Class ended and Kylo didn't even know if he had absorbed anything from the lesson. His mind had been too preoccupied with thoughts about Luna and the future. As he gathered his things and walked out into the hallway, he waited for Luna to come and get him.
Kylo's bully Silas approached with a sneer, "Hey wolf boy!" he taunted. "I have a gift for you just outside the school. Want to come see it?"
"No thanks," Kylo said firmly. He knew whatever Silas had planned was not good, and besides, he knew that Silas was working for the hunter. Ignoring Silas's scowl, Kylo turned away and headed toward the exit to find Luna. He needed her now more than ever.
Silas grabbed him by the shoulder, pulling him back with a rough jolt. "I wasn't giving you a choice," he said, his voice low and menacing.
"Silas, come on man, leave him alone," Jack said, stepping in between them. His eyes flickered with both caution and resolve.
Kylo felt a wave of relief wash over him, but it was quickly replaced by a gnawing worry. What was keeping Luna? She was never this late.
Silas glared at Jack with cold fury. "Back off, Jack," he snarled, "you got in my way last time. This time, he will not get away."
Kylo's heart raced as he tried to pull away from Silas's grip. The hallway seemed to narrow, trapping him further. He glanced around desperately, hoping Luna would appear, but there was no sign of her.
Jack squared his shoulders, refusing to back down. "You need to let him go, Silas," he said firmly. "Whatever you're planning, it's not going to happen today."
Silas tightened his grip on Kylo, his eyes dark with intent. "You don't understand, Jack. This isn't just about me. It's about orders, and I intend to follow them."
Kylo's mind raced, searching for a way out. He knew Silas was serious, and the danger felt palpable. He needed to find Luna, but for now, Jack was his only hope.
"Dude, if his wolf comes out and bites you, you're done for," Jack warned, his voice steady but urgent.
Silas sneered, "I am not afraid of a baby wolf."
"You should be," Jack retorted, his voice rising. "He has killed before with his bite, and if he bites you, well, you have it coming."
Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the hallway. Cameron and Luna appeared at the entrance, their faces etched with concern. Luna's eyes darted to Kylo, and she quickly assessed the situation.
"Silas, enough!" Luna's voice was powerful and authoritative, cutting through the tension. "Let him go, now."
Silas's grip on Kylo loosened, but his expression remained defiant. "You're too late, Luna," he said, a cruel smile playing on his lips. "His bite does not kill anyone, and he wouldn't dare. I know his weaknesses," Silas said, his voice dripping with malicious satisfaction.
"It does, man, but do what you want," Jack said, a resigned edge to his tone. "Just don't say I didn't warn you."
Silas hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes for the first time. The grip on Kylo slackened further, and Kylo sensed his chance. He glanced at Luna, who nodded imperceptibly, urging him to act.
With a swift, sudden movement, Kylo wrenched free from Silas's grasp and darted towards Luna. Silas lunged after him, but Jack stepped in, blocking his path.
"Stay back," Jack growled, his eyes flashing with determination. "You won't touch him again."
Cameron moved to Kylo's side, placing a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice low and concerned.
Kylo nodded, his breath coming in ragged gasps. "I am now," he said, his eyes meeting Luna's. "Thanks to you all."
Silas glared at them, frustration and anger boiling just beneath the surface. "This isn't over," he warned. "You can't protect him forever."
Luna stepped forward, her gaze unwavering. "We'll see about that," she said. "For now, I suggest you leave before things get worse for you."
Silas's face twisted with rage, but he knew when he was outmatched. With a final, furious look at Kylo, he spun on his heel and stalked away, the echoes of his footsteps reverberating through the hallway.
"Thanks, Jack," Luna said, gratitude evident in her voice.
"Sure, anytime," Jack replied, nodding. "He won't stop, you know."
Luna sighed, her eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "I know," she said, her tone resolute.
"We will figure it out though," Luna said, her voice steady. "His dad will need to get involved, I guess."
Kylo didn't move; he just stared at Luna, a mixture of emotions playing across his face.
"Is he... um, is he okay?" Jack asked, concern coloring his words.
"You're okay, Kylo. He's gone," Luna said softly.
Kylo blinked, as if coming out of a trance, and finally nodded. "I'm fine," he murmured, though his voice lacked conviction. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself.
Jack walked away, leaving Luna and Kylo to their thoughts. The silence between them was palpable, heavy with unspoken words.
After a moment, Cameron, who had been standing quietly nearby, finally spoke up. "Did your bite really kill someone?" he asked, his voice low and filled with curiosity.
Kylo looked at Cameron, his eyes dark and unreadable.
Kylo's gaze didn't waver as he absorbed Cameron's question. His lips parted slightly, but no words came forth immediately. The weight of the inquiry seemed to settle heavily upon him.
"I was a baby," Kylo finally said, his voice quiet and reflective, "I don't remember."
Pearl, who had been listening intently, decided to intervene. "Well, from what I read, you bit your grandfather when you were a baby because he kidnapped you and tried to clone you. He had some sort of brain tumor that made him crazy. Your bite caused it to grow, and it was so painful that he chose to end his life. So you didn't really kill him; you just didn't aid in the situation," she explained, her tone matter-of-fact yet gentle.
Cameron glanced at Pearl. "You really are a nerd," he said bluntly. Pearl's eyes flickered with a hint of hurt, though she tried to mask it with a small, unconvincing smile. She looked away, the sting of Cameron's words lingering in the air.
"So your bite does what? Causes pain?" Cameron asked, his curiosity undeterred.
"Like I said, Cam, I don't know," Kylo replied, his frustration barely contained.
Pearl knew the answer, but after being called a nerd by Cameron, she hesitated. She glanced at Kylo, then Cameron, debating whether to speak up again. Her mind raced, weighing the desire to help against the sting of Cameron's words.
Finally, she took a deep breath and stepped forward.
"Actually, Kylo's bite does cause pain," Pearl began, her voice steady, though she avoided Cameron's gaze. "Since he's not a full Ultima, only half, he can't change anyone. But the chemical receptors in people's brains react to the imbalance caused by his bite and amplify anything wrong with them."
Cameron's eyes widened slightly. "So, it makes their issues worse?"
Pearl nodded, gaining confidence with each word. "Exactly. It amplifies the pain receptors, making things happen quicker. The body can't do what it naturally wants to do and shift since Kylo can't change people. And during full moons," she added, her voice dropping slightly, "it makes everything ten times worse."
"Damn man, Silas should be afraid of you," Cameron said, an edge of excitement in his voice. "Honestly, I feel like maybe you should bite him."
"Cameron!" Luna scolded, her tone sharp and disapproving. "We don't ask him to do things like that."
"No, but he would listen to you if you told him to," Cameron retorted, turning his attention to Luna. "Think about it, he wouldn't stand a chance."
Luna sighed, shaking her head. "That's not the point, Cam. We can't solve our problems with violence. We need to find another way."
"If there is not another way," Cam said defiantly,
Luna's gaze hardened as she faced Cameron. "Cam, that's enough. We don't resort to violence, no matter what."
Ignoring Luna's reprimand, Cam turned to Kylo, his expression determined. "You don't need her permission, man. Do it on your own. You have the power."
"Honestly, you are something else," Luna said, pulling Kylo away. She didn't need him to be influenced by Cameron's reckless ideas. The urgency in her movements conveyed her determination to protect Kylo from making any decisions he might regret.
Kylo hesitated, glancing back at Luna. "Luna, I—"
"Shh," she interrupted gently, placing a reassuring hand on his arm. "Don't worry about it, okay? We don't need to make that choice right now," she said, her voice soft but firm.
The rest of lunch, Kylo and Luna were alone. They ate in relative silence, the atmosphere heavy with unspoken thoughts. Finally, Kylo raised his concern about her going to middle school next year and leaving him behind.
"Luna, what's going to happen when you go to middle school?" he asked, his voice barely a whisper. "You'll leave me here, alone."
Luna paused, setting her fork down and looking at Kylo with a soft expression. "Kylo, you'll be okay. I know it seems scary, but you'll find your way. And I'll still be around, just a bit further away."
"But what if I can't handle it?" Kylo's eyes were filled with worry. "What if I need you and you're not there?"
Luna reached across the table, taking his hand in hers. "You'll handle it just fine. You've got strength in you, Kylo, more than you realize. And even if I'm not right by your side, I'll always be there for you. We can call, text, and I'll visit whenever I can."
Kylo nodded, though the worry in his eyes didn't completely fade. "Promise?"
"Promise," Luna said with a reassuring smile.
The rest of school was over and Cameron walked Kylo home, as Luna had to stay behind for her detention. She had a few more days left. The principal let Kylo off the hook for his, since Luna begged her to.
"So Kylo, are you going to bite Silas?" Cameron asked as they walked.
Kylo sighed, his thoughts still lingering on Luna's words. "I don't know, Cameron. Silas has been really difficult lately, but biting him isn't going to make things better."
Cameron frowned, giving Kylo a sideways glance. "It might mean he's trying to get a hunter to kill you," he said, his voice low and serious.
"I know, but my dad and Uncle Wild are dealing with the hunter, and we need to remember that Silas is just a kid too. I'm not going to hurt anyone," he said as they approached his house. Cameron sighed and nodded, accepting Kylo's resolve.
"Alright, good luck, man," Cameron said as Kylo headed inside.
Kylo noticed that Xayah was there instead of his mom, and his siblings were going nuts. "Where is mom?" he asked her.
"She is having the babies," Xayah said.
"Babies! Woohoo!" Selene danced around, her excitement filling the room.
"Hey Kylo," Kato said as he hugged him.
Kylo hugged his brother, out of all his siblings he liked him the best. Kato always had a way of making him feel understood and supported, no matter what was going on.
Selene, on the other hand, did her own thing and didn't care much about the chaos around her. She was always lost in her own world, dancing through life with an air of carefree independence.
As for Taliyah, she had her own unique way of interacting with Kylo. She seemed to take particular delight in tormenting him, going out of her way to do things that would purposely annoy him. Whether it was hiding his things or playing pranks, Taliyah's mischievous nature was a constant source of irritation for Kylo.
Kylo had learned to navigate his relationships with each of his siblings, appreciating their differences and the unique dynamics they brought to their family.
Kylo couldn't help but wonder what the new triplets would be like, or if they were boys or girls. The thought of having three new siblings filled him with a mix of excitement and curiosity. Knowing the dynamic and diverse personalities of his current siblings, Kylo imagined the possibilities of what the new additions could bring to their family.
This house was going to get a lot crazier, as they were heading another set of triplets into the mix. Kylo could only imagine the whirlwind of activity and noise that would follow their arrival. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of cheerful commotion coming from the living room, where the rest of his siblings were eagerly discussing names and making plans for their new brothers or sisters.