Chapter 2
649words
To accelerate this glorious thawing process, I deployed what I call my "charm offensive." After school, I splurged on two premium cream popsicles from the campus store and marched up to him with the determination of a general.
"Here, this is for you." I smiled with all the warmth of a doting mother.
Julian stared at the popsicle like it was a venomous snake, backing away while shaking his head frantically. The cold cedar pheromones surrounding him sharpened with anxiety.
As he retreated, my outstretched hand hung in the air, and that popsicle—bearer of all my good intentions—went splat as it made its noble sacrifice on the concrete.
The air froze for three solid seconds.
Typical Julian.
I took a deep breath, reminding myself that the customer is always right, and one shouldn't punch paying customers. With a forced smile, I retrieved the fallen popsicle.
Thank god I hadn't opened the wrapper. I should've known Mr. Skittish wouldn't catch it.
He continued backing away, those ice-blue eyes screaming "back off" without a word.
My patience evaporated. I brandished the sticky popsicle toward his pristine white shirt. "You taking this or not? Because I'm happy to help you cool down the hard way."
My thug tactics must have worked. He froze, then finally—under my triumphant gaze—accepted the popsicle with visible reluctance.
Satisfied, I unwrapped my own treat and strolled beside him. Between licks, I watched him from the corner of my eye. He just clutched his "bomb" tightly, letting it slowly melt in his palm with zero intention of eating it.
I tried breaking the ice: "So, what's with the silent treatment all the time?"
He stayed quiet, answering my question through perfect demonstration.
I muttered under my breath: "What a little bubble boy…"
Before I could finish, I caught the faintest laugh beside me, almost carried away by the breeze. I whipped my head around to find Julian…
…smiling.
It was barely there—just the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. But in those ice-blue eyes, something was melting, catching the sunset's glow and rippling like gentle waves. It felt like spotting the first green shoot during a late winter frost—so delicate and unexpected it made your heart ache.
I swear, my brain short-circuited. Everything—the popsicles, the mission, the money—all exploded into confetti, leaving me utterly dazed.
I'm done for. I think I've… fallen for this bubble boy.
Just as my soul was preparing to exit my body, a cold voice sliced through the air behind me, shattering our moment.
"Aurora, why are you hanging around with this mentally unstable Alpha?"
Lucas. Standing there with a thundercloud expression and a rainbow popsicle in hand, his gaze slicing across Julian like a blade—filled with that classic Beta-to-Alpha prejudice and hostility.
"Mentally unstable?" I snapped back to reality, anger flaring instantly. "Who the hell are you talking about?"
"Who else?" Lucas stepped toward me, thrusting the popsicle at me with the tone of someone used to being obeyed. "Stay away from him—he's dangerous. You're an Omega, for God's sake. Don't you have any self-preservation instinct?"
The same old bullshit. Protection, protection—like we Omegas are delicate china dolls who need to stay in the safety zones mapped out by Betas and Alphas.
Looking at his face, plastered with that "I'm just looking out for you" expression, something in me snapped.
"You're the one with issues!" I shouted. "Who I hang out with is none of your damn business!"
Lucas froze, his expression morphing from shock to fury, his lips trembling but no words coming out.
I couldn't stand looking at him another second. I spun around, grabbed the equally stunned Julian, and stormed off with long, angry strides.
