Chapter 65

Ollie’s POV

After the Jake debacle, there is more debate about whether or not I should quit my job. Finally, without much input from me, the brothers decide that I can return to work, but only if I have a chaperone to take me to and from work.

It’s clear they don’t trust me, and while that annoys the hell out of me, I’m honestly happy just to be allowed to go back to work. I still need the money, and I like talking to Nancy and getting out of the house.

This morning, Conrad is the one to escort me to work. At the appropriate time, I meet him down in the garage. Even though I’m not late, he’s already standing beside his black luxury sedan with his arms crossed like I am.

“Ready?” he asks with an annoyed grunt.

I want to tell him that I’m not the one making him do this. He could forget it and I could walk just like always. But I know talking back will only land me in even more trouble, so I hold my tongue instead.

I go to the car, open the passenger side door and get inside.

Conrad hesitates a moment, as if he expected me to put up some fight. Soon, though, he recovers and enters the driver’s side. He starts the car, reverses from the spot, and then pulls out of the garage. We follow the driveway around the house and then down to the street.

When he turns onto the road, he tells me, “Stay away from Jake.”

“I know,” I say. Honestly, he doesn’t need to tell me that. With how weirdly obsessive Jake has been acting lately, with the flowers, the note about fathering my children, and then showing up unsolicited to the estate, I’m thinking some distance between us is definitely warranted.

Jake needs to learn to take no for an answer.

“I’m serious, Ollie,” Conrad says. “If you want to rebel against us, then fine. Whatever. Be an ungrateful brat. But do it without tarnishing the family name. You are our responsibility, and as such you represent us. If you continue to fool around with him, you’ll drag us all through the mud.”

“I’m not fooling around with Jake,” I say, tired of this accusation. I don’t expect him to believe me, but in the quiet of the car, I expect I can at least be heard. “We aren’t even dating. He has a crush on me, one that I have no encouraged.”

To his credit, he waits for me to finish before he says, “You disrespect us both when you lie right to my face.”

“I’m not a good liar,” I tell him. “You know that. So you should be able to tell that I’m telling the truth.”

“And you should be happy that we are actually looking out for you,” Conrad says. “As an Omega, it would be within our rights just to turn you out.”

I close my mouth. Here I was hoping he’d believe me, and instead, he’s contemplating kicking me out of the estate for these perceived slights.

No one listens to me, and I doubt it’s because I’m an Omega.

He just doesn’t want to.

People see what they want to see, they believe what they want to believe. Sylvia told him I’ve been seeing Jake and confided in her. For Conrad, that makes it fact, no matter how I try to speak up in my defense.

We travel the rest of the way in silence. Then, finally, Conrad pulls the car up in front of the ice cream store.

“I’ll be here to pick you up at 5,” he says.

“Thanks,” I tell him, meaning it even though I’m annoyed. I don’t appreciate being babysat, but the ride is nicer than having to walk.

Stepping out of the car, I close the door behind me. Conrad waits until I enter the store before driving off and leaving me there.

During work, everything is going well until Jake arrives, per usual. I give him the cold shoulder, making Nancy wait on him. Nancy’s confused, looking between us two.

“Alright, what happened?” she asks, when she seemingly can’t take anymore.

“Ollie will tell you,” Jake says. He takes his ice cream and goes and sits at one of the tables.

Nancy looks at me expectantly.

“Jake showed up at the estate to convince the Alphas why he should be allowed to date me,” I say, and give her a few details. In the end, I’m annoyed at both the brothers and at Jake. None of them listen to me or to what I tell them I want for myself.

Nancy seems more concerned about the brothers though. “Do the Alphas always control you like this?”

They do, in different ways, but it almost feels like a betrayal to admit that out loud. After all, I’m not always mad about it.

But in matters like these, and in making me Sylvia’s servant, and in choosing what university I can attend…

“I hope to leave the pack someday,” I admit.

I didn’t think Jake was listening, but he immediately jumps to his feet.

“I’ll protect you from those brutes, Ollie,” he says, impassioned.

I point right at him. “You stay out of this, and I mean it. You’ve done enough damage, Jake.”

My scolding makes him sulk a little, but I have the feeling this isn’t over.

Near quitting time, I start receiving texts to my regular phone. Glancing, I see they are from Sylvia. Typically, I’d probably ignore them, but… Ug, if I ignore her too much, she’ll probably tell the brothers that I hate her or something and I’ll be in for another lecture.

I need your help. It’s really important. Can you meet me outside the clinic?

The library is only a block away, but I hesitate. This feels like a trap.

It’s getting close to 5. If I go to the library, I might miss when Conrad shows up and make him suspicious. But if I ignore her message, she could go crying to the brothers later, telling them I ignored her when she was in need, and I’d get in trouble anyway.

Really, I suppose I only have one option.

“I have to leave a few minutes early,” I tell Nancy. I show her the text. “An emergency, apparently.”

Nancy narrows her eyes. “You sure?”

“I don’t have a choice,” I say.

Nancy hesitates, but eventually agrees. “Be careful. I don’t trust her.”

“Neither do I,” I assure Nancy.

I quickly text Sylvia back, On my way.

After clocking out, I step out onto the street and then start walking the block to the clinic.

Once there, I look around. There are people milling around. The streets are always more crowded during rush hour. But I don’t see Sylvia in any direction.

I glance back at the clinic. She wouldn’t be inside, would she?

Maybe this is an emergency, after all. My stomach sinks. While I dislike Sylvia for everything she’s done to me – I might even hate her – but I still don’t want anything to be medically wrong with her.

I just want her to leave me alone, that’s all. I don’t want her hurt.

Determined, I take one step toward the clinic when a familiar voice calls out from behind me.

“Ollie!”

I freeze. That’s Jake’s voice.

Slowly I turn. He’s there alone, and approaches me.

“I’m waiting for Sylvia,” I tell him, hoping he could understand why we couldn’t talk.

“She’s not coming,” he says. “She set this meeting up for me.”

“What?” I ask, disbelieving my ears.

“I had to speak with you privately, away from Nancy. Away from everyone.”

He comes to stand right in front of me. I resist the urge to back up a step, uncertain.

“Ollie,” he says, hope in his voice. “Will you run away with me?”