35. Oliver

Chapter thirty-five

Oliver

G ryphon is tense as he paces back and forth in the living room, all suited up in his tux for the Governor's Ball.

He's not the only one. We're all wearing our custom-made suits, and I can't help but notice that the pants have been made a little too tight.

Did Mila piss off the tailor? Even so, he is getting a bad review from me…

Maybe he really was just looking for an excuse to touch my balls.

It's something I have had to deal with ever since I awakened as an Omega — unwarranted attention from Betas and Alphas alike.

Everyone has wanted a piece of my body since I presented, and it gets tiring. I never wanted the attention anyway as I had always been a shy kid, a bit of a wallflower.

It will be the exact same at the ball, and I will have to be on my best guard.

At least Mila will be there to protect me and keep me safe.

I know she didn't want to wear the dress in fear of retaliation from not only Gryphon but her superiors, too.

But I will handle the brass. If any of them give her trouble, then they can talk to me.

An Omega's happiness is paramount, and I will just say that I didn't like her uniform.

It didn't match our outfits or something stupid like that.

Honestly, I have never really given a single shit about fashion, but most Omegas do. They will buy it.

Besides, she will still have a gun hidden in her dress; I made sure the thing came with pockets.

She just seemed like the kind of girl who liked pockets.

Anyplace she can stow away her weapons.

I have to remember that she is a trained soldier, and she is used to being armed.

She is no princess…

Well, except for tonight.

Who said Cinderella can't be a soldier, too?

"This is ridiculous, Oliver… Where the hell is Mila?"

Gryphon rounds on me from where he has worn a groove into the carpet from pacing too hard.

I don't look at him. I don't give a fuck about his obsession with timekeeping.

He's the kind of Alpha who would rather get to every place half an hour early, and someone needs to teach him about being fashionably late for once.

Instead, I keep my gaze at the foot of the stairs. I let Mila get ready in my room so that she could make her grand entrance like in all the fairy tales. I have even left the door open to the living room so I can see the moment she makes her grand entrance.

My heart won't stop pounding.

"Oliver… you go and tell her to hurry. We are running late. Governor Lily—"

"Fuck Governor Lily."

The room falls deathly still. Lachlan makes an idiotic sound, placing his hand on his mouth.

I just cursed our oh-so-gracious leader.

Blasphemy.

I don't see the big deal. It's a free country. A democracy. Besides, I didn't exactly vote for her.

There's just something about her that I don't like, and I can never quite place my finger on it.

Yet Gryphon bends over backwards for her, and he's afraid of her.

Well, I'm not. I'm not scared of any of them.

Gryphon's eyes flash in warning, and they burn bright red. Then he bares his teeth, and I glare at him.

"Don't you bare your teeth at me, Gryphon… I said what I said. I don't give two shits what Lily thinks. So sit down, be patient, and wait until Mila arrives. I want this to be special for her…"

His lip twitches when I say special , and it looks like he wants to show me his teeth again.

No Alpha of mine bares his teeth at me. I am not his fucking enemy, and neither is Mila…

He needs to chill out.

Mila is getting her hair and makeup done right now. I paid someone to do her up for the ball.

She told me she had never had someone do her hair and makeup, and my heart swelled at her innocence.

She reminds me of a sheltered kid. Despite the fact she is trained in battle, she has never experienced much of life.

Well, not the things that really matter, anyhow.

Not every day has to be about war.

I pick up on the sound of heels on the landing next, and I jump to my feet.

Lachlan and Barret do the same, and it looks like we are all anticipating her arrival. The former even slips a breath mint into his mouth, and what the fuck…?

Why didn't he offer me one of those?

I hear another set of steps, and it appears that the stylist had to help her in her heels.

Mila told me she could walk in heels, but she has a habit of stumbling if she is nervous.

I guess I have put her in quite the predicament.

Gryphon rolls his eyes when he spies our reactions, and then he mutters under his breath, scowling into the fireplace.

It seems to be his favorite brooding spot lately.

"Just a few more steps…" says the stylist.

I don't hear what Mila says to her next. Her voice is too quiet, but my heart pounds just hearing how obviously excited and nervous she is.

I can't wait to see her…

Finally, the stylist stops at the door, coughing for our attention. "Fellas… behold… your lady for the night…"

Our lady. It has quite a nice ring to it, and I can see that the others agree with me, too.

Gryphon doesn't even look at the door. He keeps his gaze on the empty fireplace. We haven't lit it because we aren't going to be home tonight.

I plan to stay out dancing until the wee hours of the morning.

I doubt Gryphon will stay for that long.

The stylist steps aside, and a fairytale princess takes her place.

My heart skips a beat, and she looks even better than I imagined…

Mila is beautiful. Simply put.

The bodice of her dress hugs her tiny waist, and the tulle skirt flairs just right, seeming to make her float along the floor.

And the lights of the room catch the gems off her dress, sparkling like real starlight, and I can't believe she is real.

One day, I am going to make her mine …

Lachlan and Barret are just as entranced, and Lachlan's eyes shine.

I spy the snowdrop he twirls in his hand in anticipation of giving it to her, and I smile.

Even Gryphon looks up from his brooding, and all the worry lines vanish from his face when he spies the living fairy tale princess in our very own living room.

At least I know he isn't completely broken. I know Gryphon is developing feelings for Mila too.

He's just too stubborn to admit it.

Mila blushes when we all gawp at her for too long, and I truly mean gawp.

We look like a bunch of morons.

Love struck morons.

Mila will definitely steal all the attention tonight, and I can't wait to showcase her on my arm.

Something primal awakens deep inside of me at the very idea of all those Alphas seeing this perfect beauty on my arm, and once again, I swallow back the growl that's hiding just behind my lips as I approach her, presenting her my arm.

"Ready to go?"

Mila chews her bottom lip, her eyes flitting over to Gryphon quickly.

He no longer gawps at her or me, and it looks as if he has finally given up on complaining.

We're still going to be on time anyway, and it looks as if he was worrying about nothing now after all.

Finally, she takes my hand, and I wrap my fingers around her silken ones, leading her toward the door.

We don't go in the jeep.

Lily hired a limousine in our honor, and that was nice of her.

However, I can't help but feel that she is just doing it to keep track of us.

That woman is up to something, and I don't trust her one bit.

I help Mila into the back of the limousine, sitting by her side the whole ride to the venue.

She's afraid, and she shouldn't be.

She looks gorgeous.

"It's okay, Mila. I will protect you. If anyone has a problem with you, then they can deal with me."

She giggles nervously, meeting my eyes. "But I'm supposed to be the one protecting you…"

I smile. "Not tonight."

With that, I take her gloved fingers again, pressing my lips to the silk, sensing her warmth beneath.

Her scent blooms around her, and the back of the limousine smells like gingerbread.

She always smells so sweet, and it makes me wonder at times…

The moment we arrive at the venue, Gryphon goes on high alert, being the first one to climb out of the car.

Normally, he would be the one to escort me into the building, but not tonight.

Tonight, I decided to break protocol and lead Mila into the venue instead.

I'm going to show off my Beta to the world.

Gryphon is not pleased with breaking protocol. His eyes dart around the front of the venue in fear of any pissed-off government officials, but I don't care…

I'm the Omega of the group, and I'm the one who makes all the rules.

Finally, we step out of the limousine, taking up our places.

Gryphon leads our procession, while Barret and Lachlan take the rear.

Mila and I stay in the middle.

I guide her up the red-carpeted stairs, and then through the wide, double doors and into the spacious foyer.

She grips my hand tightly, and I pull her closer to me, purring softly.

Mila closes her eyes, and I can tell that she is frightened.

After all, she is going against a direct order from her superiors.

She is not wearing her uniform, but screw her superiors.

Screw everyone who isn't a part of this pack.

Mila is pack now.

I have decided to claim her as my mate, and I don't care what Gryphon thinks.

We arrive at the main door that leads into the ballroom, and this is it.

All eyes will be on our pack.

But if things go my way, they will all be on Mila.

"You ready, Mila?"

I peer down at her. Even in heels, she is shorter than me, and it fills me with pride.

A man should always be taller than his date…

She shakes her head. "No."

I chuckle, squeezing her hand. "That's okay. You're going to knock them all dead…"

She laughs, and now we wait until they announce our arrival.

"Pack Hart!"

With a deep breath, I step into the ballroom with my beautiful Beta on my arm.

It seemed I anticipated right.

No one even looks at me. The Omega.

They only see Mila.

I smile in victory. Just as I hoped…

Mila is the belle of the ball.