SETH

Monday. December 9th. After nine p.m. in Colorado.

After I volunteered to serve detention with Jayden, even though I had only gotten one day of punishment for my participation in the claiming gone wrong debacle, he and I bonded over our time together and by the end of the night, we were kissing near the Gamma House common area - which was vacant at this hour.

I am not going to lie, I initiated the kiss. I am not ashamed to say that I have always wanted to kiss Jayden and I make no apology for taking what I wanted - with his consent, obviously. When Jayden's lips touched mine, I felt an explosion of feelings converging at once inside my body.

I was already horny for him to begin with, but once our skin touched, my body went into overdrive. I felt myself wanting to push the envelope between us - even though we have been dating for less than a week. All I wanted was to get closer to him at all costs.

At one point, I thought I was going into heat, but it was just a false alarm. Had I been struck by heat, I would not be conscious about my decision-making and would only indulge in sex, no matter the consequences. That is not what happened, I was well aware of the consequences for me, should I go forth and do what I wanted with his body.

Instead, I simply ground my body against his while we kissed. I had the chance to feel everything that I wanted from him while we lost track of time kissing. I mean, Jayden has some lips on him... Gosh! So delicious to taste!

Our bodies got entangled in each other and we ended up stumbling upon the sofa next to the stairs. We laughed at our silliness as we crash-landed and pulled ourselves together before we had to say goodnight. It was already late by then.

I could not help but notice his bulging erection hidden in his jeans, so I had to force my eyes to advert gazing at it. He seems blessed in that department, not that it surprised me at all. Still, I could have fun with that if we had the time and place... *naughty grin*

"This was lovely, but I'd better go now or I won't wake up tomorrow for breakfast. Thank you for serving detention with me, it was a pleasure to have you by my side." He grinned, enchanting me with his pearly whites.

"It was absolutely my pleasure. I am glad I am able to help out in any way I can." I smiled at him, amazed by our connection so far. After that, he went upstairs to the Alpha House and I returned to my dorm room only to grab a towel and toiletries. I desperately needed to take a shower.

The next morning, we were reunited inside the cafeteria. I almost missed my alarm clock earlier because I was so tired after last night, but I don't regret it at all. On the contrary, I was invigorated by our time together.

Most of the students are talking about the Christmas Ball that will take place next Friday or the parents coming on Saturday. Especially those who did not have secured a prospect yet. Desperation is beginning to sink in for those who are not partnered up yet.

They have time until April, but if you enter February without a contract locked, there is a high probability that you won't be able to claim anyone by the time of the ceremony. Or to be claimed, if you are an Omega like me or my roommate. Gammas are also claimed.

"Is it me or this place is starting to feel like the Hunger Games? People are stressing out about the upcoming parents' visit." My brother commented in the Alpha section of the cafeteria as he took his seat at the usual table with Kyle, who grunted in annoyance.

"It's easy for you to say, you have already been approved for contract negotiations. Now all you have to do is hope that your father won't ask Mrs. Anderson to sell her son to him." He responded in a snarky tone, rolling his eyes.

"It's Dr. Anderson. And you're wrong. There are plenty of things that could go wrong during the contract negotiations. Who knows what my father will ask of Jake's mom? I wouldn't put it past him to want to name our firstborn." Skylar spoke, sounding troubled. He is clearly apprehensive about Saturday's showdown between our father and Jake's mother. She is not going to bow her head and give everything that he wants. She is not that kind of woman.

"I am sure that your father will only want what's best for you." Kyle appeased him.

"What is best for me is to have a contract with Jake Anderson. If my father fails to secure that for me, I will still claim my Omega and apply for a marriage license." He declared, boldly.

At the Omega section, Jake gasped in shock as he heard that statement.

"I don't think you have the balls to defy your father like that." Kyle taunted him.

"Clearly, you don't know me very well. I am in love with Jake. I will claim him in April, come hell or high water. My father should do well to not stand in my way. I am sure Dr. Anderson will be reasonable. There is room for both parents to get what they want out of this contract. However, there is no room for failure to reach a compromise." Skylar declared, confidently.

I take it from his tone that he is adamant about making things work between the two families, but our father can be difficult. I am just saying... pray to the Goddess for guidance.

"Are you worried about your contract?" Roberto asked Jayden at a table next to theirs.

"Not really. Both of our families are invested in this partnership and making it work between us. It's not going to be as difficult as it should be for Sky and Jake. Unfortunately for Dr. Anderson, she has no bargaining chip to strike a bargain with Alpha Stronghold." Jayden responded, feeling sorry for his ex-boyfriend. I mean, prospect.

"That is what you think. The way I see it, she has the biggest bargaining chip of the entire student body." Roberto opined with a sarcastic tone.

"What is that?" Jayden asked him, puzzled. Even my brother turned to the side curiously.

"She has the love of a lovesick Alpha for her son. If the negotiation cannot fail, then she won't be forced to accept whatever bullshit terms Alpha Stronghold would present to her. She can use that to her advantage." He responded with a wicked smile.

Most of the students in the room went:

'Oh!' I did not see it that way.

"Aren't you the smart cookie?" Jayden teased him, playfully.

"I was raised by a single mother. I know how they think. In my country, single mothers make up the majority of households. I mean, most of the families in Brazil are led by a woman. Men are not always good at sticking around and raising their pups. Even werewolves." He told us, looking sorrowful at the thought of his distant father.

"Well, your mother did an excellent job raising you, Beto. Congrats." Jayden smiled at him, proudly.

"Thank you, my friend. I will introduce you to her when she arrives in America." He breathed out a sigh that told us he missed his family very much. Yeah, relatable.

"It'll be an honor." Jay agreed to it with a kind smile.

"They are so supportive of each other. Why can't you be like that?" Kyle pouted at his friend.

"I know, right? I should have struck a friendship with Beto instead of you." My brother snickered.

"Don't call him Beto. You haven't earned it yet." Kyle growled at him.

At the Omega section of the cafeteria.

"You arrived pretty late yesterday. What happened?" Jake asked me, curiously.

"I had detention with Jay after dinner." I told him without missing a beat.

"I thought Lockwood only gave you one day of detention. Wasn't that fulfilled on Sunday?" He looked at me confused by my response.

"Yes, it was. But I decided to serve detention with Jayden, being supportive of him." I declared, shocking people around me, including my roommate.

"You, Seth Stronghold, volunteered to clean this cafeteria with Jayden even though you wouldn't be able to tell what detergent looks like to save your life?" He challenged me, snarkily.

Some of the students laughed at that remark, but I glared at Jake for that.

"I do know what detergent looks like. But I did it to show Jayden that I could be his ride or die. His partner for life." I said, emphatically.

"Oh my Goddess! You, Strongholds, do not joke around when you set your mind to it, do you? That was impressive! Congrats!" He conceded, impressed by me.

"We, Strongholds, do not joke at all. We set a goal and then reach that goal. Period." I declared, boldly.

Back at the Alpha table, some shocked faces were staring at Jayden in disbelief, including...

"He served detention with you? That is marriage material right there! Not even Skylar would do that for Jake..." Roberto told Jayden, taking a jab at my brother in the process. Not that he appreciated that remark - but I low-key had an internal laugh about it.

"Yeah, prospecting Seth was the best decision I have ever made since I arrived in this academy. Not to take any dig at Jake, but he is." Jayden was smiling widely in contentment. That's nice to hear from him and I know he isn't just saying it, which makes it even better.

"Plus, he's so hot!" Jayden melted, thinking of me, and I swooned.

"Gross! Why did I ever want to set you up with my brother again?" Skylar pouted, annoyed at him for saying that.

"Because I am the best option for him in this academy and I will treat him well, be loyal and faithful to him, treat him like the King he is, and do all the things that he deserves to be done to him?" Jayden deadpanned, much to all the other students' shock.

I am gobsmacked. Now that is a speech! Take notes, ladies. That is what your man should be saying about you. Or at least something like that.

My brother's mouth was agape. He had no comeback to that speech. Wow. Jayden is absolutely the one for me, I never had any doubt about it.

"What did you mean when you said 'do all the things that he deserves to be done to him'?" Roberto asked him, intrigued.

"I will tell you later when we do not have an audience." He smiled at him with a naughty undertone and I was sold. Take me, please...

"Kill me now!" Skylar protested, grossed out about Jayden's naughty intentions towards me.

I am vibrant. This is what I have always deserved to hear. It is not about what I can do for him, it is also about what he can do for me. Of course, any guy here is hot and well-connected. But it is not about that. I am sure I could do well if I picked any other boy, but I bet you a million bucks they wouldn't be talking about me like Jayden just did.

This is what it is all about, ladies and gentlemen. This is what I came for.

I wanted someone who could focus on me, not just interested in bagging a Stronghold. What I truly wished with all my heart was somebody whose focus was not on nabbing the richest Omega they could get. I wanted someone who could love me for who I am.

Of course, he doesn't love me yet, but we have time. We are doing what we are supposed to be doing. This is exactly what I wanted all along. I am floating right now... my heart is so full of love for the man who can make me feel seen and heard in a way that nobody else can or would even try to.

He is it for me. He is what I came here to find, but didn't think I had any chance.

"Wow. I didn't think he would be feeling so strongly for you like that." Jake commented, baffled by my fast-growing relationship with Jayden.

"Me neither, but I am glad we have the opportunity to spend time together. This is what Headmaster Lockwood was telling us the day before yesterday. Nobody's claim is worth anything if you don't feel something for the person you are claiming. You have to show the Goddess that you would really pick that person for you. That is the only way of compelling Her to reveal that the person we picked was the right one for us all along. That is the only way to break the curse." I declared, romantic and decisively.

Jake was impressed by my statement. It was a jaw dropping breakfast all around.

"Maybe they really were made for each other. Who knows?" Kyle mused, which shocked my brother and all the surrounding Alphas. I thought he would be the last guy on Earth to concede that. Points to him for acknowledging that.

"Wow. Today is the gift that keeps on giving, isn't it? We should go away now before someone else makes another bombastic revelation during breakfast." My brother spoke, still reeling from the surprising declarations he heard this morning.

"What is the worst that could happen?" Kyle said, jokingly.

As the students started to take their empty trays back to the counters, we were bombarded by a surprising voice in the intercom system of the academy.

"Attention students! This is acting Headmaster Roberts here to bring you an urgent announcement." His voice reverberated throughout all three towers of Ravenwood.

Skylar glared daggers at Kyle for jinxing it. Oh Goddess, what is it now?

https://youtu.be/kOkQ4T5WO9E

A|N: I do not mean to alarm you, my dear readers, but the next chapter is called:

"If the world was ending".

Just kidding.

Or am I?

The 90th chapter is going to be epic!

If you want to check out the next 7 (SEVEN) chapters of this book, subscribe to my Patreon account and read now the twist that will leave you gasping for air! It's already available right now at:

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Love,

Léo.