The car rolled forward, the school gates growing closer. Lunara sat stiffly in the backseat, hands folded, coat pulled tight around her tail. Her golden eyes flicked from window to window, absorbing everything.
"So," Elara said, glancing at them in the mirror, "final debate. Where does the wolf stay?"
"My class," Theo said quickly, pushing his glasses up. "It makes the most sense."
Eliot shook his head. "No. Yours has too many variables."
Theo frowned. "Yours has Brent."
''Yours has Rex.''
The name landed heavy.
Eliot went quiet.
Theo continued, more carefully now.
"He's always bugging you. And if he notices her—" He glanced at Lunara. "—the ears, the eyes, anything… it won't be safe. Not for her. Not for you."
Elara's smile faded a little. "He's right. Brent notices everything he shouldn't."
Lunara's ears twitched under the beanie. Slowly, she turned toward Eliot. "This human causes you trouble?"
Eliot shrugged, eyes fixed on the seat in front of him. "It's nothing. I can deal with it."
Her tail flicked once. Sharp. Unhappy.
"I was taken because humans noticed what they shouldn't," she said quietly. "I will not be the reason you suffer."
Theo opened his mouth to argue—
But Lunara raised a hand.
"No," she said firmly. "I choose."
The car went silent.
She straightened, posture proud despite the oversized coat. "I will stay with Theo."
Theo blinked. "W-what? Really?"
"Yes." Her golden eyes were steady. "Your class has fewer threats. And you"—she glanced at his glasses—"are loud enough to distract attention from me."
Elara snorted. "She's not wrong."
Eliot hesitated. "Are you sure?"
Lunara nodded. "I am fierce. But I am not careless."
Theo swallowed, suddenly serious. "Okay. Then… I'll protect you."
She looked at him, unimpressed. "You will try."
The school gates loomed closer now, students starting to gather outside.
Elara parked and turned the engine off. "Alright then. Decision made."
She looked back at them, grin returning. "Welcome to school, Lunara. Try not to bite anyone."
Lunara's tail flicked once beneath the coat.
"No promises."
And with that, the doors opened—and the real test began.
Theo's classroom went quiet the moment Lunara stepped in.
Not silent—just… watching.
She wore the black beanie pulled low, the long coat wrapped tight around her frame. Her skin looked unusually pale under the fluorescent lights, her eyes large and unmistakably yellow. Too sharp. Too aware. And the strangest part—
She did not leave Theo's side.
Not even for a second.
Whispers followed them like static.
"Who's that?"
"She looks sick…"
"Why's she dressed like that?"
"Why is she staring like that—"
Lunara stiffened, fingers tightening in Theo's sleeve as they moved to their seats. When they sat, she angled herself slightly toward him, ears twitching under the beanie.
Leon, already seated nearby, leaned closer and murmured, "Why did you bring her here?"
Before Theo could answer, Lunara spoke, calm and firm.
"Because I wanted to."
Leon blinked. "…Fair."
Across the room, Rex had spotted her.
He froze.
Their eyes met—hers sharp and unreadable, his wide and terrified. He immediately scooted his chair an inch farther away. Then another. Then stopped moving entirely.
Lunara leaned closer to Theo, lowering her voice."Why are they staring at me?"
She tugged the beanie lower, trying to hide her ears.
Theo adjusted his glasses, voice gentle. "They're just curious. That's all. Don't worry."
She didn't look convinced—but she nodded.
Her tail twitched beneath the coat anyway.
Meanwhile, in the hallway—
Eliot walked fast, tugging at the sleeves of Theo's oversized blazer, which still swallowed his hands. The tie was crooked. He knew exactly what was coming.
"Wow," Brent's voice drawled behind him. "Did you steal that from a lost-and-found circus?"
Eliot stopped.
Brent stepped closer, smirking. "You look like a toddler pretending to be important."
Before Eliot could respond, a hand reached in—
And grabbed Brent by the ear.
"Ow—HEY!"
A girl stood there, tall and confident, dark curls pulled into a messy ponytail. She wore her uniform jacket open, sleeves rolled up, expression calm but deadly amused.
"Brent," she said sweetly, twisting his ear just enough, "how many times have I told you not to be annoying before breakfast?"
"I—ow—Mira—stop—"
Mira leaned closer, smiling. "Apologize."
Brent wilted instantly. "Sorry," he muttered, not even looking at Eliot.
She released him. Brent backed away like a scolded cat and disappeared down the hall without another word.
Mira turned to Eliot, eyes flicking over the oversized blazer.
"…Nice fit," she said, deadpan. "Bold choice."
Eliot exhaled slowly. "Thanks. It wasn't."
She smirked. "Figures. Don't let him bother you."
Then she walked off, leaving Eliot standing there—confused, relieved, and very aware that something strange was unfolding on both sides of the school.
And neither of them knew it yet—but this was only the beginning.
+++
The classroom door opened.
Conversation snapped to life all at once.
The teacher stepped in, paused mid-step, and stared.
His eyes went straight to Lunara.
She sat rigid beside Theo, black beanie pulled low, coat wrapped tight, yellow eyes watching him like a threat assessment. Her fingers were still curled into Theo's sleeve.
"…And who," the teacher said slowly, "is she?"
The room exploded.
"She's weird."
"She hasn't let go of him."
"Is she even real?"
"Why are her eyes like that?"
Lunara's ears twitched violently under the beanie.
"Let me—" she growled, voice low and sharp.
"I'm asking you, Theo," the teacher said again, louder.
Theo froze.
His mouth opened. Nothing came out.
Before panic could fully set in, Leon spoke from his seat, calm as ever.
"She's my cousin," he said simply.
The room quieted just a little.
Leon continued, unfazed. "She moved recently. They're close. She doesn't trust people she doesn't know."
The teacher hummed thoughtfully. "Ah. That explains the clinging."
A few students snickered.
Then the teacher's eyes dropped to Lunara's coat and beanie."Well," he added, chuckling, "she certainly dressed like she's attending a funeral."
That was a mistake.
Lunara lifted her head slowly.
"This clothing," she said coldly, "is worn by those who survive loss. You mock it because you've never lost anything worth mourning."
The room went dead silent.
Theo nudged her urgently. "Lunara—stop—"
She didn't.
"Your curiosity is rude. Your staring is primitive. And your jokes," she added, eyes locked on the teacher, "are unworthy of respect."
Theo nudged her harder. "Please—"
The teacher's smile vanished.
"That's enough," he snapped. "Both of you. Detention."
Theo groaned quietly, sinking into his chair.
Lunara blinked once. "What is detention?"
Theo sighed. "Punishment."
She crossed her arms. "Acceptable."
The bell rang shortly after, but the whispers were louder now—and Lunara didn't flinch at a single one of them.
Leon leaned back in his chair, muttering, "Worth it."
Theo rubbed his face. "Yeah," he said weakly. "Totally worth it."
And Lunara? She sat perfectly still, eyes sharp, tail twitching beneath the coat—
utterly unapologetic.