Chapter 76

Wes’s POV

She replied!

Relief surges through me so thoroughly that I feel like I could take off and start flying.

My mate replied. She even offered to meet again soon.

She must be no longer angry with me. Likely not with Hugh either, though I should check with him to be sure. Now that I have proof she is okay and still speaking with us, I don’t want to withhold that from Hugh, who has also been worried.

Things with Declan must have gone well.

Clutching my cell phone tightly, I go in search of Hugh. I find him on his floor, preparing to go out. It’s already late, but I guess for him, the day doesn’t truly start until it’s dark out. By that rule, it’s only afternoon despite it being past midnight.

Hugh is standing in front of his full length mirror, primping himself. He’s midway through flipping the part in his hair when I burst out the good news.

“Our mate texted me!”

He stills, then swivels to face me. “She did?”

“Yes! She says she’s alright, and that we will meet soon.”

“Soon,” Hugh says, frowning slightly. “What does that mean?”

“Well… I don’t know,” I say. He’s not as happy with the news as I was, but I refuse to let that bring me down. “Our mate is speaking with us again. That’s only cause for celebration, right?”

Hugh’s frown eases then. “Yes. You’re right.” Rubbing a hand down his face, he sighs. “I guess I just feel… off about what happened tonight.”

He doesn’t have to explain it, because I’ve felt the same way. The main reason I reached out to our mate was to try to squash the feeling of unease inside of me.

All because Ollie sneaked her boyfriend into the house. What could she have been possibly thinking, bringing another male under our roof without permission?

And that Jake… I don’t like him at all.

Ollie is an Omega. Someone so lowly can’t possibly protect themselves, and someone so emotional can’t make reasonable decisions. She needs our guidance, our heavy hand, to help her lead a good life.

Jake is not a part of that. He wouldn’t be able to support her. Does he even love her? How could he possibly, when he risks it all to sneak into our estate? Doesn’t he understand the trouble he gets her into just by being so persistent?

It’s our duty to protect Ollie. Despite how she betrayed us, despite all of our personal feelings, until she is married, she is our responsibility. As Alphas, we take that responsibility very seriously.

Shaking my head, I scold myself for even giving so much thought to the Omega who lives in our basement. Other than making sure she is cared for, I shouldn’t be thinking of her at all.

Trying to bring the topic back on track, I say, “Our mate must have met Declan, and things must have gone well.”

Hugh considers this. “Perhaps we should find out.”

I’m not sure that’s a good idea. Declan doesn’t like being disturbed, but Hugh is impulsive. He doesn’t listen to reason or take other people’s concerns into consideration. So he immediately goes in search of Declan. I try to resist, but my curiosity gets the better of me and I follow along behind him.

We find Declan working out in one of the estate’s gyms. He’s sitting on one of the benches, lifting weights.

He must sense us come into the room, but he doesn’t look up from watching his own arm flex. Maybe he’s lost in thought. Or maybe he’s ignoring us.

I follow Hugh right to Declan’s side, then Hugh looks at me.

“Tell him,” Hugh says.

“Our mate replied to me,” I say.

“Good,” Declan says, and nothing else.

I look at Hugh. Hugh looks at Declan.

“Did you meet with her?” Hugh asks. “Did you set everything right?”

Finally, Declan lifts his gaze up from his arm and his weights to consider us both. His face remains it’s cold, hard mask, but I swear I see a swelling of confidence in his eyes.

“Didn’t I tell you I would fix everything?” he says.

“You did, but –” I start, but immediately stop myself as the door to the gym opens again.

This time, Conrad walks through. When he sees us standing there, all suddenly quiet, his brow furrows.

“Don’t hush up on my account,” Conrad says. “It makes it seem like you are keeping secrets.”

Hugh laughs, maybe a bit too hard. “And what secrets would we possibly keep from you, Conrad?”

Conrad frowns.

“I was just giving these two advice,” Declan says. “On a matter they are embarrassed about.”

I wasn’t embarrassed, just worried. But Declan’s firm statements don’t usually leave a lot of wiggle room for arguments. Not from Hugh and me. And not from Conrad either.

His eyes narrow somewhat, like he doesn’t quite believe us. But he lets the moment pass, ignoring us instead and moving to one of the machines.

Hugh, Declan, and I pass warning glances to one another, before Hugh and I turn and walk out of the gym.

In the hallway, Hugh muses, “We almost lost her over Declan. What might happen if Conrad gets involved?”

Ollie’s POV

The sun is bright the morning Sylvia and I are supposed to go to the meet and greet. It’s hot too, so I’m really not looking forward to the walk to campus. I’m wearing a cute sundress, I hate that I might just sweat straight through it. And then there’s the sunburn to consider.

Yet, after resigning myself to sunburn and heat, as I’m heading toward the side entrance to start my walk, I’m surprised when I get a text message to my main phone.

It’s from Wes.

Where are you? We are waiting in the garage.

Waiting…? In the garage…?

They never drive me to school. Only ever taking Sylvia alone.

They can’t be turning a new leaf? Giving me more freedom?

No. Not after what happened with Jake.

Then I realize with a sinking feeling that this isn’t because they are feeling generous. This is because I’m not supposed to leave the estate without an escort.

Well, if it saves me from getting sweaty and burned, maybe it won’t be so bad… This time, anyway…

In the garage, Conrad is standing beside the open door to the limo. Inside, I can already see his three brothers and Sylvia sitting and laughing.

I start to head to the door he’s standing beside, but he moves to step in front of it.

“Where do you think you are going?” he asks, and motions toward the passenger side door in the front of the car. There, I’d be seated next to the limo driver, separated from the rest of the limo by a partition.

He was treating me like a servant. Though I guess that’s what I am now. Sylvia’s servant.

“Do not forget our kindness in allowing you admittance to the university,” he says. “Today, we expect you to behave yourself. You are to serve Sylvia in whatever capacity she requests. Do you understand?”

Not seeing how I have any choice in the matter, I say, “I understand.”

Conrad’s face is hard, his mouth a flat line. “You are lucky to be here, Ollie. Please act like it.”