Chapter 16

Ollie’s POV

Silence fills the entire courtyard, as if those that haven’t even heard our conversation can still feel the weight of it and are compelled to be quiet.

The ice cold glares of my brothers persist, freezing me from the inside out. But I don’t look away, lest the action be confused for the shame of deception. To prove I am telling the truth, I hold their gazes, even as I shiver. Well, all except Hugh.

“There are punishments for lying to us,” Declan says, his voice flat. He doesn’t need to convey his anger for me to know how dangerous he is, or how serious his words are.

That small spark of hope that they would believe me already starts to dwindle.

“You shouldn’t go around accusing people,” Hugh says, though I still avoid looking directly at him and him alone. “Sylvia has already told us everything that happened.”

“She’s been bullied, too,” Wes adds. “You would have to be truly heartless to accuse her of joining in, when she’s one of those three’s victims.”

“It’s an outrageous lie anyway,” Conrad says gruffly. “How could Sylvia, so kind and gentle, ever think of bullying anyone? Especially so fiercely that they fainted from it.”

“You are a disgrace for accusing her,” Declan says.

“Please don’t be too cruel to Ollie,” Sylvia says through her tears. “Those girls were so vicious to us both…”

“See how she defends you!” Hugh snaps. “And you want to accuse her of such things.”

“Sylvia doesn’t have a mean bone in her body,” Wes says. Placing his arm around Sylvia’s waist, he starts to guide her away from me. “We told you she wouldn’t appreciate your apology.”

“She still deserved it…” Sylvia sniffles.

“Not from you,” Declan says. With one final icy glare at me, he too turns away.

My hopes fall to the ground, entirely dashed, and I scold myself for even allowing myself to have them in the first place. What was I thinking?

Even if they can subconsciously sense I am their mate, it doesn’t change anything. Their affection for Sylvia is just too strong. They are entirely blinded by her ways.

There’s no sense in me even trying to argue anymore. They simply will not listen to me. They will never take my word over Sylvia’s. Even if I had proof, they’d still likely turn a blind eye.

Nothing will ever be more important to them than their dear sister.

Not even their fated mate.

Finally, I let my gaze shift to Hugh, just as he and Conrad turn away from me too.

I have to stick to my original plan.

Seduce Hugh, and use him to keep my bond under control. Then, when I’ve been accepted to a university in another pack, I will leave and forget all about them.

It’s not a perfect plan, but it’s the best one I have. As I watch the brothers walk away from me, I rally my determination to see it through.

The thought of seeing Hugh later, and knowing what’s going to happen between us, keeps me anxious and distracted all day at school. I’m so busy zoning out that I get scolded by two different teachers in two different classes.

“You’ve always been a good student,” the second one says. “I expect better from you.”

I apologize and try to focus. For the length of that class, I manage somehow, but as the end of the day nears, my anticipation and trepidation increase in equal measure.

As the final bell rings, my hands are shaking, I’m so nervous.

Ella and I go through the supplies I need once more, just to ensure everything is there.

A mask, a wig, and some condoms are the most important things. I’d been too embarrassed last night to buy the condoms. Ella had to do it for me. But I felt much better knowing they are there. With my future on the line, I cannot afford to get pregnant.

Ella drives me to the edge of the park, and I get out, leaving my school backpack in the car and taking only my supplies.

“Good luck,” she says. “Call me when you need a pickup.”

I nod, not trusting my voice to speak.

Her expression fills with pity. “Try to have some fun okay?”

After closing the door, I watch her drive away before I turn back to the forest and start the trek through the trees.

“Shift,” Scarlet says. “We should leave a path of our scent for our mate to follow.”

I expect that Hugh would find us anyway, but I don’t see any flaw with helping him along. The sooner we get this over with, the sooner I can relax.

So, listening to Scarlet, I shift, grab the bag of supplies between my teeth, and then run through the forest.

As Scarlet releases the tight hold she had on our scent, I start to feel a bit more playful and leave a maze through the woods for Hugh to follow before finally making it to the cabin.

The playfulness must have been Scarlet’s influence, because the minute I am in human form again, my nerves amplify and my heartrate flutters.

I’m feeling lightheaded.

Just focus on changing, I command myself. I don’t want to be caught dressed as I am, so clearly Ollie, so I duck into the bathroom and hurry to change.

In our search for supplies, I had purchased a long white satin nightgown, which I slipped into now. At first I decided against panties, but I feel too exposed now. I slip my panties back on underneath.

Over my face, I place on a thick domino mask that is big enough to hide the shape of my brow, cheekbones, and the bridge of my nose. Finally, I pull my true hair up and cover it with a thick dark wig. Long dark ringlets curl around my shoulders.

Just as I hide my regular clothes in the closet, there’s a knock on the front door. It’s so sudden that I nearly startle out of my skin.

I feel afraid. What am I thinking doing this? What if I mess everything up? What if Hugh can see through my disguise right away?

From the main room, I hear the door open.

“My lovely mate, your scent is so divine,” Hugh says as he walks inside. “Don’t hide from me now. Come on out.”

After a steadying breath, I walked out of the bathroom and into the main room. There’s still some light coming in through the west-facing windows, but I also lit some candles in my preparation. The combination of the two drapes Hugh in a warm glow.

Gods, he is move-star level of handsome, with high cheekbones, deep blue eyes, and a smirk sharp as a dagger.

“There you are,” he says and drags his eyes down my body.

Immediately, all of my senses seem to come to life and I instinctively step closer to him.

His grin softens, pleased, though that dims too as his gaze lifts to my face.

“Why hide your face?” he asks. “This isn’t a masquerade.”

“I have my reasons,” I tell him. I won’t say more, for fear of giving too much away.

He hums. I think he might argue, but instead, he moves on. “I’m one of a set of quadruplets, which I’m sure you know. You could have any one of us. Why pick me?”

“Because I don’t want any strings attached to what we are about to do,” I say, braver than I feel inside. “You have a certain reputation as a playboy, a love them and leave them type, and I have no desire to settle down.”

For a moment, he seems somewhat distant as he looks at me. “You seem to know me well.”

“I did my research,” I say.

“The way you are talking,” he says, “It’s as if you want to make me your secret lover. You must know I’m about to be one of the pack Alphas…”

Of all the brothers, I thought Hugh would be the most open to this idea. Clearly, I was mistaken.

Turning from him, I say, “If you don’t want to, forget it.”

I need this to go well, so that I can be healthy enough to achieve my dreams. But if he doesn’t want to, then –

Suddenly, Hugh takes my hand. Before I can turn, he steps closer to me, lining my back with his front. His free hand comes up, cups my face and turns me enough that his mouth can cover mine with a kiss.