Page 190 of Fated to the Wolf Prince
“If you say so.” Mason flipped me over and tossed me onto the couch, both of them falling into chairs as they laughed at their own ridiculousness.
“How’s the catering business, sis?” Michael opened a can of soda and took a swig. “Haven’t heard from you in a while. I bet you’re staying busy.”
He could say that again, though it wasn’t the housewives’ dinners that kept me occupied. I certainly couldn’t tell my brothers the truth. What would I say?Oh, I’ve actually been spending most of my time trying to live through the attacks of a sociopath. The same one who tried to kill my biological parents. Also, since I’m an omega, I’m shifting out of rage and could snap at any moment.
Instead, I forced a smile. “Yeah, things are starting to pick back up for the season. In fact, I thought you all might want to try one of my new Italian recipes. I picked up the ingredients on the way in.”
“My mouth is watering already.” Mason turned his attention to his phone, and I took the opportunity to sneak out of the living room and into the dining room.
Mom had already set the table, and a gorgeous floral centerpiece, no doubt from her garden, adorned the center of the table. I touched the delicate petals as I allowed myself to contemplate Doc Reynolds’ question.
What was keeping me from moving forward with Ty?
Mom rounded the corner and startled me with a light touch on the shoulder. “Sorry, honey. I didn’t mean to scare you.”
I turned to face her, trying my best to hold back the tears. There was something about being in her presence that allowed me to drop the pretenses and let my emotions move to the surface.
“Oh, sweetheart.” She cupped my face with both hands. “What’s going on? Did something else happen with that Castro character?”
“No.” I shook my head and stared at the floor. “Apparently, my wolf wants to have Ty’s cubs.”
Mom took a step back, her reaction very similar to the one I’d had back at the clinic. She took a moment to compose herself while I explained the situation.
“I stopped in to have bloodwork, hoping Doc Reynolds would go ahead and put me back on the suppressants. I’m losing control more and more lately. When that happens, my pheromones go crazy. It’s just not safe.”
“What did he say?” Mom pulled me down into a chair and sat next to me.
“My white blood cell count is higher than it should be, so the suppressants won’t help at all, no matter the dosage or strength.”
“I see.” Mom picked at invisible lint on the white tablecloth. “So, what did he suggest?”
I cleared my throat, finding it somewhat uncomfortable to explain the next part to my mom. “Since Ty and I have been spending so much time together, my wolf expects us to mate. As an omega, she has an even stronger desire to bear Ty’s cubs, and she won’t be satisfied until I do.”
Mom took a deep breath. “You know what, Liza? Being claimed and claiming someone isn’t something to sneeze at. Most mated pairs spend years courting each other before deciding to mate, much like humans do when they decide to get married. The desire for one another is stronger, and I imaginewith you being an omega, your wolf feels it ten times more than others. We suppressed you for so long, though, that you’re feeling everything all at once.”
I hadn’t considered that there would be a buildup after all the years popping pills to suppress my desires. That would explain the intense reactions I’d been having.
“I understand your hesitancy, sweetheart.” Mom squeezed my hand. “You want to be sure about your mate, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I just want you to take some time to think long and hard about your reasons to hold off. Are they really valid enough to keep putting yourself at risk and causing more stress on your wolf?”
We spent the rest of the day cooking, eating, reminiscing, and laughing at old family videos Dad had found when he’d cleaned out the basement. We talked about all the fun times we had together, back when the hairstyles were much higher and the biggest problem I had to deal with was choosing soccer over basketball. As if it was an unspoken rule, no one mentioned Ty or Castro. Just family memories and fun times. I couldn’t have been more grateful.
I watched my parents as they laughed together, scooting their bodies as close to one another as they could. They’d built a life that they could easily look back on with joy and contentment.
Was it possible for Ty and me to have the same bond in the future, not just at the beginning when we wanted to devour each other’s bodies? What about when I got older, and my tits weren’t as perky as they were now? Would Ty still look at me the way my father looked at my mother?
I hated to leave, but I finally told everyone that I was tired, which wasn’t a lie. The rage and adrenaline I’d experienced earlier in the day had completely zapped my energy.
When I walked through the front door, I turned on the alarm system and took a long, hot shower, mulling over the question that had been posed by Doc Reynolds and Mom.
Was holding off on being claimed really worth it? Ty loved me, and I knew he meant it. So, why was I so hesitant? Why was I holding back from letting the man I was fated to be with claim me?
55
TY
“Son of a bitch!” I tossed a pen across Dad’s office as I stared at the screen in disbelief.
Zephyr had pulled some strings and obtained the security footage from the grocery store. Based on the time Liza had called me, it didn’t take long for him to narrow down the footage and find the fucker who’d followed Liza out of the store.
