Page 72 of Single Omega Dad
“Six months? Why? Isn’t your ample vacation time sufficient? You have six weeks a year. That’s more than generous. And you realize personal family leave is only for Alpha’s who have pregnant bondmates.”
“I do realize that.”
“Then the answer is no. You already have a high salary job for very little work. The hours you put in are already leisurely.”
“I assure you I have been in attendance full time.” It never bothered me much if Father thought I was lazy. In truth, I was. But I was also smart and what work did come my way got done fast with utmost efficiency.
“Still, I need you there. Your name and your face. You can take some weeks off, but not six months. That’s my final word.”
“You don’t get a final word in this, Father.”
“Excuse me?”
“There is someone.”
He tilted his head making me hesitate and I hated myself for it.
“Someone?” he asked.
“In my life. Someone I hope to bond with.”
“Are you dating an Omega?”
I nodded, my mouth going dry. “I am. And I intend to make a claim. He is pregnant, thus the family leave time.”
Father spread his hands and a smile bloomed upon his face. “You are to have a child? Why am I only now just hearing about this?”
I swallowed hard. “Two children already exist. Two more are on the way.”
“What? How? What are you saying, Mathias? You are a father and you never let me know it?”
“I wasn’t. I mean, I’m not. I mean, the children are another Alpha’s, but--”
“Hold on. What are you saying? You are having children? Or are you not?”
“Father, just listen for one moment.”
He got that hardened look about his features I had despised and emulated at the same time since I was five years old. “I’m listening.”
“I met him at the bank. It involved a financial guardianship. His name is Saber and--”
“You met an Omega at the bank?”
“Father, please. Just let me speak.” I took a deep breath. “Saber was widowed several months ago. He has two small children from that marriage. And two more on the way. I met him at the bank and things went from there. The beginnings of a bond formed between us. I am still unsure about many things, and perhaps I’m not the best mate-bond material, but if he’ll have me, I intend to make a legal claim to the bond, then ask him to marry me.”
Father held up his hand. “This all sounds rash to me. Even crazy. Did this Omega coerce you in any way?”
My eyes widened. “Of course not, Father.”
“You’re not behaving like yourself. You barge in here. You insist on time off. And you say you’re not the best for mate-bonding when anyone in the world would stand in line to hook you into their lifestyle. You see that, don’t you? That your name and money make you ripe and open for being used. You’ve avoided it thus far, your private dealings never becoming personal, but what has happened this time?”
“What has happened, Father, is that I want him. I wanthim. And his family will become mine once we marry.”
“Which is foolish at the very best, my son. Don’t you see?”
I blinked hard. I’d expected this. His blind spot was when things became imperfect, not in line with his expectations and thinking. He became unbending and annoyed. Even paranoid.
“At any rate,” I continued as if he had not spoken his insulting opinion, “I will be putting in for family leave. My mate is entering his third trimester and I will need to be there for him. After he gives birth, we’ll need time to assimilate the household to the new twin boys. I’m here to inform you of this fact.”
