Chapter IV
“And the winner is… Knox Beckett!” the announcer cheers and all my friends pat me on the back as I spring up from my seat to collect my award for the fastest time completing the obstacle course. I had a feeling I was the winner for that one, even against Alphas who are older than me.
My time at camp has been extraordinary and I can’t believe I’m going home today. It feels like I just arrived yesterday!
Several more awards are handed out to other campers, and then we huddle together for a group picture at the end.
My friend Jasmine stands in front of me, and I hold up two fingers behind her head to give her bunny ears for the photo.
My other friend Yojan giggles beside me, making a silly face at the camera.
This summer is one for the books and I’m going to miss these guys when I leave. None of them live close to me, so hangouts won’t be easy. But that’s okay. It’s not like we grew that close. Not as close as my friends waiting back home for me.
As much fun as I’ve had, I can’t wait to sleep in my bed again, and hug my mom, and go to the park with Chet and Ari.
I’m wired with energy as I climb into my parents’ car after some long, heartfelt goodbyes.
Rambling at high speeds, I tell my parents everything about my time at camp for the duration of the ride.
We built remote control space rovers and made them race.
Mine crashed into a wall, but my friend Jasmine’s rover won.
They had a dome-shaped amphitheater where we got to watch a three-dimensional film that made it feel like we were on the moon.
And I got to solve real astronomer physics equations during study group.
They send our test scores and progress reports to Comet XI scientists who can choose to become our sponsors if we’re lucky.
I hope I get one. That way, my spot at working there in the future is basically secured before I’ve even gone off to university to get my diploma in engineering.
I’m still buzzing with excitement by the time we pull into our garage. I can’t wait to repeat everything I just told my parents to Arius. I bet he’ll be so excited.
“Not so fast,” Mom stops me as I rush to escape down the driveway. “Unpack your bags first, then you can play outside.”
My shoulders slump dramatically.
“Can’t you do it for me! I don’t want to clean, I’m too tired!”
“Knox,” she sighs my name. “Just dump your clothes out of your suitcases and into a hamper so I can wash them. It’s not that hard.”
“Listen to your mother,” my dad warns me sternly as I begrudgingly stomp to my room. “That Omega boyfriend of yours can wait until morning.”
“Morning!?” I complain.
He’s not my boyfriend, but still. I want to show him the clay telescope figurine I sculpted for him. It’s a little lumpy, but I tried my best and I think he’ll like it.
My parents don’t relent. After helping mom sort through my laundry with the attitude of a fat cat, they make me have dinner at the table and give Grandma a call to tell her about BOW camp.
Sleep dawns on me eventually, reminding me how much of it I missed during camp where we stayed up late and woke up early every day.
It takes me a while to roll out of bed and shower in the morning. Grabbing my little, handmade telescope, I jog out the door and head down the block in the direction of Ari’s house. When no one is looking, I pluck a pretty flower from my neighbor’s garden and hurry away with it.
My dad always said that the prettiest flowers were meant to be picked for the prettiest Omegas. Chet hands them out like free samples, but I only give them to Ari because he’s the prettiest that I’ve ever met so far. The rules are the rules. Nothing beats those midnight, tanzanite eyes.
Jogging up the steps with the clay telescope and blossomed flower, I knock on the door, bouncing on my toes as I wait. Mrs. Blue answers, and I realize that I’m almost taller than her.
“Hi, Knox,” she crosses her cardigan. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m back from camp. I wanted to show Arius something.” I try peering behind her into the house, but she doesn’t move aside to let me in. Staring down at me in confusion, she shakes her head.
“Honey, he’s not here anymore. He left for Omega studies yesterday.”
Her words repeat in my ears, not making any sense as if they were in another language.
“Wait…what?” I stare at her, astonished, “But I thought…”
It sounds like a cruel prank, but as I strain to see into the house again, Arius never pops out to surprise me.
The news weighs me down like an anchor, and I swallow hard against the emotional ache in my throat.
My brain stutters, having a hard time understanding that Arius isn’t here. And won’t be for quite a while.
“He left early, dear, I’m sorry. I thought you guys said bye already.”
Unable to stop the dam that bursts in my heart, I start crying instantly, but I don’t bother trying to hide it. There’s no point in trying to put a lid on my rupturing emotions as fury rushes through me in bubbling hot waves.
“Oh, Knox,” she continues pitifully while I crumble. “We can give him a call if you’d like. And he’ll be here during the holidays in a few months.”
I shake my head, backing away as my eyes burn with hot tears trickling down my cheeks. He’s gone? Why would he leave early? Why would he leave at all!
“He said he would wait for me,” I choke through the words, not sounding like an Alpha teenager at all, but it hurts.
“Knox…” Mrs. Blue tries again but I brush her off and hurry away.
Face twisted, I march down the street, seething with rage. I want my Omega. Six weeks. I waited six fucking weeks to see him and he’s gone.
Dropping the flower, I smash the clay figure in my hands on the pavement. It shatters to bits, impossible to restore.
“Yo, Knox!” Chet’s voice catches up to me, but I don’t slow my pace as I stomp angrily down the street. Not sensing my mood, he jogs up to me, excited that I’m back. “Knox! Hey!”
Seeing red, I shove him hard in the chest, making him fall to the ground.
“What the– Ow! What was that for?!” he complains with a pained voice as I leave him behind.
It’s nothing compared to what I unleash in the confines of my bedroom. I can’t stop the storm. Neither can my parents. All I can do is let it run its course unless someone brings me my Omega.
I want him back. Now. Not years form now. Not on holiday. Not on the phone. Now. He’s mine!
The stupor hits me hard over the next few weeks. I barely leave my destroyed room. I avoid my parents and my telescope, trying to distract myself with other hobbies. Eventually, Chet barges into my room, my parents having let him in assuming he might be able to cheer me up.
Feeling guilty, I end up apologizing for pushing him and confessing why I’m upset. I thought that maybe he would bully me out of being so heartbroken, but he was uncharacteristically understanding.
“I bet you fifty bucks you’ll have him back some day,” he said optimistically, patting me on the back.
As an Alpha, he at least understands the possessiveness that I’m feeling.
Talking it out with him helped a little bit and even got me out of the house as we started going to the park again.
But the depression and loneliness still loom over me until I receive a letter in the mail.
It’s from an astronomer at Comet XI. Unfolding the fancy paper, I read the name at the top.
An Alpha named Alejandro Del Muendo. Chairman of Innovative Sciences on the board of directors. I don’t believe it. He says he wants to sponsor me.
Heart pounding, my eyes scan the letter a million times to make sure it isn’t a farce. I bring it to my dad for confirmation, and he can hardly believe it either. Comet XI wants to sponsor me!
The revelation hits me like a train, snapping me out of my Omega troubles.
I can’t be unfocused right now. I need to get my shit together, this is huge!