Chapter 9

Bruce

I came multiple times that night—right after I slammed the door in his face.

My cock wouldn't calm down. It throbbed and pulsed violently beneath my boxers until I had to rush into the shower, strip every piece of clothing, and stand under the blast of hot water, fisting myself desperately.

His mating scent still lingered in my nostrils. It clung to me, soaked into my bloodstream, shooting straight down to my cock, to the very tips of my curling toes. I grunted, jaw clenched, hand wrapped tight around my shaft as I stroked, furious and hungry.

Diego.My mate.On his knees.Mouth full of my cock.Gagging around it.

Fuck.

The veins under my skin throbbed like a war drum. My body screamed for him. My cock begged. I imagined my cum inside him, imagined the tight squeeze of his hole—something I've never even seen, let alone touched. I haven't kissed him. I haven't even held him. But his face… his lips… haunt me.

Diego lives in my head rent-free.He runs wild in there. Untamed. Unforgiving.And my cock never lets me forget it.

I haven't just come once. Not twice. Not even three times.Over a hundred times—since the day I caught his scent and the bond locked me in.

I love his smile. I love the softness of him.And yet… I push him away.Because I'm a fucking coward.

I'm terrified of getting attached.Terrified of being abandoned.Terrified of ending up like my mother—alone, hollowed out, barely surviving.I'm not strong like her. If Diego left me... I wouldn't survive. I'd drown. I'd die.

Even now, I avoid him. It's been days since the last incident.In our L.O. combine class, I kept out of sight. During our morning runs, I make sure to stay on the opposite end of the track. I can't look at him. Can't breathe near him. But somehow... I still miss him.

"You look like shit," Lian says, jogging up beside me.

We're wrapping up our run. I'm already racing toward the school building to shower and escape.

I scoff. "Says the guy who stalks Lucas all day."

"I do not stalk him," he argues, falling into step beside me.

"If you say so…"

"Eating lunch with them doesn't count as stalking."

Lucas is Lian's fated mate, and he's counting the days till Lucas turns 18 and catches the bond. He's scared of rejection. Just like me.

I glance at him. His sweat-damp hair clings to his forehead. It's scorching out, the kind of heat that makes me worry about Diego overheating on the track. I wanted to walk next to him, shield him from the sun. But I couldn't. Because I'm a coward.

And Diego? He's mad. He doesn't speak to me. Avoids me just as hard as I avoid him. But when our eyes do meet—he looks at me like he's done. And I hate it. But I deserve it.

"Lucas doesn't seem like he'll reject you," I mutter as we reach the lockers. "You don't need to be scared."

"You should stop being a dick and try being nice to Diego," Lian snaps back.

He's not wrong. But he doesn't know why I'm like this. No one does.

Lian and I have been tight since Grade 8. We've shared everything. But not this. Not the bone-deep fear rooted in watching my mother fall apart after losing her mate.I swore I'd never go through that.Swore I'd reject my mate before it could happen.Even if it kills me.

Hours pass. Still avoiding Diego. Still losing the fight.

During basketball practice, I almost bolt from the gym just to check if he's safe in archery class. But I held strong. I've made it this far. If I can just hold out until he turns 18, I'll reject him.

He deserves better than me.He deserves a real Alpha.Not one as broken as I am.

In L.O. class, Lian shoves his books into his backpack like he's prepping for war. He's already searching for Lucas with that dopey love-struck face. Meanwhile, I'm dragging my feet, planning my seat location like it's a military strategy—as far from Diego as possible.

The halls are emptying. Most students have already entered the mini-hall classroom. I trail behind.

I tell myself not to look for Diego.Not to listen for Diego.But every step feels like a trigger.I fight the urge to scan for Lian's seat just so I can steal a glimpse of him.His delicate, perfect face.

Instead, I head straight to the farthest back corner of the room.

Ms. Ramos enters with Mr. Rodriguez right behind her. Her soft, nasal voice carries easily.

"Today, we're learning about pheromones and scent marking. You'll also do a practical."

What?

Practical?

Some Alphas groan. I know why. Some are already paired—if Ms. Ramos assigns their mates to someone else, there's going to be blood on the floor.

"Open to page 51," she instructs, pulling a book from her pile.

I dig out mine, flipping it open. No pictures. Just blocks of text."Scent marking process."

My head starts to ache.

"Scent marking," Ms. Ramos reads aloud, "is a method for Alphas to leave their pheromones on their mates—marking them, claiming them. What are the benefits?"

Jules raises his hand. "It strengthens the relationship."

I flick my eyes toward Diego. He's stoic. Cold. Uninterested.My chest aches.

"Another?" she asks.

An omega answers. "It can help regulate heat."

Rodriguez jumps in. "And what causes heat?"

Hands fly up.

He points to an Alpha. "When an omega detects their compatible Alpha's scent, it triggers heat."

Ms. Ramos nods, pleased. "Good. Now flip to pages 53 and 54. You'll see illustrations of the scent-marking process."

My stomach knots. Please, not Diego. Don't pair me with Diego.

Ms. Ramos reads from a list. "Jules Ross and Alexander Reed… Lucas Hall and Lian Kaito… Diego Armando and—"My heart stutters.

"—Max Carver."

What the—

Max?!

No.No fucking way.

Lian spins around to look at me, wide-eyed.

My chest tightens. Breathing gets hard.

Why Max?Of all people—why the fuck Max Carver?!

I can't just sit here. I won't.

No Alpha is going to touch my mate.No one should get to feel Diego's hands. No one should get to hear him sniff at their wrist, craving scent.

Only I get that.Only I get to claim him.Only I get to feel his fingers press into my skin like I belong to him.

Fuck no.

I slam my book into my backpack and bolt up the aisle.

Ms. Ramos and Mr. Rodriguez are halfway to the door, but I catch them.

No.Not with my omega.Not with what's mine.