Page 7 of Galaxy Between Us

“All I’m saying,” he concludes, “is that you might not want to be friends with Alphas in a couple of years, Arius. You might feel a little differently toward them, and you sure as hell won’t be able to have multiple Alphas as friends anymore, but that’s a whole other mess.”

He ushers me out the door with my bags, still being vague about what he’s insinuating. I can’t be friends with more than one Alpha? Why not? Is there some kind of friendship limit when you’re older? That doesn’t make any sense, but I don’t have time to question it.

We load up the car with all my bags and set out on the long journey ahead. Mom wanted me to go to the same boarding school she went to as a kid, so she already knows her way around when we arrive. The campus is intimidatingly huge with old brick buildings spread out around a massive, fresh green lawn.

Several other students are already moving in today too, taking tours and finding where all their classes will be. In the backseat, I take a deep breath.

It’s hard to visualize it, but this is home now for the next several years. I just need to remember my goal and hold onto it. Omega studies, post-Omega studies, and then Comet XI.

Mom walks fast to my dorm building, excited to revisit this place while Dad and I struggle to keep up, following the fast clicks of her heels.

“And there’s the main hall where assemblies and events are held,” she points to a grand building up ahead. “You should sign up for clubs early, Arius. There should be booths set up somewhere with all the opportunities.”

My dad points across the lawn at a herd of canopies, “Like those, Hun?”

“Oh, yes! That’s where you can pick a club to join. I did chess and ceramics back in my day.”

As we pass the tents, my eyes travel around the signs and advertisements. Most of them look like dreadful wastes of time, but I’m intrigued by only one tent. I almost don’t believe my eyes, squinting to read the sign better. Omega empowerment club.

Interesting.

Rebellious.

I thought the whole point of Omega studies was about whipping us into shape. Could it be more than that?

“All right, here we are!” my mom cheers, practically jogging up the steps of the dorm building.

My room is on the top floor and it’s about what I expected. One side for me, one side for my roommate. The sign on our door says her name is Becky. I take it all in, mentally piecing together how I’ll arrange my things in here. Dad gets choked up a bit but covers it by heading back to the car to grab my bags. Mom ends up abandoning me too to go find the resident assistant of this floor while I continue to assess my dorm room.

Listening to the flurry of other students moving in early, I meander into the hall, checking everything out. The showers are close to me which is nice. I suppose, I can see myself waking up here every morning. Turning to my left, a few scents reach my nose. Wood shavings, ocean mist, and cast iron.

Alphas.

Shining with sweat, they come up the stairs carrying a heavy piece of furniture for whichever lucky Omega is going all out with the decorations. I plaster myself to the wall so they can squeeze by. Even if they weren’t carrying a shelf, I’d have to make way for those muscles alone. They just never stop growing, do they?

Both look at me. And I look at them.

“Hi,” I mumble shyly, tilting my neck respectfully.

“Hey,” the one at the back grins.

The Alpha up front pauses abruptly, making his friend clash with the shelf in their hands. I wince at how painful that looked.

“Pretty sure he was talking to me. Sup, Omega,” he nods his chin up.

The one in the back pushes the shelf in retaliation, making it lurch forward into the guy up front.

“I saw him first, asshole. He looked right at me.”

The two trade death glares for no reason. They can both say hi to me, it’s no big deal. But I think back to what my dad said about how I can’t have more than one Alpha friend. I’m guessing this is why. They get territorial as they get older, and they don’t share.

If Knox meets another Omega, or if I meet another Alpha over the next few years, he won’t want to be my friend anymore.

Chapter IV

“And the winner is… Knox Beckett!” the announcer cheers and all my friends pat me on the back as I spring up from my seat to collect my award for the fastest time completing the obstacle course. I had a feeling I was the winner for that one, even against Alphas who are older than me.

My time at camp has been extraordinary and I can’t believe I’m going home today. It feels like I just arrived yesterday!