Chapter 4: Running From Fate  

I practically fly up each step of the stairs, desperate to catch up to him before it's too late.

When I burst out of the building, I see dozens of students gathered together, each clutching the same dark red box he'd been given.

I can see the mix of sorrow, anxiety, and terror in their eyes. They hold their boxes tight against their chests, as if praying that whatever waits for them outside will be bearable enough to live through.

I tear my eyes away from the crowd and scan the sea of faces looking for Sandro. 

Panic starts to rise in my chest when I can't spot him anywhere. I slow down, about to ask one of the selected students, then I catch sight of him near the back of the group.

A wave of relief washes over me, and I move quickly to reach him.

"SANDRO!" I shout, and he turns at the sound of my voice.

He looks at me, confusion clear in his eyes. "W-what are you doing here?" he asks as I finally reach him.

"Don't," I say firmly, making him raise an eyebrow in confusion.

"What are you talking about—"

"I SAID DON'T FUCKING GO!" I yell, and every eye in the crowd turns to stare at us.

"Klein—"

"Come on. I'll help you get out of this."

"They won't let you do anything—"

"AND WHO THE FUCK CARES?!" I snap, grabbing his hand and pulling him away from the group.

At first, I think we might get away with it, all the guards are busy organizing the selected Omegas. But I'm wrong...

"WHERE ARE YOU TWO GOING?!!" a voice booms through the air, making us freeze in our tracks.

"Fuck!" I curse under my breath, yanking Sandro's hand as we both take off running.

"STOP RIGHT THERE!" the guard roars behind us.

I don't bother looking back, pushing us to run faster as I hold Sandro's hand tight in mine.

If only we could shift into our wolf forms escaping would be so much easier. But this damned university makes us wear silver bracelets we can't break, just to keep us from transforming.

"Klein! You're only getting yourself into more trouble!" Sandro calls out from behind me.

"And that's exactly why they call me the rebellious Omega!" I shoot back.

"Just let me go already, Klein! I've accepted my fate!"

"FUCK THAT FATE!" I shout, glancing back at him for a split second before we turn toward the right wing of the campus.

"GET BACK HERE!!" the guards yell again, their footsteps getting closer.

Sandro and I push our legs even harder, running until we turn toward the back of the buildings.

"There's nowhere left for us to go, Klein," he pants. "Even if we keep running, they'll catch us and punish us anyway."

"That's exactly what I'm counting on!" I say. "If they punish us badly enough, they won't make you go to that auction. They'll beat us within an inch of our lives instead!"

I don't hear any response from Sandro behind me, so we keep running, but just as we're about to round the corner toward the back of the office building, a massive wolf blocks our path. Sandro and I skid to a stop immediately.

"Trying to cause trouble again, are we?"

Fuck! It's the Dean's Beta!

"Move! Head for the right side, Sandro!" I shout, already getting into a fighting stance.

"What?!" he yells back, stunned.

"I SAID RUN!"

"Are you out of your mind?! You can't fight a Beta on your own!"

"JUST FUCKING GO!" I scream again, my eyes locked on the wolf in front of us.

"N-No! I'm not leaving you alone!" Sandro shouts and that's when I turn to look at him.

I'm about to curse him out for being so stubborn, but I whip my head back toward the front when I hear him scream: "LOOK OUT!"

But it was already too late to dodge the Beta's massive claws slammed into me, sending my body flying through the air.

"KLEIN!" Sandro screams, moving to help me up but the Beta grabs him by the scruff of his neck before he can take another step. "Let me go, you bastard!" Sandro struggles against his grip, thrashing wildly.

"You think causing trouble will get you out of the auction? That was a foolish mistake, Omega." The Beta's wolf lets out a low growl before hurling Sandro's body to the ground like a rag doll.

I watch in horror as Sandro hits the wall first, his back slamming against the stone before he crumples to the pavement below. He spits out a mouthful of blood, his face pale with pain.

"FUCK!" I curse, pushing myself up but my legs shake violently beneath me. After what feels like an eternity, I manage to stand and stumble toward him.

"Is this how it ends for us?" Sandro whispers as I reach his side.

"Stop saying that!" I snap, sliding my arm under his shoulder to help him up. "Get on your feet!"

But before we can even straighten up, the Beta's voice rumbles from behind us "Since you're so determined to cause trouble... maybe we should just put an end to this right here."

The moment he says it, I move fast positioning myself in front of Sandro to face the Beta head-on.

"What's this? Trying to play hero now?" the Beta sneers, and rage burns hot in my chest. "The rebellious Omega who never cared about anyone or anything... now protecting his little friend—"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP, BASTARD!" I roared, charging at him without a second thought, even though I know I don't stand a chance.

> "Fuck this damn restraining bracelet!" Keno's voice thunders in my head, just as furious as I am. He can't take over to help me fight, trapped by the silver around my wrist.

"KLEIN!!" Sandro's scream rings in my ears as a powerful punch connects with my stomach.

I stagger backward, coughing up blood. I don't even have time to recover before the Beta slams his fist into my face, sending me flying once more.

I hit the hard ground face-first. Pain shoots through every nerve in my body, and my vision starts to blur at the edges.

"KLEIN!"

I force my head up just enough to see Sandro fighting against two guards holding him down. Tears stream down his face as he begs and struggles to get to me, until one of the guards punches him in the stomach, dropping him to his knees.

"Don't... hurt... h-him..."

Those are the last words I manage to get out before everything fades to black.