The Omega Fated to Michelle

3. Michael Point of View

We stayed there for a while longer, talking about everything and nothing, the weight of the world feeling just a little lighter with each passing moment. And as the bell rang, signaling the start of the next class, I realized that maybe, just maybe, this semester really was going to be something special.

As we made our way back through the courtyard, I couldn't resist making one last joke. “You know, Michelle, you should try crawling through more windows. You never know who you'll run into,” I said, giving her a teasing grin.

She rolled her eyes, laughing softly. “Maybe I’ll keep that in mind for when I need a shortcut. Though I’m not sure I’d survive the embarrassment a second time.”

“Hey, I thought you handled it pretty well,” I replied, nudging her lightly. “Besides, if it means running into me, I think it’s worth it.”

She looked up at me, her cheeks flushed, a soft smile playing on her lips. Just as she was about to say something, her phone buzzed, breaking the moment. She frowned, pulling her phone out of her pocket.

“It’s Kody again,” she muttered, glancing at the screen. The annoyance in her voice was clear, and she quickly silenced the call without answering.

Before I could ask more about it, something else took over my attention entirely. A voice echoed in my mind, sharp and demanding. *Michael, get to the gym. Now!* It was Mariarosa, and there was an urgency in her voice that made my heart skip a beat.

Michelle must have noticed the sudden change in my expression, because she looked at me, her brows furrowed in concern. “Michael? Is everything okay?”

I blinked, trying to collect myself, then nodded. “It’s... Mariarosa,” I said, hesitating for just a moment before deciding I couldn't leave her out of this. “She needs me at the gym. Now.”

Michelle’s eyes widened slightly, and before I could suggest otherwise, she spoke up. “I’m coming with you.”

I hesitated for a second, but then nodded. There was no time to argue, and a part of me wanted her by my side. We moved quickly through the school halls, weaving through students who were making their way to their next classes. I felt my pulse quicken, and I could sense Mateo pacing anxiously within me.

When we reached the gym, I pushed open the door, and the sight before me made my blood run cold.

Kody was standing near the bleachers, his posture casual but his expression one of arrogance. Across from him was Maya, her eyes wide and her body language tense. Mariarosa stood a few steps away, her face twisted in frustration.

“Michael!” Mariarosa called out when she saw me. Relief washed over her features, but it was quickly replaced by a glare directed at Kody. “It’s him. He won’t leave Maya alone.”

“Kody?” Michelle’s voice was filled with shock, and she stepped forward, her eyes wide as she looked at her brother. “What are you doing?”

Kody turned, his smirk never faltering, even when he saw Michelle. “Oh, hey, sis. Just having a little chat, that’s all,” he said, shrugging as if it was nothing.

Maya’s eyes flicked to me, and I could see the fear and discomfort there. Liam wasn’t here—he must have been dealing with something else, and Maya was left to fend off Kody’s unwanted attention alone.

I stepped forward, my voice low but firm. “Kody, this isn’t just ‘a little chat.’ You’re bothering her, and you need to stop.”

He raised an eyebrow at me, clearly unbothered. “What’s it to you, Michael? I’m just talking to her.”

Michelle moved closer to him, her expression now filled with anger. “Kody, seriously? You need to stop this. Maya doesn’t want to talk to you, and you’re making her uncomfortable.”

For a moment, I saw something flicker in Kody’s eyes—hesitation, maybe even guilt—but it was gone in an instant, replaced by defensiveness. “I’m not doing anything wrong,” he muttered, looking away.

I clenched my jaw, stepping between him and Maya, my voice growing colder. “You’re done here, Kody. Leave, now.”

He glared at me, his jaw tightening, but after a tense moment, he finally backed down. “Fine. Whatever,” he muttered, turning and walking away, but not before shooting a resentful look at all of us—especially at Michelle.

As soon as he was gone, I turned to Maya. She looked shaken, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and Mariarosa moved to her side, wrapping an arm around her in comfort.

“Are you okay?” I asked softly, my voice gentle.

Maya nodded, though her expression was still strained. “I... I think so. Thank you, Michael,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Michelle stepped closer, her face pale as she looked at Maya. “I’m so sorry, Maya. I didn’t know he was bothering you like this,” she said, her voice trembling.

Maya gave her a small, shaky smile. “It’s not your fault, Michelle. I just... I wish he would stop.”

Michelle nodded, her expression pained. I could see how much this was affecting her—having to face the fact that her own brother was the one causing all this trouble. I reached out, taking her hand in mine and giving it a gentle squeeze.

“We’ll make sure he doesn’t bother you again,” I said, my voice filled with determination. “You have my word.”

Michelle looked up at me, her eyes meeting mine, and for a moment, I saw something in them—gratitude, trust, and something deeper. She squeezed my hand back, her lips curving into a small, sad smile. “Thank you, Michael.”

As we stood there, surrounded by the tension of what had just happened, I knew that this was far from over. But one thing was clear—I would do whatever it took to protect Maya, to protect Michelle, and to make sure that Kody understood the consequences of his actions.

And as I looked at Michelle, her hand still in mine, I realized that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together.

After everything settled in the gym, I watched Mariarosa wrap an arm around Maya, speaking softly to her as they walked away. They were headed to the pack house, where Maya would be safe, and I knew Liam would meet them there soon.

I glanced over at Michelle, who looked a bit lost in thought, her eyes still on where Kody had disappeared. I could see the weight of what had happened in her expression—the realization of what her brother had done, the hurt it caused Maya. I wanted to lift that weight, even if only for a while.

“Hey,” I said gently, catching her attention. She looked up at me, her eyes tired. “How about we get out of here? Do something fun. I know just the place.”

She blinked, taken aback for a moment, but then her lips turned into a hesitant smile. “What do you have in mind?”

“Bowling,” I said, grinning. “I bet you can’t beat me.”

Michelle let out a soft laugh, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. “Oh, I can definitely beat you. But alright, I’m in.”

---

The bowling alley was buzzing, the clattering of pins mixed with cheers and laughter. I watched Michelle as she lined up her next shot, her focus entirely on the pins at the end of the lane. I couldn’t help but smile at how determined she looked, her brows furrowed, her lips pressed into a thin line.

She rolled the ball, and it went straight down the lane, knocking over all but two pins. She sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly, and then turned back to me, a small pout on her lips.

“That was so close!” she exclaimed, her voice carrying a mix of frustration and amusement.

I grinned, shaking my head. “You’re getting there, but it looks like I might still win this one.”

She rolled her eyes, but there was a smile tugging at her lips. As she walked back to sit down, I couldn’t help but notice how the bowling shoes seemed almost comically large on her feet.

“Hey, Michelle,” I said, raising an eyebrow as I looked down at her shoes. “Are those shoes a little too big for you, or did they just give you clown shoes by mistake?”

She looked at me, confused for a moment, then glanced down at her feet. Her cheeks flushed, and she let out a huff. “They’re my size!” she protested, but the corners of her mouth twitched in amusement.

I chuckled, leaning in closer. “Are you sure about that? They look like they’re ready to fall off. I mean, do they even make bowling shoes in kid sizes?”

Michelle’s eyes narrowed playfully, and she gave me a light shove. “Very funny, Michael. Not everyone has giant feet like you. Some of us are more… delicate.”

“Oh, is that what we’re calling it?” I teased, trying to suppress my laughter. “Delicate is one word for it. I mean, those hands too—did you steal them from a five-year-old?”

She gasped, her eyes widening as she tried to hold back a smile. “You’re terrible! I’ll have you know these hands are perfectly functional.”

I laughed, raising my hands in surrender. “Okay, okay, I’m just saying. You know, with those tiny feet and tiny hands, you’d think you’d be just as small everywhere else.”

Michelle gave me a sly smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Oh, really? Then how do you explain this?” She turned slightly, giving a playful wiggle that emphasized her rounded behind.

My eyes widened, and I let out an exaggerated whistle. “Alright, you got me there. That’s definitely not kid-sized.”

She burst out laughing, shaking her head at me. “You’re impossible.”

“And yet, you’re still here with me,” I shot back, grinning. “Must mean I’m doing something right.”

Michelle blushed, looking away for a moment, but I could see the smile she was trying to hide. She shook her head again, then looked back at me, her eyes warm. “Maybe you are.”

I watched her for a moment, the laughter and teasing fading into something softer, something that made my heart swell. She was incredible—full of energy, confident, and so much more than I could have ever imagined. And I knew that no matter how much I teased her, she’d always have a comeback, always keep me on my toes.

“Alright, come on, tiny feet,” I said, standing up and holding out a hand to her. “Your turn to try and get that spare.”

She took my hand, her eyes narrowing playfully. “I’m going to make you eat your words, Michael.”

I laughed, pulling her up. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“You sure you can handle the competition?” I teased.

She shot me a determined look, her bangs falling slightly over her eyes as she stood up, her shoes finally tied. “You’re going to regret challenging me, Michael.”

I laughed, grabbing a bowling ball and stepping up to the lane. The weight of the earlier events started to slip away, replaced with the thrill of a challenge. I took a deep breath, lined up my shot, and let the ball go. It rolled smoothly down the lane, and I watched in satisfaction as it knocked down eight pins.

“Not bad,” Michelle said, her tone teasing as she grabbed her own ball. “But watch and learn.”

She took her time, focusing on the lane ahead, and then she released the ball. I watched in surprise as it went straight down the middle, knocking down every pin.

“Strike!” she called, turning to me with a triumphant grin. “Told you.”

I shook my head, laughing. “Okay, okay, I admit it—you’ve got skills.”

We continued playing, each trying to one-up the other, and for a while, it felt like we were the only two people in the alley. The laughter, the lighthearted teasing—it was exactly what we needed after the tension of the day. I felt myself relaxing, letting go of the worry and the anger that had been consuming me.

Michelle was lining up another shot when the door to the bowling alley opened, and I caught a familiar scent—an authoritative, musky presence that made my wolf instantly perk up.

I turned just in time to see Liam walk in, with Mariarosa by his side, followed closely by Hunter, Drake, and Maya. My eyes widened in surprise, and I quickly motioned for Michelle to look.

She turned, her brows furrowing slightly as she recognized the group. “Liam?” she said, her voice filled with confusion.

Liam spotted us, his face breaking into a grin as he waved. “Michael! Thought we’d join you,” he called, making his way over with the others.

---

**Michael's Point of View**

Michelle looked at me, a hint of amusement in her eyes. “Is this some sort of pack takeover?” she asked, laughing softly.

I shrugged, giving her a sheepish smile. “Seems like it.”

Liam reached us, clapping me on the shoulder. “Hope you don’t mind the company,” he said, his tone cheerful. “After everything that happened, we thought Maya could use some cheering up. And besides, I heard you guys were having a competition—couldn’t resist joining in.”

Maya gave us a small smile, her eyes still a little weary, but there was a warmth there that hadn’t been before. “It’s nice to see you both again,” she said softly.

Michelle smiled back at her, nodding. “The more, the merrier,” she said, her voice genuine.

As Hunter and Drake grabbed a couple of bowling balls, Mariarosa nudged Maya forward, encouraging her to join in. Liam stood beside me, a grin on his face as he watched the others.

Michelle glanced over at Liam, her brows furrowing slightly, and then she looked back at me, curiosity in her eyes. “Wait a second—how did you guys know we were here?” she asked. “I mean, it’s not like we told anyone we were coming bowling.”

I hesitated, trying to come up with a plausible answer that wouldn't give too much away. But before I could respond, Liam spoke up, stepping in front of Michelle and meeting her gaze head-on.

“It wasn’t hard to find out, Michelle,” Liam said, his voice losing some of its earlier cheerfulness. “We were worried about Maya after what happened today, and when we couldn’t find Michael or Mariarosa, we had a pretty good guess where they’d gone. Besides, I needed to have a word with you, too.”

Michelle blinked, clearly taken aback. “A word with me? About what?”

“Kody,” Liam said, his expression turning serious. “I wanted to talk to you about what happened earlier.”

The mention of her brother’s name made Michelle stiffen, her eyes narrowing slightly. “What about Kody?” she asked, her voice wary.

Liam glanced at me, and I nodded, giving him the go-ahead. It was better for her to hear it directly, even if it wasn’t easy.

“Kody’s been harassing Maya for a while now,” Liam said, his voice calm but firm. “And today, it crossed a line. We had to step in.”

Michelle’s eyes widened in shock, and she looked over at Maya, who gave her a small nod, confirming Liam’s words. I watched as Michelle’s expression shifted—disbelief, then hurt, and finally anger.

“Why didn’t anyone tell me?” she asked, her voice trembling slightly. “I could have done something. I could have talked to him.”

“Maya didn’t want to involve you,” Liam said gently. “She knew he was your brother, and she didn’t want to put you in a difficult position. But it’s gone too far, and we couldn’t ignore it anymore.”

Michelle looked down, her shoulders slumping slightly. “I’m so sorry, Maya,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I had no idea he was treating you like that.”

Maya stepped forward, giving Michelle a reassuring smile. “It’s not your fault, Michelle. I know you would’ve stopped it if you knew. I just... didn’t want to make things harder for you.”

Michelle nodded, wiping at her eyes, and then looked over at me. I could see the hurt in her expression, the conflict. She didn’t want to believe that her brother was capable of something like this, but she also knew she couldn’t ignore it anymore.

I stepped closer, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. “We’ll figure this out,” I said softly. “You don’t have to do it alone. We’re all here for you.”

She looked up at me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears, and gave me a small nod. “Thank you, Michael,” she whispered.

Liam cleared his throat, his voice softening as he addressed Michelle. “We’re not here to ruin your night, Michelle. We just wanted to make sure you knew what was going on, and to let you know that Maya’s safe now.”

Michelle gave him a shaky smile, her voice still trembling. “Thanks, Liam. I appreciate it.”

Liam returned her smile, then looked at me, a knowing glint in his eyes. “Now, let’s see if we can turn this night around, shall we? How about a little friendly competition?”

I chuckled, giving him a nod. “You’re on.”

---

The rest of the evening was filled with laughter, friendly competition, and the warmth of being surrounded by friends. The weight of earlier troubles seemed to fade with every strike, every missed shot, and every shared smile.

Michelle caught my eye as the game was winding down, and she gave me a look that spoke volumes—gratitude, affection, and something that made my heart skip a beat. I knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, we would face them together, surrounded by people who cared for us.

And as I stood there, with Michelle by my side, Liam and the others laughing around us, I realized that this was what it meant to be part of a pack. Not just duty and protection, but joy, friendship, and love.

And for that, I would be forever grateful.