Chapter 28
“Fuck me, Thicc. You didn’t tell me how big they grew them down here.
What the hell do you guys feed your alphas?
” My voice is shaky despite my attempt to make it sound like a joke.
That guy was fucking huge, and I refused to admit that when he first walked up behind the Chad squad, I thought I might be in trouble.
Turns out he’s a giant walking marshmallow.
Ugh, with terrible taste in women.
Not that I care.
I shouldn’t care.
I don’t know him.
Do I want to know him?
He was cute—in a big idiot sort of way. Like those giant slobber dogs, the ones that wear barrels around their necks and take rum or gin or some shit to mountain climbers.
Not like anything on his body was droopy.
He looked like he could bench-press a fucking truck.
Ok, maybe not that much, but Greg, he could totally bench press my beta. That would be fucking hot too. Damn.
I don’t think Greg swings that way. I’ve never asked him, but he’s never looked twice at Adam when we meet up for lunch.
Of course, I’d have to stab his ass with a drumstick if he was ogling other omegas, so it’s just as well.
He also told me he isn’t interested in anyone else, but he’d be fine with a pack as long as they were good to me and chill.
I can’t imagine him ever fitting in with John’s pack of stuffed shirt psychos.
Not that they didn’t smell good, but I haven’t even seen anybody but him since that first night, so despite his insistence that they’re interested, I’m calling bullshit on that.
Ugh! I don’t even care.
Why would I care?
If somebody doesn’t like me or want me, they can just fuck all the way off.
I’m tired of fighting to be somebody I’m not just to make someone else happy.
At least I want to be—but I know deep down that I still let my family walk all over me.
It’s not like I mean to, it just happens.
Mom gives me a look, and I feel like a failure.
No matter how hard I try at anything, it’s never enough, and I’m starting to think it never will be.
I knew growing up that us kids’ opinions didn’t matter, fuck knows I was told enough times.
But it feels like the older I got, the more it was just me.
What I wanted didn’t matter. Mom calls at least once a week, just to talk about how great everyone else is doing, but as soon as I try to say anything about my own life, she suddenly has a million things to do.
But that’s how it’s supposed to be, right?
Like with my scent matches? The fates…or gods…
or whatever put me in this position. They gave me to my parents, who raised me and took care of me, and made sure I had food and clothes and stuff.
I need to listen to them and try to do what they want.
And ever since I presented as an omega, all she’s wanted is for me to join a pack and have more grandkids for her.
Fuck, why does she need more grandkids? Or is it just that they don’t want to have to deal with me anymore, so they want to pawn me off on a pack that’ll keep me out of trouble?
I don't want to admit it to anybody, but that’s why I keep changing my major.
I’ve been at the center long enough to have at least four different degrees, but every time I’m about to graduate, I change directions.
Yeah, the paperwork is a pain in the ass, but dealing with it once every year or so is better than moving home and waiting for them to hook me up with some “friend of the family” that I’ve never fucking met. Ugh.
Then again, maybe the fates are fucked in the head, or they hate me.
They stuck me in John’s path, and he doesn’t want me.
He’s tried a few times to insinuate that Greg is the problem, but I know I’m not what he or his pack want.
Mr. “Look how classy I am, I went to Oxford.” I can see it sometimes when he doesn’t think I’m looking—sarcastic, loud-mouthed, mixed breed.
Who knew, right? People could be mutts. I just thought that was called a mixed heritage until I met him.
No, apparently it’s something to look down on.
Fuck, why am I thinking of that asshole now? I’d much rather be thinking about Moose. He was a sweetie. I mean, he’s fucking huge, but after the initial shock, he’s also a big softie. I bet he gives good cuddles. Now I want to be in a Moose and Greg sandwich.
Actually, a sandwich sounds really good right now; I haven’t eaten since breakfast.
Nah, I should probably skip lunch. I’ve gained weight since Christmas, and I don’t want to hear about it from Mamá when I see them again.
How long can I avoid it this time?
Teddy is staring at me, and I shake myself, trying to bring my train of thought back to the station.
I don’t know how long I was zoning out for, but I can’t imagine my face was hiding any of my thoughts, considering how concerned my best friend looks.
Shit, but I’ve missed him so much. It’s so good to see him again.
It’s great that he found a pack, and fuck knows I’m happy for him.
But I’m still kind of sad for myself; I miss him so damned much.
Not that Adam hasn’t been great. He has, but it’s just not the same as having my best friend around.
Adam has Lily. They’ve been mated since shortly after they met, moving in together to share a dorm and a nest. I’ll admit, I was super surprised when Lily showed up to class one day with a fresh bonding mark on her neck, and smelling more like tiramisu than her usual mocha.
Then, after what happened the night I met John…the reason I met Greg. I was so angry that my big beta had to stop me from killing someone when I saw Adam a few days later. I’ve only seen Lily a handful of times since then, and the poor girl looked positively haunted.
Of course, Adam doesn’t know what to do, but he’s trying, and he was there for her. His family’s offered to let them both stay with them, but the school said that they needed someone from Lily’s family or her bonded pack to sign the release forms before she could leave.
I’m not sure if they understand that Lily’s probably never going to have alphas after that night. She’s terrified of them now. She tolerates the beta guards, but mostly she just avoids everyone except her mate, and occasionally another omega.
I even bring Shaggy to visit some afternoons, and she seems ok with that.
Adam said he might try to smuggle some sort of companion in for her, but probably not a bunny, considering how much space they need.
I can attest that one omega, a big beta, and a bunny do not have a lot of extra room in these dorms.
My brain has gone off the rails again, and I focus when I’m swept up into a pair of arms. The familiar scent of rain and forest surrounds me as a low conversation goes on over my head. I must have been out of it to not even realize Moose had shown up.
His hands are out in front of him, attempting to look harmless despite his size. He would fail miserably if it weren’t for the big dorky grin on his face when he looks at me, and the loud rumbling purr pouring out of him.
“Hi! Um, sorry. I didn’t get a chance to tell you…uh, Hope and me, we’re not like that. She keeps acting like we are, and trying to grab my dick. But I don’t…I’m not…that’s not…uh—”
His stammering apology is cut off by Kelly’s angry voice.
“I’m sorry, you said Hope did what? No, Spence, that’s never ok.
Why didn’t you tell us? You know we wouldn’t let that happen if we knew.
When did this start? No, oh my god.” She looks around for a minute, finally spotting Garret as he’s escorting the GigaChads towards the front door.
“What happened with Chadwick?” Her voice is more curious than anything.
“Wait, don’t tell me, he was hitting on people again, ugh. That’s fine, he’s an asshole, anyway.”
Teddy looks startled as she brings her hands up, rubbing over her eyes and taking a few deep breaths.
Wait, did she say Chadwick? Wow, his parents had him pegged, or they’re just assholes too.
I’m not sure…and I don’t really care right now.
The big alpha, Spence, is looking back and forth between his bosses and he looks terrified.
Is he afraid he’s going to get fired for complaining?
What the hell is wrong with people? Not just here, but all over. Fuck me sideways.
Garret makes his way back to the front desk, wrapping his arms around Kelly and kissing the top of her head.
“Don’t worry, Sweetness. He won’t be back.
I know it’s been making you tense.” He rubs his jaw over her, scent-marking her hair, and seems confused when she remains stiff in his arms. “Um, Kelly. Are you pissed that I kicked out Chadwick? I know we’re just starting out, but we can’t let them run roughshod over other people.
Don’t worry, we’re still growing. It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
The pretty beta—why am I surrounded by pretty betas, I steal a look at my own, and he grins down at me—leans against Garret. Her voice is sad. “No, it’s not that. It’s just…Ugh, I can’t even. Spence, tell us what’s been going on. Please.”
I think it’s the “please” that does it. My big alpha licks his lips and swallows repeatedly, looking nervous.
“Um, so…you know you hired me as a personal trainer and kind of customer service on the floor for people who have questions. Yeah? Well, I’d only been here for a week and Hope was my first client when she started trying to touch me and making inappropriate comments.
Uh, she…she told me that I’d get fired if I reported her, because it would seem like I was lazy and just didn’t want to do my job.
’Cause this is like my first real job I’ve had other than work-study…
and football, but I wasn’t paid for football.
Not exactly, it helped me pay for college, but I didn’t get anything back from that…
aside from school…Sorry, what was I saying? ”
Teddy sighs loudly and has to reach up to pat the big alpha on the shoulder. “You were telling us that Hope has been sexually harassing you for months, and then threatened to get you fired if you said anything?” Spence swallows convulsively a few times.
“No. No, I didn’t say…it wasn’t exactly.
I mean. I know you guys are just starting out, and I didn’t want to cause y’all any problems. And we were looking for our own place, and I couldn’t risk not having an income.
Then we bought our house, and now…now I just…
I don’t know. It seemed easier to ignore and hope she just got tired of it.
I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say. ”
Teddy shakes his head, and even Garret looks mad now as Kelly steps away from him and wraps Spence in a hug.
“Oh, Spence. You know we wouldn’t have fired you for that.
She’s just mean. She’s always been mean; we would have listened to you.
Come on, let’s go sit down in the office, and I’ll get you a cup of cocoa while one of the guys kicks her out. Ok?”
The big man sniffs a few times, looking like he might cry as Kelly leads him towards the back.
An irrational pang of jealousy flashes through me at her hand on his back, and I snuggle tight against Greg to keep from ripping her hand away to replace it with my own. What the fuck is wrong with me today?
Teddy and Garrett stare at each other for a moment before they both bring a hand up, fists clenched as they each count to three.
Two of Garret’s fingers shoot out in the universal sign for scissors while Teddy’s fist stays tight.
The omega is openly laughing as the alpha’s face fills with a combination of dread and determination before he takes off towards the back of the gym.
I could have told him that Teddy would choose rock. Teddy always chooses rock.