"Sorry, Dad," I mumble."I think the phone cut out for a minute.Can you repeat that?"
The pause on the other end is heavy, causing my heart to clench in my chest.Does he believe it?Or is "thoughtless Lily" just spacing again?Will his training demand that he interrogate me before getting to the reason for his call?
"I said, your mother and I have everything set up for when you come home.I know the semester ends in about two weeks, so you make sure to come home straight away.Don't make me come out there and drag you back."
There's a slight chuckle in his tone, but I know he's deadly serious.If I don't show back up on their doorstep the moment I'm free from classes, nothing will stop him from retrieving his "little girl" from the clutches of the scary collegiate institution.And if he doesn't, I'm sure some helpful officer from the precinct I'm currently in will be more than happy to assist a fellow cop.
It's bad enough that I hear a lecture every time I return.I really don't want that, plus a humiliating car ride home.Besides, after being here for two semesters and still managing an A average despite the distractions, I think I'm doing pretty well for myself.He might not think so… but then, that seems par for the course.
"It's just you though, right?No boys coming home with you?"
And there it is.The question that's always on his mind.You're not dating, right?You're concentrating on school.You know Alphas only want one thing.Take your mother.She has a degree and works outside the home.You don't want to end up barefoot and pregnant before you even start your life, do you?
"No, Dad.No boys."
Not that I haven't considered it.Unfortunately, all the boys on campus are jerks and jocks.None of them see me as anything other than omega pussy they can claim.I refuse to be another notch on their belt.Not when I'm sure I can find what I'm looking for in an older man… someone who knows what the fuck he's doing.Someone who can make me scream his name without fumbling around like an idiot.
"That's my good girl."
God, how that endearment grates on my nerves and makes it all worse.I want to be called a good girl, but not byhim.I want it growled in the dark as hot, thick fingers fist my hair, as my lips stretch around a massive cock and I worship it like the good, little, slutty omega I know is somewhere inside me.
I want to hear it when I'm on my knees with tears streaming down my face, gagging on an Alpha's dick while he pets my hair and tells me how well I'm taking him.But from my dad?It's just patronizing and infantilizing.Not to mention a complete mood killer, removing any lingering trace of arousal dripping through me from my afternoon interlude.
Shaking my head, I finally find my headphones and drop them on the bed."Is there anything else you need?"
"Nate's coming home.Just wanted you to know.He's taken leave for a few weeks, so it will be like old times again.Isn't that great?"
My stomach drops."Yes," I murmur."Just perfect.The best way to spend my winter break before the spring semester."
"There now!"he booms out, covering up an extra loud groan from the boy toy next door."I knew you'd be excited.I'll let your mother know.Love you, sweetheart.See you soon.Good luck on your exams.Remember, you got to?—"
"Keep my grades up," I intone, cutting him off."I know, Dad.You tell me every time."
"And you keep getting good grades because I tell you every time.I'm sure you want to keep your freedom out there, so, what…?"he trails off.
"Good grades and no boys."
"Exactly.Bye, sweetheart."
Winter break.Dad.My stepmother.Nate.A full house.Even now, the pit in my stomach expands so much I worry I'll be swallowed whole.How many years has it been now?Ever since he joined the military, I think I’ve seen him once?Maybe twice?
Each time, it was always tense, always stilted.Or it could just be me.It’s not like we got all that close when he came into the family.His mom, or rather, my mom too, as dad insists, isn't all that bad.But Nate can be insufferable.At least, what little I remember.
He's probably still that irritating guy, only now made more annoying by being the big bad Alpha overseas defending our freedom.People don’t change all that much.They think they do, but in reality, it’s just their true selves coming out of hiding.
By the time I press end on the call, cold sweat beads on my forehead.Unfortunately, that was the wake-up call I shouldn't have needed.Here I am, liberty in the balance, and I got off instead of prepping for my test… a test in a class I'm just not even passing.If I don't ace this final, I don't make the grade.If I don't make the grade, I'm forced back home.
Tears gather in my eyes as I look at the chemistry formulas swimming in and out of focus.I'd like to think Dad wouldn't pull me out and make me study at home over one bad class, but I can't chance that.It's the only freedom I have, the only way I can be unrestricted for a little bit.
I nibble the edge of my nail as I flip through the pages and search for the terms I'm struggling with on the internet, but still, nothing helps.As much as I hate depending on yet another man, I know exactly who to call.It's the call I've been dreading since I took this stupid class.
The school tutor hasn't helped.Been there, done that.Nothing he says makes sense either.But try telling that to my dad.If I just work hard, my grades will reflect that.Well, case in point, that doesn’t always work.
Ugh.So stupid.I should have just swallowed my pride and called Nate earlier, but I thought I could do it.I thought I could handle it.Now, here I am at the last second, praying for a Hail Mary.
Picking my phone back up, I dial the one number I've been avoiding as much as I can—Nathaniel Vance, my stepbrother, military chemist or something like that.At this point, I don't know which option I'd consider lucky.Would he actually answer and help me?Would he be too busy and I wouldn't have to have an awkward conversation with him so soon before winter break?
Questions pepper my brain as it rings, and I almost squeak in surprise at his rough, grumbled, "Hello?"
