Page 71 of Tying the Knot
“I’ll plan it,” Dylan says. “Can I?”
I nod. “Fuck, yes. You can have that responsibility.”
It makes them all laugh, and we fall into a beautiful night of plans and dreams that I didn’t think I would ever have come true.
ChapterForty-Four
Morgan
The days roll by,and soon it is the day that I’ve arranged to meet Amy, Kaleb’s mum. Elijah doesn’t see his parents, and Dylan wants to keep me at arm’s distance from his mum, which is fair enough. I know she is judgemental and picky, although he tells me that she never used to be before his dad left. He is trying to protect me from undergoing yet more narcissistic and gaslighting behaviour. As much as I’d love to meet her, I’m really not into experiencing more shit just because she decides I’m too old for her son, or too blonde, or I don’t work.
Nik’s parents are away on one of their round-the-world tours, so I guess we will get to them at some point. For now, it’s Amy, and I’m both excited and nervous to meet her. What if she decides she hates me and that I’m not good enough for her son? But what if she is amazing, and I want her to be in my life? All these questions are making me feel sick.
“Stop worrying,” Kaleb says with a soft laugh. “She already loves you.”
“She hasn’t met me yet,” I practically screech at him.
He takes my wringing hands and kisses them. “She knows what I’ve told her, and that is enough. This isn’t an inspection; it’s for you to get to know each other and for you to ask her any questions you might have about being ex-mated and with another pack.”
I grimace. I dislike that there is a stigma about this. There shouldn’t be. But it is, unfortunately, the way it is. Maybe I can change that, but I have no idea how. All I know is that when the time comes, I want these alphas to cover up the previous bite marks with their own, so I don’t ever have to see them again. It brings my own parents to mind, but I can’t contact them yet. I literally have no words for them. I’m sure Jeremy would’ve said something to them by now, but they haven’t contacted me. And even if he hasn’t, I don’t want to see them. Not yet. I don’t think I can handle the I-told-you-so that will most definitely come out of my mother’s mouth before she has even said hello. It’s upsetting, but I don’t wantanytoxicity in my life, even if it means keeping my parents at bay.
The knock at the door rings through the ground floor of the house. I want to curl up in my nest and stick my head under the duvet, but that is not an option. I’ve agreed to this, and have been looking forward to it, so now I have to press forward.
Kaleb takes my hand and leads me to the front door. He kisses my knuckles before he opens it with a big smile.
“Hi, Mum,” he says and lets go of me to give her a quick kiss before he steps back. “This is Morgan.”
Bright blue eyes, just like her son’s, fix me with a stare, but it’s friendly and inviting.
“Hi,” I say with a stupid half-wave, making me inwardly cringe.
“Morgan!” she says with enthusiasm that is hard to fake. She swoops in, practically shoving Kaleb out of the way to embrace me, pressing me up against her enormous bosom as she gives me the type of hug a loving grandparent would when they haven’t seen you in years.
She rocks me from side to side, squeezing tightly. “Oh, you are as pretty as a picture,” she booms in my ear. “Just like Kal said.”
“Thank you!” I say loudly back, as her tone is infectious. “It’s lovely to meet you.”
“About time!” she exclaims. “But I get why you were a bit hesitant. I hear you’ve come from a bit of a shitty situation.”
Okay. No beating about the bush with this woman.
“You could say that,” I murmur, going nervous again.
She releases me and steps back. “Well, I know all about that, but you are safe with the St. Clairs. These are good boys. Especially this one…” She whacks Kaleb in the chest. “I raised him to be a proper alpha who treats his omega like gold.”
“Oh, he does,” I’m quick to reassure her, in case she decides Kaleb is doing a crap job and whacks him some more. She’s got a meaty fist on her. Plump and gorgeous with those blue eyes and blonde hair swept up into a messy bun, she is the epitome of a ‘mum’, and I aspire to be just like her one day. I know that already, and I’ve only been in her presence for two seconds. I can see Kaleb adores her, and she loves him back. I get a wave of sadness that I don’t have this yet, but after seeing the doctor about the illegal birth control yesterday, she says there are no adverse health side-effects, but it will be several weeks before it’s out of my system completely. So, I’m hopeful for when my heat hits. I know it’s soon, but the pack has reassured me a million times, probably more, that this is what they also want.
“Tea?” I ask brightly.
“Coffee,” she says with a decisive nod.
I grin. “A woman after my own heart.”
Kaleb snickers and waves as he leaves us alone.
All of my nerves dissipate as we walk to the kitchen, and Amy bustles around like she owns the place. I love that.
“It’s not easy being ex-mated,” Amy says, her eyes boring into mine as the kettle boils away merrily. “But I can reassure you that you have a good pack here, love. They are stand-up alphas who will always do what’s right, and I know how much they love and adore you already.”
