"I'll take the omega," Kael said immediately as Leo walked in. It wasn't a request but an order, and Leo hated being addressed as "omega" when he had a name, but there was nothing he could do about it.
The combat instructor, a grizzled woman named Master Selene, barked orders for the students to pair off. When Kael quickly picked Leo, she nodded. "Good. Ryn, you're paired with him," she announced.
Leo stood there, confusion etched on his face, trying hard to avoid Kael's piercing gaze. His presence was overwhelming, and his pheromones radiated dominance, making Leo's knees feel weak. He did all he could to avoid Kael's molten gold eyes, but Kael moved closer until there was no space between them.
Leo visibly gulped when he felt Kael's warm hands on his shoulders. It sent shocks down his spine, and slowly, Leo raised his head until his eyes met Kael's. "Let's see if you're as weak as you look, omega," Kael smirked, his voice dripping with condescension.
"I…" Leo tried to speak, but he couldn't. His jaw tightened, and his hands clenched into fists. He wasn't a stranger to fighting, at least not in the virtual worlds of video games he'd spent countless hours mastering. But this was different. This was real, and Kael glared at him like an enemy.
Master Selene's voice snapped him out of his thoughts as she ordered the spar to begin. "Go on!" she shouted, and it started.
Kael moved like the wind, and the wooden stick in his hand struck Leo's hand quickly, causing Leo's stick to drop. "Watch your enemies, omega. They'll kill you in the blink of an eye," Kael chuckled, hitting him on the back.
Leo fell to the ground, but luckily, his stick was nearby. He hurriedly picked it up and tried to fight back, but Kael pushed him backward with his stick until Leo's back hit one of the pillars.
Everyone had stopped their spars, their eyes focused on the fight, and Leo could hear constant murmurs in the background.
"Don't be distracted!" Kael barked. "You're not even trying," he sneered, lowering his stick. "Is this the best an omega can do?" he yelled, circling him. "Do you think you deserve to be fated to alphas?"
Leo groaned, gripping the stick tightly. He wasn't a swordsman, but he knew he had to fight his own way and show everyone what power he held. Dropping the stick, he lunged forward, channeling every ounce of instinct honed from years of virtual battles. His fist connected with Kael's jaw, catching him off guard.
The punch sent Kael staggering back, and a gasp rippled through the crowd. No one had expected it, especially Kael, whose eyes widened in shock. "What kind of trick did you use?" he demanded, glancing at the stick on the ground.
Leo chuckled. "I just used my instincts," he smiled.
"I see," Kael muttered, dropping his stick. "This spar is over," he announced, turning to leave. As he passed Leo, he paused and glared. "You're lucky we're mates, else I would've slit your throat for disrespecting me with such a nasty trick. A real warrior fights with their sword, not dirty tricks."
"It's not…" Leo tried to explain it wasn't a trick, but Kael had already walked away.
Veyr's laughter sounded from behind, and Leo turned to see him and Sylas approaching. "That was cool!" Veyr clapped. "You just defeated the best swordsman in Draconic Academy. Amazing," he winked.
"I…"
Sylas cut in. "I saw what you did, and it wasn't honorable, especially since he was fighting fairly, and you used that trick."
"But it's not a trick," Leo tried to explain again, but Veyr was already in front of him, leaning closer with a smile.
"Whatever that was, Ryn, I love it," Veyr winked, reaching for Leo's face, but Leo slapped his hand away and pushed past them without a word.
As he rushed out of the courtyard, he heard Mira yelling his name, but he ignored her, hurriedly walking. He bumped into someone and was yelled at.
"Watch where you're going, omega!" the person snarled, and Leo silently apologized, continuing to walk.
He didn't know why he felt guilty about what happened; it wasn't as if he'd done anything wrong. The memory of Kael's narrowed eyes lingered in his mind, and his heart raced as he realized he was in over his head, caught in a world where everyone seemed against him.
"Wait right there, omega," a sharp, venomous voice ordered behind him. Leo froze, unable to move. He knew at that moment the speaker was an alpha. "I knew it was you because no other omega has long silver hair in Draconic Academy," the voice muttered, grabbing Leo's shoulder and spinning him around. "Tell me, what was that trick you pulled on Kael?" he demanded.
Leo winced as the unfamiliar alpha's nails dug into his shoulder. When their eyes met, new memories—Ryn's, not his—rushed into his head. They were faint, but he saw this alpha's face pushing him against a wall, slamming fists into Ryn's face.
Leo gasped, then, with all his might, pushed him away and rushed off. He ran as if his life depended on it. Though he hated himself for fleeing like a coward, he knew he couldn't fight this boy. He was taller, more muscular, and could break Leo in half if he wasn't careful.
When he reached his room, he shut the door and leaned against it, catching his breath. "What the hell was that? Who was that?" he panted, placing a hand on his chest. Recalling the memory, he realized something else: Ryn's face and clothes had been covered in blood as he was beaten by that boy. "Whoever that is, I have to stay away from them," he muttered, shutting his eyes. Just then, sharp knocks sounded on the door.
His heart jumped, fearing the boy had followed him. "Ryn Varyn!" the voice shouted from outside, and Leo sighed in relief because it held no malice, unlike the boy's. He contemplated whether to open the door. "This is Hall Master Torren, and I have something to deliver to you."
Leo's eyes widened, and he opened the door. "What the hell is wrong with you?" Torren shouted.
"I'm sorry, I…" Leo tried to explain, but Torren cut him off, extending a parchment sealed with a wax crescent moon.
Leo took it, giving him a questioning look. "What is this?"
"Your alphas have invited you this evening for dinner at Starlit Hall at the seventh bell."
"I…"
"Goodbye," Torren said, shutting the door in his face before Leo could ask anything.
Leo sighed deeply, staring at the parchment, then broke the wax seal, unfolding it to reveal elegant writing.
"Your presence is expected, Ryn Varyn, our omega."
He frowned at the word "omega." "Can't they stop calling me that?" he groaned, dropping the letter to the ground and heading to his bed. He fell onto it and sighed. "Let's see what this dinner is about," he muttered, rolling over and sighing again.