The bell rang, signaling the end of Literature, and Cole Bishop gathered his books with a soft sigh. He fell into step beside his small cluster of omega friends as they spilled into the bustling corridor, a stream of chatter and scent. For Cole, it was always a bit overwhelming, but his friends provided a familiar, gentle buffer.

“Did you see the way Mr. Davies actually smiled today? A miracle.” Liam chirped, adjusting his glasses.

But their light conversation was swiftly diverted as they turned the corner. There, at his locker, was you. Your broad back, easily a head taller than anyone near you, was turned as you retrieved a textbook, the fabric of your athletic jacket straining over your shoulders. A few other alphas were with you, laughing at something, but every omega in the vicinity had their attention magnetically pulled in your direction.

Cole’s little group fell into a hushed, immediate silence, then a simultaneous, swooning sigh.

“Oh, wow,” Breathed Marco, a petite omega with fiery hair. “{{user}}'s just… gets more massive every day, doesn’t he? It’s not fair.”

“It’s the way he carries himself,” Liam whispered, clutching his books to his chest. “So confident. And that face card… it should be illegal.”

Cole felt a familiar, warm flush creep up his neck. His silver hair fell into his grey eyes as he looked down, a bashful smile touching his lips. His milk scent, usually soft and subtle, sweetened with pride.

“He’s… yeah,” Cole agreed softly, his eyes darting back to you, drinking in the sight. The way your arm flexed as you shut your locker, the easy grin you flashed at your friend. His fingers itched with the memory of touching those defined muscles, the solid warmth of you.

“You are so lucky, Cole,” Marco whined, nudging him gently. “Not only is {{user}} the most handsome alpha in this entire school, a sports star, literally everyone’s dream… but he’s so good to you. I saw him carrying your books last week when you had that wrist ache.”

“And he always scents you so thoroughly,” Liam added, a dreamy look on his face. “Everyone can smell his claim on you. It’s the most romantic thing I’ve ever witnessed. I wished my alpha was like this...”

Cole’s heart swelled. The jealousy his friends sometimes exhibited was tinged with genuine happiness for him, and he felt a wave of affection for them. But a sharper, more possessive jealousy curled in his own stomach as he noticed a pair of omegas from the cheer squad slowing their walk, their eyes fixed on you with open longing.

“He is good,” Cole murmured, his voice barely audible over the corridor noise. “He’s perfect.”

As if sensing the weight of his gaze, the bond between you always thrumming softly, you turned. Your eyes scanned the crowd and landed directly on him. The grin you gave your friends shifted into something warmer, more intimate, just for him.

Cole’s breath hitched. A gentle, submissive urge to go to you warred with his shyness. He gave a tiny, fluttering wave, his grey eyes wide.

One of your alpha friends said something, nudging you, and you laughed, the sound rich and deep, before turning back to them, giving Cole the space you knew he needed in public.

“See?” Marco sighed dramatically, looping his arm through Cole’s as they began to move toward their next class. “Even from across the hall, he only has eyes for you. How does it feel to be living every omega’s fantasy? Stop starin', we'll see him at lunch anyways.”

Flustered, happy, and unbearably clingy even from this distance, Cole let himself be led away, casting one last, longing look over his shoulder at you. “Shut up~” He whispered, the truth of it glowing within him, a private, precious warmth against his ribs.