42

brYLEE

The next few days are a whirlwind of activity.

With the upcoming ball fast approaching, my time is spent divided between Darling and Eros. At the former academy, we’re designing ball gowns and centerpieces and organizing orchestral arrangements. At the latter, we’re…fighting. Always fighting. That doesn’t change, even with a ball on the horizon.

What has changed, though, is the respect that “Teddie” has been getting from his fellow classmates and even a few instructors. The alphas are no longer looking at me like I’m some sort of strange, exotic specimen—a sheep in a herd of mustangs. No, instead, they regard me as an equal or someone worthy of respect. More than one person has gone out of their way to strike up a conversation with me.

Except for Alpha Team X.

They’re keeping their distance, and I can’t decide if I love or hate it.

I have to remind myself that this is what I wanted. It’s a relief to not be on the opposite end of one of their cutting barbs or harsh reprimands. At the same time, I miss their attention, and the way their combined scents cocoon me in warmth, safety, and tranquility.

Ugh. Stupid omega hormones.

And stupid Alpha Team X. How dare they weasel their way past my defenses with silly stories and kind words and gentle touches? How am I supposed to reject them when I burn for them?

While they may be treating Teddie like virtually every other student, they’re doing the exact opposite with Brylee. With…err…me. The real me. We haven’t had another date-slash-lost-bet-slash-blackmail-dinner, but they find ways to show me that they’re around, that they care. Whether it’s a note pinned to my dorm door from Kylian or a bouquet of flowers from Colter or a stuffed animal from Luka or even a passing, smoldering glance from Ridge across the fence separating the schools. They’re everywhere, constantly, and it’s becoming too much for me to ignore.

Not that I want to.

Not anymore.

Or at least, I don’t think I do. It’s hard to tell for sure. I’ve been conditioned to fear most alphas, but these men aren’t like any I’ve met before. They’re fierce, terrifying, and insanely protective…but they’re also soft and gentle. They make me smile, even when I want to cry. They make me laugh, when I once thought I never would again. They make me yearn for more, when I gave up on a happily ever after years ago.

I still can’t decide if this is a good thing or a bad thing.

I desperately want to get Teddie’s opinion on all of this, but he’s still recovering. Caran assures me he’s doing better, but it’s hard when I can’t see my twin with my own two eyes. I hate the way we left things between us.

Maybe I shouldn’t have gone behind his back the way I did and talked to Mom, but what else was I supposed to do? My brother is dying, and if we don’t do something soon, then?—

I slam a wall down on that thought, refusing to even voice it internally. Doing so will make it all the more real.

Teddie will not die.

I won’t allow it.

If I have to break into Nóthos myself to find a cure, then so be it.

Steely determination bolsters my resolve as I run through a series of defensive maneuvers Ridge is teaching us.

He stands at the front of the gymnasium, looking unfairly gorgeous in a pair of gray sweatpants and a black tank. The muscles of his forearms capture my attention more times than I care to admit.

Luka and Kylian meander through the lined up soldiers, offering corrections and advice when needed. The former wears a tight-fitted T-shirt and matching black sweats. I’ve never seen him in such casual clothes before, and it makes me wonder what he actually has in his closet. I’m almost desperate to know, which is insane. I shouldn’t want to know anything about him, let alone if he wears T-shirts often or not.

This just proves my point—I’m losing my mind around these guys.

Kylian is shirtless, which just isn’t fair. I’m already having difficulty concentrating as it is, and all of that dark, tattooed skin on display is making my mind run in the complete opposite direction of my body, which is attempting to perform two uppercuts followed by a sidekick.

I watch as Kylian stops beside an alpha and places his hands on the other man’s shoulders in an attempt to fix his stance.

A strange red tint engulfs my vision. I can practically sense steam emanating from my ears.

I feel…jealous.

Jealous and angry and infuriated that my mate is touching someone else when I’m in the room.

I’ve never had such a visceral reaction before—not with my exes.

Calm the fuck down, Brylee! I mentally chastise myself, ripping my gaze away and focusing on the front of the room.

This is exactly why I need to keep my distance from them. I’m beginning to lose my damn mind whenever they’re in the same room as me.

“Good job, everyone,” Ridge says, folding his arms over his chest. Despite his praise, the scowl on his face is harsh, a slash. “Take five.”

All of the alphas surrounding me let out sighs of relief and move toward the bleachers where we stashed our bags at the beginning of class.

Sam falls into step with me as soon as I grab my water bottle.

“Hey.” Sweaty hair flops across his forehead, and he irritatedly brushes it away with the back of his hand. “How are you holding up?”

“Well, I’m pretty sure I lost feeling in both of my legs when we had to do that hour of conditioning, but other than that? Just peachy,” I tell him as I plop on the bleacher bench and chug down my water.

Sam nods and moves to sit beside me. I notice he’s been doing that a lot lately. Ever since I saved his life, he’s been following me around like a besotted puppy. A part of me worries he’s developed a little hero crush, but when I awkwardly brought it up, Sam looked horrified and told me that he’s just grateful I’m his friend. Not really buying it, but whatever. I like Sam, even if it’s not in that way.

The two of us sit in companionable silence as we both struggle to get our breathing under control.

“So…” Sam shifts his weight and clears his throat. “How’s the…uhhh…secret going?” He doesn’t even bother to lower his voice to a whisper.

I swear the boy has the subtlety of a ram in a china shop.

“Sam,” I chastise, giving him a disapproving stare.

He immediately blushes and glances down. “Sorry. I don’t mean to be…” He sighs and runs a hand through his hair, ruffling the strands. “Look, I’m being weird, aren’t I?”

I place my pointer finger and thumb a millimeter apart. “Just a bit.”

“I just don’t know how to act around you anymore,” he confesses, a tiny bit of exasperation tinging his tone. “You saved my life, and I’m grateful for that. But you’re also…um… you , and I understand why no one can discover the truth, but it feels… I don’t know.” He throws his hands in the air. “I’m fucking this all up, aren’t I?”

I nudge his shoulder with mine. “Nah. You’re doing fine.”

Sam’s smile turns more genuine. “I’m doing awful, but thank you for lying and trying to make me feel better.”

“You just need to stop tiptoeing around me,” I tell him. “I’m still the same person you met that first day.”

The beta throws his head back and laughs. “You’re definitely not the same person I met that first day. But…I’m beginning to believe that I like this new version better.”

His compliment brings an unexpected blush to my cheeks.

I know I’ve changed since I’ve been a student at Eros Academy. It’s nice to receive confirmation that it’s been for the better.

I reach for my water bottle yet again but pause with it halfway to my mouth. I become distinctly aware of eyes on me. It’s an almost physical weight on my shoulders, and my stomach twists into a dozen intricate knots. Slowly, keeping my water bottle raised, I swivel my head.

Only to see Colter leaning against the door to the gym, watching me. Always watching me.

A strange heat prickles my skin, and I bite down on my lower lip.

Colter rarely attends class, despite being the instructor. He much prefers to watch. Assess. Study. I’m always all too aware of his presence and the caress of his eyes on me.

Like Kylian, he’s shirtless, and I can see the numerous scars littering his muscular torso. His jeans hang low on his hips, hugging them in a way that seems almost indecent. Today, he wears a new skull mask, which only covers the top half of his face, with tiny slits for eyes. I can just make out the lush curve of his lips and the barest hint of stubble on his jawline, as if he hasn’t shaved in a few days.

It’s the first time I’ve seen his lips, and damn. Warmth flickers in my lower belly as I imagine tracing those lips, kissing them, them kissing me.

Though I know I need to look away, I can’t tear my gaze from him. I’m captivated.

Kylian moves away from Ridge and Luka to strike up a conversation with the giant alpha, though Colter never takes his eyes off of me, despite nodding at something Kylian says.

It’s too much.

Too damn much.

My blood… It feels like it’s on fire. I suddenly have the desperate urge to scratch at my skin. Has it always felt this…tight? Constricting?

“Oh no,” Sam whispers in alarm, his nostrils flaring.

From behind me, an alpha releases a surprised growl, and another voice exclaims, “Holy fuck.”

“Do you smell that?” a third voice chimes in.

I can’t speak, can’t breathe, can’t even think. All I’m aware of is the heat that eats away at me like moths nibbling on a blanket. I’m on fire.

More and more alphas begin to jerk to awareness. Nostrils flare, heads tilt up, and eyes bulge.

“Are we smelling an omega all the way from the academy?”

“Holy fuck, that smells good.”

“I’m so goddamn hard right now.”

Voices blend together, until I can’t differentiate one from the other.

“Please tell me this isn’t you,” Sam all but begs, his voice managing to penetrate the hazy fog my brain has become. “I thought you said you’re on…” He glances in both directions and then lowers his voice to a whisper. “I thought you said you’re on suppressors.”

“I am,” I whimper as a needy ache unfurls deep in my chest. My panties turn damp.

And the fire? It’s everywhere. I’m nothing but a flaming torch, and I’m burning, burning, burning.

My scent blocker spray from this morning? Useless. Might as well have been water.

An unfamiliar alpha student jumps to his feet, a growl traveling up his throat, and he begins to assess the room with keen, predatory eyes. Another alpha joins him, then another, then another, and it takes me a moment to realize they’re searching for the omega with the scent.

They’re searching for me .

Icy cold fingers of dread creep down my spine.

Oh…fuck.

Fuck, fuck, fuck.

I’m going into heat.

I’m in a building full of alpha males, and I’m going into goddamn heat.

And I have no idea how I’m going to get out of this.