THE FIRST RUMOR

PHEROMONE BLIND

STARWRITES

CHAPTER 5: THE FIRST RUMOR

Lucas spent the rest of the day avoiding Eric Carter.

Even after Eric's apology, he couldn't bring himself to face him again. Every time he remembered the sincerity in those blue eyes, his thoughts became even more tangled.

Nothing about Eric Carter made sense anymore.

The frightening Alpha who had cornered him in the restroom...The guilty boy who had apologized in front of the entire class...Which one was the real Eric?

By the time the final bell rang, Lucas slipped out of the classroom before Ryan could stop him. He kept his head down as he merged with the crowd filling the corridors.

He only wanted to go home,forget the hospital,forget the altered records, forget Eric Carter.Unfortunately, fate seemed determined not to leave him alone.

"...Did you hear?"

Lucas slowed unconsciously.

Two girls stood beside the lockers, whispering excitedly.

"I heard an unmated Omega is hiding somewhere in the academy."

"No way. This school only has registered Omegas."

"That's what I thought too, but my cousin overheard some teachers talking."

"They said a dominant Alpha reacted during yesterday's health inspection."

Lucas's heartbeat stumbled.He forced himself to keep walking.Don't stop.Don't listen.

"I wonder who it is."

"If it's true, every Alpha in school is going to lose their minds."

The girls laughed as they walked away.Lucas remained standing where he was.His palms had become damp.It had only been one day.How were rumors already spreading?

"No..."

he whispered.

"No one should know."

Only the doctor.Only Eric.Only...His expression stiffened.

The nurse.She had seen his medical report too.Could someone from the hospital have leaked the information?His breathing became uneven.

If everyone discovered he was an Oega...His scholarship would disappear. His peaceful school life would disappear.Everything he had worked so hard to protect would disappear.

He had seen how some Alphas behaved around Omegas.Some were respectful.Others treated them as though they were possessions waiting to be claimed.Lucas wrapped his arms around himself and quickened his pace.

"Lucas!"

He looked back. Sophia jogged toward him, smiling warmly.

"You're leaving already?"

Lucas forced a smile.

"Yeah."

She tilted her head.

"You've seemed distracted since yesterday."

"I'm just tired."

"You don't look tired."

She studied his face carefully.

"You look... worried."

Lucas laughed awkwardly.

"I just haven't been sleeping well."

Sophia hesitated before asking,

"Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"Did something happen between you and Eric?"

Lucas nearly choked.

"W-What?"

"I saw him talking to you today."

"So did half the school."

"He apologized."

Sophia looked genuinely surprised.

"I've never seen Eric apologize to anyone before."

Lucas rubbed the back of his neck.

"He was just clearing up a misunderstanding."

Sophia nodded slowly, though she didn't seem convinced.After a brief silence, she smiled.

"If something's bothering you, you know you can tell me."

Guilt tugged painfully at Lucas's heart.Sophia had always been kind to him.But this secret...He couldn't tell anyone.Not yet.

"Thanks."

She waved goodbye.

"See you tomorrow."

Lucas watched her disappear into the crowd before releasing a slow breath.One lie after another.How much longer could he keep pretending everything was normal?

He adjusted the strap of his bag and continued toward the school gate.The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the pavement, and students hurried home around him.

Lucas barely noticed any of them.His thoughts remained trapped in the hospital.In Eric.In the impossible truth about himself.

Suddenly..A bicycle sped around the corner.

"Move!"

Lucas looked up too late.The cyclist was only a few feet away.His body froze.Before he could react, someone grabbed his wrist and yanked him backward.

His back collided against a firm chest.The bicycle rushed past, missing him by mere inches.

"Watch where you're going!"

The rider shouted without slowing down.Lucas's heart pounded violently.For several seconds, neither of them moved.

"...Are you alright?"

The familiar voice made Lucas's eyes widen.

Eric.

Lucas turned around.Eric was still holding his wrist.His grip wasn't tight.It was careful.As though he were afraid of hurting him.Realizing they were still touching, Eric immediately let go and took a small step backward.

"I'm sorry."

Lucas looked at him blankly.

"You..."

His voice caught.

"Thank you."

Eric studied him from head to toe, making sure he hadn't been injured.Only after confirming Lucas was unharmed did the tension in his shoulders ease.

"You should pay more attention."

His voice sounded calm.But Lucas noticed something.Eric's breathing was slightly uneven.Almost as though the brief contact had affected him.Lucas glanced toward Eric's bandaged hand.

"...Does it still hurt?"

Eric instinctively hid the injured hand behind his back.

"It's fine."

"You're lying again."

Eric blinked.

A faint smile escaped before he could stop it.

"You noticed."

Lucas immediately looked away.

"...Anyone would."

For a brief moment, neither of them spoke.The silence wasn't awkward.It felt strangely comfortable.Almost peaceful.

Then Eric's gaze shifted beyond Lucas.His expression changed instantly.

"Go home."

Lucas frowned.

"What?"

"Now."

There was urgency in Eric's voice.Lucas instinctively looked over his shoulder.Several Alpha students stood near the front gate.One of them glanced toward Lucas before quietly saying something to his friends .Their eyes lingered on Lucas for a moment too long.Eric stepped slightly to the side, unintentionally blocking their view.

"Just trust me."

Lucas hesitated.He didn't understand.But something in Eric's eyes made him nod.

"...Okay."

Without another word, he walked through the school gates.

Only after Lucas disappeared into the crowd did Eric finally relax.

He turned toward the group of Alphas.They quickly looked away.His expression grew cold.

An hour later...

Basketball practice had just ended.

Eric emptied half a bottle of water before tossing it onto the bench.His teammates exchanged puzzled glances.

"Captain."

Eric looked over.

A first-year scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.

"You've been distracted all practice."

Eric remained silent.Because it was true.Every time he closed his eyes, he remembered Lucas stumbling into his arms.

The warmth of his wrist.The concern in his voice.

"Does it still hurt?"

No one had ever asked him that before.Not after he lost control yesterday.

"Eric."

Another voice interrupted his thoughts.He turned.

Damian Hayes stood at the entrance to the court, the student council badge pinned neatly to his uniform.

The other players quietly excused themselves.Damian approached with a polite smile.

"I've been looking for you."

"What do you need?"

"I heard you visited the infirmary today."

"So?"

"And that you requested another student's medical records."

Eric's gaze sharpened.

"You've been watching me."

"I simply hear things."

Silence settled between them.Then Damian asked casually,

"Who is Lucas Bennett?"

Eric didn't answer immediately.Instead, he met Damian's eyes.

"No one."

Damian chuckled.

"If he's no one..."

"Why are you investigating him?

Eric stepped forward.

"My personal matters aren't student council business."

"Maybe not."

Damian's smile never reached his eyes.

"But if Blackwood Academy's most popular Alpha suddenly becomes interested in an ordinary student..."

"It becomes everyone's business."

The air between them seemed to grow heavier.Finally, Eric spoke.

"Whatever you're investigating..."

His voice was calm.But unmistakably cold.

"Leave Lucas out of it."

Damian raised an eyebrow.That wasn't a denial.It was protection.Interesting.

He watched Eric walk away before taking out his phone.

"I need everything you can find on a student."

A pause.

Then he slowly spoke the name.

"Lucas Bennett.

***

That evening...

Lucas finally arrived home.The moment he closed the apartment door behind him, he leaned against it and closed his eyes.Today had exhausted him.The rumors.The hospital.Eric saving him.None of it felt real anymore.

His phone vibrated. An unknown number. He frowned and opened the message.

‘Stop investigating your birth records.’

Lucas's blood turned to ice.nHis fingers trembled. No one should know about today's hospital visit. Before he could react, another notification appeared.

This time it was a photograph. Taken from across the street. It showed Lucas walking out of the hospital earlier that morning. Someone had been watching him. A third message appeared almost immediately.

‘Next time, I won't just be watching.’