Chapter 36

Victoria Station was teeming with people. Nathan navigated through the crowds, passing theaters advertising musicals, long queues of black cabs, and iconic red buses as he entered the railway terminal. This was his first time taking a train alone.

He scanned his surroundings quietly, noting the brand-name grocery stores, bookstores, and baguette shops lining the concourse. After glancing toward the Underground entrance, he began to walk slowly, gauging which direction Alex would arrive from. He could have just called, but a strange whim took hold of him.

He wanted to find Alex without saying a word, much like how he’d discovered the boy waiting for him in the station once before. He wanted to see that sharp, handsome face turn toward him and blossom into a radiant smile, even if “radiant” was an odd word for someone with such striking features.

Where are you?

He visualized Alex’s calm, steady gait, the way he usually looked slightly downward, his dark brown hair falling over his forehead, and the way his fingers gripped his bag. With that image in mind, Nathan moved toward the center of the station.

Standing amidst the throngs of commuters in the vast, open space, Nathan’s eyes locked onto a single spot. There, as if by magic, he spotted Alex. A height that towered over others was certainly an advantage in a crowd. He was easy to find. Nathan decided that this was perhaps the only time he actually appreciated Alex being taller than him.

He stood still, watching as Alex drew closer. He wondered if the boy would pass by without noticing him, but he waited nonetheless. Finally, as Alex brushed past, he jerked his head up in surprise. Their eyes met.

They said Alphas and Omegas could sense each other through pheromones alone. Standing in this sea of people, Nathan couldn’t detect Alex’s scent, but he could recognize him instantly. If I can’t smell your pheromones, I’ll just have to carve your image into my mind that much deeper. He would make it so he could see him without needing any of those biological markers.

He’d put a lot of thought into this. This was the first time he’d ever actually liked someone. He liked Alex. He wanted to believe that the side Alex showed him was reserved for him alone. No, he knew it was.

Nathan still had no idea what it would be like to date someone who wasn’t a Beta, so he had spent considerable time contemplating how to make Alex feel comfortable in this relationship. He still didn’t quite understand things like ruts, but he wanted to try. He wanted to reach a point where their incompatible biology didn’t matter, where the fact that they couldn’t help each other through their cycles didn’t even cross their minds.

“Have you been waiting long?”

The gloom that had been clinging to Alex’s face slowly evaporated. He hurried forward, asking the question with a touch of hesitation, the sharp slant of his eyes softening into something gentle. Nathan shook his head.

“No. I just got here myself.”

“That’s a relief.” Alex offered a bashful smile before asking tentatively, “Can I ask where we’re going?”

Nathan looked at him for a moment before producing the tickets. Alex took one of the orange slips Nathan had already purchased.

“Let’s go see the sea.”

Alex stared down at the word Brighton printed on the ticket before looking back at Nathan in disbelief. “Really?”

“Yeah. You said you’d never seen it properly.”

“I didn’t think you’d remember that.” Alex smiled, clutching the ticket as if it were precious. As his expression brightened, he made that familiar face, biting his lip to hide a shy grin. “How much was the ticket?”

“Don’t worry about it.”

“No, let me pay you back. You’re always the one giving me things.”

“Then buy me something once we get there.” Nathan held out his free hand. Alex blinked. “Let’s go.”

Alex didn’t take his hand immediately, simply staring at him. Nathan went silent, noting the contrast to the past few weeks, where Alex had always taken his hand when offered despite his initial hesitation. Alex wore a strangely haunted expression before slowly reaching out.

Nathan felt a dull ache in his chest. Something felt off, something lingering beneath the surface.

Should I have just confessed to him then?

Nathan stared at their joined hands, remembering the night two days ago. He had asked that leading question because he suspected Alex liked him but lacked the absolute certainty. Now, he felt a twinge of regret.

“Yeah, let’s go.”

But the prickle of unease slowly faded as Alex squeezed his hand and smiled. A wave of relief washed over Nathan as he realized that the sensation had merely been the anxiety of potential rejection. The moment the thought crossed his mind, he tightened his grip on Alex’s hand.

“Platform 3.”

It was okay, Nathan thought calmly. If he hadn’t said it that day, he could just say it today.

☂