Chapter 71
Does it make me a creep that I watch Greg carry his tiny omega into Spence’s nest and wish it was me carrying her instead? I don’t begrudge the beta; they’ve been together longer than we’ve known her, but it still hurts—my chest breaking open as Paul’s words loop through my mind.
“Spence already said she could use the nest, and he and I are going to help her through her heat. I’m not telling you to participate. It’s not my choice. Sarah says—”
I hung up before I could hear any more of the words that shatter my life, just an excuse to get rid of me.
Of course she wouldn’t want me to be a part of her heat; I’m an asshole, but purposefully separating me from my pack is just hateful.
And then to just stand there and act like nothing’s wrong.
I honestly thought she could be…different?
Better? The one? I feel like such a fool right now.
Should I wait to pack up my shit or just go ahead and start now? No…it’s probably a fluke. She’ll use them for her heat, then go home. I doubt she wants to bond with a couple of random alphas when she has a scent match back home. The poor saps are just convenient knots when she needs them.
Fucking hell, Spence is going to be devastated.
Should I be upset by that, by her using my friends and then discarding them—or just be relieved that she didn’t want me too?
Not that it’s all spite. Part of me feels bad that she’s hurting, truly, but it’s overshadowed by anger at how she’s treating my family.
Even if they’re idiots and don’t mind. Part of me feels bad for not warning them that this is only temporary, but who knows, maybe she’ll surprise me and want to keep them.
They are good guys; I wonder how they’ll like Los Angeles?
The back of my eyes burn with frustration at the pity party I’m currently throwing for myself.
After a few deep breaths, I square my shoulders, grabbing a T-shirt out of the closet.
I start downstairs to wait for the guys to get home so that we can talk about this.
Even if she doesn’t want me to be there for her, I’m not going to abandon my packmates when she chews them up and spits them out.
I don’t know if they’ll stay here or move.
I don’t know if she’ll want to move here and I’ll have to find a new place.
My life is in so much flux and chaos because of one small woman I’ve known less than a week, and I hate her for it.
Maybe that’s not fair, but it’s how I feel.
The house is still surprisingly quiet, though Sarah’s strawberry shortcake scent has permeated the air already.
It’s made my cock rock hard, and I know it’s going to stay that way for the next week if I’m in the house during her heat, even if I’m not participating.
Sleeping is going to be a pain in the ass… or groin.
I’m in the kitchen, standing in front of the open freezer door and trying to get this damned erection to go down with the liberal application of a bag of frozen peas when the front door opens and closes loudly.
Spencer’s loud rumble precedes him into the room and he comes running in a moment later, his arms weighted down with bags.
The smile stretched across his face is huge and excited.
“Isn’t this great, Al? She wants us! We’re finally gonna be a real pack with a mate and everything!
” I make a noncommittal noise as my stomach twists, threatening to eject the water I drank when I came downstairs.
Did Paul not tell him this was a one-time thing or does he know something I don’t?
Maybe I should have listened to the entire voicemail, but I heard enough. I’m not wanted there, end of story.
I swallow convulsively, trying to choke back my reaction so I can speak, but Spencer just plows on, oblivious to everything except the groceries he’s trying to unpack.
It looks like he bought out the entire protein bar aisle at the store, and four cases of water.
How the hell was he planning on running back to the house carrying four fucking cases of water?
Even if we all drink only bottled water for two weeks, we wouldn’t go through all that.
“Spencer?” His head pops up over the counter from where he’s knelt down to put a box of cereal bars in the cabinet.
Those don’t go there; that’s for pots and pans.
The curious expression on his face would be funny in another situation where I didn’t feel like my chest was being torn open.
“Why didn’t you let me know you needed to go to the store?
I would have been”—my throat flexes, fighting back bile—“happy to drive you in Nadine.”
His big grin turns embarrassed. “I forgot you were here…not that you were here-here. I got really excited and just kind of ran out of the house. Otherwise, I would have taken my bike. I didn’t even think to ask.
I’m sorry.” Why the hell is he apologizing?
“I didn’t mean to make you feel like you weren’t contributing or something like that.
But then you were here to let them into the house and nest, so it all worked out good. ”
I don’t even realize I’m speaking until the question is out in the open. “So, it’s not because I’m excluded?” His eyebrows scrunch down as if he’s deep in thought. “Excluded, you know, not part of the situation.” His brows drop lower, a frown marring his usually happy countenance.
“I know you don’t like her, not like me…
and I guess Paul likes her more than I thought.
But omegas can be really sensitive to rejection.
So…I’d appreciate it if you could be nice when you see her this week.
Even if you aren’t part of her heat or any sort of relationship with her, I want us all to stay friends.
Yeah? You’re important, Al, you and Paul…
you’re the brothers I never had.” He waves his hands to clear the air.
“I love my sisters too, but it’s not the same, you know? ”
So, she’s taking away my pack, but he wants me to be friends with them all after they leave me?
Well, I guess that lends credence to the theory that they’re staying here…
it would be harder for them to move to Los Angeles with such a recent purchase of the house.
I don’t know if I’m thankful for that or not.
I don’t want them to stay just because of that.
I may hate the situation, but Spencer is right, they are my family and I want them to be happy.
My voice is choked out, but his smile blazes back to life.
“No problem, big guy. It doesn’t cost me anything to be polite, and I’ll be around if you or Paul need me to fetch water or snacks or anything.
” I flee the room as quickly as possible before the scream that’s building in my throat breaks free.
He calls my name as I bolt back up the stairs—nearly knocking Paul over in the hallway—and slam my door, turning the lock and scrambling for the bathroom just as everything I’ve eaten today makes a hasty return trip.
This next week is going to suck ass and swallow.