20. Oliver

Chapter twenty

Oliver

I storm up the stairs, finding Gryphon with his face in his hands.

He's crouched outside my nest, the door sealed tight shut as if to ward off demons, and I grind my teeth.

"What did you do?"

Gryphon rubs his fingers into his temples. He doesn't answer me at first. But I step closer, and my voice takes on a tone that I never thought I could ever possess.

"Hey! I asked you a question…" I growl, literally growl , like an Alpha, and that finally gets his attention.

He glances up at me confused, a deep furrow between his eyes. "Huh?"

I show him my teeth, and he tenses. "What did you say to Mila? Why did she run off crying just now?"

His eyes waver when I say the word cry , and then he sets his jaw in place, straightening his posture. "I said what I had to. That she was not welcome in or near your nest."

He fucking what?

Another growl and Gryphon flinches this time. Then his lip twitches and he has never looked so torn.

His Alpha senses the genuine threat, and it is merely reacting.

It wants to defend itself.

But the danger is coming from his Omega…

"That is not your decision to make, Gryphon. It is my nest. I get to decide who comes and goes in the end, not you."

Gryphon's eyes flash, and then he stands, coming closer. He grips my shoulders. "Don't you see what is happening? She is forcing her way into our pack! We can't let our guard down around her. Once you let her into your nest, Oliver. That's it. No going back. Governor Frederick wins."

"Fuck Governor Frederick. Fuck them all! I don't give a shit."

I push him away, and I ignore the hurt and frustration in his eyes.

Governor Lily must have filled his head again with more pointless fear-mongering.

I honestly don't think we have anything to worry about with Mila. She's obviously just an innocent pawn in whatever game the Beta governor is playing.

We can trust her.

I leave him alone at last, turning back up the hall.

"Where are you going?" he demands.

I don't bother looking back at him. "To fix your mistake. One of us has to make this right."

"Oliver…"

"Fuck off, Gryphon. And you can sleep in your own bed tonight."

He growls now. "I forbid you from talking to that Beta. I forbid you from getting too close!"

I laugh, turning back. "You forbid me? You are not the boss of me."

His eyes blare, and then he shows me his teeth. "Fine. Then I order you not to talk to that Beta."

Finally, I stop, having no choice. He just used his Alpha bark, and how dare he… he has no right.

He may be my Alpha, but I am not some subordinate he can order around to his liking.

Gryphon can kiss my ass.

I glare at him from the corner of my eye. "Undo the bark, Gryphon…"

He folds his arms, and his decision is final. "No. I… had no choice. I will not let you destroy yourself, Oliver. That Beta is dangerous."

"Undo the fucking bark!"

My shout rebounds off the wall, and no doubt everyone just heard.

The house seems to draw a collective breath.

He keeps his eyes trained on me, refusing to back down, and it looks like he is showing me my place.

I am the Omega here, not the Alpha.

He is the one in charge.

Well, I guess I will just get him where it really hurts.

"Fine. Then let's see how you like it, Gryphon. You are not welcome in my nest anymore. Hurts, doesn't it!"

His face falters, but he maintains his stance. "If it stops you from making the biggest mistake of your life, then so be it."

Is he really that pigheaded? Would he really be that willing to sacrifice his place in my nest just so I won't get close to Mila?

He is an idiot.

I am going to get to know Mila. His bark can only work for so long.

Omegas still have free will. Well, at least I do.

I am not a weak Omega, after all. I am much stronger than my designation dictates, and I am going to console Mila whether he likes it or not.

Something has been happening between me and Gryphon. It's as if our bond is growing weaker and weaker.

That once strong tether between us has weakened, and it all started when he abused my trust, using his Alpha bark on me.

It was weakened when I said he was no longer welcome in my nest.

I may have his bite mark, but in the end, my will is my own.

It's the Omega that maintains the strong bonds of a pack, not an Alpha.

It's the Omega who calls all the shots in the end.

We're the real ones in charge. It's why we are so cherished in this world.

The effects of his bark finally wear off, and I scoff, turning my back on him.

I hardly register the shock or hurt on his face. I don't bother turning back to my Alpha to comfort him.

No Alpha of mine abuses my trust like that.

"Oliver…"

I ignore him.

"Oliver!"

It seems he has finally realized what he has done. Maybe one day when he apologizes and gets down on his hands and knees, I will forgive him.

But until then, he is not my Alpha anymore.

Now, I have a Beta to console.

I have to make this right again.