Page 96 of Your Wild Omega

I set my glass on the side table so my hands are free, and run my fingers through her scarlet hair. “Yeah, it was cruel, but for a long time, I thought it was my fault. It’s a hard assumption to shake off.”

My omega sighs and shakes her head, brushing over my thighs. “What did you do?”

“I lived on my own until the landlord discovered it. He tried to report me to Child Protective Services, but Lexi Wren found out and took me in. I think she felt responsible because she’d been involved in the student exchange program back when Mom was a part of it.” I shrug. “But I was already friends with Callisto, so that’s how she discovered my situation.”

Red rolls over, her beautiful gray eyes glimmering with concern. “Did they ever reach out?”

I shake my head. “Never. After I left school and started earning money, I hired an investigator to find them. They were living two states away, enjoying their best life, child-free. When I learned that, it just broke the last attachment I had. I didn’t even want an answer by that point. Not from them.”

I play my fingers across Red’s forehead and nose. My hands are probably greasy and I’ll mess up her skin, but she’s so beautiful, it’s impossible to resist. I know we’ve been through a lot, but what if some things are too much? The desire to know what she thinks burns through me.

“Do you think they cast me aside because I’m a useless alpha?” I whisper.

“No, Rickon.” Red rolls over and kneels up, pressing into my chest. “It had nothing to do with you! Hear me? They were selfish children, and they gave up on something so precious it can’t be put into words.”

I sink forward, slumping against her. She means every word. Red also knows what it means to be abandoned, but she doesn’t blame herself for it. I’ve worked hard all my life to build a positive self-image and love who I am, but I guess that shaky foundation always chipped away at my confidence. Honestly, I hadn’t even finished maturing as an alpha when my parents left me behind.

Zack catches us both and nuzzles into me as I cry. “White Mine,” he murmurs, his tongue flicking out to taste the droplets on my cheeks. “Tears?”

“Yes,” Red answers, sweeping the drops off my other cheek. “Rickon is sad.”

“Sad,” Zack repeats slowly.

“Yeah,” Red presses her hand into his chest. “It aches in here. That’s sadness.”

Zack’s warm breath mists my nose, drying up the last tears. “Why sad?”

I press my face against his, feeling the scratch of his permanent beard shadow. “You could say my first pack left me.”

Zack stiffens and glances toward the entry hall. He knows the wordleavesince I’m always harping on about it being time to leave in the mornings. His arm around my waist digs in tighter.

“Pack not leave.” He swallows hard, quivering with the force of his concentration. “White Mine stay. Zack no leave. Mine no leave.”

Red and I both murmur in surprise. This is the first time Zack’s ever used his own name.

Our omega throws her arm around his neck. “I agree!” She turns her head to see me. “We aren’t going anywhere, Rickon. You’re stuck with us ’til the end, and I’ll bargain with the death god for you after that.”

I snort. “While threatening him with a fork?”

Red grins. “Double or nothing. I have a knife now too, remember?”

The laugh that spills through me washes me clean. “I can picture that.” The tension streams out of me like a gust of wind. “But truly, I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. It just isn’t the sort of thing to bring up in a random conversation.” Damn, there I go, making excuses. I grit my teeth together.

“Hey,” Red says, massaging my back. “It’s okay, alpha. We have years ahead to tell each other everything.” She clamps my face between her hands, her expression turning serious. “Years, you hear me?”

I nod slowly, anxiety leaching away and leaving me limp until I’m held up by her strength alone. But some things need saying immediately. “Those two might try to intrude further. The only reason they’re coming forward now is because you’re famousand they want to ride your coattails. Get a free good life out of us.”

Red cocks her head. “You heard Callisto back there. If they try it, I’ll label them as stalkers and get a whatsit.” She snaps her fingers, searching for words.

A smile tugs at my mouth. “A restraining order?”

“Yep.” She beams. “You’re our alpha, and we’re not letting anyone else have a piece of you.”

I press my lips to hers, gratitude and love mingling into a heady cocktail within. Callisto flashes through my mind, but I sweep him away. I doubt I’ll ever stop thinking about him, but in time, it will be less painful.

With my ass planted squarely in Zack’s lap, I feel his arousal as he watches Red and I kiss. I smile into her mouth, taking a few more sips of her lush lips before drawing back. “Hey, Zack. Want to have sex?”

His eyes light up. “Ask? Yes, now.”

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