Diego
Bruce dropped my hand like he'd just woken from a nightmare—or stepped out of a parallel world—when the bell rang two hours ago.
But I'm still stuck on the moment.Why did he flinch so hard when I said the word mate?
Is he already mated and got rejected?Or—wait… Do I look like his mate? Do I remind him of someone? What really happened to them?
Who can I ask?Oh! Maybe Lucas or Jules. They've known Bruce since first grade. Even if they've never talked directly, they might've heard something.
Alphas usually get paired with their mates the moment they turn seventeen. Bruce is already eighteen, while I'm still seventeen. Omegas only get their mate bonds at eighteen.So maybe I do remind him of someone—of her, or him, whoever it was.
He's been haunting my thoughts all day. I sat through each class with his face somewhere in the corner of my mind. Still, I took notes. I listened. I tried. But now it's the last period—Life Orientation. We have to move to the mini hall.
I zip up my backpack and sling it over my shoulder. Jules and Lucas are already waiting for me at the door.
My teeth catch on my lower lip as I hesitate. I want to ask them about Bruce, but...I don't know why I feel weird about it.Maybe because I'm starting to get curious about him—and I'm not sure I like that.
"Hey," I say, walking between them as always, voice low, "are there any students here who've already been paired with their mates?"
"Yeah, a few," Jules says. "But the principal told everyone not to make it obvious. This is high school, not college. No kissing, no groping in public. They're trying to keep things respectful."
"Why?" he asks after a beat.
I scratch the back of my neck, awkward. "Uhm. No reason… Just wondering." My voice comes out sounding weirdly nasal—too much like Jules's voice, which makes him snort.
"There are always Alphas who try to make it obvious," Lucas adds. "They love showing off, but they know they'll get punished if they're caught. No kissing, no hand-holding. But if they wanna hook up in the dorms—quietly—no one really stops them."
I nod slowly, chewing the inside of my cheek.
We enter the mini hall. As usual, our class is the first to arrive, which means we get to pick the best seats.
Once we're settled in the middle row, Jules leans toward me. "What about your old school?"
"Fewer rules. I mean, yeah, no kissing or gross stuff in class, but some kids still did it. Mostly desperate Omegas trying to stake a claim before someone else did."
"You didn't report them?" Lucas asks, brow raised.
I shake my head. "Nah. Even if it was against the rules, nobody wanted to be that guy."
Lucas props his elbow on his desk. "What was it like going to school with girls?"
My eyes widen. "Wait—you've never been in school with girls?"
They both shake their heads.
"Not even primary school?"
"Nope," they say in unison.
I let out a breath. "Honestly? Female Omegas can be super insecure. They like to show off. Sometimes they're even rude to us male Omegas."
Jules scrunches his nose. "Why?"
I shrug. "No clue. Maybe their Alphas make them feel insecure around us."
"How so?" Jules asks, leaning closer.
I play with the strap of my backpack under the desk. "You know how everyone has their own kinks, right? I think some straight Alphas have a thing for male Omegas… and their girlfriends can sense it."
Lucas nods. "You might be right. There are a lot of straight Alphas here too."
"How can you tell?" I ask, turning to him.
His gray eyes squint slightly, like he's shy. "They have thick thumb fingers. The gay ones usually have thick middle fingers instead."
Jules and I nearly burst out laughing.
Wait—seriously?
"How have you never told me this before?" Jules asks, half-laughing.
Lucas shrugs. "Thought it was useless info. And I wasn't even sure… until recently."
He trails off as two Alphas step into the hall.Lucas's eyes flick up—then drop back to his desk like he's been caught.
I follow his line of sight and—yep. Lian. The guy he's been low-key avoiding eye contact with for days. Lian's eyes, though, don't leave Lucas. Not even for a second.
God. Lucas is so obviously his mate and doesn't even realize it.
I glance toward Bruce.
He's walking beside Lian, heading to the window seats, and—
Yep. He's staring straight at me.
His black eyes pin me in place as he moves with that heavy, confident stride. Lian's are hazel—sometimes they shift to a golden color but I don't know what triggers it. It's probably an Alpha thing.
The hall fills up fast after that, but my attention drifts toward the front of the room where our favorite teachers stand.
Ms. Ramos looks gorgeous as always—neat, sharp clothes, her black hair pulled into a sleek high ponytail. She claps her hands once.
"Today's lesson is about heat, intimacy, and pregnancy. Last time, we covered pheromones and scent marking, remember?"
The room fills with gasps and awkward chuckles when she says intimacy, like we're all twelve instead of teenagers with hormone problems.
"Since most Alphas are granted their mates at seventeen, and Omegas at eighteen," Ms. Ramos continues, "this lesson is relevant to all of you."
She begins handing out papers—neatly stacked—and passes a pile to Mr. Rodriguez, who starts distributing them.
Mr. Rodriguez claps his hands together. "These have a quick summary of today's topic and some questions for your assignment. You'll be working in pairs."
My stomach drops.Please don't pair me with—
"We've discussed how mate-bond scents can trigger heat in Omegas, which makes them vulnerable. Intimacy can happen sooner than expected. That's why we emphasize safety—scent marking can reduce overheating for Omegas," Ms. Ramos explains.
"It also helps Alphas manage their impulses, keeping their urges at bay for a few hours," she adds.
We all nod, showing we're following along.
"To avoid pregnancy," Mr. Rodriguez adds, "there are rubbers available for both Alphas and Omegas, and other contraceptives as well. That's part of your assignment too—explain how an Omega gets pregnant, in your own words. No science jargon."
I try to focus, but my eyes keep itching to sneak a glance at Bruce.
I can feel his stare. It's heavy. Burning.I don't want to get caught, so I lean back and slowly shift—only to be met by Lucas's back. I press my chest against it, trying to peek.
My heart pounds when I finally look—Bruce is staring out the window now.
But Lian? He's watching Lucas like the rest of the world doesn't exist.
Yeah. They're definitely bonded.
Unlike me and that brute, who loves invading my personal space and suffocating me with his overpowering, ridiculously masculine scent.
That school president. That brute.That… infuriatingly handsome Alpha.
God. Bruce is so handsome, even from the side.
His blazer hugs his biceps and broad shoulders like it was tailored just for him. Every movement is effortless—elegant but powerful.
Ugh.
Why am I admiring Bruce?
I snap back to the present just as Ms. Ramos says, "Here is the pairing list for the assignment. I hope you'll all work well together—no cheating, please."
She smiles as she begins to read aloud."Max Carver with Lucas Hall. Bruce Russell with Diego Armando…"
Gulp.
I physically feel myself swallow. Twice. Maybe three times.
Groans echo from the back of the room.But Bruce's stare burns hotter now. I feel the tension roll off him like a storm.
My expression probably mirrors his—or maybe his is worse.
Why would Ms. Ramos pair us? The only Alpha who seems to hate me?
This is going to be a disaster.
She continues, "Alexander Reed with Jules Ross…"
I know Max Carver and Alexander Reed. They're best friends and part of the rugby team. Max is their captain. Lian leads the basketball team.
Lian's been paired with an Omega I don't recognize, and judging by his face, he's not happy about it.
As for Bruce… He's giving me the kind of look you reserve for your worst enemy.
I feel like running away from this school.Maybe the whole planet.