Nicholas’s POV
"No reason." I lied, shrugging. "I just don’t like the hierarchy."
"Makes sense." Jayden replied as I showed him the class he was supposed to be at. "Thank you, Nicholas. You wouldn’t mind if we exchanged digits, right?"
"Of course not." I replied as he handed me his phone and I typed in my number. "I guess... see you some other time?"
"Yeah. I’d love for us to hang out sometime; it’s not every day I find someone who’s like me." He whispered and I grinned, waving at him as I walked away.
Maybe things weren’t so bad after all. I just made my first friend after spending years without talking to anyone. It was cool and since he was an omega just like me, I could tell he would understand me better than anyone could.
The day went by faster than expected and it was finally time to go home. I couldn’t find Elijah anywhere so I decided to wait for him by the gates.
Just then, I saw people crowded around something, or someone so I walked towards them, feeling curious to know what was going on.
Just as I stepped into the circle, my heart sank when I saw that three alphas had surrounded Jayden and he was on the floor, battered and injured.
He was being bullied.
"Hey!" I called out before I could help myself. "Stay the hell away from him!" I snapped, rushing up to them and shielding Jayden from their mocking gazes.
"Move, beta. We don’t have any business with you." One of them said in annoyance but I didn’t dare move. They would keep on hurting him if I did.
"Don’t you have better things to do than to pick on others? Why don’t you punch the wall instead if you’re itching to punch something so bad?" I said defiantly, and he cracked his knuckles as he tried to approach, but one of them stopped him.
"I don’t think we should mess with him." The other whispered to him. "Didn’t you see the alphas who took him home yesterday? And the one he walks around with? You don’t want to mess with the Blackwoods."
I couldn’t help but be surprised. I guess their reputation was a little good for me at times like this.
"And so what? Who are the Blackwoods? My father has more influence. I’ll beat them both up and nobody will say shit about it. Maybe even get to use them to my pleasure." He growled as he turned to me again and I backed away slowly.
If he truly was fearless, then we were fucked.
"Get up, Jayden. You need to run." I whispered as I helped him up, my eyes fixed on the big bully in front of me.
"I can’t leave you—"
"I can handle myself. You have to go." I whispered harshly, pushing him out of the circle and that didn’t please the alpha in front of me at all.
"Guess you’ll have to take all the beating for him." He snarled as he raised his hands and I flinched, waiting for the impact.
But then...
"Lay a hand on him and you’ll know just how influential the Blackwoods can be."
Elijah. Oh my goodness, finally.
He looked like he could kill someone as he walked into the circle calmly, his gaze fixed on the alpha whose hand still hung in the air.
His pheromones suddenly filled the air and everyone had to step back away from him. I even had to lean against the wall for support before he toned it down and approached the bullies.
"If you’re itching for a fight, why don’t you take on someone of your own size, idiot?" He spat calmly and I gasped.
Oh, he was brutal.
"Listen, we can’t mess with them. We have to go!" The others were trying to drag the big bully out but he didn’t want to go down without a fight.
So he broke free and charged at Elijah.
Panic surged through me as I tried to tell him to watch out but he simply moved out of the way, making the bully miss and fall to the ground, face first.
Damn, that must have hurt.
"You’re just big. You don’t even deserve to be called an alpha." Elijah snorted as he placed his leg on his back, keeping him to the ground. "Next time you see me or him around, make sure you run. Understood?"
I have never seen this side of Elijah before and as scary as he was, I couldn’t help but find him sexy.
"Come on." He gestured at me and I couldn’t help but follow him, rushing up to his side with a smile. "You’re smiling. Did I make you proud?"
"Well, I didn’t think you’d show up. Thank you for saving me." I whispered and he stopped, turning to me.
"I told you, I’ll protect you no matter what. I’m your bodyguard from now on and I’m at your service." He muttered with a grin and I couldn’t help but chuckle softly.
He was so corny.
Just then, Jayden rushed up to me as he took my hands and I looked at him in worry.
"You almost got into trouble... You didn’t have to do that for me. I’m sorry you had to go through that." He said, guilt evident in his expression and I shook my head as I patted his shoulder gently.
"We’re friends. I did what I could. I should be apologizing for not showing up earlier. Besides, I’m fine, right? You don’t have to apologize." I replied with a soft smile and he looked at me, his face injured from getting hit.
"Thank you. I’ll find a way to repay you—"
"No. It’s fine, truly. You should go to the infirmary and get yourself treated so it won’t get infected. I wish omegas healed as fast as alphas did on their own." I couldn’t help but let out a sigh as I squeezed his shoulders gently. "Want me to come with you?"
"I don’t want to bother you anymore, you’ve already done enough for me." He muttered softly as he looked down but I didn’t mind at all.
"It’s nothing. Come on, it won’t take long." I said as I led him to the infirmary but suddenly paused when I noticed Elijah wasn’t following me anymore.
"Eli?" I called out as I walked back to his side. "Come on."
"You almost got into trouble because of him. Who is he?" He asked with raised brows and my lips thinned into a straight line.
"I’ll tell you on our way home. I just can’t abandon him." I whispered as I pulled him with me and we ended up escorting him to the library.
"You can leave now. I’m sure I’ll be fine on my own." Jayden said when we got to the infirmary and I tried to interrupt but he stopped me. "I can handle myself. I promise. I’ll see you tomorrow."
"Alright then... but if anything happens you have to promise to call me." I said and he nodded as he patted my shoulder gently.
Elijah pulled me with him as I waved at Jayden who waved back before walking into the nurse’s office.
"I don’t like him." Elijah muttered as we walked back home and I looked at him in surprise. "When did you meet? How did you become friends?"
"We met today. And I bumped into him by accident, that was how we started talking. And he’s an omega. Just like me. I just felt this connection with him and that’s how it happened." I explained and he huffed, shaking his head in disappointment.
"Well, I still don’t like him." He grumbled under his breath and I couldn’t help but laugh in amusement as I brushed my shoulder against his.
"Are you jealous?"
"Me? Hell no, why would I be? He can’t take you away from me anyway." He huffed and I rolled my eyes. "I just don’t want you getting injured because of him. Do you know what would have happened if I didn’t show up on time?"
I knew he was right so I took his hand in mine and smiled at him.
"But you showed up on time. That’s all that matters." I replied, nudging him again and he scoffed.
We finally reached the mansion, and I was happy to know that walking with him made me feel safer, and I didn’t have to think about anyone stalking me.
"Wanna hang out in my room for a while? I could use a little company while I game." He muttered and I had no choice but to nod in response.
He was fun to hang out with anyway.
"I’ll just change my clothes. Then I’ll join you." I replied as I walked over to my room, feeling my heart flip as I closed the door.
I feared that I was indeed falling for Elijah.
What could I do?
Just as I crashed on my bed, my phone dinged with a message. Thinking it was from Jayden, I took it out to check what he sent with a small smile on my face.
But the moment I saw the content, my smile faded immediately.