I ended up falling asleep thanks to the warmth of the window and the softness of all the ugly pillows. I swear Rinley hated me taking naps. Like the demon he was, he woke me up from my delightful nap so he could haul me to orientation. "I don't want to go," I grumbled as I dragged my feet across the sidewalk.
"It's required."
"I didn't read any such thing." Okay, fine, I know the blasted paper said it was required, but that didn't mean I wanted to comply.
"Oh, but I did, and I wouldn't be a very good attendant if I let my charge miss such a thing." Rinley held open the door for me to the administration building, and I let out an annoyed huff. We were rather late, and the campus was rather empty, which I appreciated. I knew Rinley wouldn't allow me to arrive too late, but he was caving to my childish behavior by not making me arrive when it was busy. That didn't mean I was happy about going, though.
We managed to sneak into the auditorium and sit in the mostly empty back row. Of course, a few people noticed, despite my efforts to be quiet, and whispers started to spread like wildfire. Damn it. I tried to ignore them, but I'm sure my fucking face was turning pink.
Thankfully, the students' attention was drawn to the stage's curtains as they were drawn back, revealing a podium and speaker. From the side curtains walked an older gentleman who smiled warmly out into the crowd like a proud grandfather. The robes he wore were long and black with the omega and alpha symbols stitched into the breast pocket.
"Welcome, new students, to an exciting year at the Alpha and Omega Academy. I know right now we only have our omega first-year students, but it's a welcome all the same. I'm excited as we start this new year together. I can't wait to see you all learn and grow during your years here at our prestigious academy." He introduced himself as the headmaster of our academy and began going over rules and expectations. They were mostly obvious things, like listening to your professors, and things my mother had mentioned, like staying away from alphas when your heat cycle is approaching. The academy really stressed taking care of yourself and listening to your body before attending classes. Eh, I guess they don't want anything to accidentally happen. Though I was surprised that suppressants were required, not optional. They probably won't be very happy with me. Mine don't fucking do anything.
I zoned out a bit and glanced around the large auditorium. It reminded me a lot of the opera hall my mother hauled me to once, but this one didn't have multiple floors where you could view the stage. Only the chairs on the ground floor. The place was incredibly fancy, though, with ornate carvings on the walls and columns. There were also long curtains along the walls where windows were; to no surprise, they were pink. I guess that explains why our uniforms had small splashes of pink here and there. Oh yeah, if the all white wasn't bad enough, our uniforms just had to have a touch of girly pink. Yay.
The headmaster's speech started drawing to an end, so I started planning my escape. That was, until I noticed him scanning the room. No. He's not going to do what I think he is- "Ah!" His eyes met mine, despite the distance, and a warm smile formed on his face. "Before I forget, we have an extra special student joining us this year. Please make sure you all give him a warm welcome. He is an omega after all." He seemed rather pleased with himself, but I was feeling the exact opposite as many eyes turned my direction. I wanted to cease existing right then and there. Don't fucking look at me!
I slid down in my seat, as if that would help, and Rinley softly snickered. I should reach an elbow over and give you something to snicker about, you jackass. He's so lucky that I was frozen in place. It was probably a similar feeling to what an animal feels when being stared down by a hunter. Nonetheless, I hated it.
The headmaster resumed talking, but I had no idea what he was saying. I was far too busy having a meltdown and trying to convince my body to flee. The moment he dismissed us, I didn't even wait for Rinley. My body finally decided flight was the right choice, and I was out of there.
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Death. Death had to be the right choice. There was no other option. Mortified didn't even begin to explain how I was feeling. All those eyes looking at me with horror and disgust… How the hell am I supposed to leave my dorm tomorrow? I was revolted by myself enough; I didn't need everyone else giving me their judgment.
The door to the dorm opened, and I assume Rinley entered. Of course, he couldn't leave me alone. He had to come over where I was buried in blankets, though… he seemed a bit disoriented as he stood there with his hand on the wall. "Are you okay?" He asked, while very clearly not looking at where I was hiding.
"No!" I whined. "I should just curl up in a ball and die." Hearing my voice made him point his head in the right direction, but he still seemed rather confused. "What happened to you?" I sniffled. He wasn't acting this strange at the dumb orientation.
"Hm? Oh." Rinley brought a hand up and waved it in front of his face. "The room is super thick with your pheromones, so I can't see. The closer I get to you, the less visibility I have."
I blinked a few times while feeling confused. I know the room smelled sweet, but it's that strong? I stuck my head out of my blanket pile, and my eyes went wide. Gosh, it was rather strong… "Do they look like smoke?" I never really asked Rinley anything after finding out that he could see them because my father stressed me out, and I was wrapped up in my own problems… I was rather grateful for the distraction right now, though. Anything to get those peering eyes out of my mind.
"Mmm, I guess you could say they look like smoke. Maybe a mist would be more accurate. Yeah, I would describe them as a green mist or, in your case, a fog." Green? Do they have color?
"Are all pheromones green?"
"Some are. Lord Claren's are also green, too, but yours are a light sage like your hair color, and his are more akin to a spring green."
"Wait… so all pheromones are different colors?"
"Yes, but yours are far more pigmented than any others I've seen. I'd say most people's pheromones match their hair color, though there are variances. Like, Duchess Rainaldus's pheromones are amber like her eye color." Huh… It was rather interesting and odd knowing that alphas and omegas had invisible colors escaping them. Rinley's eyes seemed to have finally found me in the blanket pile, because he let out a little sigh. "I'm glad you're calming down." Oh, I guess I did feel a bit better. Rinley bent down and patted the top of my head. "I know that upset you, but hiding on the floor of your dorm seems a little silly." He glanced over at my bed. "There are clothes in the bathroom if you want to change into something comfortable while I fix your bed."
I nodded my head and slithered out of the blanket mound like a slug. I guess hiding was a bit silly when the only one with a key was me and Rinley… It's not like people would barge into my dorm. Gods, and I have to show my face again… Fuck…
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"Can't you just bring me food?" I asked, as Rinley hauled me out of my dorm for a second time today.
"No, taking food from the dining hall is not permitted." He had hold of my arm as we walked because I kept trying to pull away and flee.
"But… everyone is going to fucking see me!"
Rinley paused and gave me his oh-so-annoyed look. "Well, duh. It's not like you can turn invisible. Did you honestly think you could attend the academy and not be seen for three years?"
I squirmed uncomfortably and tried to free my arm from his grasp, but his fingers held me firmly. I let out a loud, disgruntled whine and glared at Rinley. "Let me go, damn it!"
"Are you going to run back to the dorm if I do?" There was an awkward silence as Rinley and I shared a glance. "It's time for you to get over it. You're going to be seen when you attend the academy, and people are going to have opinions." Shit… Rinley's never been this blunt with me before. Was I really overreacting?
"You don't fucking know what it's like," I grumbled under my breath, as I gave up trying to struggle.
"I know better than you think, Lord Arden," Rinley responded as he let my arm go. Huh? What the fuck did he think he knew? "Come on before the dining hall closes, and you don't get fed." Rinley didn't look right at me, but he seemed rather annoyed. How unusual…
I still wanted to flee, but I willingly followed after Rinley. Fine, I'll fucking behave. I… just hope the damn dining hall is empty…
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The dining hall was, in fact, not empty, much to my dismay. Though there were very few people, they seemed to be older students because they didn't pay me much attention. "I told you that you were overreacting." I gave Rinley a slight side eye before glancing about.
The room was rather massive with tons of seating. Velvet-lined booths ran along the walls, and round tables were scattered about. There even seemed to be private areas that had tall walls separating them from the main hall. Beautiful chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and the columns were elegantly carved like they were in the auditorium. Huh, was one of the official academy colors pink? There were even splashes of the hideous color here and there… My attention drifted to the back wall of the dining room, where tables of food were. They probably would have been more full if the dining hall wasn't about to close, but I wasn't that picky. I just needed some food.
"I'm going to go sit over here," I grumbled as I rolled my eyes and headed off towards the more private section of the dining hall. I'm sure Rinley could find something I could eat.
The slightly more private area of the dining hall had a row of booths that sat alongside tall windows. Mmm, I guess it wasn't too bad. I'd prefer eating in my room, but this booth all the way in the back is tolerable. I barely sat down when I noticed someone around the corner. Don't tell me he was looking for me. I thought he'd want to distance himself from me.
"Why are you here so late?" Claren glanced down at the watch that he got for his birthday a few years ago, then over to me.
"I didn't want to leave my room. Rinley hauled me out against my will." I tried to make sure my pheromones were in check as Claren took the seat opposite me. "What are you doing here?"
"Oh, a few of the second and third years were talking about pulling a prank on the freshmen…" Claren looked up at me for a moment before his gaze drifted off. "I had some of your friends asking me where you were." Claren glanced up at Rinley, who arrived with a plate of mystery pasta for me.
I poked around the pasta with my fork, but couldn't bring myself to eat it. "What… did you say?" He couldn't even tell a guard that his brother was an omega. I doubt he told my old friends…
"I… just said that they hadn't seen you around…" Just as I thought. Claren was exceptionally embarrassed by me. Guess I can't blame him. I shoved the mystery pasta in my mouth and lifelessly chewed on it as I watched his hands fidget on the table. "You… should just come clean and tell them the truth…"
"Oh, because that's clearly so easy to do," I grumbled as I shoved another fork of pasta into my mouth. It wasn't that the pasta was bad, but Claren was really turning my mood sour.
Claren flinched slightly and peeked over at me like the cowardly dog he was. "Sorry… but even you're aware how odd it is…" Thanks for fucking rubbing it in. I should reach over and let his hand become the next pasta I stab. Claren would have such a difficult life if anyone found out that his brother was a freak. Oh, it would be so tragic. I'd hate for him to feel embarrassed.
"Just go pull your prank and leave me alone." As my irritation swelled, Claren flinched and quickly evacuated his seat.
"You shouldn't be producing pheromones in the commons area." He grumbled as he covered his nose.
"Go away," I grumbled as I brought the fork down hard against the plate, making a sharp clanging sound. Don't try to act goddamn protective after being such an ass!
I angrily stabbed the pasta over and over again as I watched Claren flee. Rinley eventually leaned over and grabbed my hand. "You need to calm down. He's gone."
"He fucking better be." I snapped as I glared up at Rinley. I let out an annoyed huff and rammed the far too full fork of food into my mouth. That jerk! I'll make sure he vomits for real next time!
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Disgust overwhelmed me as I looked at the completed uniform in the mirror. "How long does the tour take?" I wanted to return as soon as possible and peel this disgusting horror off my body. I had to try it on once at home, and it was still as garish as before.
First, there was a white button-up shirt, followed by the academy jacket. It was relatively basic, besides the faint pink stitching along the seams, hems, and collar. On the alpha version, it was simply black on black. Why they fucking thought they needed to add pink to the girls' uniform was beyond me. Of course, the slacks were white, along with the specialty-made white shoes my family insisted that I had. To finish off the outfit, Rinley added the thin cravat that was secured by an 𝝮 symbol brooch. Yeah, if wearing almost solid white wasn't enough, they had me put the literal omega symbol around my neck like a dog. I might as well wear the girls' uniform… Fuck, I've really lost my mind, haven't I? It's probably the almost all-white that's searing my eyes.
"The tour finishes at midday. I'll meet up with you afterwards." I'd much rather just flee and return here… "After lunch, you have free time. Maybe you could get some fresh air." Rinley reached over to adjust part of my uniform, and I scowled into the mirror. Like, I want to go wandering around outside. I'll probably end up taking a nap in one of my bay windows. Yeah, that sounds pleasant.
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Rinley walked me to the auditorium where we were supposed to meet for the tour, but it seemed more like Rinley was ensuring that I didn't run away. He even watched me enter and closed the door before I could turn and flee.
Fuck… I glared at the floor as I approached the group of girls who were staring at me. It was hard to ignore the looks of fear they had. My stomach churned with each step I took towards the group, and to make it worse, when I got close, the girls scurried away to keep a buffer between them and me. You'd have thought I was contagious the way they were acting…
"Forty-six. Alright, that's everyone for our group. We should get going!" Ugh, were all the professors so annoyingly chipper? "My name is Professor Elosie. I will be teaching you about the Empire's history and how omegas helped shape our empire into what it currently is. Today, though, I'll be giving you a tour of the academy grounds. Of course, you're only welcome on two-thirds of it, but it's important to learn where stuff is and what is available to you here at the academy."
She began walking us around the administration offices so we knew where things were, like the pharmacy, where you could get suppressants. Not that they had anything that would work for me, but it was interesting nonetheless.
After that, we headed off to the dorms. I didn't notice it yesterday, but the three dorms were set up in a semicircle with a large fountain in the center. It seemed like a decent place to relax, not that I had plans to be anywhere so public.
Simply walking around made me uncomfortable. The girls kept a wide berth around me and would quickly jolt away if they got too close. Any older students we passed gawked and whispered the moment they saw us. Fuck, just announce my existence to everyone, huh? I wanted to run away so damn bad. Rinley better be glad that I'm trying to show some self-restraint.
After wandering around the two buildings with classrooms, we headed off to the common area. "Now, students, the only alphas you will find on our campus are the guards." Oh, goodie, those bastards? I'm surprised they didn't give me more problems yesterday. What the hell would I have done had they not let me back in after dinner? "They're here to obviously prevent alphas from entering our side of the academy, but they'll also prevent any omegas that are sending out strong pheromones from entering the common area." Why the fuck were people looking at me again?! It's not my fault, I constantly smell! Look elsewhere! "This is simply for your safety. We'd hate for something to happen to one of you." Why did it seem like even the professor was looking at me? I thought that because of how everyone was behaving, the guard would tell me that I couldn't enter the common area, but nothing happened when I exited the gate. See? You're all acting like freaks.
Our group passed the dining hall and ended up in the large expanse of gardens that the academy had. Mmm, I don't know much about plants, but even I can admit that this place is impressive. It even had a large gazebo in the middle and smaller ones scattered about. Maybe if people stop acting like freaks, I could do my homework or read a book at one of the gazebos. I'd even settle for the base of a tree, honestly. The professor was rambling on about something, but her next sentence sent a shiver down my spine. "I'm sure many of you will meet charming alphas and go on plenty of dates in the gardens." My stomach churned uncomfortably, and my face soured. Talk about ruining the gardens for me. I want nothing more than to avoid them now. The idea of an alpha being romantic towards me made me sick.
Thankfully, we left the gardens and headed over to the training grounds. I was surprised this was considered part of the common area because I didn't see the likelihood of any omegas coming here. The training grounds were rather large, probably so they could fit two or three classes here at a time. There were even layered benches around the outskirts for people to sit and watch. Hmm, maybe omegas come here to watch? "Now, students, I know none of you will find yourself spending too much time here, but please avoid this place as much as possible." Huh? Then why include it in the common area? "Since alphas use this area for training, it can easily get overrun with their pheromones. If you aren't used to that sort of exposure, you should stay far away. It's just not a risk you should take." I had to prevent myself from rolling my eyes. She sounded like my mother. Why did omegas act like alphas were some sort of monster? I grew up with my brothers, and last I checked, besides being annoying, they're both civil…
As we left the training grounds, I couldn't help but stare at the rack of training weapons. I… want to be able to hold a sword again… It's not like my parents would know… The memory of my father snapping my practice blade over his knee returned, and a frown formed on my face. I'll never forgive him for that…
Next, we went to the dining hall, which felt strange. Didn't we all go here last night for dinner? "I hope you all enjoyed your meal last night! There are many options available, and they even rotate through seasonal produce throughout the year. I highly recommend being adventurous and trying new things. You never know what you might fall in love with. Oh, and the puddings here are divine!" That got the girls stirred up. At least they were ignoring me as they giggled and whispered about the desserts that were offered. Huh, I didn't know desserts would get omegas so riled up. I didn't feel anything particularly special about the mention of desserts.
Lastly, we were hauled to the library. The moment we entered, I got excited. The smell of parchment, paper, and ink tickled my nose and made me feel at home. Forget desserts, this library was the thing that got me excited. My family had a library that was decent-sized, but it looked pathetic in comparison to this place. There were three stories, all loaded to the brim with books. Oh, and plenty of study spots. No doubt, I'll find a perfect one in front of a warm window. Mhmm! Talk about the highlight of the academy.
"This library is something that our empire likes to boast about. It's the largest one on the continent, which should provide you with more than enough knowledge to pass your courses. I highly recommend checking out the student notes section, especially once finals roll around." Now that was additional information I actually cared about. Good to know they have study materials alongside casual reading books.
Our long tour finally came to an end outside of the dining hall, and of course, Rinley was waiting for me. I knew he wouldn't let me escape. "How was the tour?" He asked as he wandered over to me.
I glanced at the girls who were quickly drifting away from me and frowned. "Unpleasant."
"I'm asking if you learned anything useful." Rinley gave me a slightly amused look as we entered the dining hall.
"The library was interesting," I grumbled as I made my way over to my isolated spot. It better be available, or I'm leaving. Fuck, there are too many eyes on me.
"I had a feeling you'd gravitate towards it." Oh, thank the gods. The lone booth at the back of the private area was empty. "Is there anything particular you'd like for lunch?"
"Mmm, no. You can just pick something that looks good." Rinley hasn't ever picked anything bad before, so I had faith he'd pick something good.
"Any desserts? I see that they have loads of puddings out."
I snickered, which made Rinley give me an odd look. "No, I will let the true omegas eat the pudding." My comment only seemed to confuse Rinley further, but I didn't care to explain myself, and he didn't ask.
Rinley left to get me food, and I stared out the window. I hope classes are tolerable tomorrow, though; most of them seemed like a waste. I had history, arithmetic, economics, music, household management, ballroom dance, social etiquette, and art. None of them sounded all that interesting. I'd much rather learn about strategy and war tactics. Like I needed to learn about fucking art.
Rinley returned with a small array of sandwiches and a side salad. I started to pick at the food, but a thought came to mind. "Hey, Rinley."
"Yes, my lord?"
Mmm, maybe I shouldn't ask… He'll probably be against it… Eh, whatever. "I'd like to do sword training after lunch." I gazed over to where he stood and watched as the corners of his lips slightly dipped.
"I don't think that's a good idea…"
"Why not? There are guards, and it's not like I'm going to hang out with alphas. I just want some light exercise before finding a book to read." Rinley looked like he was still hesitating, so I decided to give him another push. "Isn't it you who said I shouldn't lie around all the time?" No matter how hard I tried, I just couldn't get the training grounds out of my head. I loved being able to wield a sword and zip around my opponents. I miss it…
"I guess… if that is what you truly want to do, then there shouldn't be any harm in it. However, if any alphas approach, we must leave at once." Everyone worries to fucking much.
"Okay, I agree with that." It's not like I wanted to talk to any of them anyway. I turned towards my meal, feeling a bit more optimistic about coming to the academy. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad after all.
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We stopped by my dorm so I could change, and I was so happy to have that accursed white outfit off. It might as well have screamed to everyone, look at me! Thankfully, there were no official rules that you had to wear your uniform all day. Once classes were over, you could change, but most people didn't. If my uniform wasn't so garish, I'd maybe consider wearing it longer.
I didn't actually have training gear because I ceremoniously burned it all, but I had some light clothing on that I could easily move in. Fuck, I wish it covered up this horrid collar a bit better. Because all of the collars my mother got for me were gold in color, it drew too much attention with my loose-fitted V-neck shirt.
Maybe it was because it was after lunch, but a few alphas were milling around. They weren't practicing, per se, but they were hanging out. I did my best to ignore them as I accepted the training sword Rinley got for me. It was heavier than I liked, but it would work.
Rinley sat down on a bench, and I turned towards the training dummy so I could try out a few swings. It was pleasant to have a blade returned to my hands, but I felt sluggish, and the weight of the sword was exhausting to swing around. I know my body changed when I manifested as an omega, but this was infuriating. I brought my sword back and, as hard as I could, dug it into the stomach of the training dummy. When I was in my prime, I could get the hilt to touch the training dummy's stomach, but now, only a fourth of the sword ended up getting lodged. Fuck, this is pissing me off more than anything. I shouldn't have come.
"Is that you, Arden?" A shiver ran down my spine, and I hesitated to even turn around.
I glanced over my shoulder and sure enough, Tael was walking towards me. His all too familiar golden hair was as curly as ever, but damn did he get tall. Even while peeking behind myself, I could tell how tall he was. I should have hightailed it out of there, but I didn't want to look like a coward. Even better, he should have gotten the picture from me, never replying to his letters that we couldn't be friends anymore. He should have just written me off and called it a day.
"I think you have the wrong person," I mumbled as I struggled to remove the wooden practice sword from the dummy.
Tael came up behind me and grabbed the handle of the sword. His fingers laced over mine, and my skin crawled. He was too fucking close! "I don't think I am… Why didn't you tell me?"
His hand brushed against my side, and I panicked. I ducked under his arm and scurried away from him as quickly as I could. I stared at him with a red face as I stood and backed up. To my horror, he stepped closer to me. "I… I don't know you!"
"Arden, you're really doing a bad job of lying… Why didn't you just tell me that you're an omega?" I kept taking steps back, but Tael easily stepped towards me. My heart was racing to the point that I thought it would leap out of my throat. The way he was looking at me was terrifying. Like a hungry predator after prey. The fuck is up with him-
My foot caught a rock on the uneven dirt, and I went careening backwards. I ended up landing on my bottom, but my hand whipped out in an attempt to catch myself. The way it twisted as I landed on it instantly shot pain up through my arm. I let out a loud cry and could hear Rinley shouting to me as he rushed over from the bench he had been sitting on.
I glanced up and froze in terror. Tael and a few other alphas that were in the vicinity were approaching me with distant, hungry eyes. I shivered as I clutched my arm to my chest, but no matter how much Rinley yelled at me to run, I just couldn't. My legs felt like sand had been dumped into them.
I watched in horror as Tael slowly approached me. No… Not like this… Get away from me! I don't want you anywhere near me! An acrid smell hit my nose, and I gagged. Fucking ew! I thought I was going to pass out from fear and disgust. I… should have listened when people told me to stay away from alphas-
Tael started to lean down with an extended hand, but before he could touch me, I closed my eyes. I didn't want to witness what was about to happen.
There was a loud thwack, and the incoming touch I expected never came. I dared to peek through my lashes to see Tael tumbling across the ground. Huh? A tall figure stood in front of me, but due to the sun, I couldn't quite make out who it was. Surely it wasn't Rinley. The figure was far too muscular and tall. Nor would he have been able to punch Tael. Who?
I flinched and shut my eyes again as the figure turned and started to crouch down. Not another alpha trying to touch me! Fucking leave me alone! A cry of surprise escaped me as the person picked me up into their arms and took off running. Oddly enough, I didn't feel all that threatened by whoever had me. It wasn't the same sensation at all that I had with Tael. If anything, the smell in the air was… pleasant? What was that? It was… sorta like the scent of incoming rain, but there wasn't a cloud in the sky.
I tried to open my eyes, but the speed at which we were moving made the surroundings blur as we sped past. The pain in my arm had to be making me go crazy, right? I couldn't even wiggle about in their strong grip to see who had me, but I could make out the training grounds disappearing from behind us. "Put me down," I whined as the constant jostling started to make me feel sick.
Just like I asked, the person slowed down. I could now properly make out the tall trees and the meadow grass that coated a majority of the ground. I wasn't sure how far we had gotten, but we had to be a good distance away from the academy because I couldn't see anything through the trees and shrubs.
Ever so carefully, I was set on the ground. As the figure pulled away, my jaw dropped. "K… Knox? Wha-" I gawked at Knox with a slack jaw as he squatted down and looked me over. "What the hell do you think you're… doing…" The nice smell I had been smelling earlier became stronger, distracting me from my shock. Oh, yeah… it totally smelled like it was going to rain, but there weren't any clouds…
I flinched as Knox leaned in and lightly sniffed my neck. His hand brushed against my arm, and he pulled me a bit closer to him. His gentle sniffing turned into one long inhale as he rammed his nose between my neck and the collar. Gah! That fucking tickles! "Why do you smell so good, Arden?" Oh, his voice had gotten a bit deeper since the last time I saw him. I gulped nervously as his words brought me back to my senses. What the hell did he think he was doing, lying his head on my shoulder?
"Me? Smell good? What the hell are you talking about?!" I wanted to shove his head off my shoulder, but he had a hold of my good arm, and there wasn't a chance I was moving my injured one.
Knox brought a finger up and slightly traced along the edge of my collar. "You smell delicious." He sat up, and I was able to see him a bit better. He's… aged well… hasn't he? His jaw was far more defined now that he was an adult, and his silver colored hair had slightly darkened towards the roots. Wait… his eyes look funny… Instead of having the typical round pupil, his were elongated like slits… Have… they always been like that? "My father mentioned that there would be a rare male omega at the academy this year. It must be you, huh?" Knox leaned in again and rubbed his face against my neck, which sent shivers down my spine. I wanted to shove him away with my good hand, but that odd scent tickled my nose again, and a calmness washed over me. Was… that his doing?
"What are you doing?!" I grumbled as Knox tried to wedge his nose inside my collar again.
Knox let out a pleased exhale as he completely ignored my question. "Shouldn't you know better than to wander into the alpha training field? You even tripped and released a ton of pheromones during your panic. All the alphas were going nuts around you, even I almost lost my senses. That was risky and dumb." Thanks for rubbing that in, Knox… I'm all too aware of how dumb that was… I gulped nervously and looked away from Knox's uniform collar.
As Knox moved to sit up, I adjusted my wrist and let out a hiss. "Fucking hell," I whined as I pulled it against my chest.
Knox's eyes were overwhelmed with concern as he lurched away. "Sorry! Are you okay?" He pulled my sleeve back, revealing a rather purple bruise that was forming along my arm. "Arden!"
"It's fine. I'll have the academy doctor look at it-"
Knox distracted me as he whipped his tie off and carefully pulled my hand over to him. "I should take you to an imperial doctor."
"I told you, it's fine," I grumbled as he began to tightly wrap my wrist. Has he done this before? He's pretty good at it…
An awkward silence fell between us as Knox continued to gently hold my hand, but it didn't last too long because Knox broke it. "You're a dominant omega, aren't you?" Fuck, why was he so interested in that? I didn't want to talk about that topic with him or anyone… Knox's hand came up and gently caressed the side of my face. "Why are you afraid to admit the truth? Your pheromones are speaking loud and clear, but your lips aren't." He said as his thumb rubbed the corner of my mouth. His sharp gaze drifted down to rest on my lips, and I jolted as he started to lean forward.
"Fine! I… I'm a dominant omega, happy?!" My face felt warm in his palm as I tried to look anywhere but at him. Did he really need to be so fucking close to me? He's making my heart want to escape my chest. Didn't he just tell me it was dumb to be around alphas?
I tried twisting my head away from his palm, but he grabbed my chin and pulled me back to him. Knox's icy blue eyes locked onto mine, and I felt like I was melting from the inside out. His hand fell from my chin and pressed against my chest. "Why is your heart racing so fast? I can practically hear it from here… Am I making you nervous?" Obviously, you raging idiot!
"It's because-"
Before I could even get any words out, Knox leaned forward and pressed his lips against mine. I flinched in surprise, but his hand grabbed my lower back and held me in place. His smooth lips coaxed mine into an unwilling kiss, making my heartbeat go even crazier. The fuck was happening? Did I… Did I fucking like it?!
Knox's tongue slipped past my lips and pressed against mine. Damn, he really had grown while I shrank. His tongue felt massive inside my mouth. My brain was going absolutely numb as my body acted on its own. Was I… enjoying his rough kiss? Fuck. My tongue was totally reacting to him and searching his out. Why's he… making me feel this way? Even my goddam toes curled inside my shoes. Forget the pain in my wrist; the only thing my brain was interested in was getting Knox to kiss me more.
Knox pulled away for a second, and I breathlessly gasped for air. The look on his face looked exceptionally pleased as he leaned in again for another kiss. The scent of fallen rain became stronger, and Knox's hand tugged my shirt loose from my pants. His hand was like ice on a burning stone as it came into contact with my abdomen. His touch was… so icy cold… and nice…
It was as if my brain had finally processed what was happening because I pulled away from Knox with a gasp. "The fuck are you doing, Knox?"
He sat up and gazed down at me with almost hungry eyes. Despite being hungry, they weren't scary like the previous alphas were. His movements were a lot more controlled. I guess desire would be a better term. Wait… was he biting his lower lip as he stared at me? "Your expression is really cute, Arden." Knox leaned towards me again, and I fully fell onto the meadow grass. Cute?! He fucking thought what?!
Knox didn't seem to mind that I had fallen over because he simply crawled towards me with a grin. He looked so… pleased. Even his cheeks were flushed. "You're fucking crazy," I grumbled as the scent of rain became stronger. Why did I feel so placated? I shouldn't be okay with what was happening and yet… I didn't mind at all that Knox was wedged between my legs and was pinning me down.
A wide, toothy smile appeared on Knox's face, and his tongue was visible between his teeth. "More like fucking over the moon." He snickered as he started tugging more of my shirt out of my pants. His cold hand crept up my side as he leaned down for another kiss.
"I expected better behavior from our crown prince!" Rinley appeared from what seemed to be nowhere and rammed his foot into the side of Knox. It disoriented Knox enough that Rinley was able to grab me and pull me out from under Knox by my armpits. I blinked a few times, feeling disoriented as Rinley hauled me to my feet. He looked rather disheveled and was definitely out of breath… Did he run all the way after us?
Rinley didn't give me the chance to process more than that because he started dragging me along with him. The scent in the air that had been exceptionally pleasant shifted and turned into a raging thunderstorm. Anger was almost palpable in the air as the scent of rain whipped around violently. Of course, the person it was directed at couldn't smell them, only see them, so it was a waste of effort. Had the anger been directed at me, I doubt I'd even be capable of breathing. It was… incredibly frightening.
Rinley must not have liked how slow I was going because he hoisted me up into his arms and started taking off in the opposite direction as Knox. He's… didn't need to take such drastic actions… It's not like Knox was hurting me. There was a loud cavernous growl behind us and I shivered in Rinley's arms. "Are those… Knox's pheromones?" Rinley didn't respond to my question as he focused on running.
A strange sound caught my attention and I turned to see a group of armored knights rushing towards us. Based on the symbol on their armor, they seemed to be knights from the academy. Rinley didn't pause for them and they didn't pause for us as we passed each other. Were they… headed towards Knox? I nervously glanced over Rinley's shoulder but didn't see anything. Knox didn't seem to be pursuing us…
As the trees began to clear, Rinley slowed down. He was incredibly winded but I was more than capable of walking. "You can put me down." I grumbled.
Rinley blinked a few times and slowly came to a stop. He put me down but kept a firm grip on my uninjured wrist. "I don't get paid enough… to be going toe to toe… with an alpha… on the verge of losing control." Rinley wheezed. "Do you not realize… how dangerous that was?"
Dangerous? I didn't feel in danger… Knox didn't do anything besides sniff me and… My face felt rather warm as I thought about his lips and tongue pressing against mine. What the fuck is wrong with me? "Is Knox going to be okay?" I stared into the meadows as if I'd be able to see what was happening.
Rinley grabbed my face and forced my attention back to him. "Did he damage your collar?"
"Huh?" Why was he asking that?
Rinley twisted my head to either side as he looked at my neck. "He didn't try to bite you or anything?"
"Hey! Stop it!" Rinley's manhandling was jostling my wrist. "I've been manhandled enough for one day, thank you!" I swatted him off of me with my good hand and glared at him. "No, he didn't bite me, now knock it off."
Rinley's attention drifted to my wrist. "So it did get hurt. I saw your wrist bend at an unnatural angle when you fell, but then you put out so many pheromones that I couldn't see." Rinley's face turned rather sour as he glanced over to the academy. "We need to get you to a doctor."
"Knox wrapped it for me." I leaned down and slightly sniffed Knox's tie, which made Rinley's frown even bigger.
"So he did. Come on."
Rinley went to pick me up again, but I quickly stepped away. "Stop it! I can fucking walk!" My legs weren't hurt. Only my wrist and bottom. "Nor am I going anywhere," I grumbled as Rinley reached over and grabbed the cuff of my sleeve.
"I'm not taking any more risks." He grumbled as we started to walk back onto campus. Knox abducting me really upset him… I guess it would have been rather disorienting for him. One second I'm there about to get attacked, and when my pheromones finally clear, I'm gone…
I glanced back over to the meadows, making Rinley's grip on my arm tighten. "Do you think Knox is going to get in trouble?" The knights looked like they were hunting a beast, not a fellow student.
"Nothing is going to happen to him. He's the crown prince and a dominant alpha. If anything, you should be concerned about the safety of the knights." That… doesn't make me feel better… I don't think it's okay for trained knights to attack a student. It's not like Knox attacked me or hurt me. He saved me and my dumb ass… What a mess…
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I wanted to scream and run from the doctor's office. No, it wasn't because of my arm. Yeah, it fucking hurt having my bone set back into place and getting it cast, but I thought I was going to poke my eyes out having to listen to him. "Never in my thirty years working here have I heard of anything so dumb." The doctor grumbled as he applied the last layer of wrap to the cast. "Kids these days don't think with their brains! All action and no thought. Back in my day, there were consequences for being so dumb!"
Rinley was finding my nag-a-thon quite the hoot as he stood next to the door and silently snickered. I should make you run through the meadows again as payback for laughing. Can't someone release me from this torment?!
The doctor wandered over to his sink to wash the casting material off his hands as he continued to grumble. "Listen with both of your ears." He snapped before giving Rinley a side eye. "You too, since this one doesn't listen. He needs to wear this sling for at least a month. After that, we'll check how his wrist is healing and if he needs another cast, we'll put one on then. For now, take him back to his dorm." The doctor came close and put a hand on my forehead. "Mhmm, just as I thought. All the alpha pheromones are triggering your heat. Don't leave your dorm until it passes. We don't need you causing any more incidents." He grumbled as he tied the black silk sling around my arm and neck.
Great, as if having to wear white didn't draw enough attention. Now I had to wear this fucking thing? I'm going to kick Knox's ass when I next see him- A warmth started to build in my chest as I thought about Knox. Huh? What's that about?
"Hurry up! Get to your dorm as quickly as possible and lock the door." The doctor snapped as he basically pushed me and Rinley out of his office and slammed the door. Wow, talk about rude.
Rinley carefully picked me up without disturbing my new cast and rushed out of the administration building. "I can walk…"
"No, you need to be in your room before I can't see." Rinley snapped.
"But carrying me is embarrassing," I grumbled as I slumped lifelessly against his shoulder. Wasn't it bad enough that I was extremely small for a guy? Fuck, I think some of the girls here at the academy were taller than me. Fate really wanted to screw with me as much as possible, huh? Evil. Absolutely fucking evil.
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By the time Rinley got me to my room, the warmth in my chest was really building. Based on how he had to put me down and use both hands to find the keyhole, my pheromones were getting rather thick in the air. I managed to stumble to my bed on my own, but having to have my arm in a sling sucked. It was so restrictive.
Why did Knox's cold hands on my chest keep coming to mind? Was it because I was so warm? Mother mentioned what a heat was to me once, but I zoned out because it was embarrassing. Fuck, I should have listened. How the hell am I supposed to cool down?
"Swallow this," Rinley grumbled as he managed to shove the all too disgusting suppressant medication in my mouth. I did as he asked, but felt annoyed. It's not like they help. "Knock on the door three times when you feel better and try not to mess with your arm." Rinley must have been rather blind because he had to have a hand on the wall to exit my bedroom.
After a moment, the door to my dorm clicked closed, and the additional second lock on my door snapped into place. Was it really necessary for him to lock me in my room? I couldn't even support my own weight at the moment because my legs felt like jelly.
The more relaxed I became, the more the heat in my chest swelled. These clothes have got to go. It's too hot! Getting them off, though, was like wrestling a bear. Fuck! Rinley should have stayed to help. How did he expect me to undress when I only have one arm?
After far too long, I managed to get the majority of my clothes off and flopped down on my bed. I did have to remove my sling, which I probably wasn't supposed to do, but I couldn't get my shirt off with it on.
Fuck, it was too hot, and every time I thought about Knox, it would make it worse. It was like the warmth was eating me from the inside out. My bottom was getting the worst of it, too. I squirmed around uncomfortably like someone had put an ant in my underwear. This is what it's like to go through a heat? It's fucking awful!
My body was so incredibly sensitive as I touched myself. I can't believe I was pining after a man as I teased my bottom. Just what the fuck was wrong with me? He was the damn crown prince and my childhood friend. I shouldn't feel this way, and yet I couldn't stop thinking about his tongue in my mouth and his icy cold hand on my side. Fuck, fuck, fuck. This is torture.
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When I finally started getting my senses back, I felt horrified. There wasn't a chance I was going to knock on the door in this state. Instead, I hauled myself to the bath. I made sure to keep my stupid cast out of the water as I soaped up from head to toe. My arm hurt quite a bit, but it was more of a dull pain instead of the initial sharp one.
I pulled on some basic clothes and hovered beside my door for a moment. I didn't want to knock on it, but it's not like I could hide in my room forever. My hand hung in the air for a moment before I softly knocked.
Rinley must have heard me bathing and was waiting on the other side, because the door's locks instantly started to click open. I couldn't bring myself to look at Rinley as I stepped out of the way and let him in. I was mortified by the state my bed was in. "Are you feeling alright?" He asked as he shut my door.
I nodded my head and found it in myself to talk. "My arm hurts…" I quietly mumbled. Gods, my face felt like it was on fire as I stared at the carpet.
"Ah, right, the doctor had an assistant drop some pain medicine off for you, a few days ago. I'll have to retrieve it from my quarters." Days? I was like that for… days? I glanced out the window like that would give me some magical answer, but of course it didn't. Rinley patted my head as I hid my face with my hands. "Don't be embarrassed. It's completely natural. If anyone is to blame, it's those alphas. They should have never approached you like that."
I shivered slightly as I remembered the scary look in Tael's eyes. Don't remind me of those bastards. They all deserve a hard kick in the balls. Especially Tael. If he supposedly knew that I was an omega, he should have backed off when I was playing dumb.
Rinley let out a little sigh, probably realizing that I wasn't in the mood to talk, and headed into my bedroom. I didn't want him to see what had happened, but it's not like I could stop him from changing out the bedding. I wandered over to sit on the sofa and watched as Rinley exited my room with the balled-up dirty bedding. Natural? There's nothing natural about that. It's freaky. I was barely conscious of my actions and wasn't even aware of how much time had passed.
Rinley was only gone a moment before he entered with full hands. He set down the fresh bedding on the entryway table and wandered over to me with a tray. "Here is your medicine." He said as he set down the little tray that held a cup of water and two gross-looking green pills. "I almost forgot to mention, the crown prince was asking about you."
I gulped down the medicine and stared down into the cup of water. I don't even know if I dare ask… "Is… he okay?"
"The crown prince? Of course he is. He's dominant, remember? A few knights aren't going to hurt him." I was a little annoyed that Rinley was acting like Knox was invincible just because he was a dominant alpha. "I'd say he was embarrassed more than anything." Yeah, he probably is embarrassed. I still can't believe that he would kiss me like that.
"Did he… ask anything specific?" He wasn't… mad or anything, was he? Don't tell me he's told the entire academy what happened.
"Not really. He was just concerned when he saw you weren't with me and asked if I knew how you were doing. He apologized profusely for losing control when I took you from him. Apparently, I took him by surprise." What? Knox only lost control after Rinley kicked him? So… that would mean… that he was fully conscious when he… kissed me. The fuck? He had to have screws loose, right? That or he was lying to save face. Yeah, he had to be lying.
My face felt like it was going to catch fire as I stared off into the distance. I think Rinley moved away from me, but I wasn't too interested in what he was doing. I was far too preoccupied with trying to rationalize Knox's insane behavior. That's the best I say about it. It was insane. He was a damn prince. Why the hell would he kiss me like that? I'm just some freaky, reject omega. If anything, he should forget that we were ever friends and stay far away from me.
"Arden!" Rinley snapped his fingers in front of my face, bringing me out of my thoughts. "Hello? Are you listening? You need to get changed."
"Why?" Can't I just lie around like this today? It's not like I… No… He wouldn't…
"Because you have classes to attend. Don't tell me you forgot about them."
My eyes went wide as I looked at Rinley. "I'm not going to those!" I was mortified, and the last thing I wanted was to be put on display for everyone to look at. Rinley was insane, too! I can't go to class after what happened!
"You already missed the first two days of classes. Don't make it a third, besides, tomorrow starts the weekend." That didn't make any fucking sense. There was no reason for me to rush to classes today.
"Then I should just start strong next week," I said as I shrank down against the sofa. No, anything but that. Don't make me go!
Rinley got an annoyed look in his eye, and he started to reach for me. "No, there's no reason you can't go today. You won't have time for breakfast, but we can at least get you to class. Don't make me force you."
I let out a defeated whine, and Rinley dragged me off the sofa. Noooo! I don't want to go!
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Despite pretending to be a limp noodle, Rinley managed to get me ready for class. He was super annoyed with me, but the feeling was mutual. Why did I have to show my face after everything that had happened? Couldn't I spend one measly day hiding in my room? If tomorrow starts the weekend, then there was no point in coming today!
Rinley dragged me down the hall with one hand and held my bag with the other. Ugh! Just let me go! "Before I forget," He said with a sharp glance over his shoulder. "You're not permitted anywhere near the training field. I'm personally banning you." He snapped as we rounded a corner.
"But-"
"Don't whine about it. It's not like you could even wield the practice blade, and I found the lightest one I could." Ouch. He didn't need to be that blunt with me. The worst part was, I couldn't even deny what he had said. The reality was that going there wasn't safe, and it was a waste of my time.
I didn't want to admit it, but I found it in myself to grumble an apology. "Sorry… I won't go there again." It's not like I actually had a desire. I was just annoyed with Rinley.
Speaking of annoying, the moment we arrived at my first class, he threw open the door and forced me inside. Hey! At least stop dragging me around, this is fucking embarrassing!
"Ah, Arden! It's good of you to join us. We've missed you." Professor Eloise chirped. I managed to swat Rinely off of me and avoided looking at the class. I didn't need to see their judgmental eyes to know that they were boring holes into me. Professor Eloise pulled two notebooks from the cubby in her lectern and held them out for me. "Here are the notes from the previous classes. You can borrow them until you catch up. Your seat will be in the back." The back? I could handle the back… but getting there won't be fun.
Rinley gathered the two notebooks, and I did my best to ignore the stares as I walked to the back of the room. Rinley even helped set up my notebook, quill, and ink before bowing and leaving. Maybe I shouldn't have fucking dragged my feet and made us late… Then we wouldn't be causing such a scene…
They must have split the first year up because there were only around a quarter of students here who went on the tour. I tried to focus on what the professor was teaching, but the moment I focused on what she was teaching, I became bored. She's covering things that I learned as a child… I wanted to work under Everett when I became an adult and he inherited the title of duke, so my family hired private tutors for me. I guess that won't be happening... Omegas rarely help out with government proceedings, nor do they hold titles of influence. That fate is long gone… isn't it… Fuck, why does everything always have to suck?
I let out a sigh and went to work copying notes into my notebook despite not needing to. Talk about a waste of my time.
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Class came to an end, and Rinley stepped in to help me pack up. I can't believe he forced me to come with a broken wrist. Taking notes was a challenge and a half, not that it was my dominant wrist that was broken. I was finally able to figure out how to hold the page down with my cast so I could write, but then the notes I was copying would flip closed. I became so irritated with the whole ordeal that I decided to stare out the window before I hurled my notebook across the room in irritation. Even more annoying were all the glances I got. I wanted a jar of rocks so I could throw them at the girls who would give me glances. The other option was to shout at them to mind their business, but I'm pretty sure that would piss off the professor.
"Was it that bad?" Rinley asked as I rose to my feet.
"Yes," I grumbled while following after him. "A complete waste of time."
"Surely, you're being overdramatic." Overdramatic, my ass. Rinley could take his positivity and shove it where the sun doesn't shine. I didn't want to hear it.
The walk to my next class wasn't too far. I didn't even wait for the professor to tell me to sit in the back. I just automatically wandered back there. It's not like I was going to sit towards the front. I was on display enough. Rinley got me set up again, and I let out a sigh. This is going to be a long day.
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My feet dragged along the tile floor as Rinley hauled me to one of the classes I dreaded the most. Why did omegas need to learn how to play music? It seemed like a stupid waste of time. What good would it do if someone knew how to play an instrument or not?
Sure enough, when I arrived at the music room, all the girls drifted towards instruments they were familiar with, while I lurked at the entrance of the room with Rinley. Maybe if I'm careful, I can just-
"Arden, it's good to see you again." Fuck. Professor Yasabelle wandered over to me with a smile, and her curly hair bobbed around with each movement she made. "I'm glad to have you in my class. So, have you ever played an instrument before?"
"Of course not," I grumbled while glaring at her selection of instruments. They were all foreign to me. I had heard instruments played, but never cared enough to find out any information on them.
"Have any of them piqued your interest?"
My gaze slowly returned to her and her far too peppy smile. "Not particularly. I don't understand why this is a required class. How could this possibly benefit our futures?"
Professor Yasabelle brought a hand up to stifle a giggle. "I guess a guy might have that perspective, but life isn't all about military strategy and government policies. Life has many beautiful things in it, and here at the Omega Academy, we like to help those beautiful things flourish." She brought her hand away from her face, and she had a wide, warm smile. "You might find yourself attending concerts, art auctions, tea parties, social events, and managing a home one day. While all this seems silly now, you might find it terribly useful in the future."
All I could do was grunt in response. I wanted nothing to do with that shit. The only thing I wanted was my old life back.
Her kind smile didn't disappear as she turned her attention to the instruments. "Even if you don't quite understand the point of this class yet, you still need to find an instrument to learn. You do have a public performance at the end of the term." I'm sorry, the fuck did she say? We have to play our instruments for the public?! "I would assume you can't read sheet music."
I managed to pull myself together so I could answer her question. "No… I can't." No duh, I couldn't read sheet music. What a dumb question.
"Then, I would start there. I'll show you some beginner-friendly instruments, and while your arm heals, you should work on learning to read it. I also recommend getting a tutor. While I would love to give you my full attention in class, there are other students I need to oversee." I let out another grunt, and Rinley, who was still following after me, nodded his head.
"I'll see to it that something is arranged." Of course, he will.
Professor Yasabell showed me quite a few beginner-friendly instruments, and I chose one at random. It looked like a miniature harp and seemed easy enough to play. There was what… ten-ish strings? I'm pretty sure I could figure out how to play it even with my arm in a cast.
"A lyre is an excellent choice." I gave her a bit of a dull stare, and she stifled a giggle. "That's what the instrument is called. It's spelled differently from liar. It's l-y-r-e." Oh. I glanced down at the instrument in my arms. That seems oddly appropriate. In a sense, I, too, was a liar. "You're welcome to use it in one of the practice rooms here at this building, but if you want to practice in your dorm, you'll want to purchase your own instrument."
I nodded my head, but it was Rinley with his wax tablet who was really listening. "Do you have any recommendations on where to acquire such a thing?"
"Ah, yes. Over on eighty-third street, there's a delightful little music shop. It will have everything that Arden will need if he plans on getting himself an instrument." Rinley nodded and continued to write down the details. Ugh, guess I've gotta buy a stupid instrument. I doubt Rinley will let me avoid doing so.
"Now, if you excuse me, I need to go check on the other students. You're welcome to look at the other instruments or practice playing notes with that." Professor Yasabell gave me a warm smile before wandering off to talk to other students. She should have just done that from the start. Talking to me was a waste of time.
"Shall we go today and at least look at the music store?" Rinley asked.
I gave him a side-eyed look and sighed. "Guess we can." I was already a freak enough, I didn't need to embarrass myself by being unable to play an instrument.
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"I never read that you can't bring me food in my dorm," I complained as I slowly followed Rinley.
"It was written in the handbook that the academy sent before your enrollment. I told you to look over it, did you not?" Of course I fucking didn't. I wanted nothing to do with the academy, so I avoided looking at the thing.
He was lucky I was pretty hungry; otherwise, he would be dragging me along with him again. All I needed to do was make it to my hidden cove, and people wouldn't be able to see me. Yeah. That was the goal, and I was going to see to it that-
"Arden!" I flinched and ducked behind Rinley as a way too familiar voice cut through the crowd.
"Go, hurry!" I hissed as I tried to force Rinley towards the dining hall doors. My heart started to race, and the smell of fallen rain began to tickle my nose.
"Arden, are you hiding?" Knock chuckled as he approached where, yes, I was hiding.
My face burned, and the thought of looking at him made me want to pass out. Are you fucking kidding me?! Go away! "Pardon my rudeness, Prince Knox, but you're releasing far too many pheromones, especially after your recent behavior," Rinley said in a rather cold tone. "Lord Arden isn't in the most stable state right now. The last thing he needs is an alpha around."
I dared to peek around Rinley and saw Knox scowling. Whoa, he looks rather scary- His eyes met mine, and his expression shifted to a rather amused one. "Not that a beta would know, but if Arden was that unstable, he wouldn't be going to a dining hall filled to the brim with alphas. Besides, he's far safer with me around." I could practically hear Rinley grinding his back molars as he held his tongue. "Are you really not going to greet me?"
I ducked back behind Rinley and anxiously bit my tongue. I don't fucking want to greet you! You're so damn lucky you're a prince! I kept my face pointed to the ground as if that would hide how red it was. "Greetings to our small star. It's an honor to be greeted first." Knox started to take a step forward, and his hand brushed against my chin, but I wasn't having it. I quickly lurched away and slapped his palm. "Don't touch me!" I snapped as I ducked back behind Rinley.
"Ah… My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you, Arden." I wanted to shout and tell him to go away, but there were far too many listening ears. Couldn't he have approached me somewhere more private- The memory of him kissing me rushed to the surface, and I froze in fear. No. Absolutely not. He shouldn't have approached me at all. I felt like I was going to pass out as I squatted down. I should have listened to my gut and not come here. "Take a deep breath," Knox said in a rather hushed tone.
"You need to back up," Rinley grumbled.
"If I were to back up, then Arden's pheromones are going to spread through the common grounds and we're going to have a repeat situation on our hands." Knox angrily whispered back at Rinley. In a much louder voice, Knox said, "Why don't I help you get back to your dorm?" I slightly unfurled and glanced at Knox's outstretched hand. The insane part of my brain wanted to reach out and grab his hand, but I couldn't bring myself to do that. Instead, I swatted his hand away again.
Pheromones started to tickle my nose, and to my absolute horror, Knox plopped down on the cement next to me. He leaned back against the planter box and gave me a pleasant smile. The fuck was he doing? Was he trying to lure me to him? Here? In public?
The scary part was, the more I sniffed the air, the slower my racing heart became. The fuck is he doing to me?
I quickly rose back to my feet and whipped around to Rinley, who was still defensively watching my surroundings. "I want to go back to my dorm!"
Knox started to rise to his feet, and I stepped away. "I'll take you-"
"No!" I yelped, and yet, I want to drift in his direction. I've fucking lost it. I need to get out of here and beat some sense into myself.
"But Arden…"
La, la, la! I'm not listening! Rinley was hot on my heels as I sped off towards the omega gates. Gods, why can't anything go right for me?!
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A strange sound echoed out from my stomach as I sat in the bay window of my bedroom. My stomach was being so dramatic. Yeah, I hadn't eaten in a few days, but it didn't need to make such loud sounds. Rinley should be back rather soon.
I asked him for the full details of the handbook, and apparently, the rule was that no food could be taken from the dining hall. Guess they didn't want their kitchen staff supplying the food for people's tea parties and picnics. Mmmm, I could see how it could get out of hand quickly if they allowed it. There were, however, no rules against food entering the dorms. So, instead of getting approval from the academy, I sent Rinley into town to get me something yummy. I just… couldn't bring myself to leave my dorm again. I had this eerie feeling that if I left, I'd run into Knox again. Rinley tried convincing me to go to the rest of my classes, but… how was I supposed to show my face after having a meltdown in front of the dining hall?
Gosh, I was about ready to add Knox to the list of alphas that deserve a swift kick to the balls if he didn't watch out. According to Rinley, he did keep my pheromones corralled with his own, but it was still incredibly risky and dumb for him to approach me like that. What did he even expect? It's not like I was going to happily rush to him after what he did. I felt rather… creeped out after everything that had happened.
The door to my dorm opened, and a delightful smell wafted my way. "I'm back." Oh good. I slid off the cushions and wandered into the main room. "Do you want to eat at your desk?"
"Sure." Ah, I guess I'm hungrier than I thought.