6. Barret

Chapter 6

Barret

T here's a knock at the door, and I approach it apprehensively, peering through the eyehole.

I pull out my gun, ready to shoot the bastard on the other side if he tries to cause any trouble, but when I recognize those familiar gray eyes, I relax, putting my weapon away.

Now I unlock the door, swinging it wide open.

"Jay… to what do we owe the pleasure?"

Jeremy fucking Steel. I haven't seen this bastard for over a year, and what brings my dear cousin to my doorstep?

Our dads are estranged brothers, yet we still keep in contact.

In a way, Jeremy is like a brother to me, but we never formed a pack bond.

We both grew up and went and found our own packs in the end, but that doesn't mean we're not family.

I still consider Jeremy Pack, regardless.

The only difference between mine and his pack is that we have an Omega.

Jeremy's pack hasn't found one yet, which is strange, considering the line of work he's in.

His job is to find runaway Omegas who try to escape the system, and not one has caught his eye.

"May I come in?" he asks, raising a brow.

I step aside, and the Alpha enters the house, peering at the sage-green wallpaper. "Nice. I like what you've done with the place."

I sigh, heading to the kitchen the get him a beer. "You'll have to tell Oliver that when he comes back. He decorated."

"Of course he did. How could I forget? The Omega gets the final say on the color of the wallpaper."

I wish he would just cut to the chase. It's obvious he isn't here to discuss wallpaper patterns.

What does he want?

We go to the living room, and I prop my feet up on the coffee table, using the sharp edge to pop off the cap of my bottle.

Gryphon has gone to the capitol, and Oliver is 'plotting' in his room. He wanted to be left alone for the time being as he came up with the best way to search for Mila, so I decided to keep guard over the house.

I have no idea where Lachlan wandered off too.

Probably hugging a tree somewhere. Who knows.

Thank fuck Lily's men vanished. I don't know what Gryphon did, but one moment they were here, and the next they were talking into their radios and storming off.

Whatever Gryphon said to Lily, it was enough to convince her that we were on her side. For now.

I just hope he is still on our side.

I don't know sometimes with that Alpha. He often has a faraway look in his eyes, and his connection with the pack bond has waned.

Jeremy balances his beer on his lap, tapping his fingers against the bottle, and he needs to spill ASAP.

We haven't got all day. As soon as Gryphon is back from the capital, we are going to discuss war strategies.

Oliver's first point of call is to go to Mila's house, but it would be too dangerous.

Governor Lily will be watching our every move.

We need to plan accordingly.

Jeremy sighs, placing his bottle on the coffee table. Then he leans back, draping an arm around the back of the couch.

"Barret… there's something you ought to know…"

Well, call me piqued.

"Yeah, and what's that?"

His gray eyes find mine, and he assesses me for a long moment as if trying to determine whether I have the mental stability to handle whatever bombshell he is about to drop on me.

"I know where Mila Stone is."

My heart stops, and I choke on my beer, leaning forward on my chair to beat at my chest.

I look up at him in shock. "How the fuck would you—?"

"Because my team and I found her in the woods just outside the Beta City."

His words barely register. All I can do is gaze at him like a gormless idiot.

I thought I caught a familiar hint of gingerbread on him. But it's much sweeter than Mila's scent ever was, more potent.

Almost like…

I shake my head. "How? What…"

None of it makes sense. How did she even end up in the woods? What happened to her dad? Did he pull through?

Suddenly, a growl rips from my throat, and the bottle explodes in my hand as I crush it with my fingers.

I never should have left her that day. Back when I dropped her off at home, I should have stayed.

But instead, I went back home to my Omega.

He was in pain, and he needed me. But so did Mila.

"It doesn't make sense. Why would she be out there?"

Jeremy continues. "That's not all, Barret. When I found Mila… she was in heat…"

Heat?

Only Omegas go into heat.

It takes a moment for the realization to dawn on me, but when it does, I can barely breathe.

My thoughts are spinning a mile a second.

It all makes sense. The small stature, the sweet scent. My physical attraction to her…

Mila is an Omega.

All this time, we were housing two Omegas. And not one tried to tear out the eyes of the other.

No. Instead, they…

"Where is she now?"

The voice comes from the doorway, and I glance up to find Oliver standing there.

How long had he been listening?"

Jeremy turns to look at the Omega. Then his eyes find me again.

"This is going to be a hard pill to swallow, Barret… So, I think we should wait until all your pack is spoken for…"

Oliver barely hears the Alpha. He steps closer, never taking his burning gaze off him.

"Where. Is. She?"

His eyes are alight, and I should step in quickly to diffuse the situation.

"Oliver…"

But his gaze doesn't leave Jeremy.

Jeremy is cool with him, though. He merely sighs, regarding Oliver with sympathy.

"Mila is safe. That's all you need to know for now."

It takes Oliver a moment. His eyes flit over to me, and then he relaxes, taking his place on the other chair.

Then he waits.

He heard what Jeremy said. We should hear what he has to say as a whole pack. That way, we may actually get somewhere.

A knot eases in my chest for the first time since Mila left, and at least she is safe.

That's all we can hope for now.