4. Gryphon

Chapter four

Gryphon

I take out my frustration on an old punching bag, picturing the smug face of the Beta Governor, Frederick.

How I hate that son of a bitch. If I ever get my hands on him, he's dead. It's his fault why my Omega is sulking at home in his nest, why his normally sweet honeycomb is tainted with anxiety.

Oliver is worried that the Beta governor is imposing on our lives by placing one of his soldiers into our pack. He is worried that the Beta will steal us away from him.

We don't need a Beta to protect Oliver. Me, Lachlan, and Barret are perfectly capable of taking care of him ourselves. Just like we have done for the past six years.

We're Alphas. It's in our DNA to keep him safe and to cater to his every whim. We have knots. A Beta would never be able to satisfy his need for wholeness when his heat rears its ugly head.

The Beta won't ever be a part of our pack. That I will make sure of.

"Alpha Gryphon Hart? Governor Lily sent me. She demands an audience with you."

I cease punching the bag, gripping it with my hands to stop it from swinging side to side.

I peer over my shoulder at the large security guard who just addressed me. He's dressed to the nines and wears an earpiece around his head.

There's a gun in his holster too, and there's no missing the bulletproof vest beneath the nice suit.

I refrain from laughing. As if the governor would need any protection.

She is the most formidable Alpha I know.

Anyone would be a fool to cross her.

I'm training at the Alpha Academy today. I come here when I need to unwind and vent, and it appears that the governor was doing just the same thing.

I wipe the sweat from my forehead. "Where is she?"

The guard waves his fingers, indicating for me to follow.

We walk down the massive gymnasium. Alphas beat at punching bags or run on treadmills, and the air is electric with energy.

Every day, we train as if we are heading for war. It's what is drilled into our brains from the moment we're deemed old enough to hold a gun, which is age fifteen.

Every new day is a day for war…

Finally, the security guard takes up his position beside a tall, well-muscled woman, keeping his eyes ahead. "Governor Lily. Alpha Gryphon."

The woman sends a last roundhouse kick at the bag, and the thing goes flying off its chain. Nearly every Alpha in the room draws a collective breath.

Despite her delicate name, Governor Lily is one tough Alpha. She dominates any room she enters and demands the attention of every person without even having to open her mouth.

I stare at the place where her sorry excuse of a punching bag just landed. It sends up a cloud of dust in its wake, and I picture Frederick's beat-up face on the battered leather.

Lily and Frederick seem to be on pretty good terms, but everyone knows that it's just for appearances. The two despise each other, and one day, one of them is going to cave and kill the other.

My bets are on Lily. Her body is just muscle. Zero fat.

I have seen her twist the neck of a full-grown Alpha with just her thighs.

Now those are a pair of legs I would not want to find myself between…

Governor Lily tried to oppose the Beta Trials at first, but Governor Frederick got his way in the end.

Like me, she doesn't want to let the Beta population into our society. She likes order and structure, and for everyone to belong in their place.

Either way, I don't really care. I just don't want the Beta government to force their way into my pack. My pack is perfect right now.

We have an Omega and three Alphas. What more could we need?

However, it has occurred to me that they will most likely send us a female Beta. One with a working womb, I presume, and I grind my teeth.

I refuse to be bred like livestock.

Finally, Governor Lily deigns herself to look at me, and I merely shrink in her magnificence.

I can't look her straight in the eye because she will view it as a challenge. Instead, I address her feet and only meet her gaze when she tells me to.

It's a mark of respect for our most revered Alpha leader.

One of her employees passes her a towel, and she uses its fibers to absorb the sweat from her tanned face.

Lily and I are the same height. Female Alphas tend to be as tall as male ones, but male Omegas are always taller than female Omegas.

It always struck me as odd.

"Ah, Gryphon… just the Alpha I wanted to see…"

As usual, I keep my gaze on the ground, clearing my throat. "What did you need to see me for, Governor?"

Lily takes a bottle of water from another member of her entourage, swigging the whole thing in one go. Then she fixes those jewel-black eyes on me.

Every Alpha watches us.

"Resume your training. Remember, every new day is a day for war…"

They don't need to be asked twice. They resume their training, and once again the gym fills with the sounds of punching and grunting.

Lily steps closer, standing at eye level with me. She gives me permission to meet her gaze by tipping her chin, and I do just that, trying my best to hide the lump in my throat.

"I have news that may be of interest to you, Gryphon. One of my spies in the Beta government has come bearing some news…"

I swallow the lump, nodding my head for her to continue.

Governor Lily walks the room, speaking openly with confidence. She trusts her soldiers not to betray her. She has them all whipped, pretty much.

If they do go against her, then she will personally see to it that they are removed.

"I have been informed that your pack is to be given a female Beta soldier by the name of Mila Stone."

I try to hold back the growl in my throat.

I knew it…

"As you can imagine, the Beta governor is very aware of your pack's interesting case…"

I nod. "That we are one of the few packs in the world with a male Omega."

"That is right. And the governor hopes to breed her into your pack, having either you or your other two Alphas mate with her. Since your Omega is incapable of producing young."

Again, I hold my tongue. All I really want to do is roar at the top of my lungs and take out my anger on another punching bag, but I must show respect in front of the governor.

She may think that a challenge has been issued, and she would beat me to a pulp.

"That's not all… I believe he has another use for her, but I can't quite fathom what yet. However, I advise you to remain vigilant. Do not let this Beta get close to you or any member of your pack. Keep them at arm's length. Always."

Oh, I plan to. Though I can't understand what other motive the Beta governor would have for our pack other than to breed one of his soldiers into it.

"I am told she is their best soldier…"

Strange. It just so happens that I was the best in my class too.

But no one can take care of my Omega better than me. When this 'Mila' arrives, I will stop at nothing to prove that she is ill-fitted to protect Oliver.

I swear it.

We come to a stop, and the governor takes a moment to gather her thoughts. Training continues all around us, and I prepare myself for what she says next.

"Gryphon… The Beta governor is truly up to something, and he intends to infiltrate our defences somehow. So far, he has managed to be successful. These Beta Trials are merely the first step… So, I repeat… Do not let this Mila Stone get the best of your pack. Do I make myself clear?"

Oh, she does. She makes herself perfectly clear.

As clear as crystal.

"Yes, ma'am."

She places her hand on my shoulder, giving it a squeeze. She's marking me with her scent as a way to show that she is my superior.

She is also showing me that she owns me…

I have just become her creature.

"Good. I am counting on you, Gryphon. Do not disappoint me. The whole of Alpha and Omega society is counting on you…"

It's a lot to put on my shoulders, but I take on board what she says, promising that I will do all that I can to keep this Mila Stone and the Beta governor at bay.

They will not force their way into my pack. But I am willing to play their dirty little game.

Governor Lily wants me to keep this Beta at arm's length? Oh, I can do that and so much more.

I can't wait to meet you, Mila Stone.