"I-I'm so sorry," I stammered, finally finding my voice as I stared up at Rhys Knight. My heart pounded against my ribcage like it was trying to escape.
His dark eyes bored into mine for another moment before he released my arms. The loss of contact felt strangely disappointing.
"Whatever," he muttered, stepping around me and continuing on his way.
I let out the breath I didn't know I'd been holding and knelt to gather my scattered books. My hands trembled slightly as I collected them, mind racing with confusion over what had just happened.
"Need help with those, Omega?"
I looked up to see Rowan Miller smirking down at me, his tone making the word 'omega' sound like an insult. He was one of the basketball players who'd been taunting me earlier.
"No, thanks," I replied quietly, clutching my books to my chest and standing up.
"Aw, don't be like that," Rowan said, stepping closer. "I'm just being friendly. Not everyone gets to bump into the mighty Rhys Knight and live to tell about it." His friends chuckled behind him.
I took a step back. "I need to go."
"What's the rush? Maybe you're looking for an alpha to take care of you? Is that why you crashed into Knight?" He reached out to touch my hair, and I flinched away.
"Leave her alone, Miller."
The deep voice that cut through the tension belonged to none other than Rhys Knight, who had apparently turned back around. He stood a few feet away, arms crossed over his chest, expression unreadable but somehow threatening.
Rowan immediately stepped back. "Hey, Knight, we were just—"
"We don't have time for your nonsense," Rhys interrupted, his tone cold. "Coach wants us on the court. Now."
Rowan's face flushed with embarrassment as he nodded quickly and jogged back to the basketball court, his friends following like obedient puppies.
Rhys didn't look at me again. He simply turned and walked away, leaving me standing there in shocked silence.
Did Rhys Knight just... defend me? The same Rhys Knight who was known for his cold indifference to anyone not in his inner circle? I couldn't make sense of it.
"Did you see that?"
"Why would Rhys help her?"
"Who is she anyway?"
The whispers from nearby girls reached my ears, making me want to disappear even more. This was exactly what I'd been trying to avoid – attention. And now I had it, thanks to Rhys's unexpected intervention.
"Elara! There you are!"
I turned to see Liam Thorne jogging toward me, his friendly smile a welcome sight. Tall with sandy brown hair and warm hazel eyes, Liam was one of the few people at university who treated me like a normal person rather than just an omega.
"Sorry I'm late," he said, slowing to a stop beside me. "Coach kept us longer than expected."
"It's fine," I replied, adjusting my glasses nervously. "I just got here myself."
His eyes flicked to where Rhys was now walking onto the basketball court. "Everything okay? You look a little shaken."
"I'm fine." I forced a smile. "Just bumped into someone, that's all."
Liam didn't look convinced, but he nodded. "Let's head to the library, then? I'm completely lost on those oxidation equations."
As we walked away from the courts, I could feel eyes on my back. Whether they belonged to Rhys or the curious onlookers, I wasn't sure. Either way, I wanted nothing more than to fade back into invisibility.
"So, how's the team looking this season?" I asked, desperate to change the subject in my own mind.
Liam grinned proudly. "The Crimson Hawks are stronger than ever. We're going to crush the Silver Wolves in the championship."
I smiled at his enthusiasm. As captain of our rival university's basketball team, Liam had a friendly rivalry with our school's team – the team Rhys Knight happened to lead.
"You seem pretty confident," I remarked.
"We've been practicing new plays. Knight won't know what hit him."
The mention of Rhys sent an unexpected flutter through my stomach that I quickly suppressed. "Well, I'll be cheering for you."
"You'd better be," he teased, bumping my shoulder lightly with his.
At the library, we found a quiet corner table and spread out our books. Chemistry came easily to me, and explaining it to Liam gave me something to focus on besides the strange encounter with Rhys.
"You make it sound so simple," Liam said after I walked him through a particularly complex problem.
I shrugged. "It just takes practice."
"And a brain like yours." His smile was warm, appreciative. "Seriously, Elara, you're brilliant. You should be more confident about it."
Before I could respond, a familiar voice called out. "There you are!"
Seraphina Hayes approached our table, her designer heels clicking against the library floor. Behind her trailed Debra Chang, another friend from our small circle.
"We've been looking everywhere for you," Sera continued, sliding into the chair next to mine while Debra took the one across from her.
"We're trying to study here," I pointed out, though I couldn't help but smile at her dramatic entrance.
"Study, schmuddy," Sera waved her hand dismissively. "There are more important things to discuss." She turned to Liam with a bright smile. "Hey, Thorne. Looking good as always."
Liam chuckled. "Hayes. Still subtle as a freight train, I see."
"That's why you love me," she replied with a wink before turning back to me. "So, have you heard the news?"
"What news?" I asked cautiously.
"Liam's throwing a party tonight!" Sera announced, as if revealing the secret to eternal life.
I glanced at Liam, who shrugged. "Just a small get-together at my place. My parents are out of town."
"Small?" Sera scoffed. "Half the university is talking about it."
"You're exaggerating," Liam said, though he looked pleased.
"Am I?" Sera raised an eyebrow. "Anyway, we're all going. Right, Elara?"
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "I don't know. My mom has that rule about weeknight parties, and you know I'm not really the party type."
"Oh, come on!" Sera pleaded. "It's Friday night, and you never do anything fun. One party won't kill you."
"She's right," Debra chimed in quietly. "We all need to unwind sometimes."
I chewed my lower lip, considering. My mother would worry, but she'd also been encouraging me to socialize more. And if Sera and Debra were there, maybe it wouldn't be so bad.
Liam leaned forward. "I'd really like you to come, Elara. It wouldn't be the same without you."
His sincerity made me pause. Unlike most alphas and betas, Liam had always been kind to me, never treating me differently because of my omega status. We'd met in Advanced Calculus last year, and he'd sought my help with statistics ever since.
"I'll think about it," I finally said.
Sera clapped her hands excitedly. "That's practically a yes from Elara! We'll pick you up at eight."
"I didn't say—"
"It'll be fun, I promise," Liam cut in. "Just casual, nothing crazy. You can leave whenever you want."
The bell rang, signaling the end of our free period. We gathered our books, and I couldn't help but feel a growing sense of dread mixed with a tiny spark of excitement.
"See you tonight," Liam called as he headed off to his next class.
Sera linked her arm with mine as we walked to our Literature lecture. "This is going to be so good for you, Elara. You need to get out more."
"I get out plenty," I protested weakly.
"The library and the coffee shop don't count," she countered. "Plus, I heard some of the Silver Wolves basketball team might show up." She wiggled her eyebrows suggestively.
My stomach dropped. "The Silver Wolves? As in Rhys Knight's team?"
"The very same. Exciting, right?"
It wasn't exciting. It was terrifying. After this morning's encounter, the last thing I wanted was to be in the same room as Rhys Knight again. But I couldn't tell Sera that without explaining what had happened, and I wasn't ready to discuss the strange feelings that had surfaced when he touched me.
"I'm still not sure I should go," I tried again as we slid into our seats.
"Too late!" Sera sing-songed. "I've already decided what we're wearing."
The rest of the day passed in a blur of lectures and assignments, but my mind kept drifting back to Rhys. Why had he stepped in to help me? It made no sense. Alphas like him didn't concern themselves with omegas like me. That was the natural order of things in our pack, and I'd accepted it long ago.
By the time I got home that afternoon, I'd convinced myself that he hadn't been helping me specifically – he probably just wanted Rowan on the court for practice. That had to be it.
"Mom?" I called as I entered our modest two-bedroom house.
No answer. She must still be at the pack hospital. As the pack's most skilled doctor, she often worked late hours.
I headed upstairs to my room, dropping my backpack on the bed and staring at my closet. What did one wear to a party they didn't want to attend?
My phone buzzed with a text from Sera.
Sera: Be there in an hour. Have your party outfit ready!
I sighed, opening my closet to survey the limited options. Oversized sweaters, loose jeans, plain t-shirts – my entire wardrobe was designed to help me blend into the background.
Another text.
Sera: And don't even THINK about wearing one of your baggy sweaters. This is a PARTY!
I couldn't help but smile. Sera knew me too well.
Forty-five minutes later, there was a knock at my door. I opened it to find Sera standing there, looking gorgeous in a fitted red dress and heels, with Debra beside her in stylish black pants and a shimmering top.
"Where's your outfit?" Sera demanded, pushing past me into the house.
"I was just about to change," I lied.
Sera's perfectly shaped eyebrows rose skeptically. "Show me what you picked."
I hesitated, then gestured vaguely to the jeans and blouse laid out on my bed.
Sera looked horrified. "Oh no, no, no. This won't do at all. Let me see your options."
Before I could protest, she was rifling through my closet, making disapproving noises.
"Don't you own anything remotely... party-appropriate?" she asked, pushing hangers aside with increasing desperation.
"I told you parties aren't my thing," I reminded her.
Sera turned to face me, hands on her hips. "Well, tonight they are. Lucky for you, I always come prepared."
She held up a shopping bag I hadn't noticed she was carrying. "I had a feeling we might need backup."
"What's that?" I asked suspiciously.
"Your ticket to having fun tonight," Sera replied with a mischievous grin. "Now sit down and let me work my magic."
As Sera emptied the bag of makeup and accessories onto my bed, I felt a mix of panic and a strange sort of curiosity. Maybe one night of not being invisible wouldn't be so bad.
"Fine," I conceded. "But I'm not staying out late, and I'm definitely not drinking."
"We'll see," Sera said with a wink. "By the time I'm done with you, you might not want to leave early after all."
I highly doubted that, but as Sera pulled out a stunning emerald green top that would match my eyes perfectly, I couldn't help but wonder what it would be like to be noticed for once – to step out of the shadows and into the light. Even if just for one night.