Chapter 7

Ethan's POV

My body betrayed me. I was trembling like someone in intense heat, or rather, I was actually in heat.

The scent spilled through me, and the room being filled with alphas detected my omega scent in an instant. There was an uproar among the crowd. The tutor narrowed his eyes in disbelief.

“He's releasing omega pheromones,” a boy exclaimed from behind.

“Gosh. I can't believe an omega snuck into the school.”

“How did he hide it all these while?”

“He's going to get punished, or worse, executed.”

Their voices rang like a heavy bell in my ear.

“Come closer Ethan,” the instructor ordered.

I swallowed hard and glanced at the crowd of students, whose eyes were fixed on me.

Lucian had an indifferent expression and his hands were folded across his chest. I didn't know what he was thinking. He didn't shout like the rest.

Arden looked restless and shocked at the same time.

“Ethan, I said, move closer.”

“Oh, yes sir.” I muttered and stepped forward. I had been lost in my thoughts for a while.

“It's not what you think it is. It's ummm…my perfume.” I stuttered. My eye was already twitching like it did whenever I lied. Lying was something that was difficult for me to do since childhood.

Mr. Elias, the man who was among the inspectors, held my hand. My hand trembled as he gripped it. He moved his hand to my neck and collarbones.

Afterwards, he took off his spectacles and placed both hands on his waist.

“Ethan, I'm afraid you're lying. Tell me the truth, are you an omega?”

My breath hitched. I opened my mouth to say something, but no words came out as I wasn't certain of what to say.

The second inspector behind the desk slammed his fist into the table.

“Unbelievable. This has never happened in the history of Ravenholt Academy. What were your intentions when coming here? Do you realize the punishment for this crime?”

I gulped and lowered my gaze to the ground. Mother had feared me being executed if I was caught, but father was adamant that I'd simply be sent away because of his influence as an alpha.

“I…I used a really bad perfume.” I lied once again. “I'm an alpha.”

The inspectors only seemed to get more infuriated. They weren't dumb to believe that. Every werewolf, especially an alpha, knew what omega pheromones do to their senses.

“Do you take us as fools?” Inspector Elias flared up. He motioned towards two hefty boys and they moved forward.

“Take him away to the staff office and lock him there till we're done.”

The boys grabbed me by both sides.

“Wait sir. I can explain. It's not what you think.”

Inspector Elias ignored me and turned towards the second inspector.

“I'd put a call to his guardian. I want to know why they sent him here.”

My chest ached, not because I was about to be rusticated from school, but because I dreaded returning home to my father who would see me as nothing other than a failure.

I snapped free from the grip of the boys.

“I'd walk to the office by myself.” I sighed and walked towards the exit.

“Ethan, wait!” The familiar voice of Lucian halted me.

I turned backwards and he stepped forward into the center.

“Inspectors, I'm the one responsible for what happened to Ethan.”

I raised a confused brow. “What was he doing?”

He winked at me and faced the inspectors.

“I know I'm a bully and I deserve to be punished, but none of this is Ethan's fault.”

“Mr. Lucian.” Inspector Elias drawled. “Can you speak in clear terms? How are you responsible for his pheromones?”

Lucian inhaled deeply and glanced at me briefly, before returning his face to the men.

“I hated him so much that I…” He paused and stared at me who was still standing at the door.

My eyes narrowed further, not fully understanding what he was trying to prove.

“Continue.”

“Okay. I slipped pills into his drink that made him mimic the pheromones of an omega, so that he can fail the evaluation.”

Gasps and murmurs erupted from the crowd of students.

Wait a minute. What was Lucian doing? Covering up for me? He couldn't do that, except he wanted to get punished instead. Who would believe his story? My whole life I had never heard of omega mimicking pills.

“Lucian Orion. Are you speaking the truth?” Elias asked, while giving both of us a cursory look.

Lucian nodded slowly. “I'm very sorry Sir. It won't repeat itself.”

“Very well then. I'd have to set Mr. Ethan free and punish you instead. I hope you're aware that you can still be punished despite your father being one of the academy founders.”

Lucian hung his head low. “I apologize, Sir.”

The second inspector who had been quiet most of the while, stepped forward and held my hand. He studied it, dropped it and looked at the other one. Then, he tilted my chin.

“Something is definitely wrong, Elias. I can feel it.”

“What is it, Sebastian?” Elias inquired.

Inspector Sebastian addressed the crowd of students.

“Everyone should leave now. We'll continue the evaluation tomorrow.”

I heaved a sigh of relief and turned towards the door.

Sebastian's voice rang out. “Except both of you, Ethan and Lucian.”

I froze and went pale instantly.

It wasn't over?