Page 58 of One Flew Over the Omega's Nest: Part One
“You need to be careful, Jo,” Addie says quietly. “If they think you’re trying to form a pack—”
“Then I’ll tell them it would be impossible, since my instincts are so shot I can’t even smell my own scent,” I snap, and then feel bad immediately for biting her head off. Addie’s just looking out for me.
Nevermind the fact that if things keep progressing how they are, I might be able to scent myself by the end of the day.
“I know,” she looks at me softly, “I just don’t want to see you get hurt.”
What Addie doesn’t know, is however badly they hurt us, we’ll hit back twice as hard.
twenty-six
Hayden
“Mr. Pierce? You have a call from your father.” Leslie Perez, the cheerful patient coordinator interrupts my breakfast with my pack—err—my girlfriend and her new boyfriend—and I grunt, my mood immediately turning sour at the mention of dear old Dad. I stand from the table and shoot Jo an apologetic look before following the worker out of the cafeteria. Leslie gives me a reassuring smile as we walk, and I can’t help it, I smile back.
What? I like the beta, even if her cheerful energy makes me want to stab a fork in my eye sometimes.
“He didn’t sound upset,” she says gently, but I onlysigh.
He never lets anyone hear him sound angry. That doesn’t mean he isn’t.
Before I know it, I’m standing in front of one of the pay phones, my lighter flicking open and closed nervously in my hand. There’s nobody else here, considering it’s still breakfast and everyone is still eating.
Swallowing roughly, I put the lighter back in my pocket and lift the receiver to my ear. Dad’s phone calls never go well. Just the thought of speaking to him has my fingers itching to take the lighter back out of my pocket, but if he hears the tell-tale snick of it opening, he’ll know the effect he’s having on me.
“Father.”
“Hayden.” His tone is laced with indifference, like he’s asking about the weather and not speaking to the son he hasn’t seen in over two years. “I’m assuming you know why I’m calling?”
I frown, my heart rate picking up. “...No, I can’t say I do.”
He huffs like I’m a disappointment, which to be fair, I am. At least inhiseyes. “I would just like to know if you’re done with this rebellious streak. This farce has gone on long enough.”
I gape. Is he fucking with me right now? “Rebellious streak? Father,youhad me committed—"
“This was your choice,” he snaps, the illusion of careful control evaporating. “I warned you that if you didn’t fall in line—”
“Fall in line, meaning marrying and fucking some woman I don’t even know!” The rage that spills into my voice surprises even me, and my volume is loud enough to echo in the hallway.
Dad is silent. I’ve always kept things respectful, considering that’s how I was raised, but it just occurred to me that he literally can’t do anything about how I talk to him. He can’t punish me, he can’t do anything worse to me than what he’s already done.
“I see being locked up with all the psychos finally let you grow a backbone.” He almost sounds like he…approves. “Come on, Son. Everybody has a price. What’s yours?”
Nothing. He can’t buy me.
He grunts at my silence. “You don’t have to like her, Hayden. You just have to fuck her enough times to produce an heir. As soon as she’s knocked up, you can take as many mistresses as you want, as long as you attend society functions with the bimbo on your arm.” It’s nothing he hasn’t said to me before, but this time, it hits differently.
The thought of touching anyone besides Jo makes my stomach revolt, but I can’t tell him about her. No, that would put an even bigger target on her back.
Even before Jo, I’ve always known that I never want a marriage like my parents. Two betas, forced into marriage for a political alliance who can’t stand each other.
Ifmywife killed herself in an accidental drug overdose because she was so miserable with her life, I don’t know how I would live with myself.
Dad seems to manage it just fine though.
He even covered up the overdose to make it look like someone broke into our home and murdered her, painting himself a victim and grieving widow. His popularity skyrocketed when the public saw him being a “loving and doting single father.”
Just like he’s the loving and doting father that sent his son to “get the help he desperately needs.” I’m sure the second I agree to his terms, I’ll suddenly have a miraculous recovery and be welcomed home.
