3

Chapter 3

A cold bead of sweat trailed down Talia's forehead as she gazed at Derek, swallowing hard. He just grinned at her and glanced back at the bathroom door. 

"He'd be back in a jiffy. Damon is very particular about his looks" 

Talia turned to the door, cheeks flushed, biting her lower lip as heat surged in her chest, but she kept her face neutral.

"We're doomed, Talia! We can't stay here. He's Alpha Creed's son!" Titi whined in her head but Talia was trying to concentrate in shutting Titi off. 

"It's suicide! We can go back home and beg Uncle Jared to take you back. It's not too late" Titi continued. 

"You don't understand, I can't" she mumbled under her breath, making Derek turn to look at her. 

"Huh?" He furrowed his brows.

"Oh no, I... I was talking to my wolf... Titi" she half smiled and tried to look away.

"You can do that without speaking out loud, you know--" He stopped when the bathroom door creaked open. Damon stepped out, damp-haired, in sweatpants and a T-shirt.

Damon ran a towel through his wet hair, water droplets flicking into the air. Talia tried not to stare, but failed miserably.

"Damon, meet your new roommate, Sage Storm" Derek introduced them, and Damon only glanced at her and nodded.

"So, he finally shows up," Damon mumbled under his breath and turned to Derek. "Come on, let me see you outside for a second"

"Alright" Derek replied, then nodded at Talia "Assembly is in an hour, you better dress up" and with that, they both walked outside the room.

Talia finally let out the breath she had been holding in as she clutched to her chest. She walked over and sat, dropping her animal-hide bag beside her.

And for the first time, she sank in the beauty of the room, it was something she had never seen before.

Two bunk beds faced each other, labeled A and B, one by the window with a closet beside it. A chandelier bathed the black-and-grey room in soft light, sleek and nothing like her uncle’s worn-out house.

She opened the closet to find uniforms, sportswear, and a few casual outfits. Carefully, she arranged the clothes Lucien had given her and tucked her bag neatly beside them.

Grabbing a uniform, she stepped into the bathroom and hung it on a rope. Locking the door behind her, she peeled off the tight band across her chest and exhaled. Finally, she could breathe.

After her bath, she rewrapped the band around her chest and changed into the uniform; trousers and a long-sleeved checkered shirt. She stared at the tie in her hand, unsure how to knot it.

With a sigh, she draped it around her neck and tied it the best she could. The clothes were slightly big, so she folded the sleeves and trouser hems.

Once ready, she unlocked the bathroom door and stepped out, only to meet Damon’s gaze.

"Oh my--" she yelled and stumbled backward, before regaining her posture. Then she cleared her throat and stood upright. 

"I... I wasn't expecting anyone" she sighed, but he was just staring at her without saying a word with his brows furrowed. 

His lips were drawn in a thin frown, yet her eyes lingered on their curve.

She walked to her bedside and pulled out the shoes she came with. When she turned, Damon was still watching her, his face unreadable.

“Did I do something?” she asked at last, confusion flickering across her face as he kept staring.

He closed the distance in two strides, while she backed away until her back hit the hall. 

"Don't look him in the eyes" Titi warned.

She looked elsewhere, batting her lashes. The scent of pine and musk curled into her senses, unfamiliar but achingly warm. He leaned in, sniffing deeply, and she held her breath.

He pulled back and met her eyes. She held his gaze for a moment before looking away, exhaling softly through her nose.

"What--- what do you want from me?" She stuttered, still looking away from him. '“You shouldn’t be this close to... another guy. It’s weird, right?” She added, not knowing whether she was supposed to say that. 

Damon took a step backward and then pointed at her while she gazed at him. "You are putting on my uniform" He finally said as she opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out, and her eyes remained wide open. 

"And that's my bed space you've occupied with your property" he continued while a flush of embarrassment spread across her cheeks. 

"I-- I didn't know. I'm-- I'm sorry" she stuttered and cleared her throat. "I'll take it off and then... Rearrange my stuff" Her fingers fidgeted at her side.

“There’s no need. I’m sure my uniform already smells like your sweat,” he said, turning toward the other bed. “I have spares.”

He walked to a door she hadn’t even noticed, disappeared inside, and returned moments later with a fresh uniform.

She looked away but it was too late as his shirt was already hitting the floor, and heat rushed to her cheeks.

When he reached for his pants, she quickly turned her head, covering her face with her hand.

“W-What are you doing?” she gasped, jerking back.

He scoffed. “What am I doing?”

Shaking his head, he pulled on the uniform. “Don't have funny ideas, I don't do boys,” he muttered, buttoning the shirt and stepping into the trousers.

"Oh right, I'm a boy. Shit!" She said in her head and swallowed hard, then turned to look at him. He was knotting his tie and staring at her. 

“There,” he said, pointing to the bed near the window marked with an A. “That’s Alpha. It’s mine.”

He nodded toward the other bed by the wall, labeled B. “And that’s Beta.”

As he finished knotting his tie, he added, “Since your father’s a Beta, it’s assumed your wolf is too. At least until the school board identifies your wolf spirit.”

“But you… there’s something off. You don’t have a scent,” he said, eyes fixed on her.

She said nothing, meeting his gaze in silence.

‘What if he finds out? If the board discovers I’m a girl… an Omega…’

She clenched her trousers, trying to stop her hands from trembling.

He took some steps toward her and she made to step backward but she pressed her palms flat against the wall.

His eyes dropped to the sloppy knot at her neck, then back to her face. Beads of sweat clung to her forehead.

His gaze stayed on the tie as he raised his left hand, then let it fall back into his pocket with a sigh.

Then, without a word, he swallowed, stepped closer, and took hold of the tie around her neck, beginning to knot it.

Her eyes widened as his fingers brushed her skin. His lashes were lowered in concentration, but she couldn’t stop breathing in his faint lemon scent. Her heart thundered.

“This used to be my favorite tie,” he murmured when he finished.

She parted her lips to speak but shut them again, afraid she’d say the wrong thing.

"Hart... he likes you. He never likes anyone. That’s what scares me.” He said, stepping away from her but his gaze remained locked in her eyes. 

“So, you can keep the bed space, and the uniform. Especially the tie,” he said, a quick grin flashing across his face before vanishing too fast for her to be sure it was real.

"Hart wants you to have the tie" He grabbed a book and headed for the door, while a nervous tremor crawled down her spine

“He thinks you’re our mate,” he muttered. “I told him that’s insane-- the moon goddess wouldn’t mate me to a guy.” he shrugged and stepped outside.

"Who's Hart?" She finally asked. 

"Hart's my wolf." He said, shutting the door after him before Talia could say a word.