“Not if you’re here to punish yourself.”
My mom sniffles. “It’s not your fault, honey.”
I remain silent, and my dad joins my mom at the foot of the bed. He takes her hand, then reaches out and takes mine with his other.
“Maybe you won’t be able to stop thinking it’s your fault, no matter what the facts are,” he says gently. “But you, believing you’re not good for people? That’s crazy.”
“You’re just saying that because you’re my dad,” I argue weakly. “You have to say it.”
“Bullshit. Piper’s parents are terrible to her, and you know it.”
I chew my lip. Piper is my best friend in the entire world, an amazing person, and her parents were monsters to her.
So, no, my dad doesn’t just have to say these things to me.
“Do they think you’re good for them?” my dad continues. “Your scent friends?”
“Scentmatches. And yes. They do.”
“Then what the hell are you doing here, besides making yourself sick? And who are you to tell someone else how they feel about you?”
I don’t have an answer for that, and my dad grins in triumph. “That therapy stuff is really paying off for your old man, huh?” he whispers.
“Oh, fuck off, dad.”
“Blair!” my mom chides, but my dad laughs.
“That means she knows I’m right,” he says proudly.
“Maybe,” I grumble.
“Oh, honey.” My mom touches my cheek, her eyes still misty. “You’re burning up. Is that because you’re away from them?”
I nod. “The further away I am, the sicker I become.”
“Does that mean you’re making them sick?”
I shrug. “I don’t know.”
Yes,my inner Omega supplies.You know damn well we’re hurting them.
“So, you’re making the four of you miserable for no reason,” my dad says.
I scowl at him, and he chuckles.
“Okay, here’s the deal. You can take a big nap, mom will run you a nice bath, and you can relax all night. You don’t have to help me with dinner, but tomorrow, you’re leaving.”
I let out a sound of protest. “Wait? Why?”
“You’ve been here a week already, and being away from them is making you sick,” my mom says. “We love having you, but if you keep believing everything is your fault, you’ll…you’ll end up like me.”
My heart aches. “I wouldn’t mind ending up like you, mom. You’re kind, smart, supportive, and you have dad.”
“And you have your scent matches. And kitties at work and friends that you love. Go back home tomorrow and make amends.”
I nod slowly.
My parents aren’t wrong, but I’m ashamed after what I’ve done and terrified of going back to Travis, Ryland, and Rowan.
