“Such as?”
“I might’ve stolen a few cars. A buddy’s brother ran a chop shop, and it certainly paid better than minimum wage.”
Pete nodded thoughtfully. “I’m sorry you were ever put in a position that made you feel like that was a reasonable option.”
I shrugged, desperately trying to hold back a flood of tears and anger.
“No,” Pete said softly. “It’s not something to shrug off. Parents are supposed to protect their children. Mine didn’t do that for me, and it sounds like yours didn’t do that for you, either. Did they at least say thank you?”
“They never do.”
“Neither did mine. I didn’t even realize it until Mike asked me that same question and I couldn’t remember a single time they had been outwardly grateful for me sacrificing so much of my childhood.”
“So you won’t think I’m a shit person if I cut them off?” I was pretty sure I knew the answer, but I needed him to say it out loud.
Pete surprised me by getting to his feet and standing with his arms open, an offering of affection I couldn’t remember my own fathers offering. He smelled like warm pine sawdust, a comforting, earthy scent.
I sank into his arms and let the dam break.
I hated crying in front of other people, but Pete was a warm, solid presence, without an ounce of derision for my display of emotion. He simply held me tight. How many times had I gone to my mother for assurance like this, only to be turned over to my fathers for a verbal—and sometimes physical—lashing?
“I’m proud of you for standing up for yourself. I know how difficult it is to hold your ground against the people who raised you. It’s not easy now, and it won’t be easy when you go through the next steps, either, but what you told them is true. You have an omega and a baby on the way. Clover is lucky to have bonded someone who cares enough about her to lay down those hard boundaries.”
That only made me more emotional.
“I love her. I don’t want my parents to be part of my life with her.”
Pete gave me another squeeze when I’d recovered myself a little more. “You’re doing the right thing. Your mate and child should always come before parents.”
A whisper of sweet peony met my nose, and I turned to see Clover hovering in the entrance to the kitchen.
I laughed, the sound watery. Like father, like daughter.
Clover beelined straight into my arms when her dad stepped away. “I love you too. I don’t know what you’re protecting us from, but I promise I appreciate it.”
I held her close, breathing in her scent to anchor myself.
“I came to get you for bed.” She nuzzled hard against my chest. “You felt upset in the bond, and the nest feels empty without you.”
Pete was smiling softly when I glanced over to him. “You two get up to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
I sucked in a shuddering breath. “Thank you, for tonight.”
“No problem at all, son. That’s what family does for each other.”
I nearly lost it all over again, but Clover hugged me tighter, reaching out to squeeze her father’s hand before leading me upstairs. I’d known that Clover was giving us a new family with her pregnancy, but I hadn’t realized how much more she could possibly bring into our lives. Our pack could do with some solid father figures.
We paused outside of Clover’s suite, and I leaned down to kiss her until I felt steady again. She looked up at me with sparkling eyes. “What was that for?”
“Just kissing the love of my life.”
She beamed, her scent sweetening. “Get in the nest, and you can snuggle her too.”
I followed after her, hoping that every day going forward would end exactly that way for the rest of my life.
Chapter 40
Parker
