I want to smoke another cigarette—fuck, maybe a whole pack—but I make my way to the house instead. The grass is sandy and uneven as I begrudgingly walk up the front steps of the porch. The sigh that leaves me is tragic as I tap my knuckles against the front door.
“Comin’!” he hollers from inside the house. His voice startles me, not having heard it for nearly four years.
It’s not like the man beat the shit out of me. He did yell at me more often than not, but we just never saw eye to eye. He treatedme more like an annoying prospect than he ever did a child. As I grew up and rebelled, things only got worse. Resentment grew even deeper and this need to prove myself outside of my birthright became crucial to me. I’m not completely sure if I’ve failed or succeeded in that respect, but I’m here now, and how this first conversation goes could dictate how I live the rest of my life.
The door swings open, and I realize for the first time in my life that I’m taller than my father, broader too. He looks mostly the same, besides some extra wrinkles on his face and less hair on the top of his head.
His face is blank, giving nothing away as he looks me up and down.
“You lookin’ to patch in?” he asks. No hello, no I miss you or how are you? Right to the fuckin’ point.
“Yeah, I’m looking to settle down with the club.”
“Then enjoy the picnic. Get familiar with your brothers, enjoy some pussy. We’ll bring it to a vote next week,” he states dryly, not touching me as he walks past me towards his Omega.
I shake my head at the encounter, not sure what I was expecting. I mean, I didn’t expect a warm hug; if anything, I expected a fist to the face and a stern talking to. But all I got was casual indifference, and I think I would have preferred if he had hit me.
I’ve had toomuch to drink.
But it feels so good not to feel anything right now. To have this moment where I’m just a member of a club enjoying thecompany of my brothers, their families, and the pretty Betas who love to hang around.
I’m nearly on my way to being completely sloshed when a flash of light blue piques my attention, along with an asshole who has his arm pinned above her head against the wall of the hardware store.
I finish my beer, tossing the cup in the trash can as I leisurely walk over. I realize that it’s Atlas crowding Lily’s space. He’s trying to patch over from the failed Jacksonville chapter.
“I think I’m going to like it here just fine,” he says to Lily as his hand slides down the skin of her arm.
“You fuckin’ lost?” I ask him.
He doesn’t drop his hand and just looks over his shoulder at me. “Nope, I’ll see you inside,” he dismisses, shrugging me off as he turns back to Lily.
“You know, considerin’ your fuckin’ name is Atlas, you should know when you’re in the wrong place,” I snark. Atlas rolls his eyes and removes his hand from the wall, turning to face me.
He holds up his arm and points to the table where other guys have women on their laps. “There are plenty of other girls here, man. I’m sure you can fucking manage,” he sneers.
I smile wickedly at him. The alcohol is running thick in my veins, and I pull my fist back, punching him in his stomach. A whoosh of air leaves his lips as he buckles over. Lily doesn’t gasp or make any noise; she just looks pissed as I grab his cut.
“She’s the Prez’s stepdaughter, you dumb fuck. Go inside.”
“Shit,” he wheezes, holding his stomach as he stumbles toward the clubhouse.
I straighten up, dust myself off, and look over at Lily, who is glaring at me.
“What the fuck was that?” she demands.
“It was me welcoming him to the club,” I reply, leaning up against the wall beside her.
“I don’t need another fucking guard dog,” she sasses.
“Mmm. Lookin’ like you sure as fuck do, darlin’.”
She huffs and plants herself further against the wall next to me. I do my best not to suck in her scent, look at her long exposed legs, or peer down the front of her dress at her small, perky tits.
I need a lobotomy.
“I’m so over all the men of this club thinking they know what’s best for me. I’m not some dumb, helpless girl. I’m a woman now; I’m an Omega now, and I have needs. Needs no one seems to take into consideration while constantly cunt blocking me around here,” she seethes.
“Cunt blocking?” I ask with a laugh.
