Page 40 of For What It's Worth

“Woah, Koda, your emotions are—”

“Are what?” Enzo demanded, his voice either panicked or angry, when Jen cuts his words off.

“They started changing rapidly. It was too hard to catch on to a single one. What are you thinking about, little bear? Tell us, let’s figure it out together.”

“As a pack,” Aidan added, making his way closer to me.

Enzo nodded his agreement, joining Aidan in closing in our proximity. Being able to scent all three of them calmed me—even if they all scented slightly of panic. Aidan and Enzo accepted me as their packmate, and Jen tolerated their closeness. It steeled my spine, making the words come out easier.

“Will you get in trouble, Jen, if they find out we’re bonded?”

He seemed to consider his words carefully, which I simultaneously appreciated and hated. I wished the answer was easy enough for a simple yes or no. He looked at Aidan, as if checking to see if the other alpha had an opinion as he said, “If we’re bonded, no. Alphas can bond betas, even if it isn’t considered the norm. But if you go back to the academy and then get caught as an omega? Maybe. Probably.”

I almost missed it. But I managed to catch the single most important thing Jen said. “There’s no ‘if’, Jen. I spent two years at the community college, which I negotiated by the way, all to help prepare my future, and now I’m finally at Braker Academy. I have three more semesters. I’m not dropping out now.”

“The academy has a lot of alphas that are separatists. They already argued against letting betas into the system, and they aren’t going to be happy we’re bonded if they don’t know about your omega side.”

“If they found out I had an omega side, they’d kick me out anyway. I’d rather have their hate but still get an education.”

“So we keep your designation a secret.”

The anxiety from the conversation had me biting my nails until Aidan grabbed my free hand, holding it away from my mouth and down in my lap. My forearm strained to complete tearing my nail off but eventually, I gave up.

“Will you get fired for being with a student?” I asked.

“I’m not worried about me losing my job. Aidan and Enzo by themselves both make enough so that I could stay home. So you could stay home too.” I rolled my eyes at the comment but thankfully, Jen didn’t linger on the idea. “But I’m not hiding my relationship with you. Neither will the others. Which means we come forward to Chancellor Kelly. We make everyone aware they need to adhere to the same social rules with you at the academy as they would if they passed our pack on the streets. We’re claiming you as a pack beta.”

That could work. I wasn’t sure what the rules were for alpha professors in relationships with students since most were either in a pack or already had an omega—and I had noticed that Jen effectively evaded that question. I didn’t want Jen to get in trouble, and there were so many little things that could’ve gone wrong and ruined our lives. Okay, maybe that was a little extreme, but my fly-under-the-radar-life had become increasingly above-the-radar. My little undetected blip of a life was now catching attention. Bright red and white alarm lights were flashing their warning. The last thing I needed was to end up on the news as some feign for taking a ‘true beta’s’ place at the academy.

“Do we have to tell Chancellor Kelly? Can’t we just … not tell anyone?” I looked at all three alphas, wondering if anyone was in agreement with my plan but found no supporters.

“You ashamed of us?” Jen joked, but I scented the slight worry growing in his scent. That was one fear I easily dissuaded.

“Of course not. I’m nervous and slightly scared, but I’ve also never been happier. I kept telling myself I would be happy once I finished school, but I never considered I could have both. A pack and an education.”

I had been so scared to take my chances with them. I had pushed them away, convincing myself it wouldn’t work. Fuck, was I wrong. Thanks to a few drinks, and a lot of omega instincts, I now had a support system. A pack to help carry the burden of being me. A pack to help carry the burden of my lies.

“You know,” Aidan said, “I have a copy of the academy’s guidelines. I don’t think it’s ever stated that relations between a teacher and student is forbidden. It’s only been updated once, recently, and that was when it changed the rules to allow betas to attend. But I’m sure Chancellor Kelly will let us know when we meet with him.”

“I guess the main question is whether you’ll be allowed to continue taking my quantum mechanics class,” Jen said.

I nodded, absorbing all the information being thrown my way. It would suck to have to take the same class over again, but I could probably still fit it into my schedule next semester to make sure I graduated on time. And really, if that was the worst-case scenario for our bond, I’d take it.

“Do I still smell like a beta?” I asked.

“Yes,” Enzo said, immediately.

“Definitely,” Aidan added.

Jen growled, frustrated because the males admitted to scenting me, but still comforted me. “Completely beta.”

“Then no one will know I’m an omega. But if you want to claim me publicly, as a pack beta, we do that. Everyone will know I’m yours.” I waited for the look of approval from Jen before I turned my attention to Aidan and Enzo. “I’m all of yours.”

Instead of meeting my eyes, Aidan’s gaze was locked on the space below the collar of my shirt. Even with the claiming mark hidden, I knew Aidan was staring directly at it. The portion of my heart dedicated to loving Aidan broke when I scented tendrils of jealousy clinging to him.

“Why didn’t all three of you claim me?” I asked.

Jen tensed next to me, but I was starting at Aidan, watching as his lips parted in shock. When I glanced over at Enzo, his eyebrows were pulled together, a confused look on his face. Did the other males not know I would’ve wanted their claiming marks as well? Not only did I want to bond with them, but if Aidan and Enzo both claimed me, then the jealousy would be over. We’d be a proper pack—like Hannah was with hers.

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