CHAPTER 5

Tommy

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Three days had flashed by, and the pills sat in my drawer. Every morning had become a ritual: pacing around my room, staring at it, wondering if I should swallow it and let whatever Gerard planned consume me.

This morning was no different…until a clatter from the kitchen broke through my thoughts.

Stalking downstairs, I headed toward the kitchen.

My eyes fell on Liam, shirtless, apron tied around his waist, flipping pancakes like a newly wedded wife.

My spine locked. Instinctively, I released the smallest trace of pheromones just enough to run a quick test. I dipped my chin, sniffing.  

I couldn’t tell Liam about my state. At least, not until I understood what’s really happening to me.

My scent wasn’t significantly different, no omega sweetness, at least.

My lungs loosened. “I don’t remember hiring a male chef.” I slid onto a stool beside the kitchen island. 

Liam stacked the pancakes on a plate and drizzled chocolates before placing  them in front of me. “Enjoy.” He slid a cup of juice to me.

I took a bite. Sweet, just how I liked it.

Liam leaned over the island. His hand reached out, brushing his thumb under my lips and wiped the smudge of chocolate. Without a pause, he licked his thumb clean. “The chocolate tastes nice.”

Typical Liam. He had always been like that, careless with space. 

Turning to the sink, Liam scrubbed the pan harder than necessary. “Are you still going on the date?” His voice dipped. “You know you don’t have to go.”

“Our market position is weakening. If I don’t get married, or our competitors will swallow us,” I said, my father’s warnings echoing in my head about why this had to work.

“Have you seen the boy? Do you know if you’ll like him?” Liam's voice thickened like someone was strangling him.

Of course he was mad about our father’s choice. He always was.

“Does it matter?” I exhaled. “It’s good for business.”

Liam sighed dejectedly, his shoulders slumping. “Do whatever you want.”

He said nothing after. Normally, he’d be talking about his trip. The omegas who tried to hit on him. 

After eating, I was about to leave the kitchen when Liam stepped in front of me, a small red capsule in his palm and a glass of water in the other.

“Vitamins,” Liam said lightly.

This wasn’t the first time Liam had shared pills or any stuff with me.  But immediately Gerard’s words—someone had been drugging you—popped into my mind. My breath came in short, my heart hammering.

“You’re not seriously going on a date looking this pale?” he added, furrowing his brows.

The thought of him drugging me twisted my mind. 

I reminded myself it couldn’t be Liam. He hadn’t been around for the past three months. More than that it was Liam. Liam had done crazy things for me in the past; Purposely failing his tests in school, avoiding participating in school competitions—done anything to make sure I didn’t live behind his shadows.

Liam would never hurt me.

I took the pill and chugged it down with the water. “I have to prepare for work.” I handed him back the glass.

“Don’t forget your date is at six.”

Liam’s voice came from behind. As I headed into my room, I prepared for work and left the house. 

***********

At six pm I arrived at the five-star restaurant, the soft murmurs of conversation and clinking of cutlery spilled over me. But they were quickly drowned out by my father’s warning echoing in my head.

“Don’t screw this up, young man. The future of our business depends entirely on this date. Their family is ready to keep the secret that you’re a recessive Alpha, this is our best choice. Our only choice. Except you want Liam to handle this,” My father had said.

I was ready to be the roast pig, apple in my mouth and all that for the family, as long as it wasn’t Liam.

I arrived at the private room of the restaurant. My hand lingered on the doorknob as I told myself I got this. Which I was sure I did.

When it came to looks I could rival any Dominant Alphas, but presence was what I was lacking.

Tonight was going to be a piece of cake.

When I opened the door and saw who was sitting on the table. The familiar brown eyes and brown hair, glistening beneath the yellow light from the chandelier. This wasn’t going to be a piece of cake. It was a full, dense loaf of German bread.

Of all the omegas the world had to throw at me, it had to be Raphael. High school Raphael. 

It was like the universe was testing how much problems it could to throw at me before I ended up in a psychiatric ward.

“Raph.” I conjured a smile as I settled in the seat across. “It’s been ages. It’s nice to see you again,” I said, knowing full well it wasn’t.

The silence dragged—thick and nibbling, and then he broke it.

“Is that all you have to say to me,” Raph said, his tone clipped. “No apology?”

My brows drew together. “Apology for what?” 

The room fell silent then Raph snapped. “I was bullied because of you’ His veins taut at his temples.

“Bullied because of me?” That jarred chuckle bubbled out of my throat. “I begged you stay away from me. We couldn’t be friends for fuck sake. I was a Recessive, did you think I could risk you finding out and telling the whole school?” My throat burned as I spoke.

While he wanted someone to study with him, I was trying to survive high school without being exposed.

And now it was all my fault?

I inhaled, my voice thinning. “If you hadn’t follow me around like a lost puppy, no one would have called you a stalker.”

The chair screeched as Raph rose from his chair like some strings were still pulling him down.“Gerard was right,” he hissed, “Alphas could never sympathize with omegas.” His palm curled into a fist. “I was stupid to come here.”

“Gerard?” his name tore through me and goosebumps broke across my skin. “You know Gerard…Gerard Vance?”

Gerard had transferred a month after Raph let the school. They shouldn’t  know each other.

“Why do you think Gerard transferred to our school?” Raph paused, that mocking smirk on his lips. “This clearly isn’t going to work. Goodbye Tommy, I hope you have a great life.”  

Have a great life? I was developing a uterus. How could I have a great life? 

I should have stopped him. This date needed to be successful. The River’s cooperation depended on this date. 

But this time I couldn’t play hero. Not when my life was falling apart all because Gerard thought I bullied Raph. 

So I watched Raph stomp out of the room, my mind twisting. For a moment, I thought Gerard could save me. But he was the genesis of my problem. 

My mind was a mess. It was a miracle I reached the house without running into something. The door swung wide open, and I blew past the living room, straight to my bedroom, straight to the drawer that contained the pills. 

Yanking it open, I snatched the bottle of medication and headed to the bathroom. 

The white walls off the bathroom felt too white as my heart pounded. Like I was already in the psyche ward.

About to throw it all away when I remembered Gerard saying that if I didn’t take it I could develop dog syndrome.

I snorted. Like I was going to believe anything he said.

With a flick of my wrist, I dumped the pills into the toilet, pressed the handle and watched the toilet swallow it. 

The flush sound was still fading when my phone buzzed. My hand shot into my back pocket and I brought my phone to my face.

Father: How did the date go?

My shoulders pulled downward as gravity seemed heavier.

I should have told him it was a disaster. We should seek another way to save our company.

But when my fingers moved, I responded with a “it went well.”

His reply was instant.

Father: Good. I’ll be announcing your engagement tomorrow at the business event.

My heart lurched.

Perfect. Look at how perfect my life had become. Turning into an omega. And tomorrow, with the cameras flashing, I’ll be proposing to Raph who might very well reject me.

I sagged against the cold tiled wall, hoping tomorrow never comes.