Chapter 1 #4
If the numbers keep increasing, the attention is going to be shifted looking for someone to blame. If whispers already have my family’s name, it won’t take much for the attention to be put on my father.
I need to stop this before that happens, and before any more students die.
If I could, I’d stay here, close to where the source is, but with Rickie’s threats, I can’t risk it.
I have to leave. And I don’t think Rickie means going to the next town over.
“Beckham.” My father raises his voice.
“Sorry.” I sigh, scrubbing my face with my hand. My body screams it needs sleep, but my mind won’t settle. “What were you saying?”
“I said, you need to come home. If you insist on teaching, then you should get a job at Crown Well. There’s a position in your field. Professor Wilkins passed away a month ago. They’re needing someone to fill his spot.”
“Wait, really?” That perks me up a bit.
“If you want the job, it’s yours.”
My brows furrow. “Crown Well isn’t your territory though.”
“Are you debating the pull I have, son?”
“No,” I say quickly. “Never.”
“Good. Now, as I said, if you want the job, I’ll make it happen."
Crown Well Academy is a few towns over, maybe a forty minute drive from home. Close enough. And a way better school than the one I’m teaching at now.
“I have been thinking I need a change of scenery.”
“Really?” He sounds surprised. I don’t blame him. He’s been trying to get me to move back home for years now and I’ve always said no.
“You're right. This school has gone downhill. I’ve tried to do my best, and while it worked for awhile, I can’t do it anymore. As much as I want to stay for the students, this job is more draining than it is rewarding.”
“Then it’s time for something new. Crown Well is a good school. Good staff. You will be respected there and a good asset. They would be lucky to have you.”
“If you can make it happen, then I’ll take the job.”
“Consider it done.” I can’t help but smile at the bit of joy in his voice. “Finalize anything you have to do down there quickly. I want you home for the summer. Would be good for you to get involved with the family a bit more.”
Huh. Well that's the in I needed, but wasn’t sure I’d be able to get so easily after being away for so long.
“I’d like that.” And honestly, I mean it.
“I quit,” I say as soon as I step into the Dean's office. He looks up at me, brows furrowed.
“Excuse me?”
“I said, I quit.”
“You can’t quit.” He jumps to his feet.
“I can.” I narrow my eyes. “I didn’t sign any contracts. I’m free to go whenever I please.”
“B-but what about classes? Exams are about to start. You can't just leave.”
“Find someone else to fill my spot. I can, and will be leaving.” I hate leaving my students so abruptly like this, but everything that’s left in the curriculum I had planned is just review material to prep.
“I’ll leave all my notes and everything else they would need.
But I am leaving. Today. I’ve already collected my things from my classroom. ”
“Why on earth are you doing this?” He fumes.
I can’t tell him the truth, exactly. So I tell him what I can.
“This school has only ever treated me poorly. I deserve better. I put up with it this long because I enjoyed my job, rather than the people I worked with. But it’s clear you and your staff have no professionalism.
Your receptionist is petty, you turn a blind eye to a clear drug issue on campus and you, Sir, are a homophobe.
” His eyes widen, spluttering. “So, that is why I’m doing this. ”
Turning on my heel, I leave the building, get in my car and drive to the airport.
Anything that I wanted to keep, I packed up and shipped home over the weekend. All I have with me now are a few bags of clothes and valuables.
The flight home was fine. I slept through most of it. I guess having less on my mind helps me get a bit of sleep.
Still, the unease of returning home lingers.
There’s a reason why I left, and honestly it didn’t have anything to do with not wanting to be part of the family business.
A lot of it had to do with wanting to live my own life, outside of the lifestyle I grew up in, even if it was only for a little while.
Once I land, I grab my bags and head towards the exit. My plan was to get an uber, but when I see an older man in a black suit and sunglasses, standing next to a black SUV, I know my father sent his own ride.
“Hi Jefferson.” I chuckle as I reach the car.
“Master Kennedy." He nods, opening the back door for me.
“That's my father. Call me Beckham,” I tell him, just like every other time he called me that in the past.
He responds with silence, shutting the car door once I am in. He won’t be calling me Beckham. He never has.
The drive back was filled with only my own thoughts. Seems to be the running theme of my life these days.
Once we pull up to the gate, a sense of nostalgia hits me. I’ve been gone for ten years, only seeing my father on special occasions.
How has it been this long since I’ve been home?
I had a good life here, filled with good memories.
Until it wasn’t. Until every corner I took, I saw the monster who ripped a piece of my soul away.
When we pull up to the house, my father is standing on the stairs in his black and red suit looking put together as always, with his black hair slicked back, and his hands behind his back.
A smile takes over my face and I throw the door open, unable to keep my excitement in seeing him contained.
“Beckham.” He greets me with a chuckle and a matching grin. He hugs me tightly, patting my back firmly. “It’s wonderful to have you home.”
“I’m glad to be back.” It isn’t a lie. I might be here for more sinister reasons, but I’m looking forward to the new job, one that my father did happen to get for me within only a few days.
“Come in, come in,” dad says, taking a step back. “Your room is still the way you left it. But I did have the staff make sure there were fresh sheets on your bed.”
“Thanks.” I chuckle.
“After you're settled in, we’re going out for supper.”
“I could eat.” I agree.
“Of course you could. Look at you.” He eyes me up and down. “You’re skin and bones. When are you going to get yourself a pack? You need someone to look after you, Beckham. You're not doing a very good job at doing it yourself.”
“We talked about this dad. I don’t want a pack.” I sigh.
“You're a thirty-five year old single omega.” He huffs.
“And when the time is right, I’ll get a pack. Until then, I’m fine. Really.”
“Maybe I’ll set you up with a few dates.” He ignores me.
“Dad.” I warn, giving him a look.
“Fine fine,” he grumbles. “But when you take over, you're going to need a good strong pack at your side."
“Why? You did it alone, and you’ve done just fine.”
Growing up, any time I asked my dad why our family wasn’t a pack like most people we knew, he would always respond the same way.
He was a jealous person, and didn’t like to share. My mother was his scent match, and she was the only one he needed. And he was the only alpha she wanted.
Right up until my mother passed away when my sister was just a baby and I was five, leaving my father a single dad. He did a good job all on his own. I don’t know why he thinks I need a pack.
“That’s different and you know it. I didn’t need anyone else.”
“And you think I do?” I ask, raising a brow. “Why?”
“Because…”
And then it clicks. “Because I’m an omega.” I glare at him.
“Beckham–” he starts.
“I don’t want to hear this again dad,” I warn.
His jaw clenches and I know he wants to argue more, but he won’t because he just got me back and isn’t willing to risk me turning around and leaving. That doesn't mean he won’t bring this up again.
“Fine. Let’s go in. Sooner you settle in, the sooner we can eat.”
We start to head towards the door, and that's when I see him. Ralph. My father’s second in command.
His cold eyes stare back at me, a smile on his face that sends a shiver of dread down my spine and my stomach turning.
“Ah, Ralph. There you are. Beckham’s back. Can you believe it?” my dad says proudly.
“The long lost son returns," he chuckles. “Good to see you again Beckham. It’s been awhile.”
I stare back at him with pure hatred.
There was a bigger reason I left, one that has been haunting me for the past ten years.
And now, I’m forced to see that reason again.
I’m stronger than I was before. Healed a lot too.
I won’t let him take that power from me. Not again. Not ever again.
I’m older now. Stronger. He can’t hurt me. If he tries, I’ll kill him.