12. Oliver

Chapter twelve

Oliver

I can't eat. I can't stop thinking about Mila all alone in the shed outside.

Is she cold? Hungry?

Fuck.

I barely know her, but I can't stand the thought of leaving her out in that shed. It's inhumane.

We are not assholes…

But in the end, she is a threat to me and my pack. I have to remember that.

Governor Frederick sent her here for a reason, and we have to keep our wits about us.

We can't be fooled by her soft green eyes…

Her eyes really are pretty, and I haven't even seen them up close yet.

Green always has been my favorite color. It's the color I even chose for my nest.

It just calms me and makes me feel at ease.

I know that Barret and Lachlan find her beautiful. I would be envious, but I find that it doesn't bother me so much.

I'm pretty curious about her myself.

Why is she so small? I could have sworn I was looking at a porcelain doll when I first saw her at the ceremony.

Quite frankly, Mila is adorable. Despite the fact that she has been military trained and that she could be a potential spy, she is sweet.

Well, at least to look at.

Gryphon looks up beside me. He has nearly cleared his whole plate, and he seems to be the only one of us eating.

My other two Alphas barely touch their food, and when Alphas don't eat, you know something is wrong.

I feel sick. As if I want to vomit up my organs.

Is it the anxiety? The guilt?

"What's wrong?" Gryphon asks, placing his fork into his mouth again.

We're eating takeout, per usual, but I can't touch it.

If I do, it will just come back up again.

I sigh, placing my fork and knife down. "I can't eat."

Gryphon presses his mouth into a firm line. Then he grabs my fork and attempts to feed me himself.

Normally, I would approve, but not tonight.

"Eat. You need your strength."

"I'm not hungry, Gryphon."

My Alpha purrs, shoving the fork toward my mouth. What's he going to do next? Airplane sounds?

I'm an Omega, not an infant.

"I said, I'm not hungry, Gryphon…"

That seems to settle it. The Alpha throws the fork down and attempts to clear my plate.

None of us speaks as he scrapes the food into the bin, keeping his back to us.

It seems to be an awful waste. Considering there's another mouth to feed.

"It's the Beta, isn't it?" he asks.

None of us reply. Lachlan hasn't spoken since we returned from the ceremony, and he's normally pretty lively.

Barret hasn't been any better either. Just curt responses and grunts.

Gryphon is the only one who is acting like himself, but he does seem extra moodier.

"Look," he goes on, placing the plate by the sink beside the mass of other dirty dishes.

I haven't had much time to clean. I've been too distracted by the ceremony and my heat spikes.

"We can't let her in. Governor Lily…"

I roll my eyes. "Yes, yes, she is a threat and we have to be careful. It's just… do we really have to let her starve too?"

Gryphon grits his teeth. "She has tins."

"And a hunting knife," Barret chimes in.

I pull a face. "Oh, yeah. Cold beans. Very nice. And a hunting knife? Seriously?"

I can't believe what I am hearing. You would think Mila was living on a desert island.

There is a house within ten feet of her! One with a not-so-civilized pack, if how we're treating her is anything to go by.

We're worse than animals.

Neither Alpha replies. For a moment, I think I spy something in Gryphon's eyes, but it passes quickly.

He is determined to keep her away at arm's length.

Finally, I speak. "We're inviting her inside."

They all look up. Even Lachlan, the lost little lamb, comes to life at last.

He looks hopeful. Barret almost chokes on his drink.

Gryphon's eyes flash in warning. "Oliver… careful…"

I ignore him, standing up as I approach the door. Lachlan and Barret follow.

"No. You two stay. I'm good on my own."

"Oliver!" Gryphon yells.

"It will be fine, Gryphon. Relax."

Yet he is having none of it. He is determined to view her as the enemy.

Me? I just want to be hospitable. It's called being nice , but I know it has to do with the fact that Mila reminds me of a small baby doll.

Not that I was ever into dolls, but I feel this strange urge to keep her safe from the rain.

It's a sensation I haven't felt since my little sister was still around. Back when I was just a kid of twelve.

That was before I became an Omega. Back when I was just a regular young boy, hoping to grow up to be an Alpha.

Gryphon catches up, but he soon backs off when I flip around and meet his eyes.

I don't know what he sees in mine, but it's enough to make him back off.

Thoughts of my little sister can have that effect. It's been nearly fifteen years…

She was just six.

Mila may be no small, fragile child, but she is still a person. Someone who needs a warm bed and food.

"I am doing this. You can't stop me…"

I'm growling, and it even shocks me.

Gryphon won't stop staring at me. He doesn't think I should invite her in, but he isn't going to stop me now.

Once I thought of my sister, that was it.

It's like she is still with me at times. I sometimes feel as if her spirit never left, and whenever I need guidance, she helps.

Isabelle would never leave Mila out in the rain.

No one follows me across the yard, and when I arrive at the shed, I find myself alone.

Good.

I knock and the door swings open.

All the breath leaves my lungs when I finally gaze into those green eyes. I spy different shades, and I can't look away.

This is the first time I have been allowed anywhere near her.

But her eyes have nothing on her scent. It's faint, but there's no missing the scent of gingerbread buried beneath a layer of desensitizer.

Why would she feel the need to wear desensitizer?

"Oh… hi, Oliver…" she whispers, her cheeks blushing bright red.

I fumble for words and maybe I really should have brought one of the guys with me.

My body is having a strange reaction to the way she says my name. Her voice is wispy and ridiculously feminine, and I am pretty sure my balls have tightened.

What the fuck?

Coming out here was a mistake. But I am seeing this through now. She cannot spend another moment in that shed. Especially as I spy that dirty, bloodied rag around her finger.

She cut herself.

"Hi, M-Mila… I… I was wondering if you would like to join us for dinner?"

Mila's eyes widen, and just when I thought they couldn't look any bigger. Then she closes her mouth, her cheeks turning an even darker shade of red.

"S-sure… all right."

I bet she wasn't expecting me at all. It seems she truly did resign herself to sleeping in the shed for tonight and for the rest of her time here.

She steps outside, going to close the door behind her, but I stop her in time, collecting her bags from inside.

Mila looks at me confused.

"You won't be staying out here after all. We will have a room prepared for you."

Her shoulders sag in relief, and I bet she is thrilled to be staying inside the house after all.

"Okay. Will the others mind?"

I scoff. "Like they have a choice…"

That seems to settle it. In the end, it's me who makes all the rules. If I am happy to have her in the house and eating at our table, so be it.

Time to show her some hospitality.