Chapter 28 Liza
LIZA
Last night had been horrific and beautiful all at the same time.
My argument with Ty had reminded me of the times in my life when I’d felt completely out of control and vulnerable and had acted out because of it.
But last night, I’d controlled my anger.
Hashing it out had brought us closer together than ever before.
But with the good came the bad, or so it seemed in my life.
The truth about my identity was out in the open, and Ty was determined to ensure Stone paid for his crimes against me.
I wouldn’t have bet that piece of shit was smart enough to find his way home with GPS and a map, yet here he was, creating a blackmail scheme, threatening to out me if he didn’t get paid.
It spoke of his character. Spoke volumes.
Ty promised he’d find a way to keep me safe and assured me that Stone wouldn’t breathe a word about me being an omega. I couldn’t help but worry about what Ty might have planned, but I trusted him to take care of the situation.
The truth was out, which meant I needed to talk to my parents. Ty had agreed to meet me at their house.
I woke up with a renewed sense of peace that morning after sleeping a full ten hours.
Between the anxiety attack, witnessing Ty shift in front of a crowd and almost taking Stone out, not to mention the argument and emotional toll of my conversation with Ty in the clearing, it had all been mentally draining.
From the age of thirteen, I’d spent my life trying to hide what I was, to keep it buried deep with the aid of hormone medication and a long line of lies and half-truths.
I’d planned on telling Ty that I was an omega, but I’d been terrified he’d reject me.
He was the next alpha, for God’s sake. I assumed he’d at least feel somewhat threatened to have an omega as his mate.
I wasn’t stronger than he was, but I was a badass in my own right, possessing special skills he didn’t.
It could’ve been intimidating. It would have been to any other shifter, certainly.
Once again, though, he’d surprised me with his understanding and gentle nature. Sure, he’d been pissed when he discovered I had kept it from him, but once I explained my past and how being an omega was a burden, he’d been quick to comfort me, and his promise to protect me carried some weight.
I held Ty’s hand as we sat across from my parents in their living room.
Mom wrung her hands together nervously as Dad sipped his freshly squeezed lemonade. “What happened, Liza? Something’s wrong.”
Poor Mom. She’d always been the highly strung one in the family, always anticipating the next disaster that might befall one of her precious children. But she had an undeniable sixth sense about us. My mother always knew when I was upset.
I smiled. “Mom, calm down. Everything’s fine.” I shot Ty a look.
He took my cue and set his glass on a coaster on the table. “Liza and I had a conversation last night about her being an omega.” He looked at my father. “I didn’t realize she was aware of her... abilities, but she assured me she’s known since she was thirteen.”
Mom let out the breath she’d been holding for far too long and slumped back against the chair. “Good heavens, maybe you could’ve led with that. I thought you were going to tell me that her medication had stopped working again.” She shook her head in annoyance, but was she was smiling.
Dad took another sip of his drink. As usual, he was completely unfazed by the conversation.
“So, the truth is out.” I crossed my legs, suddenly relaxed. “Ty said you all discussed this. That you led him to believe I was oblivious.” I didn’t need to say more. They were appropriately chastised for their fib. Mom looked away.
Dad cleared his throat. “Liza, we didn’t mean to mislead Ty, but we felt like it was your place to tell him, not ours.”
“No need to apologize to me. I’m not angry.” Ty nodded in Dad’s direction. “I completely understand. You were protecting Liza while also giving her the chance to tell me herself. No harm done.”
My parents shared a look, and Ty picked up on their anxiety.
“You don’t need to worry, Mr. and Mrs. Mims. I’ll keep Liza safe.
” He squeezed my hand. “I know you’ve carried the burden of her safety since she was thirteen, but I won’t let anyone harm a hair on her head.
Her secret is also safe with me. There’s no real reason for others to know that she’s an omega.
Unless, of course, Liza chooses to share that information. ”
Mom held a hand to her chest. “Thank you, Ty. That means a lot to us. Liza is a very special woman, and she deserves to be protected and cherished.”
Ty’s eyes crinkled at the corners. “Absolutely.”
“We can chat more over dinner.” Mom stood and rubbed her hands together. “I made pulled pork in the slow cooker.”
There wasn’t much in life better than Mom’s pulled pork, and I savored the juicy taste as I thought about the full moon.
It had been extremely bright the night before, but Ty had said it would be at its fullest tonight.
I had been on edge all day, wondering how my wolf would respond, especially after I’d felt such a strong tug last night.
Dad cleared his throat loudly, interrupting my thoughts. “Liza, are you still taking your medication?”
Ty inclined his head toward me, urging me to be honest with my parents. I was embarrassed about having to talk about my hormones and Ty handling my sexual cravings, but my parents deserved to know the truth. After all, they always had my best interests at heart.
I sighed. “Uhm, no. I actually stopped taking them recently.”
Mom choked on her wine, spluttering, coughing, and slapping her chest. Once the spluttering stopped, she stared at me with wide eyes.
“Why would you do that, Liza? Didn’t the doctor double your dosage to keep you safe?
Prescribe new medication?” My safety was always foremost in her mind, and I loved her all the more for it.
I twisted my mouth to the side, trying to think of a delicate way to say it. “I don’t feel the need for them anymore now that I’m with Ty.”
One of the main reasons for the medication was to calm down any hypersexual cravings I might have developed during puberty.
Since I’d been on the medication, I didn’t know if such a thing had occurred or not.
Now I had a mate who could handle… it for me.
It was an embarrassing dinner topic, but I needed to explain, otherwise my mother wouldn’t sleep until I did.
“Ty handles my, uh, cravings.”
Dad’s face reddened as he shoved a forkful of pulled pork into his mouth and chewed without speaking, but he narrowed his eyes at Ty. I was still his little girl.
I’d felt some cravings brewing deep inside since I was a teenager, but they were like an itch I couldn’t scratch, and nothing so severe as the doctor had predicted. They were too far out of reach, even when I took matters into my own hands. It just wasn’t the same.
Mom cleared her throat, leaned closer to me, and lowered her voice. “So, what you’re saying is that your hormones have leveled off now that you’re with Ty?”
“Exactly.” I took a sip of water because my entire body, but mostly my face, was on fire with shame. This wasn’t a conversation any woman should have to have over pulled pork in her mother’s dining room. “With my desires being met, my hormones are much more balanced.”
“I’ll just finish this in the other room.” Dad stood and carried his plate into the kitchen.
I stifled a laugh as Mom whispered across the table, “Your father isn’t exactly a sexually liberated man. You’ll have to excuse his prudence.”
Ty chuckled. “I don’t think I’d want to discuss any of this with my daughter, either.”
The mention of a daughter stirred something deep within me. I didn’t want to play into the myths about omegas only wanting to procreate, but the thought of having a child with Ty made me happy. He would be an amazing and protective dad. A daddy any little girl would be proud to call her own.
Mom stood and grabbed our plates, following Dad into the kitchen.
Ty rubbed my back. “I will never dictate what you do to your body, but if it seems like you’re going to send the entire male population of Presley Acres into a rut, you’ll need to go back on your meds.”
I nodded. “I can agree to those terms.”
“Good. I’d rather not have to take on the entire male population of our pack to defend you.” Ty laughed as we stepped into the kitchen.
We spent a few more minutes making small talk with my parents before saying our goodbyes. It was already dusk, and Ty didn’t want to be late arriving at the Keller Estate.
It was the first full moon, which meant I would have my first run with the upper-class wolves.
This full moon would be different for me, though.
I could feel it in every inch of my being.
I would finally experience what the other shifters had enjoyed their entire lives—the rush of freedom and of running under the full moon without the drugs hazing my joyousness. The thought of it was liberating.
Cars lined both sides of the estate’s long driveway and spilled out onto the street below. Ty had called all members to this run, not just the upper-class. No segregation. No class differences. Just the pack.
Holding my hand, Ty led me to the clearing where everyone had gathered, waiting for their alpha to speak. I stood next to him as the members of the pack stared up at the royal family of the south.
Dominic Keller stood before his pack, scanning the group of loyal wolves gathered in the clearing under the bright light of the full moon.
He raised his hands, instructing the pack to quiet down.
His voice, strong and commanding, filled the air as he began to speak.
“Welcome, everyone. Family is everything to us. We have been passed down through generations, from one alpha to the next. We are connected by blood, by the bonds of loyalty and love that we share.”