HIERARCHY IN LOVE

AIDEN I stood outside the iron gates of Creek Academy, my pulse thudding hard enough that I was sure someone could hear it. The building loomed above me—stone, glass, power—everything I wasn’t supposed to belong to. This was my way out. As an omega, I’d spent my entire life being treated like something breakable. Something to be owned, sheltered, controlled. They never saw the nights I slept hungry, the fights I’d learned to pick and finish fast, the instincts that kept me alive on the streets. I wasn’t fragile. I was a survivor. Creek Academy was my chance to prove it. Rumors clung to this place — alphas who ruled with cruelty, hierarchies enforced with fists instead of rules, students who’d tear you apart just to climb one rung higher. None of that scared me. I’d faced worse with less. I squared my shoulders and stepped onto campus. The alphas were impossible to miss. They moved like they owned the ground beneath their boots, confidence dripping from every look and laugh. Their gazes slid over me. Then I saw him. He stood near the center of the courtyard, tall and broad-shouldered, dark hair falling perfectly into place. The Alpha Heir. Even without knowing his name, his status was obvious—people gravitated toward him without thinking, orbiting like he was gravity itself. His gaze swept the crowd and stopped on me. The air shifted. I lifted my chin, refusing to look away. For a moment, I thought he might confront me. Instead, he turned his back. I exhaled slowly, irritation burning beneath my ribs. I’d never bowed my head for anyone, and I wasn’t about to start now. As I headed toward the dormitories, unease curled low in my stomach. I had a feeling the Alpha Heir and I weren’t finished. The dorms were a maze of identical hallways, but eventually I found my room. When I pushed the door open, a guy with messy brown hair was sitting on the bed, laptop balanced on his knees. He looked up and smiled easily. “You must be Aiden.” “Yeah,” I said. “I’m Liam. Welcome to our palace.” I snorted softly and dropped my bag. Liam had a calm presence. As we talked—classes, schedules, dumb professors—I caught him studying me more than once. Did he sense it? If he did, he didn’t say anything. By the time night fell, exhaustion hit me hard. Keeping my secret always drained me more than I liked to admit. I collapsed onto my bed, staring at the ceiling. I could do this. I had to. But as sleep pulled me under, one thought lingered like a warning: These Alphas would be a problem. Morning came fast. Liam and I headed to breakfast, the cafeteria buzzing with noise and energy. My eyes betrayed me immediately, locking onto a familiar figure seated at the center table. Kaito. I’d learned his name through whispers and passing conversations. It suited him—sharp, controlled, dangerous. He sat like a king among his court, attention drawn to him without effort. I forced myself to look away. I wasn’t here for alpha politics. I couldn’t afford mistakes. Tray in hand, I turned and collided with something solid. My food hit the floor in a splatter. “Watch it,” a tall alpha snarled, eyes blazing. My heart jumped, but I didn’t step back. “It was an accident.” He sneered, stepping closer— “Enough.” Kaito’s voice cut through the noise like a blade. He appeared at my side, eyes cold as ice. “Leave him alone.” The alpha stiffened, muttered an apology, and backed away. Kaito turned to me, gaze sharp. “You’re new,” he said. “Watch your step.” Anger flared. “Thanks for the concern.” His jaw tightened, but he said nothing, walking away without another glance. I stared after him, unsettled. Why defend me just to threaten me? Later, I slipped into Professor Thompson’s class and took a seat in the back, far from Kaito’s rigid posture in the front row. I tried to focus, but the weight of his presence lingered. Then came the assignment. “Partners,” the professor announced cheerfully. “Assigned by me.” My stomach dropped. “Kaito and Aiden.” Silence stretched. Kaito turned, eyes locking onto mine. One brow lifted. “Fantastic.” I forced a smile. “Thrilled.” After class, he stopped in front of me, towering just enough to make the point. “Library. Three o’clock.” Then he walked away. I watched him go, tension humming through my veins. This wasn’t just going to be a long semester. It was going to be a war.