Chapter 11

Serena’s POV

I checked the east garden first. The stone bench under the oak tree turned up empty, along with the bush shrubs, then the maze.

Storm was no where to be found.

I stood there for a full minute with the folded proposal still clenched in my hand, frustration climbing higher and higher with every second.

Ryan had said he would be in the garden.

Idiot was probably fucking with me, trying to aggravate me further. It worked.

I started walking again. I searched classrooms, the library, fhe hallways, the gym. Nothing. Empty. Empty. Empty.

By the time I was done searching the arts department my feet hurt from walking and the paper in my fist was damp with sweat. I almost turned back. That was when I heard it.

The tunes of the piano coming from an old music room. It was soft at first, then more pitched as I followed the sound down the corridor. The door was half open when I arrived. So I stopped outside and peeked in.

He sat at the grand piano near the windows, back straight, head slightly bowed. His fingers moved over the keys with such effortless grace, I found myself drawn despite my anger. And moments later, I forgot why I even came.

The music was nothing like the cold, clipped way he spoke in meetings. It was slow and careful. Almost kind. His long, precise strokes filled the room with something wistful and gentle, it touched the deepest parts in me.

My breath slowed as I stood in the doorway, entranced by the seamless rhythm. The piece stretched longer than I expected.

When the final note faded, he let his hands rest on the keys for a second, still staring down.

I let out a long breath, a shiver crawling through me.

That was amazing, my inner goddess purred. I agreed, nodding to her words.

Then I caught myself and blinked as I remembered who this was.

This was Nathaniel fucking Storm. A constant thorn in my side. Who gave a fuck if he played piano like a God?

I also remembered the paper in my hand and the clause that had just ruined my entire day. And probably my presidency.

I shoved the door the rest of the way open and stormed straight to him, slapping the printed proposal hard on the lid. “What the hell is this?” I demanded.

He didn’t look up right away, didn't speak.

I kept going, voice rising with every word.

“You messed up my proposal! Why are you so hell-bent on being a pain in my ass? Why would you allow Alphas to claim seat in an Omega union, also granting them equal governing rights. This whole proposal was crafted to create a safe space for oppressed or distressed students. And you go ahead and do that?! Not only that, you did it without informing me, and then passed it behind my back. Are you that scared of me, huh? Why are you so determined to see me fail? Every single time I push something forward, you always find a way to cut the legs out from under me. I’m tired of you, Storm. I’m tired of sitting across from you while you brood and act all mighty and all knowing when you have had all this power, all these years and could never effect change. I’m tired of the your sabotage. I’m taking this to the school governing body. And i’ll take this to the streets if I have to. But you are not going to disrespect me. NOT ANYMORE!!”

I still had alot to say but I already ran out of air, my breathing short and laboured— an embarrassing quality. The room remained silent save for my heavy breaths.

Nathaniel didn't speak. Instead he laughed, a surprisingly soft and amused sound, nothing like the blank, cold reaction I expected.

Then he looked at me.

I blinked, taken aback.

His face was the same, the hair too. Same sharp jaw. Same mouth. But the eyes, they were different. They were wrong.

Nathan’s eyes were a striking and icy blue, the kind that made you feel measured and dismissed in the same glance.

These— these were softer, a warm-toned baby blue. And they somehow managed to make the rest of the identical features look completely different.

“Fuck.” I muttered, heat flooding my face. Then I took a step back. “I’m— God. I’m so sorry. I thought—”

He laughed again, quieter this time, and held up both hands in a peace gesture. “It’s okay. Happens more than you’d think. My brother can be a real asshole so I get it.”

I swallowed.

Mason Storm. The hockey player. The kinder one. Nathaniel’s twin.

I knew about him— I mean everyone at Northridge did. You'd have to be living under a rock not to. But I had never stood this close to the softer, friendlier version. Now that I knew who was whom, I decided as I still studied him openly, that the differences were much obvious once you looked for them.

The set of his shoulders was looser, less rigid than Nathan’s. The way he sat at the piano looked comfortable instead of controlled.

And those eyes. God those eyes.

Something in my heart stirred.

I slapped a hand to my forehead, feeling embarrassed all over again. “I was tracking you— him— all over campus. Then I heard the piano and just… assumed.”

Mason closed the fallboard gently and turned on the bench so he could face me fully. “What did he do this time?” He asked with an amused twitch of his lips.

It was such an attractive quality. My heart stuttered right then and there, my omega shamelessly spreading her legs.

NO ONE TOLD ME THE OTHER STORM HEIR WAS FREAKINGLY, STUPIDLY, ATTRACTIVE.

I let out a long breath and weakly held up the creased paper. “He… messed up my proposal.”

Mason hissed like it hurt. “That sucks.”

I giggled, surprising myself with the sound.

It wasn't even funny, my inner goddess kicked me. My omega slapped her.

“For what it’s worth, you’re doing a good job so far.” Mason consoled.

“I haven’t done anything.” My voice that had been loud and angry, was now a softer, shyer, feminine touch.

WHOREEEEE, my inner goddess mocked. My omega smacked her again. They started to wrestle.

“Well, it’s better than most people in that chair ever bothered to try.” Mason said, pulling me from my thoughts.

I blushed. “You don’t have to say that.”

“I mean it.” He leaned forward a little, still looking up at me. “I watched the election results. Most of the team did. A lot of people doubted you, but alot of us wanted you in that seat. We just never said it loud enough. I know the council hasn't made things easy, but you’re still showing up when anyone in your position would have tapped out. That counts. You might think people aren't noticing but they are. So take it easy on yourself.” He encouraged.

Something in my chest loosened then. I looked down at the paper still in my hand, then back at him. Then after a shy pause, I murmured a low. “Thank you.”

Mason smiled, revealing white even teeth. My omega drew a bright X mark and an arrow pointing to my scent gland. I swatted her away.

Then Mason blinked. “I just realized I never congratulated you properly. On your win. I’m sorry. ” He said after a moment.

My face burned. “It’s okay.”

“No, it’s not. A hockey captain not congratulating their president is just disrespectful… So congratulations, Serena.”

He stood then, a hulking figure before me. He was the same height as Nathaniel but for some reason, his’ made my heart flutter rapidly. Then he held a big, calloused palm out.

I studied it for a slow second, tracing each rough edge, the scars, all the evidence of his sportsmanship. My throat became dry. I swallowed thicky, then transferred the proposal to my other hand before wiping my sweaty palm on my skirt.

He laughed silently, shaking his head. Then I took it, electricity sparking as our hands touch. A pleasurable shiver rolled through me, and my blood hummed. As I stared at his eyes, I think i had the same effecI on him.

The music room became too quiet, the morning light and a soft breeze sifting through the tall windows.

His scent filled my nose: a comforting blend of cardamom and cashmere, so distinctively different from Nathan’s. Mason’s was cleaner, warmer, missing the sharp icy edge which was ironic since Mason played on ice.

His scent didn’t leave me on edge or make me brace for the next cold words of stare. It just allowed me to breathe and exist.

I met his gaze again and my heart stopped.

I… think I love him already.