His smile is grim. “I just don’t know if you’re ready for this.”
I chew my lip. “It’s not your call. If anything, I need your support, not your doubt.”
He remains silent, his lips formed into a thin line.
I try to appeal to him with logic.
“Youknowhow incredible this is,” I insist. “You see Omegas all the time with packs that aren’t scent matches. Yet you and Piper are scent matches; Blair and her pack are matches. Why aren’t you celebrating mine? Please behappyfor me. I can’t believe you’re reacting like this,” I mumble.
“There’s a reason you didn’t tell me,” Avery says.
“Yes, there is. I wanted to wait until the right time.”
“And when would that have been? Until after you had all moved in together?”
“Why are you acting like this?” I demand. “Why are you acting like my father? You’re not, Avery. You’re not my fucking parent!”
My shout echoes through the parking lot, and Avery flinches like I’d slapped him.
“Aren’t I?” he asks carefully.
The wind blows around us, and an empty can of cat food rolls around on the gravel.
I should probably pick it up, but I just observe its journey from the parking lot to underneath a tire.
“No,” I murmur. “You’re not.”
“Hmm.”
It’s a lie, and we both know it.
We’ve never specifically talked about it before.
Avery is my big brother. He kept me fed when our parents were gone and just forgot we existed.
My older sister, Willow, left as soon as she turned eighteen, but Avery didn’t.
Avery stayed behind in that dirty house for me.
Avery is the one that signed my permission slips at school.
And Avery is the reason silent tears fall down my cheeks at his disappointment.
“What happens if the worries get bad, again?” he asks carefully. “Do they know what happens in your head?”
I flinch. “Ivan does. Logan saw it once.”
His question isn’t meant to hurt me. It’s a reasonable thing to ask, especially with the way my thoughts have been progressing recently.
But it stings just the same.
“Pleasejust be happy for me,” I say. “Please. I was happy for you with Piper.”
“Of course I’m happy,” he lies.
My brotherliesto me.
He doesn’t approve of my relationship, my actions, or my choices.
