Among The Alpha

Adrian stared at the lush green grass beneath his shoes, thinking that the price per inch of grass was probably more than the price of his shoes.

He sighed and shook his head.

He shouldn't have registered for that test. He shouldn't have taken it so seriously, which ultimately led to his scholarship thanks to his perfect grades.

He only realized this now, as he stood at the entrance of St. Dominic University and stared at the electronic door he had to pass through as a re-registration requirement for admission to the country's most prestigious university.

Ah, screw it, he thought.

Whatever was going to happen, was going to happen.

Besides, he was already here.

Dozens of pairs of eyes stared at Adrian as he passed, admiring him.

"Wow, is he an actor?"

"I've never seen a man as handsome as him. What's his name? What faculty is he in?"

"Is he a man or a woman? Why does he look both handsome and beautiful at the same time?"

Adrian's steps felt heavy, as if he were dragging hundreds of kilograms of iron on his feet.

To Adrian, such stares and praise weren't flattery, but threats. He'd experienced it all his life.

99.99% of this university's students were Alphas, what did he expect? They'd ignore him? It was like expecting the Statue of Liberty to move to India.

"Your name?" asked the middle-aged man at the second table. He took the folder Adrian offered and scanned its contents.

"Adrian Rhein Riordan," Adrian replied flatly.

"Riordan, hm... Wow, you're this year's special scholarship student," the man said with a tone of admiration that caught the attention of two men at the other table.

"Your grades are perfect in every subject?" asked the man at the first table, who leaned over to examine Adrian's folder. "Are you a genius or something?"

After the review of all his documents and academic records was complete, a woman in a stiff, dark uniform asked Adrian to stand in front of an electronic door that emitted a soft buzzing sound.

"Stand under the light and wait three seconds for it to turn on. The sensor will announce your status and class placement. All first-year students will receive the same basic lessons, just divided into classes," the woman said.

Adrian sighed, then stepped under the light and closed his eyes.

"Adrian Rhein Riordan, Omega, Class A."

Magical. The AI ​​voice from the electronic door instantly silenced the vast and bustling university courtyard.

The woman at the electronic door gave Adrian a strange look before handing him a sheet of paper with a building plan.

"Just proceed to the administration desk in the blue building to pick up your schedule and dorm placement," she said.

Adrian nodded and walked toward the blue building in front of him.

The voices began again, now Adrian was the main topic of every question and whisper.

"Omega?"

"An Omega at this university? How is that possible?"

"It's been over 50 years since the last Omega was accepted to this university!"

"Did you hear? He's a special scholarship recipient. That means he has perfect grades."

A stocky man confronted Adrian as he had just stepped onto the first step of blue building stair.

"No wonder you look so beautiful," the man said, circling Adrian. "So, you're an Omega."

Adrian didn't flinch. He felt nauseous.

The smell of this stocky man was overwhelming.

Either he'd sprayed too much cinnamon-scented perfume on himself, or he just smelled like that.

"Sweetie, are you sure you haven't chosen the wrong college?" The man became bolder, poking Adrian's chin.

Two other men behind Adrian laughed, and one of them deliberately pushed the stocky man so he'd bump into Adrian.

However, with a fluid movement, Adrian dodged, and the stocky man stumbled and fell down the steps.

Adrian walked past him nonchalantly. "My name and grades are at the top of the list of freshmen this year. You'll see for yourself if I'm at the wrong college."

Adrian's words silenced everyone watching the scene, including the stocky man and his two friends. Their faces turned bright red.

Adrian searched for the administration room and handed over the introduction form from the re-registration area.

A bespectacled woman at the reception counter looked at Adrian and shook her head with a worried expression.

"Omega, huh?" she asked.

"Yes, Ma'am," Adrian replied politely.

"One in a thousand," the woman said with a sigh. "After all these decades."

"I'll put you in the room closest to the dorm supervisor," the woman said, handing him the room key. "Make sure you always lock your doors and windows once you get there. Don't open the door to anyone, and don't go out after the curfew, for any reason."

"Yes, Ma'am, I understand," Adrian said.

"Northeast Building, second floor, room 29," the woman said.

Adrian nodded. "Okay, thank you."

He turned around, but the woman called out to him again. "Son."

"Yes, ma'am?" Adrian replied, turning around again.

"Welcome to St. Dominic."

Adrian smiled. "Thank you. You're the first person to say that."

The woman nodded.

As he exited the blue building, all the women students gave Adrian a scornful look. Some sneered, some held a hint of envy.

The men, meanwhile, stared at him with curiosity, fascination, and intrigue.

Some whistled cheekily and made lewd remarks.

"So beautiful."

"I wonder if he'd fight me if I kissed him."

"I wonder what it's like to hold an Omega with a sexy brain."

"He definitely won't last a week. He's too handsome to pass up."

"Let's bet on who the first Alpha will get him."

Adrian continued walking, feigning indifference, but he was biting the inside of his cheek so hard it hurt.

Beside the blue building, a man leaned against the wall, smoking a cigarette quietly and staring at Adrian's back as he passed by.

"So he really did come," the man muttered, taking a deep drag from his cigarette, then tossing the butt to the ground and crushing it. "I hope he survives."