The Rouge Omega Caster

Chapter 6: The meeting

As Kyle, Reese, and I walked to class, Kyle showed us some essential places we should know about on the way there, such as the cafeteria, the library, and the student auditorium. I took note of the library because I enjoy finding quiet places to draw, which seemed cozy. Finally, we arrived at the hallway where our first-period classes were located, and we stopped outside the door. Suddenly, I felt a pull in my chest that I had experienced earlier, but this time, it was more intense, like a persistent and mild heartburn. I furrowed my brows and rubbed my chest but quickly pushed it to the back of my mind. I would deal with it later, as I needed to focus on my class.

"Alright, Cade, this is your classroom, and Reese, ours is over there," Kyle pointed out as we stopped outside the classrooms. "When classes are over, I'll help you get to the next one if you don't mind. I don't want you running into just anyone, especially Alec and his cronies." He muttered the last part under his breath.

"Who is Alec?" Reese asked, and a look of annoyance passed over Kyle's face, and his jaw ticked before he quickly changed it.

"Alec is the self-proclaimed bad boy of this school. Rumor has it that he got kicked out of his old school because he was practically beating the crap out of anyone who asked for it. Another rumor says that instead of going to class, he'd skip to study the place in between girls' thighs, which is more of a fact than a rumor. Overall, he's just bad news. I'd steer clear. Hence, I shall be your dedicated tour guide and protector if you have me." He said, thumping a fist against his chest and bowing slightly, making Reese and me chuckle.

"We would gladly accept, dear sir-," I began to say, but then I abruptly halted when a sudden jolt of pain ran through my body. The same ache from earlier had resurfaced and now had me clutching my shirt. And then, it happened - the irresistible and mouthwatering scent I smelled earlier surrounded me, thick and potent. I tilted my head back and closed my eyes, inhaling deeply, wanting to capture it in my lungs and hold onto it forever. My heart raced, my breath quickened, and my ears buzzed with excitement. What on earth was happening? What was that scent? Reese had noticed my strange behavior and gave me a curious look. "Cade, are you okay?" she asked.

As I opened my mouth to speak, a sudden grip on my shoulder jolted me from my thoughts. I turned to face a stunning human being - the most attractive person I had ever seen. All around us, the sounds of the school seemed to fade away, leaving just him and me in our little world. He stood tall, towering over even the tallest students, with broad shoulders that stretched his shirt to its limits. Every muscle in his body was taut and defined, beckoning me with an irresistible magnetism. His hair, jet-black and styled in a messy man bun, was adorned with a few loose strands that fell in front of his deep-set steel-gray eyes, framed by thick, commanding eyebrows. His nose was straight and chiseled, lending his angular face an air of strength and nobility. And his lips - oh, his lips - were full and inviting, with the bottom one slightly larger than the top and parted ever so slightly. He looked rugged and majestic, like a fierce and powerful deity who had descended from the heavens to claim my heart as his own.

As I nervously chewed on my lip, his piercing gaze lowered to my lips and narrowed. Suddenly, something peculiar happened; I could've sworn I saw his eyes flicker from a cool gray to a deep jet black. What was that? Did his eyes turn black? My heart pounded as I recalled what my grandfather had once told me. When a wolf shifter's eyes flicker between their standard eye color and black, their wolf is close to the surface. Dear Orisha, was he a wolf shifter? The realization hit me hard, and I couldn't help but wrench myself away from his grasp and step backward, putting some space between us. A flash of hurt crossed his eyes before a fierce glare overtook his once beautiful face.

“What the hell do you want, Alec?” Kyle said. And I cringed. This is Alec? The person to stay away from? The hallway full of people suddenly got quiet. All the attention was drawn to us and the bad boy of Hillcrest. Reese had stepped slightly in front of me, and Kyle stood protectively before us, blocking us from Alec. Moments passed before the silence was broken. “Nothing,” Alec said, putting a sly smirk on his face; his voice sent tingles down my spine and straight to my core. “I was just wondering when this school started to allow filthy dirt-casting vermin here.” That statement felt like a bucket of ice-cold water splashed on me. I expected this could happen, a confrontation and some minor heckling, but I didn't expect this man's words to slice me as they did.. Why does it hurt so much?

“Yeah, couldn't have said it better myself, babe,” a sultry voice said as two thin, feminine arms linked around Alec’s waist. Some blonde girl looking like a Barbie wearing a short dress that I'm pretty sure was not regulated for school was sucking on a sucker pressing herself into his side while her blue eyes looked at us with disgust. My jaw clenched, and a wave of anger I didn't understand washed over me, watching her cling to him like that. He is mine. Mine what? This is madness. I noticed two other guys were standing behind him, friends maybe, almost as tall as him and looking just as intimidating. They looked amused as they stood off to the side, watching the show.

Reese rolled her eyes exaggeratedly before crossing her arms over her chest, a tell-tell sign she was ready to spit her venom. “Funny, I was also about to ask when they finally started to allow ball-licking, flea-infested, leg-humping mutts to attend this fine school.” a collection of gasps let out around us, and my jaw dropped. Well, s**t, this was going to get ugly real quick. The Barbie, seemingly livid, stepped towards Reese with a murderous look, and Reese looked unbothered, crossing her arms and squaring her shoulders, ready for a fight. “ What did you say, you little cunt!” the Barbie growled

Reese wore a smile on her face, liking how pissed the girl became by her comment. “You heard me b***h, now back up before I put a muzzle on you,” she says as purple sparks, not visible to the others in the hall except me, started to glitter Ree’s fingertips. I knew immediately it was time to intervene.

I placed a hand on her shoulder and looked at her firmly, trying to convey my message through my eyes. "Hey, that's enough," I said softly. I whispered, "Please," hoping she would listen to reason. After hesitating, she balled up her fist and put out the flickering sparks. I sighed in relief and put my hand on Kyle's arm, silently instructing him to back off. However, before I could say anything else, Alec lunged at Kyle and pinned him against the lockers, his hands around Kyle's neck.

The sudden outburst took me aback, and I knew I had to intervene before things got out of hand. "Hey! Get off of him!" I shouted, running towards Alec and grabbing his massive arms. As soon as my hands touched his skin, I felt a sharp zap and a pleasant tingle that shot straight to my heart. Alec's body jerked, and his head snapped toward me, indicating he felt the sensation, too. "Let. Him. Go," I spoke softly yet firmly, and Alec's hands loosened their grip on Kyle's collar before dropping altogether. Everyone looked on in shock as he complied with demands.

Alec quickly and roughly snatched his arm from my grasp and wiped at it. The sudden and unwanted contact grossed him out. And a pang of hurt hit my heart again. And I shoved it down, deep down, with the other emotions I couldn't deal with right now. “Look, we get how things are between us. You don’t like us, and we tolerate you, but they don't understand.” I say and slightly tilt my head toward the open hallway where the students and humans stand. “So how about this: we won't cross your path, and you don't cross ours. And if there is no choice but to do so, be cordial. Besides, there is a treaty for a reason.” I finish under my breath. He looks at me for a moment, considering me and my proposition. Then he walks in my direction, invading my personal space, leaning his face towards mine. My breath hitches, and my palms start to itch, wanting to reach out and touch him again. “And what if I don't?” he says low and teasingly. “Uh - I,” I stammer and mentally kick myself for being so affected by his closeness. I clear my throat and lift my head to stare at him straight. “Then I will personally handle you myself,” I say, collecting myself and looking at him head-on.

As he was about to say something, the loud, authoritative voice of a man rang out in the hall. “What is going on here?” an older man, seemingly a teacher, asked as he walked through the crowd to us. Without looking away from me, Alec addressed him with a confidence only he could have. “Nothing at all, just a brief misunderstanding.” The teacher gave him a skeptical look before turning to me. “Is that true?” I hesitated briefly before replying, “ Yes, sir, just a misunderstanding.”

The teacher cleared his throat, glad no further action was needed. “Good, now all of you get to class. It's only the first day of school. I don't want any trouble out of you.” He turned and began on his way to class. The crowd started to empty the hallway, heading to class as the bell rang out. I faced Alec and his crew. He still looked at me with an unreadable expression. Without another word, he turned away from me and headed in the opposite direction, leaving the others to follow him. I faced Reese and Kyle. “Everything should be fine now. You guys head to class.” I said, giving a small smile. “But-” Reese protested, and I interjected, “It's ok, I got this. Trust me.” I finished thumping a fist to my chest. They looked at me and approached their class as the last warning bell rang. “Text me if anything else happens!” she called out over her shoulder before disappearing in one of the doors.

I took a deep breath released it, and walked into my classroom, sitting at an empty desk. I don't know what the hell is going on or why my body is reacting the way it is, but I refuse to let it ruin any chances I have at this. If I had to avoid Alec like the plague for a new start, then I would. However, I have a feeling that was going to be easier said than done.