Chapter 2
CHAPTER TWO
RIANN
I pop in my earbuds and zone out on the bus ride back to the Woodside Omega Academy, ignoring the curious glances I get from the other passengers.
My sticky-sweet marshmallow scent hangs in the air around me, just enough to pique their interest but not enough to convey my designation…
whatever that is. It’s more like a heavy spritz of body spray than an omega’s perfume, but obviously more than the whisper trace of a beta’s scent.
They’re probably wondering what the hell I am.
Guess they can all join the club…
I pull my beanie lower over my ears and slide down in the seat, nestling into the comfort of my sweater. Unless it’s required for school functions, I live in comfortable clothes; it’s just another thing I have in common with omegas, but apparently that doesn’t mean a damn thing.
It would probably make sense to doll myself up when I go out, on the off-chance that I run into an unbonded pack, but I guess that doesn’t matter now either. I swallow down the lump forming in my throat.
The bus drops me off a block away from the academy just after dark, and I rush back, fighting against the cold gusts of wind slamming into me.
As soon as I’m on campus, the tension in my muscles dissipates as a sense of security sets in.
Wandering the city as an omega is dangerous, but here, within the protective gates of the school, I know I’m safe.
The trip to the heat clinic, along with all the unsavory news I received, takes a back seat as I hurry across the square to Epsilon Hall.
The only thing I can think about is getting back to my nest and burrowing into the mountain of blankets and throw pillows waiting for me there.
Everything else—the test results, the specialty clinic, the trip to Boston—can wait.
By the time I make it to my dorm building, I’m nearly frozen solid. My teeth chatter as I punch in the security code, and I take the stairs two at a time to the second floor. Fumbling my key into the doorknob, I burst through it with a wave of relief into the familiarity and comfort of my nest.
Fairy lights droop lazily from the ceiling over a plush pink and white mountain in the corner.
Somewhere beneath all the fabric and pillows is an actual bed, but it’s hard to tell.
A white desk with a short vanity mirror sits across from the door, and glossy bookshelves line the wall to the right, topped with books and trinkets—what’s left of my belongings that weren’t sold off after my parents’ accident.
The rest of the room is occupied by a bedside table, a mini fridge, and a fat beanbag chair, with a faux-fur rug covering the majority of the boring tile floor.
Home sweet home.
I kick off my shoes by the door and drop my bag next to them, shuffling across the room to dive into the mountain of blankets on my bed.
Taking a deep breath of the familiar scent surrounding me, I relax for the first time since I set out on my adventure this morning.
It may be fleeting, but the wave of comfort that washes over me is undeniable.
This is where I belong, tucked into a nest that’s drowned in my sweet scent. Guarded from the outside world and the problems that come with it… like my designation being in question and possibly getting kicked out of the academy. None of that exists in here.
In here, I’m allowed to just be.
A knock at the door startles me. I’m not in the mood for company, but I knew it was only a matter of time before someone realized I was back.
“Riann,” a familiar voice calls through the wood. “Are you in there?”
I groan. It isn’t that I don’t want to see my best friend, Ziel, but if he’s at my door, I know that means I’ve missed at least one call and five messages from him. My phone is still in my bag, and I’m sure it's on silent from the doctor’s office.
Shit.
He’ll want answers, but I haven’t even processed everything yet. How am I supposed to tell him about the inconclusive test results?
Ziel knows the basic details of what’s going on—something’s wrong with me, and I need to have it checked out—but how can I tell him that I potentially won’t be here much longer? That, despite walking around my everyday life like an omega, I may not even be one?
A weight settles in my stomach, emotion clogging my throat. If I say the words out loud, they become real, and I don’t know if I’m ready to accept them.
He knocks on the door again. “Open up, ma’am. I can smell your burnt sugar in there.”
My lips curve into a weak smile—I can also smell the sharp edge to my scent that my sour mood is causing—and I drag myself out of the nest again.
When I snap the door open, Ziel is standing there, hand up mid-knock with his eyes wide.
His brown spiral curls hang perfectly over his blue eyes, and my gaze immediately goes to the dimples in his cheeks.
In the same instance, his sweet candied-almond scent blooms around him, blowing through the doorway, infiltrating my room.
“There you are.” He grins widely, tugging at the hem of his hoodie. “Were you ignoring me?”
“No, sorry.” I sigh, looking at where I tossed my bag. “Did you call?”
“Twice.” He saunters past me into the room, and I kick the door closed behind him.
Normally, omegas don’t venture into one another’s territories, but I’ve never felt overly territorial when it comes to Ziel.
We have vastly different tastes in alphas, and he’s my best friend.
Not to mention, he’s the dean’s son, so everyone always wants to stay on his good side.
No one messes with me as long as he’s around.
“Is everything okay?” he asks, plopping down on the beanbag chair in the corner.
It’s his favorite place to lounge when we hang out in my room, his nutty perfume soaked so deep into the material that I doubt scent neutralizer would ever work on it.
I’d have to burn it to get rid of his scent forever, not that I want to. It’s familiar. Comforting.
I shrug, still grappling with my conflicting feelings. Things are very not okay, but they could be worse, right?
Doubtful…
He cocks a perfectly-sculpted eyebrow at me.
“I figured you would have texted me as soon as you got the results, or at least came by when you got back. Obviously, neither of those things happened,” he says, his tone sassy.
When I don’t respond immediately, his features scrunch with concern. “Riann, what’s wrong?”
I’m standing in the middle of the room, arms folded tightly over my chest as images from the doctor’s office come flooding back. The cold, sterile exam room, the multiple vials of blood they drew, the results… Discomfort knots my insides.
“I…”
I don’t even know what to say, but Ziel deserves some kind of answer. He may be blunt and snarky, but he also feels as deeply as any omega I’ve ever met. He cares, and the fact that he came to find out how the appointment went proves that.
Besides, right now, he’s all I’ve got. He’s the only one I can confide in, the only one I can trust. Even if his father is the dean, I know he won’t say anything. Not if it risks me getting kicked out.
Silence drags for a moment before I meet his gaze.
“They don’t know what’s wrong with me, so they referred me to another specialty center,” I’m finally able to say.
“Another one?” He gawks. “Did they say anything at all?”
For the first time since I got the test results, the corners of my eyes begin to sting.
I was too shocked earlier to feel anything other than…
well, shock. But now, in the comfort of my nest with my best friend begging for an explanation, my hardened exterior cracks.
I'm left vulnerable to the feelings that have been brewing beneath the surface since the doctor's office.
“Riann?” Ziel says, rising from the beanbag. His voice is soft, comforting, and his syrupy omega scent spreads through the room with his sympathy. He’s every bit the omega I should be. What I wish I could be. “What did they say?”
Time slows to a stop as the words form on my tongue. “I'm… not an omega.”
Hearing the truth leave my mouth is surreal, and I wait for Ziel to react. I expect words of comfort or maybe even a hug. What I don't expect is for him to burst into laughter.
“That’s a good one, Rie.” He fights to keep from doubling over. “You had me there for a second.”
“I’m not joking,” I snap, my sadness replaced by prickly annoyance. A wave of burnt marshmallow scent pours out of me, soaking the room. “This isn’t funny.”
“Of course it is!” He chuckles, wiping away a tear. “Have you smelled yourself?” He takes a deep inhale, letting his chest swell dramatically. “That's all omega, baby.”
A smile tugs at the corner of my mouth, but Ziel’s humor isn’t enough to make me completely forget how serious this is. Sure, I exhibit a few traits of an omega, but the test…
“They probably just don’t know what they’re doing,” he goes on, rolling his eyes.
I try to take comfort in his words, but they fall flat. Doctors study for years to know what they’re doing, right? Shouldn’t they know what the issue is? Even if they messed up and misread the test results, it wouldn’t explain my issues, my symptoms.
“But if they’re right?” My voice threatens to break.
Ziel waves a dismissive hand. “They’re wrong. I know you, and no matter what some stupid test results say, I know you’re an omega. You belong here.”
“Thanks, Z.” A weak smile breaks across my lips. “But the academy wants proof, and I have to figure out a way to get to Boston to prove it.”
He grimaces and immediately purses his lips to cover it up. “I’ll admit, that’s a bit far, but if they can give you answers, it’s worth it.”
“How am I supposed to pay for a plane ticket, though?” I stare at him. Ziel, more than anyone else on campus, is painfully aware of my situation. “It’s bound to be outrageous.”
A flash of sympathy softens his features, and he grabs my hand, making me tense for a second. Sure, we’re friends, but my instinctive reflex to avoid other omegas still catches me off guard sometimes.
“Easy. I’ll pay for it,” he says earnestly.
“Wha— No.” My jaw hardens. “Ziel, I can’t take your money.”
He drops my hand and places both of his on my shoulders, rooting me to the spot. His glittering gaze pierces mine, making me antsy. “It wasn’t a request.”
I huff and shrug out of his hold, stepping back without breaking eye contact.
As generous of an offer as it is, I can’t accept it.
Our friendship isn’t transactional, so I don’t feel like I’ll owe him forever if he does me a favor, but it’s too generous.
He’s bought me things before—like snacks and birthday presents—but nothing this expensive.
No one has done anything like this for me… not since my parents died.
“Listen, until we both find drool-worthy alpha packs to take care of us forever, we have to look out for each other.” He flashes me a smile. “Let me do this for you, Riann.”
My insides seize. The tiniest voice at the back of my mind is screaming for me to take the offer, but I’ve already been given so much. Taking something else—yet again—feels greedy.
I don’t deserve all the help I’ve gotten, and I definitely don’t deserve this.
“It really is nice of you, but I can’t…” I say, crossing my arms to keep my heart from exploding out of my chest. “I’ll just figure out something else—”
He holds a hand up to cut me off. “Don’t make me tie you up and toss you on a plane headed to Massachusetts. I know what I’m offering, and I promise it’s no big deal. What you need are answers, so we’re going to get them for you.”
My eyes prickle as I stare at him, tracing the details of his face. Ziel really is a much better friend than I deserve.
I just hope that one day I can pay him back tenfold.
After several tense seconds, I sigh. “Okay, fine.”
“That’s what I’m talking about.” He nods enthusiastically. “So, what’s the plan?”
I take a deep breath and blow it out slowly, letting my cheeks puff up as I contemplate. There really is only one answer, despite how much I wish for options.
“I guess I’m going to Boston,” I say finally, chewing the corner of my mouth. “I’ll call and make an appointment in the morning.”
Ziel grins, the gesture lighting up his features as he pumps a fist in the air. “Atta girl.”