16. Lachlan

Chapter 16

Lachlan

B y day three, I am finally released from my time-out, and I feel like a newborn again.

Being in the basement gave me enough time to reflect on my behavior, and it appears I owe Jeremy an apology.

I was in the wrong, and I shouldn't have accused him of knotting Mila.

However, Barret wasn't entirely comfortable giving me free rein to move again, so he cuffs my arms behind my back and frog marches me up the rickety stairs.

Once I am out of the musty basement, I throw my head back and breathe in the fresh air.

It was getting lonely in time out, and the voices in my head were even starting to disturb me...

"Sweet, fresh air," I cry, breathing in through my nose as Barret pushes me toward the living room.

"Don't get too comfortable. You have to apologize to my cousin first before you're completely out of the woods. Now march."

He shoves me forward, and now I skulk toward the living room, my hands handcuffed behind my back like a criminal.

Everyone is waiting for me, Oliver, Gryphon, and Jeremy.

I can't look the Alpha in the eye.

I almost killed him.

What was I supposed to think? He comes here, telling us he found Mila in heat, that she was okay, and that she survived.

Omegas can die without a knot, and once again, I clench my fists, closing my eyes as I breathe in and out.

It's okay, Lachlan… He did not knot Mila… Your snowdrop is okay… You will see her again...

I think I just needed somewhere to direct my anger, and Jeremy was a good candidate.

We should be kissing the very ground he walks on for finding her in time.

Barret shoves me to my knees, and now I prostrate myself for Jeremy, humbling myself before him.

"What do you say?" Barret says above me.

I squeeze my eyes. "I'm sorry for trying to kill you…"

"And?"

"And for getting the wrong end of the stick."

Agnozing silence, and for a moment, I don't think the Alpha is going to forgive me.

But then he sighs, yanking me back up to my feet. "Get up."

I look at him surprised. "We're good?"

Jeremy rolls his eyes. "We're good, Lachlan. Besides, it's not me you should be groveling to. That goes for all of you…"

We all look at him at that.

My heart pounds, and now I am all ears.

Gryphon narrows his eyes. "What are you saying?"

Jeremy gazes out the window, lighting up a cigarette, and he really shouldn't smoke.

It's not healthy…

"I got word from the headmistress. Mila… she wants to see all four of you…"

It's like all my favorite Christmases have come together at the wonderful news, and I stagger toward the smoking Alpha who looks just like Saint Nick to me right now, my arms still bound behind my back.

"Snowdrop… wants to see us?"

"That's right," he says, placing a hand on my shoulder when I nearly fall into him, blowing smoke away from me, and he's so nice.

I have no idea how to react to the news. I'm just grateful that Barret had the foresight to keep my wrists handcuffed because I go crashing into Jeremy now, crying onto the bastard's shoulder.

He chokes on his smoke, patting my back. Then he glances at Barret. "Get those cuffs off him."

Barret sighs, "Your funeral."

My packmate removes my cuffs, and now I throw my arms around Jeremy, my personal harbinger of good news.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!"

Jeremy still smokes his cigarette, even when I lift him off the ground. "The honor is mine, but… you may want to take a shower first… seriously … you fucking stink of shit."

Confused, I lift my arm and sniff.

I still smell of the basement, and now a sheepish smile crawls across my face.

Without another word, I rush up the stairs to stake my much-needed shower, and I sing my heart out the whole time, anticipating the moment I will meet with my sweet snowdrop again.

***

Several hours later, we enter through the back entrance of the school as Alphas are forbidden from entering the main campus.

It's to ensure the safety of all those unbonded Omegas, but there's only one Omega I am interested in seeing.

We arrive at the headmistress's office, and when I see her sitting in the chair before the desk, I don't think.

I drop to the ground at her feet, burying my nose into the carpet as I beg for her forgiveness.

I swear… I will never abandon her again for as long as I live.

Forever hers.