25. Shiloh
Chapter 25
Shiloh
How didn’t I piece this together? Why didn’t I search online? Besides the fact I’ve been ignoring my socials and phone to save my sanity, I could have done a search, but I didn’t think that Jonah’s family was this powerful.
Obviously, I realized that Jonah was well off, but not completely fuck-you rich. His mother is the Liv S?rensen, an icon. She hasn’t been in the press much in the last decade, but everyone on the East Coast knows her as Omega royalty.
Her story was adapted into a movie, for fuck’s sake. I remember crying in theaters as I watched everything she went through. I was already scared shitless to meet Jonah’s family and now I’m staring at one of the most popular Omegas in the United States.
“Mom, dads, this is Shiloh,” Jonah says, like it’s no big fucking deal.
I’m going to have a panic attack.
Mrs. S?rensen approaches me, and she looks incredible, like she hasn’t aged in decades. The dress she’s wearing looks expensive, and I’m almost positive the diamonds along the bodice are multiple carats. Her blue eyes match Jonah’s, but her hair is dark as night as her hands cup my cheeks.
“I’m so honored to finally meet you. Jonah, she’s beautiful,” she says, staring at me. The scariest thing is she seems truly genuine.
“Give her a minute, Livy,” one of her Alphas says. He looks nothing like Jonah, his hair dark, and his skin olive toned.
A massive man with blonde hair stands behind his Omega and I automatically know that’s Jonah’s biological father. He could almost be his twin.
“This is my mom Liv, and my dads, Grayson, Dean, and River,” Jonah says, pointing to each of them.
His last father is a Beta. I try to remember when I watched Omega’s Obsession all those years ago and a blush creeps over my face. I know way too much about his family.
“It’s lovely to meet you,” Grayson says, holding out a hand and I shake it.
“I take it our son didn’t tell you much before the gala,” River asks with an arch of his dark brow that has a scar through it.
“No, he didn’t,” I say, squeezing Jonah’s hand harder than necessary.
“It’s probably for the best. A lot of people have preconceived notions about our family, most of which are not true. Jonah tells me you grew up in Philadelphia? That you have a Gran who is amazing. Also, how’s your ankle? Are you adjusting to living back on the East Coast,” she asks, overwhelming me with a million questions.
“Maybe give her a second,” Grayson whispers, kissing the side of her head.
I watch them with my full attention. They’ve been together for nearly thirty years and are still this affectionate and in love with one another. This is exactly what I want.
“And how are my boys?” Liv asks, giving Cole and Mack both hugs. “That airline is horrid. You were too good for them anyway,” she tells Cole, patting his back.
“Thanks, mom,” he says.
I swallow thickly, feeling like an outsider, like a total undeserving fraud, and I’m not sure how to swallow this sick feeling down. They have so much history, live a different way than I do, and I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to merge into this lifestyle, the same way I never fit in with my exes.
“I’m going to go to the restroom really quick,” I say, Jonah’s brow furrows but he nods.
He’s about to escort me to the bathroom, but it isn’t far, so I walk as fast as I can with my boot on and head to the ladies. I want to splash some water on my face and recalibrate my system, but then I’ll fuck up my makeup.
Instead, I hold on to the sink and stare at myself in the mirror as I hear a loud moan behind me.
“Get off your knees, it’s pathetic, Loui,” the soft feminine voice says.
“Please let me fuck you?” the man replies in a sultry tone.
I have no idea how much a plate at this function cost, but I guess it’s refreshing that no matter how high your tax bracket is, people are still going to fuck in the bathroom.
“Yeah right, get out,” she says, and the massive wooden door opens.
A man with scuffed trousers wipes slick off his mouth as a stunning woman pulls her red dress back down.
“I’ll call you?” he asks, his look pleading, bordering on pathetic.
“Don’t bother,” she says, and he narrows his eyes.
She arches a brow at him. “It’s the women’s bathroom, get out,” she says, and he scurries off like a rat that’s been scolded.
“Sorry about that,” she says, coming next to me by the mirror and adjusting her makeup.
She has dark hair, and blue eyes that match Jonah’s. Honestly, if Jonah’s a carbon copy of his father, Grayson. This woman is a near twin to her mother. She’s Jonah’s sister, Claire.
“Probably not the best first introduction. I’m Claire. You must be Shiloh?” she says with a smile, not an ounce of her tone matching the venom she was giving the man before.
I blink at her, and she washes her hands.
“I promise I’m not some massive, man-eating Omega. But I do have needs. I won’t let any of these social climbing fuck boys bond me, but they can be of some use until I find the right pack,” she says easily, with so much confidence.
“What’s wrong with him?” I ask, pointing my thumb at the door.
“Loui?” She barks out a laugh. “He’s good looking, comes from a great family, blah blah blah. Probably wants to take my last name and get a high ranking position from my dad,” she says, digging through her purse. “Do you want to do an edible?” she asks, my eyes going wide and I shake my head. “Probably a good call, at least for tonight.”
She rests her hip against the sink and looks me over. “Jonah said you were beautiful. He didn’t do you justice. Also called mom crying when he broke your ankle. It’s nice to see my brother actually into someone and not trying to force something that was never there,” she says.
“He what?” I pause for a second, taking in her words.
“Ignore that part. I wasn’t even supposed to know about it. If we’re going to be sisters, you should keep that, and what happened in the stall, a secret.”
Sisters.
“Okay?”
“Perfect. I think we’ll get along just great. Jonah needed someone sweet. Not to mention the fact that Cole and Mack are on board, too. I knew those damaged little puppies would cave for the right Omega. Honestly, the four of you together sound like a truly balanced pack.”
“You think so?”
“He called us all individually and told us to be on our best behavior and not scare you away,” she confirms. “Considering you’re standing here and talking to me, I’d say you’re doing just fine. My mom is probably out there planning a bonding party for you right now.”
“You think so?”
“Yes. Now how much longer do you want to hide in here before we head back out?”
“Maybe a few more minutes?” I say, and she smiles at me, pulling out her lipstick and touching up her face.
She sprays some deodorizer on herself and cleans up some more as I try to take in this extremely strange encounter.
“Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be,” I reply as she loops her arm with mine, acting like we’ve known each other forever, and we walk back to the rest of the family.
“I see you met my sister,” Jonah says in an even tone.
“Yes, we bonded in the ladies’ bathroom. I told her all about your creepy little doll collection,” Claire says and I glance at Jonah.
“For the last time, they weren’t dolls, they were WWE action figures.”
Claire hisses through her teeth. “Don’t know about that, because they used to fornicate with my Barbies all the time.”
“Claire,” her father Dean scolds at her.
“Yes?” she says with big round blue eyes and he shakes his head.
This woman could get away with fucking murder, I’m almost sure of it.
“Let’s go get seated for dinner. We have the silent auction going on and then we will have the actual party later,” Liv says, grabbing my elbow and pulling me beside her. “Jonah tells me you like to make things?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, I like craft projects,” I say, feeling embarrassed. Here this woman is hosting a multi-million dollar fundraiser for Omegas in need and I’ve been at home crocheting hats. Also, how much did Jonah talk about me to his mom?
“I was talking to one of our donors who works for the hospital and there’s a program for making hats for newborns and I was wondering if that was something you’d be interested in?”
I blink at her, feeling how warm and caring she is. This is the kind of mom Jonah had, no wonder why he’s so incredible.
“I’d love to be a part of that,” I tell her honestly. It’s something that’s been lacking in my life. I want to give back more, but I feel like I’ve been trying to just stay afloat for so long.
“Wonderful, maybe you can show me how. Do you cook?”
“Not often,” I say shyly, feeling subpar.
“I love cooking. Maybe I can show you how to make some of Jonah’s favorites sometime.”
“Thank you,” I say, not just for the offer, but how much effort she’s putting at making me feel at ease.
“Always, you’re Jonah’s Omega. It means we’re family now. If you ever need anything, we’re here,” she says, and my heart feels endlessly full.
Gran is absolutely going to love her.
I sit between Jonah and Cole at dinner. Mack seems uncomfortable and part of me wants to soothe him, but I still don’t feel completely comfortable either.
“Where the fuck is your brother?” River says.
“Probably hooking up with some Beta in the coat closet,” Claire says easily, grabbing her champagne.
“That’s your last one,” River says, and she glares at him. “We can go home right now.”
“I’m not a kid anymore. I’m twenty-one now,” Claire says, and he doesn’t seem to give a single shit.
“River, let her be,” Liv says.
“There are lots of eligible packs here, Claire bear,” Dean says.
Jonah squeezes my thigh a little more firmly under the table as I watch all the family drama unfold.
“For the love of God, can you people make up your mind. Am I to be locked away in nowhereville Connecticut, not good enough for any pack? Or do you want me indefinitely tied to some of these stuck up assholes?” Claire says, pushing out her chair and walking away.
“I told you not to rile her up. Her first heat is sooner than later,” Liv whispers and my mind is a little blown by how open this family is.
“That’s exactly why she needs to find a pack,” Dean says.
“It’s exactly why she shouldn’t find a pack. She can go through heat without making the biggest decision of her life,” Liv defends her daughter.
“I know,” Dean gives up.
“And you, you need to stop treating her like a baby,” Liv points at River.
“She is quite literally our baby, angel,” River says back.
“Right, should we go bid on some silent auction items?” Jonah suggests.
“Please,” Mack agrees quickly as we all take a break from Jonah’s family.
I get what they were saying now. They are kind and welcoming, but they are indeed a lot to take in.
I grab Mack’s hand and he squeezes mine as we look at the items to bid on.
“You good?” I ask him, and he nods, kissing the top of my hair.
Maybe he has more in person social anxiety than I realized and I make sure to touch and assure him as much as possible to keep him at ease. I find it’s easy with him, with all the Alphas to be there for them when they need it. It makes me feel good and part of a pack. Whatever I can do to keep them happy I’ll do, because it makes me feel needed and as much as they want to care for me, I want to care for them.
Maybe it’s not all a pipe dream. Maybe we could be like Liv and her pack in thirty years. The idea doesn’t seem so far fetched anymore.