Chapter 2
Chapter Two
T hree weeks had passed since Emerson walked up the steps of Cascadia Academy. In that time, he realized just how much being among other omega helped heal his battered soul. Of course, it took some time to acclimate to the Alpha staff, including Ronan Thomas, Emerson’s social instructor. The Alpha made sure to touch and flirt with Emerson, something he’d never experienced before. All he’d ever been good at was chores. He couldn’t even remember the last time he accepted a compliment.
Even if that compliment was embedded within a lesson.
“It’s not fair,” Olin muttered. “These Alpha get away with doing too much here.”
Emerson glanced up from his lunch as three omegas came to sit with him. Olin, Jansen, Matt each had healthy, loving families. If Emerson had to describe them in a word, he’d choose coddled. Why? Because they didn’t know the cruelty of life. All they had to do was bat their eyes and pout and they’d have whatever they wanted. How easy or simple of a life it must be to have no worries.
“What did you expect?” Jansen asked, sitting beside Emerson. “Tell him, Em. This is the Alphas’ jobs. To train us how to act.”
Emerson shrugged. “Better than being ignored.”
“See,” Matt murmured. “He gets it.”
He wanted to vomit on each of them. They had no clue what real life entailed. They went through their days without a care in the word. What would they know about getting anything an Alpha did? “Sometimes it better to do what the Alpha says than it is to be ignored.”
Jansen frowned. “Why would any Alpha ignore an omega? Especially when the omega is their mate?”
Emerson could think of a million reasons. He glanced at Jansen. His pale-golden eyes held a note of curiosity and a healthy dose of fear. Good, as it should be . “Because some Alphas don’t care about their mates. All they care about is status and presentation. You’re in for a rude awakening if you think this is unfair.” He gathered his things along with his half-eaten food and left the table. He didn’t have time for simpering omegas. They didn’t understand the cruelties of life in general, let alone with a mate who didn’t acknowledge their existence.
Not that he was a mate.
It was just... Three heat cycles and neither Alpha in the house helped him or even realized what he went through. Nor did they care. His heart fisted in his chest as tears burned behind his nose and clogged his throat. It wasn’t the fact he wanted either Alpha in the house, still the least they could have done was found a suitable replacement. Instead, they’d been content with allowing Emerson to suffer.
That’d been the day he realized exactly what his position within the family would always be. A house omega. He cooked, cleaned, helped his half-siblings with homework, and did the school activities with the kids. Everything else, he was on his own. Coming to Cascadia Academy opened his eyes to just how neglected he’d been for longer than he wanted to think about.
As he slipped out of the cafeteria, the scent of warm apple pie and cinnamon assailed him, causing his mouth to water. The last time he smelled anything as indulgently sweet, he’d been at home baking for the holidays. He inhaled once more and followed the aroma, sure once he found the source he’d be rewarded with a tasty, sweet treat.
Instead, he came around the corner and ran right into a slab of concrete he didn’t realize was there. A set of hands grabbed at his wrists, steadying Emerson as he stumbled back, not sure how he got into that position, but thankful, nevertheless. His heart raced. His mind spun. Each breath pulled more of that tantalizing scent into his nose, weakening him. His dick twitched and strained. The embarrassment of his slick easing from his ass, should’ve had him running far away. Yet, he stood there, staring at the ground, unable to break away. Of all the times...
“Well, this is interesting,” a familiar voice muttered as if the words were a curse, not a blessing. Though that was the most familiar to him—curses. “Look at me, Emerson.”
The pull of an Alpha’s voice could twist an omega’s insides until they followed through with the command. This time was no different. No matter how Emerson tried to tune out the intonation of his voice or reject the command in the man’s voice, he was compelled and that pissed Emerson off more.
“No.” Emerson kept his gaze on a point just past the Alpha’s shoulder, unwilling to meet his gaze.
He exhaled. “There are better ways to go about this.”
Yes, there were. None of which mattered one bit to Emerson. He’d rather rot than look at the bastard in front of him. “Go home, Orion.”
“No can do. I was sent here to bring you back.”
“You can tell your father he is free of me. You, for all I care, can eat a bag of dicks.” Ire burned within Emerson’s stomach igniting an inferno of rage he’d held onto since his mother’s death. They treated him like a slave instead of a member of the family. Stirred wants within him he had no business craving, let alone uttering in public.
Orion smirked. The tug of his bow-shaped mouth drew Emerson’s attention, and the smile grew. “Here you are, almost three thousand miles away from home. An omega on your own.” He crossed his arms, widening his stance. “For the life of me, I can’t figure out what twisted your panties so badly you left.”
“Isn’t that convenient,” he replied, lifting his chin. “Go home, Orion. Tell your father?—”
“You don’t order me around, little omega. You’re not in charge here.”
Emerson guffawed. “Look around, Orion. You’re out numbered here. The Alphas protect the omegas at this academy.”
“Are you saying we didn’t protect you?” His eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed in consternation.
“I’m saying I’m not your issue anymore. You’re not my blood. I’m not yours. Let’s make this a clean break that way you and your father can find your mate.”
“What about Scout and Cinder, or Cora? What should I tell them since they are your blood.”
A twinge of guilt settled over Emerson’s heart. He hated leaving them behind, but when it came to his sanity, he had to choose himself for a change. Not them. “Tell them whatever you want. Blame me for all I care.”
“You hate us that much?” Orion canted his head. “What did we do?”
“If you don’t know, I can’t tell you.” The years he spent feeling less than. Used and abused. Tortured and left begging for attention... He’d never go home. Not even if his stepfather demanded it. “As I’m sure you’re aware, you can’t even cancel my tuition. I’ve done this for myself. Now, leave me alone.”
“No,” Orion stated, straightening his shoulders and puffing out his chest, showing off his machismo. Unfortunately for him, Orion no longer spellbound Emerson. That magic broke the minute he went into heat, and no one helped him.
“Well, this has been a productive conversation,” Emerson said, stepping around Orion. “See you never.”
Orion grabbed Emerson’s arm and heat rushed through his body. His heart throbbed at the contact. His dick betrayed him. Every bit of him wanted to whimper with the pleasure of finally experiencing the Alpha’s touch. Then reality came rushing back and, like a cold bucket of water being thrown over Emerson’s head, the memories of his mistreatment filled his mind, extinguishing any arousal arcing within him.
“Don’t make me have to scream, Orion,” Emerson muttered, keeping his tone even. “You’ll have the entire school on your ass quicker than you can get on the next plane home.”
He growled, tightening his grip before letting go. “What’s made you a frigid bitch?”
Emerson ran his tongue over his teeth as he exhaled. “You, Orion. You and your worthless father. What? Did you think I didn’t know about your trysts? About the omega that came and went from your bed? How about the days of caring for children who aren’t mine, without recognition or appreciation? Did you think you could continue to walk all over me and believe because I was some orphan omega, you could treat me worse than the dirt on the soles of your shoes?” Rage burned a heady trail across his senses as he stepped into Orion. “Answer this question, stepbrother. How many heat cycles over the years have I been through and still kept your home running? Maybe if you can answer that, I’ll think about going home. Until then, go away. I never want to lay eyes on you again.”
His nostrils flared. His eyes filled with recrimination and shame, but the fury burned brighter in those amber eyes of his. Alphas like Orion didn’t enjoy being put in their place by a lowly omega like Emerson. “You lie.”
Emerson chuckled. “If telling yourself I’m lying makes it easy to leave this place and sleep better at night, then, by all means, continue to think so little of me. I haven’t sought your approval or your father’s for years.” He didn’t wait to see what Orion had to say, instead he hurried toward his dorm room. His heart hammered. His stomach knotted. He’d have to inform the school that Orion shouldn’t be on campus. If they couldn’t keep him away, well, Emerson would find another school who would.
The pounding of footsteps behind him, echoed off the concrete walls, causing him to wince. Cinnamon and apples wrapped around him before Orion’s snarl registered. “You don’t get to lay all that at my feet and walk away like it meant nothing.”
“Why not?” Emerson continued walking, clinging to his bag while taking shallow breaths to keep the apple pie smell at bay. “You’ve perfected it.”
“You can’t blame this all on us, Em. You’ve been pulling away too.” Orion stuck with him while encroaching on his space.
“Do you know when I knew I didn’t matter to you or your father?” Emerson spat.
“When?”
“Six weeks after my mother died. You didn’t ask if I was okay. You didn’t help me with Scout and Cinder or Cora. You fucked every omega in a ten-mile radius. You didn’t even notice I went through my first heat cycle at thirteen. Or that I cried myself to sleep because of the pain. You never do.” He kept his voice deathly quiet. “None of it matters now. I’m here and you’re going home.”
“No, he’s not,” Callum said, stopping Emerson dead in his tracks. “Hello, son.”
Of all the bullshit he didn’t need. Now Callum was there? The man who’d been more oblivious than his son. The man who didn’t know his ass from a hole in the ground. “I am not your son. Nor will I ever be. You’ve made it quite clear over the years I’ve meant nothing to you.”
“You wound me.”
“Not bad enough,” Emerson grumbled. “Go home. Have the life you deserve, Callum. Allow me to find someone who will appreciate me.”
“Appreciate you?”
“Yeah,” Orion said. “Seems we’ve missed some very damning cues from Emerson, including the fact he’s watched us and he’s jealous.”
Out of everything he said to Orion, that’s what he gathered? Emerson hissed. “Both of you can go fuck yourselves. You’re free of me. I don’t need you. I don’t want you. Leave me alone. Go find some other omega to harass.”
“Hey!” Alpha Thomas jogged toward them; a scowl etched on his face. “What the fuck is going on here? How did you get onto this campus?”
Of all the Alpha instructors, Ronan was the kindest. He liked to pamper omegas and reward them for their hard work. Something Emerson realized he enjoyed. Or maybe it was the lack of any emotion shown to him, that he yearned for the slightest bit of praise.
“This doesn’t concern you,” Callum said, staring a hole through Emerson.
When he was younger, perhaps the first time he met Callum, he thought the Alpha was beautiful. He had short brown hair and eyes the color of the clearest ocean on the calmest beach. He was all muscle. Hard and stout. He smelled good too. Like fresh coffee on a winter’s morning along with the bitter chill of frost. Sprigs of evergreen twined with his scent when he’d been in a good mood. But soured when he was angry, which seemed, lately, to be often, adding to the rejection consuming Emerson every second he stayed in that home.
“Seeing as Emerson is my student; I’d say this is my concern.” Ronan placed his hand on Emerson’s shoulder, chasing away some of the anxious energy knotting his stomach. “Are you okay?”
Emerson soaked up the concern in Ronan’ voice. He also appreciated the instructor coming between him and a family squabble he no longer wanted to participate in. “I wanted to go to my room. They wouldn’t leave me alone.”
Ronan’ head snapped up. “How did you get on campus?”
Callum cursed under his breath. “He’s my son.”
“I am nothing to you,” Emerson said before directing his attention to Ronan. “My mother is dead. He was a stepfather to me. I am not blood related to him. He is not my Alpha. He’s proved that time and time again. I don’t even know how they found me.”
Callum growled.
Orion exhaled.
“Come with me,” Ronan said. “I’ll have security deal with them while I keep you safe.”
“The fuck you will,” Callum snarled. “He’s my omega.”
“I am not your omega. I’ve never been your omega. The only reason you want me back in that fucking house of yours, is so that you don’t have to do anything but sit on the couch and fuck omega when the feeling is right. I am only a slave to you. I hate it there. I won’t go back with you.” Emerson tried to slow his breathing as he willed his heart to comply. Seeing Callum and Orion after being away for a month not only broke his heart, but caused an anxiety attack, he was sure would kill him.
“Leave,” Ronan said, “now! Before I call security and have you arrested for trespassing.”
“This is not over,” Callum muttered. “Not by a long shot, Emerson. I’ll have you back quicker than you’ll be able to apologize for this bullshit.”
“This bullshit is your making, Callum,” Emerson said, lifting his chin so their gazes clashed. “The only thing wrong with you right now is the fact I’m telling you no, and you’ve never been rejected before.” A thread of confidence wrapped around him, bolstered by Ronan’ appearance. “Tell me, how does it feel knowing not all omega fall at your feet in worship?”
He didn’t wait for an answer, instead pivoting to follow Ronan toward the administration offices. Emerson kept his head high and his shoulders back. He wouldn’t allow the asshole to see him break. If anything, he wanted to make every second sting like the last nine years of his life had.
Then maybe they’d be even.