Chapter 28: #TWENTY-EIGHT

Nicholas’s POV

"W-what are you doing?" I asked in horror as I took a step backwards and he reached for his pocket, taking slow but steady steps towards me. "Jayden, what the fuck are you up to?"

"Aren’t you scared that I will hurt you? After all, I did bring you to an unknown place. What do you think?" He muttered slowly and my heart sank. I had to run...

He suddenly pulled his hand out of his pocket and pointed it at me, making me flinch in panic as I held my hand over my head. He suddenly burst into laughter as he held his stomach and I glanced up at him to see that he was staring at me with an amused expression.

"Did you really think I was going to hurt you? You— you really thought I brought you here to hurt you?" He asked in amusement as he held his stomach, trying to hold his laughter and my face burned in horror as I glared at him.

"You really enjoy teasing me, don’t you?" I asked with a huff as I wiped the sweat off my forehead and he snickered. "That wasn’t funny, though. I was really scared."

"Why would I want to hurt you? I see you as my protector!" He replied with a chuckle but when he saw that I wasn’t smiling, he frowned. "Is someone after you or something?"

"Well... I don’t suspect you or anything. I just got really scared because yes, someone is after me." I confessed and his face fell. "I have a stalker and he won’t stop until he’s ruined my life."

"I... I am so sorry you shouldn’t have done that. I had no idea that it was something so sensitive for you." He muttered as he patted my shoulder gently and I forced a smile at him. "My house is just down the street and you’re more than welcome to stay as long as you want."

"I’m sorry I thought you had bad intentions." I replied but he simply waved it off as we continued down the street. "Why do you live here though? Isn’t it quite dangerous to walk these paths alone?"

"It is, but what can I do? I’m not that financially stable and I have to stay close to the school so I can get here on time. It’s not the best, but it’s all I’ve got," He explained, and I suddenly felt bad for him. "Have you found who it is? Your stalker, I mean?"

We walked down the path and truly, there were small houses at the bottom, making me glance at him in worry. Before I met the Blackthornes, my mom and I were still quite comfortable with the way we lived.

"Not yet. But hopefully soon enough." I replied with a small smile and he smiled too as we finally stopped in front of an old house. He took off his shoes and I did too before walking in.

I was surprised at how cozy the place was and the warmth of the house immediately enveloped me when I settled in.

"You have such a lovely place." I muttered, sitting on the single chair in the room and his lips curved into a small smile. "I mean it. It’s quite warm and cozy."

"Why, thank you." He replied with a small bow and my smile widened. "Would you like something to drink? Actually, I have only water, but ahem, water?"

"Yes please." I muttered with a soft chuckle and he disappeared into the other room, making me smile in amusement. He was quite cute when he wasn’t a timid omega. "Do you live alone?" I asked a bit louder as I got up, looking around the small space.

"I do." He replied as he stepped out with a glass of water and a large hoodie in his hands. "This used to belong to my older brother but you can wear it for now to cover the mark." he added as he handed it to me and then dropped the glass on the table.

"Won’t your brother mind?" I asked warily as I glanced at the hoodie that smelled quite... pleasant. Very pleasant to be honest.

"Oh, he won’t. He’s not around anyway." He replied as he leaned against the wall and I finally draped the hoodie over my body, amused at how it looked like it fit but it was actually bigger than me.

I noticed how Jayden’s eyes twinkled when he saw me with the hoodie on and my ears turned red from feeling flustered.

"What’s with that look?" I asked as I looked away, and he simply chuckled as he shrugged.

"If my brother were here, I’m sure he would have fancied you a lot. Maybe he would have dated you. What a shame he’s not into omegas." He muttered with a small smile and I felt a bit awkward with the way he said it even though I tried not to let it show.

My gaze fell upon a frame right behind him and he seemed to notice as he took it down, holding it close to himself.

"This is the only picture I have of my brother and me," He muttered, his voice low and filled with melancholy. "Ever since he left, well, he hasn’t returned. I look forward to the day he will accept me into his arms again."

When I saw the picture, I couldn’t help but notice that the "brother" he was talking about looked a little familiar. I squinted my eyes and racked my brain as I tried to remember where I had seen someone like this before.

"Why won’t he return to see you? Doesn’t he love you?"

"He does! He definitely does. He just... doesn’t like..."

"He doesn’t like...?"

"Omegas. He doesn’t fancy omegas." He finally whispered and my heart ached for him. "I tried to change myself for him but he told me he would come back soon. So I’m waiting for him."

There was silence for a moment before he ran his hands through his hair as he chuckled softly. "God, I’m so sorry, I just dumped all that on you, didn’t I? This was supposed to be a fun hangout. Crap."

"You don’t have to be sorry for anything. And your brother needs to let go of that fucking mentality. Omegas are important in the hierarchy and just because he hates our existence doesn’t mean he has to treat you the same way. If omegas didn’t exist, neither would he. That is such bullshit." I hissed in annoyance and for a minute, he was silent as he stared at me.

Did I cross the line?

And then, he burst into laughter as he placed the picture on the table, a look of satisfaction on his face.

"You’re probably right." He said after a while as he held my shoulders gently. "I feel better after hearing you say all that. Thank you."

We eventually left his house together and we walked towards the cityside, talking and laughing even as we made fun of people’s outfits or hairstyles. He was like the best friend I never knew I needed in a long time, and I found myself always laughing when he said anything.

One of the stalls we walked into even had the receptionist calling us a cute couple. I didn’t mean to notice how his face turned red right after he heard that but he looked so adorable at that moment that I couldn’t help but squeeze his cheeks.

"I swear you’re so fucking cute when you’re flustered." I muttered with a grin and he huffed in annoyance as he slapped my hands off, making me snicker in amusement.

"I’m not cute. I should be hot." He murmured and I laughed, making him laugh too. We returned to the estate, and no matter how much I tried to let him allow me to walk him back home, he refused.

"You already walked me home the first time. Let me walk you home now." He said defiantly and I had no choice but to agree.

We walked down the estate after I informed the security to let him leave later since he was with me.

"Your mansion is so fucking big." He yelled with round eyes, and I rubbed the back of my neck nervously. "It must be nice living with alphas."

"I wish." I muttered with a resigned sigh and he looked at me with an understanding smile. "Wanna come in?"

"Oh, I wouldn’t dare." He said immediately and I frowned. "I can’t be around too many alphas at the same time. I might lose my mind. I’ll see you tomorrow, yeah? You can bring back the hoodie as well."

"I will."

We finally bade each other goodbye as I walked into the mansion, taking off the hoodie to stare at it once more. His brother was definitely a piece of shit.

The moment I closed the door, I felt a hand cover my eyes and my body went rigid when I felt sharp fangs sink into the other side of my neck, making me go limp into his arms.