I’m pacing my room, running my hands through my hair, my heart racing. It wasn’t supposed to happen. I wasn’t supposed to flash my silver—especially not to him. What the hell is wrong with me? Landon isn’t my Alpha. He’s not even supposed to matter anymore. So why did I do it? Why, out of nowhere, did my body betray me like that?I keep pacing, my chest tightening more with every second that passes. Jacob’s out for the night with the other Betas, and I have no one to talk to, no one to help me figure out why I’m feeling like this. I’m stuck alone with my thoughts, and they’re spiralling out of control. Every time I close my eyes, I see Landon looking at me, his eyes locked on mine, the shock in his expression clear as day.He saw it. He saw me flash my silver to him, there’s no way he didn’t. And now, he probably thinks I’m some needy, messed-up Omega who can’t even keep his emotions in check. I’ve always been so good at controlling myself, at keeping my distance from Alphas, but La
I’m walking back to my dorm, and I’m reeling. My mind is spinning, racing through everything that just happened. Tyler wants me. He actually wants me. I can still feel the warmth of his body pressed against mine, the way he trembled when I touched him, the way his scent filled the room, thick and intoxicating. That wasn’t something he could fake, wasn’t something he could control. He gave me his silver—his Omega instincts opened up to me, and he scented me. But as I walk, another thought creeps into my mind: Jace.Fuck.He’s a good guy. Sweet, soft, everything an Omega should be. But now, after tonight, it’s clear as day that I can’t keep stringing him along. There’s no way in hell I’m going to make Tyler doubt me, not after he gave me his silver and scented me like that. He was vulnerable with me, raw in a way I’ve never seen before, and I can’t fuck this up. I won’t.As much as I hate to admit it, Jace was always a distraction. He was easy. He didn’t push me, didn’t challenge me
I wake up to the uncomfortable feeling of being watched, and when I open my eyes, Jacob is standing over me, arms crossed, his face twisted into a deep frown.“What the hell?” I groan, rubbing my eyes and sitting up. “Why are you staring at me like that?”Jacob doesn’t answer right away. He just sniffs the air, his frown deepening, before finally speaking. “Why does this room smell like Landon Hayes?”My entire body goes rigid. Blood rushes to my face, and I know I’m blushing like a damn tomato. My mind races as I try to figure out what to say, how to explain why Landon’s scent is all over the room—and me.He raises an eyebrow, waiting for me to respond. “Well?”“I…” I stammer, pulling the blanket up to my chest like it’s some kind of shield. “I can explain.”“Yeah,” Jacob says dryly, still frowning. “You’d better.”I take a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts, but it’s no use. My brain is still a mess after last night, and I can barely make sense of it myself, let alone explain
I spot Tyler the second I walk into the dining hall. He’s sitting with Jacob, looking flustered, glancing around like he knows something’s coming but doesn’t know what. I can’t help the smirk that pulls at my lips. The way he’s reacting just to the sight of me from across the room and it’s exactly the kind of reaction I crave. And it’s not just any reaction—it’s Tyler’s reaction.My eyes lock on him, and I can see the way his body tenses, his fingers gripping his fork a little too tightly. It’s that good kind of uncomfortable, the kind that makes him squirm but in a way that sends all his signals firing off. And then there’s that scent. That apple pie scent that’s already filling the room, making it impossible to think about anything else.Fuck, he smells good.I lean against the wall, watching him from a distance, enjoying the show. He’s trying so hard to act like I’m not getting to him, but I can see the cracks. The way his body responds to me, even when he’s doing everything he c
I’m still sitting there, completely frozen, trying to process what the hell just happened. My heart’s racing, my face is burning, and I can’t seem to catch my breath. Landon just… he just kissed me. In front of everyone.I can still feel the heat of his lips on mine, the way he growled “Mine” like he was branding me, like he was staking a claim on me for the entire world to see. And the worst part? I let him. I didn’t push him away, didn’t fight it. I… I gave in. I said it. I told him I was his.Jacob’s staring at me from across the table, his fork suspended in midair, his eyes wide with shock. “Dude,” he finally says, his voice low and almost disbelieving. “What just happened?”I blink, still feeling like I’m in a daze, and slowly shake my head. “I… I don’t know.”“Did he just…?”“Yeah.”“And you…?”“Yeah.”Jacob puts his fork down, leaning forward, his face a mixture of concern and disbelief. “Tyler, what the actual fuck? You just let Landon Hayes kiss you in front of the whole scho
“I’m sorry.”I blink, surprised by the apology. Landon doesn’t do apologies, at least not the Landon I’m used to. But here he is, looking like he’s barely holding it together.“I wasn’t thinking,” he continues, his voice cracking a little. “I was so… worked up, and I saw you with Noah, and I just—fuck, Tyler, I lost control. I was way too aggressive, and I didn’t even give you a chance to think or say anything. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that.”He finally looks up at me, his eyes full of something I’m not used to seeing in him—guilt. Genuine guilt.“I don’t know what the hell’s wrong with me,” he mutters, running a hand through his hair again. “I’ve never felt like this before, so possessive, so… out of control. And I know that’s not fair to you. You didn’t ask for any of this, and I shouldn’t have acted like I had some claim on you without even asking. I’m sorry, Tyler. I was an ass.”I stare at him for a moment, completely taken aback by how raw he’s being. This isn’t the Land
Jacob walks back into the dorm, whistling like nothing in the world is wrong. He throws his bag onto his bed and glances at me, sprawled out on my own bed, staring at the ceiling like it holds all the answers.“Hey, Ty. You good?” he asks, noticing the tension in the room. His eyebrows furrow as he looks at me more closely. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”I sit up, running my hands through my hair. I don’t even know where to start. All the emotions swirling inside me have been boiling over since Landon left earlier, and now it’s like I’m about to explode. Jacob’s become my best friend, and I’ve been holding all this in for too long.“No, Jacob. I’m not good,” I finally blurt out, and he freezes mid-step, clearly taken aback by my sudden outburst. “I’m really not good.”He raises an eyebrow and sits down on the edge of his bed, giving me his full attention. “Alright. Spill. What happened?”I take a deep breath, my heart pounding in my chest. “It’s Landon. He came by earlier. After
I’m sitting outside, trying to enjoy a rare moment of peace between classes when I see Noah approaching. My stomach tightens a little. I knew this conversation was coming—it had to—but I’ve been dreading it. Noah’s always been a good guy, and what happened between me and Landon isn’t exactly easy to explain.He stops in front of me, hands shoved into his pockets, looking down at me with a calm but serious expression. “Mind if I sit?”I nod, scooting over a bit on the bench. “Yeah, of course.”Noah takes a seat next to me, and for a few moments, neither of us say anything. The air between us feels heavy, and I can’t help but feel a little guilty. Noah never pushed me, never made me feel uncomfortable. He was always kind, always there when I needed someone to talk to. And now…“I owe you an apology,” I say quietly, staring down at my hands. “About what happened with Landon… in the dining hall. I never meant for any of this to happen. I didn’t want to hurt you.”Noah shakes his head, his
I stand just out of sight, leaning against the brick wall of the garden shed, trying to pretend that I’m not watching them. Tyler, Noah, and Jacob are out there, talking and laughing like nothing in the world could bother them. Tyler’s smile is easy, his body relaxed, and I know he’s in good company. Jacob’s his best friend, and Noah… well, Noah’s a good guy.Pains me to admit that, though.But I can’t shake the way my chest tightens every time Noah leans in a little too close to Tyler or says something that makes Tyler laugh. It’s stupid. I know it is. Tyler’s mine, and Noah knows that. But it doesn’t stop that feral, possessive part of me from wanting to storm over there and pull Tyler away from him.I clench my fists, taking a deep breath to calm the urge. I can’t let this get to me. Tyler deserves his space, and he deserves to hang out with his friends without me hovering over him like some territorial Alpha ready to rip Noah’s throat out for getting too close.But it’s hard. It’
That thought lasts all of ten seconds after we step into his dorm.I sit on the edge of the bed, my hands trembling as I try to make sense of everything going on in my head. Landon’s been nothing but supportive, always patient, always understanding, no matter how much I push him. But the more he does, the worse I feel. It’s like I’m failing at being the Omega he deserves, and the guilt is eating me alive.Landon’s sitting next to me, as calm as ever, watching me with that steady gaze. He can probably tell I’m on the verge of breaking down, but as always, he’s waiting for me to say something, to let him in. And that only makes it worse.I can’t take it anymore. The pressure, the guilt, the feeling that I’m not enough for him—it all comes crashing down at once.“You’re too understanding,” I blurt out, my voice shaky. “I’m… I’m a mess, Landon. I’m pushing you away, and you just keep being there for me, and it’s not fair. I don’t deserve you.”Landon’s expression softens, and he reaches
Walking through the halls with Landon’s arm casually slung over my shoulders still feels a bit surreal. I’m not used to this, to the openness, to everyone knowing we’re together. But it feels good, better than I expected. Landon’s been nothing but patient and supportive, and honestly, I can’t believe how much has changed between us.I glance around, catching a few stares here and there from people as we pass. Most of them are curious, some surprised. After everything that happened, I guess it’s weird for them to see us like this—especially with how things started. But it doesn’t bother me. Not anymore.After saying goodbye to Landon for the morning classes, I spot Jacob leaning against the lockers, waiting for me. He grins when he sees me, but there’s that look in his eyes—like he’s still trying to wrap his head around all of this.“You’re still alive,” he says, pushing off the lockers and falling into step beside me. “I half expected you to disappear into some Alpha-blackhole or som
I glance over at Tyler, fast asleep in the seat next to me, his head resting against the window. His breathing is slow and steady, and there’s this peaceful look on his face that makes me smile. He’s been through so much, and seeing him this relaxed, even if it’s just because he’s exhausted, feels like a win.But as I watch him sleep, that familiar tightness starts building in my chest. It’s not the kind of nervousness I usually feel. This is different. Tyler’s heat is coming soon, and I’ve never been through something like this before—not with anyone, much less an Omega as important to me as Tyler.I’ve heard stories, of course. Alphas always talk about what it’s like when their Omega goes into heat. Some of them make it sound like it’s no big deal, like it’s just a biological thing that happens, something you power through and move on from. But it’s not like that for Tyler. He’s vulnerable, fragile in ways he usually hides, and I don’t want to mess this up.I can’t mess this up.My
I’m jittery the entire flight, staring out the window as the city comes into view beneath us. My excitement mixes with nerves, the weight of what we’re doing settling in. We’re looking for a home. For my nest. It’s still strange to me, the idea of nesting and building a space that feels like mine, something I never thought I’d want or need. And now, here I am, sitting next to an Alpha and planning a future I never imagined.Landon’s sitting beside me, his hand resting comfortably on my knee. He’s been so supportive, so patient through everything. I glance over at him, and he catches my eye, offering me a soft smile.“You okay?” he asks, his voice soft.I nod, even though my stomach’s doing flips. “Yeah. Just… a lot to take in.”“I get it,” he says, giving my knee a gentle squeeze. “No rush. We’ll find the right place.”His calmness helps, but there’s still something clawing at the back of my mind. I’ve been meaning to tell him about my mother, about why I was always so hesitant when
The past three days have been a rollercoaster. At first, it seemed like Tyler was getting better—physically, at least. The bruises are fading, and he’s not wincing with every move. But emotionally? Mentally? He’s been all over the place.He’s bratty, whining about the smallest things, picking fights over absolutely nothing, and it’s driving me insane. One minute he’s fine, the next he’s complaining about how I’m doing everything wrong. I try to stay patient, but it’s hard when he’s constantly pushing my buttons.Like right now.“I don’t get why you won’t just listen to me!” Tyler snaps, crossing his arms as he paces in front of me. “I told you I don’t want that stupid blanket, and you keep bringing it out like I’m some kind of child!”I rub my temples, feeling the frustration building. “Tyler, it’s just a blanket. You said you were cold, so I grabbed it. What’s the big deal?”He throws his hands in the air. “The big deal is that I don’t want it! I want something else, but you never li
I stand by the bed, watching Tyler breathe softly, his chest rising and falling in a steady rhythm. He looks peaceful now, curled up in the blankets, but the bruises on his face remind me of everything that happened. My blood boils just thinking about it, and I know I can’t let it go.As much as I want to stay here with him, I need to make a call. I slip out of the room quietly, closing the door behind me as gently as I can. My fists are still clenched at my sides, the anger bubbling just under the surface as I pull out my phone and dial my father’s number.It doesn’t take long for him to pick up.“Landon,” he says, his voice sharp and alert. “What’s going on?”I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. “Dad, something happened. To Tyler.”There’s a pause on the other end of the line, and when my father speaks again, his voice is icy. “What do you mean? What happened?”“He was attacked,” I say, my voice tight. “Out of jealousy by Jace, Omega I had something with before, and two Al
I wake up slowly, blinking against the morning light streaming through the curtains. The bed is soft, warmer than I expected, and I’m surrounded by Landon’s scent. For a second, I’m disoriented, not sure where I am, but then I remember—Landon must’ve brought me to his bedroom after… after everything.I shift slightly and glance around the room. It’s huge, way bigger than our dorm. The walls are a deep navy, and there’s a sleek, modern design to everything—exactly what I’d expect from Landon. But what catches my eye isn’t the room. It’s Landon himself, sitting in a chair next to the bed, head tilted back awkwardly, fast asleep.He looks… uncomfortable. His neck is craned at an odd angle, and even though he’s out cold, I can tell he’s going to regret that chair when he wakes up. But the sight of him like this, sleeping beside me instead of in the bed, warms something deep in my chest. He didn’t want to make me uncomfortable, so he slept there. The Alpha who takes up so much space in ev
I sit there, watching Tyler as his breathing steadies, his face still bruised but peaceful now that sleep has taken him. Every second I sit here, knowing who did this to him, knowing Jace is probably out there, smug, makes my skin crawl. I can’t let it slide. Not this time.Once I’m sure Tyler is fully asleep, I stand up, my hands still clenched into fists at my sides. Jacob looks up at me, his expression cautious. He knows me too well.“You’re not going after them, are you?” Jacob asks, his voice low, but there’s no point in pretending he doesn’t know the answer.I don’t bother lying. “I’m not letting them get away with this.”Jacob frowns, standing up as if to block my path. “Tyler told you not to go after them. He doesn’t want you to get in trouble.”I glance at Tyler, still unconscious and vulnerable in that bed. “This isn’t about getting into fucking trouble; I don't give a shit about me. This is about what they did to him. You expect me to just let that go?”He sighs, running a