Chapter Text
“Hey, could you sit somewhere else?”
I was expecting a lot of things when I sat down next to Atlas Chance. I tend to piss people off naturally; I know what I look like, an alpha who dresses casually and doesn’t flaunt his dominance in public. I’ve been told by other alphas that my scent is aggravating, disgusting even. Overwhelming people without even trying to.
From watching Atlas these past few weeks, I’ve learned quite a bit about the rich boy. He’s punctual; always on time to his appointments and classes. He’s almost always alone; even though plenty of people would kill to be his friend, he doesn’t seem to care. He’s polite; the upper-class manners are engrained in him.
I planned for this meeting for days. Arriving late, acting like this was the only seat left in the class by coincidence. Jinwoo got the syllabus for this class a week ago, so I know there will be a partner project today. Since we ‘happen’ to be sitting next to each other, it will make sense for us to be partners.
A way in.
“...Why?” I ask, keeping my voice low so as not to disturb the students around us.
“I can’t stand the smell of omegas.” He replies, the tips of his ears starting to turn pink.
I hadn’t expected that response. I thought he was going to say my scent was aggravating his instincts, making him aggressive or something. Do I really pass for an omega that well? I don’t really care, never have, what my second gender looks like to other people. But none of my research on Atlas showed any signs of him being anti-omega. Even the ‘alphas’ who believe that omegas are inferior don’t dislike omega scents. It’s literally in our biology to like their scents, to find our mate through pheromones.
“What an odd statement. What, afraid I’ll go into heat in the middle of class and jump you? Or do you not have enough control over your instincts, little alpha?” I ask, propping my chin on the palm of my hand.
That gets his full attention. He snaps his head towards me, his brown eyes wide in surprise. Not annoyance, which is what I had expected. Just disbelief that I would call him little. He wears his thoughts on his face.
Kinda cute.
“Did you just call me ‘little alpha’?” He asks, tone rising, the flush at the tip of his ears spreading towards his cheeks.
“Yep. Now which is it? Afraid I’ll jump you, or can’t control your instincts?” I tilt my head slightly. His eyes look like honey and amber up close, the pictures don’t do him justice. He should get a better photographer for his articles in ‘Business Weekly’.
“Neither. The smell of omegas makes me physically ill.” He says, like he’s admitting something shameful.
I’ve never heard of such a thing. Personally, I adore the scent of omegas. Maru’s scent was… well, that doesn’t matter. I lean back in my chair before responding.
“Lucky for you I’m not an omega.”
He raises an eyebrow at me, and I have to physically force my eyes not to roll. Is it that hard to believe I’m an alpha? It would help if he would breathe through his nose. Then we can settle this stupid debate, my scent can piss him off, and I can start to get under his skin.
“Breathe through your nose, little alpha. See for yourself.” I say casually, leaning over so he can scent me better.
Oh, woah. He doesn’t smell half bad himself. There’s the typical alpha musk, which was expected; thick and a bit heavy. But the notes of his scent are shockingly light. Like, an apple orchard on a crisp fall day. It reminds me of simpler times. Before everything went to shit, and I could still take a day to go apple picking without my stomach turning.
“You’re…an alpha?” He asks, almost disbelievingly. His voice is tight, strained almost.
Perfect.
“Yep.” I lean away, giving him some space. I want to get under his skin, not make him alpha-aggressive.
Not yet, anyways.
“...You look like an omega.”
“So? I didn’t realize there was anything wrong with comfortable clothes.”
“But…but you’re an alpha.”
“Yes, little alpha, we’ve established that. You okay? You look a little…flushed.”
His whole face is bright red, his eyes glassy and distant. Those wide brown eyes are looking at me like I’m some creature that’s appeared from the depths; like he can’t comprehend what he’s seeing. I know I make alphas aggressive, but his reaction? It doesn’t seem like aggression to me. It almost seems like…interest?
I stick the end of my pen into my mouth, chewing absently. I meant to bring my lollipops, but I was in such a rush to get here and make sure phase one of this plan goes off without a hitch that I left them in the trunk of my bike.
He really is quite pink now. Almost alarmingly so. Did I go too far too fast? He’s just staring at me with that glassy look in his eyes. It’s unnerving.
“Hello? Earth to little alpha!” I call, snapping my fingers in front of his face.
He smacks my hands away. Perfect.
“Stop calling me that!” He snaps defensively.
“What should I call you instead?”
“My name. Atlas.”
“Atlas? As in Atlas Chance? The heir to the Chance family who moved to Luguardia two years ago to take over his family's Vineyard and Winery?”
His eyes widen like a deer in the headlights. It’s almost cute, how oblivious he is to his own fame. Even if I hadn’t known who he was before I walked in this room, almost anyone would know from simply his first name. Well, anyone with half a brain and who has read the articles plastered all over social media about his move to Luguardia. His first name isn’t common around here.
“Uh…yes?”
“Nice to meet you, Atlas Chance. I’m Rinmaru. But call me Rin.”
He just keeps staring at me like he can’t possibly fathom how I know who he is. It’s almost irritating how naive he seems.
“How did you know all that?” He asks, tilting his head slightly.
I could be partially honest; that he’s kind of a celebrity in Luguardia. Of course, I know him because he is a target, in a sense. But it’s kinda fun to watch that flush spread further across his face.
“I have my ways.” I say vaguely, watching him grow more annoyed.
“Like…?”
“Does it matter? I said I have my ways.”
Come on…take the bait. Demand an answer, so I can ignore it and piss you off more. I just need a reason to hold his information over his head, and him punching me because I piss him off is a perfect reason. I can take a hit; he may have broad shoulders but he doesn’t look very strong. I’ve taken hits from alphas twice his size and lived to tell the tale.
He doesn’t take the bait. He just huffs through his nose, turning to stare at the professor again with a distracted look in his eye.
Well that’s a hiccup I didn’t expect.
Everything I’ve read on this guy said he was dominant, a loner. He doesn’t have any friends here, and doesn’t seem interested in making any. I was doing everything I normally do to pick a fight, and he just…ignored me?
“Atlas?” I whisper harshly, trying to get his attention again.
I bump my notebook into his slightly. I drop my pen. I drum the table with my fingers so loudly the table in front of us turns around and glares at me. Clearly, I haven’t lost my mind and I am capable of ticking people off, just not the blonde fool next to me.
“Hello? Atlas?” I whisper a little louder, watching as his pen moves absently across his paper.
He’s not even writing anything. Well, not words at least. His pen is just moving in half-hearted loops across the paper, over and over again. He’s staring at the teacher, but is he actually listening?
“Atlas, dude!” I snap just under my breath, as the professor begins to announce the project.
I don’t want to do this project, if I’m honest. I don’t want to have to detail how violence against omegas has continued to grow in Luguardia over the past three years. I’m trying to do everything I can to stop it, but reading the news makes me feel like it’s all for nothing. There’s always something new, someone I didn’t save. Every single day. But I can’t seem to pull my eyes away from it. No matter how dark or horrific it is. None of it compares to losing Maru.
I watch as the other students begin packing up, leaving the lecture hall, partnering up. Through it all, Atlas just sits there staring into space like it’s the most interesting thing since sliced bread. A new tactic, then, since he isn’t reacting to my usual annoying tricks.
He seems visibly flustered by proximity, judging by the way his face turned red when I let him scent me.
I lean sideways, almost brushing his temple with my nose. He really does smell nice, and it’s not his shampoo.
“Little alpha.” I murmur directly into his ear, making my voice as velvety as I can.
Well that worked. His head snaps towards me, shivering slightly and his eyes narrowing.
“Stop calling me that!” He yelps, voice cracking.
Bingo.
I lean back in my chair, putting space between us again, raising my hands playfully in surrender. “Hey, I called your name like three times. You were hard core zoning out. Class ended.”
He looks around the lecture hall, head on a swivel like he’s just waking up from a deep sleep, his eyebrows furrowing together in confusion.
“Oh. I see that.” He says tightly, embarrassment obvious in his voice as he stands, fumbling with his notebook.
“So, about that project—”
“Huh? What project?”
Wow, he really wasn’t paying an ounce of attention. He looks so flustered, so confused, that I almost feel bad for the alpha. I mean, maybe he doesn’t have good social skills. Maybe that’s why he doesn’t have friends. If that’s the case, maybe I should try a new approach.
No, there’s no time to pity him. It’s not my fault he’s naive and easily flustered.
“The project on the rise of violence against the omegas of Luguardia? Dude, the teacher just explained it.” I stand up, mirroring his action, slinging my backpack over my shoulder.
“Oh, right. Yeah, that project. What about it?”
Well, pissing him off didn’t go the way I planned. At least Plan B might. If I can get him alone to work on this project, maybe he’ll give me a reason to blackmail him. I mean, I don’t really need a reason, as Jinwoo has been gracious enough to point out multiple times. We could just take his money. Jinwoo has had the ability since last night, when we followed Atlas to the campus cafe, where he spent a fair bit of time replying to his business emails on public WiFi.
But that wouldn’t be right. Not that any of this is exactly right— no, it’s fucked up, if I’m honest with myself. I mean, Atlas isn’t a bad guy from what I can tell. He just has the disadvantage of being rich and easily accessible.
If I don’t do this, I can’t save anyone else. I won’t be able to continue to fix this fucked up country.
If I don’t blackmail this alpha…there could be another Maru. Someone else could feel this emptiness. This loathing. I can’t let that happen.
“Do you want to be partners for it? I don’t really know anyone else and I figure—”
“Yes! Yeah, absolutely!” He says eagerly, face breaking into a bright smile.
Fuck, that’s cute. A bit pathetic, but cute nonetheless.
And hey, maybe his desperation for connection will work to my advantage.
“Partners, then.” I say with a wink, holding my hand out for a handshake.
“Partners.” He takes my hand like it’s an offering of deep friendship, not the sealing of a classroom agreement. His eyes lock on our joined hands, his handshake firm and soft and so warm.
I don’t think I’ve been touched gently like this in years. Not since—
I won’t dwell on that. Not now.
“Atlas?”
“Yeah?”
“...Can I have my hand back now?”
I didn’t think he could possibly get any redder, but he’s managed it, flushing all the way down his neck.
“Where’d those bruises come from?” He asks curiously.
Ah, an observant one I see. And blunt. Maybe his social skills really are lacking.
“Oh those? I fell up a flight of stairs.” I lie smoothly, turning to leave the classroom. I thought that would be the end of it; no one usually persists past the ‘stairs’ excuse.
“Bullshit. Those don’t look like you fell. Looks like you punched somebody.” He says loudly, falling into step with me.
So I guess we are walking together then. Here I was thinking he didn’t want any friends.
“Is that so?” It is, but he doesn’t need to know that. Plus, maybe I can use this to get further under his skin. “Maybe I did, maybe I didn’t. Who can say?”
“You can say, smartass!” He practically growls.
Wow, he’s fun. It’s like he’s balancing on the edge of a full alpha moment simply because I won’t tell him why my knuckles are bruised. Too fucking easy.
“Ooh, someone’s protective. Trouble keeping your instincts in check, little alpha?” I tease.
“So what?! It’s not my fault you look like an omega! My instincts are…confused, is all.” He says defensively, weakly. Like he doesn’t even believe it himself.
“Keep telling yourself that, Atlas. I’m sure it will come true if you wish it hard enough.” I stop in front of my classroom, gesturing vaguely. “This is my stop. So I’ll see you at the Library tomorrow then? To work on our project?”
“Library, tomorrow. Yeah. What time?” He stammers.
“Five PM? It’s a Saturday. Sure you won’t be too hungover from partying, rich boy?” I didn’t mean to call him ‘rich boy’ out loud, but the look on his face makes my slip-up worth it.
“I’m sure! I don’t party.” He snaps, crossing his arms over his chest.
I thought he was going to be hard to piss off for a moment. Turns out, I just wasn't calling him enough names.
“Feisty. Okay, see you then.” I give him a small wave, turning towards my classroom.
I didn’t mean to hit him. Did I hit him?
All I know is I’m growling in his face, my forearm pressed against his throat, trapping him against the wall.
I had meant to piss him off. I hadn’t expected him to grab me from behind, catching my wrist in his hand like it was natural. I spun on instinct. Turns out almost dying every night in gunfights will do that to a guy.
I can tell he’s talking, his hands raised in surrender, lips moving with words I can’t hear over the pounding in my ears.
His scent pierces through the roaring of adrenaline in my brain, cutting through my instincts like a knife through warm butter.
Warm, soft, soothing. Like bobbing for apples.
I drop my arm from his throat, retreating rapidly. I almost ripped his throat out for touching me. If he had responded to my aggression with aggression…would I have killed him? Right here, in the hallway?
“...Sorry. Just…don’t grab me like that.” I mumble, trying to make any sound but a growl come out of my throat.
I focus my gaze on the ground. He didn’t do anything wrong. I could’ve really hurt him simply for trying to get my attention. He’s not even a bad guy; his scent doesn’t even make me angry. No…his scent is so calming it hurts.
It’s not fair.
“Okay, understood. I won’t grab you like that again.” He says softly, apologetically. Like he doesn’t care that I almost hurt him.
I can’t stay here any longer. I can barely breathe, the memories of that fucking day pressing on my mind like a metal cage. Class, and then as soon as I can I’ll leave.
“Wait Rin!” He calls, stopping my retreat in its tracks. “What’s your full name?”
…Huh? I just attacked this guy and he wants my name?
Guess I haven’t ruined this plan after all.
I force myself to turn around, giving him the best grin I can muster. “Rinmaru Valor.”
I hurry into my classroom before he can say anything else, slumping into my seat. It doesn’t matter that he has my name; he won’t find anything. Jinwoo makes sure of that. Maybe if he looks me up on social media, we could use that as a reason to blackmail him. Threaten him. Why would he want to know me anyways? I just attacked him for no reason.
The least I could do is give him my name.
My teeth hurt. I want to chew on a strawberry lollipop and drown in memories. But I forgot my lollipops.
And all I can smell is apples.