“Don’t say that, Tynan. Honestly, why can’t you guys see we’ve all missed a fundamental part in our relationship? And that’s however or whatever you want to refer to it as.”
The lift doors open, and neither of us moves a muscle.
“What you don’t get, Tally, is you have been with us exactly the same way Noinin has been for all these years. Perhaps that whole concept is whack to you, but not to us.”
Tally’s lost in thought when the doors start to shut. I hold them open for her and she steps out, but when I don’t follow her, she’s looking at me for an explanation.
“Where are you going?”
“Up to my place.”
“What?”
She scrunches her brow. “Isn’t this your place?”
“Yes and no.”
“What kind of answer is that?”
“One that works.”
“Can you explain it, please?”
I can explain. I’m just not sure I want to. We’ve been living like this for so long. Admitting it to her only adds to how pissed off I get when thinking about what happened years ago. Designating as a Beta wasn’t in my cards, and if I could, I’d seriously punch the fucking daylights out of whichever deity was in charge of that department.
Of course, though, it seems I can’t deny her. The things I don’t want to say are out of my mouth before I can stop them. “They’re not my Alphas, Tally. And as much as I love my brother, and would do anything for him, incest isn’t something I want to explore.”
Her green eyes flood with instant understanding. “Oh my god, Tynan.”
“It’s all good. I love my brother and our pack.”
“But you…”
I finish for her. “Have everything I need in those walls, Tally.”
“When he’s in heat, and everyone is in his nest?”
“I watch over them. Protecting and caring for my pack differently to how the Alphas do it.”
“You were in his nest, though. I remember you after that night.”
“Aye. Not sexually, though. I tried it a few times with Ronin and Keegan after way too much tequila. It wasn’t for me, but this pack is.”
She searches my eyes, and I assume she’ll push me for more of a breakdown of what our pack life entails, but she surprises me. Yet again. “Can I come up? After I see your brother. I’ve been avoiding him for too long.”
“Why is that?”
She shrugs. I guess since she and I are sharing things we both didn’t think we would. Not yet, anyway.
“It’s an Omega thing. This is Rafferty’s home. You are his pack. I understand what you all keep saying about how you’ve always believed I’d be a part of it, but designation wise, it’s different. The best analogy I can think of are cats. While they look cute and cuddly, they are inherently territorial and fiercely so. Step a foot into their territory and it’s a fur fight. For that reason, it’s pretty rare for a pack to have two Omegas. No doubt, that’s another problem to add to our list of never-ending issues to discuss. But all those things will have to wait until I get home from work.”
Cheeky shit, dropping that back into the conversation, thinking I wouldn’t notice. She knows she’s being sly too. Her smile grows brighter the moment I raise my eyebrows.
She takes a step out of the lift to let the doors start to shut, making her talk fast. “Can I have access to come up and see you? I’ll leave a note.”
The doors close before I can confirm she’s always had access to come up. I just never thought she’d actually want it. I’m a Beta; I can’t satisfy her in her heat, and my presence wouldn’t bring her comfort like Rafferty or the Alphas.
Still, I’m fucking stoked when I unlock my door and rush to the cleaning closet to pull out the vacuum.
