Chapter 53

Ollie POV

Mama made a sound like something hurt him really bad. He pulled me close again, so tight I could barely breathe, and I felt his whole body shaking. “Oh baby,” he whispered into my hair. “Oh my sweet baby. You should never have had to learn those rules. Never, never, never.”

“But they kept us safe,” I said, confused about why Mama sounded so sad. “When I followed the rules, Dad didn’t get as mad. And the alphas didn’t know I was there, so they couldn’t hurt me. The rules are important, Mama.”

“No,” Mama said firmly, even though his voice was still shaking.

“No, Ollie. You don’t have to follow those rules anymore. You don’t have to keep secrets or stay quiet or hide in your room. You especially don’t have to promise to be good so I won’t leave you.”

“But you were doing the work again,” I said, the fear creeping back. “I smelled it, Mama. I smelled the alphas on you, just like before. And you smell like Dad, which means he found us. And if