The Omega's Secret

Chapter 3

I gasped. Coughed. Breathing erratically.

My vision slowly focused on the person leaning over me.

“Are you okay? Can you breathe fine?”

I was too confused to answer so I just kept staring at him as he rolled me onto my side and the last of the water blocking my airways was expunged.

“You’re okay, you’re fine.”

“W-who are you?”

“Alistair Dunmore, at your service.”

I got up slowly, ensuring I could stand without my knees failing me. He tried to support me but I stepped back.

“I’m fine. Thank you for saving me.”

“My pleasure. Anything for the future queen.”

As soon as those words left his mouth I turned to leave. Of course that’s the only reason he helped.

“Did I offend you?”

“Don’t call me that ever again. My name is Daphne. Address me as that or don’t address me at all.”

He chuckled, raising his hands in surrender. “Understood, my lady.”

“I can escort you if you don’t mind.”

“Don’t you have business to attend to?”

“Yes I—“

“Then get to it.” I cut in and walked as fast as my legs could carry me.

By the time I returned to my dorm, Maddie was already waiting for me.

I ran into her arms, all the tears I’d held back came rushing in waves so strong I struggled to breathe. Maddie just calmed me quietly.

“So it’s true, what I’ve been hearing.”

I sniffled, pulling back from her embrace to look at her.

“I don’t know how this happened. And he didn’t even reject me. I-I don’t want all this attention Maddie. It’s… scary.”

I confessed to Maddie because she was all I had. She’d taken me in over a decade ago. She was extremely motherly towards me even though she was more of a big sister to me in age. It was only because she worked at the Academy I’d been able to secure a spot in the first place.

“I didn’t ask for any of this. I just wanted to learn the truth about my parents and now I’ve been swept up in royal politics.”

“It’s okay to be scared, Daphne. But you can’t show it to anyone. Not now when the stakes are higher. You have to be careful and even more attentive now. This is a dangerous game you’ve been forced into and I don’t want to see you get hurt.”

“Can’t I just reject him?”

“It wouldn’t work even if you tried. He out ranks you. The rejection has to come from him.”

I went silent as my brain tried to figure a way out of this.

“Then I have to let this play out. Apollo doesn’t like me. He’d rather be with Lilith, I’m sure I can convince him to reject the bond.”

“Just promise me you’ll be careful.”

“I promise.”

The next day, I went to class like nothing had happened and I’d have actually believed it if I didn’t get looks everywhere I went.

My last class that day was battle tactics and defense but we’d be working with weapons this time. Half way through the class, the teacher announced there’d be an important observer and it would be a good chance to get noticed and scouted for the imperial guard when we graduated.

I didn’t care. I wasn’t interested in guarding the royals so I remained in place while the others grouped off to face each other. I walked towards where Apollo was.

“We need to talk.”

“Can’t you see he’s busy?” Lilith snapped.

“We can speak privately or I can let everyone hear what I have to say.”

His eyes narrowed, daring me and then reconsidering. He walked off to the corner with me.

“I’ll cut to the chase. It’s clear neither of us want this match so I propose a deal, you provide me with the information I need and you can break things off. I’ll even make it look like it was my fault so you don’t get in trouble with your father.”

“You must have me mistaken for someone who needs your help. I’m not so weak as to not be able to make my own decisions.”

“That’s not what it looked like when you followed daddy out and came back with a different choice.”

“This conversation is over.” He delivered with a low growl and walked back.

I realized then that convincing him wouldn’t be as easy as I thought. I squatted against the wall as more time passed waiting for the important observer.

Then finally, someone walked in. Light blonde hair, tall, broad shoulders dressed like a prince prepared for war. I’d seen him before.

“You.” The word left my mouth before I could stop myself.

He spotted me easily in the crowd, already sporting a smile as he walked over to me.

“I see we meet again, my lady.”

“What are you doing here?”

“Well, last time we met you were in a hurry to leave. I’m part of the king's imperial guard. As for my purpose, I’m just here to observe.”

“Alistair.” Apollo was by my side already.

“Lord Apollo. I see you’re keeping well.”

Apollo looked between us. “How do you two know each other?”

We exchanged a glance then I deflected.

“Is this class going to start or not?” I stalked back to the corner.

While I watched the rest of the class square off and became engrossed in the clashing of swords, I didn’t notice Lilith creeping up close to me.

“How are you enjoying the attention?”

I didn’t answer.

“Must be good thinking you’ve beat me. Well, soak it all up now because I will take back what belongs to me.”

I sighed, already turning to respond when I noticed the gleam on metal in her hand. Maybe it was time to let Apollo see the lengths his beloved was willing to go to. Injuring me in front of a teacher and royal authority went far beyond her picking on me where only other students could see.

I raised my voice deliberately “What are you—?“

Slash. The metal broke my skin, warm red liquid rushed from the gash Lilith’s blade had left on my arm.

“Oh my goodness! Daphne I’m so sorry!”

Wow. What a drama queen.

Someone was at my side in a second already checking my arm. I looked up, blonde hair covered his face as he assessed the extent of my injury.

“I need to take you to medcare quick.”

“But the class—“

“Is the class more important than her?” Alistair cut the teacher off sharply.

He swept an arm under my knees lifting me up.

“The injury is on my arm, not my leg. I can walk fine.”

“You’re losing a lot of blood, can’t have you getting dizzy.”

“I feel so guilty, I swear it was an accident. I should go with them, shouldn’t I Apollo?”

I noticed how Apollo didn’t look at her and how he stiffened ever so slightly when she touched him.

Good.

“Alistair has it handled.”

I chuckled dryly. “It’s okay Lilith, you should stay in class. Clearly your competence with a blade needs work.”

She glared at my comment. I turned away from her, my eyes momentarily locking with Apollo’s as Alistair carried me out of the room.

“We both know that was no accident.” Alistair spoke once we were out of earshot.

“No. But she’s the Beta’s daughter. No one will be asking her any questions, yet.”

He set me down on a bed in an empty room but when he was about to go call for a healer, I stopped him.

“Wait.” He looked at me, eyebrows pulled together at his forehead.

I removed the hand that had been covering the wound as he stepped closer. There was still blood but I couldn’t feel the pain anymore.

I wiped the area with my sleeve and all I saw was a fresh layer of skin. No more bleeding, not even the faintest scar.

“Marvellous.” Alistair knelt down by me, his left hand grazed my skin as he looked up at me.

“How is that even possible? Omegas take at least a few days to completely heal from a wound like that… I—I don’t understand.”

“I knew it, I was right. It’s you.”

I was now the one looking at him like he was insane. My mind was spinning and my first instinct was preservation. Nothing about this felt normal or safe and someone else had seen it happen.

“What are you talking about?”

“Daphne listen to me… this is a sign it means that you are—“

Just then, we heard the sound of a tray clattering to the floor outside.

I shot up, heart racing. “Who is there?”

I didn’t hear anything else. “Someone was there.” I turned to Alistair. “I can’t let them say anything to anyone.”

My eyes fell to the patches of dried blood around a wound that should’ve still been there. And I ran out after the eavesdropper with a single thought…

“What the hell am I?”