Nari was awakened by a sharp scream.
– No… let go! Don’t touch me!!!
The boy was delirious, cold sweat beading on his forehead. His body shook as if in painful convulsions, tossing on the bed. Nari felt his fear. She tried to lay him down on the pillow, but as soon as she touched him, he shot up. His blue eyes shone in the dark, and he roared with all his might:
– I said – don’t touch me!!!
The walls shook. The girl’s body was covered in goosebumps. For a second, she froze, unable to even breathe. The room filled with a sharp smell of mint, ozone, and blood. Nari was familiar with this feeling. This was how a roar sounded. The boy on her couch was an Alpha. But something about his roar was strange. He was breathing heavily, trembling, tears frozen in his eyes. He was scared, confused. And suddenly, Nari realized that she wasn’t afraid of him.
– Calm down… – she reached out her hands to the young man’s face, – you’re safe.
Gently, barely touching, she pulled him to her and unleashed her call. A lilac mist spread through the room.
– Breathe. It’s okay… it’s all okay now, – the girl repeated the words she had heard from him earlier.
The trembling gradually ceased, and the young man’s breathing stabilized again. The roar began to fade. The mist of the call filled the space around them, enveloping the Alpha from head to toe. Nari held him close until he calmed down and fell asleep again. The girl laid him on the pillow and covered him with a blanket. Then she slid off the couch onto the floor and closed her eyes.
So, he had lied to her. It was strange that she hadn’t sensed the Alpha in him right away. Usually, omegas feel them subconsciously. It’s like a vibration throughout the body; you immediately understand that the one in front of you is dangerous. But it was different with him. Perhaps the scent of mint and rain was the smell of his roar. But why had he not frightened her at all? Why had he yielded to her call and fallen asleep? She had done it unconsciously; somehow, it seemed that it would help… but why?
– Nari!!! – fists began to pound on the door, pulling her from her thoughts, – Nari! Are you okay?!
The girl barely got up from the floor and headed to the door. Leo stood on the threshold. Terror and panic frozen in his eyes. His legs trembled, barely able to support him. Holding onto the door, he tried not to fall.
– You… the roar… – Leo stammered, – the whole dorm heard it… there’s mass hysteria… Diona’s unconscious… I thought... I thought I heard… Nari?...
Leo froze. Nari, who was very susceptible to the roar of Alphas, stood before him, puzzled, but the roar had not bound her in chains like it had everyone else. As if sensing, Leo shoved the door open with all his might and burst into her apartment. His gaze immediately locked onto the couch.
– What the hell?! – he grabbed her by the waist.
– Leo, please! Don’t scream!!! – the girl hissed at him, – do you want people to rush over because of your yelling?!
Leo, as if coming to his senses, closed the door behind him and pressed the girl against the wall.
– Are you insane?! How?! Why did you bring an Alpha here?!!
– I didn’t know he was an Alpha…
– Are you kidding?!
– Leo, I swear, I didn’t sense his roar!!!
– That’s impossible!
– But it’s true! I’m not lying! When we first met, he didn’t deny it when I called him a beta!
– Is this the same beta?! The one who was chasing you?!
– He saved my life, Leo! Three times! And by the way, yours too!
– So it’s him?! The one from Sigma?!
– Yes! He just protected me! I just want to repay him!
Leo’s gaze fixated on the boy sleeping on the couch. He took a few steps toward him and froze.
– Nari… do you even know who you brought here?! – his voice trembled.
– A guy who saved my life, – the girl repeated stubbornly.
– Don’t you watch the news?! – Leo turned to her, – he’s a fugitive being sought in every corner of Katoria. A dominant alpha who attempted to assassinate the president of the Favorit corporation!!! You brought the son of Saifer here!!! Noah Adelson!!!
– They… they don’t look alike at all, – Nari could only manage to utter on an exhale.
Silence fell. Leo didn’t look at the girl. Various conflicting feelings and emotions surged within him. The boy wasn’t sure Nari understood the danger she was putting herself in. No one would dare approach the epicenter of a roar. Not even the beta supervisors. But if even one of the supervisors sensed it, if even one… that meant reports would be filed tomorrow morning stating the explosive roar in the middle of the ghetto last night. The control service would definitely be notified. If they found the fugitive alpha here, it would be trouble for everyone. All he could do was pray to the Great Tree for mercy and hope that there were neither Alphas nor hypersensitive betas nearby who could sense it. But why had only she not sensed his roar?
– Leo, – Nari touched his hand, – I’m begging you… let me heal him…
For the first time, the boy jerked his hand back. His gaze was cold and harsh.
– Let it be your way, – he said in a metallic tone, – but as soon as his wounds are healed – he better leave.
He walked to the door. He paused for a moment on the threshold.
– If Diona suffers because of your antics, I will never forgive you, – he whispered and stepped out.