13. Mila

Chapter 13

Mila

I have no idea what came over me. I just lashed out and attacked Bridget in the end.

I was never the violent type, even back when I was training as a Beta. I always remained professional, never losing my temper even when the other recruits used to give me a hard time.

But Bridget has pressed way too many of my buttons.

It's bad enough that I am never going to get out of this place.

For one beautiful moment, I thought I had found my ticket out of this purgatory. Felicia had given me the best news in the world, telling me I was too 'old' for the government's free funding, yet now…

I am expected to go into the system much faster. Right now, the algorithms are working their magic as I knock the perfect teeth out of Bridget's skull, most likely ruining her chances of ever finding a pack now, but I am past the point of caring.

Maybe then the bitch will learn to pick her battles more wisely.

Strong hands wrap around my arms, hauling me away from the Omega, and the scream that spills from her lungs next is deafening.

But I'm not done with her yet. I'm still kicking my legs out, eager to finish what I started.

One of those strong arms pins me to the grass, twisting my wrists behind my back, and I shriek in frustration.

Bridget's screaming continues in the background—a beautiful symphony in my deranged, twisted state.

This place is turning me into a monster.

"She's crazy! Lock her up!" Bridget cries, her friends huddling around her to keep her safe, and everyone seems to be in agreement.

I am too much for this school.

An Omega that bites back is never good for publicity.

"Hey! Get your goddamn hands off her!"

My blood runs cold when I hear that familiar, grumbling voice, and I twist my head around, spying those enraged burgundy eyes across the green

No… please no…

Anyone but him.

I shake my head, swivelling my neck around so I can look at the security guard above me. "Lock me up… please …"

The man doesn't hear me; he just watches Gryphon warily, switching on his walkie-talkie as he calls for backup.

Shit's about to go down on campus. Rogue Alphas and batshit crazy Omegas everywhere…

The monster explodes inside me again, and I wriggle in the security guard's hold to get his attention. "Hey, I said lock me up! I'm dangerous! Look at that Omega's teeth!"

Those teeth in question have been placed into a glass vial. Poor Bridget covers her bloodied mouth in shame while her friends search the grass for the rest of her smile.

Good thinking. If they find them all on time, they may just be able to insert them back into her face.

I start thrashing again, and the Beta security guard finally loses his patience, planting his knee between my shoulder blades in order to keep me still.

Hopefully, they will send me far away from this dreadful place after what I just did to Bridget.

I am not fit to be any pack's Omega.

Prison sounds far more preferable than getting my heart broken again.

The security guard goes flying above me next, and I finally have the use of my arms once again.

But I don't look up.

Gryphon's roar sends a ripple across the green, trees and even blades of grass undulating like waves across a fathomless sea, and the whole world seems to stop.

Even Bridget has stopped screaming, and her friends have ceased searching the grass for her missing teeth. No one draws a breath as the predator finally makes his presence known.

It reminds me of the time I paid a visit to the zoo with my parents when I was little. The lion got up on his rock to roar, defending his territory, and everyone stopped moving just to listen to the magnificent creature.

It was both fascinating and unnerving.

That's what Gryphon reminds me of now. That very same lion.

His parents named him well. He truly is like a lion. Well, part lion, part eagle, to be more precise.

The only difference here is that this lion isn't behind bars. He is free to roam and exact his revenge on anyone he deems fit.

The blood rushes through my head, and I swallow, sweat dripping down my temples like dew.

People start to run away, and Bridget's friends abandon her now as she's left alone to search for her own teeth.

The Omega doesn't even see me anymore. Her blue eyes are fixed solely on the raging Alpha above us, her face five shades lighter.

Most of these Omegas haven't spent much time around an Alpha until now, and I bet they're second-guessing whether they want to join a pack of three more of these beasts.

Gryphon is still ascertaining his dominance over the security guard, and judging by the wet patch inside the Beta's pants, he has wet himself.

His walkie-talkie lies forgotten on the ground several feet away. His backup has yet to make an appearance, and I wonder why…

One look at Gryphon would have anyone running.

With another roar, the security guard finally scampers off, and that's when the Alpha whirls on Bridget.

His eyes flash, and the Omega squeals, grabbing her vial of teeth as she runs off with her tail between her legs.

Then we're the only two people left.

The Alpha doesn't move for a while, his chest heaving as he gathers his composure. Then he whooshes out a final breath, and kneels on the ground beside me.

He doesn't speak. He just appraises me with those burgundy eyes.

I still don't look up, my gaze peeled on the grass beneath my palms. I grip blades of grass, tearing them from the roots.

"Mila?"

I don't respond. I keep glaring at the grass as if I can set it on fire.

The monster still hasn't gone yet. I still feel it writhing beneath the surface, ready to bare its fangs again.

"Mila…" he half growls this time, reaching a hand across to touch me.

The monster snaps, and I wack his hand away. "Don't fucking touch me!"

My shriek echoes across the empty campus, and it looks as if Gryphon scared everyone away with his display of dominance.

They all got the message; no one is to touch me.

But that doesn't give him the right to lay his paw on me. Not after everything he put me through.

I look him straight in his burgundy eyes, letting him know my exact feelings towards him.

His eyes waver, and I spy nothing but regret and shame.

But it's too late for regrets now.

No going back.

"Gryphon!"

We both jump at the voice, and I spin around, coming face to face with those tumultuous ocean eyes.

My lungs give out, and then my vision shimmers as tears begin to fill my eyes.

Oliver. He's here.

My mate and scent match, and for the first time in weeks, I feel whole again.

He came looking for me... they both did.

But it can never be.

I can't go down that road again.

So, I stumble to my feet, and both guys take an immediate step toward me.

"Mila!" Oliver cries, his voice so full of pain and anguish, but I keep running, running far away from the pack that abandoned me.

I can't go back. I never can.

I'll just keep running.