42. Mila

Chapter forty-two

Mila

M y phone buzzes, and I roll onto my side, grabbing the annoying device. My eyes pop when I see the time.

It turns out I had slept for over twelve hours.

Shit.

Oliver…

I jump out of bed, checking my hair quickly before I rush out of the room.

I will not have Gryphon hanging this over my head. He will not accuse me of putting my needs before Oliver's first.

The Alpha is doing everything he can to remove me from the picture, but none of his tactics are working.

I meant what I said. I will not leave Oliver. Not after the way he sacrificed himself to protect me.

It's my fault that he is hurt.

So, I need to be there for him.

My phone vibrates again, and I pick it up, gazing at the screen.

Was that not my alarm before?

I slide the screen aside with my thumb, and my heart lurches when I recognize the name of my father's nurse.

"Hello?"

"Mila… it's your dad…"

She goes into detail, and my stomach bottoms out on the floor. The room spins, and I grip the sideboard for balance.

Somehow, I still find the strength to speak. "What… what should I do?"

"I think it's best you come home…"

I knew it would one day come to this. Before Oliver's accident, I would have gladly returned to my dad and taken care of him, but now I am torn.

I can't just leave Oliver…

But my dad needs me too.

I am all the family he has.

It's obvious which choice I have to make. I just hope that Oliver will understand.

Wiping a stray tear from my cheek, I breathe in then say, "All right. I will be back later…"

I just hope I am not too late.

We hang up, and I stare at the wall in silence for some time, my heart shattering to pieces.

I best go and break the news.

This will be painful. ***

We're all gathered in Oliver's room.

The Omega is barely allowed to leave. Gryphon simply won't let him, and for once, I agree with the moody Alpha…

Oliver needs his rest.

He will recover much quicker if he does.

Being only twenty-seven years of age, he is more likely to recover than say, someone my dad's age.

A blow like that would have killed my dad.

The Omega looks at me with so much trust…

He has no idea I am about to break his heart.

"What is it, Mila?" he asks, concern lacing his silken voice.

Gryphon stands on the other side of his bed, his arms crossed over his chest. He never takes those burgundy eyes off me.

His gaze is challenging. It's almost as if he knows what I am about to do to Oliver, but I have no choice.

My dad needs me more than ever…

Barret and Lachlan watch me carefully too, though they're less judgmental.

Lachlan only regards me with sadness. How someone can be so pure and absolutely batshit insane, I will never know… But that's just Lachlan.

The beautiful psychopath.

Then there is Barret. When we first met, he was a complete asshole. But now, he is a whole different Alpha.

He comforted me at the hospital when Oliver was undergoing surgery, and I will always be grateful.

That Alpha has got my back.

Finally, I take Oliver's hand in my own, and the tears splash from my eyes. They dribble down my cheeks, masking my perfect view of my Omega, and I hate this…

This will be one of the hardest things I will ever have to do.

But I won't be gone forever.

There will come a time again when I can return. And then I promise I will never leave again.

Oliver shuts his eyes. "It's your dad… isn't it?"

My sob echoes through the room, and the Omega, despite his injuries, shuffles along the bed, wrapping me up in his arms.

"Oliver, your wounds…" Gryphon fusses, but as always, his Omega ignores him.

"Will be fine, Gryphon. Trust me. I am going to make it. I'm a young, fit Omega in his prime… not everyone gets to be so lucky…"

I cry against his chest, breathing in his honeycomb scent.

He's referring to my father, and I truly don't deserve him.

Oliver is too pure for this cruel world.

It will give me comfort for the coming weeks ahead.

"It's okay, Mila… everything will be fine. Your dad needs you right now. You should go…"

"But… what about you?" I stammer, holding him close.

Oliver purrs, and I close my eyes, getting lost in the sound.

"I have my Alphas. Even if one of them can be a major thorn in the side at the best of times… I am in good company. You're your dad's daughter. The only family he has in the world now. He will want you by his side…"

He would. Though my dad would just be like Oliver, claiming that he'll be fine. But truth be told, he will be absolutely terrified.

No one should be alone at the end of their life. Not even the worst person imaginable.

"I… I will be fine, Mila… Now go. Stop wasting time here and go and be with your father…"

Finally, I look up from his chest.

His own eyes are wet with tears, and I think I know where his train of thought has gone.

Isabelle.

He still doesn't know whether she is alive…

I couldn't imagine anything more harrowing.

Oliver takes my cheeks in his hands, his eyes roving up and down my face, memorising my features.

I do the same with him.

His is a face that would be hard to forget…

Finally, he lets me go, but we hold on to each other's hands for a little while longer. His fingers slip away from mine, leaving a trace of his warmth on my palm, even when I exit the room.

Barret volunteers to drive me back to the Beta City.

Lachlan squeezes the life from my lungs by the door, and I promise him endlessly that I will be back.

"You… promise, Snowdrop?"

I smile. "Promise…"

He chokes me harder, lifting my feet off the ground. It's only when Barret tells him off that he stops.

When he places me back down, a cough alerts my attention, and I turn around to face Gryphon.

I bet he can't wait to see the back of me for a while.

I just hope he knows that this isn't it. I am going to come back.

Gryphon can't get rid of me that easily.

The Alpha reaches out a hand. "I guess this is farewell."

I narrow my eyes, taking his hand. "Yes. For now. But I will be back, Gryphon. I hope you know that."

He nods, and it looks as if he has something to say. His eyes flit over to Barret who waits by the door. Then they land on Lachlan, who looks ready to eviscerate his fellow pack mate.

Lachlan hates it when Gryphon hurts my feelings.

Finally, Gryphon settles those burgundy eyes on me, and lo-and-behold… do I detect sadness?

Is the grumpy Gryphon actually sad about me leaving?

"Take care out there…"

Well, that surprised me.

Who knew he cared about me?

"Because I would hate to have to tell Oliver that something happened to you…"

Oh, he is only concerned for Oliver's sake.

I will still take it.

"You've probably already figured out who that gunshot was actually aimed for…"

Of course I have. I am not an idiot. It's why I constantly blame myself for what happened.

"Don't worry, Gryphon," I say, turning toward the door. "I'm a big girl. I can take care of myself."

Just as I have my whole life.

That's how I leave things between us. I half expect the Alpha to beg me not to leave. Maybe it was a trick of the light, but it was almost as if he didn't want me to go.

For his own sake.

Does he actually like me? Who knows…

I will never understand that Alpha. A true enigma.

One thing I do know for a certainty; he cares about Oliver, and it's that doting nature that I will be counting on.

I get in the passenger side of the jeep, and how things have changed.

The first time I got in this car, I had to sit in the trunk away from Oliver.

They even had a glass screen installed.

That screen has gone now.

Just as we pull out the drive, I turn back to the house, spying a familiar shape in the bedroom window.

Oliver.

He got out of bed to wave me off. Despite how much of a strain it must have been on his body.

I wave back until the house is nothing but a dot.

Then I face the road ahead, breathing in deeply through my nose.

The next couple of days will be hard. ***

Barret pulls up outside the house.

It's an upgrade from the old house where my dad used to stay. Ever since the money started coming in from the trials, I was able to get us a nicer place.

The jeep is silent as I gaze up at the house.

My father is in there waiting for me.

A woman steps out onto the porch, and that must be his nurse.

I have never actually met her, but she seems like a kind woman. The kind of person you can rely on.

Now I look up at Barret.

He tries to act nonchalant, but I know he is dying inside. The Alpha smiles through his pain, and I concentrate on his solo dimple.

It still amuses me.

"Well, this is it, sunshine. Keep us updated, will you?"

I nod. "I promise…"

The Alpha is quiet for a moment, his gaze lingering on my lips. But he doesn't lean forward to kiss me.

I don't mind.

We can kiss when I get back.

I roll my eyes, bending forward to give him a hug, and the gesture takes him by surprise. Then he wraps his arms around me, and ruffles my hair, chuckling.

"You take care now… if you sense anything suspicious, you let us know…"

His dark eyes flash, and for a moment, I'm taken aback.

This Alpha truly does care. They all do.

Even Gryphon, though he doesn't like to admit it.

I smile. "I promise, Barret."

Finally, we let go, gazing at each other in silence. Then I step out of the jeep to meet the nurse on the front porch.

Barret doesn't leave until I am in the house, and the moment the jeep disappears from view, I die inside.

But that pain will never compare to what I have to go through in the next few days.

My father's nurse, Jane, leads me to his bedroom, and I almost don't recognise the man lying on the bed.

Surely, that can't be my dad…

He's plugged up to a number of machines, and I cover my mouth, holding back a sob.

It's worse than I thought.

"It's okay, you take your time, Mila," Jane says, placing her warm hand on my shoulder.

I go through the motions next and take the chair by my father's bed. Then I grab his feeble hand, and that's how we stay.

Jane gives us some privacy.

My father stirs, and I gaze into those familiar eyes. It takes him a moment to recognize me, but then a smile lights up his face, and I am grateful to Jane for calling me.

I never would have missed this for the world.

"Mila… you're back…"

I laugh. "Yeah, Dad… I am… how are you?"

He shrugs. "Same old."

I smile. It's good to see he still has his sense of humor.

Pepper wags her tail by his side, and my dad must have asked Jane to place her there.

She's my mom reincarnated after all.

"Hey there, girl…" I reach across to pet the spaniel, and she licks my hand, wagging her tail faster.

Dad squeezes my fingers, and I meet his eyes.

He watches me carefully. "Did you find a family, Mila?"

I have to think for a moment. I guess I did.

There's no denying it. Oliver is my mate. My scent match.

I knew it from the moment I locked eyes with him.

I smile. "I did, Dad."

My dad almost looks twenty years younger for a moment when he hears the words from my lips. Then he lays his head back on the pillow and sighs happily.

"I'm glad. You shouldn't be alone, Mila… I want you to be happy, even when…"

He doesn't finish his sentence. But I squeeze his hand, letting him know that I understand.

"I know, Dad… I know…"

"So… why aren't you with them now?"

Now he has got me.

"I… wanted to be here for you, Dad…"

He looks at me pointedly. "I will be fine, Mila. I have Jane and Pepper…"

I half laugh, half cry. I knew he would say that.

"It's no problem, Dad. Really. I wouldn't miss this…"

These could be his very last days on earth. And I want to be here for every second.

"So, tell me about them…" he asks.

I smile and tell my dad everything about the Hart Pack. I leave out some details about Gryphon and the shooting, but all in all, he likes what he hears.

He soon falls asleep, and I stay by his side all through the night.

Even until the morning.

As I said, I will not miss a single moment.