It was almost noon when a gentle knock on the door woke Skylar. He mumbled something in his sleep, hugging his pillow tightly as he covered himself further with the soft blankets. But the insistent tapping did not cease, and the constant sound eventually pulled him from his sleep in evident bad humor.

"Who's waking me up so early?" he protested, throwing the pillow towards the door.

A barely audible little voice dared to answer. It was Dora, a young maid who, although petite and teenage-looking, was around twenty years old.

"Mr. Skylar, your mother has been waiting for you for almost an hour. Do you remember that you were going shopping today?"

Dora entered with a tray, on which rested a light toast and a glass of natural juice Skylar's usual breakfast. The young omega was meticulous about his figure and never overate.

He jumped out of bed quickly, while Dora began to take clothes out of the huge closet. She prepared several outfits and carefully placed them on the bed, organizing everything so that, after an express shower, Skylar could get ready quickly.

"Dora, all those clothes are horrible! You have such bad taste for combining colors," he snorted frustrated, reviewing the clothes with evident disdain.

Dora lowered her gaze to the floor without uttering a word. She was used to that treatment. She had been trying to wake him for almost an hour, but young Skylar was a very heavy sleeper.

After choosing his outfit, Skylar sat in front of the dressing table. Dora began to brush his hair with extreme care. His scalp was sensitive, and any tug could turn into a sharp and annoying complaint.

The ritual lasted longer than expected. Finally, Skylar was satisfied with his appearance. He observed himself carefully in the mirror, correcting even the smallest detail. Looking at the clock, he saw that almost two hours had passed since he woke up.

"Not bad... considering how useless Dora can be," he muttered with satisfaction, before descending the elegant stairs of the Adams mansion with the poise of a movie star.

He expected to find his mother or the butler waiting for him, but the house seemed empty. Disappointed, he called his mother, without getting an answer. He walked towards the library, from where murmurs came. He smoothed out the imaginary wrinkles in his shirt and opened the door without knocking.

"Mom, I've been looking for you all over the house. Why do you wake me up so early if you're just going to make me wait?" he complained, stopping abruptly when he saw that they were not alone.

Claricer Williams, his mother's best friend, smiled at him from the sofa. Skylar blinked and, unable to help it, his cheeks turned a slight blush.

"Aunt Clarice! I didn't know you were coming today, I would have dressed better to greet you," he said in a sweet voice. Then, as if he couldn't contain it, he asked, "Did Carter come too?"

"Honey, it's always a delight to look at you. You are so beautiful, you don't need to dress up more," the woman replied, caressing his hair. "Carter couldn't come. He is focused on studying for his final exams. But as soon as he has a free moment, he will come to see you."

Skylar barely noticed the loaded looks that his mother and Corine exchanged. He could only think about how happy he would be when Carter finally returned to his side.

The afternoon was wonderful. Skylar loved nothing more than shopping with his mother. He felt that he had inherited her good taste and innate elegance. They both wore exclusive jewelry, designer clothes, and that air of superiority that others simply could not imitate.

At just 17 years old, Skylar was the envy of all the omegas in the institute. He knew it. He was not interested in studying a career or thinking about his academic future. His destiny was clear to marry the love of his life, Carter Williams.

They had both grown up together. From kindergarten until now, their paths always intertwined. Their story was legendary. The most attractive and refined omega next to the most intelligent and desired alpha. One for the other, perfect.

They arrived home at sunset. Skylar admired his impeccable manicure, satisfied to have been, once again, the center of all eyes.

"Sky, honey," his mother said in a light tone, "Dad will be late again, so you and I will have dinner. I asked for something light. I think your cheeks look fuller. Have you been eating fat? I don't want to see you with pimples on that beautiful face."

"I never eat anything with fat!" Skylar replied, running to look in the mirror. He could only relax when he saw that his skin was still perfect.

Before dinner, a young alpha entered the dining room. It was Darren, Skylar's older brother. His attractive appearance contrasted with his somewhat careless style.

"Darren, dear, I didn't expect you so early. I thought you would have dinner at Megan's house," his mother said with a hint of displeasure when mentioning that name.

"Mom, don't make that face. Megan is a good girl. And she loves me," Darren said, kissing her forehead and smiling at Skylar.

"You shouldn't take Mom's advice lightly. If she thinks Megan isn't enough for you, you should at least consider it," Skylar interjected in his high-pitched voice, watching him with disapproval.

"In this life I got a mother... and a mini mother," Darren joked, ruffling his brother's hair. "Eat something more nutritious, Sky, you're in a growth stage and only eating lettuce is not healthy."

Skylar pouted, annoyed by the comment. He complained about the mess in his hairstyle, while Darren laughed and left the room.

Despite everything, he ate his salad with dedication. Then he said goodbye to his mother and went up to his room, beginning his routine but adored nightly beauty sequence.

Hours later, he finally felt perfect and ready to sleep. He lay down on his huge bed, mentally reviewing his day. He thought it had been a good day... although his brother had ruined his hairstyle.

And the best of all was that tomorrow he would see Carter at the institute. His heart quickened as he remembered the promise he had made him: when he graduated, they would get formally engaged. It wouldn't be long now.

He checked his cell phone. There were no messages. He hadn't even read the last one that Skylar had sent him the night before, wishing him sweet dreams.

He sighed, a little disappointed. Still, his will was firm. He quickly typed a new message full of emojis, hearts, and smiley faces. He waited a few minutes... but no answer came.

"He must be tired. He's the best student in the institute. He can't afford distractions. He must miss me as much as I miss him. I just have to be patient..." he whispered aloud, although a small doubt pierced his heart like a splinter.

It was almost eight in the morning and Skylar was on his way to school. Classes started at eight thirty, so they were on time. Like every morning, he had meticulously groomed himself. Although the school uniform—bottle green with gray trim—made most students look like waiters in a fancy restaurant, that rule didn't apply to him.

The lines and cuts of the garment fit his silhouette perfectly, highlighting his slender figure, narrow waist, and long legs. He often heard the comments in the hallways: that he was the only one in the whole place who looked like a model wearing that uniform.

Skylar knew he was attractive. He felt the gazes on him as he walked, capturing his every gesture. In his wake, he left a trail of sighs, from both alphas, betas, and omegas who couldn't help but admire him.

But all of that was meaningless if the only person he wanted to impress barely even looked at him. That morning he was in a terrible mood; after checking his cell phone over and over, he understood that it wasn't a connection problem: Carter simply hadn't answered him.

Getting out of the car, he asked the driver to pick him up half an hour later. His mother was strict with schedules, but he could justify the delay if necessary.

As soon as he entered the school, he felt the murmur envelop him. He decided to ignore it and keep walking. He didn't stop until he found Kelly Dosant, an omega girl with whom he shared a seat in most classes and who was also his only friend.

Really, they were like oil and water. Kelly was far from being a beauty... or at least, that's what she thought. A series of coincidences, and help at the right moments, consolidated their friendship.

Kelly was short, with fair skin and brown eyes, but what stood out the most—much to her regret—was her lush red hair. That fiery hair made her stand out, making her the target of jokes from other omegas and some betas. The alphas simply ignored her.

She took refuge behind thick glasses and used to hide behind a book. She was an outstanding student, but without standing out too much. Others used to tell her that she was right to hang out with Skylar, to see if some of his beauty would rub off on her.

With those kinds of comments, anyone would have abandoned the friendship. But Kelly really valued Skylar.

Years ago, she discovered that behind that irritating facade of perfection, there was a fearful boy, with the same insecurities as anyone else. She could have taken advantage of that... but she chose not to. She understood that Skylar was not like the rest thought: he never made fun of her. He simply walked through the halls of the school as if being perfect came naturally to him.

She knew that wasn't the case. She had seen the meticulous work and daily discipline behind that shine. Skylar was a genius in his own way, but above all, he was a good person. Their unlikely friendship had been sealed with honesty and over time it transformed into a strong bond: confidants of fears and dreams.

Of course, Skylar's mother disapproved of that friendship. She considered that the daughter of a widowed alpha—owner of publishing houses—had nothing to offer her little one. She was a graceless girl, ugly in her opinion, who also insisted on following in her father's footsteps, instead of preparing to be an exemplary omega wife.

But what his mother didn't know couldn't hurt her. Skylar maintained that friendship despite everything. Being popular was, deep down, very lonely. Everyone wanted something from him, except Kelly.

"Kelly! I finally found you," he sighed, relieved after the long weekend.

"You know I'm always here. If I'm not here, it's because I didn't come, duh," she smiled, pointing to the library.

"I don't lose hope of finding you somewhere else one day, duh," Skylar laughed, sticking his tongue out.

"One can dream. Why do you have that face?" she asked, noticing the subtle dark circles under the omega's eyes.

Skylar bit his lips. He didn't know how to start without sounding hysterical. He hated showing how he felt, although with Kelly he didn't need to hide. Even so, something inside him resisted.

Instead of speaking, he handed her his cell phone. Kelly checked it with a serious face.

"And have you seen him today?" she asked, without looking up.

"No! I just arrived and came straight to you. I don't know how to talk to him. I'm so... sooooo... sooooooo... I can't even say it," Skylar murmured, sadness marking every feature of his face.

"So angry? So pissed off? So mad? Because all those options apply. You should be able to tell him that it bothers you that he doesn't even send you a message or read you. Why do you always have to shut up?" she insisted, frowning.

"Because that's not what a good omega would do. I must understand that he may be busy. Be understanding. Always show my best face. A good omega doesn't bother their partner, especially if they are doing something important for both of them. I am a good omega. I am his omega... but that doesn't stop it from hurting," Skylar murmured.

His eyes, normally a bright blue, looked dull. Kelly felt a pang of pity for her friend. She knew that, no matter how much she said, Skylar wouldn't change his mind. He couldn't conceive of his life without Carter. And even though he was an idiot most of the time, he always found a way to justify him.

Kelly stood up and gave him a strong hug. She knew that was the only thing she could offer him.

"Let's go to the cafeteria. I'm craving something sweet before class. I'll give you half of half of a blueberry muffin."

Skylar smiled. He never accepted more than that. He was terrified of gaining a gram.

"Okay. I also need something sweet."

As they walked, distracted, they noticed a small crowd gathered around a couple.

Skylar stopped. His heart tightened when he saw that it was Carter and Rosaura in the center of the group.

Without realizing it, his steps led him towards them. Seeing him, the crowd parted. Carter greeted him with a smile... as attractive as always, but empty.

"Sky, I was looking for you," he said, as if nothing was wrong.

The whispers didn't take long to start. Skylar felt like he was standing on an anthill. He smiled, feigning calm, and looked at Rosaura.

Rosaura Collins was an attractive omega, but Skylar considered her vulgar. Beautiful, yes. But without elegance.

"Skylar! We were just talking about you. Good to see you. It seems like we summoned you," Rosaura mocked.

"I guess I should be here like everyone else. I don't know why you're surprised. Did I arrive at a bad time?" he asked with poisoned kindness.

"Not at all. Can't I talk to my good friend without you thinking badly? I didn't know Carter had an owner, nor that he was your property," Rosaura said, hanging on Carter's arm. He looked at her surprised, but didn't push her away.

Skylar wanted to slap that smile off her face. But his mother appeared in his mind, disappointed. He took a deep breath and smiled.

"Rosaura, I think you misunderstood. I meant that we are all here to study. Didn't you come for that today? What a coincidence to find each other. I'm glad to know that my boyfriend cultivates friendships. In the end, everyone knows the place they occupy," he said with a smile so perfect that it threw everyone off.

The crowd murmured. Rosaura was left out of place. Skylar made a small farewell gesture and walked away with Kelly, who was still in shock.

A few steps away, a hand stopped Skylar.

He knew who it was. Even if he had his eyes blindfolded, he would recognize his steps.

His heart trembled.

"You shouldn't have talked to Rosaura like that. She's right. We weren't doing anything wrong. Why are you behaving like this?"

And that sentence… hurt more than a slap.

Kelly took her best friend's hand and gently pulled him. Breaking the contact between Skylar and Carter, the latter reacted immediately, blocking their way.

"That superior attitude of yours speaks poorly of you. I thought you had more confidence in yourself, but I can see through your insecurities," the alpha's voice sounded irritated, each word loaded with annoyance.

"Tone down your intensity a bit. Sky didn't do anything wrong. In fact, he didn't say anything offensive, and there was no message of superiority. I think the one who felt attacked and is causing pity is someone else," Kelly's singsong voice resonated like a hammer blow in Carter's ears. "Skylar is your boyfriend and everyone in this institute knows it. For the same reason, they are waiting to see how he reacts or what he says, and you know it. If you really cared, you would NEVER put him in a situation where he could be questioned."

Carter's gaze hardened as he listened to her.

"Don't meddle in what doesn't concern you."

He turned towards Skylar, who remained paralyzed. He didn't want a confrontation between the two people he cared about most, but before he could intervene, Carter spoke again:

"We'll talk during recess. I'll be waiting for you where always. Come alone. I don't want to deal with your pet," he spat with contempt, before walking away without looking back.

Skylar looked at Kelly with pleading eyes, silently begging her not to respond. Kelly, grumbling under her breath, held back. She took her friend's hand again and guided him towards the bathrooms.

Skylar knew the routine. When he couldn't take it anymore, he locked himself in a cubicle and screamed silently. It was the only way to survive the day without collapsing. He hated that Carter didn't defend him, that he exposed him, that he humiliated him with subtle gestures. But he hated himself more for not being able to face him.

The only time he dared to mention something to his mother, hinting that maybe Carter didn't really love him, she glared at him.

"Sky, baby..." she said in a stern tone. "At the end of the day, the only thing that matters is that you are Carter's official boyfriend, and later on, his fiance. That is your destiny. It doesn't matter how many classless omegas cross his path: they will never be able to avoid the inevitable. You will be the omega of the Williams family. If your alpha is confused, you should ask yourself what you are doing wrong and correct it. But never lose your dignity, your elegance, or your class. Class is what you have in abundance, and that is what you will keep."

The tone was colder than expected. Skylar understood that he should never bring up the subject again. His mother, like Carter's mother, was a traditional omega: educated to be beautiful, obedient, and perfect. The expectation was that he would follow in those steps. She never suggested that he study for a career. It wasn't necessary. He knew how to cook, sew, organize dinners, smile at guests, and walk gracefully. He was destined to be Carter's trophy husband.

Both families had planned everything.

Skylar came out of the cubicle and washed his face. Kelly, in silence, handed him paper to dry himself. She no longer scolded him. She learned that ranting against Carter was useless: it only made Skylar feel worse. So she was simply there. Present. Loyal. Steadfast.

As they left the bathroom, a couple of girls came in. They pretended not to see them, but one murmured loud enough for them to hear:

"Sanctimonious."

And they both laughed mockingly.

Skylar bit his lip. Kelly took him by the arm and they left without responding.

Class was, as always, eternal. Skylar rarely took notes. He wasn't interested in academics. He knew that his classmates made fun of his low grades, but no one dared to say it to his face. Why study, if he was going to marry Carter Williams? He was going to be a house omega. Beautiful, educated, irreproachable. The future was already written.

When the bell rang, Skylar left before anyone else. He walked to the back garden of the institute, where Carter was waiting for him, leaning under a tree. His eyes were closed, his face relaxed, his black hair falling over his forehead.

It was impossible not to find him handsome.

Skylar's heart leaped when Carter opened his eyes and looked at him.

"Come closer. You look like a stalker watching me from over there," he said, without moving.

Skylar obeyed. He sat down in front of him, nervous, struggling to keep the smile.

Carter watched him in silence for a few seconds. Despite his annoyance, he couldn't help but be moved. Skylar looked vulnerable, with the blond strands falling over his face and his eyelashes trembling. He knew that Skylar hadn't done anything wrong. He knew it.

What frustrated him was something else: the already written script. The sealed future.

They had been together since they were children. Their mothers raised them to marry. The perfect omega for the perfect alpha. But Carter felt that all that was not enough. Not anymore.

And yet…

"Sky... I'm sorry I spoke to you like that. I didn't mean to."

Skylar looked up. His blue eyes shone like crystals, full of hope.

"I'm also sorry for causing a bad impression, Carter. You know that I respect you above all things."

Carter's stomach churned. It was too much. Too perfect. Too obedient. He would have preferred a complaint, a fight, a hint of character. But Skylar only knew how to be what he was taught to be: a valuable ornament, fragile, educated.

"I asked the driver to come for me later," continued the omega, his voice trembling. "I wanted to spend some time with you... I know you're very busy and I don't want to bother you, but I miss you. And if you can... we could see each other for a while after class." The words came out rushed.

Carter was going to say no. Really. But he looked at him, and he couldn't. The blushing face, the trembling lips, the pleading eyes... It was like looking at a wet puppy.

"Okay. We'll meet here at the end of the day," he yielded.

Skylar nodded, relieved, and they got up just as the bell rang. Carter took him by the hand, accompanied him to his room, and then headed to his own.

As he walked, he couldn't help but think why he had accepted the invitation. Yes, he liked Skylar... but he couldn't ignore that feeling of emptiness. The rigid caresses. The emotionless kisses. The submissive looks.

Skylar was perfect.

But he was an empty shell.

And he was starting to hate perfection.

"Me and my big mouth..." he muttered under his breath as he entered the classroom, wishing that day would end quickly.