Chapter 2 - New roommate

Aiden

“What the heck! Why do I have to stay in a hostel!? Shit, I can’t!”

My voice exploded through the room, bouncing off the walls like wildfire. My chest heaved with pure irritation. The moment the words left my mouth, I grabbed the nearest pillow and threw it across the floor. It hit a vase, shattering it instantly.

Petals and glass scattered everywhere.

This room… this was supposed to be an alpha heir’s suite. Now it looked like a battlefield. My clothes were ripped from fury, drawers thrown open, blankets in a heap. My heartbeat pounded behind my ribs like a hammer, and heat rushed up my neck.

How did they expect me, Alpha Aiden, heir to the Silver Crest Pack, to stay among low lifes?

In a hostel, of all places? Sleeping next to strangers? Breathing the same air?

Ridiculous, Insulting.

My throat tightened with disbelief. “I’d rather drop out! There’s no way I’m sharing a room with peasants. Not happening!”

Suddenly, the door slammed open.

“Aiden!” Rowan rushed in, panting, face pale. “Your dad’s condition… it’s getting worse.”

My rage froze mid-air.

The words hit harder than any punch. My pulse shifted from anger to cold dread, sinking into my stomach. My father, my alpha, lay bedridden, weaker every day. I clenched my jaw, fighting the fear clawing up my chest.

Rowan’s voice softened. “Listen… the council is watching. If you’re going to take over soon, you need support, and they won’t accept an heir who refuses tradition.”

My brows knitted, frustration tightening every muscle in my face. “You mean sleeping in a filthy hostel builds respect? That’s their logic?”

Rowan didn’t flinch. He’d known me since childhood; he’d seen worse tantrums. He stepped closer, placing a hand on my shoulder so gently it almost calmed me.

“It’s temporary, just one semester. Prove you can lead. Gain the student body’s loyalty. After that, you’ll get your own place near campus.”

I paced, dragging my hand through my hair so hard it stung. The pressure, the expectations were suffocating.

“And I’m supposed to do this alone?” I spat.

Rowan shook his head, a small smile tugging his lips. “I’ll be joining… as a student.”

My eyes widened. “But the school doesn’t allow—”

“I already found a loophole.” He grinned. “I’ll be right there beside you.”

Something loosened in my chest. Rowan always fixed things I couldn’t.

“…Fine,” I muttered, throat tightening with reluctant acceptance. “I’ll do it.”

Even if I hated every second.

“Rowan…” I called, stepping forward. My voice sounded tighter than I intended. Anxiety had been gnawing at my spine since sunrise. “What about what I asked?”

“We’ve gathered every maiden, alpha,” he said quietly. “And still… none of them have the Luna mark.”

My face fell flat. The hope I’d been pretending to carry slipped right out of my expression.

“Continue to search,” I muttered, pacing once. “We must find my real Luna… before the elders do whatever they choose.” My voice rose at the end, frustration spilling like boiling water. I couldn’t shake the image of those old men, breathing down my neck, acting like this throne belonged to them.

Rowan blinked fast, “Alright, Alpha. I’ll continue searching.” He bowed slightly, then hurried out.

My eyes drifted and caught on a picture hanging crooked on the far wall. I sighed and crossed the room, staring at it. It was old, edges frayed, the wooden frame cracked. My mother placed it there when I was barely old enough to reach it.

In the image was a white wolf, painted like some heavenly guardian, watching over mountains I’d never seen.

“She’d be your protector,” my mother used to whisper, tapping my forehead like she was programming destiny, that's the last thing she left if me before she died.

I scoffed now, dragging a hand down my face. “When the white wolf hasn’t even been found, how exactly is she supposed to protect me?” I muttered under my breath.

Maybe the artist should’ve painted a refund instead.

Footsteps echoed again, Rowan returning quicker than I expected. “Alpha, we need to leave now”

I grabbed the picture off the wall with more force than necessary. The dust coughed into my face.

I dusted it off

“Rowan…” I waved the frame like some ancient relic. “We’re taking this along.”

He straightened immediately, eyes flicking from the picture to my face. “As you wish, Alpha.”

The moment I set foot in the school hostel, chaos swallowed the air.

Students shrieked, phones lifted, flashes blinding me like paparazzi. Some screamed my name as if I were a celebrity. Boys shoved each other just to get closer. It should’ve felt glorious, being on top of the world.

And honestly? Part of me loved it. Power tasted good.

Until it happened.

Someone slammed into me, hard. My body lurched, hitting the floor.

Gasps erupted like explosions.

A future alpha… knocked down?

By a low omega?

Humiliation drenched me instantly. My ears rang.

“He was pushed by a low omega…” someone whispered. “So weak! That’s our future alpha?”

Their words sliced me open. My pride snapped.

Before I realized, I grabbed his wrist, his fingers digging, teeth clenched tight enough to crack. Heat flushed my face, anger boiling over.

“How dare you!” I growled, pushing him back.

He trembled, eyes wide, lips parting like he wanted to scream.

Good.

But then—

“NOVA!” another voice cut through the noise.

His friend rushed in, shoving against my chest. My body tensed, fury burning like gasoline in my veins.

All this chaos… because of this thing?

My eyes bled red with control slipping.

Before I could tear into them, Rowan shoved himself into the circle, whispering harshly into my ear, “Eyes are watching. Cameras are everywhere.”

My jaw clenched so hard it hurt.

I forced a cold breath. “I’ll… forget this ever happened.”

The lie tasted like ash on my tongue.

But my pride refused to die.

When the hallway cleared, we ducked into a quieter corridor. The second we were alone, I slammed my fist into the wall. The impact sent a jolt up my arm, pain shooting to my knuckles.

“Damn it!” I hissed, teeth grinding. “I’ll make them pay for this.”

Dust sprinkled the floor from the cracked wall.

“Find out everything about that omega, Nova,” I snapped. “Background, status, pack, family. Bring his entire history to me on a damn silver platter.”

Rowan nodded, expression unreadable.

“How dare he embarrass me,” I spat, pacing, fists clenching and unclenching. My voice cracked with suppressed rage. I could still hear the whispers stinging my pride. “Weak alpha,” they whispered. “Pushed by a low omega.”

My stomach twisted violently.

My wrists moving, throwing invisible punches in the air.

Suddenly, a few students passed the hallway, staring at me with wide fearful eyes. I dropped my hands instantly, plastering a bored expression on my face.

“Keep walking,” I said coolly.

They scurried away.

When they disappeared, I snapped again. “Why are you still standing here, Rowan!? Go now!”

He bowed slightly and hurried off.

A slow smirk crawled onto my face.

They thought they were getting away with it?

Not a chance.

A loud announcement crackled through the speakers.

“All students, move to the hall! It’s time to play a game!”

I frowned. “A game? In school?”

Rowan caught up, shrugging. “Probably an orientation activity.”

“Fine,” I muttered. “Maybe it’ll be entertaining to watch idiots panic.”

“Do all the background checks immediately after this, okay!” I said to Rowan and he nodded.

We made our way to the hall. It was gigantic, packed, buzzing with cheap excitement. Students huddled in groups, laughing way too loud, acting like this was a festival.

The speaker echoed again:

“This is the roommate selection game! Each student will draw a slip. Whatever room number you choose, you must remain in that room. No changes allowed.”

Murmurs rippled the hall.

My eye twitched.

Roommates, strangers snoring, breathing near me. Kill me now! I should just die! Shit!

My gaze drifted across the room, then froze.

There he was, that stupid Nova.

The low omega. The one who humiliated me, trying to hide behind his friend. The moment his eyes met mine, he jerked away quickly, shoulders tightening, he was scared.

Good! He should fear me.

A slow smirk lifted the corner of my mouth.

“Your turn!” someone called, finger pointing right at me.

All eyes turned.

Lights seemed to focus on me, cameras ready, students whispering.

I sauntered forward casually, shoulders relaxed, but inside, adrenaline pulsed.

I reached into the box slowly, keeping a dead expression. The paper crackled between my fingers.

I unfolded it.

Room 5.

I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”

The list began.

“Room 1?”

Hands rose. Cheers erupted.

“Room 2?”

More hands and laughter.

“Room 5?”

I lifted my hand lazily, yawning inside. Hopefully, no one answered. Maybe I could fake sleeping somewhere else.

Then—

“Room 5!” someone called loudly.

My head snapped up. My eyes widened slightly.

Nova.

He stared straight at me, frozen, sweat glistening at his hairline. His fingers trembled around his slip of paper.

A gasp traveled through the hall.

His friend’s jaw dropped.

Rowan’s eyes widened in horror.

My lips parted. Shock, disbelief, and then a slow, wicked smirk spread across my face, curling like smoke.

Oh.

This was fate.

The hall erupted into whispers.

“No way…”

“The alpha heir is rooming with a low omega?”

“I fear for the omega…”

Nova swallowed hard, his throat visibly bobbing, eyes darting around like he was trying to escape the building entirely. His face drained of color. His knees looked weak.

My heart throbbed, not with sympathy, but delicious satisfaction.

Chaos?

No.

This would be entertaining.

I leaned my head slightly, letting my voice slice through distance.

“Well, well,” I whispered loudly enough for him to hear. “Looks like you’re stuck with me, Nova.”

He flinched, gripping his suitcase like a lifeline.

He would regret ever bumping into me badly.

This college year had just begun…

…and I was going to enjoy every second of it.