Because I like you.

The words repeated again and again in my head, but I still couldn’t process them. They bounced around my skull, unable to stick to anything, and in the end, it left me standing there, staring like an idiot. 

Was this a joke? Were they making fun of me again?

I glanced around the hall, perking my ears, trying to pick up on any stifled laughter from those in hiding. 

But it was quiet. And Henry was still standing there with an expectant expression on his face. Waiting.

“You…like me?” I asked, still dumbfounded. 

The Alpha gave a small smile and nodded. 

My frown only deepened. “Why?”

I was too shocked to keep my tone under control. To keep my submission at the forefront. I mean, could anyone blame me?

Henry’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected the question. He probably didn’t. Not only would an Omega never question an Alpha so directly, but I can’t imagine him actually having an answer for it.

“You’ve never even talked to me before,” I continued. 

Henry flushed red, almost as red as his hair. “I know, but I’ve seen you. I’ve watched you for a while–not in a creepy way or anything!” he added quickly when my expression must have betrayed my discomfort. 

“I just…I noticed you. I always thought you were beautiful.”

I snorted a laugh. 

He blinked at me. 

“You’re serious? Beautiful? Don’t you know what the other Alphas say about me? I’m ugly. No one will ever mate me.”

“That’s not true!” Henry interjected. A flash of anger in those blue eyes and his pheromones flared. They looked like Mother’s.

I took a few steps back, hunching my shoulders to make myself smaller. 

Henry frowned, “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to–I’m not angry at you. I just–I hate that people have been so cruel to you. And it’s not true. You’re not ugly.”

Henry took a few steps forward, eyes softening the way I never thought an Alpha’s could. “I think you’re beautiful.”

He was serious…

My heart beat wildly in my chest as I stared up at him. Finally, someone I was actually shorter than. 

“Y-you mean it?” I asked hesitantly, voice small.

Henry smiled and nodded. Carefully, slowly, as if I was a small animal on the verge of flight, he raised his hand. When I didn’t flinch away, he laid the soft palm against my cheek. 

“So, do you want to?” he asked. 

“Hm?” I asked, still distracted by the warmth on my skin and the fluttering in my chest. A feeling I was so unused to.

“Hang out with me? Sometime?” 

Oh, right, the note. 

“Um…okay,” I said quietly, looking down. He quickly brought my face back up to stare at him. He was smiling down at me. 

“Okay, perfect. Do you have a phone?” he asked. 

I shook my head. Mother didn’t think Omegas should be allowed to have phones. Gave them too much freedom. 

Henry frowned, but then shrugged. 

“Guess we’ll just have to keep passing notes then,” he said. The tension left my shoulders as I gave him a nod. 

He pulled his hand away and gestured back down the hall. I followed him back to the cafeteria, still floating from the revelation. I hadn’t realized we’d made it back to my table until he spoke again. 

“I guess I’ll see you soon, Caleb.”

“Cal,” I corrected. 

Henry’s smile widened. “Cal.”

With a little wave, he walked off and joined his Alpha friends who hooted and hollered, obviously watching the exchange. 

It took me a second to realize my own table was silent and staring at me. Angie had an expectant grin on her face. 

“Well? Spill!” she demanded. 

I smiled a little. “He told me he likes me.”

The whole table started cheering. I sat down a little embarrassed, but I couldn’t wipe the grin off my face. My cheeks hurt, I smiled so hard. 

“See? I knew it!” Angie said, then went off about how she saw all the signs. I ignored her, my mind still reeling. 

I was on cloud nine for the rest of the day. Even on my walk home, I couldn’t stop grinning. It didn’t even bother me when I passed a few Alphas on the way there. The burning hatred and fear I typically felt when I had to submit had barely surfaced. 

It wasn’t until I got home and noticed how quiet the house was, that I snapped out of it. 

“Hello?” I called out. Mother was still at work, and the girls were at their tutoring lessons, but Senno and Mama should be home. It shouldn’t be this quiet. 

“Mama?” I called again, putting my bag down. I checked the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, and all of downstairs. Nothing. 

Reaching the stairs, I called out again. Nothing. 

Sighing, I climbed the steps and checked the rooms one by one. Empty. 

“Senno?” I called, checking in her room. She was all bundled up on her bed, completely covered by the blanket, I couldn’t even see her. 

I sat down next to the blanket burrito and laid a hand on her. 

“Hey, Senno. How are you feeling?” 

She didn’t move. I shook her a little. 

Nothing. 

“Senno?” 

I pulled the blanket back and stared. Sleeping.

Shaking her harder. “Senno, wake up.”

Nothing. 

“Senno! You’re not a heavy sleeper, come on. You have to eat.” 

Frowning, I put my hand on her forehead. She was burning up. Hotter than she had ever been before. Crap!

I yanked the blankets off of her. I had to get her to cool down, but she was too heavy for me to lift. 

“Mama!” I screamed. 

Ice? Would that work?

“Mama!” 

The house was still silent. 

I ran to Mama and Mother’s room. Maybe she was still sleeping. But we had to get Senno to a healer. 

“Mama!” I called, opening the door. She was sitting on the bed, hands around her swollen belly, staring at the wall. I ran to her desperately. “Mama! Senno’s fever got worse! She’s not waking up!”

Mama didn’t even blink. It was like she didn’t hear me. I shook her arm. 

“Mama!” 

Nothing. 

Tears blurred my vision as I pulled away from her, running downstairs. I grabbed everything out of the freezer, bringing it up to Senno’s room. I covered her in all the frozen food and ice, curling around her as I tried to keep her fever down. 

“Don’t die, Senno.”

Please don’t die.