I’m already furious before I even get to the infirmary. The second I got the call, everything inside me snapped. Tyler, hurt—unconscious, beaten? The words don’t make sense. None of this makes sense. The rage bubbling inside me is barely contained as I push open the door, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest.When I walk in and see him lying there, my anger spikes. Tyler’s face is bruised, swollen, and he’s lying completely still, his eyes closed like he hasn’t moved since they found him. Jacob is sitting at his bedside, his face tight with worry, and the sight only makes me angrier.Whoever did this—whoever touched him—was going to pay.“Jacob,” I snap, storming up to Tyler’s bed, “what the hell happened?”Jacob glances up at me, his expression strained. “I don’t know, Landon. I don’t know what the fuck happened.”His words only stoke the fire inside me. How the hell could he not know? I look down at Tyler, the bruises on his cheek, the cut ne
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
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 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
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’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
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 stand at the gates of Ridgecrest Academy, and it’s nothing like I expected. The place looks more like a fortress than a school. Stone walls, iron gates, and high towers loom over the campus, reminding me that this isn’t just any academy. It’s where they train the next generation of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas. Correction—where they train Alphas to lead, Betas to serve, and Omegas to submit. This place is designed to churn out obedient Omegas, perfect little packages ready for Alphas to claim.I grip the strap of my bag, trying to ignore the itch of discomfort crawling up my spine. I don’t belong here. I never wanted to be an Omega, and I sure as hell didn’t want to come to Ridgecrest. But rules are rules. Every Omega has to come here the year before their heats start, learn how to be the perfect partner, the ideal submissive.Not me. I’m here because I want to survive. I’ve spent the last few years preparing to be anything but that. My hands grip the strap of my duffel bag a little
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
I’m already furious before I even get to the infirmary. The second I got the call, everything inside me snapped. Tyler, hurt—unconscious, beaten? The words don’t make sense. None of this makes sense. The rage bubbling inside me is barely contained as I push open the door, my heart pounding so hard it feels like it’s going to explode out of my chest.When I walk in and see him lying there, my anger spikes. Tyler’s face is bruised, swollen, and he’s lying completely still, his eyes closed like he hasn’t moved since they found him. Jacob is sitting at his bedside, his face tight with worry, and the sight only makes me angrier.Whoever did this—whoever touched him—was going to pay.“Jacob,” I snap, storming up to Tyler’s bed, “what the hell happened?”Jacob glances up at me, his expression strained. “I don’t know, Landon. I don’t know what the fuck happened.”His words only stoke the fire inside me. How the hell could he not know? I look down at Tyler, the bruises on his cheek, the cut ne
I’m practically floating through the day, everything feeling lighter and easier than it ever has. Even the usually dull classes seem tolerable, and I can’t help the grin that keeps tugging at my lips. It’s not like me to feel this way, this… happy.Jacob notices, of course. He’s been side-eyeing me all morning, clearly freaked out by how calm and relaxed I am.“You good?” he asks as we walk to lunch, his voice full of suspicion.“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?” I reply, trying—and failing—to keep the smile off my face.Jacob stops in his tracks, grabbing my arm to pull me to a halt. “Okay, spill. What the hell happened? You’ve been smiling like a lunatic all day. It’s weird.”I chuckle, shaking my head as I continue walking. “Nothing. I’m just… in a good mood.”Jacob snorts, falling into step beside me. “Bullshit. You’ve been floating around like someone hit you with a bliss pheromone bomb. Did you and Landon…?”I glance at him, raising an eyebrow. “And what if we did?”Jacob’s eyes go wide
I smirk and draw my hand to his neck, running my thumb over his scent gland. “Do you want to come to my room with me?” I ask, my voice rough with need, and I watch as his eyes widen. He bites his bottom lip and I watch as the wheels turn in his head. I know he’s scared; scared I’ll take advantage, but that’s the last thing I want to do to him.I lean toward his ear. “You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, but I would love to show you just how much I want to worship you, my perfect Omega.”Tyler sucks in a breath, and his scent overwhelms me so much that I feel the desk splinter as I hold onto it. He turns his head to face me and I watch as his green gives way to silver; not just a flash, but pure fucking Omega silver.“Will you take care of me, Alpha?” he murmurs and my heart fucking twists.I cup his face with both my hands and bite back a growl. “With my life. I’m yours, Tyler. You’ve ruined me for anyone else. Please allow me to show you just how ruined I am for you.”