Page 5 of Broken Alpha

When the bus pulled up to the university, the majority of the passengers got off, and it was relatively easy to move with the flow of exiting passengers. I was slightly upset that it wasn’t raining since that would make the cool temperature drop even further, but the cloud cover that had rolled in while we were on the bus provided a promise that there was still a chance.

We made our way across campus in silence, Erik picking up on the fact that I was conserving what little energy I still had. The pounding headache in my head had gone away, but I still felt hot and sluggish, my stomach still uneasy. I had random bouts of lightheadedness that I needed to stop for as my vision swam and clouded. The most recent attack happened outside the classroom door, and we paused for it to pass.

The classroom was empty upon our arrival, and I groaned at the wave of heat that greeted us. It was as if someone left the furnace on overnight and didn’t open any windows. We sat toward the back of the room, and I opened the window behind us to let in some of the breeze, hoping it would prevent me from overheating during the lecture. If this was going to be a constant issue, I would need a mini fan to help keep me regulated, but I would have to get one that I could plug into my laptop via a USB drive if I were going to have the ability to use it in class. Every month, my parents sent me an allowance that I’m supposed to use for rent, food, and schooling, but, to me, this didn’t qualify under any of those categories. To purchase an item outside of what was discussed, I would have to be able to justify the expenditure, even if I had a little money left over each month.

“Just do it,” Erik said, taking my phone from my hand, where I was looking at mini fans when I voiced the idea to him. “If youoverheat in class and get sent home, you’re not participating. It’s a health concern.”

He selected the cheapest fan to plug into my laptop, pressed the ‘one-click’ option that automatically purchased the item for me, and returned my phone. It’ll be here tomorrow. I took out my laptop, turning it on, before taking another packet of anti-nausea medication from my backpack and downing the last of my tea while the classroom filled up around us. The medication only took away the most severe feelings of nausea, and I needed the assistance in order to sit in a classroom that was way too warm for an hour and a half. Every once in a while, I could feel the breeze coming in through the window, and I would close my eyes to enjoy the pleasure of it before it disappeared again.

As Mr. Ellis entered the classroom, my body stiffened instantly as the Alpha glanced around the classroom, his eyes landing on me. He watched me briefly, frowning slightly, which deepened when he saw Erik beside me. When his gaze moved from me, my Omega panicked slightly, wanting the Alpha to return his attention back toward us, and I could feel a strange sound crawl up my throat. Before it reached an audible octave, I stifled it with a cough, clearing my throat. What was going on with me? Was I so upset his gaze left mine that I almost called out to him in a room full of people? I had to force myself to open the document I used for class notes, pulling myself out of whatever fantasy it tried to manifest. I don’t know what’s going on, but I need to get it under control.

“Today begins our first lecture,” Mr. Ellis began. “To understand ABO psychology and biology, we need to start with the history of ABO and the theory of evolution. Humans have long been described as adaptive creatures, something we can easily see as we move through the early stages of humanity from Homo erectus to Homo neanderthalensis to Homo sapiens. We adapted to the world, creating hunting and gathering tools tomeet our survival needs. There was once a theory that male body temperatures were hotter than their female counterparts because the males hunted, and the females stayed in the cave to prepare food, baskets, and tools and took care of the offspring.

“The adaptation of survival is clear today and can be found in the Inuit people with high-fat diets to accommodate living in the Arctic. In the high-altitude Tibetan Plateau, mutations have been observed that help the oxygen concentration in their blood. The Sea Nomads of Sama-Bajau have evolved to be able to dive underwater for long periods due to the evolution of their spleens.

“Out of the need for survival, we assume this is where the first Omega appeared on humanity's radar. The first documentation of Omega-like behaviors appeared in scriptures dating to the Bubonic plague, otherwise known as the Black Plague. Roughly 60% of Europe's population was wiped out, but it is to be believed that that percentage could be higher. Scientists theorize that the first Omegas evolved to help repopulate. The first documentation of Alpha behaviors doesn’t show up for at least another two years. Despite this, what we know now about Alpha and Omega reproduction leads us to believe that the first Alphas probably showed up simultaneously as their Omega counterparts.

“Imagine the poor bastard who had no idea why he suddenly had a knot and had to go to a Tudor-era doctor only for them to apply leeches to his penis to get the swelling to go down,” Mr. Ellis continues, creating a small wave of chuckles that bounced around the classroom. He turned and added more information to the whiteboard.

“Over time, Alphas and Omegas have been hunted, exploited, experimented on, politicized, and fetishized, Omegas even more so. In this class, we will discuss the biology of the Alpha and the Omega, how genetics can play a part, the psychology ofboth designations, and how their designation can impact one's thought process and development. Such as, are the behavioral patterns of both designations based on nature or nurture?”

Mr. Ellis continued through his lecture, and I tapped away at my keyboard, keeping up with him with little difficulty. Toward the end of the class, I noticed a faint scent of citrus and honey, something I had smelled last week when I entered his classroom. It was an Alpha scent, and I thought it odd that in a classroom full of Alphas, this one scent was the one that stood out to me, especially with neutralizers installed. It cut through the artificially created scent that Erik wore, and it scratched at the back of my mind, distracting enough that I zoned out until I heard an Alpha speak up.

“Well, Alphas are the superior designation. Equating us to animals and animal urges does seem a bit much, don’t you think?”

“What makes you think you’re the superior designation?” I spoke up before I could stop myself. Erik froze beside me, his eyes darting between me and the Alpha, who turned to look at me, an Omega who had the audacity to question him. I just smiled at him.

“Alphas are more dominant in presence, stronger, and have better control over our traits. Studies have shown that even the rare dominant Alphas can control their pheromones, often appearing weaker than they actually are to fit in better with society. Omegas can’t control themselves around us Alphas; they act like animals in heat, focusing solely on breeding, yet we can function just fine. Omegas need us to function.”

I didn’t mean to laugh at the guy, but his ideals were so stupid. We couldn’t function without him? “I’m sitting in this classroom right now, with zero desire to breed with you.”

The angry growl that escaped the Alpha did little to stop me. He wasn’t my Alpha, and I didn’t have to listen to him. The factthat he growled at me to back down and submit to him only pissed me off more, making me want to resist. “That’s because you’re on suppressants.”

“Or you just don’t do it for me.” I smiled at him, catching a glance at Mr. Ellis. The look on his face was not a kind one. His hands clutched the podium and were white at the knuckles. But he wasn’t staring at me. His sharp gaze was fixated on the Alpha, who argued with me, looking at him as if he wanted to tear out his throat. “If that is how you define ‘superiority,’ I’m concerned for you, and it’s a good thing you’re in this class. Maybe you’ll figure out how your brain works.”

“Aidyn!” Erik hissed at me, grabbing my wrist. I pulled it out of his grasp and smiled at him before turning back to the Alpha.

“There is no superior designation; it’s just an ideal that Mommy and Daddy told you growing up to make you feel special. We don’t actually need your knots; we have toys for that now. Even I used a Beta during my last heat; he only needed a toy to satisfy me. If anything, you’re just sperm donors.”

“How dare you,” the Alpha growled again, standing up and looking as if he was about to hop over the row of desks to strangle me, an acrid scent pouring from him as he flexed his pheromones, trying to force me into submission.

“Enough,” Mr. Ellis snapped.

There was an edge to his voice, a low, deep, threatening growl that had my body responding by producing slick, dampening the seat of my boxers. Fear cut through the arousal as I glanced around, praying that no one else could tell I was responding to the man at the front of the classroom in such a way. It wasn’t quite an Alpha’s bark, but it was close enough that I stopped breathing, my heart pounding in my ears. The scent of burnt cloves cut through the air, and my Omega stirred once more, reacting in a way I was not at all happy with. It was like he wanted to submit and grovel out an apology to make the Alphahappy again. To purr at his feet, rubbing my cheek against him, scenting him to calm him down. To remove the anger that marred his handsome face as he looked between the Alpha and me.

“Class is dismissed; you two stay after class.”

“Now you’ve done it,” Erik hissed at me, and I could only shrug. “Are you going to be okay with going home alone?”

I nodded. He had another class after this one, and if I needed to, I’d hang in the library waiting for him. The class emptied quietly, the other students trying their hardest not to look at their teacher or the two students in trouble. Mr. Ellis’ classroom was on the second floor of the building, and we awkwardly walked down the stairs in silence to one of the left side wings that housed the teacher’s offices.

“Mr. Keller, please stay in the hallway while I talk with Mr. Forester. Do not move.”

It felt like he wanted to lecture us separately like petulant children, and I hated that. Sure, we did behave like children, but we were adults, and standing in the hallway was torture, waiting for my turn. I picked up a little of what Mr. Ellis was saying, but he didn’t shout at the Alpha, which made it seem almost worse than if he did. The door opened, and the Alpha stepped into the hallway. He sneered at me before he walked by, saying nothing as I stepped into the office, closing the door behind me.

Entering the office, I realized then that the scent of citrus and honey was the scent coming from Mr. Ellis—his office smelling strongly of him—hinting that he spent a lot of time here. It was laced with the burning scent of cloves, his anger evident on his face as he leaned against his desk. I couldn’t suppress the whimper that escaped from my throat as it surrounded us, my body heating up with what felt like the worst fever I’d ever had, sending shivers coursing through my system. Mr. Ellis’sexpression changed instantly as he moved away from his desk toward me.

“Aidyn?” he asked in concern.

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