Chapter 33 Faye #2
“I’m sorry I can’t extend the invite, Ren,” Carmen tells him. “But it’s strictly bonded alphas only. Don’t worry, though. I hired extra security, so your omega will be safe.” She nods at our interlocked fingers. “From the looks of it, you’ll be attending our next party, though.”
Ren’s eyes light up. “I hope so.”
“You two are the cutest.” Carmen declares while checking her watch. “Your class is almost starting. See you later, mi amor.”
Amora turns to me as Carmen skips off. “Are you ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I answer grimly, feeling like a soldier heading into battle.
“Did you finish the essay on ginger root?”
“Just about.” I grimace. “It took forever.”
The three of us enter the greenhouse, proceeding down the path to our classroom where Ren stops to part ways. He kisses my cheek in farewell. “I’ll meet you after class.”
I feign a smile, dread bubbling in my stomach as me and Amora make our way to our work station. Professor Grub is already waiting, which is rare as he has a habit of waltzing in late. His expression is thunderous as he scowls and squints around the room, turning my knees to jelly.
“Today you will be working on diminitae oil.” He points at the blackboard, launching straight into class before everyone has even got out their notebooks. “What are its uses?”
A hand shoots up in the front row. “It can reduce an omega or alpha’s scenting ability.”
Amora and I exchange a look. This mixture is not exactly something we’d expect to see on the syllabus, especially given how dangerous it could be to us.
“And why would they use it?” Grub prompts.
“To make them less scent sensitive in large social situations,” the student replies.
“And to stop them from wanting to fuck all the time,” a male beta, who gives me seriously bad vibes, snickers.
“Before we proceed.” Professor Grub whips around in my direction and barks, “Nightingale, do you have your essay on ginger root?”
“Y-yes.” I fish it out of my backpack. “Here it is.”
He snatches the paper, scans it, then begins reading segments for the entire class.
“Grows best in warmer and tropical climates, found natively in… No, no, no! You have to be more specific!” My mouth goes dry as he picks more sentences to pull apart, reading those aloud too.
The paper took me ages, and it’s thoroughly researched, but he finds holes in most things I’ve written and twists my words.
“Some people use ginger to assist with motion sickness. Not just motion sickness, but all kinds of gastrointestinal issues! Did you even try, Miss Nightingale?”
I dig my nails into the palms of my hands, wishing I could point out that I listed many other conditions alongside motion sickness.
“She was probably too busy fucking some alpha,” the beta who gives me bad vibes sneers.
Finally, when Professor Grub reaches the end, he tears my essay—literally ripping it into tiny pieces before throwing them into the air.
“May this be a lesson to everyone,” Professor Grub announces. “You’ll have to do better than that if you want to stay in my class.”
“But—” Amora begins. She rarely speaks up in class and is so soft-spoken that no one else hears her.
“It’s okay,” I whisper before Grub turns his attention to her. “Don’t worry about it.” I don’t want her becoming his next target.
Professor Grub clicks his fingers then points at the shreds of paper at his feet.
“Clean up the paper and put it in the compost, Nightingale. Let’s see if you can do that correctly.
” He rolls his eyes melodramatically then for the benefit of the misogynist asshole beta adds, “It’s times like this when I question why omegas are allowed to attend college. ”
My stomach drops. Until now, I’d put his comments down to him simply being a dick, but he’s being outwardly discriminatory. He obviously holds a grudge against omegas, and I’m being targeted for my designation.
If Sabs were here, she’d throw a fit. If it were Kady, she’d reel off all the legislation he was breaking and threaten to sue.
If Delilah were here, she’d probably have a clever, rational comeback to catch Grub out.
Gram could muster up an impassioned speech about omega rights on the spot.
But I’m not like my Stella sisters or Gram.
“Faye.” When I stand, Amora grabs my arm to hold me back. “You don’t have to do this.”
“It’s fine,” I murmur.
Clearly, Professor Grub gets his kicks from these kinds of power trips, and right now, I don’t know what else to do. I know his actions are wrong, but he’s my teacher, and my future rests on this course, so what other choice do I have? Maybe if I do what he asks, he’ll tire of tormenting me.
I make my way to the front of the class, my cheeks flaming in humiliation. Just as I’m about to bend down, a growl comes from behind me. “Stay where you are, Faye.”
I spin to see my gorgeous, nerdy alpha standing tall with his teeth bared, glaring in Professor Grub’s direction. I’ve never seen Ren angry before, but judging by the blazing look in his eyes and the smell of burnt parchment, he’s absolutely seething.
Ren steps in front of me, creating a human shield between me and Professor Grub. “I’ve been recording your class today, Professor Grub.” Ren holds up his phone like it’s a weapon. “I’ve documented at least three violations against SVU policy and the Omega Rights Act.”
Professor Grub’s mouth opens and closes like a stunned goldfish. “Well, look here, Mr. Brooks,” Professor Grub garbles, knowing he’s been caught. “I think you’ll find you’ve taken this the wrong way.”
“You can’t argue with the evidence,” Ren scowls. “And I’m sure Dean Rivers will agree that your teaching style is not a good fit for SVU.”
“You wait here for one minute!” Grub points at him with a shaking finger. “You can’t throw around baseless accusations. This is my class!”
“And this is my omega.” Standing his ground, Ren motions to me. “Nobody talks to Faye or any other omega like that. Omegas have worked too hard and fought for too long to be treated with such disrespect.” He wraps his arms protectively around my waist. “We’re leaving. Now.”
He marches us from the greenhouse, not letting go of me until we’re outside in the fresh air, and I realize that I’m trembling.
“Are you okay, baby?” Ren pulls me into his chest, his paperback book scent instant slowing my galloping heart.
“I-I think so.”
Ren steers me away, leading us down a quiet road to stand under a large blossoming tree, while he types furiously on his cell phone with his spare hand.
“You will never have to be taught by that monster again.” He puts his hands on my shoulders. “I can’t believe they let someone like him run a class.” He shakes his head, softening his voice. “Why didn’t you tell us what was happening? We could have helped.”
“I guess I didn’t want to believe that someone I admired so much was an omega hater.” Shame floods through me, wishing I’d spoken up before now. “And maybe because part of me was embarrassed.”
“No one speaks to you like that, Faye. No one,” Ren states firmly. He parts his lips to say more, but his phone beeps, so he checks it. “That’s Cole. I sent him all the evidence, and he’s on his way to meet with the dean right now. Grub will be out of SVU by the end of the day.”
“I still can’t believe you did that.” I bite my lip. “You were supposed to be on the other side of the greenhouse.”
“Something felt off after what Carmen said.” Ren shrugs. “I thought I’d listen in for a few minutes, and I’m glad I did. I couldn’t stand back and watch him humiliate you. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I am now.” I grin up at him, getting lost in his mesmerizing blue orbs. “Because of you, alpha.”
Now that I’m over the shock, I can’t deny how sexy it was to see him defend me like that. My mild-mannered alpha has a dark side.
“Fuck, Faye,” he groans as my perfume blooms. “Your scent makes me go crazy.”
“What you did was the most alpha thing I’ve ever seen.”
He leans to whisper, “As much as I’d love to bend you over right here and show you how much of an alpha I really am, SVU has strict rules against knotting in public spaces.”
“But I need you, alpha.”
“What my omega wants my omega gets.” Ren grabs my hand, pulling me farther down to the road to where Frank is parked. “I asked Frank to wait for us as I thought we could go to Forestville for lunch after you finished.”
As Frank gets out to open the door for us, Ren fishes out his wallet.
“Take an early lunch, Frank.” Ren hands him a fifty. “There’s a cafe you’ll like just around the corner. Leave the keys.”
Frank tips his hat. “Gotcha, Mr. Brooks.”
As soon as we’re in the backseat, Ren climbs on top of me. Thankfully, the seats are larger than a standard car, but there’s still little space. The charged atmosphere in the aftermath of Grub’s dressing down has me pining for Ren, the smell of my arousal filling the car within seconds.
Ren’s mouth descends on mine, all of his protective alpha energy coming out in a flood. We’re consuming each other, kissing passionately while tearing at each other’s clothes.
Why did I think a one-piece was a good idea? I awkwardly shuffle out of them—even a few seconds are way too long to wait—before Ren rips off my panties victoriously.
“I need you, alpha,” I whine, bucking my hips. “Take me.”
“Don’t look away, baby.” Ren unleashes his cock. “I want to look into your eyes while I ruin you.”
His words make my slick flow, gushing even faster when he rubs the silky tip of his head against me, coating himself.
“Such a big, strong alpha.” I wrap my legs around his body to pull him closer, grinding against him. “So fucking hot.”
I need him.
Now.
He thrusts inside me hard and fast, like he wants to claim every part of me and mark his territory.
“You’re all mine, baby,” he pants. “All fucking mine.”
If anyone were to walk past, they’d see the car rocking. To my knowledge, there’s no rule about knotting inside cars on campus, right? I push the thought aside as he thrusts mercilessly, wailing and clawing at his back while his growing knot strokes my insides.
“Fuck yes!” I gasp. “Ren!”
It’s the first time he’s touched me without asking, and I loved seeing him abandon his caution to fully embrace the moment.
Ren’s sweet and kind—my comfort—but he also hides a fire underneath his softness.
And holy hell, when he lets loose. He’s a dark horse.
A bookworm on the streets and a freakish alpha in the sheets should be his tagline.
He fucks me like a wild animal until I’m quaking from orgasm after orgasm that leave me shaking to the core. “Knot me, alpha,” I plead, pawing at him, consumed by need. “Please.”
My pussy clamps onto his knot as he locks in place, rinsing him as he comes hard. When he finally collapses on top of me, finished, both of us fully spent, I struggle to catch my breath.
“Thank you.” I run my fingers through his messy hair while he stays knotted inside me. The sexy inferno whirlwind has tempered into a comforting crackling fire as Ren’s inner sex beast retreats. “For protecting me.”
“Anything for you, Faye.”
Sincerity bleeds into his words. Our relationship is moving with such a fast-paced intensity, and I’m already struggling to imagine what life would look like without him in it.