Chapter 42

Ollie’s POV

After all the speeches are done, an instrumental arrangement begins playing and all of the graduates are brought up onto their stage to receive their diploma.

We are to file out of the seats in the same order we processed into the room, and step up onto the stage using the stairs on the right. As we cross the stage, we stop to shake hands with the principal and receive the diploma, before continuing across to the other set of stairs on stage left and then returning to our seats.

While we are crossing the stage, one of the guidance counselors reads where we will be attending university, or whatever plans we have made for after graduation. Everyone in the audience is to clap politely but briefly, so that the process is not held up overmuch with too much rowdiness.

There are dozens of graduates this year, so the process is somewhat lengthy.

Like when I came in with the procession, I am forced to go last across the stage.

Sylvia, of course, went first. She was already on the stage so it was easy for her to shake hands with the principal and receive her diploma. When the guidance counselor announced she was going to be attending the local university, everyone cheered and the brothers embraced her.

The other graduates moved quicker, with less fanfare. When it’s my turn, I’m hopeful that my experience will go just as smoothly.

My name is announced as I step onto the stage. As I walk across it, the guidance counselor says, “As an Omega, Ollie is not attending any university, but will find other ways to help the pack…”

I ignore the words. I just want to get my diploma and then sit down.

I reach the principal who holds my diploma out. Just as I take it, Conrad steps forward toward the podium. He ushers the guidance counselor to the side, then leans forward to speak into the microphone.

“I’m afraid that report is outdated,” Conrad says. “As a gesture of goodwill towards our lowest-ranking pack members, my brothers and I have decided to allow Ollie to attend the pack university. She will be starting there in the fall.”

I totally freeze. The audience is cheering. The brothers, standing behind Conrad on the stage, seem pleased with themselves. Even the principal says, “Such considerate and generous Alphas. Our pack is blessed.”

Only Sylvia looks as stricken as I feel. Obviously, she hadn’t been told about these plans. And neither have I.

As the principal presses the diploma into my hand – I’ve been too shocked to move – he prompts me, “Don’t you have something to say to our Alphas, for this special gift they’ve given you?”

The brothers turn to look at me, waiting. As they stare, their eyes reveal their inner coldness. This act is not one of kindness, but one more way to attempt to control me.

I don’t have proof of that, only suspicion, though with the cold looks, I know in my heart that it’s true.

I swallow hard, not sure what to do. The longer I take without replying, the worse this looks for me. No one else sees what I see, nor do they know what I know. They believe the brothers are being considerate. They have no idea how much they seem to hate me.

Already the principal’s face is starting to fall with disapproval.

“Thank you,” I force myself to my brothers, loud enough for everyone on the stage to hear. Those in the auditorium seats can likely see me saying it, if they can’t hear the words.

Even with my thanks, they are all still looking at me like they expect more.

“This is a wonderful opportunity… and a kind gift. I won’t let you down,” I add even though it makes my stomach twist.

That, at last, seems to satisfy them. As Conrad returns to his seat on the stage, I clutch my diploma to my chest and hurry the rest of the way, down the stairs, and back to my seat.

As soon as I sit, the teacher beside me leans over, “You must be so grateful to our Alphas.”

All I want to do is sink down into my chair.

The rest of the graduation ceremony goes by in a blur, as I try to plan my next move.

Even though it has been announced that I am to attend the local university, that doesn’t mean I have to go, right? Plans change, and it’s more the gesture that people responded to, not my actual going to the university.

Honestly, I’m not sure. The brothers announcing it seemed pretty final. But perhaps, if I speak to one of the people from the guidance office, I can find a way forward out of this mess.

Even if everyone believes that I am ungrateful, I don’t care. When I’m in Nightheart pack, I won’t be close enough to personally experience their disappointment and disapproval. Crescent Claw pack can go back to pretending I don’t exist, and we’ll all be better for it.

After the ceremony, the graduates all process out of the auditorium and back into the atrium beyond. There, I recognize one of the guidance counsellors and head there, ready to start planting the seeds for my departure.

When she sees me coming, she immediately tries to turn her shoulder, dismissing me, but I’m persistent and just walk around.

“I’m sorry to bother you,” I say, though I’m not sorry at all. “But I was hoping we could discuss my future…”

“Now isn’t a good time,” the woman says. “Make an appointment with the office.”

“I will,” I say, “But I was hoping to just as a question about the application I sent to Nightheart pack…”

Now, the woman turns to look at me, an incredulous expression on her face. “You are thinking about rejecting the offer to attend the Crescent Claw’s university?”

“It’s just… I have other plans…”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” the woman says. “No one would turn down such a generous gift, not even a lowly ungrateful Omega.”

“But I’ve applied to a different university and –”

“Do not speak of this again,” she says, abruptly cutting me off. “And be thankful that I also do not mention it. If anyone else were to hear about how difficult you are, it would tarnish the entire pack’s reputation. What kind of pack would try to lift up such a thankless Omega?”

“But I –”

“What’s best for you is to attend the university in the fall,” the woman says firmly, frowning. “Put whatever imaginings you have about leaving the pack far from your mind.”

“What’s this about leaving the pack?” comes Hugh’s voice from behind me.

Oh no.

Slowly, I turn around to find four sets of very cold, very dismissive eyes on me.

“Explain yourself, Ollie,” Declan says flatly.

I don’t have much choice now but to tell them the truth. As I suspect they already know and are working against me to keep me here, I suppose there’s not really any reason to lie or try to sugar coat the truth.

“I’ve already applied to a university in Nightheart pack,” I say. “I was planning to go there in the fall.”

“Nightheart is the lowest ranked pack on the continent,” Wes scoffs.

“It’s also in the frozen tundra,” Hugh adds, almost an afterthought. “Who in their right mind would want to go there?”

I would. Mostly to get away from the brothers and my dire fate as their mate.

I raise my chin, feeling defiant. I might have played nice until this moment, hoping to leave without issue, but now that we are here, with the truth exposed, I need to make them understand that I plan on leaving without their approval or without it.

Conrad’s eyes go dark. His voice like ice, he says, “You will do as we command.”