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The day was stormy, and Reese had been forced to battle the wind to cross the courtyard and get to class. Getting up seemed to be getting tougher each morning, and he blamed the weather and gloom. It wasn’t that he hated winter, but boy, was it hard peeling his eyes open every day.
He felt tired. Trudging into the classroom, he yawned and rubbed at his eyes. He needed more sleep. It was Tiberius’s fault for keeping him up all night every night fucking.
God. Reese shook his head, a smile tugging at his lips. But yeah, that was why he felt so exhausted. And as for not being able to fit in his pants anymore, so he’d had to leave the fly open... They’d stopped having such big breakfasts anymore, but he was still too damn bloated. And his nipples ached, and felt as if they’d been rubbed raw against the fabric of his tunic.
Something was going on with him, but he refused to look at it too closely. He’d be fine. Whatever it was. He’d made it this far, hadn’t he? He’d left behind the family home and gotten a scholarship, had found a job to ensure his stay at the Academy, and he’d get his diploma. He’d find a good job afterward and not need anyone.
That was his plan and he wasn’t changing it.
“Reese?” The teacher gestured for him to approach just as he’d sat down.
Warily, Reese got back up and went to the front of the classroom, aware of everyone’s gaze on him. “Yes, sir?”
“It’s about your assignment.”
The essay. Reese had written it in a sort of drunken daze, upon realizing he had forgotten all about it. He’d written it over the course of one morning.
“You completely missed the point of the topic,” the teacher said gravely. “I didn’t ask for your thoughts on sex inequality, Reese. I asked you about the history of the sexes development over time.”
Reese bit the inside of his cheek. “Apologies. May I give it another try?”
“I’m sorry, Reese, but that wouldn’t be fair to the other students. Is everything okay with you?”
“I... yes, sir.”
“You started out so well, even while catching up with classes you’d never had. Maybe that is the problem? Is it too much for you?”
Despite the tiredness, Reese bristled. “It’s not too much. I can handle it just fine.”
“If you say so.” The teacher scratched at his gray beard. “I’m here if you need any help, you know that.”
“Thank you,” Reese managed before turning around and going back to his seat.
He really was going to have to work harder, tired or not. He couldn’t afford to lose the scholarship. The possibility terrified him.
He barely registered the alpha plopping down behind the desk next to him. “Reese.”
“Huh?” He glanced up, noticing it was Marcus, Tiberius’s friend, and tried not to wince. Not because he particularly disliked Marcus—though he was a manwhore and an arrogant asshole, to be sure—but because of his eye-watering alpha smell. Except for Tiberius, all alphas right now stank like putrid, unwashed feet to him right now, and it was all he could do not to gag. “What?”
“What’s up, Tiberius’s boy crush?” Marcus said, smirking.
“Crush?” Reese laughed. “Don’t I wish...”
“You wish, huh?”
Reese’s face warmed. “Um. I didn’t mean that like that.”
“No? He really digs you, you know.”
But “digging” him wasn’t the same as l—
He stopped that thought right there.
Not going there. Nope.
“I thought you were at the family home,” Reese muttered.
“And now I’m back.” Marcus stretched one leg in front of him, and Reese saw bandages.
“What happened?”
“I tripped up on my own dick. It’s that big.”
“Oh, shut up.”
Marcus laughed. “You’re not very respectful of alphas, are you?”
Nausea twisted Reese’s stomach. Damn, and he’d thought throwing up early that morning had taken care of that. “Um. Look—”
“I like it.”
“You do?”
“Yeah. I can see why Tiberius likes you. Apart from having that pretty face, of course.” Marcus leaned closer. “And that scent...”
Reese drew back, as far back as his chair allowed. “What.”
“Just saying. You’re a desirable omega. And Tiberius is a hell of an alpha. You two will have some cute babies.”
Babies.
“Excuse me...” This time Reese’s stomach had had enough, and he scrambled up and out of the classroom before he proceeded to puke his guts out in the lawn outside.
Crap...
***
“Reese!” The dean rose from his seat behind his enormous mahogany desk. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Well, here I am,” Reese said, subdued.
“Are you all right? Have a seat.”
Reese sank down in the chair. “Thank you. I’m okay.” If you discounted the constant puking, he was just peachy.
“Your grades are dropping, Reese. If you go on like this, you may lose your scholarship. Is something the matter?”
“Nothing.”
“Are you sick? You look very tired. Is anything the matter at home?”
“No, sir. I should go, there’s something I need to do.”
“Fine. But think about what I said. You need to study harder. And feel free to come talk to me or to the counselor if there’s anything you want to discuss.”
“Thank you,” Reese whispered, shot out of the chair and hurried out.
He just couldn’t have this conversation again today. Or any other. He had other things on his mind, pressing matters, because he had to find out... Had to be sure...
He rubbed his hand over his belly and bit his lip. Was it possible?
What was he going to do?
First... he had to go buy a test. Maybe it was really just a bug. Maybe it was all in his mind. Right. Test first, panic later.
Sounded like a plan.
And if he was pregnant... well, who knew? Marcus said that Tiberius liked him, and Tiberius himself seemed happy to have him around. Was there a universe where Tiberius might want to raise a baby with him?
The thought made him so happy that his eyes stung.
God, such a dangerous hope.
He hurried to the alpha building and rode the elevator up to Tiberius’s room to grab his wallet. He’d need to get a cab to the town.
He slowed to a stop before he reached the door. Someone stood there, an older alpha in a dark suit who looked a lot like... Tiberius?
The man turned toward him with a frown. “Who’re you?”
“I’m Reese,” he whispered. “Tiberius’s omega.”
He was that, right? He slept with the guy. It was just that he’d never put a label on it before.
“So you’re Reese. I’ve heard about you.” The man laughed dismissively. “I’m Tiberius’s alpha father. I’m here to see him. Where is he?”
“In class. What do you mean you heard about me?”
“Word gets around.”
“About what?”
“Oh, come on, don’t be coy. You know what I’m talking about. You can’t possibly expect Tiberius to stay with you, a lowly wolf from a bankrupt clan filled with traitors. Have you even told Tiberius what your fathers have done?”
Cold washed through Reese, making him lightheaded. “Please...”
“Leave, and I won’t tell him. It doesn’t matter to me, one way or another. Tiberius has a duty to his family to marry a powerful omega, and his betrothed is just the right alliance for Crescent clan.”
“His betrothed?”
“Oh, he didn’t tell you about his engagement? I guess you both kept secrets from each other. Though soon the engagement will be public and then, of course, the wedding.”
“The wedding.” Of course. Reese felt dizzy. And sick. He really hoped he wasn’t going to throw up all over Tiberius’s father’s shiny shoes. “I see.”
“I thought you might. You don’t look stupid.”
Did he expect Reese to thank him for the compliment? Was it a compliment? Reese braced a hand against the wall, trying to steady himself. “What do you want?”
“What I want? I thought that was pretty obvious. Stay away from my son. He has to focus on his studies and his fiancé, on family values. What do you have to offer him anyway? You’re cute, but that’s not enough in the long-term, is it? Looks fade, and alphas move on to greener pastures.”
“Greener...?” Reese shook his head. He thought he might pass out.
“Tiberius will inherit the family company and the leadership of our clan. He has responsibilities. Duties. He has to marry well, produce many heirs, finish his studies, form a House of his own. You can’t offer him any of that.”
“How do you know?” Swallowing back bile, Reese, forced himself to gaze steadily at the old alpha, lifting his chin in challenge.
“Feisty, aren’t you?” The leader of the Crescent clan took two steps closer, towering over Reese, a hulking, terrifying presence. “I can’t believe you have the nerve to talk back to me. Even alphas don’t dare to do that.”
Reese wondered if the wolf would swipe him away with one blow and solve the problem that way—because he was the problem the old wolf had come to solve, wasn’t it? the omega distracting his son from his duties—and braced for the pain.
But it didn’t come.
“Listen, little omega. I’m doing you a favor,” Tiberius’s father said.
“What do you mean?”
“Ask yourself, kid. What do you want? Do you want to warm his bed until his wedding? Spread your legs for him knowing he has a fiancé he’ll sleep with and knock up soon?”
“How soon?” Reese’s voice was faint in his own ears.
“Oh, soon enough. With the next full moon, if I have anything to say about it. Is that what matters?”
No, it wasn’t.
Turning blindly, keeping a hand on the wall for balance, Reese walked away.