Chapter 43

Ollie’s POV

“We don’t have to make this so ugly,” Hugh says. “I’m sure Ollie isn’t purposefully being as ungrateful as she sounds.” His gaze slices to me. “Isn’t that right, Ollie?”

Hugh may seem like he’s taking my side in this, but truly, he is as cutting as the rest of them. His tactics are subtler than his brothers, but the intent is the same.

If I disagree with him, I look like the worst kind of person. Others are starting to notice now too, and a small crowd has formed around us.

I don’t care if my reputation is in tatters if it means I can leave. But more and more, I am realizing that with the brothers’ attention now on me and my plans out in the open, the odds of me being able to leave are slim.

All it would take to stop my application process with Nightheart pack is one phone call from one of the Alphas of Crescent Claw pack. Nightheart is lowly regarded on the continent. Going against the wishes for a more reputable pack would only hurt them, and I can’t see them going to bat for me, when I’m an Omega orphan from another pack.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I’m realizing that I am stuck here, in this pack, with the brothers, and the local university.

In my mind, Scarlet whimpers. She’s already pushing herself so hard, repressing our scent and the mating bond. Will we be able to continually hide who we truly are?

Or is the Moon Goddess truly pulling the strings, forcing me to stay and continue along the fate she’s ordained? Not allowing me to stubbornly escape it?

“You don’t have any choices,” Declan says lowly. “If you try to go against us, you will pay dearly for it.”

“We knew you were a liar,” Wes says, his voice dripping with disapproval, “but I don’t think we realized the depths of your thanklessness. After all we’ve done for you, you are going to turn down this special treatment?”

“Don’t be difficult,” Hugh says. “This is a gift. Accept it and say thank you.”

I already said thank you up there on the stage. I hadn’t meant it then, and I meant it even less now. But I know, each second I delay in accepting what seems to be the inevitable here, I’m only making this worse for myself.

“Ollie!” Sylvia calls, a big smile on her face as she pushes through the brothers. They step aside for her and glance at her with fondness, a stark contrast to the cold looks they have been giving to me. “There you are! I’ve been looking for you.”

She snakes her arm around mine and tugs me close to her.

“Isn’t it so exciting that we’ll be going to university together?” she says excitedly.

Immediately, confusion overwhelms me. I look at her blankly, then turn to Conrad for explanation.

“In return for our kindness in having you accepting into the local university,” Conrad says, “We expect you to closely help Sylvia while you are there.”

Closely help? They mean they expect me to be her servant.

“Every princess needs a companion,” Hugh says. “I can’t think of anyone more suited to support Sylvia than you, Ollie. After all, you are already used to helping us at home. From now on, you will just more closely help Sylvia.”

“Won’t it be wonderful?” Sylvia says, grinning at me. Despite the brightness of her voice and her demeanor, I see the edge in her eyes as she looks at me. I already know she’s planning on making my life hell.

But what can I really do?

If the Alphas dictate that I must stay, then I don’t really have any other options. The best I can do is keep concealing my true nature while I secretly search for some way of escape.

My heart feels heavy as I come to fully understand just how bleak my future really is.

Sylvia’s presence claims the brothers’ attention, especially as she releases me, and grabs Hugh and Wes by the arms instead.

“What do you think my major should be?” she asks playfully.

“Anything you want,” Declan replies.

With the tension diffused, all those who stopped to watch the scene now moved on instead. I’m not under a microscope anymore. Instead, I’m back to being ignored like usual.

It’s a relief, not being seen, especially as the weight of all these new revelations pushes down onto me.

My chest feels tight, my breathing constricted. I don’t want to have a panic attack here, so I hurry outside for some fresh air.

There’s a few other people out here. A couple of graduates are down on the corner smoking cigarettes. To the left of me is one of my teachers, Mrs. Hopkins. She’s looking at something on her phone but when she spots me, she waves me over.

“Ollie, congratulations,” she says with a kind smile.

Out of all of my teachers, Mrs. Hopkins has been the only one to ever seem to care about me. She didn’t care that I was disgraced, and now it’s obvious she doesn’t care than I’m an Omega. Her kindness looks the same now as it did before I was labeled Omega.

“I saw how well you did on the exams,” she says. “Very good job, Ollie.”

“Thank you,” I say and mean it.

“And now you get to attend the pack’s university…” she starts.

My good feelings at talking to Mrs. Hopkins start to fade at the topic. “Yes…”

She glances sideways at me. In addition to being kind, she’s also observant. She must see things in me that I’ve been trying to hide.

“You don’t want to go there,” she says. There’s no judgement in her voice nor any question, as if she’s just stating a fact.

“I was planning on going to a university in Nightheart pack…”

“They accept Omegas from other packs.”

“Yes,” I say.

She hums. “I suppose our Alphas really put you on the spot then.”

“I can’t go against them,” I say. “I have to go to the Crescent Claw University…” And be Sylvia’s servant. I don’t say that part out loud.

Even with people I mostly trust, I have to be careful. To openly stand against the Alphas could label me as a traitor. I already wear enough brands, I don’t need one more.

“For now,” she says simply.

For now, two small words that carry a lot of weight. They imply a changing future, and maybe some fresh hope for me.

I turn to look at her directly. “What do you mean?”

She tilts her head toward me, while her body continues facing forward. “Yes, all students must put in a transfer with the university they declare,” she says. “But after that semester, other options open up.”

“What other options?” I ask, hope rising up my throat.

“You could transfer,” she says. “If you work hard and show Nightheart pack that you are serious in your studies, they’d likely accept your transfer too.”

Her words open a new path forward for me, and I’m so relieved, I could cry.

If I can endure one semester as Sylvia’s servant, then I could still escape this pack and my fate as the brothers’ mate.

I could still be free.