Chapter 30 30
“You have three classes with her from Monday to Thursday, Aidan. It’s not ideal for Dexter to be inside the classroom, and the others won’t agree with that. I can’t push it that far; the alarms have already been raised with the multiple complaints.”
“What do you need?” He crossed his arms. He didn’t understand what his father wanted to ask of him. He had seen that Omega, but he still didn’t understand why there was such an uproar across the whole university—why she was so special. All he had seen was a little brat at the hospital, and now suddenly thanks to her there was chaos everywhere; she was the only thing anybody talked about. Her first class, the first Omega, the mate of an Alpha. It wasn’t surprising, but they should at least pretend not to make such a fuss, and they weren’t doing that.
“I need you to make sure they don’t bother her. That’s all I’m asking. Get close to her, and in those three classes make sure no one harasses her.”
“Dad, whatever is going to happen will happen. It’s not normal for her to be here. And while some might overlook her presence, many won’t.”
“I’m only asking you ONE thing! Get close to her!”
“She’s Emmanuel’s mate. Why don’t you put them together?”
“Their majors are completely different. Just like you, she’s interested in health studies, and the twins are the complete opposite. I guaranteed her safety. If you watch her, it’ll be more discreet and more comfortable for her. For everyone.”
“Dad… just ask her to switch majors, isn’t that easier?”
“I guaranteed her safety. And if I don’t follow through, she’ll leave for another university along with the twins. Do you know how much Emmanuel and Ezequiel’s presence benefits us? I can’t lose them.”
“You’re setting yourself up for a huge problem. Imagine something happens to her—it would be better to lose the twins than to face a scandal over an accident happening inside the university because you allowed an Omega here. You’re taking a lot of risks just to help them because they’re from the Colonies District. I don’t agree with this.” He had to leave—he was already late—but his father kept holding him back.
“Aidan…” He placed his hands on his son’s shoulders. “This isn’t a suggestion.” His hands tightened and dug hard into Aidan’s shoulders, hurting him—hurting him a lot. Aidan froze, watching as his father inflicted pain. He bit his lips and lowered his gaze, angry and helpless. “You have to do it.” The director kept tightening his grip until he saw his son’s bravery dissolve.
“I’ll do it,” he said with a darkened expression, full of anger, fear, and rejection. “I’ll do it, Dad. I’ll watch over her in the three classes I have with her.”
The director removed his hands from Aidan’s shoulders, and Aidan walked out slowly.
He rolled his shoulders, still feeling his father’s fingers burning into them. He grabbed his backpack with one hand and then started running.
He was already late for class.
On the way, as he ran across the campus, he ran into one of the twins—who was also running, but toward the S wing. He was coming from the same place Aidan was heading.
From seeing Lois.
Aidan ran faster and faster, stopping at the first entrance to the D wing. The hallways were deserted and completely silent. Running was forbidden inside, and Aidan was the type to respect the rules. He hated that, just for being the director’s son, he had to be perfect and couldn’t afford to do anything less—his father would kill him if he embarrassed him. He had countless expectations to fulfill, while displaying excellence in everything.
He had to be the best.
He was the director’s son. Nothing less was expected from him.
But that day, he arrived late—thanks to his father and that stupid request that had left Aidan in a foul mood. He didn’t like drawing attention, and if he associated with Lois, the omega, in public, it would be an absolutely catastrophic way of drawing attention.
He opened the door very slowly. The professor looked at him with arms crossed for interrupting class by arriving late.
“Sorry for the interruption, professor.”
“Just take a seat.”
Aidan scanned the whole classroom—it wasn’t even slightly difficult to spot Lois among twenty students. He could almost feel her trembling at the back of the room; her fear hit him the moment he opened the door.
The girl looked terrified—until she realized she recognized the person walking in.
“Aidan!” she shouted his name enthusiastically, standing up. Relieved to see a familiar face. “There’s an empty seat!”
Everyone stared at Aidan because of the way Lois called him with such familiarity—even he was surprised by how much confidence Lois suddenly had in him, after seeing him only once, and that one time he had simply been polite. But Lois clearly needed something to hold on to in the middle of that classroom full of strangers who were uncomfortable with her presence.
The professor watched him impatiently, waiting for him to take a seat.
“Looks like he knows her.”
“How do they know each other?”
“Is he going to sit next to her?”