Chapter 4

Chapter

Four

"Oh my god, are you okay?"

I didn't make it to the ground before I managed to catch myself. My hand slid along metal before finding a purchase on the edge of a bench. My knee, however, didn't get away unscathed when it scraped against the sidewalk.

Did I just… did I almost just pass out?

This cannot be happening right now.

I did not faint. Ever. I couldn't.

I forced myself to keep my eyes open and pushed myself to nearly standing. If I fainted completely, I knew what would happen, especially now that there were witnesses. I would be forced to go to the hospital if I couldn't come up with a good enough lie as to why I fainted.

And, to be honest, I wasn"t feeling all that creative right now.

If I went to the hospital, they'd ask who I was. And because of how unlucky I was with this life I was given; I was sure they would somehow figure out that I certainly was no beta. Even more so, I was certainly no Ella Jones.

Then, they would find me.

I could not faint.

I grit my teeth together and look up at the girl still frozen in shock in front of me. She cried out when she saw me start to go down, rushing to meet me.

Immediately on my inhale I smelled the sickeningly sweet odor coming off her. It was so unlike the other scent that had been stuck in my nose a second before inside the science building. This smell was overpowering crushed hard candy.

I might as well have been stuffed inside of an old woman's pocketbook at the bank– strawberry swirls and butterscotch.

An omega.

Her bright red hair swept back in a messy bun at the nape of her neck. She stared at me with wide glittering eyes, perfectly glossed lips parted in shock.

Was I hallucinating? How was there another omega in front of me? First, the alphas roamed the Prestford campus. Now this?

How was this turning into one of the worst days of my life?

I shook my head out of my thoughts, leaning another inch away from her as I quickly assessed the situation. "I'm fine."

Twisting a thick curl that fell loose over her shoulder I couldn't help but stare at the thick, deep bite that lined her one shoulder.

No, not one. Two.

My mouth went dry at the sight. An alpha—two alphas at least claimed this omega.

"Are you sure?" the sweet omega asked. "You don't look fine. One minute you were walking out and the next it was like I was watching a slow-moving movie of a building collapsing. Not that I am comparing you to a building or anything."

I pressed my lips together, shocked at the fact that I wanted to laugh at a time like this. It was a terrible joke and by the looks of things I was a minute away from both an omega and another alpha was about to find me. Because, if there was an omega around, there was likely an alpha nearby.

Especially if she was claimed.

Why in the world did I want to laugh?

Maybe I was starting to lose it.

"I am. I'm fine," I said.

The omega turned her head. Her eyes narrowed and searched for something I wasn't sure I could give right now. I found my breath in short spurts, until finally, my heart started a familiar beat once more.

"I should probably get someone to help with whatever you need. Unless are you normally a fainter? I used to have a friend like that, though honestly, she only ever fainted when there was blood around. She was a little flighty that way," the omega went on.

"I'm fine." I pushed myself back another inch with each she came forward. "I'll be okay, thanks."

"You really don't look one hundred percent. My name is Lidya. I guess I should've introduced myself first before ranting about childhood friends." The omega's freckled nose twitched when she kneeled, not deterred by how I was scooting away. She only wanted to help me the rest of the way up.

However, that was another thing about omegas.

No matter how hard you tried, it was hard to fool one, especially the moment she leaned in close to heft me up to my feet.

The smile on her face hesitated before drooping.

No.

If she didn't know before, she had to have that look on her face now even though it didn't make sense.

There was no way that she could scent me. No way.

Just like the alphas today couldn't scent me, I was safe. Protected by myself and my expensive pharmaceuticals. I was on my blockers. My suppressants for the past seven years would've made that nearly impossible.

Yet, the omega looked at me as if it wasn't just my mind now that was concerning her.

I snatched my hand away, already starting to make my way around her. "Thank you. I think I'm good now. I appreciate it."

"Wait, stop. Please, let me help you. My alpha is inside this building right here for a meeting." Her gaze flashed toward the building I just come out of. She waved her hand over her shoulder. "I'm sure he could help."

"No." Definitely not.

Whether or not she knew, I wasn't going near any more alphas today. I reached my quota. For today… for a long time.

Forever, preferably.

I needed to get back to work and back to the safety of the archives to get my work done so I kept my job and didn't have to worry. I had so many things to do.

"But–"

"I'm sure. Just late. And a fainter." Why hadn't I just gone with that before when she basically offered it be on a silver platter? "Big fainter. It's a usual daily occurrence."

She raised a ginger brow.

"Thank you again." I needed to get as far away from here as I could.

Maybe I needed to up my dose of suppressants again. Or maybe it was my blockers that I cut the dose in half. If I went back to what I was taking for the past few weeks though– ugh! I could only imagine how much faster I was going to run out.

I ignored the shake in my hands as I rummaged through my bag, finding the blockers I brought with me just in case. Without pausing, I took the other half I skipped this morning.

I forced myself to breathe as I walked along the sidewalk. Each step felt like I was swaying on a ship.

I swallowed the dryness of my throat as I paused on the edge of the east campus leading further into the city.

Maybe Rita was right. I was just getting paranoid and the stress at the library was a lot lately. I needed a break. I needed to take care of myself in the ways I was seriously lacking. Food, maybe. Or coffee, even though I wasn't the biggest fan.

Definitely caffeine.

That should help since a full break was out of the question now that I started my new project.

But…

Checking my watch, I still had nearly my entire lunch until I needed to get back to work, but it was fine. I just needed to get back to the library where I didn't have to worry.

Making my way back, I barely looked at the person at the front desk before heading back down and getting back to where I left off on my project, researching the worthy causes alumni have donated to and backed over the years so that the bigwigs could pat their backs when they got here for homecoming.

My phone rang with my alarm signaling the end of the workday. I blinked a few times before I realized that was what it was.

Reaching for my phone, I silenced it before slowly cleaning up. Also on my phone, a message from Rita managed to make its way through this time.

At least my phone wasn't completely useless yet.

Rita: Still have some work here. Probably won't be home in time for dinner.

I paused my lips and sent her another quick message back that it was okay.

It was.

Going upstairs, I hiked my tote bag over my shoulder. The library was mainly empty again this time of night, with students finishing their night classes or meeting up with friends. I paused as I watched Jane already back for another shift.

She rolled one of the heavy gray carts of books towards their one display. I stared at the new books just cataloged, seeing a few that I never noticed before.

Jane peeked up at me. "Hey, how was your day?"

"Good," I said.

She looked between me and the books. "Need a little light reading?"

I was about to say no. I had enough work to keep me busy and I often took work home even though I didn't need to, but… "You don't mind if I take them off the display?"

"Definitely not. Go ahead."

Before I could help myself, I read the backs of some of the new books.

Though the library was mainly academic, Prestford had a healthy book club I noticed that each month, the budget allowed for more than a few new bestsellers and favorites to be added to the collection.

I picked up a literary fiction I had seen that hit the charts. And there were more than a few romances. I smirked at the plots written on the backs of the books, chuckling to myself.

"I don't think I've ever seen you laugh," said Jane.

"I…" I shrugged. "I like romances."

They were the best escapism of all. The historical romances with the balls and fancy dresses and kind alphas fighting over an omega who chose to love them back. Contemporary romance with high stakes and love triangles or romantic comedies that made me cringe with second-hand embarrassment. Fantasy ones with magic and sometimes dragons… even if most of the time the dragon riders were strictly alphas.

They were all my kryptonite. Which is why I knew not to read too often. If I did read whenever I wanted to, I wouldn't get any work completed.

"They're fun," Jane nodded. "You know, the library hosts a few book clubs for staff and students. There is one that mainly reads romance books if you're ever interested."

I paused, looking at her.

"Or is it more of a guilty pleasure?" Jane asked, her brow furrowing as I didn't answer if I was interested or not.

It sounded like a fun time to get together here or at the bar downtown where I knew some of the book clubs met every month. But I… I never wanted to take the risk.

A few drinks and talking about my latest book boyfriend wasn't exactly worth the risk.

It wasn't, I convinced myself.

"More along those lines," I said.

"You shouldn't be embarrassed. They're good books. And to ever book a reader and all that."

"You're right," I agreed, knowing the basic librarian guideline by now.

"I'll check you out when you're ready."

"Thanks."

Fifteen minutes later my bag bowed from the weight of five new novels to read, Jane checked my books out onto my account.

I might've been smiling the whole way down the block.

Which one was I going to read first when I got home?

To be honest, the red cover with the woman swooning front and center looked the most intriguing.

Cars honked at the intersection right before the corner coffee shop. A few people sat outside with what looked like cinnamon raisin bagels.

I paused, standing in front of one of my biggest enemies to keep my necessities fund intact.

But what was one little coffee or bagel? I always wanted to try it and I lasted this long without spending.

Sure, it also wasn't the best dinner in the world, but it wasn't the worst. It could be the best meal I had in days that didn't include random snacks here and there.

My mouth suddenly watered at the need for something carb-filled and sweet.

I took a deep breath as I focused on getting inside. Reaching for the door, someone else was already halfway opening it. I put up my hands before the door could knock me in the face, only, the hit never came.

I nearly collided with the person yanking the door open. "Oh!"

"God, I'm so fucking sorry, I wasn't even paying attention."

"I'm sorry." I was just a menace today, running into everyone.

Before I could apologize anymore, or maybe just run back to the library and hide away for the rest of the day so I could start over, I looked up at the man in front of me. My lips parted, trying to say something, clearly, but I wasn't sure what.

He had the most charming smile, face bright and freckled. The expression lit up his amber eyes.

He was adorable and a beta who spent a lot of time in the sun.

God, he was cute.

"It's all good. Please, go ahead." The guy gestured for me to step inside and in front of him in the short line.

"Are you sure?" I checked my watch, blinking rapidly as if I had something in my eye as I looked away from the short, yet utterly handsome guy in front of me.

My insides were going wild, filled with not butterflies, but bees buzzing inside of me like I was their hive screaming to get out– to run.

To jump on top of him and kiss the hell of out whoever this adorable man was.

There was still time before I could throw this idea and run home to eat more dry muesli out of a bowl.

Not to jump him of course.

But for coffee. Tea? Tea would be the better choice with how my brain was acting.

The beta waited for me to step ahead of him.

Maybe it was because I hadn't been around a lot of people other than Rita and a few of her beta friends in the past few months, but today my nose was on top of it all, screaming.

Whoever the beta was behind me, he smelled like the freshest, most comforting thing I could imagine.

Like marshmallows and cool morning air.

"Hello? Ma'am? Excuse me?" The barista waved me up to the coffee counter.