43. Oliver

Chapter forty-three

Oliver

M ila has been gone for a whole week, and I just hope she is okay.

She messaged me the first few days, but after a while, I stopped hearing from her.

I just wish I knew what was happening. She shouldn't be alone in this.

She needs me by her side, but I am on house arrest.

I am still recovering, and this fucking sucks.

Gryphon, as usual, mollycoddles me, and I am getting sick of him treating me like a helpless baby.

He barely leaves my side, and I think I am the first Omega in history who doesn't dote on their Alpha's attention twenty-four-seven.

I just don't like the fuss.

The Alpha very well knows that I am not helpless. He is aware that I received military training until the day I presented.

And from that moment, my life changed forever…

Now I am this precious commodity, a thing to be cherished and protected, and I am not allowed to go anywhere without my Alphas anymore.

I have no independence, and sometimes, I just want to scream and say fuck it all.

Mila needs me to protect her.

I wasn't there for my sister the day she went missing. So I will be there for Mila.

My fists curl as Gryphon tucks me in for the millionth time, fluffing up my pillows. He has my pain relief all lined up on the cabinet with a glass of water.

I turn to Lachlan. Barret is setting up traps outside the property, a government mandate all Alphas must exercise in order to keep their Omegas safe.

Our safety is number one priority.

"Have you heard from her?"

The blond gazes at me with empty eyes, his usually perfect hair falling down the sides of his face like straw.

Lachlan is beside himself with grief. He misses Mila, and I have never seen my Alpha like this.

As his Omega, I feel the urge to comfort him. The best I can do is send a soft tendril his way, but he is numb on the other side. I barely get anything from him.

I have come to the conclusion that Mila is possibly my mate. I sensed it the moment I first saw her at the selection ceremony.

She was my scent match. I knew it even then.

But she is Beta, and it still doesn't make sense why an Omega like me would be so drawn to her. Especially as I have three Alphas.

But are my Alphas falling for her too?

Are they only feeling the effects of her absence because I am?

That would make sense, except Lachlan looks worse than me. Barret is in pain too, but he hides his grief through shitty jokes.

Gryphon is staunch, as usual. Nothing new there.

But I do spy something like regret in his red-brown eyes. They shine more brown than red lately, and has my surly Alpha with the permanent chip on his shoulder finally warmed to Mila?

As I live and breathe…

But he hides his feelings behind a mask of stone, and he truly is in denial.

"Lachlan?"

Finally, the Alpha stirs, and his normally azure eyes are clouded.

It's worse than I thought.

Shit.

I grip his hand. He barely flinches. "Hey, Lachlan… it will be fine… Mila will be back…"

He blinks at me absentmindedly, and there's nothing more I can do. I purr, but it's not enough.

I could suggest some time in the nest, but it just feels so wrong without Mila.

It's hard to be horny when you are fucking dying inside.

Finally, he stirs, shaking his head, and my heart caves in.

He hasn't heard from Mila either.

"Well, perhaps Barret will have…"

I look up at Gryphon.

He's still fussing over that damn pillow.

This guy has read way too many Omega pamphlets. Every single one of them tells Alphas that we like things soft and fluffy.

Mila is soft and fluffy…

But also a total badass.

It fucking turns me on. So strong, but feminine.

Maybe Gryphon has heard from her.

Highly unlikely.

He is the last person Mila would ever call.

Barret arrives at last, and my hopes are immediately squashed when I ask him if he has received a text from Mila.

Nada.

None of us have heard a thing.

What the hell is going on?

I can't stand this.

That's it.

I'm going to the Beta city.

Something is off. My Omega senses are tingling…

The moment I try to wriggle out of bed, Gryphon immediately shoves me back. Not too hard, though. Just enough to make me remember my place.

"Oliver, you need your rest. Doctor's orders…" he growls.

I bare my teeth, rolling my eyes as I try again.

He pushes me back on the bed.

I snap. "Back off!"

"No. You are not marching over to the Beta city. You are vulnerable. Mila… she will be fine…"

Somehow, he doesn't sound so convinced.

I watch him warily.

"Do you know something?"

Gryphon doesn't answer my question. Instead, he just fluffs up my goddam pillows for the millionth time.

Fuck my pillows.

Mila needs me.

"No, I don't. Mila is probably just distracted with her father…"

That could be the case. Obviously, her priorities right now are with her dad. I am not that selfish. I wouldn't want to take her attention away from her dad. But I am worried.

Now we all watch Gryphon suspiciously as he tucks in my sheets around my legs. He avoids my eyes.

Barret sighs, heading out the door. "If you want, I could drive up and check on her…"

Lachlan perks up. "I'll go!"

Gryphon speaks yet again, sounding like a broken record. "Mila will be fine... Oliver needs us more right now..."

I ignore him and focus on Barret. I should have asked him to stay with her in the first place.

I am such an idiot.

Maybe I really was thinking about myself.

Selfish to the core…

Sometimes, I despise being an Omega.

I am in pain, and my Omega hormones get needy.

But the man in me wants to protect Mila. But I can't be there for her. Not like this…

She doesn't need another sick person to take care of.

Barret watches me. "Your call, Ollie. Just give us the order, and we will go to Mila. For you."

And they would too. They would walk to the ends of the earth for me as my bonded Alphas.

But maybe… she just wants to be alone.

It's hard.

I have never technically been through loss. I have lost a sister, but for all I know, she could still be alive.

I remember how I wanted to be alone for weeks after she vanished. That's because I blamed myself for her abduction.

I was supposed to be watching her…

Honestly, I think that's why I took the bullet for Mila.

My absolution for failing my sister that cold, miserable day fifteen years ago.

Would Mila want the guys to intrude?

Would she want us there?

I am so torn.

Barret steps toward the bed, gripping my cheek in his hand. He pecks my head.

"We will think on it. For now, just rest, Ollie. You look like shit."

I roll my eyes. "Gee, thanks."

He chuckles and settles beside Lachlan.

Some light has returned to Lachlan, and I know he hopes for me to say yes.

But for now, I need to sleep.

I am so tired.