“And they put me in the omega ward,” Dash snapped.“Of course.”
No one spoke.
“I know you’re ashamed,” his papa said. “But being an omega isn’t as bad as it once was.”
“I’mnotan omega,” Dash snapped, glaring at his papa.
“Don’t you yell at your papa! He’s only trying to help,” his father barked. After cursing under his breath, he rose and stormed out of the hospital room.
Dash closed his eyes, anger bubbling higher. Emerson tried to take his hand, but he pulled it away.
“Dash…”
“Emerson, I can’t even look at you right now,” Dash said, staring at the tiled ceiling.
“Don’t be like that,” Emerson murmured.
“Get out!” he roared before wincing from the pain of it.
Emerson didn’t move. Dash contemplated making the demand again, even if it pained him, counting off seconds like a bomb detonator.
Emerson cleared his throat before rising. “Make sure he listens to the doctors, hmm?”
“Sure,”Dash’s papa said, offering a weak smile.
Dash fought the sting of tears as Emerson walked towards the door. The second he was gone, Dash could breathe a little easier, yet his heart ached to have his mate return. He peeked at his papa and brother before staring up at the ceiling again, wishing he was alone. The weights of their pitying stares were too heavy.
“You don’t have to stay,” Dash said, avoiding their gazes. “I’m good.”
“Dashiell,”his papa whispered.
“I need to be alone,” Dash said before clenching his jaw.
Oakley rose and headed for the door—but he stopped at it and marched back to the foot of Dash’s bed and pushed his glasses up his nose. “Do youreallyhate omegas that much?”
“I don’thateomegas,” Dash muttered, rolling his eyes.
“As ashamed as you are of being part omega, one would think you did,” Oakley replied.
Dash eyed his brother. “How would you feel if you woke up tomorrow and learned you were part alpha?”
Oakley shrugged. “I wouldn’t really be bothered.”
“Bullshit,”Dash snapped.
“Because alphas are treated as if they’re better ateverything.Even though they’re not. They’re at the top of the heap and get special treatment. I wouldn’t mind some of that at all.”
Dash clenched his jaw.
Oakley glared at him. “Whereas omegas are at the bottom of the pecking order. We’re seen as fragile and weak…submissive.”
Dash turned his gaze away from Oakley.
“Andthat’sthe problem. After growing up as an alpha, gods forbid you lose your social status.”
Dash winced, realizing there might be some truth to that.
“You don’t want to give up your alpha privilege and be treated as something lesser. That means you see it. You see how omegas are still treated in this province—and you don’t want that for yourself.” Oakley scoffed.“Unbelievable.”
