50. Oliver

Chapter 50

Oliver

M y throat is hoarse, and the distant ringing has finally subsided.

I may have made it out of the explosion, but did Mila too? I protected her with my body once again, and I hope it was enough.

I swear if anything happened to her, then Lily is dead .

The door opens in the room, and I look outside the bars of my cell. A growl tears from my throat when I spy that obnoxious pink.

Speak of the she-devil…

Lily.

An armed guard steps in behind her, and he doesn't scare me.

And neither does she.

The sound of her heels grates on my ears as she steps toward my cell, a poisonous smile painted on her face. She crosses her arms next and just stares at me for a while, cocking her head.

As if she is sizing me up, to see if I am to her liking.

However, I spy no true want or desire inside her jewel-black eyes. Not the same lewd gaze I get from most other Alphas.

She only wants me for the sake of power.

I was the first male Omega enrolled at the school. Back then, we were so rare and highly coveted.

If I hadn't already scent-matched with Gryphon before I graduated, then I would have fetched a sweet sum in the auctions.

I bet Lily would have been one of the first in line.

A shudder runs up my spine, and I step away from her stench of rotten roses.

Never in a million years.

She rolls her eyes. "Oh, relax, Oliver. I am not interested in you that way. If it's any consolation, I hate children."

Children?

I wasn't even thinking about children …

Bile fills my mouth, and I have to get out of here, ASAP.

Gryphon tugs on the bond, sensing my discomfort, and I wrap a soft tendril around our tether.

Thank God for mate bonds. Otherwise, he would have had no idea where I was. That I am even alive.

I just wish I could sense Mila.

If we survive this, then I am biting her into the pack. Not me personally, but one of the guys.

It's the only way for us all to move forward.

"So, what do you want with me?" I ask, trying to stall her.

Gryphon is on his way. Hopefully, he will get here on time.

I never wanted to be the damsel. I wanted to be the hero, but right now I just want him here.

Because then we can rescue Mila together…

Lily steps closer to the cell, and her rose scent truly is stifling. It's no wonder that so many are intimidated by her. But I still hold my ground, never breaking eye contact.

"Isn't it obvious by now?"

When I don't reply, she continues.

"I want power. I want other Alphas to fear me and know that I have something they want… that they can never have…"

And, of course, having me as her bitch will help her seize that power.

Stupid, really.

"Also… I want that Alpha of yours to realize what happens when he crosses me…"

My head jerks up, and another growl vibrates in my throat.

She snorts. "You sure you're an Omega, Oliver?"

I meet her height, baring my teeth. "If you hurt him…"

Her eyes taper, almost mockingly, and I bet she finds me highly amusing.

But I swear I will kill her if she hurts Gryphon or Mila.

"Perhaps you're the one I should have been keeping an eye on all along… Remember your place, Omega. You are my subordinate. Act like it."

Silence. Apart from the humming of the air vents.

This place is putrid, and where are we, anyway?

Looks like some kind of basement.

Lily finally steps back, taking her rotten flower smell with her. "In the end, I have a score to settle with that Alpha of yours, and I am going to start by taking those he loves most…"

She heads for the door, but I still throw the last word in. "Fuck you, bitch."

Lily stops, and now she gives me her worst, slamming me with that wall of angry, Alpha energy.

Yet I hold my ground.

I've dealt with Alphas my whole life.

She is no different.

A small smirk crosses her painted lips now. "What was her name? That sister of yours…?"

My heart plunges, and I finally back away.

This woman truly is poison.

"Isabelle? Was that it? The one you abandoned ? If it weren't for you, dear Oliver, then she would still be alive today. Yet you failed her… just like you're about to fail Gryphon and Mila…"

She doesn't even stay to see the effect that her words have on me, but when I am finally alone, I drop to the ground, fighting back the tears.

Not again.

I've been down this rabbit hole before, and it's just as grim and lonely as I remember.

That all-consuming grief, the guilt…

The face of a blue-eyed little girl flashes before my eyes, and finally, I break.

Isabelle.

I let her down that day.

And I am about to do the same thing to Gryphon and Mila too.

To the whole pack.

It's hopeless.

Lily won in the end.

And I deserve to die alone in this cruel cell.