Chapter 23 #2
The girl who tackled the brothers is one of their sisters, and I also meet one more of them who is sixteen. The sixteen year old doesn’t seem very impressed with me though.
At brunch, I sit between Brice’s Aunt Imelda and Margerie, two women who talk my ear off as I eat. I’m nervous, which means that I take small bites in between responding to them. I’m tall, curvy, and love my body.
I’m definitely not starving myself, not anymore.
“You’re very, ah, buxom,” Margerie says, Felix and Remy’s mom. “Do you think you can keep four alphas satisfied?”
“Excuse me?” I ask. I’m having a hard time believing that she’s asking what I think she is.
“Hollis,” Imelda says, “you have to know that the boys have an affliction. They're addicted to sex with men.”
Is that what we call love between people of the same sex? Gazing at the pretty tablecloth on one of the three long tables in the dining room, I shake my head.
“Being bonded to me isn’t going to change that they also love each other,” I remind them. “Nor should it.”
“So you’re saying that you’re not enough for them?” Margerie asks. “Have you even tried? With all those fancy toys that they sell, there has to be something that can help. What about… What is that called? When you fuck them?”
“Pegging?” Tom, Brice's brother, asks.
Is everyone going to chime in on this? Unfortunately, my alphas are on the other end of the long table, and I take a deep breath to center myself.
“Yes! Dear, have you tried pegging my sons yet?” she asks.
My cheeks heat as I shake my head. “I can honestly say that it hasn’t come up,” I reply.
Felix, Remy. Do you want me to peg you? Your mother would like to know, I say through the bond. I don’t usually do this, and I accidentally push it to all four alphas, one who almost spits out his drink.
Poor Malcolm.
She what? Felix growls. Baby Girl, if you want to fuck me, you’re welcome to it.
Clearing my throat, I shift in my seat with my thighs tightly pressed together. I think that may have backfired. Holy shit. Now, I’m starting to think about it.
“If you want to keep your alphas, you’ll have to be willing to be what they need,” Imelda says sharply. “Now, I hear you work a lot. Are you going to quit to have their babies?”
“Why do I need to quit to have babies?” I ask, shaking my head. “I’m the owner, I can do whatever is necessary to balance out my personal life. Again, that’s between my alphas and I.”
I’m trying very hard to be polite, but they aren’t making this easy.
“Alyssa,” Imelda says, leaning forward to get Felix and Remy’s sixteen year old sister’s attention. “What do you think?”
“About pegging or babies?” she asks, amused, showing that she’s been listening to us. “I think that my brothers are gay and entering into a lavender bond to keep the rest of the family quiet about their sexual orientation. I think you should reject them and let them be happy together, Hollis.”
“Sexuality can be fluid,” I breathe, finding myself losing any hope of keeping my cool.
The ice princess wants to blow people up.
“It’s one of the reasons that good designation courses in school teach that scent matching doesn’t care what you believe is your sexuality.
My alphas have also never said that they’re gay. ”
“No, they’ve just exclusively been fucking each other since college,” Alyssa says. “I think this is their last ditch attempt to get their families to leave them alone.”
A strange look goes over her face before she gasps.
“You’re a hooker or something, aren’t you? Are they paying you to spend Christmas with them as some sort of experiment?” Alyssa asks.
“Those lips do remind me of a hooker’s,” Margerie muses. “Dear, do you not suck dick well? If it’s your job, you should find another.”
“I’m not a hooker,” I growl under my breath. “I run a dating company for people to connect. I’ve helped a lot of clients find love.”
“Or lust?” Alyssa sneers. “Are you a madam to a brothel?”
Since I don’t go anywhere unarmed, there’s a slit in my skirt that not only helps me walk easier, but has a knife strapped to my thigh. I’m trying very hard not to use it. I have rules dammit!
Baby, why are you thinking stabby thoughts? You’re leaking all over, Mal says worriedly.
Yep, I can’t even block properly. My fingers are shaking, and I hide them under the table to keep anyone else from seeing them. I refuse to show weakness in front of these people. These are my alphas, and I fucking hate how they’re being spoken about.
Drawing myself up, I toss my hair.
“Are you this rude to everyone who is a guest?” I ask. “Sex workers deserve respect just as much as anyone else. However, I am not a sex worker, nor a madam, and my lips can suck dick just fine. What isn’t going to change are the previous and existing relationships within my pack.”
Up until now, I’ve left some space between Pack Ledger and myself. Maybe it’s how quickly this has progressed, or the fact that I hold space between myself and most people.
I’m messy. Emotionally and mentally. I know I have baggage, but staring down my pack’s family, I can admit that everyone has shit that they deal with. These are my fucking alphas, and I can not believe how terrible the people in this room are.
“It doesn’t have to be them or me,” I rasp, my voice cracking with emotion. “Our relationship has space for all of it. You don’t have to understand it, but the way that you speak about them will end now.”
“Or what?” Alyssa asks. “Take a look around. My brothers are very careful not to touch the other alphas. We all watch for it, and are disgusted with their behavior and lives. Malcom and Brice ruined my brothers.”
“I think you’re right,” I say, curling my fingers into my palm.
I really want to punch this sixteen year old.
It’s really unfortunate that she’s been indoctrinated into such hateful rhetoric.
“If being ruined means they get to love and adore each other each and every day, then thank fuck that I’ve been ruined too. ”
“Language, young lady,” Margerie gasps.
“You asked me to peg your sons!” I yell. I don’t enjoy the attention, but I think it’s necessary. “I think the time for being reminded to tone down my goddamned language has passed.”
As if on some sort of cue, my alphas push out their chairs and stand, dropping their napkins on the table.
“Love is being accepting of everyone,” I say, standing as well.
“It’s a miracle my alphas grew up to be the kind of men they are when they’ve been surrounded by fucking trash humans.
I am not Pack Ledger’s lavender bond, but their omega through both biology and fate. Don’t cheapen my love or what we have.”
“Guys, what the fuck,” Brice groans. “This was your one chance to show that you weren’t all complete bigots.”
“Brice,” Imelda gasps. I notice his mother is crying, but she doesn’t say anything to attempt to turn the tide of this shit show.
“We wanted you to find an omega to help change your ways,” Sherry says, standing to cross her arms over her chest. “It seems instead that she’s engaging in the delusion that you don’t have to choose.”
“Well, that’s the concept of a poly relationship, isn't it?” Mal asks. “Finding my scent match will not change the fact that I love three other men and a woman.”
My eyes snap to his, and he simply smirks at me.
“I also believe that I heard the word ‘rejection’ in my omega’s mind,” Remy growls. I really am shit at shielding today, fuck me. “She is bonded to the four of us, Alyssa. There will not be any rejection. She is ours, and I believe this is our sign to cut the fat.”
“Did you just call me fat?” Alyssa screeches, making me wince.
“No, dear sister. It means that we’re cutting ties.
I’m done coming here and having to pretend that I’m not wildly in love with Mal and Brice,” he says.
“It’s not wrong, love isn’t a matter of being this or that.
Some of you are great at pretending that we’re four single alphas who live together, while others enjoy making backhanded comments about why we’re together. ”
“Just admit that you’re gay,” Alyssa sighs. “I’m looking out for your best interests, Remy. I just want you to be happy.”
“Do you really think I’d chase and court an omega that I didn’t want?” Felix asks. “I’m always going to spoil the fuck out of her because I love her. It’s the reason that I clean and keep our home the way it is too. I enjoy it.”
“They say resolutions are a good way to get out of a rut,” Brice growls. “You are our dead weight. As of now, we are taking our omega and leaving. There will not be any calls taken about this, and when and if there are children, none of you will receive a single photo.”
“Isn’t that what social media is for?” Alyssa asks snidely.
“We’ll block you all and I’ll embed everything so you can never find it,” I whisper.
“Go, out,” Mal says, walking toward me and grabbing my hand.
My ability to deal with bullshit is quickly coming to an end, and I can feel tears filling my eyes. I’m so fucking sad for my alphas.
“Shhh, it’s okay,” he whispers once we’re in the foyer and he helps me put on my coat. “It was a mistake to come. I’m sorry.”
“Wait, you’re turning your back on your family?” Sherry asks, following us.
Malcolm hides me behind his body as he shrugs on his coat and the guys do the same. Tears are falling down my cheeks, and I imagine Sherry is one of those people that can smell blood in the water.
I can be strong about the issues I have in my own family, but this feels different. They have a relationship with their families, even if it’s been a little strained up until now. This is a fissure that can’t be healed. My alphas aren’t going to magically stop loving each other.
“If you actually wanted to be my mother, then you’d accept me as I am,” Mal growls. “The fact that you had to follow me to ask me that shows that you will never understand me.”