Chapter 19
ELOWEN
The attention has changed.
Not subtle glances anymore. Direct stares. Whispered conversations that pause when I pass, resume when I'm barely out of earshot.
Walking to class, I'm hyperaware of eyes tracking my movement. A group of betas near the bulletin board falls silent mid-conversation. Two alphas by the courtyard fountain watch with assessing gazes. An omega cluster near the library entrance includes some supportive smiles, others less friendly.
"That's the one," someone mutters. Not quietly enough.
"Three alphas. Can you imagine?"
I keep walking.
Professor Reed's class doesn't help. Pack formation ethics. Discussing autonomy in multi-alpha configurations. Students keep glancing at me like I'm exhibit A, sitting right there in the third row.
I take notes. Answer when called on. Manage the discomfort.
After class, Seraphina's waiting in the hallway. "Hey, can we talk?" She leads me to a quiet corner near the administration building. "I wanted to catch you before things get messier."
"Messier than public speculation?" My eyebrows shoot upward.
"Much messier." She gives a small smile, not unkind. "I've been where you are. My pack, four of us, two alphas, went through this two years ago."
The adrenaline crash that comes with relief causes me to lean against the wall for support. “I didn’t realize.”
"I don't publicize it.” She glances around the grounds. “People will have opinions. Some will judge you. Let them. Some alphas will see your pack as a challenge or mistake. Ignore them. Some omegas will be envious or critical. That's their issue to manage, not yours."
She leans against the stone wall, relaxed but serious.
"But here's what matters. You can't hide what you are anymore, so don’t even try. It only makes people more curious."
"Own it or let it own you?"
"Exactly." Her gaze is direct. "You all need to be on the same page though. How open do you want to be? How do you handle challenges? What's your united front? If you haven’t already discussed it, now is the time."
I nod. “I knew it wouldn’t be easy.”
"There's always someone who thinks they can intervene," Seraphina adds.
"Someone who wants to 'save' you from your own choices.
But you decide now how to handle it. Talk to your alphas before someone forces the conversation.
And if you need anything, advice, backup, just someone who gets it… reach out."
"Thank you."
"We take care of each other." She straightens. "That's what omegas do."
Lunch in the dining hall feels different.
More eyes than usual. The table of traditional alphas in the corner watches our group with unhidden intensity. One in particular, broad shoulders, dark hair, is clearly talking about because each time he speaks, the rest of the group looks our way.
“Might be a bit late getting to the greenhouse,” Tyler says, swallowing a mouthful of Cornish pasty. “Do you still want me to—”
He doesn’t finish because the alpha from the corner table approaches and stops directly in front of me. He ignores the three alphas sitting right there.
"Mind if I ask you something?" His tone implies he'll ask regardless of my answer.
"Go ahead." I face him squarely even though my heart is racing.
"You're actually doing this? Three alphas?" His top lip curls into a sneer.
Around us, conversations drop. Other students tuning in.
Beneath the table, I dig my fingernails into my palm. "Do you have a problem with it?"
"Seems... complicated. Unnecessary."
"Complicated would be denying my feelings and doing what everyone else expects of me." I don’t know where it comes from, but I sense my pack’s pride, and heat floods my cheeks.
He leans closer, unfazed. "Traditional pack structure exists for a reason. One alpha, one omega. Natural order. Anything else is—"
Calder stands, chair legs scraping the floor behind him. "She answered your question. Time to go."
The alpha, Nat, looks at him and smirks, straightening to his full height. Alpha squaring up to alpha. "Just concerned for her wellbeing." His expression suggests otherwise, but I let it slide.
“She has us to look out for her.” Calder’s eyes narrow.
“If you say so.” Nat shrugs and walks away. Returns to his table where his friends are grinning.
The dining hall returns to normal noise levels, but sideways glances continue.
Julian's pale eyes are calculating. Tyler's usual warmth has vanished. Calder's jaw is tight.
"Greenhouse," I say quietly. "Now."
Greenhouse door closed, Juniper observes us from her corner perch, tail flicking gently.
"We need to talk about this," I break the silence. I haven’t had time to process Seraphina’s situation, but all I know is, she is on our side.
Calder's hands clench. "I wanted to do more than tell him to leave."
"But you didn't," I point out. "You held back."
"Was that right?" He swallows hard, and I squeeze his hand.
"Not holding back would’ve given him something to use against you. Against us." I look at each of them in turn.
Tyler speaks up. "People are talking. Some of it's unkind." He looks at me directly. "Does it bother you?"
"It bothers me that strangers think they have a say in our choices," I admit. "But I'm not ashamed if that’s what you mean."
Julian's analytical mind is already working. "We're statistically unusual. Three alphas, one omega. It naturally draws attention. But we can control the narrative. Question is: do we want to be seen? Or would we prefer to be private?"
"I don't want to hide," I say firmly. "That means being seen for what we are. But I need to know you're all comfortable with that."
Tyler shrugs and leans back against the workbench, arms folded across his chest. "I'm comfortable. People can think what they want."
Julian nods. "Agreed. Though we should establish boundaries for how we engage with questions."
Calder's quiet longer. Then: "We need a plan for handling challenges like Nat."
“Okay.” I smile. “We work through this together.”
Tyler goes to the dining hall and returns with coffee, chocolate brownies, and chamomile tea for me.
Julian surreptitiously feeds crumbs to Juniper who quickly realizes he’s the weakest link. "A suggestion. We’re visible but not theatrical."
“We could act it up a bit,” Tyler says. “Speed up the process. Clear the air.”
“I think we should continue as we are,” I say. “Give them no ammunition.”
“What about Nat and his cronies?” Calder sips his coffee, eyes still stormy.
“I can handle questions,” I say with a confidence I didn’t feel until the confrontation in the dining hall.
“Unless it becomes threatening.” Tyler holds my gaze. “Then we take over.”
“Agreed,” Calder growls.
“But we don’t override you,” Julian adds.
"So when the next Nat shows up..." Tyler prompts.
"We handle it together," I finish.
"With clear boundaries," Julian adds.
Calder's slight smile appears. "And I don't break his face unless necessary."
The tension breaks into quiet laughter.
Evening herbal lab. I’m working on a scent-extraction project at my usual station when another student approaches. An omega I recognize from consent theory. Claire.
"Can I ask you something? About your... situation?"
Time to test the new strategy.
"Sure." I keep working.
"Three alphas. How does that even work? Do they, like, share you?"
"That would imply that I'm their property. Which I’m not."
Claire blinks. "But don't you worry about conflict? What if they get jealous? Seems like drama waiting to happen."
"We communicate. It works because we want it to work." I turn the conversation back. "Is there something specific you're concerned about?"
She hesitates. Then admits: "I just... it seems brave. I don't know if I could handle that much attention."
"It's not for everyone," I say, smiling. "But it's right for us."
Claire nods and returns to her station.
I handled it. Calmly. Following the strategy we set.
It worked.