Chapter 11

I waited for his response.

"Explain," I said, trying to mask my own anger, but I wasn't successful. "What the hell was that?" repeating myself.

He sighed heavily, leaning back against the bench with his arms crossed. "Don't give me that face; I had to deal with that crap because he knew you wouldn't come."

He started explaining how he was just minding his own business when the guy from the vagabond dorm—whose name is Chad—showed up. Chad had this smug grin plastered on his face, like he was about to deliver the punchline to a bad joke. He said words I don't think were appropriate. Excuse me for a moment, but Chad? I'm not hating on the name Chad, but like, why?

"Chad basically threatened me, saying if I didn't make you come meet him, I'd regret it," Andy said, shaking his head in disbelief. "I mean, who does that? It's like he thinks he can just bully people because he wears that stupid uniform."

I was surprised for a second; this was the first time I'd actually heard him complain. Maybe he had been suppressing it, but then I remembered the hierarchy at school—the alphas, betas, gammas. It didn't matter here; if you were in a higher dorm, the vagabonds were always messing with our dorm, playing their little social games. It made sense that Andy felt cornered.

"He's a gamma, but still," Andy continued, his voice rising with frustration. "I had to think about my pack back home. I couldn't afford to offend anyone from the vagabond dorm, even if that guy is just a gamma. You know how it is. It's all about keeping the peace."

I felt a mix of anger and disappointment. It stung that Andy didn't just tell Chad to shove off, but I could see the weight of his responsibilities. He was an alpha, after all, and he had to navigate this tricky landscape. "But still," I said, trying to hold back my irritation. "You could've stood up for me a little more."

"I know, I know," he said, running a hand through his hair in exasperation. "Trust me, I'm just as mad about it. But you don't understand what it's like. If I had pushed back, it could've put a target on my back. I could've ended up in a whole mess of trouble."

As much as I wanted to stay mad, I could feel my anger starting to fade. I realized he didn't know the specifics of the job I took from Chad. He only knew I had taken it, and that brought me a little peace of mind.

"Do you ever take jobs from other dorms?" I asked, genuinely curious, trying to shift the conversation to something that would lighten the mood.

His expression softened a bit. "Yeah, sometimes. It's mostly heavy lifting jobs—moving boxes, doing heavy jobs they don't want to do. You know how it is."

That made sense. Andy was strong like most alphas, so heavy jobs were what he mostly did. "So it's not just me who's doing this kind of stuff?"

"Exactly," he chuckled. "We're all just trying to survive here. It's not easy, but the respect and resources, if you're lucky, the connections you'll get once you're out are extremely valuable."

There was a brief silence before I spoke. "Hey, have you heard about the omegas that are visiting their dorms? Everyone's been whispering about them."

He looked up, his expression shifting from focused to intrigued. "Oh, those omegas? Yeah, they're a big deal around here," he said, leaning back. "You see, there are only a few omegas at this school, so when those omegas come, it's like a mini-event. Everyone's buzzing about it."

"Why are they such a big deal?" I probed, genuinely curious. "What makes them so special?"

"Most of the time, they belong to the alphas from the Ugrater or Monarch dorms," he explained. "Those are the top-tier dorms, and their omegas are idolized by everyone else. We usually call them the 'marked ones' because they're officially claimed by their alphas. They have a whole different level of service here—it's like living in a different world."

"What kind of service are we talking about?" I asked, intrigued by the idea of some sort of elite treatment.

"Quality service," he replied, nodding as if it was the most normal thing in the world. "For starters, marked omegas can skip classes whenever they want, and nobody bats an eye. They have first-class food delivered straight to their dorms—like gourmet meals that would put any restaurant to shame. Plus, they have access to the best tutors, the kind who can help them ace any subject without breaking a sweat. They get to attend exclusive events, and they're often surrounded by luxury items that most of us can only dream of."

I couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy mixed with curiosity. "So they basically get everything handed to them?"

"Exactly," Andy continued. "But it goes deeper than that. Being marked means they're seen as valuable, and other omegas look up to them. It's a status thing. But it's not all sunshine and rainbows."

"What do you mean?" I asked, my interest piqued.

"Watch out for the ones with gold badges," he warned, his tone becoming serious. "Those omegas belong to the Paramount Monarch alphas, and most people never even lay eyes on them. They're practically untouchable and live in a world of their own. It's like they're in a fortress, and only a select few get to interact with them."

"Wow, that sounds intense. But how many omegas from our dorm get marked?" I asked, trying to piece everything together. That sounds like they're selling themselves.

Andy shook his head. "Not many, honestly. Our dorm doesn't have the best status, so few omegas here get marked. We actually only have two or three currently; most of them are just trying to survive, and the marked ones often look down on those who aren't."

"What about the pink badges?" I asked, remembering a conversation I overheard earlier. "What do those mean?"

"Ah, the pink badges are for the Ugrater alphas' omegas," he explained. "They're more commonly seen around school, and while they're still marked, it's not as exclusive as the gold badges."

I felt a wave of disgust wash over me at the thought of anyone being owned like that. "How can they just accept it? It feels so degrading."

Andy noticed my expression and shook his head. "Look, I get why you feel that way, but you have to understand. For some of these omegas, it's better than being unclaimed. Those who aren't owned are often treated like trash, worse even. They get zero respect and have to fend for themselves. They have no protection, no security, and they're constantly at risk of being bullied. A lot of them don't have the luxury of freedom that the marked ones do. It's a cruel system, but it's the reality here."

I leaned back, absorbing his words. "So, it's not just about being owned. It's about survival?"

"Exactly," he replied, his voice softening. "Very few omegas actually have any real freedom here. Most are stuck in the system, forced to navigate these tricky social dynamics. It's a harsh reality, and while the marked ones might seem like they're living the dream, they're still trapped in a way. They have to conform to their alphas' expectations and maintain their status. It's complicated."

I felt a mix of pity and frustration for the omegas in our school. The idea that they had to play these roles, whether marked or unmarked, was sad. As I looked around at the bustling crowd of students in their brown uniforms, I realized that the dynamics were far more complex than I had thought.

"So, what do I do?" I asked, still not understanding how I was supposed to act now with this information.

Andy shrugged, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Just keep your eyes open and try to understand. It's important to know that they have their struggles."

I leaned back, absorbing his words. It was a harsh truth, one that made my stomach churn. I was lucky to actually have freedom at this school since it's so rare. I felt a mix of pity and frustration—understanding how you've got to do what you need to do, I guess.

"Guess it's just messed up all around," I finally said.

"Yeah," Andy agreed.

As I looked out at the bustling crowd of students, already counting the days until I graduate, all I could do for now was watch and learn.