Chapter 9

Serena's POV

“You mean the same boy who was suspended for targeting…. you?” Sofia pointed at me, brow arched.

Damn, I hadn't prepare for that angle.

What could I say? How could I defend Jason?

But then I realized I didn't have to.

I could admit that when she said it like that, it did sound off. But I knew they didn't really care about that. They were just trying to miss my point on purpose. Again.

“Jason is a victim of bullying. Like it’s so bad it makes the school suffocating for him. But he never spoke up about it… Actually, I think a lot of people aren’t speaking up either. They just keep bottling it up until it turns to rage and then their rage passes on to the next innocent. It's a never ending circle of hate and violence. Imagine how many other Omegas stay quiet because they know speaking up costs them more than it costs the people hurting them.”

The spark in Nathan’s eyes died right then. He drop his pen loudly and tore the page off his book.

Huh?

I give him him a weirded out expression.

Dramatic much?

He tossed the paper into the trash and crossed his legs. He didn't stare at me anymore.

Tyler jumped in for one more attack. “But if Jason was the one bullying you, who are you going to open up to? Since your proposed union seems to be more like a segregation club. Are you going to exile one of your own?”

They all snickered.

Nathaniel stayed immovable, expression blank.

Anger swelled within me, my fist clenching tightly.

Megan leaned to the side, her smile wicked. “Isn’t it surprising? The one who has stayed silent about certain… experiences wants to create a union that urges people to speak up, the hypocrisy.”

They laughed louder as her words struck me raw, cracking something already scarred in me.

Nathaniel’s palm cracked harder on the table. “That’s enough!”

The whole room jumped, me included. His pheromones rushed out, wafting thickly around us, making me dizzy again.

Megan’s face paled.

Nathaniel’s voice lowered then, back to the same calm tone he always used. But the words themselves cut clean. “Serena's personal history is not relevant to the policy… Neither is yours. Or anyone else’s for that matter. If you have a procedural objection, state it. Otherwise, shut your mouth.”

Megan’s shoulders curved, though she flashed me a hateful look. The other three members exchanged secret glances.

No one had expected him to shut her down.

I hadn’t either. If I weren't so dizzy, I might have been surprised.

Nathaniel looked at the paper again, then at the rest of the table. “We’ll take twenty-four hours to review the revisions and the proposed union structure. We’ll conclude vote tomorrow.”

Sofia wrote his words down.

And that was it.

It wasn't a yes. But it wasn't a no. Yet.

Or ever.

I wasn't taking no for an answer.

My spirits lifted then.

I sat through the rest of our meeting with my pulse still quickening though, the strange medicinal note in his scent still pressing against my senses.

When the session ended I stood and caught his eye before he could leave.

“Can I speak with you for a minute?”

He seemed surprised at the request but he gave me a short nod. We stepped out together into the hallway that lead to the staircase.

Then I turned to him. “I need a favor.”

He didn't respond. He just waited, hands in his pockets, expression blank.

I sighed. “It’s about Jason Reed’s suspension. I want it lifted and wiped off his record, as though it never happened.”

A pause.

Then: “Why?” His voice was dull.

“Because he matters to me.”

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. “No, I meant why would I do that? What's in it for me?”

“Nothing… I’m just asking, hoping you'd say yes.”

Silence stretched after that, something shifting in the space between us— not soft or friendly, but charged.

His scent curled closer around me, making my head throb faster. And his attention on me right now seemed to weigh just as intensely as his opposition.

“I’ll think about it..” He said finally.

Sheer relief crashed over me.

“Thank you.” I murmured gently. Then I lingered, though hesitantly.

I should I have left it there. I should have just turned around and walked away. Instead I studied his face for a second longer, outlining his sharp, striking edges curiously.

All the while, his eyes never left me.

He looked the same, I observed, but the scent was wrong enough that it was impossible to ignore.

“Are you okay?” I asked then.

He blinked once. “Why?”

“I don't know…. your scent is different today. It’s been messing with me the whole meeting. Kind of gave me a headache, honestly. Pay for my medical bills.” I joked with a small smile, aiming for a light moment.

But he didn’t smile back. His pupils dilated though his expression stayed blank. The easy moment from before faded into something awkward, all because I had opened my big mouth.

I dropped the joke, looking away. “Sorry. That was unnecessary.”

A pause. Then his voice came low, almost shaky, as if he was frightened. “You can smell me.”

It wasn’t a question but a statement.

I met his eyes again with a puzzled expression. “Yeah.” I said with a nervous chuckle. “You have a subtle but distinct scent. Even with blockers I can catch it.”

Something flickered across his face, too fast for me to catch. But I swore I saw it.

Nathaniel eventually looked away, exhaling loudly through his nose. “I guess my blockers aren’t working.” He said blankly.

I blinked, then nodded.

Okay… this is weird.

“Hm, okay…” I answered simply, just so I could hurry up and get the hell out of here. “I hope to hear good news from you.. about the proposal and the suspension.” I added.

He gave a single nod. Nothing more.

I gave him a tight smile, then turned and walked away, but I could still sense his stare on me. It made the back of my neck prickle.

I kept walking until the council wing was behind me and the ordinary noise of the school filled the space around me.

Katie found me near the main stairs. “How’d it go?”

I gave a sheepish grin. “Promising…” I stole her signature shimmy and she laughed. “We’ll decide tomorrow.”

“What if they say no?”

My face dropped. “And just when I was going to buy you lunch.” I unlooped my arm from hers, storming off.

She hurried after me. “Wait— THEY’LL SAY YES! THEY’LL SAY YES!”