. But there's something in her eyes—an intelligence guarded by books and silence. When she talked about Shakespeare, that light was impossible to hide. Interesting.

Just as expected, Mrs. Johnson assigned a group project, analyzing the theme of power in *Macbeth*. Leah and I exchanged a glance, a silent agreement passing between us, and we became a team. This felt… not bad.

When the bell rang, trouble found her again. That hyena of Samantha's, Jenna, had Leah cornered by the door. "Found yourself a new target, nerd? Good. Keep your eyes on Windsor. Stay away from Kayden."

I was about to step in when a group of girls who usually orbit around me happened to pass by. They immediately started bickering with Jenna and her crew.

Honestly, why can't they just leave me in peace?

Leah, seizing the opportunity, slipped away like a startled fawn.

Smart.

At lunch in the cafeteria, I spotted her sitting with a couple of friends, sharing only an apple and a few crackers. Did she forget her lunch? I was contemplating offering her half my sandwich when she seemed to get a text. She got up and headed towards the locker bays.

**(Kayden's Perspective)**

What the hell? That nerdy girl, Leah, was opening Tyler's locker? I recognized it by the team stickers. A thief?

I strode over, blocking her path. "Hey! That's not your locker."

She jumped, a lunch box in her hand, her face instantly paling. "T-Tyler asked me to get something for him."

Tyler? That guy who's always trying to one-up me? I narrowed my eyes. Maybe… this was a chance to mess with him a little.

"Oh, really?" I leaned in, closing the distance, and flashed her what I thought was a charmingly roguish grin. "I could forget to mention you breaking into his locker, but… you'd have to show a little appreciation, right?"

She looked at me like I was an idiot. **Damn, that's kinda hot.** I couldn't be bothered with more games. I simply reached into the lunch box and snagged a beef stick. "Now we're accomplices." My fingers accidentally brushed against the back of her hand.

**BOOM.**

It was like an electric shock, no, stronger. A raw, primal force surged through my entire body. My wolf roared to life inside me, howling with elation! **A Fated Mate?** How was that possible? She's **human**!

I jerked my hand back as if burned, staring at her in utter shock. She just frowned slightly, as if she'd only felt a static zap.

"Kayden!" Samantha's sharp voice cut through the air. She shot Leah a death glare and yanked me away by the arm. **Fuck.** What the hell was that?

**(Leah's Perspective)**

I was distracted through all my afternoon classes. The back of my hand still tingled with the strange sensation from Kayden's touch—a weird, hot numbness. I found myself sneaking glances at him and caught him looking back at me several times. His expression was complex, no longer the indifference from this morning, but… a confused, burning intensity.

This, of course, had lit a fuse under Samantha's rage.

Between classes, they cornered me in the girls' bathroom. The insults, the shoves, the sharp, hidden pinches… it all culminated with them shoving me into a stall and… urinating on me. Icy, acrid liquid soaked through my shirt and hair. I gagged, tears of pure shame mixing with the filth.

"Say it! You're not interested in Kayden!" Samantha snarled, yanking my hair.

"I… I'm not interested in him…" I stammered, my voice broken.

They finally left, satisfied. I locked the stall door and scrubbed myself frantically with paper towels, but the smell and the humiliation felt like they had seeped into my very skin. I fled to a deserted storage closet behind the gym, curled up in a corner, buried my face in my knees, and finally let the sobs wrack my body.

"Leah?" It was Elliot. How does he always find me?

He didn't ask any questions, just handed me a clean handkerchief. "Need me to intervene? Make sure someone has an 'unfortunate' accident and breaks a leg?" His tone was half-joking, but his eyes were dead serious.

I shook my head. I didn't want to drag him into my mess. "No. Thank you."

He sighed. "Alright. But remember, if you need anything, I'm here."

After he left, I cried a little longer, then found an even more hidden spot. I needed to be alone.