Chapter 13

“You’re not going again? Didn’t you say you would give it a shot this time around?” 

I sighed, picking at the stray thread dangling from my shirt. Anything to distract from looking up and seeing the disappointed expression that was bound to be on his face. 

Phil huffed dramatically before plopping down on the grass, close enough for me to feel the warmth of his skin and smell the thickness of his scent. Comforting. He lay back, relishing in the sun as the rays danced along his skin.

“You’re acting like Pyka,” I snorted. 

“Pyka’s a spoiled brat,” Phil grumbled. 

“Yeah, and whose fault is that?” I snickered, finally allowing myself to glance over at him. His warm brown eyes were pinned on me, lighter in color as the sun illuminated them. If I wasn't careful, I’d get sucked into them like a void. 

Darting my gaze away, I smirked. “I’ll go if you do one thing.”

Phil sat up, eager, “Yeah?” 

My smirk deepened, “Go streaking at the lake, right now.”

Phil’s face went red, unable to hide the shock and embarrassment from his face as I laughed loudly. 

He was so easy to tease, unlike Pyka. Sometimes it was hard to believe they were brothers.

Sometimes…both of them had an obsession with butting into my life. Though coming from a place of love, they expressed it much differently from each other. 

“You’re mean,” Phil huffed, flopping back down on the grass, eyes closed this time as he fought to push back the blush. “You and Brynn are always teasing me.”

My stomach fluttered. It was quick, but powerful. Just the name had me forgetting the time of day, the year, who I was. 

Brynn Accalia. 

I pinched my thigh, fighting back all the stupid instincts and overwhelming emotions that being an Omega forced me to endure. It was a biological reaction, it wasn’t real. 

If anything, I should be afraid of it. Brynn wasn’t kind. She was cold, and twisted, and her pheromones were enough to knock even the toughest Omega out. She was one of the top Alphas. Best friends with Kai Hemming, Jackson Shaw, Talon Redwood, and…Phil. The highest ranking Alphas.

I knew what it was. My body was maturing. Nature made my body crave them. A strong Alpha meant strong pups. So close to experiencing my first heat, it made sense why the feelings of disgust and hatred were now joined with a hot longing that no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t ice out. I wouldn’t succumb to it though.

I refuse to let go of my freedom. 

And it was Brynn that steeled my resolve in avoiding the Run. Every month, the schools would host a joint run for the Alphas and Omegas, meant to help us socialize in our natural forms. It was also another attempt at trying to pair them up. I’d been avoiding them since High School began and I refused to give in just because Phil wanted me to go.

I didn’t tell him why. I didn’t want to make him uncomfortable. But if I went and I ran into Brynn with all my instincts flooding my body, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll fall into heat. 

“What if I promise to stick with you the whole time?” Phil pushed, rolling on his side. 

I raised one brow. “I bet Nina would love the third wheel.”

“You know she understands.”

I held back a snort. Yeah, not as well as he thinks. 

Nina was tolerant of our friendship because she knew that I had no interest in Alphas. Despite our friendship being a secret from everyone else, we always made sure to be completely transparent to her, so that there would be no room for misunderstandings. But lately, she’s been giving me not-so-friendly looks. I didn’t know what had changed. Maybe it was instinct, another Omega around her mate, but I had a feeling it was going to blow up soon. And then I’d be alone…again.

And Phil wasn’t just a good friend to me. He was my way of conditioning myself to withstand Alphas. I wrapped myself in his scent whenever I could, training myself to withhold my own instincts and refuse the call of heat. 

Since our relationship was platonic, I felt he was the best person to do this with. He was the only person I could do this with. All of my sisters had Alphas now. I had no one. I was vulnerable.

Henry had offered once, but just the thought of it made me sick. Jenny didn’t approve of it anyway, and I’d rather go through heat alone then deal with one of her temper tantrums. 

A part of me believed Phil knew what I was doing and that’s why he continued our friendship. He was kind in that way.

A friendship built on false pretenses…fitting for an Alpha and Omega. 

“What are you two doing?”  

Phil and I tensed, jolting up as we looked to the left in sync. My eyes widened as I saw Brynn poke her head past the brush peering into our little hiding spot.

We’d been caught.

Her bright blue eyes were narrowed, zeroing in on our close proximity and the obvious horror in our expressions. Her dark brows lowered as a warning look crossed her intense features. 

“Phil, what are you–”

“Nina knows exactly where I am and who I am with,” Phil responded gently, but his eyes weren’t on the intruder. They were focused on me, his body language tensed as if ready to spring into action, regarding me as if I were some frightened animal about to dart away with any sudden movement. 

I suppose that’s how I looked. I hadn’t even realized I’d jumped into a crouch, a slight shift away from bounding away.

Stupid, Cal. 

You can’t run. Omegas can’t run from Alphas. 

“Easy, Cal,” Phil whispered, his tone still gentle, coaxing. He held his hands up in a placating way. 

I gulped, taking a few deep breaths before sitting back down, albeit stiffly, and Brynn came over to us. 

Phil relaxed a bit once my breathing had returned to normal, but it hadn’t stilled my frantic heart. No, that beat like an angry drum, hungry for repentance. 

“So…what are you two doing here?” Brynn asked again.

“Hanging out,” Phil said cheerfully, lying back down as if everything was all rainbows and sunshine. 

Didn’t he care? Our cover’s been blown. People will find out.

No, of course he didn’t care. We hid because I was the one who wanted to keep it a secret. I didn’t want anyone knowing that there was an Alpha I didn’t hate. It would invite more and that was attention I couldn’t afford. It was a threat to what little freedom I had acquired. 

“But why here? Aren’t you both–” Brynn started, but I couldn’t bear to hear another word. I couldn’t stand being in her presence a moment longer, suffocating with her scent. 

“Can I go?” I cut her off, not caring about the disrespect. Desperation had clouded my every thought. 

Phil leaned up again, concern on his face. 

“You’re not forced to stay, Cal. You know that,” Phil reminded but never losing the concern. The worry. 

My heart beat faster, deafening in my ears. If I didn’t get out of there soon, I was going to pass out.

“What’s wrong with him?” I heard Brynn ask, but her voice was too loud. Too strong. I made a move to stand, too quick. 

Phil grasped my wrist lightning fast. 

“You need to move slower, Cal. Your scent alone is too strong to stop the instincts,” Phil warned. 

And then the worst thing imaginable happened. As if this wasn’t humiliating enough. 

Brynn released her pheromones.

I’m sure it was meant to calm me down. It was something the Alphas were taught early on. Brynn herself was a master at it. 

Except, Brynn didn’t know what she did to me. She didn’t know how my soul sang for her. She knew nothing. 

And that was all it took to send me into heat.