Stanley turned, and Marisol and Carmen smirked as I sprinted away, not slowing until I’d turned the corner.
As I made my way to my moms’, I wondered who would move into the Beaufort House next. Maybe I should enlist Felix to burn it down. It might be the only way to break the curse.
5
Lucy
If I had access toa time machine, I would hop right in, go back in time to the day last week when my moms asked me what I wanted for my birthday dinner, and tell past Lucy that she should not, underanycircumstances, request frozen strawberry margaritas.
Not because they weren’t delicious but because all four of my moms were currently tipsy and Jojo and Mom were well on their way to being drunk.
“I’m just saying, there’s no harm in Lucy trying female alphas!” Mom half shouted, most of her margarita sloshing out of her glass. “It’s not like she’s had much luck with men.”
I locked eyes with Lars, and he had the audacity to smirk at me. I drew my finger across my neck, but my death threat didn’t faze him.
We’d finished dinner—my favorite fajitas from Señor Taco—and headed to the backyard for cake and presents. Lars got the fire going and we gathered around the firepit, wrapped in blankets, the string lights casting a gentle glow. Warmth from the flames kissed my skin and made it impossible to stop thinking about Leo—the way his hand had felt in mine, the exhilaration I felt jumping over the bonfire with him…
“Lucy doesn’t need to be with alphas. She’s a strong, independent woman,” Jojo responded, her words slightly slurred.
“Well, omega health outcomes are better when they have a pack,” Mamma said, tucking her short white-blond hair behind her ear. She was the most no-nonsense of all of us. She might not have always been the most warm and fuzzy parent as I was growing up, but she was fiercely protective.
I flopped back in my chair and sighed loudly. “Should I leave?Seems like you don’t really need me here for this conversation.” My muttering was ignored so I pulled out my phone and opened the group chat: Felix’s Feral Four.
Lucy
Help me. The moms are drunk and talking about how I desperately need alphas and Lars is being useless so I’m all aloneeee
Olive
I am SO sorry
Lucy
Not your fault. They’re unstoppable
Summer
Your moms are hilarious
Lucy
…
You’re dead to me
Ivy
Hang in there, Lucy!
“No, don’t misquote the research,” Mom said, her usually loud voice raising in volume even more as pieces of brown hair flew from her messy bun. “That study showed that omega health improves specifically when they’re paired withfemalealphas. And maybe that’s the problem! Lucy needs a female alpha.”
“So true,” Lala said, curling up against Mamma’s side. Alcohol always made her sleepy, something the two of us had in commonbesides our blond hair, blue eyes, and love of blankets. “Male alphas are the worst.”
Lars scrubbed his hand down his face and let out an exasperated sigh. “You can’t just say that. Not all male alphas are bad.”
“Shh, honey,” Mom said, waving her hand. “I’m the expert here as the only bisexual in the group, and let me tell you, knots aren’t everything.”
“Okay,” he said, slapping his hands on his thighs before standing. “And with that, I’m going to head out. Happy birthday, Lucy.”
