CHAPTER 89: THE RUN!

Rin’s breathing slowed. He dragged his focus away from the pulsing anger in his chest and looked at Ezra. Getting furious isn’t going to protect him.

"Fine," he said, his voice quieter but sharp. "I’ll pack some things."

Ezra nodded once, stepping back toward the hallway.

"I’ll stand outside. If the knights come sooner than expected, I’ll stall them."

"You..." Rin gave him a thin look. "You’re willing to stall for me? You do realise that makes you an accomplice, right?"

Ezra didn’t even blink.

"I realise. But... It won’t stop the fact that I’m trying to protect you. So hurry up, Rin,"

That was a problem. But Rin couldn’t think about it just yet. He groaned in annoyance as he shut the door and turned to face the room. His room. It wasn’t much... just a narrow bed, a desk, and a couple of shelves. Somehow, it looked smaller now.

He sighed heavily.

"I’m going to become a criminal... No." His mouth twisted. "I’ve been a criminal since the moment I stepped into this cursed world."

His eyes darted from the desk to the shelves.

"What the hell do I even take?"

In the end, he went for the quickest option... dumping armfuls of things into his inventory. His books, a jar of salve, a bunch of scent blockers, suppressants, and half a box of sweets he was gifted by his stalkers. Even his drawer... the one that had refused to open for months... he just shoved it all in, drawer and all.

Then he yanked a few shirts and trousers from the wardrobe, rolled them messily, and shoved them into a worn bag. The strap bit into his shoulder as he slung it on.

When he opened the door, Ezra was right there. "Ready?"

"Ready."

"Great! Let’s move!" Ezra said and turned to head for the entrance. They didn’t even take a full step before...

BANG!

The sound came from downstairs. Muffled voices echoed through the wood, and then...

"Search the dorms! The omega is here somewhere!"

Rin froze mid-breath. That voice. He’d heard it before... firm, deep, cold. The commander of the enforcers.

Boots thundered against the floor below as they began raiding all the rooms.

Ezra’s eyes narrowed.

"They’re starting from the ground up."

Rin’s heart pounded. He’d seen this before. He remembered how the guards moved, how they searched, the way they dragged an omega out like prey before slamming a silver collar around his neck. Only this time, it wasn’t someone else.

It was him.

He should have known. His identity could never stay hidden forever. And thanks to Lucien, he was now a target. He didn’t want to get dragged out like a nobody. He didn’t want that collar slammed around his neck.

Ezra didn’t give him time to think. He suddenly scooped Rin up like he weighed nothing before barging into Rin’s room.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Rin hissed, squirming.

"I’m jumping."

"We’re on the third floor, you lunatic!" Rin reminded him.

Ezra shot him a look. "Well, I’m an Alpha."

Rin didn’t have time to argue before the world tilted... Ezra launched them both out the open window.

Wind rushed against Rin’s ears, his stomach dropping like a stone. He bit his lip to stop himself from screaming, and then... thud... Ezra landed in a crouch, his arms steady.

Rin clung to him for half a second before shoving at his chest.

"You could’ve broken my neck!"

"But I didn’t," Ezra said simply, already breaking into a run. "Hold on tight,"

The ground blurred beneath them, and when Rin risked a glance over his shoulder, his blood ran cold. Knights were already leaning out of his window, shouting and pointing at them.

"They saw us!" Rin gasped. "They’ve found us already!"

Ezra didn’t slow.

"Ezra," Rin said sharply. "Put me down. Let them take me. You’ll just get in trouble..."

"I’m glad you’re worried about me, but that’s not happening."

"I’m serious!" Rin pushed at him harder. "You don’t understand..." He stopped himself, but his throat tightened. "...You’ll die if you keep helping me."

He remembered that in the original book, Ezra died helping the female lead. He didn’t want Ezra to die in this life because of him. No!

"Ezra..." He tried to speak but Ezra glanced at him briefly, his expression unreadable.

"Since you promised to protect me, you’d better make sure I don’t."

Rin swallowed. The words sat heavy in his chest.

.

.

Meanwhile, in another part of the academy...

Lucien hummed softly to himself as he buttoned his formal jacket, the black fabric gleaming under the light. His graduation party was starting soon, and his mood was... pleasant.

Last night’s memories played in his mind like a private film. The sound of Rin’s soft voice, the lewd way he’d looked under him, the quiet moments afterwards. He hadn’t gotten as much time as he wanted with Rin, but he knew that he had spent much time with Rin already.

A commotion outside his door broke the thought. He frowned and opened it, stepping into the corridor.

Students... both in their graduation robes and plain clothes... were running, whispering, shouting over each other.

Lucien caught one by the arm. "What’s going on?"

The boy’s eyes were wide.

"Someone from the staff dorm is being chased by the enforcers. An omega."

Lucien’s gut tightened.

"Who? Who is it?"

The boy shrugged.

"I... I have no idea,"

Lucien’s hands flexed at his sides.

’It couldn’t be Rin. It mustn’t be Rin. There’s no way Rin’s identity would be revealed,’

Then a voice from downstairs cut through the noise...

"Everyone! It’s the clinic assistant! He’s an omega!"

"Oh my! The cute one?"

"I knew he wasn’t Beta! He’s too cute to be one,"

"I should have seduced him more. Haha!"

The whispers erupted, full of confirmation and judgment.

Lucien swore under his breath and shoved the boy aside.

He gave himself no time to think as he rushed outside the dorm.

He followed the faintest trace in the air... the sharp, familiar scent Rin had carried last night. Even if every corridor smelled of perfume and sweat, Lucien could still find him.

.

.

Ezra skidded to a stop at the back of the academy, setting Rin down behind a cluster of thick bushes.

"Stay here. Keep your pheromones locked down," Ezra ordered. "There’s no way we can get through the gates now since they are searching everywhere for you. I’ll circle back after the party. Then I’ll take you to the temple."

Rin stared at him.

"Why are you being nice to a demon?"

Ezra hesitated.. then smiled faintly. "I have no idea."

Rin’s throat burned unexpectedly as tears rolled down before he could stop them.

Ezra brushed one away with his thumb.

"Stay here, Rin. I’ll be back."

"What if something happens to you?" Rin’s voice cracked.

Ezra smiled again, softer.

"You already promised to protect me, remember? I’ll look forward to your protection,"

Rin stared at him, the words caught in his chest. Again. Ezra turned and ran.

Left alone, Rin sat in the bushes, trying to steady his breath.

He thought of Ezra’s words as more tears ran down his cheek. He tried not to think of what Lucien did to him. His betrayal. He clasped his palms together as he prayed to whatever goddess or demon king out there to protect Ezra. He doesn’t care what happens to himself but he doesn’t want to feel guilty for the rest of his life if anything happens to Ezra.

He clenched his fist hard...

DING!

[System: Emotional spike detected.]

[WARNING: Emotional state rising - 75%]

Rin released his fists, trying to calm himself down.

Just when he thought he could stay hidden, he heard it.

Footsteps. Loud ones.

Not one. Not two. Over twenty. The sound of boots pounding against the ground, rushing straight toward him.

"Wait! Have I been..."