Page 103 of Their Knotty Pack
"Is she fuckingallof you?" The disgust is clear in his tone.
I tense at the protective growl that rips out of both Hunter and Kieran's chests, and my eyes catch on Bethany standing in the doorway, a shocked and hurt look on her face.
I'm sorry,what?
"What? Dad, this is my…my pack. I wanted to tell you, but…"
"But you didn't want to tell me that your girlfriend and her boyfriends are taking advantage of my son, living in his house,usinghim?"
Shit.
This…this is not what I thought was going to happen. I didn't think they would understand, of course, but I didn't expect the repulsion in their expressions either.
"We're not using him," Bethany jumps in. "Miles and I both decided that the alphas would move in because—" she cuts herself off, realizing she'll reveal my omega nature if she tells the truth. She changes directions. "I love your son. More than I've ever loved anyone."
"Then how," Mom's voice is tearful as she looks at Bethany, "can you bring other men into your relationship? Your bed?"
"I…" Bethany looks down, shame coloring her cheeks. "They're my true scent matches."
"Then stop being selfish and let him go," Mom hisses, and Bethany's expression looks like she's about to start crying. The alphas are trying to inch closer to her without being obvious, but Kieran's the only one who ignores all semblance of polite-ness and gathers her in his arms.
Thank fuck.
After all of the work we went through to make her realize that choosing them wasn't telling me that I was less important…she's not going to correct them. She's going to let them keep thinking the worst of her, just so she can keep my secret safe.
"I can't." She sniffs, meeting my gaze across the room. She pushes shaky reassurance at me through the bond.
No. No, I can't let this continue.
Dad's face has been turning even more red the longer the conversation goes on. "This is not how—"
"They're my true scent match too." The words burst out of me, and the room goes so silent you could hear a pin drop.
"Miles, it's okay—" Bethany starts, but I shake my head.
"Bethany is my true scent match as well." There. The truth. Most of it, anyway.
"That's impossible," Dad argues. "You don't have a scent. You never have. You can't scent-match someone if you don't have a scent. And a beta scent-matching with an omega is already a rare occurrence."
"I do have a scent, Dad." My heart is nearly pounding out of my chest. I swallow roughly. "Blueberry, and…dark chocolate."
"But…" he shakes his head, his eyes widening, "but that would mean you're a…"
"Anomega." I confirm, ignoring the tears welling in my eyes to stare my dad head on. "I didn't designate until college. I never wanted to tell you, because of the community you raised me in…" The community that believed male omegas and female alphas were blasphemous against the gods.
Dad looks at me like he's never seen me before, and suddenly, I'm surrounded by my pack. Brody and Hunter are behind me, Kieran places Bethany between him and I, and Damien comes on my other side. All the alphas purr, their chests vibrating with pure comfort. "I can't change who I am." I willnotcry. Not with my pack at my back, supporting me every step of the way. "Believe me, I've tried. And I was only ever miserable. So I'm sorry if this isn't what you envisioned for your son, but it's my life."
Mom looks at me, tears running down her cheeks as she looks me over. But there's no disgust or revulsion in her eyes. Instead, it's like everything makes sense.
"Mom?" I ask when she just continues to stare, and then she crosses the room, wrapping her arms around me.
"I'm so sorry, my baby boy," she sniffles, and my arms hesitantly come around her. "I'm so sorry that you didn't feel like you could tell us, and I'm sorry for how we just treated your pack. We just…we thought you were a beta. And we just want the best for you."
"Mom…" I sigh, relaxing a fraction. "Even if I was a beta, I still could have been a part of this pack."
She sniffs, stepping back from me as she wipes her eyes. "Well, I know, but we're just so used to…"
"Betas having one partner?" Damien jumps in, making Mom jump like she forgot they were all there.
