Chapter 38
+25 BONUS
Chapter 38
Diana starts to look at Sylvia with disappointment in her eyes. Even the brothers are coming closer to hear what she has to say.
As if sensing she is in trouble, she turns to me. Fake tears welling her eyes, she says, “How could you have caficeled my flowers, Ollie? I know you don’t like what I picked out, but… I really hoped we could get along…” She sniffs dramatically.
The disappointment Diana was building, she now turns onto the instead.
The brothers outright glare at me.
“You are a disgrace,” Declan snaps.
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“That was low, Ollie,” Wes says.
Sure, I didn’t like the arrangements Sylvia chose, but I wouldn’t live canceled it.
“I didn’t cancel anything,” I say, trying to stand up for myself one last time. “Sylvia never made the order,”
“How could you accuse me of that?” Sylvia says and covers her face with her hands. Despite the dampness in her eyes, I notice that not one tear actually falls. She probably doesn’t want to ruin her makeup.
“Get out of here,” Conrad commands me. “Go stand in the back with the others to be given designations today, and pray my brothers and I are feeling forgiving.”
“Right now, I’m not,” Hugh says.
“They might forgive you if you apologize to me, Ollie,” Sylvia says. “Right?” She looks at the brothers but they commit to nothing.
“I’m… sorry…” I say, stilted because I don’t mean it.
The must be able to tell. A muscle in Declan’s jaw ticks. Hugh crosses his arms. Wes turns from me in disgust. Conrad glowers.
“Go, Ollie,” Conrad says. “Now.”
Knowing there’s nothing else I can do, I turn and sneaking past the volunteers lined up for the procession, make it to the back of the room where the other newly matured pack members are waiting, including Ella.
“What happened?” Ella whispers but I just shake my head, too humiliated to even speak.
I’m so tired of feeling this way. Why is Sylvia always believed, while I am constantly discarded?
And by my own mates…
Before long, the ceremony begins. The procession begins and the flowers are beautiful. As each volunteer comes in holding the flowers, they place them where they are set to go before then stepping into the aisles.
The wreaths are added from back to front, and then the larger bouquets are added to the stage itself.
When the flowers are placed, the brothers march in, lined two and two, with Sylvia a red swatch between them.
From the back of the room, I can hear the guests‘ whispers.
“Sylvia is so beautiful,” they whisper.
“What a flattering dress she wears.
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“The brothers truly love her. It’s so endearing to see such devotion”
Each comment makes my heart sink further and further.
Ella tries to smile at me to lift my spirits, but there is nothing to be done.
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Chapter 38
+25 BONUS
The rest of the ceremony moves quickly and satisfactorily, as Dian gives a speech and then symbolically passes on her crown. Four intricate golden crowns were made for each of the four brothers, who, as the crowns are placed one by one on their heads, are now deemed Alpha Kings, leaders of the Crescent Claw pack.
At the end of the ceremony, the newly matured pack members, including Ella and I are brought forward.
One by one, we step forward to receive our designation.
Many are Gammas. There are a couple of Betas. Ella, directly before me, is given the Beta designation, like her father. My heart leaps into my throat as my hopes rise.
Diana promised I would be Gamma. They’ve picked so many Gamma’s already. This should be an easy choice.
Yet, as I step forward, standing at the base of the stage while the four brothers peer down at me from atop it, I’m suddenly
unsure.
Their expressions are detached and cold. Beside them, Sylvia smiles a little.
“Ollie,” Conrad says. As the first born, he is the mouthpiece of the four. “We declare you… Omega.”
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