Chapter 13

Chapter

Thirteen

ELLA

O ver the next few days of class, Lucas and I talked more. His words and the easy conversation that continued, bigger and bolder every day, resonated with me, stirring something deep within my core.

We talked about silly, immeasurable things like favorite colors and foods–he was green and French Fries and I made sure to tell him that my favorite color was purple and favorite food included cereal which reminded me of the first time and Cal met.

He laughed when he found out I loved cereal too, though I didn't admit that Marko's French toast he made me back at Prestford house might've beat it out for the front-runner spot.

The connection between us continued to grow, weaving a thread of understanding and acceptance amid our complicated reality.

"Do you have family?" Lucas asked me the next day.

There were questions on the sheet about backgrounds and families, but his question felt more intimate.

I shook my head. "Not really. I've been…" I sought for a word. "Sponsored to be here."

By the last person on earth, I would ever want to be affiliated to ever again.

Lucas seemed to understand. "Ah. Do you want to talk about it?"

"No." I shook my head. "Do you have a family?"

Lucas grinned. "I do. A big one. The only reason I was sent here was because of a scholarship opportunity and my dad said that Alpha Academy was one of his favorite memories growing up so… as the only alpha of the family other than him, here I am. It's pretty good though. All things considered. I mean, I can't complain. Met a lot of good friends. Not all of us are bad, though for some reason this class seemed to pick the worst to introduce to you all. In my opinion."

His freckled cheeks pinkened.

"I'm glad you have them," I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. "Your family. They seem supportive."

"They are that." He reached out and squeezed my hand gently, a silent gesture of solidarity that spoke volumes. "They'd like you, I think."

Despite myself, I couldn't help but smile at his words, a sense of belonging blossoming within me at the thought of being accepted by Lucas's family. It was a fleeting moment of reprieve in chaos, a glimpse of what could be.

Me in my pack and Lucas there?—

I inhaled sharply.

That wasn't right. Why was I imagining that?

His hand slid up my arm. It was a gentle touch that surprised me.

It surprised me more when I still didn't pull away.

"You were right before though. I don't belong here," I admitted quietly, almost to myself. I never belonged anywhere before, but especially here. It felt apparent. I should've belonged here after all.

I thought I was going to start when Cal and everyone else started to make me feel like being an omega wasn't all that bad.

And it didn't feel bad anymore. Sure.

But it still felt like the one thing I thought from the very start of all this mess.

Dangerous.

Lucas's hand tightened on my arm, his touch grounding me in the moment. "Then where do you belong?"

The question lingered, heavy with unspoken implications while everyone else was there too. Yet still, staring into Lucas' gorgeous eyes, I took the time to wonder, feeling as if I was falling into him further every extra second I did.

Where did I belong?

The answer seemed more elusive than ever, but in that moment, standing beside Lucas with the weight of our shared secrets hanging over us, I felt a sense of belonging I hadn't expected.

"I'm not sure anymore," I confessed, meeting his gaze with newfound determination. "I thought I did. I mean, I still kind of do, but I'm not supposed to be here at this school going into courting for an alpha or sold off?—"

"Sold off?"

"But I know it's not here," I finished my thought, not commenting on his question.

For all I knew he would turn me in for even uttering such omega blasphemy.

Lucas's eyes widened at my words, a mixture of shock and concern flashing across his features.

I held my breath, waiting for his reaction, unsure of how he would respond to my slip of tongue. His hand fell away from my arm, and for a moment, I feared the worst.

But then, to my surprise, Lucas leaned closer, closing the distance between us with a determined look in his eyes.

I looked around, though no one in the classroom was still paying any attention to us.

Honestly, out of everyone we had been the least of the professors' problems with making sure no alphas or omegas got any ideas being so close to one another so close to courting next week.

I mean, what did they expect when they closed the omegas off from the world for so long and alphas away from them? All there was unease sexual tension and the thick aroma of omega perfume leaking out here and there, no matter how trained most of the omegas here were at handling it.

I on the other hand, couldn't help it when I caught a hint of whipped cream and berries which…

Was from me.

I leaned back away from Lucas again, glancing at him, though he didn't make any comment of it.

Still, his pupils had widened.

I took a deep breath, tasting his sweet syrupy scent on my tongue again, heat starting on the back of my neck.

"You're not going to be sold off," he stated firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument. "I won't let that happen."

His words caught me off guard, sending a jolt of disbelief through me. Could I dare to believe him? Was it possible that someone from this world of strict hierarchy and tradition could stand up against it for me?

Before I could voice my thoughts, Lucas continued, his voice softer yet resolute. "You belong where you choose to be. No one has the right to force you into a fate you don't want."

Many would disagree with that and my eyebrow raise likely said enough.

"Anyway, I'm sure you'll have tons of alphas breathing down your neck to have you next week," chuckled Lucas, a hint of something sharp in his eyes as he said it.

Less humor, more… envy .

"Please," I scoffed. "Look around. No one even talks to me, let alone likes me here."

"I like you." The corner of his lips curled shyly.

"Then maybe you're not very smart," I teased.

Lucas quickly retreated his hand from my arm. I felt a strange sense of loss at the sudden absence of his touch.

There was something about him that intrigued me, something beyond the typical alpha demeanor that surrounded us. He seemed different somehow, more attuned to my struggles and emotions, though I stopped myself there.

Maybe it was true, what Lidya was saying. Maybe I was developing some sort of weird alpha withdrawal?

I was missing my alphas. The ones that I chose.

Not this one sitting in front of me.

That had to be it.

I barely even knew him. Then again, many may have argued I barely knew the Prestford pack.

I blinked, trying to process all my thoughts.

When the class finally ended, I hesitated for a moment before turning to Lucas. He met my gaze with an intensity that made my heart skip a beat.

I quickly stood up and tugged myself away from him and his delicious scent that had been clinging to me.

"Ella," he said, eyes widening at my sudden move.

"I have to go."

"Ella." Lucas reached for me again. "Is something wrong? Did I do something?"

"Nothing's wrong," I replied, my voice colder than I intended. "I just... need some space. I'm going to see my friend. I'm sorry."

With that, I took a step to walk away, leaving Lucas standing there with a look of confusion and hurt in his eyes in the classroom that suddenly felt too small.

A whirlwind of emotions churned inside me too clearly it appeared on my face.

"Alpha Lucas. Omega Elena." My attention was stopped as our names were called. All around us, others were packing themselves up and heading out of the room as well, but now, the professors' eyes were on us, watching our exchange.

I glanced back at Lucas who also paused before walking aside me up to the two professors from each academy.

"Is there a problem?" The omega professor asked. "We understand that sometimes there can be a scent issue or compatibility that can be adjusted…"

"No."

I blinked as Lucas spoke up.

All eyes turned to him. "No," he repeated. "There isn't a compatibility issue at all."

"Oh?" The alpha professor asked.

Lucas nodded. "Omega Elena is new to the traditional ways and I am seeing to her needs to serve her and make her the most comfortable in this environment. That takes time, but ultimately that kind of trust to let her omega fully open to me is one my alpha insists I should nurture."

The two professors paused, looking between us and then each other as Lucas spoke his excuse.

The alpha professor cleared his throat, his gaze lingering on Lucas before turning to me. "Omega Elena?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond to Lucas's unexpected explanation. But as I met his gaze, I saw something there that gave me pause—a flicker of understanding, a silent plea for trust. It would be all too easy to end whatever was going on here right now, but I…

God, screw it. I liked Lucas.

"Yes," I finally answered, my voice barely above a whisper.

The two professors exchanged a knowing look before nodding in unison.

"Very well, Lucas. We appreciate your dedication to helping Omega Elena adjust to our academy's customs. Remember, cooperation between alphas and omegas is essential for maintaining harmony within the pack."

Lucas nodded respectfully, his expression composed yet determined.

As the professors moved on to address another pair of students, I turned to look at him with a mixture of surprise and gratitude in my eyes.

"Thank you," I whispered, unable to hide the emotion in my voice.

Despite my initial reservations and doubts, Lucas had shown me a level of kindness and understanding that I had never expected to find in this unfamiliar world.

He offered me a small, reassuring smile before replying softly, "You don't have to thank me, Elena . But I wasn't fully lying. I do hope that you take a chance to trust me. I don't mean like an alpha either, but… I think we could both use a friend and I think that I'd be very lucky if I could count you as one."

I blinked while he offered a smile and headed back off to where the alphas were lining back up to head back to their school.

A friend…

Was it normal for a friend to be thinking about running after him and jumping him right now? Would a friend feel like their heart is screaming in their chest after a boy—an alpha they barely knew?

I shook my head.

I had other alphas to worry about though. Important alphas and Lidya should be waiting for me to tell them about them.

I quickly made my way out of the classroom and through the academy, I was already becoming all too familiar with, no matter what Lucas gave for my excuse.

When I finally saw Lidya and Adam, they were standing outside near the dorms.

Adam stood alongside her with his hands shoved in his pockets. He found my eyes almost immediately and a thick blanket of dread washed over me.

I walked faster.