Chapter 111

Ollie’s POV

The next several days move in a blur with me avoiding the brothers and the brothers avoiding me. Instead, I focus on school, trying to take in as much as I can.

As part of my duties as Sylvia’s servant, I am only able to take the same classes as her. I sit behind her in every lecture, watching as she goofs off on her phone, not paying attention or taking any of this seriously.

I take it seriously though. Even if these aren’t necessarily the classes I want to take, I will not waste any opportunity for more knowledge, eager to learn and succeed and hopefully get ahead, even as an omega.

As the professors talk, I even come up with some ideas for homework assignments and essays that they’ve already briefed us on for later in the semester.

At the end of class, the professor passed out sheets for each of us, all of them an open-book test that we are to complete at our own convenience before the next class.

When the bell rings, and we are free, Sylvia stands, turns around, and drops her own homework right on top of mine.

“What’s this?” I ask, although I already suspect the answer.

“What does it look like?” she says, snarky, glaring at me.

“If you want to learn something, you really should do your own assignments,” I tell her.

She laughs. “What the hell do I need to learn anything for? All I need is a degree. Then, with my dear brothers’ recommendation, I’ll be able to have any job that I want.” Looking at me, she shakes her head. “The world is open for people like me. People like you, however…” She shoves the test closer to me. “Accept your duty, servant.”

Ah. So now, she won’t even use my name.

On one hand, I’m annoyed as all hell. Being her servant, apparently, means also making certain she passes her classes. To do this, of course, I have to do them myself. Gods help us if there’s ever an oral exam I cannot do for her.

For this assignment though, it’s within my reach. With a sigh, I accept the papers.

What else can I do?

On the other hand, though, searching for the bright side, I realize I can use this as the perfect opportunity to escape Sylvia’s side.

After all, she can’t expect me to be her constant servant while also completing all of her work. At least one of us should go to the library.

“To do this, I’ll have to go research at the library,” I say. “Do you think you can go without me for an afternoon?”

She grumbled. “Gods, you are so lazy. Can’t you just do them tonight?”

“Not if we leave campus,” I said. “I have to do it now, so I can serve you later.” The words made bile rise in my throat. I didn’t want to serve her ever, yet here I was, with no other choices.

Finally, with a long-suffering sigh, she says, “Fine. But I expect you to find me as soon as you are done.”

At last, the opening I needed to sneak away for a while.

Leaving the lecture hall, we went our separate ways. Instead of going to the library, I rush over to the lecture hall where I met Professor Hunter, and then I go up to his office.

Fortunately, he is there. He smiles at once, seeing me enter. “Ollie! To what do I owe the honor?”

“I want to help your research,” I say. “However I can.”

He nods, considers a moment, and then asks, “Would you be willing to show me your wolf?”

My wolf has been confined for some time and is eager to reveal herself again, to have a break and stretch herself free. With her consent, I agree as well and together we shift into wolf form.

Hunter steps closer, inspecting me from all angles, then he vigorously takes some notes on whatever he sees.

“Your wolf is remarkable,” he says. “And these markings are quite rare.” He hums, thoughtful. “These are not typical qualities of Omegas, that we’ve seen. I’m more curious than ever about your lineage.”

He walks to his desk and scribbles down somethings. Then, he says, “If you are willing, Ollie. I’d like to take some blood from you to genetically find your lineage. As you are an orphan, I’ve struggled to find any kind of paper trail on you, even going back to the orphanage. A blood test would solve everything.”

I nod, consenting as much as I can in wolf form.

“We’ll go to the medical lab to have it done,” he says.

I agree to that too.

Hugh’s POV

Hugh is simply walking along campus between classes. Today, he was feeling inspired, so he actually came to campus and even attended a few lectures. Typically, he skips, only showing up for test days, which he always aces.

With his natural intelligence and quick learning, he doesn’t really need to listen to someone drone on and on over a topic. One glance at a book and he remembers.

The sun is out today, and it has the feelings of a good day, even if he’s still been caught in some turmoil about his feelings for Ollie, and whether or not she could be Angel.

Right now, his brothers and him are evenly split, with Hugh and Declan certain Ollie is Angel, and Wes and Conrad certain that she is not.

Hugh can’t be talked out of it at this point. He knows he made that mark on her skin.

Conrad’s reasoning, that their mate would love Sylvia, does hold some weight, but there are plenty of stories of mates who didn’t get along in everything, just enough to be compatible.

For Conrad, not liking Sylvia is a deal breaker. Hugh isn’t fond of it, but for his Angel, he’d be willing to see things through. People can change after all. Even Ollie.

Hugh walks past some of the lecture halls on my way through campus, barely paying attention to anything.

Suddenly, he catches a scent and stops.

It’s light, as delicate as a gentle ocean breeze, but one that he instantly recognizes as belonging to his mate.

And only his mate.

Immediately, Hugh veers off course, heading into the building where he senses the scent is coming from. It’s not on this floor, though. On the second? He rushes into the stairs. No, the third!

He flies out of the landing into the hallway, just in time to see Professor Hunter stepping out of his office, a college-age girl following along behind him.

That’s Ollie, Hugh realizes, as a victorious feelings shoots through him.

The scent of his mate is stronger now, and it’s coming from that direction.

With Ollie there, that means he has to be right. She has to be their mate.

Hugh wants to rush forward, to claim her officially and show the whole world that he found his mate.

But, looking closer, he stops.

Her hair is slightly ruffled, her clothes askew. She looks for all the world like she just had a world-class make out session.

But how could that be? She’d just come from Professor Hunter’s office, and…

At once, the pieces click together for Hugh.

And he sees red.