14. Go Time
Go Time
Evangeline
I lean over his body. Still and silent. I watch for signs of life, but he doesn’t seem to move or breathe.
“I met my scent match,” my voice seems louder in the silence of the room.
Auggie’s eyes fly open and he sucks in a breath.
I flick on his bedside lamp, and the warm orange light brightens the room, showing his dishevelled form. His hair stands on end, and he squeezes his eyes shut, putting a hand on his heart. Sweaty fear overwhelms his whiskey scent.
“Fucking hell, Eva. You scared the shit out of me. Why are you in my room? At 5 am! Standing over my bed like a nightmare?”
“I met my scent match.” I repeat.
My cheeks strain from my smile. I can’t stop myself. I met my scent match, my mate! I want to scream with excitement.
Reluctantly, he pushes himself up, swings his legs out of the bed, and grabs my shoulders, walking us both out of his room (mumbling something about being a menace. I don’t think he’s a menace at all).
He rubs his eyes and sighs. “That’s why you’ve been, let’s say, well behaved recently. For you, at least?”
So he gets it.
I nod enthusiastically and pour him the world’s best coffee. I don’t know how he drinks the stuff. It smells horrible and tastes even worse.
He grimaces and takes a tiny sip.
He must be more tired than I thought.
“He has a dog.” I inform him.
“—that’s… wonderful. Do you know anything else about him?” A careful scent of shea butter wraps around me. Unfortunately, it does the opposite job and sets me on edge.
I grit my teeth and hiss. “Yes.”
“Are you going to share any of that information?”
I cross my arms over my chest and tilt up my chin in defiance.
Auggie sighs, knowing he is about to fight a losing battle.
He gulps down his coffee (I knew he loved it) and takes a few measured breaths.
When he looks at me again, all caution and softness have gone, replaced with a serious Alpha glare.
“It depends,” I say. “Are you going to let me court him?”
He lets out a sad, shaky breath, and the room fills with the scent of white florals. “That’s not up to me.”
“Bullshit!”
“Eva!” he growls, and I drop my head in submission, tears filling my eyes.
He can’t say no. He can’t. He can’t.
Warm hands engulf my face, cupping my cheeks, and with a gentle finger he wipes away my tears. I bury myself in his chest. Anger, frustration, and sadness taking over.
“I’m sorry,” I mumble.
Softly he combs his fingers through my hair, a habit he has been doing since we met to calm me down.
“You know I love you. I want nothing more than for you to have a happy life, and if that includes mating, then I want that for you too—” he pulls back, locking my eyes with his. “But it really isn’t up to me.”
“You know the Council values your opinion. If you convince—”
“No,” he interrupts. “Eva, I know nothing about this Alpha, and though you have been going to school and coming home every day for a couple of weeks, that doesn’t mean that you are ready.”
I pull myself from his grip and pace back and forth on the floor. I don’t know how I can convince him. Would I need to finish school before he lets me? Get a job? Retire? I can’t let my life pass me by. I know he’s out there now. There’s no going back to before.
“What if you got to meet him first?”
He tries to speak, but I jump in front of him and slam my hand over his mouth.
“And I will keep going to school. Without reminders from you.”
His eyes narrow on me, and I feel him wavering, considering the possibility, and that’s all I need.
“We can all go and meet with council, and I promise that whatever they require of me, I’ll try my very best to do.”
Please. Please. Please. Please. Ple—
His head jerks in a nod, and I rip my hand from his mouth. I pounce on him, wrapping my arms around and squeezing.
“Not so fast,” he laughs, hugging me back. “You know if you mate. It isn’t likely that your Alpha will want you working with the Council.”
I tilt my head in confusion.
He continues. “So, to show me that you’re capable, I don’t want you doing any more jobs. No official or unofficial ones.”
His arms tighten around me, and he bends, resting his head on my shoulder.
“I need to know you won’t do anything reckless if you start to get restless again.” He whispers, broken and afraid.
It feels like a life without purpose. An Evangeline who’s not haunted by the things she has done, just a normal Omega. It’s everything I’ve ever wanted. So why does it feel so hollow?
I squeeze my eyes shut and let myself breathe in his whiskey scent.
A life where everyday I know I’m loved. A life with my mate.
“I promise.”
For him, I would do and give up anything. I only hope he feels the same way.
Gradually we pull apart, though I’m feeling extra clingy and don’t go far.
Auggie indulges me, letting me hold on to the back of his pyjama top while he moves around the kitchen making himself another coffee and a hot chocolate for me.
We move to the sofa and I prop my feet onto his lap, burying my toes under his thighs to keep warm.
“Can I have his name now?”
“Alpha Cassius Atwood.”
Coffee splatters down his front as he coughs. He glares at me, shaking his head like I told the world’s lamest joke.
I frown, narrowing my eyes at him over the rim of my mug.
“You’re not serious.”
“I am.”
He schools his expression and wipes the remaining coffee drops from his chin in a not so smooth recovery.
“The famous one?”
I nod.
“The one who owns that giant security company?”
Nod again.
“Alpha Browen’s brother?”
Nod.
“Alpha Browen, the one on the council?”
“YES,” I growl.
He nods, settling back on the sofa. A moment later his head spins, and he shoots me a look.
“Alpha Cassius Atwood? And you’re sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure.” I pin him with a withering stare and hope it shuts him up for a little longer this time.
Boy, he has a lot of questions. I really expected this to be more of a, ‘hey I have an Alpha now’ ‘that’s great Eva, you can mate tomorrow,’ kind of deal.
“This isn’t some new way of infiltrating the Council, is it?”
“No!” Though… No, bad Evangeline.
I should have at least considered it. But when I’m near him, or thinking about him, my mind seems to clear. I don’t feel the ash on my tongue, or hear the intrusive voice as much. I don’t have the urge to run and destroy.
* * *
I’ve never really appreciated my school before.
It’s beautiful. The red brick buildings stand tall, my clock tower peeking over the roof, and that alone is a piece of art in and of itself.
White limestone artistically frames the arched windows.
Tiny details I’ve never paid attention to stand out to me.
Carvings in the brick, the sculptures posing on the turrets, and the school’s emblem proudly in the middle.
Gold and meaningful, a shield for protection, a dais holding us up, building us a future we can be proud of.
With an extra pep in my step, I enter. Colours seem brighter, and the world feels calmer. Like I belong.
Turning up my music, I hum and bob along on the way to class.
The light shines through the stained glass windows, bathing me in colour.
And for once, I can’t wait for class. This time I’m not only tolerating it but actively looking forward to it.
The schoolwork itself isn’t the problem, but the social aspects.
When I first started, even sitting in the same room as other people put me on edge.
I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop.
It didn’t matter if they were nice or smiled at me.
I felt unsafe. Gradually I learnt that I could lose myself in the work.
I’m pretty good, if I do say so myself. My grades are almost perfect, though I couldn’t say where I am ranked in the class because technically I don’t exist as a student.
Today is my advanced biology class, and it’s one of my favourites.
“Sit. Sit. Today we will be going over the Alpha hormone cycle. Once you have a handle on it, we will be moving onto the Omega hormone cycle, so stop me at any time if I’m going too fast or you don’t understand anything.
The Alpha cycle is much simpler, and I want to make sure you have it down before we move on. ”
It’s a relatively small class, and we settle quickly. As an elective and an advanced class, few students pick it, and even less have the grades to qualify. I picked it to have a better understanding of Alpha anatomy, to help with my extracurricular activities (it has definitely come in handy).
She was not kidding about the Alpha hormone cycle being easier than Omegas, though learning about the changes that occur during rut was interesting.
My brain aches, stuffed full of information.
The whole class lets out a collective sigh of relief when the bell rings, and I really think today bonded us together.
Thankfully, I have a break next, and I could really use some fresh air. The courtyard is usually popular, but as the weather gets colder, more and more Omegas choose to spend time indoors. We’re not really made for the cold. Just another way I’m different.
After spending many days and nights in all kinds of weather in a half decaying shack in the woods, I have a sort of appreciation for the cold.
The weather hasn’t turned fully yet, leaving some of the trees still green and flourishing while others drop their leaves. Strong-willed flowers continue to grow despite the frost coating the shadows. My worries wash away.
A door swings open and an Omega huddled in a gigantic coat, hat, scarf, and gloves waddles out, her breath visible in the air.
For the first time, I smile and wave.
She scurries past me, her breathing wheezing, and she grimaces when she notices me.
I drop my hand and wipe the smile off my face.
But I won’t let it ruin what is turning out to be a perfect day.
In an attempt to salvage it, I whip out my headphones and find a spot in the sun to sit on the ground.
Music, cold air, a potential mate, and the courtyard all to myself. Yeah. Today is a good day.
Too quickly my break ends, and it’s time to head back to class. Time blurs together, and I’m not sure what lessons I just did. All I know is that my brain is mush.
It’s moments like these that I wish I had a dorm.
Though confined and reminiscent of little better than a jail cell, it would be nice to only have to walk up a flight of stairs before getting to flop into my nest. It seems that we have got to the point in the year where everyone is feeling the burnout. We exit our last class like zombies.
Excitement curls in my stomach. I need to meet with Alpha Cassius and tell him the good news. I want Auggie to meet him as soon as possible so we can get a move on with the Council.
The bus takes me almost directly to his apartment, and I am fully prepared to stakeout his place until he comes home so we can finally talk. Each step I take closer to the building, the more and more energy courses through me.
I smell his scent before I see him and throw myself into a bush (don’t ask why). My heart pounds. At least I didn’t wear jeans this time. A skirt is much more breathable, though it also increases the risk of accidentally flashing people when I do STUPID SHIT like dive into foliage.
As quietly as a person can be in a bush, I pull my phone out and text Lila, hoping that she is free and nearby.
“Hey, Alan.”
“Alpha Atwood.”
A branch pokes my left butt cheek.
“How many times do I have to tell you to call me Cas?”
“Alpha Atwood, respectfully, you’re my boss.”
They both laugh, and I find myself smiling along with them.
My phone buzzes, and I risk a glance at the screen. Fuck yes! She’s around the corner.
“Are you off on another date?”
Sucking in a breath, I wait.
“No. No, I’ve found my mate. I’m working late, you know me, always busy.”
Thank fuck.
“Taking the bike?”
“I haven’t been riding in a while, thought it might be nice before the proper winter weather settles.”
“Well, I’ll let you get to it. I’ve got nothing to report here and, as always, if I see the Omega, I’ll let you know.”
I gasp. That tattle tale!
“Thanks, Alan.”
I dart through the bush, pushing the twigs aside and popping out the other end. An old man startles and glares at me, but I’m too busy on a mission to care. Down the street is a line of taxis, and I race towards them.
Yes, logically I know I could come back tomorrow and talk to him then, but I don’t want to waste anymore time.
Lila sticks her head out, waving like a maniac from where she’s parked (the only taxi on an angle, and pink compared to the standard black).
“Hey, babe.”
I learnt from last time and buckle myself in.
“You up for another chase?”
She revs the engine, and for the first time, I find myself wishing I could scent her. I’ve never had a friend, someone whose scent I can find comfort in, and I suppose by hiding my own I never put much stock in the idea.
The grin she sends me makes me want to dance. I think I’ve done it. I have a friend.
She whips out of the space, and I brace myself on the seat in front.
“It’s go time.”
The motorbike is easy to spot, even in the rain the sound carries.
The bike itself is pure white and looks brand new.
Either he takes excellent care of his things, or he’s never ridden it before.
It’s big, but sleek and moves like a panther.
Who am I kidding? I know nothing about bikes, but it’s pretty.
Either way, I don’t need to know about bikes to know that the sight of my mate weaving through traffic, his thighs straddling a beast of a machine, is oddly erotic. Well, that’s not something I knew about myself.
Weaving through traffic…
“He’s getting away!”
“Not on my watch.”
With a flick of her wrist, she turns up the dramatic music and cuts off the driver in the lane next to us.
“You should be a race car driver.”
She giggles and flips off a car. “I wish. I’d need a driver’s licence for that.”
… I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear that.
“Who’s this guy, anyway?”
“My mate.”
She whips around, staring at me, eyes wide.
“Did he do something bad?”
I grab her head, refocusing her sights on the road.
“No. Well… I’m not sure. That’s why I’m following him. We’re not mates yet.”
“Say no more, girl. Make him earn it.”