Chapter 39
Ollie’s POV
+25 BONUS
Omega. The word echoes in my mind.
The brothers move on down the line, giving their consideration to every else, no longer looking at me or thinking of me. Yet their judgement stays with me, keeping me frozen in shock both physically and mentally.
Ella leans forward to look over at me in pity. I meet her eyes for only a moment before letting mine drop out of shame and embarrassment. Even when I was looking at Ella, I could see the disdain in the others around her
Omegas hold the lowest social status. Just by existing now, I am considered lesser. A servant holds more rights than me now, and there are restrictions for me everywhere.
No matter how much I excel academically now, there are very fewniversities that accept Omegas, especially potential students who belong outside of their own pack. The university in my own pack, for instance, doesn’t accept Omegas at all.
I’m left with very few options now. There’s no real future for me that I can see, not in the pack or out of it. As a lowly Omega, the best I can hope for is a quiet life, perhaps out in the country somewhere. Though I already know the brothers would not be so kind as to send me away from the public eye.
This entire display is an example of their lack of care for me.
Icatch Hugh looking at me, and he smirks smugly. They all seem rather pleased with themselves, like they are happy for what they’ve done.
My wolf is too heartsore to do much more than whimper inside of my mind. Once again, she has experienced what has come to be familiar to me – the betrayal of the brothers.
Even after everything, if ever I needed proof of their lack of consideration for me, this would be it. I just wanted to be an unassuming Gamma. Diana even promised she would make that happen.
But that hadn’t been enough for the quadruplets. They wanted to see me fall even lower.
I somehow make it through the rest of the ceremony without falling apart or otherwise showing any hints of my upset. Inside, I am a raging hurricane of emotion, but outside, I keep my face carefully blank. I’ve never been the best at hiding my emotions but over these past few years, I’ve been learning.
Since Sylvia’s return, showing my disappointment on my face has only led to more trouble for me.
Questions linger in my mind though, even after the ceremony, as everyone lingers around the entryway and the front of the
venue.
Diana had made me a promise that she would push for me to be declared a Gamma. Until now, even though our relationship was strained, her word has been as good as gold. What changed between her making the promise to me and the brothers declaring me Omega?
Only Diana and the quadruplets would know, and the brothers aren’t likely to give me any straight answers. So I go searching for Diana instead.
I find her near the front door of the building, standing outside and to the side, out of the way of the most foot traffic. She has a long line of people eager to speak to her, so I patiently wait for everyone else to leave. Once she is mostly alone, I approach her.
As soon as she sees me, her bright smile dims. She looks at me with pity in her eyes, which I suppose is better than disdain.
I come closer to her, not wanting our conversation to make a scene
“I thought I was to be a Gamma,” I say.
“As did I,” Diana replies. “But, ultimately, it is up for my sons to decide.”
1.2
Chapter 39
+25 BONUS
“Did you speak to them about it?” Task, trying to keep my voice denure, not wanting to come off as too disrespectful or pushy. I just want to know what happened, to better understand my circumstance.
“I did,” she confirms. “At the time, they seemed receptive. Something must have changed for them.”
“What could have changed?” I ask.
“I don’t know, Ollie,” Diana says. “But they are the Alphas now, so it is their right to choose what they feel is best. In the moment, they must have seen the qualities of an Omega in you…”
Qualities of an Omega? Lowly, weak, incapable of making her own decisions…
The words cut through me.
Diana gives me a sad sort of smile, the kind that says while she is sympathetic, she won’t be my ally in this. Not that there is even anything I can do about it.
The brothers‘ decision is law now. There is no appeal process.
“You must learn to accept their decision,” Diana says. “That will make things easier for you.”
“But I just don’t understand it,” I say. The weight of their decision is pressing down on me so hard that I’m starting to crack. “If I knew why they chose that for me, then maybe I could
“I can tell you why,” says Wes from behind me.
I jump as I turn to face him.
His arms are crossed and he’s glaring down at me, clearly disapproving. “It’s behavior like this. Going to my mother instead of speaking to us.”
If I came straight to them, they wouldn’t have listened, Even now, Wes is looking at me like I’m an enemy.
“But that’s not all,” he says. “In the moment, we all knew… the way you’ve been treating Sylvia isn’t to be tolerated.”
The way I’d been…? What about the way she’s been treating me?!
I bite my tongue, holding back my outrage. They don’t see the person Sylvia is when she talks to me. To them, she’s the perfect angel sister who can do no wrong. Everyone else is the villain, me most of all.
“We’ve given you so many chances, Ollie. We didn’t kick you out of the house. We didn’t force you onto the street, even after you lied to us about who you are,” Wes continues.
I didn’t lie. How could I have lied about something I didn’t know?
“All that we wanted in return was for you to continue to treat our family with respect. Instead, you consistently try to sabotage the most vulnerable member of the family, Sylvia. Whose kind and gentle heart has only ever spoke in your favor.”
I lower my head, not because I am ashamed, but to hide my rage.
The quadruplets live with a veil over their eyes, unable to see how vindictive and wicked Sylvia truly is. She doesn’t even make that much effort to hide her treatment of me. It’s as if the brothers have a blind spot when it comes to her.
They see her how they want to see her, as a fragile and innocent flower, and discard anything they witness that could speak to the contrary.
“If you want to know why we deemed you an Omega,” Wes continues. “You need only look at yourselt…r actions, even today, in sabotaging Sylvia’s help with the flowers, are not befitting those of an honorable member of the pack. You are an Omega, Ollie, through and through. And now everyone will know it.”
Not wanting to cry in front of him, I box my hurt up and bury it deep in my chest.
My wolf has no such restraint. In my mind, Scarlet mournfully howls.
