26. Lachlan

Chapter twenty-six

Lachlan

P oor Oliver.

Normally, I delight in pain, but seeing my Omega writhing and squirming in his nest just shatters my heart.

Barret and I are trying. We have given him our knots, but it's not enough. He needs all his Alphas with him.

So far, Gryphon has stayed away, but he's going to have to rejoin us again soon.

I don't think Oliver can last.

Omegas can die after all if they don't get the help they need for their heats. It's why it's imperative that we do all that we can to keep them safe.

It's what me and the guys were trained for. Catering to an Omega's needs and keeping them alive and comforted.

Barret bounces Oliver on his lap, kissing his bite mark tenderly. I feel it through the bond, but still… it's not enough…

Oliver is locked on Barret's knot, but he grimaces in pain, baring his teeth. "N-not enough…"

His face glistens with sweat, and he looks feverish rather than satisfied.

So I reach forward, stroking my finger along his chin and purr.

It doesn't soothe him.

Oliver grips my shirt, gazing up at me with unfocused eyes.

I don't think he can even see me right now. His eyes are blown out and delirious.

He has to touch my face to confirm it's me. "Lachlan… Lachlan…"

I purr for him again. "I know, I know… we're going to help you get through this, Ollie…"

He whimpers, squeezing his eyes tightly, and he never lets go of my shirt. "F-find… find Gryphon… p-please…"

I nod. "On it."

It seems Oliver and Gryphon's little fight is over. Oliver forgives him enough to let him back into the nest.

An Omega can only be so angry at their Alpha for so long.

I rush around the house in search of Gryphon. It takes me a while, but I soon find him sitting alone in the living room, gazing into the fire.

He has two fingers of whiskey in his glass.

"Gryphon… it's Oliver…"

The Alpha huffs a heavy breath, rubbing between his brows. "He doesn't want me."

I shake my head. "No… he asked for you…"

He looks up at me with hopeful eyes.

"Gryphon... I don't think he will last the night…"

The Alpha jumps into action. He downs his whiskey, and we both run back to the nest.

Barret has finally unlocked himself from Oliver. Now our Omega lies on the green sheets, curled up like a prawn.

He's whimpering.

His honeycomb scent is bitter and acrid, and I wrinkle my nose.

I have never felt so helpless. But it's fine now.

Gryphon is here.

The Alpha purrs, moving to our Omega's side at once. "It's okay. I'm here…"

Oliver opens his eyes, searching the nest when he hears his voice. "G-Gryphon?"

"Yes, Ollie, it's me…"

He pants for breath, closing his eyes. "Oh, thank fuck… it hurts… "

"I know, but I'm here now. I will take away the pain…"

Oliver whimpers again, letting Gryphon take him in his arms, and it seems all is forgiven between them.

Their bond re-connects, and Barret and I release simultaneous sighs.

Never again.

From now on, if Gryphon and Oliver want to fight, then they talk things through. Simple.

Or we all pay the price.

It's like there has been a hole in our pack since Oliver cut Gryphon's bond.

Oliver takes Gryphon's knot, and the Omega falls slack in his arms, shutting his eyes.

It's like a weight has been lifted from my shoulders, and I lay back on a pillow, gazing up into the gauzy ceiling of Oliver's nest.

I can't help but feel as if something is missing.

Our pack may be complete again, but there's a certain, blonde, green-eyed Beta I can't stop thinking about.

She's not in the house. I can sense it.

The building feels cold and lifeless without her presence, and I swallow back a lump in my throat, gazing across the nest at Gryphon.

He's too focused on Oliver, shushing and purring him to sleep, and I curl my fists.

He sent her away… and he couldn't give two shits.

If I could, I would go and find her, but I can't leave Oliver.

Who knows when the next wave will hit?

The next one could be even worse than the first.

Finally, Oliver falls asleep. We can tell by the gentle puffs of breath that escape his parted lips.

He sleeps like a perfect angel.

I guess now we can finally talk.

"Gryphon…"

The Alpha doesn't stir when I say his name. He just continues to stroke Oliver's head, brushing away a sweaty brown curl from his face.

I project my voice a little louder. "Gryphon."

He glances up.

I clench my teeth. "Where is Mila?"

It takes him a moment to register the name.

Barret rises up from his pillow, looking at the Alpha expectantly.

We both want to know.

He's still purring and soothing Oliver, making up for lost time by the look of things. He shifts, and Oliver stirs.

"She's gone to a hotel…" he whispers, so as not to stir the sleeping Omega.

Fire shoots down my spine. I jerk up.

"She what?"

The Alpha glares at me in warning. Oliver whimpers in his sleep, nestling his flush back against Gryphon's chest.

He doesn't think he will get out of this so easily, does he?

I want answers, and I want them now.

Barret looks just as eager.

"Did you make her leave?"

My question creates a bitter tang in the air. Oliver senses it, opening his eyes just slightly.

Gryphon purrs, lulling him back to sleep, and I don't fucking believe this…

"Gryphon…" Barret growls.

The bastard sighs. "No. I didn't. She left of her own free will. Now shut up. Our Omega needs us right now. We can worry about Mila later…"

My heart breaks, and I fight back the urge to punch that Alpha in his smart mouth.

I don't believe him. He made her leave, I know he did.

We all know how he feels about her, and he is just using Oliver's heat as an excuse.

Oliver will be pissed when it's all over. I hope he is aware of that.

And then they will go back to arguing, and that big, gaping chasm will return to our pack, breaking us apart further.

What a fucking dick.

He's too blind to see that Mila is the best thing to happen to our pack.

Just when will he wake up and realize that?