“If you think for a second that Karina or my fathers would raise little, classless assholes, you would be wrong. Just wait until you meet our dads. Hayes is exactly like that, just not as obvious as you’d expect.”
His face had hardened some, the playfulness slipping away, replaced by something more melancholy.
“Was it hard growing up and not having your dads around?”
“Sometimes,” he admitted. “There were times when I needed someone and they just weren’t there. I understand that this is the lifestyle they choose and my mom signed up for it, but we were just kids. We didn’t understand why they’d keep walking away.”
“You deserved better than they gave you,” I said gently, giving his arm a squeeze.
Scooting in a bit closer, I breathed in his peppermint and mocha, rich and decadent with a hint of cool mint. I truly adored it.
“I know what it’s like to grow up in a household that’s a bit too empty. Karina probably filled it with love, but did you have any sort of relationship with your dads?”
He thought it over for a moment before giving a half-hearted shrug. My heart hurt for the little boys who clearly still hurt over that abandonment.
“No, not really. I respect them and I knew some small things about them. They thought we were this perfect family, but they were strangers. Never bothering to consider how this would affect us. We were young alphas with no real alpha guidance.”
He took a breath, staring out at the glimmering lights glowing as the sun went down slowly. I gave him space to think over what he wanted to say, just listening and offering silent support.
“Mom hired nannies when we were growing up, but they were just there to call when she had things to take care of. She was trying her best to fill the void, I think. She raised us to love Pine Ridge as much as she did, but I think she lied to herself, too.”
“I’m not your typical needy omega,” I said, “but I don’t know how she handles being alone so often. Imagine going into heat and your partners are nowhere to be found.”
He winced. “I remember this one year she was going into heat. Our nanny swept us away like usual, keeping us in one part of the house, and I could just hear my mom crying out for them.”
Jack shuddered, the memory still haunting him.
His eyes shifted to mine, full of warmth and promise. “You and North will never have to know what that feels like. I willalwaysbe here when you need me.”
He meant every word. I couldn’t help but smile at the alpha who wore his heart on his sleeve.
“I know that already,” I promised. “That’s why I’m not scared to be with you guys. Everything you’ve shown me so far has been the kind of treatment an omega dreams about, but isn’t sure she’ll ever find.”
“And it’s only getting started,” he said, pulling me to a nearby stall. He spotted a winter crown that was made of branches, sprigs of holly, and a dusting of fake snow on top. He paid for it quickly before putting it on my head, a happy smile on his face as he looked at me.
“Add some red lipstick and you would look like a Christmas queen,” he said, leaning down and pressing a kiss to my lips.
The temperature was quickly dropping, but I barely noticed thanks to the others always being so close to me. After Jack and I talked a bit, the others joined us again. I loved that we weren’t afraid to give each other time like this, strengthening those tentative bonds we were building.
One of my mates was always touching me, fingers brushing my arm, pressing themselves into my back, as if they couldn’t keep their hands off me. It made me feel special and desired. Maybe it was my childhood trauma talking, but it was nice to feel like somebody genuinely cared about me.
I’d spent half my life being a ghost, and now they refused to let me hide.
I was going to do the same for Cole. He was so lost in his work, and as much as I talked at the beginning about helping him find ways to make the magazine more real and improving how his workers saw him, now I wasn’t sure I wanted to stickwith it. Not because he was my boss, but because I needed a job that filled me with excitement and joy.
A position where I could write about things I truly cared about. Stories with heart and soul, not just trends and inspiration. Pack & Co. was important and meant a lot to a lot of people, but I realized more and more thatIwas also important, and what I wanted mattered.
What I did with my life mattered.
As we reached the end of the booths, we were all shivering, the snow melting against our coats. Cole pulled us into a diner to warm up. The Pine Ridge Pancake House smelled like bacon, coffee, and the best sort of greasy food. The kind that could cure just about anything.
“Did you hear anything from Mom?” Cole asked me since she promised to call me the moment she was ready for us to come back.
“No,” I said, “but we can always check in after we finish eating, give her a little bit more time. If she’s anything like her son, then she’s going to want everything perfect.”
“Not to mention someone hired an entire team of interior designers and nesting specialists to come help us,” North said, eyeing Jack, who looked completely unapologetic about that.
“I apologize for taking care of my omega,” the alpha snarked.
