His thoughts weren't done spiraling when he saw the girl raise her hand toward him. He flinched in fear, shielding his head, thinking his thoughts were coming to pass.
But…
"Hey… what's wrong with you?" she asked. Her voice was soft, floating into his ears, calming him a bit.
"Huh…" he uttered, slowly lowering his hands and looking at her warily.
"You're not here to hit me?" he asked quietly.
"Why would I?" she said. Then her tone brightened as she dragged a seat to his side and sat down. "Look! What you did was brave. How did you manage to get my brother who wouldn't even let a fly touch him to let you touch him so intimately? You're awesome…"
"Brother…?" Kael was dumbfounded. "You're the Alpha's sister?"
"Yes, I'm Nyssa. Leonhardt's sister," she chuckled. "I know we don't really look alike. But would you come to a party? I'm hosting one for the first-years. You don't have to be an Alpha to come."
"I'm an Alpha…" Kael said, not too shocked by her reveal to focus on being mistaken as an Omega again. The number of people assuming his title was both awe-gasping and infuriating.
"You are?" she asked, and Kael nodded lazily.
"Wow… you're such a diva. You made my brother kiss you while being an Alpha?"
Kael looked at her, unsure how to respond. He had just denied being an Omega, and rather than question him or argue. A change? People finally agree with what he says? Or is she just responding this way because it concerns her brother? He wasn't sure.
He merely stared at her, lost in thoughts, and she sighed before placing an invitation card in his hand.
"I know you won't tell me. But don't be so secretive like my brother. If you're involved with him, you should be my friend and spill all the tea."
Nyssa left after saying that, walking back to her friends, who chuckled with her while Kael stared at the invite.
"So, are you going?" Jaden asked, picking up the card Nyssa had dropped on Kael's lap.
"I don't know…" Kael replied. Soon enough, the lecturer arrived, and they settled in for their first class.
For the first-year students studying Mass Communication, the first semester began with an overwhelming seven-course requirement — four core courses, one restricted elective, and two compulsory electives. In addition, students were to complete six special electives before graduating from the college.
Kaelith would be offering four core courses:
- Mass Communication Foundations (MCF 101)
- Media Ethics and Propaganda (MEP 102)
- Power Psychology & Influence (PPI 103)
- Introduction to Supernatural Systems (ISS 104)
His compulsory electives were Combat Training Class (COB 101) and Philosophy (PHL 101). As for the restricted elective, students had to choose from three options: Societal Influence & Public Image (SIP 103), Strategic Discourse and Manipulation (SDM 104), or Alpha Legacy Studies (ALS 109). Kaelith chose SIP 103.
For Mondays, Kael was to attend two of his core courses plus his compulsory electives. After the completion of his first two core classes and one compulsory elective, he had nothing to do until the evening session of Combat Training. So, he left the lecture theater and headed for his dorm. But just as he turned the corner of the hall, he saw Leonhardt.
Kael's heartbeat thundered in his chest as he spotted him about to turn another corner. He didn't know how it happened, but his legs moved on their own. He blocked Leonhardt's path just as he was about to walk ahead, completely ignoring him.
Leonhardt's brows arched as he saw the person standing before him. He had been heading to one of his lectures, already over trying to prove that he's not an Alpha, only for the kitten to present himself before him. He said, devoid of any expression, "Anything wrong?"
"Yes, very much," Kael nodded with vigor and grabbed Leonhardt's wrist, leading him out of the hall. Again, he wasn't sure where the confidence came from, but in that moment, all he cared about was confronting him.
Leonhardt smiled as he noticed the frail hands pulling him along, and he simply followed, curious to see what Kael had to say. He wanted to humor him.
Soon, Kael released his hand once they reached one of the unused lecture theaters down the hall. He turned to face him, his face flushed, chest rising and falling with every breath, lips pressed together.
With brimming anger he could no longer suppress, he blurted, "Why did you post that on the college forum?"
"Post what?" Leonhardt smirked, feigning ignorance. This time, he was ready to tease him a bit to see if he was truly what he believed him to be. If he were an Omega, he would be easily manipulated and influenced but being an Alpha, he would stand his ground. So, he was curious how far Kael was willing to go to confront him—even though he hadn't posted anything.
"The one where I was called an Omega…" Kaelith forced the words out of his mouth.
"Ah… that…" Leonhardt's words trailed off.
Then he looked intently at Kaelith and moved closer to him, cornering him against the wall. He raised his hands and placed his palms on either side of the wall, caging Kaelith within.
He stared intensely at his face as he asked, his height looming over Kaelith's, "Aren't you an Omega? Or which part of the post exactly is bothering you? Actually, I don't get bothered by stuff like this, they do nothing to me. I hate people getting into my business, but since they have, I've got no qualms. But why are you bothered?
"Because you were called an Omega? Or because people think you're one?"
Kaelith's breath caught in his throat as Leonhardt towered over him, hands locking him in place. He raised his eyes to look at him—at the perfectly contoured nose, deep brown eyes, and plump lips. His heart pounded in his chest, words trapped in his throat. He simply stared… and then suddenly, a finger flicked his forehead.
Leonhardt hissed, "Lost?"
The flick jolted Kaelith back to reality. Embarrassed, he flushed and quickly wiggled free from Leonhardt's grip. Without saying a word, he turned and left.
Leonhardt watched his retreating figure and muttered under his breath, shaking his head, "He just proved he's no Alpha…"
Kaelith's strides were wide as he stomped out of the room in frustration. His palms were sweaty, his brows knitted as he replayed the scene over and over—the vulnerable position he'd been in and how easily Leonhardt had affected him.
He was humiliated, and he couldn't even get angry at Leonhardt, only at himself, for being so worked up by Leonhardt and falling for it.
As he walked down the hall, he suddenly noticed a door with a tag that read Music Practice Room. He paused. The door was slightly ajar.
"Can I enter…?" he wondered, but without wasting time, he opened the door wider and stepped inside.
Various musical instruments were arranged neatly, but no one was in sight.
He spotted a piano and walked toward it. In his previous life, while being homeschooled, he had learned to play. It had been one of the few ways he could express and release his anger and frustration. Music, in particular, had always been a personal escape.
He sat on the piano stool and placed his fingers on the keys. Running his hand over them, he felt a wave of calm wash over him. Then he began to play, a melody he had composed in his previous life.
His fingers glided over the keys, each note releasing the frustration in his heart. By the time he hit the final note, his mind was at peace.
Then he opened his eyes.
And his heart leapt, not from joy, but fear as he saw someone standing right in front of him.
The person was leaning against the chair beside the piano, eyes locked on him.
Kaelith stared, lips parting in surprise. "What is Caius doing here… or am I tripping?"