CHAPTER 66: SAFETY FIRST!

The bus stopped halfway for a quick break at a rest stop. Students spilt out, grabbing food from a small diner or stretching their legs. Elias stayed on the bus, digging into the pile of snacks in his bag. He munched on chips and a candy bar, too tired to bother with anything else. The junk food was enough to keep him going, but the long day was catching up to him. He leaned his head against Rowan’s shoulder, his eyes drooping, and within minutes, he was asleep.

Mia noticed first, nudging Rowan with a grin.

"Look at that. You’re his pillow now."

Rowan glanced down, a faint blush creeping up his neck.

"Yeah, yeah," he muttered, trying to play it cool. But as his hand brushed Elias’s cheek to adjust his position, he froze.

’How’s his skin this soft?’ he thought, his heart racing. He shook it off, reminding himself he saw Elias like a brother, nothing more. Still, the moment felt... different.

Students nearby started whispering, their phones out.

"They look cute together," a girl said, snapping a photo. "Post it to the group chat!" another urged. The photo went up, and the class chat exploded with comments.

’Why’s Elias so cosy with Rowan?’

’Where’s Jace? I thought they were a thing!’ The students on other buses chimed in, joking about missing the "cute moment." Someone clarified, ’Nah, they’re just friends. Jace and Elias aren’t dating.’

Jace, scrolling through the chat, felt his stomach twist. The photo of Elias asleep on Rowan’s shoulder burned into his mind.

’That should be me,’ he thought, his hands clenching around his phone. He forced himself to take a deep breath, muttering, "Calm down, Jace. You’ll get your chance at the hotel. Maybe we’ll be roommates." The thought was a lifeline, a way to stay close to Elias, to fix things.

The bus finally pulled into the hotel parking lot, a large but modest building with clean lines and a neon sign flickering in the dark. It was nearly midnight, and the journey was longer than expected due to traffic. The students grabbed their bags, yawning as they shuffled out. Rowan gently shook Elias, his fingers brushing his cheek again. "Hey, Elias, wake up. We’re here."

Elias stirred, yawning widely. "Already?" He glanced out the window, blinking at the pitch-black night. "Man, that took forever."

Rowan chuckled, pointing outside. "Yeah, check it out. Middle of nowhere."

Elias rubbed his eyes, grabbing his bag as he followed the group off the bus. Dr Harris led them to the receptionist, a brisk woman who handed out keys. "Rooms are booked," she said. "Three students per room, except for one. Group yourselves and come get your keys."

The students quickly formed groups, chattering as they picked roommates. Elias hung back, his stomach twisting at the thought of sharing a room with strangers. He wasn’t sure how he’d handle it, but he didn’t want to make a fuss. As the groups formed, it came down to the last three... Elias, Jace, and Rowan.

Dr Harris handed out the final keys, her expression neutral.

"Jace, Rowan, you’re sharing a room," she said, passing them a key.

Jace’s eyes widened, his voice sharp. "What? Why?"

Dr Harris raised an eyebrow. "We paid for an extra room for the only omega in the group. Elias gets his own space for safety."

Elias’s shoulders relaxed, a wave of relief washing over him. "Thank you," he said, taking his key with a grateful nod.

Dr Harris smiled. "Lock your door when you go to sleep, Elias. Standard precaution."

Elias nodded, clutching the key tightly. Jace, meanwhile, shot Rowan a glare, his frustration evident.

’I’m stuck with him?’ he thought, his mood souring. Rowan’s expression mirrored his... neither was thrilled about sharing a room.

Dr Harris clapped her hands, drawing everyone’s attention.

"Alright, listen up. Here are the rules: keep quiet in your rooms. No fighting, no wandering around late at night. We got here late, so you’ll wake up at 10, eat breakfast in the hotel cafeteria, and head to the health centre by noon. Understood?"

"Yes!" the students chorused.

Dr Harris’s eyes narrowed. "Anyone who breaks these rules, your entire room fails my course. So behave, or you’re all in trouble." The students immediately started muttering warnings to each other, determined not to mess up. Elias, alone in his room, felt a quiet relief... he didn’t have to worry about anyone else’s behaviour.

The group dispersed, heading to their rooms. Elias didn’t say a word to anyone, his exhaustion weighing heavily. In his room, he dropped his bag on the floor, ate a handful of chips from his stash, and headed for the bathroom. He showered quickly, brushed his teeth, and collapsed onto the bed, too tired to unpack properly. He thought about taking his suppressant pills but decided against it, muttering,

"I’ll take them tomorrow." His body felt heavy, and he just wanted to sleep.

As he closed his eyes, his watch beeped twice, the sound was faint and unnoticed. He’d silenced it during the museum tour, as instructed, and hadn’t turned it back on. Unaware, Elias drifted into a restless sleep, oblivious to the warning that his heat was starting to stir.

.

.

Meanwhile, in the room next door, Jace and Rowan were unpacking in tense silence. Jace tossed his bag onto one of the beds, his movements sharp, while Rowan leaned against the wall, scrolling through his phone. The air was thick with unspoken hostility, neither willing to break the ice.

Finally, Rowan spoke, his tone casual but pointed. "So, you’re gonna sulk all night, Voss? Or you wanna talk about why you’re so pissed?"

Jace’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t look up. "I’m not pissed. I just don’t like you."

Rowan snorted, tossing his phone onto his bed. "Feeling’s mutual. But we’re stuck here, so maybe chill out. Elias doesn’t need you acting like a guard dog."

Jace’s head snapped up, his eyes narrowing. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

"It means you’re smothering him," Rowan said, crossing his arms. "You’re all over him, and he’s clearly not into it. Back off a bit, man."

Jace’s hands clenched into fists, his voice low. "You don’t know anything about me and Elias."

"I know he’s not your boyfriend," Rowan said, his tone blunt. "And I know he’s not comfortable with you hovering. You want him to like you? Give him space."

Jace’s chest tightened, Rowan’s words hitting too close to home. "Why do you care so much about Elias?" he asked, his voice sharp. "You got a thing for him or what?"

Rowan’s brows lifted, and he laughed, shaking his head.

"Nah, man. He’s like a little brother to me. I just don’t want him getting hurt. This city’s not safe for omegas... you heard what happened to my brother. I’m not letting that happen to Elias."

Jace’s anger softened slightly, but he didn’t trust Rowan’s motives. "So you’re just playing hero?"

Rowan shrugged, his smirk returning. "Call it what you want. But if you really care about Elias, you’ll stop acting like you own him. Maybe then he’ll see you as more than a clingy friend."

Jace didn’t respond, his mind racing. He wanted to argue, to tell Rowan to mind his own business, but the words stuck in his throat. Instead, he turned away, unpacking his bag in silence. Rowan watched him for a moment, then sighed and grabbed his own bag, pulling out a change of clothes.

After all, they’ve got a big day tomorrow.