10. Barret

Chapter ten

Barret

I feel like a complete pile of shit as I walk away from the shed.

I've never been an entirely pleasant guy, but that just took the cake.

Gryphon was instructed by Governor Lily to treat her as horribly as possible, but I have to fight every instinct in my body to run back and get her the hell away from that tool shed.

She may be military-trained, but she's too small and vulnerable. With the woods being so close, anything could get to her.

There are bears in those woods.

Poor little thing never asked for any of this, but we have no choice. Governor Frederick is up to something, so we have to keep that beautiful Beta at arm's length.

We can't let her big, pretty green doe eyes fool any of us. In the end, she is the enemy. Nothing but a government puppet. But I would be fooling myself if I wasn't at least a bit curious.

Her lips reminded me of candy. Would they taste just as sweet?

I never thought I would be interested in a woman again once I met Oliver. Once my Alpha recognized him as my Omega, the rest was history. No one else could compare.

Well, until Mila…

I have to be careful around her. Otherwise, Oliver would be crushed if he found out that I was attracted to another.

That's all it will ever be, though. Attraction.

I could never feel the same way about her. Oliver makes me come alive; he makes me feel like I could move the sky for him. And I would.

I climb the steps to the house, and at least the rain has cleared somewhat. The guys are waiting with Oliver in the living room when I arrive.

Oliver's face is pale, and he is chewing his nails. He does that when he is anxious. Gryphon purrs to him on his left, a deep furrow etched between his heavy brows.

Poor Lachlan looks discombobulated.

My Omega gazes up from his seat by the fireplace. I see that Gryphon has already put it on for him; I see that he has already removed his wet shoes.

"Well? How did she take it?" Oliver asks.

I sigh, slumping down on the couch next to Lachlan. He's still lost inside his own head, and it looks as if the voices have gone to bed for the night.

It's been an exhausting day for all of us.

I meet the waves of Oliver's sea-blue eyes. They are stormy as ever, and it's obvious he is not feeling good about any of this.

"Pretty well, to be honest. Her only concern was that she wouldn't be able to take care of you if she was sleeping all the way out in the shed."

Oliver gripes, placing his face in his hands. "This is awful… The shed? Seriously? We can do better than that…"

Gryphon growls, kneeling down before Oliver. He massages his feet. Oliver wore his smart shoes today, and they always give him blisters.

"No, we can't. Are you forgetting what Governor Lily said? We cannot let that Beta into our lives. Governor Frederick is definitely up to something, and we have to be vigilant. This is for the best. She will grow weary of us sooner or later, begging to leave…"

"But wouldn't the governor just place another soldier into our pack?"

Oliver makes a point. That man has already gotten this far. The trials were all his idea.

"And we will make them feel just as unwelcome," Gryphon replies.

A quiet settles over the room, the only sound the crackling fire. I can't stop glancing out the window.

My eyes find the shed. The light is on inside, and it looks as if Mila is making herself at home.

I swallow back a lump of guilt. I won't feel sorry for one of Frederick's puppets.

"I hate this, Gryphon. It fucking sucks…"

No one speaks for some time after Oliver makes his declaration.

I agree with him. It doesn't feel right to make her sleep in that old dusty tool shed.

There are probably spiders in there.

Not that she struck me as the type of girl to be afraid of spiders. What with her hunting knives and all…

"Have you ever had rabbit?"

Of course I've had rabbit. I'm an Alpha.

We eat prey.

Oliver glances up at me, and a small smile forms on his face. Then he peers at Lachlan.

"It's okay, guys. I know you find her attractive. I'm not an idiot."

That lump swells in my throat again, blocking my airway.

I wish I didn't find her lovely, but I do.

So lovely, but so dangerous…

She can skin me with that hunting knife any day.

Gryphon growls, gripping Oliver's chin gently. He forces him to look into his eyes, eyes that gleam red before the light of the fire.

"No one could come before you, Oliver."

The Omega bows his head. "Still… must be nice having a girl around. Someone who can bear young…"

"Hey, we have talked about this. I couldn't give two shits about having children," Gryphon hisses through clenched teeth.

I feel the exact same.

I have taken care of children my whole life. The eldest of seven brothers…

"You may not care, but the government does. Our numbers are growing smaller. There just aren't as many Alphas and Omegas as there used to be. That was the reason why it was a unanimous vote in the end. We need Betas so we don't die out."

The fire continues to spit in the silence that follows. Gryphon glares into the flames, dark shadows settling in the contours of his face.

Lachlan is still lost in his thoughts, and sometimes I wish I knew what was going on in that insane head of his.

"I want to go to my nest…"

We all perk up at that.

He wants to fuck? Now?

Gryphon strokes his chin. "Anything for you, Ollie…"

"No fucking… just…"

Cuddling then? It may still help to take the edge off things. It just doesn't feel right for us all to be in the nest while Mila is alone outside.

Oliver is right. We can't keep this up. Sooner or later, Mila is going to have to come into the house.

Gryphon helps Oliver out of the seat. Then we all lead him to the nest at the end of the house.

It's a small, windowless room, and just the distraction we need.

Maybe if I can shut myself away in a cushioned shoebox of a room that smells like my mate and my pack, then I can forget all about the poor Beta sitting outside alone in the rain.

I really do hope the rain stops. Because I am not so sure how secure the roof of that shed is.