Chapter 71 Open confessions

Chapter 71: Chapter 71 Open confessions

A scorching scream tore out of Noah’s throat as he shot upright with a sharp gasp, making both Damian and Killian jolt awake.

Damian’s first instinct was to scan the room, his sharp eyes searching every corner for any hidden threat. He had fallen asleep beside Noah on the bed after insisting on keeping watch over him. Killian had done the same, though he hadn’t truly fallen asleep. Every little sound throughout the night had kept him awake.

Sleep simply refused to come.

Ever since yesterday’s incident, his heart had remained restless.

Now, hearing Noah scream like that...

His eyes widened in panic.

"It’s okay... it was just a dream."

Killian immediately wrapped his arms around Noah before the omega could lose himself completely. Noah was so disoriented that he didn’t even remember when he had been brought into the room.

His breathing gradually steadied.

Then he finally looked around.

His brows knitted together.

He didn’t recognize the room.

Why...

Why was he inside the Alpha dormitory?

The next second he hurriedly pushed Killian away before stumbling off the bed, creating as much distance as possible between himself and the two Alphas.

"What did you two do to me? Why am I here?"

Damian blinked in confusion.

Killian even turned around to check whether Noah was speaking to someone else.

Unfortunately...

There wasn’t another person in the room.

"What is this supposed to mean?" Damian frowned.

"We brought you here to protect you."

Killian nodded.

"Especially in case your creepy roommate came back."

Those words finally stirred something inside Noah’s head.

Fragments from the previous night surfaced one after another.

Running endlessly through the academy...

Eugene’s cruel words echoing inside his ears...

The Alphas questioning him...

His inability to answer because he was terrified of saying the wrong thing...

Everything came rushing back at once.

His shoulders relaxed.

"Oh my gosh..."

He slapped his forehead lightly.

"I remember now."

Looking embarrassed, he stepped forward and hugged both of them tightly before releasing a long breath.

"I’m so sorry, guys."

His thoughts had almost wandered somewhere horribly dark.

For a terrifying moment, he genuinely believed he had been kidnapped... or worse.

Thankfully...

It had all been his own paranoia.

"I feel much better now."

He smiled awkwardly.

"Thanks for letting me stay in your room, Killian."

The green-haired Alpha simply nodded.

He didn’t say anything.

Instead...

His emerald eyes quietly followed Noah as the omega searched around the room.

The bed.

The bedside table.

The drawers.

Even beneath the blanket.

He seemed to be looking for something.

"Aren’t you going to tell us what you’re searching for?" Damian finally asked after leaning against the bedside cabinet.

Noah immediately stiffened.

His cheeks turned bright pink.

"It’s..."

He rubbed the back of his neck.

"It’s something private."

"You guys shouldn’t know."

Killian and Damian exchanged confused glances.

Private?

What could possibly be so secretive?

Eventually Damian sighed.

"Fine."

"Suit yourself."

He folded his arms.

"But aren’t you continuing your training today?"

Noah immediately shook his head.

"No."

"I’m not training with Harold anymore."

The determination in his voice surprised both Alphas.

"It was that stupid training that awakened whatever was sleeping inside the cemetery."

His expression darkened.

"I can’t afford another disaster."

"My plate is already full with enough problems."

He lowered his head.

"The destruction I caused hasn’t even been repaired completely."

Then his eyes slowly lifted.

"And... whatever that thing was..."

"It appeared in my dream."

Silence swallowed the room.

Killian’s expression twitched.

"...It came into your dream?"

His fists slowly clenched.

"That must’ve been terrifying."

He stepped closer.

"If there’s anything I can do..."

"Don’t try carrying everything by yourself."

Noah knew Killian meant every word.

But that was exactly why he couldn’t tell him.

If he continued down this path...

Everyone would die.

The Alphas.

The academy.

The people around him.

That future...

He absolutely refused to accept it.

"Killian Darwin..."

He forced out a smile.

"Don’t do anything."

"Please."

"You’ve already done enough."

His gaze drifted between both Alphas.

"You’re focusing on me too much."

"What about yourselves?"

"What about unlocking your own powers?"

His voice lowered.

"Whatever I’m facing..."

"It has something against all of you too."

The moment those words escaped...

He regretted them instantly.

Killian and Damian both stared at him with identical expressions.

Curiosity.

Confusion.

Concern.

All mixed together.

Noah immediately shook his head.

"Sorry."

"This isn’t the right time."

"I have to go."

He turned toward the door.

Unfortunately...

Damian caught his wrist before he could escape.

The sudden force made Noah spin around, his purple hair brushing softly across Damian’s face.

"Don’t throw something like that at us and then run."

Damian’s expression became serious.

"If something’s happening..."

"We’ll face it together."

Noah wanted to answer.

He really did.

But remaining inside this room any longer was becoming increasingly dangerous.

Killian’s scent surrounded him.

His natural fragrance...

His Alpha pheromones...

Even the fresh breeze drifting through the open window carried traces of him.

Everything mixed together until Noah felt like he couldn’t breathe properly.

His heartbeat became louder.

"You have Sylvia."

He slowly stepped backward toward the door.

"Shouldn’t you all be doing this for her?"

"I thought she was your darling."

"I don’t understand this sudden change."

As Noah retreated...

Both Alphas unconsciously followed.

His own pheromones slowly leaked into the room.

The sweet scent instantly tangled together with Killian’s.

Killian inhaled quietly.

His restraint weakened.

"See?"

He smiled bitterly.

"Even your scent is telling you not to leave."

"Stay here."

"The school’s doomed either way."

"So... can’t we be selfish just once?"

His voice carried an unusual softness.

Every instinct inside him begged him to pull Noah closer.

To lock him safely inside his embrace.

To never let him leave again.

Noah could feel himself wavering.

One side of him desperately wanted to stay.

To forget everything.

To forget fate.

To simply remain beside Killian.

But reality cruelly dragged him back every single time.

"As I said—"

Before he could finish...

Killian suddenly covered his mouth.

"I seriously don’t understand you."

His emerald eyes narrowed.

"Why can’t you stop mentioning Sylvia?"

"Why?"

"We’ve already told you."

"We don’t want her anymore."

His answer was firm.

There wasn’t even the slightest hesitation.

Noah gently removed Killian’s hand before sighing.

"It’s not that simple."

"You can’t just break off years of engagement and a betrothal."

"That’s cruel."

"It’s unfair."

Damian suddenly laughed.

"So now you’re feeling sorry for that demon?"

"The same person who wouldn’t hesitate to tear you apart?"

He rubbed his forehead.

"You’re driving me insane."

Ever since Eugene’s conversation yesterday...

Everything had become more complicated.

That bastard really knew how to ruin people’s lives.

"Fine."

Noah gripped the doorknob tightly.

"I don’t care about Sylvia."

"That’s number one."

"But dating all of you?"

He immediately shook his head.

"Hell no."

"One Alpha already gives me enough trouble."

"Now you expect me to deal with all four?"

"That’s way too much."

Just as he was about to open the door...

Killian called softly.

"Noah."

The omega stopped.

"You’ll never love us..."

Killian’s voice became hoarse.

"Is that it?"

"...Even me?"

"No matter what I do..."

"You’ll never choose me."

His breathing grew uneven.

"Tell me honestly."

"Were you only upset because Eugene rejected you? Do you love him?"

"Is that why you’ve been pushing us away?"

Noah stared at him speechlessly.

Where had all that resentment come from?

Jealousy...

Pain...

Heartbreak...

Everything poured out of Killian at once.

Before Noah could answer...

Killian continued.

"It’s not difficult."

"I love you."

"From the very depths of my soul."

"I can’t even explain how much."

"You’ve become my addiction."

"So please..."

"Just let me in."

"Stop shutting me out."

His emerald eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Damian stood frozen.

For once...

The usually playful Alpha had absolutely nothing to say.

He had never seen Killian this vulnerable before.

"Talk to me."

Killian whispered.

"Forget Sylvia."

"If she didn’t exist..."

"Would you stay beside me?"

"I know what I want."

"But what about you?"

Noah’s head began spinning.

His throat felt unbearably dry.

He searched around desperately for water.

There wasn’t any.

"This is dangerous..."

He whispered weakly.

"I’m trying..."

Killian immediately stepped closer.

"What are you trying to do?"

"Tell me."

"I’ve been patient."

"I’ve tried not to force you."

"But you’re confusing me."

"I don’t know what you really want."

His breathing became uneven.

"I keep stopping myself because I don’t want to hurt you."

"So please..."

"Talk to me."

By now he had completely blocked the doorway.

There was nowhere left for Noah to escape.

"Look at me..."

Killian whispered.

"Look me in the eyes, little kitten."

"What is wrong?"

"I thought you shared everything with me."

Behind them...

Damian quietly bit his finger.

His curse...

His emotions...

Everything seemed to be growing strangely attached to Noah.

If Noah truly disappeared one day...

What would happen to him?

Noah’s knees trembled violently.

Killian was simply...

Too kind.

If fate had been kinder...

He would have chosen him.

Again.

And again.

And again.

Killian had always been his favorite.

Pretending he felt nothing had become nothing more than a pathetic lie.

His heartbeat thundered wildly inside his chest as Killian’s garden-like scent completely surrounded him.

Finally...

He couldn’t hide it anymore.

"I’m trying to save all of you."

His voice cracked.

"The Alphas in this academy..."

"They’re all going to die."

"I don’t want that."

"Not you."

"Not Damian."

"Not Marcus."

"Not Eugene."

"I’m trying to stop it."

Even he couldn’t understand how he had remembered all of that.

He was supposed to forget.

Yet somehow...

Those memories remained.

Killian stared straight into his eyes.

"You still haven’t answered me."

"Why?"

"Why are you doing all this for us?"

"We’re not even your ideal type."

"Isn’t that what you’ve been telling us all this time?"

Noah shook his head frantically.

"No..."

"That’s not what I meant."

Killian refused to look away.

"Then tell me, Ashton Lane."

"What is the real reason?"

Something inside Noah finally snapped.

His emotions overwhelmed every ounce of restraint he had left.

Without thinking...

He shouted the truth.

"I LOVE YOU!"

The room froze.

"It’s because I love you, Killian Darwin!"

Tears gathered inside his trembling eyes.

"And if I lose you..."

"My heart will be ripped wide open."