Walking through the halls of Collège Françoise Dupont was like walking through a construction site where everyone was shouting.
Even though Axel had taught me how to "filter" the noise, the sheer volume of a high school was a nightmare for the Apex Instinct. I could hear lockers slamming like cannon fire. I could smell the overwhelming mix of cheap perfume, gym clothes, and cafeteria mystery meat. Every time someone's sneaker squeaked on the floor, it sent a jolt of electricity up my spine.
"Focus, Finn," Axel whispered from my hoodie pocket. "Pick the 'radio station' and stay on it. Right now, your station is the teacher."
I took a deep breath and walked into the classroom. I saw the layout exactly as I remembered from the show. Marinette was frantically talking to Alya in the second row. Adrien was sitting in the front, looking lonely. And then, there was the problem.
"Excuse me? Who are you, and why are you standing in my way?"
I didn't need my Sixth Sense to know who this was. The smell of expensive roses and entitlement hit me first. I turned to see Chloe Bourgeois, her arms crossed and a look of pure disgust on her face. Sabrina was hovering behind her like a nervous shadow.
"I'm Finn," I said, my voice low. I didn't mean for it to sound like a growl, but my vocal cords were still adjusting to my new body. "The new student."
"Well, 'Finn,' you're blocking the path to my seat," Chloe huffed, flipping her hair. "And that hoodie? Ugh. Utterly ridiculous."
My Sixth Sense gave a tiny ping. It wasn't a danger warning it was more like an annoyance meter. I could feel the heat radiating off her body, the fast tempo of her heart. She was pampered and stressed.
"The door is wide enough for both of us, Chloe," I said, stepping aside just an inch. "I'm sure you can manage."
The class went silent. Marinette's jaw dropped. Alya gave a muffled "Ooh!" and started typing on her phone. Chloe looked like I had just slapped her with a wet fish.
"Do you know who my father is?" she shrieked.
"The Mayor," I replied calmly, walking past her to an empty seat in the back. "I read the news. Nice to meet you too."
I sat down and put my head on the desk. My brain was throbbing.
"Nice move, man," a voice said nearby. I looked up to see Nino, the guy with the red cap, giving me a thumbs-up from the next table. "Nobody talks back to Chloe like that on their first day."
"I just have a headache," I muttered, which was half true.
As the lesson began, I realized that my second wish the Wolf Miraculous was a much bigger deal than I thought. I had asked Zero for it because I wanted to be unique, but sitting here, sensing the "magic" coming off Marinette and Adrien, I realized I was an outsider. They had the Ladybug and the Cat, the two most powerful jewels in the Mother Box. My Wolf Miraculous didn't belong to their set. I was a wild card.
Why did I wish for this specifically? I wondered. I remembered the void, how I wanted to be a hunter , not a victim. I wanted the wolf because wolves protect their pack. But looking at these kids, I wondered if I could ever really be part of their "pack."
Suddenly, my Sixth Sense just tingle
It was a cold, jagged sensation that felt like an ice cube being pressed against my brain. My eyes snapped open. I could hear it before anyone else the sound of glass breaking three blocks away and a roar that sounded like a distorted megaphone.
"Akuma," I whispered.
"Finn? Are you okay?" Adrien asked, turning around in his seat. He must have seen my face go pale.
"I... I need to go to the nurse," I said, standing up so fast my chair fell over.
"Mr. Finn! Sit down!" Miss Bustier called out, but I didn't listen.
I bolted out of the classroom, my heart hammering against my ribs. I sprinted toward the locker room, making sure the coast was clear.
"He's close, Finn!" Axel popped his head out, his fur standing on end. "This one feels heavy. Lots of anger."
"I can smell it," I said, my nostrils flaring. It smelled like burnt plastic and bitter ink. "The Apex Instinct is picking up his location. He's at the park."
I felt the adrenaline wash away the sensory pain. When the danger was real, the overload turned into focus. My eyes sharpened. The world slowed down.
"Ready, Axel?"
"Let's show them how the Wolf hunts!"
"Axel, Let's Hunt!"
The silver light swept over me, and the civilian "Finn" was gone. White Fang landed on the school roof, my claws digging into the stone. I could see the villain in the distance—a man transformed into a giant, living storm cloud, zapping the city with lightning.
I didn't wait for Ladybug or Cat Noir. I leaped, clearing the street in a single jump . I was a ghost, a shadow, and a hunter. And this time, I was going to see exactly what my new body could do.