The morning light filtered through the cracks in Selene’s attic window, but it brought little warmth to her small, cluttered room. She woke feeling restless, the memory of Koda’s mismatched eyes lingering in her mind. The bond they had formed felt tangible, like a thread tying her to something greater than herself.
But as the day began, the weight of her reality settled over her once again. Her stepmother’s sharp voice echoed from downstairs, ordering her to hurry and make breakfast. Selene sighed, dragging herself out of bed.
School awaited her today—a place she dreaded almost as much as her home.
The students at Blackridge High didn’t need a reason to torment her. Her quiet demeanor, her threadbare clothes, and the lingering scent of the forest on her skin were enough to make her a ta
