Shit.
“I know you aren’t going to her.”
Double shit.
I go to open my mouth, and my mom gives me a look that says to save my lies for someone who will believe him.
“It’s one of the players from your father’s team, isn’t it?”
“Did you talk to Dad?” I ask.
“Henderson might have crumbled under some light questioning,” she says. “Plus, I saw some things online,” she says, and I groan.
My Beta father and I are going to need to have a little chat. Part of me thinks about throwing him under the bus for smoking. But even if he didn’t slip up, she would have seen that stupid article anyway.
“It is,” I reply. I’ve never been great at lying to my mother Willow. I don’t know if it’s because she’s also an Omega or just how incredibly close we’ve been my whole life.
“Kristoff will hate it, but he’ll get over it. But you need to be sure you want to keep him. You know your father is going to put him through hell regardless.”
“I really like them,” I reply.
“Them?” she says with a laugh. Her long red hair falls behind her. “You’re going to give him a fucking heart attack.”
“Well, right now it’s one player and the mascot.”
She shakes her head and laughs. “You are my kid. But, Sloane?”
“Hmm?”
“I can tell your heat’s coming around sooner than later. You need to be prepared for when the time comes, no matter whatthat looks like. Whether you want to wait to bond or bond before, but at least have that talk with them.”
“Dad’s gonna flip when they have to take off mid season for my heat,” I say with a wince.
“At least it isn’t during the Cup like that poor sweet goalie last year,” she replies.
That makes me think about Max and how some feelings have been lingering with him, but Bram has all but stated he hates the guy. I’m asking Bram to bend so much already; asking him to be packmates with someone he hates is just too much.
“When did you know?”
“Hmm?” she hums.
“That you were going to go into heat?” I ask.
She’s already given me the best education I could have asked for on being an Omega. Hell, on being a person.
“It’s like an itch you can’t scratch. Sometimes it sneaks up on you, and other times it's a gradual ache. Obviously feeling aroused is a part of that, but there are other signs too. Like needing comforting scents, only wanting very particular scents. If you need more touch than usual is another indicator. The pain usually only hits right before your heat is about to start, but if you’re preemptive and sated, the pain shouldn’t last long at all,” she says calmly.
“I had hoped I’d be bonded before my heat,” I say, feeling a little dreary about it all.
“You have time. Plus, a bond isn’t required, just trust and proper planning. We both know you’re great at planning.”
I smirk. She doesn’t even know the half of it. But her guidance has me thinking a little differently. If my heat comes sooner than expected, I need to be prepared and truly be in tune with my body.
We both relax into the soft beanbag.
“I was on a date with them when I got the call about Mormor.”
“Leave that woman to ruin a date even from the depths of Hell,” she says, and I shake my head as she laughs. “She was a mean fucking woman who never liked me. Your dad should have cut her out of his life years ago, but he’s too forgiving and kind. You don’t have to be sad, Sloane. If anything, just make peace with however you’re feeling because it’s valid.”
