Episode 6

They walked in silence to a restaurant that stayed open late in the downtown area.

When they entered, Lukyan asked for a table and even though they were all booked, they had no problem accommodating him. After all, many knew him. The only one who didn't quite know who he was, was Eley.

Walking in, he noticed many were giving them strange looks. Not used to being the center of attention, he assumed it was because Lukyan was handsome, no, more accurately, Lukyan wasn't just handsome. He was tall, strong, stunning, appealing, and any other synonym one could imagine. To say he was merely handsome was an understatement. Both scanned the menu and Eley observed the prices were steep. He had money on his bank card, but a single bowl of soup nearly cost him half of what he had.

He swallowed and looked up at the Alpha. He seemed indifferent to the menu prices.

"Everything's very expensive, do you come here often?"

A brief glance at the menu from him.

"Yes, the food is great. It's my favorite spot."

"I don't have that much money to spend here. Can we go somewhere else?"

"Don't worry, it's on me."

"No, I couldn't possibly let you do that, I mean, I have money too, but I could probably afford only one item."

"Then, pay for that one thing and I'll cover the rest," he whispered.

He stared at him and lifted up the menu to hide his eyes, pretending to continue reading, though he wasn't at all. He was merely counting to ten to calm his beating heart. He wanted to reach into his chest and give his heart a shake to make it behave, but instead took a couple of deep breaths and let it be.

"Alright, with what I have I can afford this, this here, this, and finally this."

"What are you getting?"

"Corn pie, vegetable salad, sauteed fish, and a juice."

Lukyan stared at him for a few seconds.

"You eat that much?"

"I could eat much more, but I'll let you cover my drink so you don't feel bad."

He cracked a small smile and nodded.

"Covering the juice sounds perfect, so I don't go bankrupt."

Eley's laughter reached his ears and he found it sweet and melodious. Then he looked around and noticed all the people watching him. Many recognized him because he frequented the place and he had had more than one altercation with an Omega or Alpha.

Next, his gaze fell on the one before him. He looked nervous and he assumed it was because they were being watched, but that wasn't the case at all.

"Let them stare, they always do."

"Why so much?"

"I don't know, maybe it's because I'm the son of Vankle Chevron."

Eley's grip on the menu slackened, exposing his pale face, wide eyes, as if he had seen a ghost. Lukyan watched, wondering if he might faint, but was more surprised that he didn't know.

"You're a Chevron?"

"You didn't know?" he asked, scrutinizing him closely, though the answer was clear.

He shook his head in disbelief.

"Almost everyone knows."

Eley stared at him endlessly. He didn't know anyone from that family, but had heard his father mention the name frequently. However, his father saw them as a cursed and arrogant family. He spoke about how the father was a malevolent overlord and his sons devils like him. He criticized them for mocking the poor by tossing money at their faces, demanding they lick their shoes.

Yet Lukyan didn't appear that way to him, except when he spoke about an Omega.

He swallowed and looked down to pick up the menu again, which he had already read more than twice.

"I'm sorry, I don't pay much attention to people, so I had no idea."

"In college, many talk about it."

"I turn a deaf ear to gossip; I don't like getting involved in such matters."

"I see," the Alpha murmured, feeling relieved.

He'd assumed that he knew, like everyone else. He had feared it might cause problems, but now realized it wouldn't.

"And you?"

"What about me?"

"Your family, where do you come from?"

Eley knew he had to lie. Giving the truth away would reveal he wasn't a Beta but a recessive Omega, a fact well-known but not always recognized in person.

"It's not well-known or wealthy like yours. Having a roof over my head suffices. I prefer not to talk about my family, I'm sorry."

The Alpha didn't respond. He felt that Eley wasn't entirely forthright, but no further words were exchanged as they ordered their food.

They ate in silence for a while before Eley commented:

"The food is really good."

"I told you."

"Yes, it's nice to have something different now and then. Mom always cooks well, everything she makes is delicious. She taught me to cook a lot of things."

"I know how to cook too. Sometimes I eat out, but it's kind of sad to always eat alone or at home."

"You could go out with friends," Eley suggested as he licked his lips, a gesture Lukyan observed intently.

"I don't really have a lot of friends."

"What about your Alpha friends?"

He sensed the tension and looked up to see the other's serious expression.

"I tend to avoid Alphas," he spat with the same disdain he held for Omegas.

"Why?"

They looked at each other for a moment. Eley's face held no malice, and Lukyan felt tempted to confide in him but instead he averted his gaze.

"Because, just because. Sometimes things don't have a specific reason."

"I understand, so only Betas?"

"Just Betas," he confirmed with a smile and the Omega felt a churn in his stomach.

With that, he realized he would never be able to tell him he was an Omega. That single assertion made it clear that if he ever revealed the truth, they would cease all communication, and Lukyan would look at him with the same revulsion and distaste.

After the meal, Eley let him pay for the juice as promised and they stepped out into the cool air. Despite it still being summer, the season was winding down, transitioning to autumn. The night was clear but the breeze was icy and he regretted not dressing warmer, his hands buried in the pockets of his thin hoodie.

"Where's your bus stop?"

"Um..." He glanced around, but he was unfamiliar with the area and unsure where to catch a ride. "I think it's that way. It leads to the avenue, right?"

Lukyan nodded.

"Then it's that way."

"I'll walk with you."

"No, I'm fine, you can go home. It's not necessary."

"I'll walk with you," he insisted.

After an exchange of looks, they began their walk.

"What time are your classes on Monday?" asked the Alpha, his stride matching Eley's. Noticing his companion's chill, he found himself removing his hoodie to drape it over Eley's shoulders before he could stop himself.

Eley tensed up, his cheeks flushing red.

"You don't have to do that," he protested.

"But you're cold. You look like a chick huddled at the back of the henhouse. I'm not cold, so it doesn't bother me. You can give it back before you get on the bus. It's just a courtesy."

Unable to bring himself to meet that intense, two-colored gaze, he continued walking, only breathing through his mouth to avoid the Alpha's scent, though it now seemed almost embedded in his nose, warning of impending trouble.

"I have an early class on Monday. I start at eight and finish at two."

"And the other days?"

"Why? Do you plan to follow me everywhere?"

Lukyan chuckled.

"Just being curious, I've never seen you around campus and thought maybe our schedules didn't match."

"Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays I have classes from eight to two. Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon until four."

"We overlap on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays," he announced.

Arriving at the bus stop, they sat in silence beside each other on a bench. They exchanged no words, but neither felt uncomfortable; in fact, they were quite content.

Then a phone appeared before Eley's eyes, prompting a quizzical look.

"What?"

"Can I get your number?" Lukyan asked.

Eley stared back, tempted to say yes but thought better of getting too excited over such a thing.

"Sorry, you'd have to treat me at least three more times before I consider giving it. I prefer to get to know someone well first."

"Fair enough," he said.

He wasn't discouraged by the denial but started thinking about where else to take him out so he could eventually get that number. Watching the bus pull away with Eley aboard, he suddenly remembered – he still had his hoodie, and not just the hoodie, but his wallet with money and bank cards in it.

He walked back home, regretting nothing, and for the first time in a while, he had trouble falling asleep not due to unpleasant memories but because of someone else.

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