16. Lachlan

Chapter sixteen

Lachlan

I pick some wild flowers in the woods, wondering what color Mila would like most.

It's been three days since she moved in, and already the house is so much cleaner. The carpet is soft and fluffy, and the sheets are all crisp and fresh.

Best of all, the food…

Now we can all eat like kings.

So, the least I can do is pick her some pretty flowers.

"Do you think she would like these ones?"

I bring the flower to my nose and sniff. Snowdrops. My favorite.

Barret leans against a tree, rolling his eyes. "I don't fucking care. Come on, we have a job to do."

Oh, yeah. Right.

We were supposed to be setting up some traps in the woods, but I got distracted when we stumbled across a clearing of white and purple flowers.

Bluebells and snowdrops.

So pretty, just like Mila…

The government has been extra cautious lately, sending us various warnings by text.

With the onset of the recent trials, our governor, Lily, fears for our Omega's safety. That is why we are setting up these traps today. I can sense it myself. Something bad is coming, and we need to be prepared as a pack.

We need to protect Oliver. He is the center of our universe, and keeping him safe is paramount. Plus, his heat is coming up, and the traps will keep any nearby Alphas away who may scent him.

But lately, my attention has shifted to that pretty little Beta.

She is so beautiful, and I can't get her off my mind.

When I was sucking Oliver's cock the other night, I was picturing her.

Normally, the Omega picks up on those things, but he doesn't seem to mind.

In fact… I have a feeling he was thinking about a certain green-eyed Beta, too.

It seems we both like her...

It's odd for Oliver to like Mila. She's Beta. He should only like Alphas, but I see the way his eyes wander.

He hates it whenever Gryphon makes a fuss of him around her. As if he is almost ashamed.

Once upon a time, Oliver was able to take care of himself. He could feed himself, and he didn't have to worry about having a heat three to four times a year.

He used to be happy. When we all first met, we were doing Alpha training together. None of us had presented yet, but Oliver's family just assumed he would get his Alpha by seventeen.

It's why they sent him to the academy.

I remember the early days when we would all talk about forming a pack and sharing an Omega. I used to get so excited.

The idea of sharing a woman with all three of my pack mates.

But we just never expected that Oliver would become our Omega.

He was the smallest of us. He's not even six foot, and sometimes I think I spy disappointment in his eyes. He never got to be the Alpha that his family always dreamed he would be.

When he presented, it soon became clear that he was our scent match. And then the rest was history from there.

I haven't thought of anyone since claiming Oliver as my Omega.

But lately, that has changed since Mila came into our lives.

She's all I can think about.

The way her eyes sparkle and her nose crinkles when she laughs…

My heart can't take it.

I tuck the snowdrops behind my ear and follow Barret deeper into the woods.

He grabs the end of one wire as I take the other, and now we go about setting up a trap.

Hopefully, the wire will keep intruders out. Oliver's heat needs to go smoothly.

In all the six years we have been together, no harm has ever come to Oliver. Yet there are horror stories on TV about Omegas who go missing all the time…

Oliver will not become a missing Omega.

"What do you think Mila is preparing for breakfast?" I wonder dreamily, tying wire around a tree.

If anyone walks into it, the wire will snap and hook around their ankles.

My design.

Barret shakes his head from his own tree. "Will you please stop thinking about your stomach for one second and focus? We have about another one hundred feet to cover."

I don't hear him as I think about Mila making some delicious pancakes.

"I hope it's chocolate chip pancakes again…."

I drool, and Barret snaps like the wire. "For fuck's sake. Get yourself together. It's just pancakes."

"Not when Mila makes them. I swear, when I eat her cooking, it's like tasting a little piece of heaven…"

Barret curses under his breath, and I watch him suspiciously.

My eyes fall on his belly. It's a little rounder than usual.

"Hey… don't think I haven't noticed. You like her cooking too."

He grits his teeth. "No, I don't. I just appreciate eating something that doesn't come in a takeout box for once."

I chuckle, and he looks at me strangely. "What the fuck is so funny?"

"I hate to break it to you, Barret… but you're gaining a little weight…"

He pauses, glancing down at his stomach. He shrugs. "So? You are too with the way you've been eating lately. Looks like we'll all have to hit the gym later and do some push-ups."

"Don't deny it. You love her pancakes too."

Barret swears, moving off to set up some more traps without me. "Come find me when you've stopped being a delusional idiot."

"Right back at ya!"

Barret has already disappeared.

Instead of setting traps, I decide to pick more flowers for Mila.

I can't wait to see her face later when I present them to her.