Page 73 of Single Omega Dad
Father’s face turned soft and hard at the same time, if possible, his eyes wide but his mouth a firm line. “It’s outrageous, though. Don’t you see it?”
“I didn’t come for your approval or your blessing. But I didn’t want to inform you through email, either. That’s why I’m here today.”
For a moment, Father looked stricken. As if he’d been betrayed. Then he turned abruptly and went to his desk. He leaned over it and straightened some papers. He put his hand on the back of his desk chair and remained like that with his back to me.
It was awkward as hell in this room, now, but he didn’t care. I don’t know what had made him this way in life. Hell, it was my unquestioning admiration of the man who made me what I was. Maybe his own father had been just as cold and demanding, and Varian Vandergale had learned it from him. I’d never met my grandfather, but I could imagine him as a cold, hard Alpha just his son.
Finally, he spoke. “You are not obligated to raise another Alpha’s children,” said Father. “If you like this Omega, you will still like him in a few years when his children are grown and on their own. Then you can produce your own offspring with him. The prudent thing to do would be to wait.”
This was Father at his best, his way of compromise. Showing his favorite son a willingness to accept him but on his own terms. That was another strategy to his dealings. It made him good at business. But, I only now just realized, he rather sucked at raising kids.
“No.” I spoke just the one word, nothing more.
“No?”
“No,” I repeated. I didn’t want to wait. Saber’s eyes, his strident voice, his lilac scent—they all called to me. He was alone. He had two babies. And two more on the way. Every instinct in me defied my reason and my preference for being independent, unchained. I wanted to help him. The urge was to provide and protect. Protect that family and make sure they all had everything they might ever need.
I loved Saber. That was a fact. One of those things Trigg always said was a part of life and you could do nothing about it but deal with it. Trigg had a long list of those things. Most of them I ignored. But this time, the word on his list calledlovewas something I was no longer capable of dismissing. The callous cad I used to be had been snared. And hell, I didn’t really mind. Not now. Not standing here in Father’s study in a house that cost more than most people made in a lifetime.
Father stared at me as if I’d grown horns. The wordnoseemed to echo about the room.
“You will do what you want to do. You always have.” Father said it like it wasn’t quite a compliment.
“I simply wanted you to know. From me. And not have to wonder.”
Father’s face remained neutral. “I hope you’re not making a mistake,” he said flatly.
Mistake? This? “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, Father. This doesn’t feel like one of them.”
“You?” He sniffed. “You’ve done impeccably well in life.”
“One of the children is an Omega,” I blurted. I’m not sure why I said it. I was testing him. Sensing.
Father’s nostrils twitched. He sat at his desk and stared at his computer screen as if I had never walked into the room.
“Have you ever just thought about getting a dog?”
“What?” I tried to comprehend this statement.
Father brushed me off with a wave of his hand. “Never mind. You were an extreme child so much of the time. I cannot be surprised at this.” He turned to look at me with half-lidded eyes.
“A dog, Father? That’s your solution to avoid a mate-bond I want?”
“I’m very busy, Mathias. Thank you for telling me. You have your six months. After that time, you will have a job to come back to, but it might be a very different description.”
That was Father’s threat. I’d expected worse. I could live with it. But the awkwardness that was now between us? The family gatherings? Those would be worse. I would, of course, avoid them. If I never introduced Saber to Father, it wouldn’t be much of a loss.
Something inside me lightened at the thought. The heaviness I’d felt walking into my childhood home lifted. I turned as if walking on air and left his office, closing the door behind me with a gentle push. Not a bang as I’d envisioned at first. Not angry in the least.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Saber
The TV kept the kids occupied for now. Late afternoon light streamed through the big windows, and the shadows on the back lawn were growing longer.
I sat at the dining room table, watching my silent phone for Trigg’s texts. Trigg had already found out Mathias hadn’t been to work the day after he’d left my bed so abruptly. Today had been another long day not hearing from him.
My phone chirped.
