Chapter 3
THREE
Playing: better off by Ariana Grande
I butchered the audition.
At least, I feel like I did. After being subjected to Jett fucking Fitzgerald, my focus was less on my words and more on how his eyes refused to leave me.
I mean, we were forced to audition in front of the entire class so technically he didn’t do anything wrong, but he could have at least tried to do something else. Take out his phone, go over his own lines. But no . He had to sit there and watch me with those lasers disguised as eyes.
Stunning, beautiful green eyes. Ones that slant slightly when he’s nonchalantly pissing me off.
I swear he does it on purpose. This intimidating act of his. He loves making me flustered and it’s the absolute worst because he’s so good at it.
I like to pride myself on being practically un-moveable. It feels so out of character for this alpha to have this kind of control over me. And the fact that I can’t smell him drives me up the fucking wall.
I thought he was a beta for months when we first met because omegas and alphas can only smell betas if they’re scent matches, in the same pack, or related. Then I overhead him say something about being an alpha to one of our classmates and it threw my whole theory into the water.
Then why can’t I fucking smell him?
It’s a conspiracy, I swear.
Not to mention, he’s fucking hot . With his worn-out leather jackets and his long wavy hair. It’s fucking infuriating .
There’s practically smoke coming out of my ears by the time I make it to the dining hall. I grab a tray and go down the line, trying to focus on my breathing while scooping up as many tater tots as I can: the dinner of a future academy-award winner.
My best friend Stacia is already sitting at our usual spot with two of her scent matches. Her and Kendall laugh together at something Ciro said, their joy vibrating; it’s palpable in the air even from across the hall. I can’t hide the smile that it brings to my face.
I can’t describe just how happy I am by my best friend’s new bonds.
After watching her dickwad of an ex try to stomp out her light, I wanted to burn down the world.
Those months were beyond stressful, but her happiness has only gone uphill since she met her scent matches.
Thinking about it too long makes me a bit emotional.
Since we no longer live together, we meet here in the dining hall a few times a week to catch up.
Over the summer it was easier, since neither of us had a set schedule, but since the new semester has started, I’ve been swamped.
And, even though Stacia doesn’t attend Bensen anymore, being knee-deep in her manuscript and her new job has taken up a lot of her time.
We’re just a couple of starving artists, trying our damn best.
She spots me and smiles widely as I take a spot beside her. She steals a tater tot off my plate, but smacks Ciro’s hand when he tries to do the same. “Don’t you know not to steal food off of an omega’s plate?”
Ciro jokingly scoffs at her. “You just stole a tot yourself!”
“Yes, because Rory loves me. I’m her favorite person, and we’ve known each other a long time.”
“That may be true, but I’m working my way up. I’m definitely at least her second favorite.”
He looks at me for confirmation, which prompts me to shake my head. “Don’t put me in this position. Ciro, you’re definitely my favorite of Stacia’s mates, but she’ll always have the top spot.”
“What?!” Kendall balks. “I thought we were creating a rapport.”
“And I told you from the start that Ciro is the most interesting.”
I try not to laugh at the smug look on Ciro’s face as Kendall sneers at him. Before they can continue bickering, I look at my best friend. “Thank you for telling Opal about my totally-not-weird thing with cherry coke.”
She laughs. “You mean your completely superstitious tradition thing?”
I jab her in the ribs with my index finger. “My love for it is not mutually exclusive with my auditions, you know this.”
“Yeah, of course, but the way you are when you don’t have one before an audition? I was just letting Opal in on a little must-know secret.”
I groan. “Oh god, did you tell her that?”
“No!” But the look she gives me is sheepish. “Not completely. I just told her you would appreciate it. I’m so glad you two are getting along. I really need to come by more often.”
That sentiment causes me to smile. “You’re always welcome to. She’s great and the only replacement I’d accept after you left me for your mates.”
“So, how did the audition go, then?” she asks as she continues to eat her salad.
Ciro’s eyes widen. “Oh yeah! Your Shakespeare class. How was it?”
“Despite the lucky soda, I think it was just fine. I would have done better if a certain someone didn’t make it his mission to cause me immense irritation.”
Stacia’s grin turns teasing. “You didn’t tell me Jett was in your class.”
I sigh. Of course she knows exactly who I’m talking about.
Kendall’s brows shoot up, his curiosity evident on his face. “And who is Jett?”
I sneer at him. “This is why you’re not my favorite.”
Stacia playfully slaps my shoulder, and I put my hands up in surrender.
“So, why did he distract you from a good audition? Or are you just using that as an excuse?”
I shoot daggers at her. “I do not do that.”
“Come on. It’s much easier to blame it on him, especially since you’re already so dead set on thinking the worst of him. Although, I still don’t understand why.”
“Because he is the spawn of Satan himself!”
Stacia gives me a smirk and just shrugs. I know she’s only teasing but it really hits me in the gut. Before I can retort to her obvious attempt at pushing my buttons, Kendall calls out to someone and beckons them over. When I look up to see who, I freeze because it’s actually two someones .
Two very handsome someones that I have been actively avoiding for the entire summer.
Dax and Everett walk over, both of their trays towering with food. Like a beacon, Everett’s eyes meet mine and my body breaks out into a sweat. His eyes are so dark and molten like the most decadent cake I’ve ever had. They widen slightly, just as surprised to see me.
Dax’s jolly exterior is just as prevalent as ever, his smile blinding as he takes a seat across from me. I clear my throat as discreetly as I can and look away.
I didn’t intend to avoid them for most of the summer, but what do you do when you have the best one night stand of your life and you realize there’s nowhere for it to go?
It’s best to leave it at that. It couldn’t get any better and even if it could, I’m not sure I’m willing to try.
Dating alphas has never been a part of my plan.
I don’t have time for dating in general, but definitely not with alphas.
Not to mention, I haven’t told Stacia about my night with her mates’ friends yet. The longer I go without mentioning it, the harder it becomes. I’m not sure how to explain the lapse of judgment. They’re really good guys, but even being in the same vicinity as them causes my head to spin.
I can feel Stacia’s eyes on me, but I can’t seem to look her way. I know she’ll see it on my face, how I’ve omitted some kind of truth from her. To be honest, I’ve done a pretty wonderful job of omitting the truth from myself.
There has to be some kind of hint of anxiety in my scent, but I can’t smell anything past them . Dax’s dark cherry and Everett’s fresh rain scent. They’re like both of my favorite things, cherry coke and blazing rainstorms.
I swear the entanglement of both of their scents caused one of my orgasms the night we spent together. And I may be an omega… but that’s embarrassing .
After the guys speak to each other with pleasantries, it becomes quiet. I look up and realize everyone’s eyes are on me.
“What?”
Dax smiles cautiously. “I said, ‘hey Rory. How are you?’ ”
As he speaks, his scent travels toward me. It seems to be getting stronger as he looks at me, which causes my omega to scratch at a metaphorical door as if in heat.
I squeeze my thighs together and panic. “What’s it to you ?”
The silence is deafening. Kendall’s brow raises in confusion, while Ciro looks serious for the first time since I met him.
Shit, maybe that response was a little bit defensive.
Stacia’s shocked reaction cracks me like a whip. I can feel her stare like a laser on the side of my face but my gaze stays on Dax, refusing to show her how much these two are affecting me right now.
The blond alpha isn’t deterred though, he just keeps a light smirk and ruffles his hair. “You looked like you saw a ghost. I just wanted to see how you were.”
Great, now he’s calling out my weirdness. As if I needed it to be spoken out loud. My response is said through gritted teeth. “My summer was busy. Lots of working. How was yours?”
“It was good. I had to force this one to go to the gym with me to keep in shape during the off-season.” He elbows Everett in the side and laughs, and it may be a bit weird but their comfortability with each other only makes me feel even more anxious.
I find it extremely hot when two men can be as close as these two are. They’re blatant about how much they care about the other, and that’s something rare in male friendships. It makes me feel some type of way that I’d rather not dissect right now. Or maybe ever.
Everett pushes Dax back playfully. When he catches me watching their exchange, he gives me a shy smile. I can almost see the memory of our time together playing behind his eyes. I know he’s thinking about it, too.
The way they manipulated my body together…
the way they took turns, reading each other’s movements and giving me exactly what I needed.
Not only that, but the moments in-between…
having leftover pizza from their mini fridge, watching clips of some adult cartoon on and off as we caught our breath, laughing effortlessly.
It was intimate, comfortable… and fucking terrifying.
Because I don’t date alphas.
Everett’s smile is kind, but there’s also a hint of worry. I realize why when I breathe in, noticing that my scent has gone ashen, the fear within floating outward like a flare.
Sometimes I really despise being an omega.
The uncontrollable hormones and unpredictable scent patterns are way too much to handle.
Betas don’t have this hard of a time controlling their emotions and they certainly don’t have them on display 24/7.
It’s frustrating. Maybe I don’t want everyone to know what I’m feeling and when I’m feeling it.
Ever the oblivious party, Ciro changes the subject and asks the guys about their upcoming hockey season. I’m thankful, but I still can’t relax because of how my best friend is tensed up beside me. Stacia goes to put her hand on my shoulder but I jump up out of my chair instead.
“I should get to class,” I announce as I pick up my tray of barely eaten food.
“Rory—” Stacia starts, but I’m already turning away.
“I’ll text you later,” I mutter as I walk as fast as I can to the trash before darting to the exit.
When I’m outside, I can finally breathe, but there’s no telling how long this relief will last.