Page 3 of The Omega Lesson

I snort as I gather up my bag and head out. It’s nearly five o’clock, but no one told summer it’s time to pull up stumps, and the sun is still high in the sky. Heat bounces off the dark red pavers that line the school, instantly triggering a waterfall down my spine. I really need a shower, but instead of heading home, I find my feet taking me in the direction of the school’s swimming pool.

Like everything at Prendiville, it was funded from a hefty family donation and is the best that wealthy pack money can buy. Olympic sized, it’s surrounded by stadium seating, but I duck into the shade under a lifeguard station. The scent of chlorine rises in a cloudy haze to greet me as I watch the half dozen swimmers speed down the pool.

I’m not sure if it’s just training or a real race, but a group of students are standing at the edge of the pool. They’re in uniform, but their sleeves are rolled up, money flashing from hand to hand as they hoot and stomp their feet. I catch snatches of commentary, and realise someone’s challenging for a spot on the school’s top relay team.

And with less than half a lap to go, one of the swimmers suddenly pulls away from the pack. He powers down the pool, and in no time at all, his hand is slapping the wall, his head turning as he pulls off his swim cap. He’s smirking as he takes in the groaning gamblers, but then his gaze fixes on me.

A huge smile splits his face, and he hoists himself out of the pool. I shiver, even though it’s a bit like watching the sun rise over the ocean after a long, cold night. There’s nothing else on the landscape that can compete for my attention. Which probably isn’t the best mindset when one of your students is making a beeline for you… in nothing but a tiny pair of Speedos and a huge grin.

I know I should leave before things get awkward, but my feet are stuck to the ground. Even when the crowd turns, curious to see where he’s headed, I can’t convince myself to move. And as he strides towards me, not even stopping for a towel, I feel my heart speed up and my throat close over.

Itshouldbe at the thought of his guardian coming to ream me at tonight’s conference.

Or because the sports master is watching him, clearly unimpressed by his abrupt departure from the pool.

But all I can focus on is the way he so perfectly fills the space in front of me. His mile-wide smile. His sparkling hazel eyes. His broad shoulders and six feet of glowing honey skin.

This close to Matthew Cliff, nothing else matters.

And as he stops in front of me, water-drops gleaming on his dirty blond hair and sliding down his chest, all I can wonder is if his guardian knows I kissed his brother until my lips throbbed.

And that I’m desperate to do it again.

Lexi

I’ve made what some people might call less-than-stellar life choices. I’m a twenty-three-year-old single mum, living in a campus rental, and holding onto my first real job by the skin of my teeth. And I’m not only on shaky ground at school but also with my family. My mum left when I was sixteen, but I still see my dad and my older brother Anton once a month. They work for the same law firm as my ex-husband, Richard, and have never really forgiven me for our divorce. Doesn’t matter that Richard was the one who left – in their eyes, I wasn’t alpha enough to hold on to him.

But I’m certain those transgressions would fade into the background if they knew I was dreaming about kissing my teenage student.

Again.

Bad Lexi.

“Hey, Miss,” Matthew says in that deep, gravelly voice that doesn’t belong in the body of a teenager. “Did you come to see me race?”

“No.” I can’t believe how breathless one word can sound, and I shake my head, trying to clear it of his soft, minty scent. “I wanted to make sure you’re alright. Matthew, I’m so sorry Drummond punished you…”

He cuts me off with a snort. “It was nothing. Don’t stress.”

“But Iamstressed. You were my responsibility, and he had no right.”

“Maybe not.” He lifts a shoulder in a careless shrug. “But I was mooching around, instead of being in class. And when he told me to explain myself, I told him to go eat a bag of dicks.”

“Oh, my God.”

“Forget it. I have.” His megawatt smile is back. “And I’ll take anything he wants to dish out, if it gets me some aftercare from you.”

I gape at him. “That’s not what this is.”

“No? Cos you’re giving off some pretty powerful nuzzling vibes, Miss.”

Nuzzling vibes? Alphas don’t nuzzle, except in the aftermath of an omega heat. Which instantly gets me flustered. Why am I thinking about heats? It’s not like I’ve been asked to attend one, or am ever likely to attend one… Shit. I can feel a flush rising above the collar of my shirt as he watches me with those gold-flecked eyes.

I really need to go cool down…

But I can’t seem to stop my gaze from snapping to Mattie’s neck.

Which makes my temperature spike even more. Because I really, really want to nuzzlethat.

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