Page 150 of Carmichael's Omega

The little pups that look like Nico start to cry. Two pups. Two female pups are here in the attic.

"Carmichael," my female is grabbing my shoulders, pulling futilely, "they're scared, sweetheart."

I can't stop staring at the tiny pups. The hole in my soul is growing larger and larger. Ismi padreabusing young females? Is he another Hugh?Diosa.

The two little females are crying, holding each other. A stink of urine in the air tells me one or both have wet themselves. "Don't be afraid," I command. They cringe backward, still crying. I take a step; my hand outstretched until I see the wickedly sharp claws still curling from my hands.

The world snaps back in an instant. I hear a battle coming from the other rooms. I take in the details; the little dresser painted in white and yellow. The lamp shaped like a star. Paintings, drawings, all made by little pup hands, are taped to the lavender walls. They live here, these two little females. My alpha-wolf inhales, taking in their pup-scents. They smell so familiar.

Confused, I grab my Cassidy's hand and ask her without words to explain.

A female appears in the doorway, and the pups rush to her, sobbing, crying, calling her'mama.'

I meet eyes as ice-blue as my own in a face that drags me back into my pup-memories. The world breaks, shatters around me, my whole life in a thousand fragments at my feet. Gasping, I stumble toward her. Her blue eyes fill with tears.

"Mamita," I rasp out, falling to my knees in front of her. Reaching out, I grab the male's robe that wraps around her, falling to her ankles, and pull her close, burying my nose in her sweet, familiar scent that is soured only bymi padre'sstench. "Mama, mama," I whisper brokenly. "Lo siento, mamita.Lo siento."

Her tears fall on my head as she strokes my hair, humming softly to comfort me. I feel Cassidy approach and gently pull the two pups away from us. The attic has fallen into silence; just my broken murmurs andmamita'ssoft humming breaks the quiet.

I don't look up when I hear the approach of heavy footsteps. The Beta is deliberately loud as he climbs the stairs. He pauses in the hallway, and I hear the little pups start to cry again.

"Punk, it's time to go. You need to make some decisions."

I force myself to stand. I tower overmi mama. Over Lily. Over the omega that I hated for so long. I have to lock my knees so that I don't crumble back down to the floor like somependejo. I have never felt so worthless and wrong in my life.

"It's nighttime. We should take the pups out, now, and get some light-blocking curtains for them," I hear one of the Beta's males say to him.

"I want them out of this house," I growl. My sisters.

"They're terrified, Punk," the Beta says quietly. "Let's not push them too far tonight, yeah?"

I force myself to look at the pups.They're terrifiedof me. Woodenly, I turn and walk away. I keep going. The urge in my blood and my wolf is to set this right.

I keep walking, down the stairs, outside, to wheremi papáis on his knees, head held proudly, dark eyes watching me approach. His left arm dangles uselessly at his side, but his face doesn't betray any discomfort.

"Let him go," I order the two males holding him. They obey instantly. "Stand up. I Challenge you," I spit at him.

He doesn't move.

"Stand up!" I scream in his face. I feel the eyes of the pack on me. My pack,mi padre'spack. The air is saturated with fear and confusion. The broken LoboGris is finally falling apart completely. Next to the front door is a pile of bodies. The males who died earlier in the fight here. My wolves circle us, still bearing the wounds and stench of battle.

"I won't fight your Challenge,"Papásays calmly.

I snarl in his face. "Then I claim the rights of a mate. You took my female!" I rage at him.

"To protect her," he says.

"My male?!" I roar. The LoboGris gasps.

"Is unharmed."

"¡Mi mama!"I scream.

LoboGris explodes. Cries of panic, of bewilderment, rise from the ranks of wolves who had no clue that their alpha is the worst sort of male.

I hear the whisper over the frenzy of cries."Teague, you have to stop him."

I look at my female in sorrow, walking to her, cupping her soft cheek. "Why,mi Alma?"

---