Page 52 of The Omega Archives: Part Three

Voices started up through the classroom and outside in the hall, signaling the end of class. It would be wrong to stay here longer than necessary.

“We have to go,” I whispered.

Lucas kept hold of my hand, not letting me get farther than standing in front of him. “You aren’t going anywhere. You can’t go to courting starting tonight. I can’t let this be the last time I see you. It is, you realize, right?”

“I…” Hadn’t. I hadn’t even thought of that and I spent most of the class inside of my head.

“Unless this is one-sided?” Lucas asked, searching for an answer.

I didn’t want to answer, it was already too obvious.

"I can't let it be the last time," Lucas repeated, his eyes searching mine for a response, for any sign that I felt the same way he did. And the truth was, I did.

But my circumstances, and my past promises, tied me down in ways that I couldn't easily break free from.

I reached out to touch his face, memorizing the warmth and kindness in his gaze.

"It's not one-sided," I whispered, my voice barely audible over the sounds of students shuffling outside the classroom. "But I can't risk involving you in this mess. It's complicated, Lucas."

He didn't back away.

Instead, he leaned closer, his breath mingling with mine. "Let me help you," he pleaded, his green eyes filled with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

I hesitated, torn between the desire to protect him from the chaos of my life and the longing for someone to stand by my side through it all.

Lucas stood up from his chair and drew me into a tight embrace, holding me close as if he never wanted to let go. “I’m going to figure something out.”

“Ok.”

“Just keep things slow. There is a traditional aspect of courting. Nothing can happen. Not right away. Not even with anything already set. You have a write to… court. Fully. Take it. And I will take the time to make this better.”

“How?”

“I don’t know,” he admitted. “Maybe I’ll leave school and we run away together.”

I barked a laugh until… “You’re serious.”

“For you. I… I never wanted someone like this before, Ella.”

“I want you too.” So much.

“Good. Then it had to work between us, didn't it? My dad might help and if not… we can fix this.”

“What if–”

“It’s fate. You can’t tear apart fate,” said Lucas. “Right?”

I once thought that. With him, it was all too easy to want to again.

“Right,” I whispered, looking at him and feeling like my heart was about to explode in my chest with every moment I held his hands in mine. Yet my words shook. Not from fear or upset, but because I wish that I could be so sure, so happy like him.

It almost reminded me of Cal, trying to get me to let loose and have all the faith in the world in what was in store.

In him. In his pack.

And I had once. Hadn’t I?

Even for a short amount of time. Now, I was here in front of Lucas whose thumbs gently whispered back and forth over the backs of my palms.

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