Chapter 52

The soft thrum of chatter filled the hallway as I made my way toward my next class. The whispers that had once been background noise seemed louder now, each word carving deeper under my skin. I could feel eyes following me, assessing, judging, and the stares carried a sharper edge than before. Ever since my omega status became public knowledge, the dynamic had shifted, and not in my favor.

“Look at her. Always thought she was too good for everyone, and now she’s playing the innocent omega card,” a voice said, dripping with venom. I didn’t need to turn to know it was Violet. Her mocking tone was one I’d memorized long ago, back when she and her little clique had made it their mission to make every day a test of patience.

Margaret’s laugh followed, sharp and biting. “Yeah, bet she only snared Silas because he got caught up in her heat. You know how intense those can be.” The insinuation lingered, taunting me, pressing against the knot of anger in my chest.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to keep walking, my heartbeat pounding in my ears. But their next words halted me mid-step.

“She’s always reeked of something desperate,” Violet continued, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper that I still caught. “That fake lily scent. Who does she think she’s fooling? It’s not even tempting, just pathetic.”

A flicker of heat rose in my chest, not the warm comfort of safety but the biting burn of rage. I swallowed hard, struggling to suppress the mix of emotions surging inside me. I’d learned long ago that reacting only fed their cruelty, but today, the tension of the morning, the unease that had coiled around me since my talk with the Headmaster, was threatening to break loose.

“She must think being an omega is some kind of shield,” Margaret added, her voice full of feigned pity. “As if Silas really wanted to bond with that scent.”

I turned then, unable to stop myself. The hallway seemed to shrink around us as my gaze met Violet’s, her eyes sparking with malicious delight. She smirked, tilting her head as if daring me to respond.

“You’ve got something to say, Riley?” she taunted, folding her arms and leaning against the locker with practiced nonchalance. Margaret snickered beside her, a perfect echo of Violet’s confidence.

I took a step forward, the Garnet at my collarbone pulsing faintly, grounding me as I spoke, my voice steady despite the storm brewing inside. “Funny, isn’t it?” I said, keeping my tone as calm as I could muster. “How obsessed you are with me and my life, when you’re just background noise.”

Violet’s smirk faltered for just a second, replaced by a flicker of irritation. But she recovered, stepping forward until there was barely any space between us, the sharp floral tang of her perfume nearly suffocating. “Background noise?” she echoed, her smile turning predatory. “Darling, if that’s true, then what does that make you? The punchline? Because that’s all anyone sees when they look at you now. A weak, desperate omega who can’t hold her own without a bond.”

I felt a tremor go through me, the sting of her words cutting deep. The reality was, she wasn’t entirely wrong—at least, not in the way she intended. The weight of my status, the newfound attention, and the shifting power dynamics pressed down on me, and it took every ounce of restraint not to let the dark surge inside me break free.

Instead, I stood taller, meeting her gaze with a look that promised she wouldn’t see me break, not here, not now. “At least I don’t have to claw at someone else’s reputation to feel important,” I said softly, but with enough bite that I saw her eyes narrow.

Before Violet could fire back, a commotion at the far end of the hallway drew our attention. I glanced over and spotted Xavier and Gideon approaching, their presence commanding enough that the crowd around us began to disperse. The two of them together had that effect, and for once, I was glad for it.

Violet’s confidence wavered, and she stepped back, shooting me one last glare before turning on her heel and striding away with Margaret trailing behind her. The noise of the hallway resumed, but the sharp edge had dulled. The tension in my chest eased slightly, but not entirely. I drew in a breath, steadying myself as the two Alphas approached, both sets of eyes locking onto mine with unreadable expressions.

The air in the hallway seemed to still as Xavier closed the distance between us, a low, dangerous growl escaping his throat as he spoke. “Is there a problem here?” His voice was calm, but the undertone was anything but.

Violet’s eyes widened slightly before she recovered, a saccharine smile stretching her lips. “Oh, Xavier, we were just having a little chat with our new favorite omega. She’s been so… bold lately.” Her gaze flicked to me, laced with disdain.

Xavier didn’t spare her a glance. His eyes stayed locked on mine, sharp and assessing, searching for any sign that I needed help or, worse, that I was on the verge of breaking. The unwavering attention made my omega side preen, an instinctive warmth unfurling in my chest despite my efforts to suppress it. I could feel the weight of it, the way he focused entirely on me, and it was enough to make my pulse jump. I bit the inside of my cheek, determined not to show how affected I was, but the flush in my cheeks betrayed me.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Gideon smirk, his expression tinged with amusement as if he were in on some private joke.

“There’s no problem,” I said finally, my voice steady, laced with forced indifference. “Just some misplaced curiosity.”

Violet’s smile faltered, her eyes narrowing as she realized neither Xavier nor Gideon had acknowledged her or Margaret at all. With an indignant huff, she turned on her heel, motioning for her friend to follow. The two of them stormed off, the click of their heels echoing down the hall as the attention shifted away from the scene.

Xavier stepped closer, his fingers grazing my arm, subtle but deliberate, the scent-marking gesture both protective and possessive. My skin tingled where he touched, and I felt a shiver run down my spine as Gideon mirrored the action, his fingers brushing my wrist as he passed. They exchanged a brief look, some silent communication passing between them that I couldn’t decipher.

Before I could react, Gideon slipped something into the side pocket of my bag, so smoothly that if I hadn’t felt the slight shift of weight, I wouldn’t have noticed. He leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. “Stay sharp, Riley,” he murmured, and then they were gone, striding down the hall as if nothing out of the ordinary had occurred.

I stood there for a moment, trying to steady the erratic beat of my heart. The Garnet pulsed, a rhythmic thrum that felt almost in sync with my racing pulse, its warmth radiating through my chest. I shook off the encounter, forcing my mind to focus as I turned and headed toward my next class. The whispers continued behind me, but they felt more distant now, muted by the lingering traces of orange and clove that clung to my skin.

The moment I was alone in the stairwell, I pulled the small box from my bag. It was smooth, polished wood with subtle carvings along the edges—runes of protection and loyalty, ones I recognized from ancient courting traditions. My heart thudded as I opened it, revealing a delicate bracelet inside, woven from silver threads and adorned with tiny charms: a crescent moon, a star, and a flame. Each symbol was meaningful, representing protection, ambition, and the hidden.

My fingers brushed the bracelet, and warmth bloomed in`1 my chest. This wasn’t just a trinket; it was a declaration. An old tradition, subtle and powerful in its own right. Gideon and Xavier were playing a deeper game than I’d expected, each intent on making their intentions clear. The realization brought both a thrill and a pang of anxiety that coiled in my stomach.

Before I could dwell on it, a flicker of movement at the far end of the hallway caught my eye. A shadow, quick and deliberate, slipped past the edge of the stairwell. My pulse quickened as I tucked the box into my bag, securing it out of sight. I glanced around, making sure no one was watching, and then followed, my steps light and careful as I tried to keep the figure within sight.

The shadow weaved through the corridors, moving with an elegance that was both familiar and unsettling. I kept my distance, fighting the urge to close the gap. I couldn’t afford to be reckless, not with the headmaster’s warning and the whispers of a power struggle still fresh in my mind.

But as the figure turned a sharp corner, I hurried to catch up, only to find the hall empty, a cold draft seeping through the cracks in the stone walls. I paused, straining to hear any sound—footsteps, a door creaking, anything—but the silence pressed down like a suffocating blanket.

“Damn it,” I whispered, glancing over my shoulder. The corridor was dim, shadows pooling in the corners, taunting me with their stillness.

The Garnet against my collarbone pulsed, a rhythmic, insistent thrum that sent a chill through my body. It was warning me, sensing the tension in the air, the faint traces of magic that lingered like a forgotten whisper.

I swallowed, pulling my gloves tighter over my hands and casting one last look down the empty corridor before turning back the way I came. Whatever or whoever I’d seen was gone now, but the feeling it left behind lingered, heavy and sharp.

As I stepped back into the more populated hallways, the noise of chattering students and the occasional clatter of books brought me back to reality. The encounter with Gideon and Xavier, the box, and now this shadow—all of it swirled in my mind, a tangled mess of confusion and anticipation.

And deep down, I knew today’s small storm was only the beginning of something much, much bigger.