Ember squeezes my hand once before releasing it. Casting a confusing look over his shoulder as he goes to open the door. He looks smug and amused, and I regret so many things.
A woman sweeps inside like she owns both the house and the people inside it. She is an elegant and beautiful alpha; her deeply tanned skin shows years of strict skincare routines. Long black hair trails behind her in a flourish that would make supermodels envious.
A man with an expression of patience and love enters behind her. He’s tall and broad. His stature is unusual for an omega. He’s an insight into how Ember will look down the line. He’s dressed in slacks and a deep blue button-down, wearing his confidence peacefully.
“You’re looking thin, Kunya,” she tuts, twisting his face side to side to properly inspect him from every angle.
“I’m not losing weight, mother.”
“Yes, you are. And you look all glowy. Doesn’t he look glowy, Ahmose?” she asks her husband, eyes still studying Ember’s face.
“You are looking a little more glowy than usual, son,” his father replies with a mischievous smirk.
“I’m always glowy, Mother,” Ember whines. I finally see the toddler behavior I expected when we first met.
I can’t stop the snort that flies out at his childlike mannerisms around his parents.
Her eyes narrow in on me immediately, stopping time itself. She studies me with narrowed eyes, assessing everything about me in a split second of time, before softening her gaze.
“You,” she breathes, dropping Ember’s face to rush over to me. She grabs both of my hands firmly, holding them out to the side to get a good look at all of me. “You must be Sunshine.”
“Yes?” I say, eyes wide with panic.
“He undersold you completely.”
“I didn’t discuss him in detail, Mother,” Ember says evenly behind her.
“You told your parents about me?” I squeak, but no one seems to be listening.
“Of course you didn’t, Kunya. You’re emotionally constipated. I blame myself,” she says with a fake sniffle.
“I am not,” I hear him mutter.
She waves him off like an annoying fly.
“You, my dear Sunshine, are absolutely adorable,” she informs me.
“I… Thank you?”
She pulls me into a warm hug, both overwhelming me and comforting me at once. Behind her, Ember’s father inclines his head politely in greeting.
“Good morning,” Ember’s handsome omega father says cheerily.
“H-hi,” I stutter, still in his wife’s strong embrace.
“So glad I finally get to meet your mate, Kunya,” she says as she pulls back with her hands still on my shoulders, and an intense look in her eyes.
“We’re not…”
“We just…”
Ember and I speak at the same time.
What was he thinking, telling them we’re mated? He can’t have possibly thought that was a good idea on any planet. I glare at him hard over his mother’s shoulder.
“We are not mated,” I clarify firmly.
“But you two live together,” his mother says with a tilt of her head.
