Chapter 19: Shifting Focus

The dining room of the Vaelis mansion was as grand as ever, with its long, polished table that could seat more than a dozen guests, though tonight it was just the family—and Lila. The soft glow of the chandelier cast golden light over the room, illuminating the perfect silverware and the meticulously prepared dishes set before them.

But despite the beautiful surroundings, Dorian felt a sense of unease settling in his chest. He sat at his usual place at the table, across from Lila, who had spent the day at their house under his parents' watchful eyes. Her expression hadn't changed much throughout the day—calm, composed, and unreadable. She ate quietly, her movements precise, as if she had rehearsed them.

To Dorian, the entire day had been uncomfortable. He wasn't used to having someone like Lila around, someone who mirrored the same suffocating control he had been living under his entire life. Every conversation with her felt stilted, as though they were both playing parts in a play neither of them wanted to be in.

As they finished the main course, his mother, Cassandra, dabbed the corner of her lips with a napkin before turning her sharp amber eyes toward him.

"Dorian," She said, her tone calm but firm, "There's something your father and I wanted to discuss with you."

Dorian's stomach tightened slightly, but he gave a small nod, waiting for the inevitable.

"Lila will be attending Haleworth Academy starting tomorrow," Cassandra said, her eyes briefly flicking toward Lila, who sat perfectly still, her face expressionless. "We thought it would be best for you both to start getting accustomed to spending time together, as you will eventually be married."

The words hung in the air, heavy and final.

Dorian felt a lump form in his throat, though he kept his expression neutral. He had known this was coming—that Lila was going to be a part of his life in more ways than one—but hearing it out loud made it feel more real, more suffocating. The idea of having her at his school, in his space, where he would see her every day, made the walls of his carefully controlled life feel like they were closing in.

"That's... great news," Dorian said quietly, though the words tasted bitter in his mouth. "I'm sure we'll... adjust quickly."

Eryx gave a small nod of approval, though his icy blue eyes remained fixed on Dorian, as if silently warning him that there was no room for complaint. "You will show her around the school and make sure she's settled. I expect you to handle this with the responsibility that's expected of you."

Dorian nodded again, though inside, the tension was building. He had already felt like he was being watched at every turn, and now having Lila at his side, mirroring the control his parents demanded, would only make things worse.

Dinner continued in awkward silence, with Lila offering only brief, polite responses whenever Cassandra asked her a question. Dorian's mind drifted, barely paying attention to the conversation around him as he tried to keep his frustration in check.

But the moment dinner ended, and he was excused from the table, he practically bolted to his room, his heart pounding with the need for some space—any space that wasn't filled with his parents' expectations or Lila's lifeless presence.

As soon as he shut the door to his room behind him, Dorian felt a small rush of relief. He had been waiting for this moment for days—finally, after proving to his parents that he was "back on track," they had returned his phone. He hadn't had a chance to look at it since the hospital, and now, with a strange sense of anticipation, he pulled it from his desk and turned it on.

The screen lit up, and immediately, notifications flooded in—missed calls, texts, emails. But it was one notification in particular that made his heart skip a beat.

Rhys.

Dorian stared at the message icon next to Rhys' name, his chest tightening with something he couldn't quite name. His thumb hovered over the screen for a moment, his mind racing. He hadn't heard from Rhys since everything had happened—the storm, the hospital, the tension with his parents. A part of him had feared that Rhys would have moved on, that the connection they had shared was just a fleeting moment in the chaos.

But here it was—a message from Rhys.

His heart pounded in his chest as he opened the text.

Rhys: "Hey. Haven't heard from you in a while. You doing okay? Heard you were back home."

The message was simple, but it hit Dorian like a wave of emotion. For days, he had been wrapped in the suffocating control of his parents, the lifeless presence of Lila, and the weight of his future pressing down on him. But now, seeing Rhys' name on his screen, hearing his voice in his head as he read the words, it felt like a breath of fresh air.

Without thinking, Dorian typed back a response, his fingers moving quickly across the screen.

Dorian: "Yeah, I'm back. It's been... a lot. Are you okay?"

He hit send and waited, his heart racing with the anticipation of hearing back from Rhys. The silence in his room felt heavier now, charged with the expectation of what might come next. The uncertainty of their relationship hung in the air, but for the first time in days, Dorian felt a flicker of something he hadn't allowed himself to feel—hope.

The phone buzzed in his hand, and Dorian's pulse quickened as he saw Rhys' reply.

Rhys: I'm okay. But I was worried about you. It's been kind of... weird not hearing from you. What happened?

Dorian hesitated for a moment, unsure of how much to say. His parents, the suppressants, Lila—everything had been piling up, but he didn't know if he could put it all into words. He leaned back against his bed, staring at the screen, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

But before he could type another reply, a knock sounded on his door, startling him.

"Dorian," Came his mother's voice from the other side of the door. "I need to speak with you about tomorrow."

Dorian's hand tightened around his phone as he glanced at the door, the moment of peace already slipping away.

"I'll be right there," He called back, trying to keep the frustration out of his voice.

As the sound of footsteps faded down the hall, Dorian glanced back at the screen, at Rhys' message, and felt a pang of longing in his chest.

He quickly typed out a response before slipping his phone back into his pocket.

Dorian: I'll explain later. I want to talk to you about it.

With a deep breath, Dorian pushed himself off the bed and opened his door, stepping back into the controlled, perfectly crafted world his parents had built for him.

But as he walked down the hall, his mind wasn't on Lila, or his parents, or the endless expectations they had for him.

It was on Rhys.

_

The early morning light filtered through the curtains in Dorian's room, casting soft, golden hues across the floor as he stared blankly at his reflection in the mirror. His school uniform was perfectly pressed, his hair neatly styled, and yet, he felt more out of place than ever. The weight of his future seemed heavier today, now that Lila would be attending Haleworth Academy with him.

His fingers absentmindedly grazed his pocket, where his phone sat, the last remnants of his conversation with Rhys still fresh in his mind. "I'll explain later. I want to talk to you about it." It wasn't much, but it had been enough to keep him grounded, enough to remind him that there was still someone out there who saw him for who he really was—not just the Alpha his parents wanted him to be.

"Dorian, are you ready?" Came Cassandra's sharp voice from the doorway.

Dorian turned to see his mother standing there, her eyes appraising him from head to toe as if making sure he was presenting the image she had so carefully crafted for him.

"Yes, Mother," Dorian replied, his voice calm but lacking the enthusiasm he knew she expected. He wasn't sure he could muster it even if he tried.

"Good," Cassandra said, stepping further into the room. "You'll be escorting Lila to school today. It's important that you both make a strong impression. The students and staff need to see you as a united front."

Dorian nodded, though his heart wasn't in it. He didn't need to be told what was expected of him; he had lived with the pressure of his family's expectations all his life. But today, the thought of Lila walking beside him, of everyone at school seeing them together—it made him feel like his world was shrinking, the walls closing in on him even tighter.

Cassandra gave him a final glance, her amber eyes narrowing slightly as if she could sense his hesitation. But she said nothing, simply turning on her heel and leaving the room without another word.

Dorian let out a slow breath, his mind still spinning. Today would be the first day that Lila officially became a part of his life in public, and while he knew it was inevitable, it didn't make it any easier to accept. His mind flickered back to Rhys, to the easy, natural way they had interacted, and he felt a pang of longing settle in his chest.

But there was no room for Rhys in this world. Not with his parents watching his every move.

Shaking off the thought, Dorian grabbed his bag and headed downstairs, where Lila was already waiting by the front door. She looked as poised and composed as ever, her dark hair falling in perfect waves down her back, her uniform crisp and immaculate. She glanced at him briefly as he approached, but there was no warmth in her gaze—just the same distant, robotic expression she always wore.

"Ready?" Dorian asked, trying to keep his voice light, though the weight of the situation made it difficult.

Lila nodded. "Let's go."

They left the house in silence, the crisp morning air doing little to ease the tension between them. The drive to Haleworth Academy was quiet, the only sound the soft hum of the car's engine as it carried them toward the inevitable. Dorian could feel Lila's presence beside him, but she might as well have been a stranger. There was no connection between them, nothing that made him feel like she was part of his life—despite his parents' best efforts to make her so.

When they arrived at the school, the usual buzz of students milling about the courtyard was heightened by their arrival. Dorian could feel the weight of their stares as he and Lila stepped out of the car, their presence together drawing more attention than he wanted. He kept his expression neutral, though inside, the discomfort gnawed at him.

Lila, for her part, seemed unfazed by the attention. She walked beside him with the same mechanical grace she always had, her gray eyes scanning the crowd with detached indifference. Dorian couldn't help but wonder if she felt anything at all about being here, about the role they were both being forced into. But if she did, she certainly didn't show it.

As they made their way through the courtyard, Dorian could hear the whispers of students around them, the curious glances, the quiet speculation. It wasn't unusual for people to pay attention to him—he was, after all, the student council president—but today, the eyes on him felt different. More intrusive. More judgmental.

He caught sight of Talia, standing near the entrance, her eyes flicking between him and Lila with an expression of mild surprise. Dorian offered her a small nod, though he didn't have the energy to explain the situation. Not now.

But as they walked toward the main building, Dorian's mind kept drifting back to his phone, to the message from Rhys. It had been the one bright spot in an otherwise overwhelming day, and he found himself wondering when he would have the chance to talk to him again.

They were nearing the entrance when Dorian heard a familiar voice call out from behind him.

"Hey, President!"

He froze, his heart skipping a beat as he recognized Rhys' voice. For a moment, he didn't turn around, unsure of how to handle the sudden wave of emotions that crashed over him. He hadn't expected to see Rhys today, not after everything that had happened. But now, hearing his voice so close, it was impossible to ignore.

Dorian turned slowly, his eyes locking onto Rhys, who was striding toward him with that same confident, easy grin that always seemed to light up his face. But as Rhys got closer, his gaze shifted to Lila, and the smile on his face faltered for just a moment.

"Oh," Rhys said, his voice more subdued now. "I didn't realize you were with... someone."

Lila stood beside Dorian, her expression unreadable as she looked at Rhys with polite indifference. Dorian could feel the tension between the three of them, the awkwardness settling in the air like a heavy fog.

"This is Lila," Dorian said quickly, trying to keep his voice steady. "She's... uh, starting at Haleworth today."

Rhys raised an eyebrow, his gray eyes flicking between Dorian and Lila with an expression that was hard to read. "Is that so?" He said, his tone light but with a hint of something darker beneath the surface.

Lila nodded curtly, offering Rhys a small, polite smile. "I'm Dorian's fiancée."

The words hit like a punch to the gut.

Dorian's breath caught in his throat, his chest tightening as he glanced at Rhys, whose expression went completely blank for a moment. The easy smile that had been on his face was gone, replaced by something unreadable, something colder.

"Right," Rhys said after a beat, his voice flat. "Fiancée."

Dorian could feel the tension radiating from Rhys, the weight of the word hanging between them like an unspoken accusation. He wanted to say something, to explain, but the words wouldn't come. Not here. Not now.

Before he could figure out what to do, the bell rang, signaling the start of classes. The courtyard around them began to empty as students hurried inside, but Dorian remained frozen in place, his mind spinning.

"I guess I'll... see you later," Rhys said, his voice distant as he turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd.

Dorian stood there, watching him go, his chest aching with the weight of everything left unsaid.

_

The soft murmur of students filled the classroom as Dorian took his seat, his gaze flicking briefly toward Lila, who sat a few seats away, just close enough to keep her in his line of sight. Though they weren't sitting together, he knew it was only a matter of time before someone started asking questions about their "relationship." For now, though, they had agreed to sit separately, giving Lila space to settle into her first day without making things too uncomfortable for either of them.

As Dorian placed his bag on the floor beside him, he felt a knot of tension in his chest. The morning had been overwhelming enough—having Lila introduced to the school as his fiancée, the awkward encounter with Rhys in the courtyard—but now, as the reality of the day settled in, Dorian found it harder to focus.

His mind drifted to Rhys. The way his expression had shifted when Lila had called herself Dorian's fiancée—it hadn't been anger exactly, but something deeper. Disappointment? Hurt? Dorian wasn't sure, but whatever it was, it had left him feeling even more unsettled.

The door to the classroom opened, and a familiar presence entered, pulling Dorian's attention back to the present.

Rhys.

Dorian's heart skipped a beat as he watched Rhys walk into the room, but something immediately caught his attention. Rhys wasn't alone. Walking beside him was a tall, lean Beta, his dark hair slightly tousled as he gave Rhys a playful grin. Dorian didn't know the boy well—he had seen him around school before, but never paid much attention to him. Just another student in the sea of faces.

But today, the sight of Rhys laughing with this Beta made Dorian's chest tighten uncomfortably.

The Beta boy's name was Alex, or at least that's what Dorian vaguely remembered hearing from Talia once. He didn't know much about him beyond that—a Beta with good grades, athletic, nothing particularly remarkable to him. Except now, watching Rhys interact with him so easily, Dorian couldn't help but feel a sharp pang of jealousy.

Unbeknownst to Dorian, in the days he had been absent from school, Rhys and Alex had grown close. Alex had become a companion to Rhys, filling the void left by Dorian's absence. Whether it was intentional or not, the sight of them together now was like a slap in the face to Dorian, reminding him of everything he had missed.

Rhys caught Dorian's eye as he entered, but his expression remained neutral—almost too neutral. There was no easy smile, no playful banter, just a quiet acknowledgment as he and Alex found seats across the room. It wasn't far, but it felt like a gulf of distance between them.

Dorian swallowed hard, trying to focus on the lesson, but his mind was spinning. He hadn't realized how much his absence had affected things, how quickly life had moved on without him. And now, Rhys was sitting with someone else, laughing with someone else—someone who clearly didn't have the same weight of responsibility and expectation hanging over their head.

Alex leaned in closer to Rhys, whispering something that made Rhys chuckle under his breath, and Dorian felt the knot in his chest tighten even further.

"Dorian."

The sound of Lila's voice pulled him back to reality, and he glanced over at her, realizing she had been trying to get his attention.

"Yes?" He asked, trying to keep his voice steady.

Lila looked at him with her usual calm, detached expression. "Do you have the notes for this class? I want to make sure I have everything I need."

Dorian nodded, quickly flipping open his notebook and sliding it over to her. "Here. It's all from last week."

She took the notebook without a word of thanks, her focus entirely on the material in front of her. Dorian tried to turn his attention back to the lesson as well, but his mind kept drifting back to Rhys and Alex.

The class dragged on, the steady drone of the teacher's voice barely registering in Dorian's mind. Every so often, his eyes would flicker toward Rhys, catching glimpses of him leaning toward Alex, talking quietly, sharing inside jokes. It wasn't like Rhys had never had other friends before, but this—this felt different.

For the first time, Dorian felt like he was being replaced.

When the bell finally rang, signaling the end of class, Dorian let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. As the students packed up their things and began to filter out of the room, Dorian hesitated, his eyes following Rhys and Alex as they stood up.

Rhys hadn't said a word to him the entire class.

"Dorian," Lila said again, her voice cutting through his thoughts. "Are we heading to the next class together?"

Dorian blinked, pulling his attention back to her. "Yeah," He said, his voice distant. "Let's go."

But even as they left the classroom, Dorian's mind was still with Rhys, the image of him and Alex lingering in his thoughts, a bitter reminder of everything that had changed in his absence.