Chapter 5
1178 Words
Vesper POV
Turns out, I didn’t need to worry about sleeping. Cole was more than happy to chatter away all night, even after we went to bed and turned out the lights.
She passed out maybe an hour before it was time to drag my weary ass out of bed.
I take clean clothes into the bathroom with a towel. We have one in the room, thankfully.
There’s a shared kitchen, living area, and laundry downstairs, but we have our own bathroom.
I take a lukewarm shower with an icier blast of cold water at the end, which is one of the many things I’ve never gotten used to since I started making myself as uncomfortable as possible. It’s always a shock, and it always drags a gasp from me.
I let the icy blast pelt me once I’m cleaned up, and then I step out and put on clothes that are tight enough to leave red marks on my skin. After throwing a loose, itchy sweater over the top, I put on the glasses that are heavy enough to mark my nose and give me a little bit of a headache.
I’m ready for class. I step out of the bathroom and sit down on the edge of my bed to put on my boots.
They were kind of uncomfortable when I got them, and a bit too high, but I got used to them way faster than I expected, and I guess I broke them kind of easily. Probably time to replace them whenever I get a chance to go shopping.
I put study materials in my backpack and add in some granola bars that leave a weird aftertaste in my mouth for snacks.
Cole is still passed out on her bed, lying on her front, snoring into her pillow by the time I’m ready. Guess she tired herself out with all the late-night chattering.
I go over there and shake her shoulder.
“Hey, wake up. You’ll be late for class.”
She groans lightly. “Just another minute, Mom.”
“I hate to tell you, but you don’t have another minute, and I’m not your mom.”
She opens her eyes. “Oh! Crap! I’m late for class.”
She jumps up and starts tearing through the room like a hurricane.
Five seconds later, she’s dressed and spraying this awful rose-scented body spray around.
“Ta-da!” she announces before picking up her bag. “Let’s go.”
She rushes to the door. I hesitate for a second before I spritz a little of her body spray onto my pulse points. If nothing else, it’ll help cover my perfume if an Alpha encounter manages to unveil it.
I rush after Cole, and we head to our first class.
Here’s your revised version with all requested fixes applied:
New paragraph for each speaker (none missing, but spacing cleaned)
Capitalized all “I” and names
Fixed spacing breaks, minor grammar, and flow issues
Zephyr POV
It’s kind of hard to sleep when I’m lying in a nest that smells of my Alphas, and I’m edging closer and closer to a heat that’s going to require their undivided attention—and, unfortunately, it’s not because they’re otherwise occupying me.
I’m alone. I have been for hours.
Last night was a level of torture I hope I don’t have to endure again anytime soon.
I know Jaxon doesn’t like the idea of me going to their college, but I don’t want to be a burden to them. They’re my Alphas, and they’ll take care of me, sure. I get that, and I long for it in a deep, primal kind of way. I just have zero desire to be trapped in an apartment all day while they’re out making the money to look after us.
I’d rather have a career so I can be some kind of self-sufficient.
Mostly, I want the three of us to be together and stay together because we want to be—not because we’re locked into old-fashioned stereotypes that leave me dependent on them.
I remind myself of those desires so I can drag myself out of bed to get ready for school.
First day in, and I don’t get a kiss for good luck before I walk out of the apartment alone for the first time ever. It feels really weird. I hope to hell Cass gets back soon.
I’m completely wired, listening for the sound of the door opening while I shower. I’m desperate to hear his footfall, to hear his keys land on the table by the door. My hopes are deflated, and they sink lower after a false victory when I hear a random noise and rush out to drip soapy water on the hall carpet.
No Cass—but apparently, we’ve got mail. Sighing, I head back to shower and finish up.
My disappointment doesn’t linger for too long. It sucks that neither of my Alphas are here for what feels like a big moment for me, but, ultimately, it’s nothing compared to the anxiety that takes hold while I’m getting dressed. This isn’t exactly going to be a cakewalk.
Keeping my perfume concealed requires medication, and I haven’t told Cass, but the suppressants he gave me make me uneasy. Little white pills. Really similar to the ones I got hooked on back when all of my life decisions were terrible. Turns out Omegas are easily addicted to anything that makes them feel good, even if the effects don’t last.
The suppressants would be a harmless thing to get addicted to, and they’re unlikely to elicit anything close to the same need ecstasy made me feel. They won’t give me euphoria. They’ll level me out to stop me from revealing what I am while I’m in school. Say goodbye to big emotions and lusty desires for six to eight hours.
Here goes, I guess.
I shake one out of the bottle and make myself take it before I can think twice.
I down half a pint glass of water after. There’s still no sign of Cass or Jaxon.
I really could have used one of them here to boost my confidence. I’m supposed to be emulating a typical, normal guy vibe here. I have no idea how to be that guy, despite knowing and watching hundreds of Betas over the course of my twenty-one years on this planet.
I feel like an alien trying to pretend to be human. Is my smile too wide? Too tight?
Easy answer: Don’t smile, i***t.
I pace around a little, trying to psyche myself up.
Am I walking weird? Holy s**t. I have a weird walk. How have I never noticed that before?
Christ. Anyone can probably tell I get knotted on the regular by two well-endowed Alphas.
Oh good. Thinking about being railed by my mates didn’t get me hard.
The suppressants must be kicking in.
It’s time to get moving, so I leave the apartment.
This is what I want. I can do this.
I f*****g hope.
- Writer
