11. Oliver
Oliver
“ O liver!” I do a double-take when I spot Hale rushing over to our table. He was supposed to message me when everything was done, so seeing my friend rushing towards our table is a bit concerning.
“What’s going on Hale?” I’m on my feet by the time he reaches us, and I notice the look of concern in his eyes.
He opens his mouth to respond, but movement catches both of our attention as Valerie slides out of her chair, coming to stand right in the middle of us.
“Hi, I’m so glad you could join us.” She says in a husky voice, fluttering her fake lashes at my friend. She looks fucking ridiculous. “Oliver was trying to keep me to himself, but I’m so happy you made it. Is the other coming?”
Hale snarls at her, and she’s at least smart enough to take a step back. Unfortunate. He grabs me by the shoulder and pulls me away from the table, out of earshot of Valerie.
“Dude,” he runs his hand through his hair, something I’ve noticed he does when he’s nervous. “FUCK! I was almost at the diner when Jack called. He and Gray got there before me and wanted to get this shit over with. They went in and - fuck, I’m so sorry, Ollie.”
“Spit it out, Hale!”
“About ten cops showed up at the diner just after we left. The two security guards I had keeping an eye on her were detained while some of them went to talk to Jane. They roughed her up a bit, but she’s okay.
She’s at the hospital now with Jack and Gray.
” He glares over at the table where Valerie is sitting again.
“One of the guards heard some of them talking; he said you needed to be taught a lesson about falling in line.”
“Jane is okay?”
“She has a couple of bruises and a fractured wrist, but she’s okay. Jack says she’s pissed off more than anything. I haven’t seen her, I just turned around to come get you.”
This should never have fucking happened, but I’m so relieved she’s okay. Relief quickly fades to anger as I start connecting the dots. I march over to Valerie, gripping the table so hard that my knuckles start going white.
“What the fuck did you do Valerie?” I ask her through clenched teeth, trying to remain somewhat calm. My alpha is going mental, and if I give him what he wants, Valerie would be leaving in a body bag.
“Sit down Oliver, you’re making a scene,” She hisses at me, then looks at Hale. “You’re going to allow him to talk to me like that?”
“Shut the fuck up and answer him,” Hale says from behind me, sounding as pissed as I do.
“I didn’t do anything-”
“Bullshit, Valerie! Jane is in the hospital right now because a bunch of fucking cops showed up at the diner and hurt her because she is connected to me. You don’t even have to admit anything; I already know you’re the reason Jane got hurt. Was your chat with my dad nice? What did he promise you?”
Her face pales, but she continues glaring at me. “He said he would make you bond with me. He called you weak and pathetic, claiming you would do anything he said. I had to confront him when I noticed the two security guards following Jane, while you were trying to weasel your way out of our deal.”
“We didn’t have a deal Valerie,” I remind her, done with this conversation. “You blackmailed me into all of this. I might be weak and pathetic, but I would never even consider being with someone as disgusting as you.”
“If you try to come near Oliver or his pack again, I will make you disappear,” Hale says next to me before turning around and striding toward the exit. I follow without another word.
Only once we are outside does Hale turn around to talk to me. “Valerie is my scent match,” he says in a strained voice. “Holy fuck, my alpha is going insane. You said she wasn’t an omega.”
“She’s fucking not!”
“The smell is faint, but it’s all over you.” He snaps at me, his alpha starting to come to the surface. “How can someone that smells so sweet be such a cunt?”
“What does she smell like?” I ask, even though I already know the answer.
“Toasted marshmallows.”
Relief floods my system, and I start cackling like an idiot, which gets me a glare from the pissed-off alpha in front of me. “It’s not Valerie’s scent you’re so enamored with, Hale; it’s Savvy’s.”
“Savvy’s…?”
“She works here, and I spent about twenty minutes comforting her in the bathroom after she saw me with Valerie. I told her everything just so you know. Where are you going?”
“I need to go meet her,” He mumbles, heading back for the door .
“I’ll send her a text, okay? She’s working Hale, and Valerie is still in there. I don’t want her getting any ideas if she sees us talking to her. She’s already suspicious that I know Savvy.”
He curses under his breath but follows me to his truck, and I grab my phone, sending a message to Savvy.
Oliver: Hey, Little Ember, Jane is in the hospital, and I need to get to her. I didn’t want to bother you while you were working, but any chance you could come outside to say bye?
We wait around for five minutes, but she doesn’t respond so we reluctantly get in Hale’s truck.
If Jane wasn’t in the hospital I would wait for Savvy all night, but I need to get eyes on Jane and make sure she is okay.
Hale has come to the same conclusion, his alpha also finally settling down as we pull away.
It’s not like last time, I reassure myself. I have her phone number now, her last name. She wants to see me again. As soon as I know Jane is safe, I’ll come right back to her.
“I don’t know how I didn’t scent her before,” Hale breaks the silence. “She had her things wrapped around my shoulders that night. Her hands in my hair. I should have known.”
“I don’t think her designation has come through yet Hale,” I tell him, trying to make him feel better. “There were also a lot of people there that night. Her scent could have blended in with all the other scents.”
He grunts in agreement, but I can tell he’s still feeling guilty about it when we turn onto the interstate, heading towards my town.
“I can’t leave North Carolina without her Hale,” I tell him truthfully. “If I can’t convince her to come with us, I’m staying. ”
“You’re not the only one, dumb ass,” he says, chuckling. “I’m not leaving my mate behind and neither will Jack and Gray. We’ll make it work.”
“Not even if your mate had been Valerie?” I tease him.
“I would have asked a witch to break the bond.” He says in a serious voice before we both break out in laughter. “I’m very, very glad she’s not.”
I breathe out a sigh of relief just as my phone dings with a message.
Savvy: Sorry for only responding now Ollie. I’m not allowed to look at my phone while working. Is Jane okay?
Oliver: It’s okay, we are on our way to her now, sorry for not waiting until you texted back. She’s okay, a couple of bruises and a fractured wrist. I miss you.
I groan at the last part, but fuck it. I do miss her. I’ve missed her every day since meeting her. She should know.
“Is that her?” Hale asks from next to me and I nod my head, smiling at her next message.
Savvy: I miss you too.
Savvy: Can I come by the hospital after my shift? I really want to see you.
My chest puffs up in pride reading that my omega wants to see me. That she misses me. I show Hale the message and he grins at me.
“I don’t want her traveling by herself,” I tell him. “What do I say?”
“Ask if we can pick her up or send a car. Whatever she’s most comfortable with.”
Oliver: Yes, but I don’t want you traveling alone. Can I come pick you up or send a driver?”
Savvy: That’s a bad idea .
Savvy: My uncle doesn’t like me hanging out with people. I need to sneak out after he goes to bed. Maybe we should meet tomorrow?
I frown at the part about her uncle, not liking that he is so controlling. “She says she has to sneak out after her uncle goes to bed. Asked if we could meet tomorrow instead.”
“Not the worst idea,” Hale says, pulling into a parking spot outside the hospital.
“Gives us some time to come up with a plan of action. We can get Jane settled in at our place tonight and meet with Savvy after we talk to the lawyers tomorrow. I’m going to make sure your dad and his buddies don’t get away with this, I promise Oliver. ”
I text Savvy back, telling her it’s fine to meet tomorrow, before following Hale into the hospital. I don’t get a response back, but I just assume she’s busy with work. I pull my focus to getting to Jane, being strong for her and getting her the fuck out of this shit town.
She deserves better, and I’ve come to realize that so do I.