Olly
I groan as the beeping sounds on my watch to tell me it’s dinner time. I’m not hungry. I can’t eat, and I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep. I don’t even want to leave this lab because that means the inevitable is coming. Time is moving, and all I want is to stop it, but I can’t.
When Gage told me his plan to rescue Emmett, I agreed with him if only because at the time, it made sense. And I guess in a way, it still makes sense, but…
He’d made me promise to keep his “idea” a secret, because in the heat of the moment, he seems to think Auryn won’t risk something happening to me.
The more I think about it, the more I disagree. I’m not like him, or Diego, or Emmett.
I’m not as valuable. I don’t think for a second it will matter. That I will matter at that level. She might be tiny, but she is a stubborn omega if I’ve ever seen one, which means I have two options—defy Gage’s order and tell her the truth about the plan, or defy Gage’s orders and take her into the Orion house with me. Either way, I’m fucked because I’ll be disobeying my alpha.
I’ve never disobeyed a direct order before. That’s grounds for exile.
I rub my eyes and crack my neck. Falling asleep hunched over my counter was not the best decision, but after Gage left earlier, I had quite the mess to clean up. I lost myself in the routine, finding solace in making sure everything was clean and disinfected and back in its right place, but once that was done the ache and the gnawing truth still persisted.
I look at my door, knowing I’ll have to face them—facehereventually—but I feel safe here. In the lab.
In my bubble of no-time.
A knock on my door alerts me, and I look to see Diego waving through the small window.
I pull myself up from my chair, rubbing my neck as I make my way over. When I open the door it hits me all over again, but this time I think it hits harder.
His waist is still bandaged from where I’d removed the bullet from him. They shot him, those assholes. They shot him, and they took Emmett, and they tortured Auryn, and….
“You okay?” he asks, and the tone is careful. I’m sure Gage told him I freaked out earlier, which makes me feel even worse.
I try to keep things to myself the best I can. I don’t need anyone to worry about me. I don’twantthem to worry about me, because I don’t know how to respond to things like that.
I would do anything for my pack, and I know in theory they’d do anything for me, but I can’t ask them to make those sort of decisions where I’m involved. My job is to support the pack, not cause a wrinkle in it.
At least, thatwasmy job before Auryn showed up, it seems. I’m not sure I know how to feel about that, either, to be honest.
Everything around me is…different.
I think I’m different, too, but if I think too hard about it, I feel like I can’t breathe. So I don’t.
“No,” I answer honestly. Diego nods for me to step out into the hallway.
“Come with me.” It’s not a question or a request. It’s an order from an alpha. Like before.
Too tired to argue, I step into the hallway, sliding my hands in my pockets. I need to make sure I get the laundry done today, but—
“Where are we going?” I ask, but he doesn’t answer me. “Diego, where are we—”
He turns, placing one finger against his lips. “No talking.”
What? Why? It’s not like anyone can hear us, and even if they could, it’s not like we’re discussing anything important.
Whatever the case, I keep my mouth shut. I follow him down the hall, noting how quiet it is. It’s almost peaceful.
I follow him past the quarters to the training rooms. It’s been a while since I’ve been here. Years, to be exact. Though Gage makes us all qualify every year just to keep up with the regimen and organization that comes with being an operation like we are, I don’t really come here like the alphas do. Not unless I’m running a test on something or unless I need to grab one of them for something. Emmett spends the most time here. He spends five days a week here.
Diego says nothing as walks me over to the target range. He says nothing as he hands me the gun that was perched on the ledge. I look at it in his hand, then at him. He raises an eyebrow at me, and I know I should probably just turn around and leave. Head back to my lab where it’s safe and comfortable, but—
If I wantAurynto be safe and comfortable, I need to be able to protect her like Gage asked me to.
At least, I can try to. I doubt she’ll let me do it very long before she realizes what I’m doing.
