“Keep going,” he said, turning back to the grill. “I wanna see how you finish it.”
My fingers twitched with the need to finish it. To make it better.
“There’s an Omega Exclusive School,” I paled at those words, but of course Evander would expect a reaction, quicklygoing on. “It’s safe. It’s similar to the college that Betas and Alphas go to. They have classes for everything. Cooking, art, business, and nursing. When you are up to it, it’s an option you can look into. I hear their art program is one of the best. Better than what I’d ever be able to take. And all classes are taught by Omegas. No Alphas are allowed on the property without proper clearance.”
“That…sounds…nice.” It really did. I could possibly see myself taking a few classes, mostly so I didn’t have to be pacing the house while I waited for Evander to get back home.
“Really?” Evander turned around quickly, eyeing me in surprise.
“Yeah. I enjoy the few art classes I got to take at Lockswell. It was the one thing I had hoped to keep having. If only I could beperfectenough to. But…” I trailed off.
“You’re perfect as you are. And if you want classes, any classes, you get to choose them. I’ll never use your choices as punishment. Not ever.”
Unsure how to reply to that, even if it needed one, I turned back to my sketch, adding a bit more shadowing along the hair.
Evander seemed to be talking more to himself than to me, saying something about the chicken needing another few minutes, when his voice cut off.
I looked up.
He wasn’t looking at me, but staring past me, towards the yard.
Two figures were walking up the side path towards the deck. Maren in front, her steps quick but careful; her expression already softened the moment she spotted us. And behind her, a man. He was taller, moving with a steady pace.
My stomach dropped.
Evander breathed through his nose. “Of course.” He muttered. “They would pick today.”
He set the tongs down a little too hard, metal clinking against the grill. Then he stepped slightly in front of me, not blocking me, but placing himself between me and whatever was coming.
Maren lifted her hand in a small wave. “Evander, we didn’t mean to interrupt.”
Evander didn’t answer right away. His eyes flicked at me, checking, before he spoke. “You’re not. Just…wasn’t expecting you.”
“Well, we still celebrate today, either way. You know that. Todays…well…” Maren’s eyes landed on me. “Hello, sweetie. Happy Birthday.”
All I could do was blink. Evander said he hadn’t told anyone. He wouldn’t possibly-
“Mom, you don’t know- “
“Oh, hush you,” Maren waved a hand through the air like she was brushing away a fly, her smile still friendly, motherly. “Mothers know things.”
“The Hales’ will be by later for the normal bonfire,” the man said, his voice huskier than Evander’s. “I’m Grant. Maren’s told me a bit about you.”
Evander muttered something that sounded like a curse.
“Hi?” The word came out more like a squeak than anything.
Grant’s mouth twitched, almost a smile but not quite. More like he was trying not to scare me. Maren’s eyes softened even more, like she wanted to come closer but held herself back.
Evander shifted subtly, stepping more in front of me.
“Wow. Maren wasn’t kidding.”
“Dad…” Evander warned.
“I was told to be on my best behavior. And I swear I will.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered, touching my fingers on Evander’s leg. At least, I was pretty sure I would be okay. My heart was staying at a normal speed; my breathing was even.
