CHAPTER 60: A GIFT FROM THE CENTRE!

The lecture hall buzzed with the low hum of students packing up as the professor dismissed the class. Elias kept his head down, his hoodie pulled tight over his face.

His heart still raced even after the class, not just from the shock of Jace’s revelation about Viktor’s feelings, but from the weight of the stares he’d felt during class. The whispers had followed him the moment he’d said "present" during roll call, and now, as the lecture ended, he knew he had to move fast to avoid being cornered.

’I need to get out of here before they gather around my table and start asking me questions,’ He thought, his fingers gripping his notebook as he slipped toward the back door.

He moved quickly, weaving through the crowd of students, his hood shielding his face. The suppressants Dr Patel had given him were working, keeping his pheromones in check, and for the first time, he felt a sense of control over his body.

His phone kept buzzing as people kept tagging him and asking where he was. They wanted to see him and talked to him about this and that. He knew it was a lie.

’Why can’t these people just leave me alone?’

He thought, his jaw tight as he reached the hallway.

He was almost to the exit when a voice called out, "Elias!" His stomach dropped. He recognised that voice... Rowan, the guy who’d tormented him and also the same person who’d once taken his phone and laughed while Elias scrambled to get it back.

Elias froze, his instincts screaming to run, but he turned slowly, bracing himself. Rowan stood there with his usual group, three guys who always trailed him like shadows. Their expressions weren’t hostile, though, which threw Elias off.

Rowan looked more like a gangster since he was tall and broad with a buzz cut and a piercing in one ear, which gave him a confused look; his brows furrowed.

"What the hell, man?" Rowan said, crossing his arms. "Why do you look like you’re about to bolt?"

Elias blinked, his hands clenching into fists. "Aren’t you... gonna hit me or something?" he asked, his voice low, his eyes darting between Rowan and his friends.

Rowan’s frown deepened, and he let out a short laugh. "Hit you? Why would I do that?"

Elias’s shoulders relaxed slightly, though he stayed on guard. "I don’t know. You and your guys... You used to mess with me in our first year."

Rowan rolled his eyes, but there was no malice in it.

"That was last year, Kane. We’re not kids anymore." He stepped closer, his nose twitching as he sniffed the air. Elias tensed, realising Rowan was picking up the faint trace of his pheromones, even with the suppressants. "Your scent’s different," Rowan said, his voice curious. "Faint, but... strong. Weird."

Elias took a step back, his heart racing. "What do you want, Rowan?"

Rowan held up his hands, his expression softening.

"Chill, man. I’m just saying be careful. Word’s out that you’re an omega now. People are talking, and not everyone’s gonna be nice about it."

Elias’s brows furrowed, confusion mixing with suspicion. "Careful? Why are you telling me this?"

One of Rowan’s friends, a lanky guy with a shaved head, piped up.

"His little brother got grabbed last month. Shady stuff’s been happening to omegas lately."

Rowan shot the guy a glare, his jaw tight. "Shut it, Derek."

Elias’s eyes widened, a memory flashing through his mind... those men who’d tried to grab him last month, the ones he’d barely escaped.

"I’m... I’m sorry about your brother," he said, his voice soft.

Rowan’s glare softened, but he waved a hand dismissively.

"Don’t need your apologies, Kane. Just watch your back, alright? Especially with that field trip tomorrow."

Elias’s stomach twisted. "Field trip? What are you talking about?"

Rowan raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "You didn’t sign up? Your name’s on the list. I saw it on the bulletin board this morning."

Elias shook his head, his mind racing.

"I didn’t put my name down. Maybe... Jace did?"

Rowan let out a sharp laugh, muttering under his breath,

"That bastard." He looked back at Elias, his tone serious. "Look, just be careful with Jace. The guy’s a nutcase. He thinks he owns you or something."

Elias couldn’t help but laugh, the tension easing slightly.

"Yeah, I’m starting to figure that out. Thanks, Rowan."

Rowan’s cheeks flushed slightly, and he scratched the back of his head, looking almost embarrassed.

"Yeah, whatever. Just... don’t forget your pills tomorrow. We’ll see you on the trip." He turned, gesturing for his friends to follow, and they headed down the hallway, leaving Elias standing there, his mind spinning.

As Rowan’s group disappeared around the corner, Elias’s thoughts drifted back to what Dr Patel had told him about his Siren’s Voice... the ability to influence people when his pheromones were active. In high school, he’d noticed people acting strange around him, drawn to him without explanation, and it had scared him. Now, knowing it was tied to his omega status, it made sense, but it also made him uneasy.

’Is that why Rowan’s being nice?’ He wondered, shaking his head. He groaned in frustration, his plans to hit the cheap market for clothes forgotten as his phone rang.

He glanced at the screen... Dr. Patel. His heart skipped a beat as he answered. "Hello?"

"Elias," Dr Patel’s calm voice came through. "Are you free to stop by the matching centre today? I have something for you."

Elias hesitated, then nodded, even though the doctor couldn’t see him. "Yeah, I can come now. I’ll be there soon."

"Great," Dr Patel said. "I’m expecting you." The call cut off abruptly, and Elias frowned, pocketing his phone. He flagged down a cab and headed to the matching centre, his mind buzzing with questions.

At the centre, a nurse led him straight to Dr Patel’s office. The doctor looked up from his desk with a smile as soon as he entered.

"Elias, good to see you. Take a seat."

Elias sat, his bag on the floor beside him. "Is this about finding a partner?" he asked, his voice tinged with nervousness. "I told you I... I’m not ready,"

Dr Patel shook his head, his expression reassuring.

"No, I didn’t call you about that today. I have something for you." He reached into a drawer and pulled out two packages, sliding them across the desk. "First, this." He opened the smaller package, revealing a sleek black watch. "All omegas are required to wear one of these. Why don’t you have one?"

Elias shrugged, his cheeks warming. "I... never thought of myself as an omega, really. And I didn’t know about it."

Dr Patel raised an eyebrow, surprised. "When did you first present as an omega?"

"Three years ago," Elias said. "My last year of high school. I was seventeen."

"So it’s a late blooming," The doctor nodded, jotting something down. "This watch monitors your health... blood pressure, heart rate, and your heat cycles. If your heat starts, it’ll beep twice and alert the centre. Three beeps mean it’s critical, and you’ll need a partner soon. Four beeps... You need to be with an alpha immediately. Your life could be at risk."

Elias’s face paled, the thought of being with an alpha making his stomach churn.

"I... I’ve never done that," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

Dr Patel’s expression softened. "I know that. But, how have you been managing your heats, then? They can be painful without a partner."

Elias shifted uncomfortably. "Pain suppressants. Sleeping pills. I take them for three to five days, and the heat goes away."

The doctor sighed, shaking his head.

"That’s why you’ve been so weak, Elias. Suppressing your heat like that... It’s dangerous. Your body needs to process them properly." He opened the second package, revealing a large, discreetly packaged toy. Elias’s eyes widened, and he quickly looked away, his cheeks burning.

"This is for dominant omegas," Dr Patel said, his tone clinical. "We adjusted it specifically for you. Use it if the watch beeps twice. It’ll help manage your heat safely."

Elias nodded, still avoiding eye contact as he took the package and shoved it into his bag. "Thanks," he mumbled. "Is that all?"

Dr Patel leaned back, his expression serious. "One more thing. I need you to come back after tomorrow for a matching test. We need to assess your compatibility with a potential partner,"

Elias’s heart sank. "I have a field trip tomorrow," he said, his voice tight.

The doctor frowned, then nodded.

"Alright. Let me know when you’re back, and we’ll schedule it. Be safe, Elias."

Elias stood, slipping the watch onto his wrist and slinging his bag over his shoulder.

"I will. Thanks, Dr Patel." He left the office, his mind racing as he stepped back into the cab waiting outside. The weight of the watch on his wrist felt like a reminder of his new reality, and the package in his bag only added to his unease.

"I hope there never comes a time when I’ll need that toy,"