9. Mila

Chapter nine

Mila

I rode in the trunk of the jeep on the way back home.

Though, of course, home is subjective here. It will never be my home…

Gryphon made absolute sure of that.

The Alpha hates my guts, and living with him won't be fun.

I just wish that I got to say goodbye to my father. But I can make peace with the knowledge that he is being taken care of now.

He's the only reason why I am doing this.

The jeep is silent. Gryphon drives while Oliver sits with him up front. Barret and Lachlan take the back seat.

A glass screen separates us, but I don't question it. I suppose they just want to keep me as far away from Oliver as possible.

How far do they think they can keep this up? After all, I am only here for Oliver's protection.

Omegas are highly vulnerable, and the Beta government wants to ensure they are thoroughly protected.

They don't believe the Alphas are doing a thorough enough job, and my being here is only an insult.

I offend them just by merely existing.

Sometime later, we stop, and I look around. The guys get out of the car. Gryphon goes around to let Oliver out. It's raining, and he wants to protect his Omega from the elements.

That's understandable.

Not one of them offers to help me out, but it's not as if I was expecting the same treatment.

I am nothing to them. I am just some trained Beta they have brought home against their wishes.

If they had a choice, I wouldn't even be here.

All three Alphas head to the house, and it's almost as if they have forgotten about me. One of them even offers their coat to Oliver so he doesn't get wet.

I guess I'll see myself out of the car, then. I didn't even have a seatbelt or a proper seat. I was made to sit crouched around piles of discarded takeout boxes, and how disgusting.

Don't they ever clean their jeep?

I push the door open, landing on the wet, muddy ground in my heavy boots. It's a real downpour, and I am soaked in seconds.

But it's okay. I am trained for the elements.

I don't feel the chill as it goes straight to my bones, freezing my soul. Instead, I just head up the steps to the large country house, stopping at the door.

Do I just let myself in? They haven't given me permission, and it goes against my training to just barge into their home.

But it's raining.

Have they really forgotten about me?

My whole body is shaking by the time the door opens, and it's the black-haired Alpha, Barret. He narrows his onyx eyes at me as I stand alone in the pouring rain.

I am as still as a statue, waiting for him to give me permission into the house.

My shirt is soaking wet with rain, and his eyes flick toward my breasts quickly. His face hardens, and then he looks at my face with those empty black eyes again.

"What are your orders, Alpha, sir?" I ask.

Clouds of vapor escape my mouth as it's still raining. But I maintain my composure, keeping my arms by my sides.

Barret rolls his eyes and shuts the door. "Cut the military crap. You're not at the academy anymore, sunshine."

I bite my tongue at the insult as he leads me across the yard, and it looks as if I won't be going into the house after all.

Oliver mustn't want me touching his stuff, and it seems we need to come to some arrangement.

I can't very well protect him if I am not even allowed inside the house.

How will I know if he is in distress?

Barret takes me toward a tool shed at the edge of the yard. There's a peaceful wood beyond the small building, and it must be nice to live around so much nature.

There is just something so calming about nature. And the ocean.

That's if I ever get to see it one day.

I just wonder why Barret is taking me to a tool shed. Maybe he is showing me where they keep their weapons.

"Here you go. Home sweet home…"

What?

The Alpha pulls on the door of the tool shed, and it opens out onto a small, empty room. There's a simple cot with threadbare sheets and a shelf with buckets of paint.

It's cold. I can see my breath even when I step into the shed.

Is he for real? Surely, this is a joke.

"Permission to speak, Alpha?"

Barret sighs, and he clearly hates it when I use my military speak. "Yes."

"Will I not get a room in the house?"

Barret sharpens those onyx eyes. "Are you not happy with the room we have given you?"

"No, it's just—"

"I mean, you could always sleep in the yard..."

A yard which is covered in mud and puddles.

I get it. He is being an ass on purpose so I will leave. After all, I don't have to be here. It's all optional.

But I won't be going anywhere, so tough luck to them.

I am here for my dad in the end. He is the only person who matters.

I am going through all this trouble just so he can be happy.

The things you do for love…

I maintain my calm, remembering my training from the past four years. My instructors told me that Alphas could be difficult.

I suppose the guys are just antsy because their Omega is coming into his heat.

I have been trained to spot all the signs. Though I haven't had a chance to even speak or stand anywhere near Oliver.

The biggest giveaway is his Alphas. They are extra protective because of his approaching heat. Such as keeping him dry in the rain.

And keeping me as far away as possible.

There's also Oliver's scent. I don't normally know how he smells on a good day, but his perfume was another telltale sign. Too strong, too sweet.

Plus, I think I heard him having a spike on the front seat. But I couldn't hear properly because of the glass. The car vibrated too, which I assume was the combined sounds of all his Alphas purring.

I would find it sweet if they weren't offering me a shed to sleep in.

"I was just concerned. How am I supposed to guard Oliver when I am sleeping all the way out in the shed?"

Barret smirks, and he folds his arms, looking down straight into my eyes. He's trying to intimidate me, but it won't work. I have been trained to deal with Alpha bullshit.

"Why? You want a room right next to his?"

"Well, yes, actually, I do. That would be ideal…"

Barret scoffs, and what an asshole. "Give me a fucking break. You're not fooling me, sunshine. You think you're so tough just because you've had military training. But I've got news for you. So have I. I think I can speak for my pack when I say we can take care of him ourselves..."

"And I believe that. I saw the way you kept him dry from the rain, and the way you protected him from every other Alpha at the ceremony."

And I see the way you protect him from me, too , I want to say, but I keep that one to myself.

Some things are best left unsaid.

Barret doesn't speak. He just continues to gaze down at me, a look of utter disbelief on his face. "Wow… quite the smart mouth, aren't we?"

I don't reply. He is just trying to bait me.

He tries to offer me an olive branch next, playing the affable Alpha at last. "Look… if you stay in the shed, then I may bring you something nice to eat from time to time. Warm meals. How does that sound?"

Well, he should be feeding me anyway. They all agreed that they would treat me like any member of their pack, and that includes meals.

I did spy a few ration tins by the cot, and there's an old rusty tin opener on the shelf.

That's okay. I have survived on far less.

I also have my hunting knife too.

They won't break me. I will be staying for as long as I need to.

I will be staying for as long as my dad is taken care of.

I couldn't give a shit what any of these fuckers think of me.

"That's okay. I can always hunt for small animals in the woods."

I yank out my knife, flipping it around. Barret stares impressed when I catch it by the handle.

"If you're really nice," I go on. "Then I may even share some rabbit meat with you. You ever had rabbit?"

His mouth curves at the corners, and I spy one dimple. Just the one, though, but it's enough for my body to have a reaction.

They're all so easy on the eye. Barret, with his heavy metal rock vibes and the charcoal eyeliner. Lachlan looks like a fallen angel who got kicked out of heaven, and even Gryphon the Grump has a chin dimple that's enough to make me weak in the knees.

But then there's Oliver…

Soft, curly brown hair, ocean-blue eyes, and a plump pair of lips that are shaped just like a heart.

I only saw him for a few moments, but it was enough to make a lasting impression.

His face will be forever burned into my memory.

I will never forget it.

Barret chuckles, leaning closer until he is inches from my face. Then he whispers, just low enough for me to hear. "No. I'm a vegetarian…"

An Alpha who is a vegetarian? That will be the day…

Finally, I pocket my knife away, folding my arms. "Fine. I will stay here. But I need to come into the house sooner or later. Oliver will need protection."

Barret's eyes flash and a shiver goes through my spine when he growls, "No. He won't. He has us."

He whirls away from me, heading back to the house in the pouring rain, and it seems I touched a nerve.

Well, it looks like I am staying in the tool shed.

But that's all right. I've slept in far worse places.

I meant what I said. They won't break me.