August entered the room cautiously, each step feeling heavier than the last. A strong scent hit him immediately—a blend of musk and something darker that made his senses feel overwhelmed.
The room was empty, but there was a discernible presence that lingered, chilling him to the bone. The space was far larger than his old dorm. There was no bunk bed crammed against the wall; instead, a single, massive bed took up one side of the room, dominating the space.
So the Alpha lives here. Is he a king or what?
He quickly set his luggage down, the soft thud startling him in the silence. As the dinner bell rang, he flinched, heart skipping a beat. His nerves were already on edge. Without wasting any time, he changed into something warmer, pulling on a thick jacket before stepping out into the hallway.
The corridors were eerily quiet as he walked, the distant echo of his footsteps the only sound. But soon, he started seeing students again, their casual chatter filtering through the air, bringing a sense of normalcy. Still, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that hung over him like a cloud.
He needed to use the washroom but, for some reason, felt too unsettled to use the one in his dorm.
Not knowing where it was located in the school, he decided to ask someone. He spotted a group of students laughing rowdily in the corner. They looked rough, like troublemakers, so August quickly decided against approaching them. Just as he was about to turn away, he bumped into someone.
"Watch it!" a voice growled, sharp and hostile.
August's eyes widened as he stepped back, coming face-to-face with a boy smaller than him but with an air of defiance. His brown eyes narrowed, and his pale cheeks flushed in irritation.
"Can't you see where you're going?" the boy spat out.
"I'm really sorry," August quickly apologized, bowing slightly.
The boy glared at him, clearly unimpressed. "You're just going to stare at me now?!"
August hesitated, unsure of how to handle the situation. "Uh…actually, do you know where the washroom is?" he asked, his voice soft.
The boy blinked, taken aback by the question. His disbelief was clear as he scoffed. "Are you serious right now? You just hit me and think I'll help you?!" His words were savage, and August felt heat rise to his cheeks.
"I'm new here," August explained, a bit more defensively now. "I don't know my way around."
The boy squinted at him, his eyes narrowing even more. Then, without warning, he leaned in and began sniffing August. Startled, August jerked back, trying to push him away.
"What are you doing?" he exclaimed, his voice edged with discomfort.
The boy's eyes widened in shock, as if he'd just discovered something unbelievable. "Wait, you're human?"
August nodded slowly, confused by the boy's sudden change in demeanour.
The boy's face lit up with an almost mischievous grin. "Oh my God, we've never had a human here before!" he exclaimed, clapping his hands together in excitement. "This is wild! I'm Bubbles, by the way, and I'm an omega! You know what that means, right?"
Before August could respond, Bubbles launched into a full-on monologue, babbling nonstop. "This is gonna be so interesting! You must be feeling so out of place, right? I mean, look at you, you're all…human! Not in a bad way, of course, just different. The dynamics here are crazy. You've got the alphas, the betas, the omegas—oh, and watch out for the alphas, they can be total jerks, but not all of them! Some are actually nice, like my class president, but you probably don't care about that right now, do you? Oh, and about that washroom..."
Bubbles kept talking and talking, his words coming out so fast that August could barely keep up. His enthusiasm was overwhelming, and as much as August appreciated the friendliness, it was getting to be too much.
"Bubbles," August interrupted. "the washroom?"
"Oh, right!" Bubbles laughed, shaking his head as if he'd completely forgotten. "It's down the hall, second door on the left. Got it!"
August sighed in relief, nodding his thanks. "Thanks, Bubbles," he said before quickly walking in the direction Bubbles had pointed, eager to escape the omega's relentless chatter.
August stepped into the washroom, stopping dead in his tracks as the sight before him took him by surprise. Two guys were kissing hungrily against the wall. The noise of the door opening caused them to break apart, and August's eyes widened as he recognized the guy leaning against the wall—Edwin.
The other guy, taller than Edwin, turned toward August with a look of mild annoyance. August's heart raced. He hadn't thought it was possible for anyone to be taller than Edwin, but this guy was definitely an Alpha, his presence radiating a powerful aura that sent chills down August's spine.
Edwin's expression shifted from surprise to a more neutral stance as he asked, "What are you doing here, August?"
Before August could even comprehend or respond to what he had just walked in on, the Alpha tightened his grip on Edwin's waist, pulling him closer. "Who's August?" the Alpha asked, his voice low and possessive.
Edwin sighed, clearly irritated, and playfully hit the Alpha's shoulder. "I told you to lock the door. Someone could walk in and complain to my brother about this," he scolded. Then, glancing back at August, he added, "Thank God it's just you."
Edwin motioned to the Alpha, who was now eyeing August with mild curiosity. "This is August," he said, introducing him. "August, this is Blade."
August nodded awkwardly, avoiding eye contact as he slipped past them, eager to reach one of the stalls. His hands trembled slightly as he locked the door behind him, trying to focus on anything but the awkward encounter he had just witnessed.
From outside, he could hear their voices again. Edwin's playful tone dropped, replaced by something far more serious. "You should leave before my brother gets to the cafeteria."
There was a brief silence, and then Blade's voice came, low and menacing. "You're coming to my dorm tonight," he growled, grabbing Edwin by the throat. The threatening tone made August's stomach twist.
Edwin, unfazed, glared back. "I already told you I'll come. Don't worry."
August's hands gripped the sides of the sink, trying not to listen. He didn't want to know what was happening between them. Yet, even though it had nothing to do with him, he couldn't help but overhear the tension-laden conversation.