All wolves university; the last kitsune

"She really thought she was all that?"

The words hit Yuna before she even saw who said them. She pushed through the main doors of Sterlinggate University, her backpack slung over one shoulder, and immediately felt the weight of a hundred stares. Students clustered in groups along the hallway, their phones out, their eyes flicking between their screens and her face.

Yuna's stomach dropped. Something was wrong.

Giggles erupted from a group of girls near the water fountain. Two guys standing by the notice board nudged each other, smirking as she walked past. The whispers followed her like a shadow, growing louder with each step.

"Did you see the video?"

"I can't believe she actually fell for it."

"Christopher's such a savage."

Yuna's hands trembled as she gripped the strap of her bag tighter. Her chest felt tight, like someone had wrapped a rope around her ribs and was pulling it taut. She kept her eyes down, focusing on the polished floor tiles, counting her steps. Anything to avoid the mocking faces.

She reached her locker and fumbled with the combination lock. Her fingers shook so badly it took three tries to get it open.

"Yuna! Yuna!"

Camille's voice cut through the noise. Her best friend sprinted down the hallway, her blonde hair flying behind her, her face pale with worry. She skidded to a stop in front of Yuna, breathless.

"Have you seen this?" Camille shoved her phone into Yuna's face.

The video was already playing. Christopher sat in the table tennis court, surrounded by his friends, all of them laughing. The camera was shaky, probably held by one of them, but the audio was crystal clear.

"I told you she was gonna fall for it," Christopher said, his voice dripping with amusement. "Such a cheap girl. Three months and she's still clinging to that ugly bracelet like it's made of gold."

His friends roared with laughter. One of them slapped Christopher on the back.

"Bro, you actually did it. I didn't think you could pull it off."

"Please," Christopher scoffed. "It was too easy. She's so desperate for attention, she would've believed anything."

The video cut off, but the damage was done. Yuna stared at the screen, her vision blurring. The comments section below the Instagram post was flooded with reactions.

"Yuna got played so hard lol"

"This is what happens when you're that naive"

"Christopher is a legend"

Yuna's throat closed up. She couldn't breathe. The hallway spun around her, the voices blending into a single roar of mockery.

"Yuna, say something," Camille pleaded, gripping her arm. "Are you okay?"

Before Yuna could answer, the crowd shifted. Christopher and his friends appeared at the end of the hallway, strutting toward them like they owned the place. Christopher had his phone in his hand, still grinning at whatever was on the screen.

Something inside Yuna snapped.

She shoved her locker shut and marched straight toward him. Camille called after her, but Yuna didn't stop. The students around them sensed the confrontation and pulled out their phones, forming a loose circle.

"Chris," Yuna said, her voice shaking. "Is it true?"

Christopher looked up from his phone, his grin widening. His friends snickered behind him.

"Is what true?" he asked innocently.

"The video. The bet. All of it."

One of his friends laughed outright. "You seriously asking if the video's real? What, you think we cloned him or something?"

The others joined in, their laughter sharp and cruel. Christopher just shrugged, completely unbothered.

"Come on, Yuna. Don't make this harder than it has to be. It was just a game."

"A game?" Yuna's voice cracked. "You told me you loved me."

Christopher rolled his eyes. "And you believed it. That's on you."

The hallway erupted in laughter. Someone in the crowd shouted, "Ohhh, savage!"

Yuna's vision went red. She didn't think. Didn't plan. Her fist flew forward and connected with Christopher's nose with a sickening crack.

The laughter stopped instantly.

Christopher stumbled back, his hands flying to his face. Blood seeped between his fingers. The crowd gasped, and a dozen phones swiveled to capture the moment.

"This should definitely be a K drama series!" someone shouted excitedly from the back.

Yuna stared at her hand, her knuckles already starting to bruise. She had never hit anyone before in her life. Where had that strength come from? That anger?

"Oh my God," she breathed. "Chris, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to-"

"Get away from me!" Christopher shoved her hard.

Yuna stumbled backward, her feet tangling, and crashed to the floor. Her palms scraped against the tile, stinging. The crowd erupted in fresh laughter, their cameras still recording.

"Yo, she got wrecked!"

"Someone call the nurse!"

Camille rushed forward, dropping to her knees beside Yuna. "Are you insane? You can't just push her like that!"

Christopher ignored her, still holding his bleeding nose. "She's crazy! You all saw that, right? She assaulted me!"

"What is going on here?"

The booming voice silenced everyone. Henry Sullivan, the basketball coach, pushed through the crowd. He was a tall, broad shouldered man with a permanent scowl and zero tolerance for nonsense. His eyes swept over the scene, taking in Christopher's bloody nose and Yuna on the floor.

"Everyone, get to class. Now." His tone left no room for argument.

The students scattered reluctantly, still murmuring and checking their phones. Coach Sullivan glared at Christopher and Yuna.

"Both of you. My office. Ten minutes."

He turned and walked away without waiting for a response.

Camille helped Yuna to her feet, brushing dirt off her clothes. "Are you okay?"

Yuna nodded numbly. She wasn't okay. Nothing was okay. But she couldn't say that out loud.

The meeting in Coach Sullivan's office was brief and humiliating. He sat behind his desk, arms crossed, looking between them like they were both equally at fault.

"I don't care who started it," he said flatly. "This kind of behavior is unacceptable. Yuna, you're already on thin ice after last semester's tournament. One more incident and you're off the team. Christopher, get your nose checked and stay away from her. Are we clear?"

"Yes, Coach," they mumbled in unison.

"Good. Get out."

Yuna left the office feeling hollow. She didn't go back to class. Instead, she wandered through the empty hallways until she found herself at the basketball court. It was quiet, dimly lit, the overhead lights casting long shadows across the polished floor.

She dropped her bag by the bleachers and walked to the center of the court. The silence pressed down on her, heavy and suffocating. Her chest ached. Her eyes burned.

And then the tears came.

She sank to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest, and sobbed. All the humiliation, the anger, the betrayal, it poured out of her in ugly, gasping cries. She didn't care if anyone heard. She didn't care about anything anymore.

A low growl echoed through the court.

Yuna's head snapped up, her tears freezing on her cheeks. Her heart hammered against her ribs.

The far end of the court was dark, the lights flickering weakly. But she could see them. Two glowing eyes, lemon yellow and predatory, staring at her from the shadows.

"Who's there?" Her voice came out small and terrified.

The creature stepped forward, and Yuna's breath caught. It was massive, a wolf far larger than any normal animal, its fur dark and bristling. Its lips curled back, revealing razor sharp teeth.

It growled again, deeper this time, and crouched low.

Before Yuna could scream, it lunged.

"What are you doing here?"

The voice was cold, sharp, and very human. Yuna opened her eyes, gasping for air, and found herself staring up at Noah Phillips.

He stood over her, shirtless, his chest rising and falling rapidly. His dark hair was messy, his jaw tight with barely controlled anger. But it was his eyes that made her freeze. They still held a faint glow, fading slowly back to their normal deep brown.

"I could have killed you," Noah said, his voice low and dangerous. "I thought you were something else."

Yuna scrambled backward on the floor, her heart still racing. "You... you were going to attack me!"

"Yes." Noah didn't sound apologetic. "You shouldn't be here."

"Well, you shouldn't go around thinking whatever you want and trying to kill people! Jeez!" Yuna snapped, her fear quickly turning into anger. She had already had the worst day of her life. She didn't need this.

Noah's expression didn't change. He grabbed a shirt from the nearby bench and pulled it on, his movements precise and controlled. "I don't understand."

"Understand what?" Yuna got to her feet, brushing off her jeans.

"You smell different."

Yuna blinked. "Excuse me?"

"Different from other students. Different from..." He trailed off, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.

"Well, I smell like shame and disgrace and humiliation," Yuna shot back. "You don't have to spell it out."

Something flickered across Noah's face. His body went rigid, and for a moment, he looked like he was fighting with himself. His wolf stirred inside him, restless and insistent. The mate bond clicked into place like a lock turning, and Noah's entire world tilted.

No. Not her. Not now.

"I think you should leave," he said, turning his back to her.

"Why? You own the court?" Yuna challenged, crossing her arms. She knew she was being difficult, but she couldn't help it. Something about Noah made her want to push back, to stand her ground.

But she couldn't deny what she felt. A pull, warm and insistent, tugging at something deep inside her chest. Her wolf purred, pressing against her skin, drawn to him in a way that made her stomach flutter.

She had just been humiliated by one boy. She wasn't about to let another one see her as weak.

"Leave," Noah repeated, his voice strained.

"Unless you tell me why you think you can chase me away, then I'm ready to make this air suffocating for you."

That did it.

Noah moved so fast Yuna barely saw him. One second he was across the court, the next he was right in front of her, his hands slamming against the wall on either side of her head. She was caged in, trapped between his arms and the cold concrete behind her.

Their faces were inches apart. Yuna could feel the heat radiating off his body, could hear his ragged breathing. Her own heart pounded so loudly she was sure he could hear it.

Noah stared down at her, his jaw clenched. Her heartbeat was wrong. Too fast, too irregular. Not like a werewolf's. His instincts screamed at him, caught between two primal urges: kill the threat or protect the mate.

Yuna's knees went weak. She hated how her body betrayed her, leaning slightly toward him even as her mind screamed at her to run. This guy looked like he wanted to kill her, but some twisted part of her was definitely enjoying this.

"Your heart," Noah said quietly, his eyes searching her face. "It doesn't beat right."

"Maybe because you're scaring me to death," Yuna whispered, but her voice came out breathless instead of angry.

Noah's gaze dropped to her lips for just a second before he caught himself. He pushed away from the wall abruptly, putting distance between them. The loss of his warmth made Yuna shiver.

"You need to go," he said, running a hand through his hair. "Now."

Yuna straightened, trying to regain her composure. "Fine. I was leaving anyway."

She grabbed her bag from where she had dropped it and headed for the exit. Her legs felt shaky, and she hated that he could probably see it. When she reached the door, she paused and looked back.

Noah stood in the middle of the court, his hands clenched into fists at his sides, watching her.

"What's your problem anyway?" Yuna asked.

Noah's expression was unreadable. "Stay away from me."

"Why?"

"Because my wolf recognizes you as prey," he said flatly. "Next time we cross paths, I might not stop myself from killing you."

Yuna's blood ran cold. She stared at him for a long moment, trying to figure out if he was serious. The look in his eyes told her he was.

"Why?" she asked again, quieter this time.

Noah turned away from her. "Just stay away, Yuna."

The way he said her name, like it hurt him, made something twist in her chest. But she didn't ask again. She pushed through the door and left, her mind spinning with confusion and fear and something else she couldn't name.

Behind her, Noah stood alone in the darkness, his wolf howling inside him. The mate bond pulsed with every step she took away from him, but he forced himself to stay still.

His father's words echoed in his mind. Kitsunes are dangerous. Cunning. They'll destroy everything you love.

But Yuna didn't smell like a kitsune. She smelled like something else entirely. Something his wolf wanted to protect and possess.

And that terrified him more than anything.

"Ready for failure, loser?"

Yuna slammed her locker shut and turned to find Megan Wright standing behind her, arms crossed, a smug smile on her face. Her friends flanked her on either side, all wearing matching expressions of superiority.

The girls' locker room smelled like cheap perfume and sweat. Most of the team had already changed and left for warm ups, but Megan had clearly waited for this moment.

Yuna took a deep breath, trying to keep her cool. "I'm not doing this with you, Megan."

"Oh, you don't have a choice," Megan said, stepping closer. "Everyone's talking about how you're going to cost us another tournament. Coach should've kicked you off the team months ago."

"Then maybe you should focus on your own game instead of worrying about mine," Yuna shot back.

Megan's smile vanished. "What did you just say to me?"

Yuna tried to walk past her, but Megan grabbed her wrist hard. The movement was sudden and violent, and Yuna felt something snap.

Her bracelet.

The delicate chain broke, scattering beads across the tile floor. They bounced and rolled in every direction, the sound echoing through the empty locker room.

Yuna's heart stopped. The bracelet her father had given her. The one he had made her promise never to take off. The one he said would keep her safe.

She stared at the broken pieces, and something inside her cracked open.

Heat flooded her veins. Anger, pure and blinding, surged through her body like a wave. It was overwhelming, consuming, nothing like anything she had ever felt before.

Her fist flew before she even realized what she was doing.

The punch connected with Megan's nose with a sickening crunch. Megan screamed and stumbled backward, blood gushing from her nostrils. Her friends shrieked in shock.

"Yuna, what the hell was that?" one of them shouted.

Yuna stared at her hand, trembling. "I'm sorry. I didn't know what came over me."

Megan was crying now, her hands covering her face. "You're going to pay for this! You're psychotic!"

Panic seized Yuna's chest. She had done it again. Lost control. Hurt someone. What was wrong with her?

She ran.

She left the broken bracelet on the floor, left Megan crying, left everything behind as she sprinted out of the locker room and toward the court. The tournament was starting. She had to pull herself together.

But the anger was still there, simmering just beneath her skin.

The gymnasium was packed. Students filled the bleachers, cheering and waving banners. The opposing team was already warming up on the other side of the court, their movements smooth and coordinated.

Yuna joined her team, avoiding Megan's glare. Camille gave her a worried look.

"Are you okay?" Camille whispered. "Megan's telling everyone you attacked her."

"I know," Yuna muttered. "I'll deal with it later."

The referee blew the whistle, and both teams took their positions.

Yuna's hands were still shaking. Her skin felt too tight, like something inside her was trying to break free. She could hear everything. The squeak of shoes on the polished floor. The rustle of clothing. Heartbeats. So many heartbeats, all pounding in different rhythms.

The whistle blew again, and the game began.

The ball came to Yuna within the first thirty seconds. Instinct took over. She moved without thinking, her body responding to commands she didn't consciously give. She dribbled past the first defender with ease, her movements fluid and precise.

The crowd gasped.

Yuna didn't pass. She couldn't. Something was driving her forward, pushing her to move faster, harder. She spun around another defender, her feet barely touching the ground, and took the shot.

Swish.

The ball sailed through the net perfectly.

Her team erupted in cheers, but Yuna barely heard them. Her chest was heaving, her vision sharpening to an impossible degree. She could see every detail. The grain of the basketball. The individual fibers in the net. The sweat on her opponents' faces.

The game continued, and Yuna dominated. Every time the ball came to her, she scored. She moved like a professional, like someone who had been playing for years instead of struggling just weeks ago.

By the final quarter, they were winning by twenty points.

When the buzzer sounded, the gymnasium exploded. Her teammates swarmed her, screaming and hugging her. Camille was crying happy tears.

"Yuna, that was incredible! Where did that come from?"

But Yuna couldn't answer. She was breathing too hard, her chest burning like it was about to explode. The voices around her were too loud, echoing and overlapping until they became a wall of sound.

She could hear heartbeats. Dozens of them. Hundreds. All pounding in her ears.

"Yuna, are you okay?" Camille's voice sounded distant.

Yuna covered her ears, but it didn't help. The sounds were inside her head, getting louder and louder.

"I need to use the restroom," she gasped, pushing through the crowd.

She ran. Sprinted across the court, through the hallway, and burst into the girls' restroom. The door slammed behind her, and she collapsed against the sink.

"Stop. Please stop," she whimpered, pressing her hands over her ears.

The sounds didn't stop. If anything, they got worse. And then she felt it.

A prickling sensation across her skin. She looked down and screamed.

White fur was sprouting from her arms.

"No. No, no, no. What's happening?"

The fur spread, covering her hands, her arms, creeping up her neck. Her bones began to shift, cracking and reforming. Pain shot through her body, sharp and relentless.

Yuna fell to her knees, gasping for air. Her spine arched, and she felt something pushing out of her lower back. She twisted to look and saw tails. Multiple tails, white and bushy, emerging one by one.

The transformation was agony. Her face elongated, her teeth sharpened. Her hands became paws. Her screams turned into howls.

And then it was done.

Yuna looked at her reflection in the mirror and saw a creature she didn't recognize. White fur. Nine tails. Eyes that glowed an eerie silver.

Not a werewolf.

A kitsune.

The bathroom door rattled. Someone was trying to get in.

Panic seized her. She couldn't let anyone see her like this. She turned and ran, crashing through the window with strength she didn't know she had.

Glass shattered. The alarm blared.

And the white kitsune disappeared into the chaos.