22. Don’t blame yourself

NOAH

“Why don’t you avoid him instead? Have you forgotten why you are there? It won’t hurt for you to drop your pride and besides he’s a teenager,” my best friend Tyler reminded me.

“You don’t have to worry about me. I have everything handled. And I know kids like him. He’s eighteen. I’m twenty-one. Just three years difference and he’s old enough to take on a big task. I was his age when I started shouldering responsibilities,” I reminded him.

“It’s still too risky for you to partake in such a thing just because you want to make him humble. You are yet to do what made you go to that school. Your father is already asking for reports and you know I’m going to be the one in trouble if you don’t give him reports soon so please don’t create any drama and focus on your priorities,” Tyler replied.

But the issue was far from that. I knew Damien well enough to know that he wasn’t going to have me kicked out because I whopped his ass. He has too much pride and he’s going to still have me around to prove a point because if he doesn’t, he’d start to lose the respect of others in the school.

The other kids of other Alphas are likely to start challenging him and that won’t be good for him. I couldn’t have easily let it go if Astrid hadn't told me what he told her.

I was starting to get too involved with this eighteen-year-old and I just couldn’t allow that. It wasn’t because of my wolf anymore.

I was starting to feel for her. When someone mentioned that Damien had taken her away, I left the class in a hurry to go save her. I already made it clear to him that she was mine and nobody was allowed to touch her.

I knew the only reason he wanted to claim her was because he saw me as a competition and wasn’t going to use her against me but I knew she was not that stupid to fall for his tactics and she proved me right.

“You know what? Don’t worry. I will handle it,” I replied to Tyler.

“What have you gotten so far?”

“This place is where it all started and I will get the result soon. You don’t have to worry. I’m also starting to get tired of being here for too long.”

“Are you sure? Seeing how you are spending more time with the omega,” Tyler teased.

“She got hurt,” I replied to him knowing well that wasn’t the reason.

I tried to stay away from her but I couldn’t and so I chose to be by her side until I was done with my mission here and now I was eager to get it done and leave the school.

The school might close down once I find out everything that I need to find out.

“I went through the data and realized that last year, they had over twenty-three omega students but are left with five now. And unfortunately, the records of these students are yet to be found and I can’t find any other omega besides Astrid. So if there are fines left, where are they? Hidden? Could there be more?” I informed Tyler of the little information that I got.

“Probably used for the experiment and forgot to close their records so as not to leave any suspicion,” Tyler responded.

“Later tonight, I will try to sneak into the headmistress’ office to see what it is that I can get. We need to find their main headquarters. That's the only way we will find the bodies of the omegas left and that’s if they haven’t turned into mutants.” I sighed deeply, running my fingers through my hair.

“You also need to find out what experiment they are using them for and why. All in all, be careful and don't be a student again,” Tyler teases.

“You are a dick,” I chucked.

“It’s not a bad experience to experience high school again. I mean you weren’t even in class and you graduated two years earlier than others so you get to enjoy one more year,” he tittered.

“You know what?” I glanced at my wristwatch. “I might consider telling your dad to arrange a marriage for you so you’d have someone to disturb because I won’t be entertaining you anymore.”

“Ouch!” He feigned hurt. “And we are supposed to be best friends.”

“I have to go. The fight with Damien is soon and I want him to come meet me there instead of me going to meet him there,” I informed Tyler.

“Do not fight him. It’s not necessary. You are stronger than him.”

“I don’t use my strength to fight him. And besides he’s not a child. He’s an adult and he made her cry so I have to make him cry,” I said to him.

“Awww. When did my friend get a heart? I cannot recall you being nice to anyone. Is that Xan or is that Noah?” He teased me.

“Let’s hang out this weekend. I’m bored with being in this school,” I complained.

“And by hanging out, you mean, you want me to sneak into the school and join you in doing research? If that's it, I’d rather get married,” he replied and I feigned hurt.

“Now I know I’m not the problem. You are the problem. Alright bye.” I ended the call not allowing him to speak again because if I did, we’d continue having one more discussion to talk about and I wasn't ready for that.

I took a deep breath and exhaled before going to the field to wait for Damien.

On my way to the field, I came across Astrid.

“Please, you don’t have to go,” she pleaded again and I understood that she was speaking from a place of concern but I had to do it.

That was the only way I’d get him off her back.

“Don’t you think it’s already too late?” I replied, still walking in the direction of the field.

She continued to limp as she followed me.

“You don’t have to. It’s a trap. He wants you expelled and I don’t want that. You are the only person who has been nice to me without an ulterior motive.”

I halted on my track when she said that. I didn’t expect that at all.

I heard her sobs and I turned to look at her to see tears in her eyes and I mentally sighed.

“If anything happens to you then I’d hate myself for the rest of my life so if not for you, please do it for me even if we are not friends and you don’t have to listen to me,” she pleaded.

I mentally sighed. My feelings were conflicted.

It wasn’t about her anymore and that’s what I was trying to let her know.

“Then don’t blame yourself and just let me handle it.”