Chapter 04 - A small problem

After that practice test, Jake had no peace.

For some reason, Matheus had told everyone about him being part of the team when he was in his first year of university, to the point where he had stepped on the court straight away. 

For a large university team like that, it was common for the freshmen to be in reserve, which increased curiosity about the alpha. The curiosity was taken up not only by the unknown team-mates, but also by some of the boys who wanted to join Rapoxia.

The questions themselves weren't that annoying in general, and he was happy to answer them since many were interested in his training routine and skills. 

The problem was when a specific question was thrown his way.

— Why did you stop playing?

When this question was asked, Jake kept quiet, trying his best not to show his annoyance. Even his friends would find a way to change the subject with a joke or an invitation to go out to eat just to divert attention. However, curiosity would continue to exist regardless of whether Jake answered or not.

— Let the carnival come! — Ricardo shouted along with the other players as they left the dressing room — A whole week off, doing nothing!

— Legend has it that if you say that three times in front of the gym, Coach Santiago will turn up with a training plan for you to do at home — Matheus teased as he hugged his friend.

— Don't joke about it! Nobody's taking my precious holiday away from me.

— It wouldn't be a bad idea to take advantage of the holiday to start a training routine.

Matheus turned to Guilherme and then cracked a huge smile. A smile that sent three different kinds of shivers down Jake's spine.

— It would be good, wouldn't it? It would be even better if someone experienced, but who was chastised as the team's reserve for walking out and breaking the coach's heart, could coach you personally.

Matheus stared blankly at Jake, who looked away, pretending it wasn't about him. Not that such a plan would work, since the tanned alpha was insistent with his gaze.

— Why should I train a libero? Besides, I have to work, carnival is the best time to earn money.

— Come on, you should do a good deed to pay for your sin.

— What sin?

— That of leaving without saying anything.

Matheus could be scary even when he smiled playfully. Jake already knew that story well. Even if he rejected the idea, his best friend would insist to the point of bothering him in the bathroom. Wasn't that how he'd beaten him out of his fatigues so that he'd go back to college?

— Haa... I'll think about it.

Amid the laughter of the players, that day's training had come to an end. At least Matheus was still a master at diverting the subject. He just didn't expect there to be a master of insistence.

— You seem uncomfortable when you touch on this subject.

Guilherme was curious too, but he never asked directly. He imagined that it was because they had started talking to each other more after they both started training with the volleyball team a week after the trial, which didn't give much room for intimacy. Even so, the beta's clear eyes sparkled as if he wanted to know his secret.

— A little, but it's nothing tragic or anything like that. It's more of a feeling of despondency that's taken hold of me.

— I think I understand — Guilherme sighed as he finished tying his shoelaces and leaned on his knee — Sometimes people just can't move on.

That sentence sounded much deeper than Jake had expected. At least he had the impression that Guilherme would be giving too much credit to the alpha's excuse. 

However, when he realised that the beta seemed to be immersed somewhere in the stands, Jake followed his gaze and realised that sitting in the last few rows was that masked guy.

Since the day the team's training sessions had started, that guy had been there. When the coach was on the court, he hid his presence in a corner at the side of the stands. But when the players were free, he sat in the last row and watched.

Jake realised that the masked man was there because of Guilherme. 

He always accompanied him, which made the players comment more frequently on the rumours about him. Nothing differed much from what Matheus had mentioned the other day, the crazy idea of him being arrested and blah blah blah. 

They could talk all they wanted, but nobody had the courage to ask the masked man anything directly.

In any case, Jake imagined that Guilherme would be talking about the masked man.

Thanks to this, he imagined that his new routine would continue like this. 

He wouldn't talk to the joker, he would train Guilherme to develop more tactics on the court and help Matheus with the team. He believed that he would have no reason to talk to the masked man, or to know the truth behind the rumours. That their worlds would never be the same. 

They would each live in their own reality, far away from each other.

That is, if it weren't for what would happen the next day.

In the classroom, the students were quietly concentrating on their work when a subtle smell began to waft through the air. Most of the staff were beta, and there were about three omega girls in the class, so when Jake sniffed the air, he immediately recognised the pheromones of one of them.

Tum tum.

Tum tum.

— Hey! What do you think you're doing releasing pheromones in a closed room? — Shouted a beta, covering her nose.

The heat was starting to rise in his body and his heart was racing. The only alpha in the classroom seemed to have been attracted by that sweet aroma.

— I-I... I'm sorry, haaa...

—— Open the windows! — The teacher instructed — Let's get her out of here and to the infirmary!

The voices gradually became more and more distant. All Jake could feel was his body sweating and reacting to those pheromones. Sweet, like a gentle invitation to envelop him. 

Even though he covered his nose so as not to inhale any more, it was too late. He himself began to release his pheromones unconsciously, making the omega notice his presence and worsening the situation.

— Hey, get a grip, there's an alpha in the room!

— Holy shit, Jake, get a grip! Don't you dare leave your seat! — A colleague fought, covering his friend's face with a handkerchief. 

His heart was beating fast and his body was sweating profusely. Even so, Jake held on tightly to his desk and looked in the girl's direction, being completely aware of her movements.

Once an omega discovers that there's an alpha nearby, they start releasing more and more pheromones with the intention of seducing him. And from the intensity of the hormones, it was clear that this girl had gone into heat in the middle of class. 

— Does anyone have any water? — The teacher shouted. — I have a suppressant and I can medicate her.

— I've got it!

An alpha instinct always seeks to dominate everything and everyone. 

When it was provoked in such a way, it wouldn't rest until it could show its strength and authority. It was an instinct that could hardly be calmed overnight. 

He would only calm down when he had fulfilled his every desire.