Chapter 24

Ollie’s POV

“Ollie, where are all the flowers?” Diana asks, when she herself arrives twenty minutes later. Sylvia and the quadruplets are likely here too, but they are probably in a couple of the backrooms getting ready.

A very big part of me wants to tell Diana the truth – that Sylvia either forgot or purposefully did not order the flowers. Yet, I’ve learned by now that, even without Sylvia present, my old family would still rise up to protect her.

I could tell Diana that Sylvia dropped the ball on this, but I am certain I would still take the blame.

For that reason, I think. Fast.

There has to be a way out of this that doesn’t end with me being in trouble again.

“I, uh, decided to make the flowers part of the ceremony,” I say.

Her eyebrows lift. “Oh?”

“Yes, uh… They’ll be brought in like a great procession before the brothers come in…” I say.

“Oh, how interesting,” Diana says, considering it. “Yes, that could be beautiful, and would add more effect than the boys simply walking in alone.”

Some pride starts to swell within me, yet before it can fully take root, she continues, “But you should have suggested this to me before now. You know I don’t like surprises like these, not during such a grand event.”

I lower my head a little. “I apologize, Luna.”

“Not a Luna for much longer. After the ceremony, you can just call me Diana,” she says.

Maybe I should feel pleased that she’s giving me permission to address her by her name, but instead I just feel a pang of pain. Once, I called her Mom. Any other title now feels insufficient.

“Right,” I say. I have to agree. What choice do I have?

What choice do I ever have anymore?

I can’t wait to be free of this place. After today, I will be a Gamma, and can start sending away those university applications to the other packs.

I just need to survive this ceremony first.

As time goes on, I grow more and more nervous. When the florist is five minutes late, Diana gives me a warning look. At ten, I try calling her. At fifteen minutes late, five minutes before the event is set to start, she finally arrives.

Fortunately, in that time, Ella and I have convinced most of the previous volunteers to help out again, by carrying in the flowers and leaving them at the assigned points. With everyone helping, we all go to unload the flowers from the truck.

The florist hands me the bill. “You owe me big for this,” she says. “And not just in money. I expect a favor in the future.”

“Okay,” I tell her. I don’t tell her she only has a month or two to call that favor in, since I have every intention of leaving the pack.

The volunteers begin to unload the truck and line up. At the same time, Sylvia and the brothers step out of their backrooms and come closer.

The brothers are wearing tailored white suits with golden trim and green cufflinks. The original design suits them each well. They look regal and handsome.

A matching green gown had been prepared for Sylvia, but at the last minute, she wanted something bright red. The gown she wears is still beautiful, but the color clashes with everything and everyone else.

Somehow, I’m willing to believe that she prefers it that way, as it truly does make her stand out.

Whatever. This will all be over soon.

But then Sylvia sees the volunteers holding the flowers line up for the procession and storms toward me and Diana.

“What is this, Ollie?” she asks. “Where are the flowers I ordered?”

Where are they indeed? I want to say, but bite my tongue. If I stick to the truth, perhaps the others will see what Sylvia has done – or failed to do – even if I can’t directly call her out on it.

“No other flowers arrived. Ella and I called every florist in town, but they had no record of your order. Fortunately, the florist I had initially ordered from still had all those bouquets in stock.”

Diana starts to look at Sylvia with disappointment in her eyes. Even the brothers are coming closer to hear what she has to say.

As if sensing she is in trouble, she turns to me. Fake tears welling in her eyes, she says, “How could you have canceled my flowers, Ollie? I know you don’t like what I picked out, but… I really hoped we could get along…” She sniffs dramatically.

The disappointment Diana was building, she now turns onto me instead.

The brothers outright glare at me.

“You are a disgrace,” Declan snaps.

“That was low, Ollie,” Wes says.

Sure, I didn’t like the arrangements Sylvia chose, but I wouldn’t have canceled it.

“I didn’t cancel anything,” I say, trying to stand up for myself one last time. “Sylvia never made the order.”

“How could you accuse me of that?” Sylvia says and covers her face with her hands. Despite the dampness in her eyes, I notice that not one tear actually falls. She probably doesn’t want to ruin her makeup.

“Get out of here,” Conrad commands me. “Go stand in the back with the others to be given designations today, and pray my brothers and I are feeling forgiving.”

“Right now, I’m not,” Hugh says.

“They might forgive you if you apologize to me, Ollie,” Sylvia says. “Right?” She looks at the brothers but they commit to nothing.

“I’m… sorry…” I say, stilted because I don’t mean it.

The must be able to tell. A muscle in Declan’s jaw ticks. Hugh crosses his arms. Wes turns from me in disgust. Conrad glowers.

“Go, Ollie,” Conrad says. “Now.”

Knowing there’s nothing else I can do, I turn and sneaking past the volunteers lined up for the procession, make it to the back of the room where the other newly matured pack members are waiting, including Ella.

“What happened?” Ella whispers but I just shake my head, too humiliated to even speak.

I’m so tired of feeling this way. Why is Sylvia always believed, while I am constantly discarded?

And by my own mates…

Before long, the ceremony begins. The procession begins and the flowers are beautiful. As each volunteer comes in holding the flowers, they place them where they are set to go before then stepping into the aisles.

The wreaths are added from back to front, and then the larger bouquets are added to the stage itself.

When the flowers are placed, the brothers march in, lined two and two, with Sylvia a red swatch between them.

From the back of the room, I can hear the guests’ whispers.

“Sylvia is so beautiful,” they whisper.

“What a flattering dress she wears.”

“The brothers truly love her. It’s so endearing to see such devotion.”

Each comment makes my heart sink further and further.

Ella tries to smile at me to lift my spirits, but there is nothing to be done.

The rest of the ceremony moves quickly and satisfactorily, as Diana gives a speech and then symbolically passes on her crown. Four intricate golden crowns were made for each of the four brothers, who, as the crowns are placed one by one on their heads, are now deemed Alpha Kings, leaders of the Crescent Claw pack.

At the end of the ceremony, the newly matured pack members, including Ella and I are brought forward.

One by one, we step forward to receive our designation.

Many are Gammas. There are a couple of Betas. Ella, directly before me, is given the Beta designation, like her father. My heart leaps into my throat as my hopes rise.

Diana promised I would be Gamma. They’ve picked so many Gamma’s already. This should be an easy choice.

Yet, as I step forward, standing at the base of the stage while the four brothers peer down at me from atop it, I’m suddenly unsure.

Their expressions are detached and cold. Beside them, Sylvia smiles a little.

“Ollie,” Conrad says. As the first born, he is the mouthpiece of the four. “We declare you… Omega.”