“Yes. Unfortunately.”
Will shook his head. “Motherfucker,I must have told him to move away at least five times.”
Oliver frowned. “Just kick him out. If you’ve asked him to move and he refuses?—”
“I know, that’s what I said. But Nick said he’s running with the Eastern Europeans. The Boss gets real fucking tetchy if we mess with his Polish pals. Shit just slides right off ‘em.”
Oliver raised a brow. “Polish pals?”
“Mhm.”
“Ollie?” a small voice called from inside the bathroom. “Is that you?”
Will let out a breath and nodded towards the door. “Just keep your mouth shut,” he said, letting Oliver duck under his arm as he held it open. “Don’t knowwhenyou got those fangs, but please don’t send the omegas into a fucking frenzy.”
A fucking frenzy, or a ‘fucking frenzy’?Knowing the young farmers, one could be as likely as the other.
The flowery, sweet scent of the gathered omegas sent a bolt of interest straight to his cock—not his fault, simple biology. Ignoring it, he walked down the line of stalls until Pember popped his head out of the end cubicle. Relief instantly spreadacross the lad’s face as he wiped away a tear that clung to his cheek.
“Ollie,” he said, legs trembling as he fell into his arms.
“It’s okay, Pem. We’re here,” he said, patting the omega’s back. “Did he hurt you?”
Pember rubbed his face against Oliver’s chest—an overfamiliar gesture, but one he couldn’t entirely blame him for given the circumstances. “N-No. I just had this really bad feeling when I was around him. We didn’t even make it to the main course, and I wanted to leave.”
Oliver nodded. “How did you end up here, of all places?”
“I-I don’t really know. I just remember feeling really dizzy and getting into a car.”
“I’m taking you to the hospital.”
Pember’s head shot up, his eyes going wide. “N-No, Ollie! Please don’t. I don’t want my mum finding out about this. Please, I couldn’t take it!”
Oliver let out a breath as he rubbed Pember’s back. “Your mum’s got a lot to answer for, you know? You shouldn’t feel like this is your only choice. You’re an intelligent guy, Pem. Don’t let arseholes like him ruin your life.”
Pember groaned, pressed his face into Oliver’s chest, drawing the attention of the other omegas who were fixing their hair at the sinks. “I know, I know. I’ve decided after today I’m moving out.”
Andshit, how Oliver’s heart ached. Pember was the same age he had been when he met Patrick. How he wished he’d have had Pember’s instincts back then. “Come on. Let’s get you out of here.”
“Okay,” he sniffled. “But please don’t take me home. Anywhere but there.”
Sighing, Oliver hooked a hand under Pember’s arm and led him out the bathroom. “I have a sofa you can crash on. It’s not very comfortable, but it’ll do until morning.”
“T-Thank you Ollie. Is your mate here too?”
“Yeah. Lucas. He’s outside.”
As they slipped out the door, Oliver thought for one horribly disorientating moment that Lucas and Patrick had disappeared. However, as his eyes flitted around the balcony, he spotted them close to the bar. They stood with their faces close together, Lucas’ hand clasped firmly around Patrick’s upper arm. Lucas loomed over him, despite being similar in height.
“Come on,” Oliver said, directing Pember towards the stairs.
Glancing back over his shoulder, he was relieved to see Lucas stalking towards them, and Patrick, it seemed, had the good sense to stay put. It stupidly gave him a small glimmer of hope that they might make it out unscathed. However, as they reached a cluster of sofas, a whoosh of air and a slap on his back sent him and Pember barrelling forwards. Pember landed in a heap on one of the chairs, as Oliver went flying into a group of betas gathered by the stairs.
“Watch it!” They barked, pushing him away. Snapping his head up, Oliver saw Lucas standing slightly off balance and Patrick with his hands raised. Patrick must have pushed Lucas.Arsehole. Oliver snarled, whipping around, ready to launch himself at the red-haired alpha, but Lucas caught his shoulder, yanking him back against his chest. Patrick’s lips twisted into a sneer as spittle flew from his mouth.
“How it must gall you, DS White,” he spat, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. “To know I bred the bitch, whilst you fuck a barren womb.”
Lucas snarled, his eyes growing dark with hatred.
