CHAPTER 47: THE PRESENTATION DAY! 2

Elias kept his eyes forward, but he couldn’t shake the unease creeping up his spine. As they reached the lecture hall, he glanced at Jace.

"Why didn’t you talk to them? We’ve got ten minutes before class starts."

Jace’s smile was soft, almost secretive. "I wonder why," he said, his tone teasing but with a hint of something deeper. "Come on, let’s get settled."

Elias frowned, turning away to hide the flush creeping up his cheeks. They entered the classroom, where students were already setting up their projects. The room buzzed with nervous energy, groups huddled over their displays, practising last-minute lines. Elias felt the weight of more stares as he carried their project to their seats. Whispers followed...

"That’s Jace’s partner? No way he did any work."

"Looks like Jace carried the whole thing."

"Bet that kid’s just riding his coattails."

The words stung, but Elias kept his head down, pulling his notebook from his bag and flipping to his presentation notes. He’d heard worse before. They don’t know me, he thought, focusing on the words in front of him. I’ll show them.

Jace sat beside him, his eyes scanning the room before landing on Elias. He didn’t say anything, but Elias could feel his gaze, steady and reassuring.

’He’s fine as always,’ Jace thought, watching Elias’s determined focus. ’He doesn’t need me to defend him. He’s got this.’

The professor, a middle-aged woman with sharp eyes and a no-nonsense demeanour, entered the room, clapping her hands to quiet the chatter.

"Alright, everyone, settle down. We’re starting the presentations. You’ll each pick a number to determine your order. Ten minutes per group, and only twenty-five groups are present today. The rest will be in our next class. Any questions?"

No one spoke, and she handed out a small basket with numbered slips. Jace reached in, pulling out the number five. Elias let out a quiet breath of relief. "Not first or last," he murmured. "Good."

Jace grinned. "Perfect spot. We’ll knock it out of the park."

The first group went up, two students presenting a water filtration system.

One demonstrated the model, showing how it purified contaminated water, while the other explained the science behind it. The class clapped politely, clearly impressed by the practical design. Elias watched, his fingers tightening around his notebook.

Their project was more complex, but he couldn’t shake the nerves building in his chest. He pressed a hand to his chest, feeling a faint ache.

’Is it my heat?’ he wondered, his heart racing. He’d forgotten his pills, and the familiar warmth was starting to spread through him, making his skin feel too tight.

Jace leaned over, his voice low. "Hey, are you okay? You look a little pale."

Elias nodded quickly, forcing a smile. "I’m fine. Just... nervous."

Jace’s eyes softened, but he didn’t push. "You’ve got this. We’ve practised a million times."

The second group presented, then the third, each project earning murmurs of approval or constructive critiques from the professor. Elias’s nerves grew with each passing minute, his hand still pressed to his chest. The ache was getting worse, and a faint sweat broke out on his forehead. He tried to focus on his notes, but his thoughts kept drifting to his pheromones.

’I can’t let them leak. Not here.’

When the fourth group finished, the professor called, "Group five, you’re up."

Jace stood, grabbing the project model, and Elias followed, his legs shaky. As they walked to the podium, he could feel the eyes of the class on him, the whispers starting again.

"That’s the guy with Jace."

"No way he’s pulling his weight."

Elias gripped his notes tightly, his knuckles white.

Jace set the model on the table at the front, flipping the switch to activate the small turbine. The tiny solar panels glowed faintly under the classroom lights, and the turbine spun smoothly, generating a soft hum.

Their project was a hybrid energy system, combining solar panels and kinetic energy from foot traffic to power small communities. It was designed to be affordable and sustainable, with a focus on rural areas that lacked reliable electricity. The model was compact but detailed, with labelled components showing how the energy was stored and distributed.

Jace started, his voice confident as he explained the technical aspects.

"Our system uses a combination of solar panels and kinetic tiles that convert footsteps into electricity. The solar panels work during the day, obviously, but the kinetic tiles keep generating power whenever people walk on them, day or night. It’s perfect for places with limited infrastructure because it’s low-cost and easy to maintain."

He gestured to the model, pointing out the battery storage unit. "The energy gets stored here, in a compact lithium-ion battery, which can power lights, small appliances, and even charge phones. We’ve calculated it can support a small village of about fifty households with just one unit."

The class listened, some nodding, others scribbling notes. The professor leaned forward, her eyes sharp with interest. Jace glanced at Elias, giving him a small nod. "Your turn."

Elias took a deep breath, stepping forward. His voice started shaky, but he forced it to steady, making sure it carried across the room.

"The goal of our project is to make energy accessible for everyone, especially in areas where traditional power grids aren’t an option. The system is modular, so you can add more panels or tiles as needed. It’s also eco-friendly, reducing reliance on fossil fuels and cutting carbon emissions by up to sixty per cent compared to diesel generators."

He paused, feeling the ache in his chest intensify. A faint sweetness tingled in the air... his pheromones.

’Fuck! No, not now,’ He gripped the edge of the table, focusing on his words.

"We... we designed it to be affordable, with each unit costing about five hundred dollars to produce. That’s a fraction of what larger systems cost, and it can be installed in a day. We’ve also included a maintenance guide so communities can keep it running without needing expensive technicians."

The room was silent now, all eyes on him. The whispers had stopped, replaced by attentive stares. Even Rowan, sitting in the back, looked surprised, his usual smirk gone. The professor’s expression softened, her pen poised over her notebook. Elias pushed through the discomfort, his voice growing stronger.

"This isn’t just about technology. It’s about giving people a chance to live better... lighting for kids to study at night, power for clinics to store medicine, or even just a way to charge a phone so families can stay connected."

He finished, his heart pounding, sweat beading on his forehead. The room erupted in applause, louder than for the previous groups. Jace clapped too, his grin wide and proud. The professor gave a thumbs-up, her face impressed.

"Excellent work, both of you. Well-researched and clearly presented. I’ll have more feedback later, but that was outstanding."

Elias smiled, relief flooding him, but as he stepped back from the podium, his legs wobbled. Jace caught his arm, steadying him. "Hey!" he whispered, his voice tight with concern.

Elias nodded, but his vision blurred for a moment, the ache in his chest now a burning warmth. He closed his eyes, trying to steady himself, but the sweet scent of his pheromones grew stronger, filling the air. The class’s reaction was immediate... heads turned, eyes widened, and a low murmur spread through the room.

"Is that Pheromones?"

"Is he... an omega?" "

"No way, he’s not a beta?"

Jace’s jaw clenched, his eyes darting around the room. He saw the hungry looks from some of the alphas in the class, their postures shifting subtly.

"Fuck," he muttered under his breath, his arm tightening around Elias. He could feel the shift in the room, the sudden intensity of attention on Elias. Everyone now knew... Elias Kane wasn’t a beta. He was an omega.