Kael blinked several times, his mind unable to grasp what was happening: the person standing before him, and the consequences of that person standing before him. His hands were sweaty, and his heart pounded in his chest as various voices echoed in his ears.
'I knew he was pulling some bullshit. So he's actually an Omega, just as we thought.'
'No wonder he could grind his body against an Alpha—he's not an Alpha in the first place.'
'Mr. Kael, you've been expelled from this school and must pay a fine for identity fraud, theft, and deceit.'
'I'm highly disappointed in you. You haven't even used a week, and you've already disgraced my name. If you'd just lied, it would've been better but you went ahead and kissed a guy? An Alpha, at that… what a shame!'
All those voices, each laced with different emotions, echoed in his head. The cruel laughter of his mates, the vice chancellor's anger, and worst of all, his father's utter disappointment.
As he processed it all, his heart suddenly seized and he couldn't breathe. Cold sweat coated his skin, and his hands flew to his chest, pounding at it as he stared at Caius.
Caius, on the other hand, had been very self-conscious about what Kael was looking at or thinking that made him zone out. He was about to stretch out a hand and call him when he saw Kael's expression suddenly change. Kael gripped his neck like he was being strangled or choking.
It took Caius only a few seconds to react. He moved quickly behind Kael and raised his hand high.
"If someone's choking, you give them a hard blow on the back…" he muttered to himself, and his raised hand came down heavily on Kaelith's back.
Kael's neck tightened further, and the dryness in his throat spread to his head. Heat built behind his eyes, his face turned red, and it felt like he was literally dying.
Kael's face flushed deep red, and Caius looked at him in shock.
"What did I do wrong…? What's wrong with you?" The questions he had wanted to ask earlier finally burst out.
But Kael couldn't answer. He was too preoccupied clutching his neck like his life depended on it—because it did. He couldn't even care about Caius rambling beside him.
He needed water. That, Kael knew. But he had no way to say it. He couldn't even breathe, much less speak. Caius stared at him, eyes wide in panic.
Kael felt like giving up. His mind flickered through memories of past lives.
He had always been bedridden… A thought washed over his heart, telling him his life would end the same way. It felt like it, he was dying, either from heart failure or something he couldn't name.
Just as his thoughts spiraled, he suddenly felt himself lifted into the air. As he blinked, he realized it was Caius. He looked troubled, brows furrowed and lips tight with concern. He didn't say a word, and Kael was glad. He couldn't handle a conversation, not when he was barely conscious.
Caius moved fast, desperate, uncoordinated, almost like he was being chased by a lion.
"Make way!" he shouted as he rushed through the hall with Kael in his arms. Students turned to stare, and Kael's dread only deepened.
Just recently, he'd been caught in a compromising position with an Alpha—pinned to a wall and kissed. And now, he was being carried like a damsel in distress by a Beta. What more could go wrong?
Kael clutched his neck, his face flushed, sweat pouring down his skin. As Caius passed Leonhardt, Kael's heart sank. By the time they reached the school clinic, Kael had practically given up on life or so he thought.
He released his aching, sweaty hand from his neck, realizing he still couldn't breathe and then he blacked out.
Or maybe he died. Maybe he'd wake up in another story like the ones he used to read. If this were one of those transmigration stories, perhaps he'd be brought back again—maybe to fix a mistake. And this time, he'd make sure never to kiss an Alpha again.
Light.
It shone brightly onto Kael's face, he could feel the heat as his eyes remained closed. He had woken up about a minute ago but was too scared to open them. His hands were sweaty all over again, though his neck was now free of distress. But rather than feel relief, Kael was filled with dread.
'I hope it's not what I'm thinking…' His mind was quick to spiral with worry about his current situation.
'Am I alive? Did I die and reenter this world? Or am I in an entirely different story?'
But his questions were soon answered when he heard a very distinct voice, faint at first, but then clearer the second time.
"Is he fine?" Caius's voice filtered into his mind, and dread washed over Kael once more.
Wait… Dying should be something dreadful, but he wasn't dead. So why the dread?
That's because, one: he's an Omega, disguising himself as an Alpha—or at least wishing to be one so life could be easier. But still, his behavior matched that of an Omega so much it made pretending to be an Alpha difficult.
Because seriously—
How would he choke on air and nearly die?
Why would he recognize the distinct scent, body, and voice of the three people he had encountered?
And why did it feel like these people would keep returning to torment him?
Why had he met the guy he thought he kissed just for fun at a club only to discover he was his gym instructor and the first-year president?
Why did the Beta, who knew he was an Omega from his pheromones and had stayed over at his place, suddenly become his senior in the music room?
And then it hit him. He covered his mouth, eyes widening, and shouted, startling everyone in the room:
"Does that mean the vampire I saw will also come here?!"
The room fell silent or at least he felt it go quieter than before. No voices. No sounds. He moved his gaze, finally forcing himself to process his surroundings instead of just staring blankly and what he saw left him flabbergasted.
Why was his supposed resting place filled with unfamiliar faces? People Kael had never seen before were staring back at him. Then, just as confusion crested, someone he recognized came into view and his heart dropped.
"Are you okay? Why did you suddenly choke?" Caius wasted no time in asking.