38. Mila

Chapter thirty-eight

Mila

G ryphon is still MIA, and none of the guys seem worried about him in the slightest.

Meanwhile, I am worried sick.

Where did that broody Alpha wander off to?

Omegas waltz around the dance floor with their Alphas, and despite the merriment in the air, I am tense.

My perfume spikes every now and then, and my skin is hot to the touch.

Plus, all eyes are on me. Even the dancing Omegas and Alphas turn their gazes my way, and I wish I had worn my Beta's soldier's uniform in the end so I could blend into the background, unnoticed.

My eyes land on a familiar, sour-faced Beta, and I recognize Heather immediately.

The look she gives me next could set me ablaze.

I spot her partner in crime, Jason, not too far off, standing guard over another pack.

So, those two idiots found a pack in the end… I'm surprised they were picked during the selection.

They were pretty incompetent during training, and Instructor Horace was nearly blue in the face whenever he had to drill one of them.

They hate me even more than they did during training. That's because I broke protocol by turning up to the Governor's Ball in a big blue dress.

Betas aren't meant to be seen after all. They are meant to blend into the background, where they are not a bother to anyone else.

At least Governor Lily has disappeared.

Just around the same time as Gryphon did, funnily enough.

My heart pounds in fear, and I worry for the Alpha who has been nothing but a jerk to me from the moment I arrived into his life.

Just as my imagination gets the better of me, Governor Lily steps out of an alcove, not a single hair out of place, her baby-pink dress perfectly clean.

People clear a space for her, and now she circles the edge of the room, her eyes razor sharp like a hawk's.

They land on me, and my body goes inside out as her cruel eyes lay me bare, exposing me for what I truly am.

An incompetent soldier, and a threat.

That gaze only promises me great suffering, and I peer away, my throat swelling up in fear.

My scent must spike again because Oliver looks down at me. He hasn't left my side.

Lachlan and Barret left to get us drinks.

"Mila? Are you okay?"

He places his hand on my shoulder, putting me at ease, and I gulp deep breaths, gazing up at him through my eyelashes.

Governor Lily has vanished, and I thank whatever God or Goddess heeded my prayers.

"I… I'm fine, Oliver."

The Omega squeezes my shoulder, letting me know that he has my back and he will protect me.

But could he protect me from Lily?

The only person in this room who can protect me from that woman Alpha's wrath is Governor Frederick, who currently eyeballs all the beautiful Omegas on the dance floor, licking his dry lips.

He makes me want to throw up.

The Alphas glare at him, but that's all they can do. The man is untouchable, and soon he will have his way.

Soon, all packs will be placed with one of his soldiers, and to say that things are tense would be the biggest understatement of the century.

The air is so thick with animosity, that it stings the back of my throat, making my eyes water.

Every Alpha protects their Omega, and I spy the way Jason's pack snaps their teeth at him whenever he looks at their little blonde, blue-eyed Omega.

The Alphas don't want us here.

But they have no choice because Governor Frederick has all the power.

Even Governor Lily has to bow down to him, and the Alpha is not happy.

I have a bad feeling in my stomach.

Why did I have to wear this poofy blue dress? I stick out like a sore thumb.

All my thoughts dissipate when I spy a familiar, brooding shape stepping out of the alcove where Lily just appeared, and my heart cleaves in two when I spy the three red marks on his cheek.

"Oliver, Gryphon is hurt!"

Alarmed, Oliver whirls his head around, and his skin pales when he sees the state his Alpha is in.

"What the…?"

Neither of us can move as the Alpha makes his way toward us, and it's worse than I realize.

A strong, overpowering scent of dead flowers wafts from his suit, and I cover my nose with my gloved hand.

I know that cloying, sickly scent.

It belongs to Governor Lily.

The Alpha nods his head at Oliver, completely ignoring me.

Oliver is speechless, and automatically, he steps toward his Alpha, checking his wound.

The Omega may be mad at him, but Gryphon is still his Alpha.

"Gryphon, what the hell happened to you?" he whispers, gripping his Alpha's cheek.

The Alpha doesn't flinch from his touch. He merely closes his eyes, all the tension leaving his shoulders.

Oliver growls, actually growls, like a beast, and I gasp.

"Who did this to you? Tell me?"

His eyes still closed, Gryphon shakes his head, gripping the Omega's wrist. He places a soft kiss on the inside of his hand, and despite how furious he is, Oliver shudders.

"I… I am fine, Oliver…"

Oliver's eyes flash, and then he leans in closer to Gryphon, sniffing his suit. He hisses.

"Did Lily do this to you?"

Gryphon flattens his lips, and I spy the nervous tic in his jaw.

It only confirms my fears. That deplorable woman did hurt him.

All because of me…

My guilt feels like lead in my chest, and it weighs me down, making it hard to swallow.

I really am tearing this pack apart. Because of what I represent.

I can't do this to them anymore.

"Gryphon, answer me…" Oliver growls.

The Alpha sighs, and his eyes burn a soft burgundy when they settle on his Omega.

"It doesn't matter now, Oliver…"

Oliver bares his teeth. "Like hell it doesn't!"

His yell catches the attention of a few packs, and anxiety claws at my lungs. I'm afraid. Afraid for Oliver…

I don't want him to go after Lily.

She would kill him.

"Oliver, stay calm… I'm sure it was just a simple misunderstanding…" I say, hoping he will listen.

Oliver doesn't hear me. He only has murder in his eyes as they trail across the room, finding that woman in that ridiculous baby-pink dress that contradicts with her muscular, Alpha frame.

"No, it was not," Oliver replies, his eyes gleaming as they focus on Lily.

Lily sees his challenge, but she doesn't take him up on it. Instead, she circles the room, pretending as if the Omega doesn't exist.

Either she is merely indulging him or she just doesn't deem him worthy enough of attention.

I don't care. I'm just grateful she didn't take him up on the challenge.

We'd all be dead trying to protect him.

"This isn't over, Gryphon…" Oliver rumbles.

Gryphon doesn't hear him. The Alpha just purrs as he thrives on all the attention from his Omega.

The poor thing has been starved of his Omega's attention these last few days.

Finally, Lachlan and Barret arrive with our drinks. Gryphon growls, snatching the drink from Barret's hand before he can pass it to Oliver.

He samples a taste, then deems it appropriate enough before he hands it to Oliver.

He doesn't check my drink.

Lachlan does me the honor instead. He takes a small sip of my drink, and his blue eyes don't leave me the whole time.

My cheeks burn.

"All safe, snowdrop…"

The Alpha hands me the drink.

I utter my thanks, taking a leisurely sip. It's only sparkling water.

I wouldn't dare drink alcohol again.

Gryphon snaps at Lachlan. "Don't call her that…"

The blond Alpha raises a fair eyebrow. "Call her what?"

Gryphon's eyes burn red. "You know what…"

Lachlan feigns ignorance next, shrugging like a careless villain. "I don't know what you're talking about, Gryphon."

Gryphon bares his teeth, and then his gaze snaps to me.

Once again, I only meet hatred inside those burgundy eyes.

I'm the reason why he has those three scratches.

They glisten under the lights of the chandelier, and I resist the urge to reach across and tend to his wounds.

He's still bleeding. It doesn't look as if he managed to clean the scratches properly, but they don't look deep enough to scar.

I have a feeling though that Lily's next strike will be more permanent, and again, the guilt weighs heavy in my chest.

All my fault.

All my fault…

Oliver finally loses all sympathy for Gryphon, and now he goes back to being mad at him as he returns all his attention to me.

I don't miss the hurt in Gryphon's eyes nor the hatred.

From the start, I have done nothing but steal his Omega's affections.

His feelings for me are very justified.

Oliver weaves his fingers with mine, and now he pulls me to the dance floor.

"Come on, Mila…"

I shake my head, digging my heels into the ground. "No, no, no, I can't dance!"

"Yes, you can. I can dance with whomever I choose, and Mila… I choose you…"

Me, but not Gryphon or any of his Alphas.

This is bad, very bad.

All eyes will be on us.

Oliver weaves through the crowd of dancers. I sense several Alphas growling at me as I pass too close to their Omegas, but then Oliver shows them his gleaming teeth, and they step back.

I don't think they were expecting an Omega to show his teeth. The Alphas simply don't know what to do with him.

Most Omegas are submissive in our society.

"Ignore them, and ignore that bitch over there too," Oliver growls when he spies the Omega glaring at me several feet away.

It's the same Omega from the selection ceremony. The one who smirked at me because she knew exactly what I was thinking. She knew that I was jealous of her and her pack of Alphas.

She knew I wanted what she had, and she was rubbing it in.

But now… she looks pissed.

After all, this dance floor is for Alphas and Omegas.

A Beta has no place here.

Oliver threads his fingers with mine, tugging me close. He keeps his gaze on the other Omega.

"Seriously, whore, fuck off!"

Her Alpha comes to her aid, but then Gryphon is there in a flash, blocking his way.

The other Alpha stumbles and his Omega nearly goes flying backwards. Luckily for her, one of her other Alphas catches her, pushing her upright again.

Gryphon is fast.

He's protecting Oliver though, not me… But then I'm surprised when he breathes, "Stay away from them…"

The Alpha backs away, yanking his Omega close. Then the whole pack scurries off the dancefloor, leaving room for Oliver and me to dance.

Good. The dancefloor was getting a little crowded.

Gryphon keeps his back on us. Meanwhile, Oliver holds me close.

"Thanks, Gryphon…" he mutters.

I sense the surprise in his voice. It's the least I expected him to do too.

Finally, Gryphon turns, and his eyes fall on me. They're not as hard as they were before.

In fact, they look… sad. Full of regret.

He regards us both, hand in hand, preparing to waltz around the dance floor.

The Alpha knows it then. There is no stopping us now.

There is no stopping his Omega…

So, he lets us dance.

"I'll be over here…" he moves off, finding a place to stand on the sideline.

He takes up a space on the same wall as a Beta soldier. Someone I don't recognize.

Now Gryphon is the one protecting us.

The Alpha takes up the place that should have been mine…

It's not right.

Oliver smiles lightly at his Alpha, and now his beautiful blue eyes fall on me. His dimples deepen, and my heart trembles.

"Ready, Mila? This is your moment after all… wow them all…"

Please. As if I could wow anyone with Oliver around.

But I keep the thought to myself, pressing up close, and now I return his smile, craning my neck to gaze into those eyes.

"Yes."

A devilish smirk, and without warning, Oliver whirls me around the room, never missing a beat.

My chest loops, and despite my two left feet, Oliver manages to move us around the floor with ease, and I feel like I am floating.

It's obvious he has had dance lessons.

Meanwhile, I am more trained in battle.

I have never danced in my life. Not even in front of my mirror as a kid.

I never dared to let myself dream…

He presses me flush to his chest, breathing in my hair as he still twirls us around, and how does he not miss a step?

His heart beats close to mine, and I shut my eyes, losing myself to the dance and the music.

I feel like I am in a fairytale.

The moving pieces in a music box…

The way we spin and spin, like no one else is in the room.

Like no one else matters.

The dance floor is empty, and it seems everyone has cleared a path for us.

Now we have the whole room spellbound.

I tense up in his arms. "Everyone is looking at us…"

Oliver still keeps me close, running his hand smoothly up my back. A shudder trills up my spine.

"No, Mila… they are looking at you …"

My heart pounds, and I squeeze my eyes shut, just losing myself to the music, to Oliver…

All I can smell is his honeycomb, all I can feel is the fine spray of ocean waves as he never stops moving around the dance floor.

"Mila…"

I suck in a trembling breath. "Yes."

"I… think I am falling in love with you…"

And the world comes screeching to a halt.

But we never stop. Oliver never allows me to.

No one has ever taken the lead in my life…

No one has ever swept me off my feet.

"Oh…" is all I can say, tears pricking the back of my eyes.

"Shh, don't cry now, just dance. I promise… I will take care of you. We all will, Mila… even Gryphon…"

I bite my lip, holding back a sob.

"You were meant to be protected, Mila… and I will protect you… and make you mine …"

The word shoots down my back, settling in the core of my spine. I don't think.

I just… be…

Somewhere at the back of my mind, a voice tells me that this is wrong.

I cannot let them all fall for me. Especially Oliver…

He is the most vulnerable of the pack.

Governor Frederick has plans for him. I don't know what those plans will entail, but all I know is that it is not safe for him to be around me.

I… I must leave…

Before midnight.

I guess the night truly is becoming more and more like a fairytale…

A blast goes off, and Oliver flips me around, shielding me from the attack. Then he stills, his eyes wide as they fall on me.

Someone shot at us.

"Oliver?" I whisper.

He's gone into shock, and his eyes don't see me anymore. Then he loses consciousness.

My world comes crashing down.

Oliver just took a bullet for me.