Omega Teacher’s Secret

you joined this lab, there were a couple of professors before you. I marked one of them because he asked me to. Remember Dale?”
Ian stared, remembering his ex-colleague. Dale was an omega, about Ian’s age. He’d always seemed sad and lonely when Ian saw him in the college. “Yeah, I remember him. He’s working at Gwen’s childcare center now. I think he’s happier there.”
“He was trying to avoid an alpha student. Didn’t work out in the end—they still got together. But that’s not the point. You aren’t the first, McMillan.”
Ian bit his lip. “What happened to them?”
June’s smile mellowed. “Dale was fired. But he was also dating the college president’s son, so that was tough. He’s not doing so bad now, though.”
He’d been fired? Ian’s stomach twisted. He couldn’t afford to be fired. Gods knew he needed the money.
“Oh, come on, don’t look so horrified.” June gave Ian’s shoulder a sympathetic squeeze. “If you need a pretend alpha, I’ll step in. Is Brad going to mind?”
“Cher won’t mind?” Ian asked, squirming.
June shrugged. “She sees it as karma. You help others, others will help you in return.”
Ian bit his lip. It was tempting to have that layer of protection, even if it wasn’t real. “I’d like to, I guess. If you don’t mind.”
June gave a lopsided smile. “Been a while since I’ve done this.”
She reached over, brushing her wrists across his forehead. Then, down his neck and across his shoulders, and down his arms. And now Ian smelled faintly like June’s birch scent.
It wasn’t much—June’s scent wasn’t a promise, not like Brad’s had been. It was still nice, though, prolonging his job security. “Thanks,” Ian said. “That’s very generous of you.”
“Need me to do anything else?”
“Inform Brad that he’s been dropped from the Master’s course.” Ian winced. “I don’t think he wants to hear it from me.”
June looked oddly at him. “Are you sure?”
“Positive.” Ian fidgeted. “Add that it was Harold Saxon’s imperative. I think he’ll be pissed.”
“Why aren’t you doing this yourself?” June asked. “I thought you were on good terms with him.”
Ian rubbed the itching scab on his arm. “I don’t know. It’s complicated. He… he found out about Gwen.”
“Oh, Ian.” June gave him a sympathetic look. Then she pulled him into a hug, patting his back. Her arms were strong, and she was warm against him, but she still wasn’t Brad. “Things will work out, just you see.”
Would they, really? Somehow, it seemed as though Ian’s life was one hurdle after another, one failed relationship after the next. “I hope so,” he said.
“They will,” June assured him. “Although I think Brad would prefer to hear it from you.”
Ian remembered Brad’s kiss at his apartment door. He wasn’t sure what that look in Brad’s eyes had been. It was impossible for Brad to love someone like him—Ian had far too many flaws. He was close to twice Brad’s age.
And yet… part of him still fluttered with hope.
He tucked his insecurities away, following June out of his office. Life still went on. They still had classes to teach.
* * *
Brad was waiting by Ian’s car at 8PM. Ian froze on the sidewalk, his heart stumbling in his chest.
“C’mon, Daddy,” Gwen said, tugging on his hand. “Brad’s waiting.”
Yeah, Ian could see that. Brad hadn’t showed up for class, and Ian had missed his presence. But maybe that was a good thing, because at least he could focus on teaching, instead of the one alpha who shook him to his core.
When he didn’t move, Brad began to walk over. Ian forced himself to step across the road. One foot in front of the other—he needed to keep moving. Get Gwen home and safe in bed.
He couldn’t hear anything past the thundering of his heart. He didn’t want to think about why Brad was waiting for him.
These past two weeks, Ian had been hugging himself, his mind a litany of He knows, he knows, he knows. Brad did know everything—Ian’s children, who their alpha dad was, and Ian’s terrible scars all over his skin.
Ian had expected Brad to be disgusted with him—gods knew Ian was plenty repulsed with himself.
You won’t amount to much, Ian’s mother had said a long time ago.
And yet Brad was here, his dark eyes boring into Ian, his gaze so heavy that Ian’s skin prickled. He gulped. Maybe Brad had just stopped by to confront him about the course.
At least Ian had an answer to that.
He sucked in a deep breath, then crossed the few remaining yards to Brad, wishing he could smile like Gwen was.
“Hello,” she said, waving at Brad. “Are you going to make the duck dinner today?”
Ian wanted to groan.
Brad smiled, waving back. “Depends on whether your dad lets me.”
Ian’s eyes snapped up, so fast they almost sprained.
Brad smiled at him, too. “Hey.”
“Hi,” Ian croaked, his stomach twisting into knots.
In the orange glow of the streetlamps, Brad looked good. He was wrapped in a sweater and dark pants, and Ian shouldn’t want to step back into his arms. He couldn’t believe Brad was here, making small talk with Gwen.
Well, maybe Brad was here to take Gwen away.
Ian unlocked his car, opening the passenger door so at least he had a say on where Gwen went. Omega parents didn’t have as much weight in court as their alpha counterparts.
“Hey.” Brad caught Ian’s arm, stepping close. “What’s wrong?”
Ian blinked hard. What was wrong? Everything. “Nothing.”
“You doing okay? I noticed you said nothing about the class today. Kindling emailed me.”
Ian winced. “Yeah. I asked her to.”
“How come?” Brad leaned in, and his nostrils flared. Then his eyes narrowed. “You smell like her.”
Ian flinched. Brad’s hand was warm. He smelled clean, like soap and walnut, and Ian desperately needed a hug. He’d been thinking about being found out all day, being fired, and the growing pile of bills back home. “Why are you still here?” he asked Brad.
“Why shouldn’t I be?” Brad frowned. “I missed out on Saturday because there was a two-alarm fire on Prime Road, just