6. Oliver #2
I looked at them, and I wasn’t sure what I expected to see, but it wasn’t all three of them looking like they were holding back tears.
“We came here wanting to ask you something,” Hale takes the lead as always.
“Honestly, I didn’t think you were ready, but after hearing all that I think you are.
” Jack and Gray both nod their agreement.
“ Oliver, when you sign with the band in a couple of months, we want you to sign something else as well, but only if you want to.”
“Are you trying to get me to sign away my life savings?” I ask with a snort. “I can give it to you right now, Hale, but you’ll be disappointed to find out it isn’t much.”
“Haha,” Hale says dryly, rolling his eyes at my banter. “We want you to officially join Pack Reed and become our brother.”
“Won’t we need an Omega?” I ask Hale, regretting that this is my first question after they invited me to join their pack, but I can’t imagine bonding with anyone else who isn’t Savvy.
“Yes, but we have talked about it at length, and we will wait however long it takes you to find Savvy, or for you to move on. And if you do find her, and she turns out to be a beta, we can find a male omega to join the pack. It doesn’t have to be romantic.
Savvy will always have a spot if you say yes. ”
Jack nudges me from the side. “Say yes dude.”
“Fuck yes,” My smile is so big, it starts hurting my face. “Yes to the band. Yes to being your brother. Yes to finding Savvy. Yes to everything.”
Jack starts doing a happy dance, knocking everything over. Grayson pulls me into a hug, welcoming me to the family, while Hale stands by, looking like a proud dad.
“What the fudge is going on in here?” Jane comes into the office and narrows her eyes at the destruction Jack left in his wake. “I’m cutting you off- no more sugar for you.”
Jack looks horrified at the thought and quickly begins cleaning up after himself. “I’m sorry, Jane; I just got so excited when Oliver agreed to join our pack. ”
Jane walks over to me, tears in her eyes, and pulls me into a hug. “You have a pack?”
“I have a pack,” I confirm, squeezing her tightly as she starts sobbing into my shirt. “I hope you know you’re still my family too.”
“I wish I could have done more for you over the years, Oliver; I was scared that if I overstepped too much, I would never see you again. You know the cops here look out for their own. They wouldn’t have done anything if I had gone to them about your sperm donor.”
I nod, not really knowing what to say. I know she’s right. The cops would have made her life a living hell if she went to them, accusing one of their brothers in arms-of abusing his kid.
“We appreciate everything you've done for Oliver,” Hale says over my shoulder. “If you'd like to get away from here, you’re always welcome to join us. We can help you set up a new diner, or you can work with us. I know Jack would love to have you as our personal baker. You could even retire if that’s what you prefer. You’re Oliver’s family, which means you’re our family too. We will take care of you.”
“Please come with us, Mama Jane,” Jack said as he pushed me aside and knelt down in front of June. “We need you and your pies.”
She throws her head back and cackles. “You will be just fine without me and my pies, boy.” She ruffles his hair before turning to Hale. “I need to handle a few things here, but if you’re serious, I would love to come help out once you’ve settled into a new home.”
“Done, and if you need any help before then, just let me or Oliver know.”
She gives him a quick nod and heads back out the door, gesturing for us to follow. “This calls for a celebration. No drinking, but I’ll have the cook whip up some burgers for you while I make us some milkshakes.”
“And pie?” Jack asks hopefully.
She links her arm through his as they walk into the diner. “You’re in luck, sweet boy; I have two pies baking in the oven.”
We spent the rest of the day at Jane’s eating cheeseburgers - Jack had pie - and bonding over our fucked-up childhoods and love for music. When the sun started to set I walked them out to Hale’s truck.
“I know we didn’t get any practice in, but today was a good day,” Gray says before hugging me and going around the truck to get in on the passenger's side.
“I need a nap,” Jack groans, clutching his stomach. “See you Saturday, Ollie.”
I watch him get into the backseat and lie down before turning to Hale. “Thanks, Hale, for everything, you know?”
“Stop thanking me, idiot,” he grumbles, but I see the affection in his eyes. “We’ll pick you up on Saturday, but seriously, I hate leaving you in this place. Are you sure you’re safe?”
“I’ve never been safe here, but I’ve survived up until now,” I tell him honestly.
“As soon as I turn eighteen, I’ll move out.
Jane already offered for me to stay with her until I graduate.
If my dad finds out about this… Fuck! If he finds out before I turn eighteen, he will make sure to involve himself.
He won’t pass up on an opportunity for a big pa yday, you know?
His buddies down at the station would make my life a living hell, and if they found out about my relationship with Jane, she would be targeted, too.
I can handle things for a couple more months, just wait for me. Please?”
“We’re not going anywhere,” he pulls me in for a quick hug and then levels me with a stare. “If it gets out of hand, please tell me. Being famous comes with perks- perks I have no problem using if it keeps you safe.”
I nod in response, and he doesn’t push the matter any further.
He jumps in his truck and pulls out of the parking space, yelling about seeing me on Saturday as he drives off.
I turn, ready to head back inside, but a feminine voice calls out my name.
Valerie Simmons, a girl I knew from school, is leaning against a car parked a few spots from where Hale’s car just stood.
I didn’t notice her before, probably because his car was in the way.
“Uh, hi?” I awkwardly greet her, not really sure what she could possibly want from me. We never had any classes together, and she graduated two years before me, so I barely knew her. She used to hang out with a group of popular kids who loved to bully me while I was growing up.
Being bullied both at home and school has been hell for me, and I can’t help but scan my surroundings for threats. It wouldn’t be the first time her friends have caught me alone off school grounds, just to beat me up.
She saunters over, her short skirt revealing more than I wish to see with every swing of her hips. She stops in front of me and flashes a smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes.
“Who was that? ”
“Who was who?” I ask, already knowing the answer.
“The tall, handsome guy who just left,” she rolls her eyes at me. “He looks familiar.”
I step back, but she just follows. “A friend visiting from out of town. You don’t know him, Valerie. Is there anything else? I have to help Jane with something.”
The label has been promoting the band more and more for the last month, ever since they found their fourth member. Luckily, they’ve been cool with not mentioning who it is yet, but Hale, Grayson, and Jack’s faces have been used in advertising campaigns across social media.
“It looked a lot like Hale Reed, the lead singer for that new band.” She taps her chin and then snaps her fingers. “Fragmentals! That’s the band’s name.”
I felt the blood drain from my face as I stared at her. Fuck, if I don’t convince her it wasn’t Hale, it won’t take much for her to puzzle out the rest.
“Why would someone from a popular band be hanging out here Valerie?” I try my best to school my panic, but my heart is beating rapidly. “I’m leaving now, have a good night.”
I almost make it inside the diner when she calls out, “I heard everything you said to him, Oliver; your daddy isn’t gonna be happy if I stop by and mention it.”
I clench my fists at my side as I turn to face her. “You were eavesdropping?” I hissed.
“I got lucky I guess,” She shrugs and walks closer to me, resting her hand on my chest .
I let out a warning growl, hating her touching any part of me, and she’s smart enough to take a step back. “What do you want Valerie?”
“Shane and his pack left me for another omega, saying it was taking too long for me to present. I’m looking for a new pack. I think yours would be perfect.”
I can’t stop the laugh that bubbles out of me. “You got dumped and now what? You want to blackmail your way into a new one? Valerie, you can’t be serious. If you want to be part of a pack so badly, go ask Shane to take you back. A lot of packs have betas in them.”
“I’m not a beta,” she whispers at me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me right now,” I stare at her in disbelief. “Valerie, aren’t you almost twenty? You had the same classes I did; there would be signs even if you haven’t presented yet. Unless you’re on some industry-level suppressants, your scent alone tells me you’re beta.”
“Fuck you!” She screeches, stomping her foot on the pavement. “My mom said I’m just a late bloomer; it’s not my fault.”
I look at her incredulously. “You and your mom are both in denial. The sooner you accept who you are, the happier you’ll be. You can’t magically turn yourself into an omega; life doesn’t work that way.”
She rolls her eyes at me like I’m the fucking problem here. “We will see, I’m sure being around the right pack will help awaken her.”
“Yeah, okay, whatever, Valerie,” I am so done with this conversation. “My pack is not the right pack and throw in the fact that I don’t like you, and this will never be a thing. So please tell me what I can do to keep your mouth shut.”
“I don’t really care if you like me, just the other three.” She gets an evil glint in her eyes, and I feel my hackles rise. “You can convince them to court me and accept me into the pack, or I'll tell your dad everything.”
“I can pay you to keep quiet, but I have a scent match, Valerie; the pack is taken.” I try my best to make her see reason, hoping she’ll just take the money and fuck off.
“You haven’t bonded with them yet, so it doesn’t matter.” She points out. “And no amount of money would beat the perks of being the omega for a group of celebrities, so I’ll pass.”
She taps her foot on the ground impatiently, and the sound grates on my nerves. I have never wanted to hurt anyone in my life, but Valerie is testing my patience. I begin pacing in front of her, trying to calm myself before I actually hurt her.
Would it be so bad? She is a threat.
I shake my head at the thought. It would be bad; I’m not my father; I don’t hurt people, even if they deserve it. Not even Valerie deserves violence, even if she’s being horrible.
I know I have to speak to the guys; they’re my pack now, and they’ll know how to handle Valerie. In the meantime, I need to give her something to keep her satisfied.
“One date,” I grind out, hating that I have to give her this. “We can take it from there if everything goes well.”
“It will.” She claps her hands in glee, and a real smile spreads across her face. I might even find her beautiful at the moment if I didn’t know how rotten her insides were. “Friday night, I’ll text you the details, what’s your number?”
I reluctantly give it to her, and a few seconds later, my phone dings with a notification. I don’t bother looking, knowing it’s from her .
“You should go shopping for some new clothes,” She wrinkles her nose at me. “You won’t get into the place I have in mind looking like that.”
“Pick somewhere else then.”
“I don’t want to,” She shrugs one shoulder, looking at me like I’m beneath her. “Oliver, I don’t really care what you want, and unless you want me talking to your dad, you will do what I say.” “Just - fuck you, Valerie.”
“You’ll never get to fuck me, but your pack will. Poor Oliver, always the outsider looking in, you’ll never truly belong anywhere.”
With that last blow, she takes off down the street, likely on her way to torture another poor soul.
I send a quick message in the group chat, asking the guys to call me when they’re home, before heading back into the diner.
Luckily, Jane is on the phone, and I gesture that I’m going to head to the office.
My phone starts ringing before I even close the door, and relief washes over me when I see it’s a call from Hale. I take a deep breath before answering. “Guys, I hope you were serious about this whole pack thing and having each other’s backs. I have a huge problem, and I need your help.”
There is a moment of silence, but then I hear Jack say, “Turn the car around, Hale, our boy needs us.”