“Grandad,” I repeat. “Good Omega.”
Then I point to Ryan with a trembling finger.
Maya may have tried to rewrite history in order to make this hotel belong to the Frosts.
Yet Ryan deserves to be remembered.
“Ryan,” I say, firmly. Bird looks uncomfortable. He knows as much as I do how forbidden it is for anyone in our family to mention Ryan’s name. “Your other grandad.”
“ ‘Andad,” Zoe chirps, snatching up the velvet handkerchief and whipping it at Bird.
Bird splutters. “Hey, Omega solidarity. We’re on the same side. Help, somebody save me from the baby.”
He pretends to fall dramatically onto his back like Zoe has defeated him.
Zoe giggles, crawling to climb onto Bird’s stomach like he’s her felled trophy. Then she bounces up and down.
Bird throws out his arms and makes sounds like a dying duck.
Zoe bounces even more.
I roll my eyes but leave them to their game.
It’s one of Zoe’s favorites.
I am leaning closer toassassinas her future career path.
But then, it’s not surprising when she is my daughter.
I turn back to the box, tracing over my favorite stethoscope.
Dad is the best Dad because he taught me how to act submissive in front of the public but in private, he whispered stories to me about Omega criminals.
He allowed me to train to become an Omega safe cracker.
The truth is that there aren’t only secret passageways in this hotel.
When I was nine, I had broken the rule to go into Maya’s large study to play. A book on her wall of books had fascinated me. It had a spine in swirling colors with the title:The Book of ABO Secrets.
I pushed myself up onto my tiptoes, tottering to pull out the book.
To my shock, instead the entire wall swung open, revealing a giant vault like something in a bank. It was intimidating but beautiful, a work of art in iron and gold with a giant wheel in the middle, as if it was a wheel from a pirate’s ship.
Panic skittered through me but also the type of thrill that I hadn’t felt before.
I gasped, falling backward, and was shocked to find myself caught in Dad’s arms.
“I wasn’t doing anything,” I squeaked on reflex.
“Looks like it,” Dad replied, dryly. “You’re not meant to know about this. You mustn’t tell your mom.”
I scrunched up my nose. “She isn’t my mom.”
“She is our Head Alpha, however, and this is the pack’s safe. It has everything in here from gold to bonds.” Dad walked to the safe, resting his hand reverentially on it. “My bond rings and jewelry — gifts from Ryan. Well, they’re in here. They were too valuable for your mom to throw out.”
When he trailed off, I rushed to his side, nuzzling against his middle in comfort.
Ryan’s gifts should belong to Dad.
