Iwoke with the bed shifting around me, the room still pitch black.
“Sorry, baby girl, go back to sleep.” Cam kissed me on the forehead as he slipped out of bed.
“Where you going?” I mumbled, pressing myself further into the warmth of the sheets.
Yesterday, after breakfast, we’d spent the day cuddling and lounging by the pool. Cam had a similar reaction as Theo to hearing about self-defense, but Ben took it in stride and helped me practice resisting his bark. We’d watched a movie before going to bed early, and I’d fallen asleep pressed between all my alphas.
“We’re going to work out,” Theo said, kissing my cheek.
“Too early,” I responded, disgruntled.
“I completely agree,” Ben said, pulling me towards him and pressing his body against mine.
“Then stay here with me,” I said, nuzzling my face in the crook of his neck and breathing in his rich, spiced scent.
“I wish, precious,” he responded, reluctantly rolling out of bed and tucking the covers around me.
The three of them quietly exited the room, the click of the door letting me know I was alone. I whimpered as I curled up in a ball, covering myself with the blankets. I shouldn’t react this strongly—they spent most of the day and night wrapped around me. But I hated mornings, and having to spend them in bed alone made me feel abandoned.
I drifted back into a fitful sleep, jerking awake whenever I thought I heard a sound. At the Designation Academy, staff members often barged into our rooms in the mornings unannounced. They would yell at us to get up quickly and head to a surprise assembly, uncaring if we were still asleep or in the middle of getting dressed. It taught me not to let myself sleep too deeply. The exception had been the past few days with my alphas. I’d barely had any nightmares, as if my body knew I was safe with them.
I yelped when my phone rang, jolting me fully awake. I fumbled around in the dark until I found it on the nightstand. As I squinted at the bright screen, I registered two things simultaneously: it was eight o’clock on the dot, and my mother was calling.
I stared at my phone, wondering if I should answer. The call would leave me unhappy and stressed, but I knew my alphas and I had to play nice until we bonded.
My cell stopped ringing before I made up my mind.Well, that solves it.I went to lie back down when the phone started ringing again. Who was I kidding? This was my mother—she would keep calling until I answered, and if I didn’t, she would just show up. I didn’t want her intruding in the space that already felt more like home than anywhere I’d lived. I reluctantly answered, trying to make myself sound as awake as possible.
“Josephine, are you still in bed? It is eight o’clock in the morning. We have talked about this.”
“No, mother, I’m not still in bed. I got up bright and early this morning. What can I do for you?” I asked, rolling my eyes.
“I know you’re lying. No one likes a lazy omega. You need to be up early and be a productive member of your pack. You need to cook breakfast for those alphas and ensure you please them and run the home properly, just like I taught you.”
I tried to hold in a long-suffering sigh, but apparently, she heard me and launched into a tirade. I tried my best to dissociate from her words, but I caught the highlights: I was a disappointment. I must have chosen Pack Ashwood to spite her because I was a terrible daughter. If I didn’t watch my figure, my alphas would lose interest and start sleeping around. They only wanted me to join their pack to elevate their status as bonded alphas.
“Josephine, are you even paying attention to me?” she screeched.
“Yes. But I have to go. My alphas are waiting for me to eat breakfast.”
“I hope they’re following the diet the DC doctor created for you. God knows you need all the help you can get.”
I quickly said goodbye and ended the call, cutting off whatever else she was going to say.
A dark mood settled over me. My alphas would probably be done with their workouts soon. I should go downstairs to join them for breakfast, but my mom’s poisonous words seeped into my bloodstream. What if she was right? What if Cam, Theo, and Ben got up early because they didn’t want to be with me? Or maybe they had wanted me to get up and work out with them. They could easily find more attractive women to sleep with.
My thoughts spiraled and I was helpless to stop them as my body shook with the fear of rejection. Maybe I could do something to prove that they should keep me.
I threw the covers off. First step was to get my ass out of bed.
A good omega is the first to rise.
A good omega cares for the home without complaint.
My mother’s barbs had hit their target as I felt the DA’s lessons bubble to the surface. Old wounds I thought had healed now bled out painfully. I threw my hair up in a bun and pulled on sweatpants and a sweatshirt on autopilot.
I would prove to them I was useful.
I heard the showers going when I crept into the hallway. Good. I could get started with cleaning the gym. Luc had always approved of my work, so I didn’t think I could mess it up too badly.
