An article I found about nests suggested omegas enjoyed softer lighting, so we’d gotten string lights to hang around the room.
“I can’t believe we’re having to host those two assholes,” I said, referring to Josie’s pack fathers.
Jericho and Richard Porter were well known in Alliance circles for being power-hungry, designation traditionalists. We’d had the misfortune of running into them at a dinner party last year. We hadn’t spoken beyond our frosty introductions, but I remembered thinking how smarmy they were. They kept their personal lives private, which wasn’t unusual for politicians who worried public scrutiny could put their families in danger, particularly if omegas were involved. I hadn’t even known they had an omega daughter until I read Josie’s file right before the interview.
Sympathy rolled through me, thinking about what she must have experienced growing up. Just the other day, Jericho had been on the news talking about how the current Designation Laws were too lax and omegas were destroying the very fabric of society with their sex-obsessed manipulations. Now, rage pumped through my veins, knowing that my mate’s family had betrayed her with their political actions. The only thing keeping me grounded was knowing we would protect her from them moving forward.
While my packmates and I kept our political involvement quiet to deflect attention from our role in the Alliance, it was clear we weren’t traditionalists. I hoped Richard and Jericho wouldn’t make today’s meeting difficult for Josie. I hated that she would arrive with her parents, and we would have to wait even longer before we could talk with her freely.
“They’re the fucking worst,” Cam agreed, clenching his hands tightly. I stared pointedly at his fists.
“I’m not going to do anything,” he said with an eye roll. I nudged him in the side with my elbow and he shoved me as we moved towards the foyer. We stood at the large dining room window, keeping an eye on the driveway.
Time was finally on my side as a luxury BMW pulled into our circular driveway. Jericho exited first from the driver’s side, with Richard shortly following from the passenger’s side and Josie’s her mother exiting from the back seat. I held my breath as I waited to see Josie. Finally, she emerged from the car.
Josie wore a frilly blue dress with long, lacy sleeves and a full skirt. The top of the dress was tight and pressed up her breasts, which was hot. But the dress didn’t seem to suit her, and as I took in her face, I noticed she looked uncomfortable and unhappy. My heart clenched with the fear that maybe it wasn’t just the dress… maybe she was unhappy because she didn’t want us.
Josie’s mother rounded the car with a furious expression on her face. She gripped Josie’s arm, jerking her closer. Once her mother had turned away from her, Josie’s scowl transformed into a heartbreakingly vulnerable expression, and I thought I saw her blinking back tears. I clenched my jaw as Cam growled next to me.
Josie’s pack fathers ignored the altercation between their bonded and daughter, looking distinctly bored. Jericho checked his watch before saying something to his daughter, his lips curling with disdain. Josie’s shoulders curved in, and her parents left her to drag her small suitcase out of the boot of the car while they all moved towards the front door.
My blood pressure rose, witnessing how our mate’s family treated her.
“Don’t give them any reason to take her away from us,” I quickly reminded my pack brothers as our combined rage vibrated through the bond.
Everything in me screamed to pull my mate into the house and lock the door behind her, leaving her parents on the front porch. And then it could start pouring down rain. With lightning.A little electrocution of your enemies never hurt anyone.
The knock at the door jolted me out of my thoughts. Ben rushed to welcome our guests, pulling Josie into a hug the second she crossed the threshold. My insides melted when I saw her cheeks flush pink at Ben’s exuberant greeting. We could get through this meeting. How hard could it be?
ChapterTwelve
Josie
This meeting was a disaster. I entered Pack Ashwood’s house in a daze, allowing Cam and Theo to shepherd me along until I was sandwiched between them on their living room couch. Across from us sat my mother, who had already made several snide comments about my weight, and Ben, who looked heartbroken when I refused to eat the incredible pastries arranged on the coffee table in front of me. My pack fathers sat in front of the gorgeous marble fireplace, looking entirely at ease as they presided over us.
I had tossed and turned in bed last night, wondering what sorts of stunts my fathers would pull to separate me from my chosen pack. I had to hand it to them—Richard and Jericho were in rare form this morning. They’d already managed to insult, belittle, and threaten me on the short drive over. My well-honed dissociation skills blocked out the worst of it, but I was trembling by the time we arrived at Pack Ashwood’s house.
I sat rigidly, my eyes straight ahead as I did my best to maintain a stoic, disinterested expression. The little glimpses of the room I had allowed myself had sparked a bit of… excitement? The house was sparse but filled with historic touches. And the best part was that it smelled likethem. I had expected to spend this meeting on the verge of a panic attack, but being surrounded by Cam, Theo, and Ben’s cinnamon roll-coffee-apple-pie scents kept me calm.I fought the urge to crawl into their laps and press my face to their necks to breathe them in more deeply. My omega really didn’t understand appropriate social behavior.
My fathers attempted to get a rise out of Pack Ashwood with snide critiques aimed at their home and business. The guys hid their reactions well. If I hadn’t been watching them so closely, I would have missed Cam’s narrowing eyes, Theo’s restless fingers tapping on his legs, and the way Ben’s smile faltered for a split second. Most alphas I knew wouldn’t let any insults stand, but these three kept it under control. When Jericho and Richard realized these tactics weren’t proving successful, they guided the conversation towards designation politics and, their favorite topic, insulting me.
“It’s astounding how much power we give omegas when the research is clear they don’t have the capacity to make logical decisions. It’s not their fault, of course,” Richard said, his tone patronizing, “but it means that alphas need to protect them from making their own choices.”
Jericho jumped in, “I hope you three are fully prepared to bring Josephine into your pack.”
“We’ve prepared a bedroom with all the nest supplies…” Cam started to say before Jericho cut him off.
“I’m not talking about the house. Josie needs a firm hand. She thrived at the Designation Academy. They gave her plenty of structure, monitored her food intake, and ensured she had everything she needed to succeed. Josephine is, unfortunately, a strong-willed omega. We have worked hard to raise her well and keep her in line, and it’s imperative that you continue.”
My cheeks heated as waves of humiliation washed over me, turning my scent bitter. I was used to my parents talking about me like this, but now my new pack was bearing witness. Would they believe what they were saying about me?
Theo shifted to place his coffee on the table in front of us. When he sat back, his body pressed close to mine. I didn’t know if he had done it on purpose, but his closeness was so soothing it made me want to cry.
Richard added with a smirk, “We’ve found that she needs frequent correction and punishment. You shouldn’t give her too much freedom. She likes to test and push boundaries. I hope you three can handle an omega like her, or the center will have to find a more suitable pack.”
Cam and Theo stiffened, and I could scent the burnt edge of their anger. Theo shifted even closer to me. This time, I knew his movement was intentional. Cam moved his hand to my thigh and gave it a squeeze. A lump formed in my throat at their silent comfort and support.
“Our plan is to support Josie and provide everything she needs,” Theo said coolly.
