The Fall

RYDER

Instead of answering my question, she gasps like I scared her, and without a word, starts to walk away from me.

I scoff indignantly as I stare at her retreating figure. Will this girl ever cease to amaze me? Granted, I just met her, so I don't know what she's like, but if this is how she acts toward the future Alpha of her pack, how does she treat everyone else?

I have to jog to catch up to her, and once I do, I grab her arm to stop her. Irritation courses through me, thick and prickly, at the realization that I was just ignored. Openly. Right to my face. "Are you deaf? I asked you a question!"

She tears her arm out of my grip. "And I clearly don't want to answer it! What kind of question is that, anyway? Why would I be hurt?"

"Because Professor Denver has a reputation around here. You don't know? You haven't heard?"

Her eyes are a little wide, but she's trying to mask her nervousness. I can tell. "What kind of reputation?"

I shake my head at her. I can't stop myself from doing so. "All this cheek and you're not in the school's secrets? What, your friends don't talk to you about the rumors?"

My question makes her shift her weight from one foot to the other. She shrugs. "I don't have any friends, so no, I don't know what you're talking about."

I stare at her face intensely as I try to absorb what she said. "What do you mean? How don't you have friends? There are other Omegas here."

She folds her arms. "Ah, I see. Even you agree that I can only be friends with other Omegas."

Shame stabs me in the chest. I blurted that out so carelessly. When I'm around my group of friends, it's easier for me to talk about Omegas the way we do, bringing up how weak they are among other things.

But I shouldn't have brought it up in front of her.

"I didn't mean to say that."

"Yes, you did."

I clench my jaw. Arguing with her is impossible. I'm used to winning arguments, dammit. Nobody ever questions me? It's hard not to feel indignant when I'm around her. I'm the future Alpha.

What gives her the right to talk to me like this?

"That's not the point, is it?" I grit out. "We were discussing Professor Denver."

She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear and sighs. "Yes. Instead of telling me why you felt the need to wait for me, you made fun of the fact that I don't have friends, and even mentioned my rank in the most humiliating way possible."

I can't believe her. "That's horseshit and you know it. I didn't mean any of it like that. Look, Professor Denver is a predator, alright? If you can, avoid all interactions with him when there isn't anyone watching. That's all I wanted to say to you."

"And if he's such a predator, why didn't any of you report it yet? Is it because he's a Beta-born?" She scoffs. "Thanks for the warning."

As she walks away, I can tell she didn't believe my words. I shake my head once more. Did that really happen? She blew me off and walked away from me.

I'm so stunned that I almost forget that I have practice. If I don't make it there in time, Coach Murdock has permission to bench me for the rest of practice. I hurry there as fast as I can.

Our university's rink is right near the gym, so I have to hurry to make it there on time. By the time I reach the locker room, everyone's gone.

"Shit," I curse as I hurry to get my uniform on while grabbing my gear at the same time. No, I don't manage. I'm dropping shit and making a mess. And the worst? All this effort might not guarantee that I'll play.

I start toward the exit, barely seeing what's right in front of me, and bump into someone. A sound of displeasure leaves her lips, and I already know who it is.

Her eyes look daggers at me. "You again!"

This time, I can't hold my tongue. While tugging my shirt down my abdomen, I close the distance between us by inching my body closer to hers and say through clenched teeth, "I'm the future Alpha, you know that? You might have to think twice before you speak to me however you want."

"You're not the Alpha yet!" she retorts. "While you're at this university, we're all equal here. Aren't those the rules? That no student deserves any special treatment?"

I start to say something, but I hear Coach Murdock's voice and head toward it, leaving her behind in her medic's uniform.

He's standing right next to the door that leads to the rink, staring at his watch. I don't know how the hell I'll get out of this one. How do I tell him that his niece is the one responsible for my lateness?

Once he sees me, he bursts out, "That's unacceptable, Drexel!"

"I'm sorry, Coach," I pant. "I've had a shitty period."

"Period, huh?" He gives me a withering look. "Yeah, I don't doubt that, Princess. Go on. Get in the rink."

"Thanks, Coach," I say, elated that I was given a chance. Coach Murdock is rigorous. When he says something, he means it. He doesn't play around.

"What's the hold up, Ryder?" Zach asks me in a low voice. "You're never late. Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, don't worry about it."

I skate around the rink to warm up and he follows me. I look around and my gaze lands on Tyler Hawke. Anger, raw and senseless, expands in my chest. It doesn't even leave space for common sense. Why am I mad at him? Because of that Omega brat who has absolutely no manners? I did her a favor by staying behind and risking getting benched.

If it were another girl, I wouldn't have done it.

That's a pretty messed-up thing to think, right?

Tyler's gaze meets mine, and something passes between us. Then, after I skate past him, I see her. She's standing with her uncle, her arms folded. He seems to be scolding her for something. Though defiance is written all over her body language, her eyes are downcast, and she isn't saying a word.

At least there's someone she respects.

Suddenly, her eyes meet mine, and in them, I see a spark of something—something that sure as hell can't be explained. Before I can even try to figure out what it is I saw, I'm falling, and I land on my fucking face right in front of all my teammates.

"Whoa, Ryder!" Zach says right away as he reaches for me. I feel his hand on my shoulder as I get to my knees.

A split lip. My tongue darts out and tastes the blood. Well, it could've been worse.

The embarrassment, though.

"I'm fine," I assure him before standing. When I turn my head to look, she isn't there anymore. Coach Murdock yells, "Are you alright?"

Dammit. I've never felt more humiliated in my life.

I never fell before. Not unless someone tackled me. What the hell is this? I give him a thumbs up and hope that we'll get started.

I should get that girl out of my head. Like right now.

It's her damn fault I fell.