“I’ve been pretty good, Coach.” I don’t want to add fuel to his fire by admitting to something that isn’t a problem, so I keep my answer purposely vague.
“Yes, you have been playing well, but you’ve been consistently less focused. And now your packmate is not even showing up at the games. And don’t give me crap about how he was sick. That was the fakest fucking cough I’ve ever heard in my life.”
Taking a deep breath. I decide it’s better to just explain the entire situation than hide behind lies. “I am sorry for our lack of dedication, sir. I’m not going to make any excuses for our behavior. We found our scent-match, and it’s been a tough transition. When I first met her, I messed up pretty badly, so getting back into her good graces was difficult. And once things got better between us, her ex popped up out of nowhere, tryingto claim her son.” I wince at calling Evan her ex, but explaining the reality is too much, and I’m not sure Nixie wants everyone knowing her private business. “Vonn and I have been trying to protect them both while juggling it all, but I guess I’m failing more than I thought.” Once the truth word vomits out, Coach’s eyes widen, and he stares at me, processing.
“Well, fuck. I was expecting some bullshit. But holy hell—that’s a lot for anyone to deal with. You should’ve told us; we could’ve helped and supported you. I’m going to excuse Vonn’s absence and ensure he still gets paid for the game. What do you need? Finding an omega is no easy feat, and it sounds like she’s a single mom, too?” He sits at his computer, fingers flying over the keys.
“Not single anymore. And we appreciate you doing that for Vonn. Lucky fucker has already bonded her, and they’re nearly inseparable.” Yearning builds inside me, thinking about her beautiful face, and hoping a similar bond will soon be mine. “Honestly, I’m pretty eager to get home. They’re moving into our new house, and I hate not being there to help.”
“I hear that. I’ll let you get on your way in just a minute. I wanted to let you know the tabloids picked up on the fact that you have someone special in your life. There’s been a lot of chatter, most of it quite complimentary, but I wouldn’t be surprised if your mystery woman doesn’t remain mysterious for too long. It might be worth getting ahead of them and sharing the information thatyouwant shared.” I nod, hearing his underlying message. It’s always better when we control the media and the media doesn’t control us.
“Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll talk to Vonn and Marilyn and get it sorted.” With no further comment, he releases me with a gesture at the door, which I take as his blessing and haul ass out of the locker room. There’s only one place I want to be, and it’s gonna take me at least six hours to get there.
Chapter Forty-Two
Nixie
Me
Heading your way, are you home?
Ishoot off a text message to Cassia and hope she’ll be at the apartment when I get there. I’m on my way to pick up some clothing and other odds and ends from our apartment, but it’s been too damn long—I miss my best friend. These last weeks have felt like a whirlwind, between bonding, moving, and now preparing for a court date, my mind is a jumbled mess. Evan’s lawyer set a court date for a week from today for a preliminary hearing on Asher’s paternity, and every time I think about it, I dry heave. This whole situation is an absolute nightmare that I’m dying to wake up from.
I’ve thought about running no less than a zillion times, but the bright glowing bond in my chest stops me every time. Something about Vonn completes me in such an assured way, leaving would be like leaving half of myself behind. Not that I won’t if I need to for Asher’s sake—just not yet.
So yeah, with all that shit going on, I admit I’ve lost touch with my best friend. We text daily, but it’s just not enough. I need to lay my eyes on her.
With a turn of the steering wheel, I effortlessly slip my old car into my spot in the parking garage below the building. Familiarity washes over me, yet a prickle of warning along my neck has me scanning my surroundings before I climb out. We’ve lived here for a long time, and I’ve never felt unnerved down here before. Straining my ears, I listen for any faint sounds, but hearing nothing, I laugh a little at myself and head for the elevator, hoping that for once it’s working.
As I get near the elevator, the sharp clicking of rapidly approaching heels captures my attention.
“Phoenix!” a voice shouts, startling me enough to turn around. The second I do, pain radiates across my skull. A loud slap echoes around the parking garage, reverberating off the cement pillars.
With open arms surging forward, I try to push my attacker away, but she’s already stepped back. My eyes fly open when my hands meet nothing but air. Straight in front of me, it’s a furious older woman. Warily, I take her in, from her angry brown eyes to her red hair that’s styled in a short, severe bob.
My mother.
The years have not been kind; her face is sallow and wrinkled with age. The creases speak of cruelty and anger, no happy laugh lines around her eyes. She shouldn’t look this old, and it takes me by surprise, though maybe that’s the punishment for having nothing but malice in her cold, unfeeling heart.
“Mom?” The word automatically slips from my lips, although this woman has been anything but a true mother to me. Even at my young age, I know I’ve done more to protect and nurture my son than my mother ever did for me. Her face flinches slightly,her eye twitching at my use of the word. It seems she hates it as much as I do.So why is she here?
“What do you want,Linda?” I find my inner fire as the pain radiates up my cheek, throbbing underneath my eye. Tentatively, I bring my hand to the tender spot and search for my piece-of-shit stepfather. When George doesn’t materialize, I turn my gaze back to the bitch that brought me into this world.
“That’s the way you react to seeing your mother? Filthy omega whore.” To my complete shock, she sends a ball of spit flying to the floor at my feet. “How about ‘I’m sorry for all I put you through’?” She steps forward, a cloud of wrath clouding her features. As a beta, my mother has a few inches on me height-wise, but I’m younger and fitter. When she gets closer, I try to assess the threat.Should I make a run for my car? Up the staircase?
“All I put you through?” I snort in derision; the absurdity of her statement rubs against my raw nerves. I’ve never gotten the chance to tell my mother how completely she failed me, and I’ve always wanted that closure. Seeing it glimmering right before me, I decide to take it. “How about what you and George put me through? Should we talk about that,Mother?”
Her cheeks redden, and she steps forward, grabbing my wrist in a forceful, enraged grip. I should probably be afraid, but all I feel is fucking pissed off.
“We did nothing but care for you. Even when you turned into a slutty, slicking gremlin that begged for sex. Did we turn you out? No, we found you reputable Alphas who would be discreet about your…issues.” The amount of abhorrence she has toward omegas has always been a boundary in our relationship, but her sheer ignorance is astonishing. Did she really not understand that being part of an omega’s heat isn’t a hardship for an Alpha, but it’s something they covet?
I scoff at her words, and she tightens her hold painfully, towering over me. But I still keep my chin up and make no sound of protest. “You sold me to the highest bidder. No matter how you twist it in your mind—you and George sold me for sex. Then tried to sell my child. Do not make yourself out to be Mother of the Year.”
The words come out stronger than I could have hoped for. Although I know they won’t penetrate her tiny, bigoted mind, I’m glad to have spoken my truth.I was bred. I was sold. And now it’s time to leave that chapter behind and embrace my future.
“Since you left, we’ve been indebted to Evan. And your father has been forced to work like a dog day and night. He may as well be Evan’s slave. All for what? So you could sell your body on some whore website? You’re pathetic; it’s going to be easy as pie for us to take Asher home.” Spittle flies from her mouth, landing on my chin and cheeks. That’s enough of her vitriol.I’ll die before they get anywhere near Asher.
I tug my arm from her grasp and attempt to twist away, but Mommy Dearest still isn’t finished with me. With a fistful of my hair in her clutches, she yanks hard.
