34. Mack
Chapter 34
Mack
Bonding Shiloh was more than anything I could’ve imagined or hoped it would be. I’m glad I told her I loved her beforehand. Now, through the bond, she can feel everything. I thought it was important that she heard the words before she felt them through our connection.
It’s been four days since we bonded and everything has been perfect ever since. It’s been nice taking a break from streaming, if I’m being honest, and instead actually spending time with my pack.
I’m not locking myself in my room, feeling like an outsider or an observer. Shiloh doesn’t have to seek me out, because I’m right here, an active pack member.
If you would’ve told me that me and my brother would end up happily bonded to an Omega one day I would have probably laughed in their face. But now, after these four days, I can’t imagine not having Shiloh in my life.
It brings up a harsh reality about our parents, and truly not understanding how our father could’ve ever hurt our mother. It honestly has helped me forgive our mother some too. I never blamed her for what she did, but now that I have an Omega and feel this bond? I can’t imagine the pain she went through when he was abusing her.
The thought of hurting Shiloh sends a pang of disgust through me. She squeezes my knee, looking up at me with her big brown eyes.
“Everything okay?” she asks.
It will definitely be a learning curve having people able to read my feelings, but I don’t dislike it.
“Just thinking about my parents,” I say.
Shiloh doesn’t pry, she just nods her head, and rests it on my shoulder, providing me a comfort only she can give. She makes me feel even keel. I don’t feel angry anymore, or aloof. I feel more present than I have in maybe my whole life.
Cole walks into the living room with a big goofy grin on his face. With Shiloh I have a direct line to her feelings, but with Cole and Jonah, it’s more muted. Sometimes I get the undertones of what they’re feeling if it’s strong enough.
Right now, I can feel his satisfaction.
“Hey sweetheart, did you ever finish your crochet projects?” he asks, and I furrow my brows.
I’ve obviously seen Shiloh in different areas of the house with her crochet hooks and balls of yarn, but I didn’t know what she was working on.
“I have one more to make. I paused them to work on some baby hats for the hospital. Why?” she asks.
“Think you could finish it by Sunday?” Cole asks.
“I absolutely could.” I can feel her devious energy down the bond.
“Perfect, invite your Gran, or anyone else you want to. We have twelve spots to fill. I think Jonah’s planning on inviting his brother and sister, along with Elliot, to thank him for setting up the security system.”
“I’ll call my Gran right now,” she says happily, adjusting herself on the couch as she calls her Gran.
They chat animatedly for a few moments before I hear her bring up the game.
“Feel like coming to the Eagles game on Sunday? In a suite.”
Shiloh’s smile slowly fades as she listens to her Gran speak, and I can feel her worry and anxiety down the bond. Cole feels it too as he sits on the other side of her, both of us making sure to make physical contact.
Shiloh clears her throat. “Of course they can come. It’s been a while since I’ve seen them. They can meet my pack.”
I can’t tell what her Gran says, but Shiloh nods as she listens and lets her Gran know she’ll send her the details. As soon as she hangs up the phone, the elevator dings and Jonah’s storming in with purpose, looking at the three of us.
“What’s wrong? What happened?” he asks and Shiloh sighs.
“I’m going to really have to get used to never having an inside feeling ever again.” She sighs. “My…um, parents, they’re coming to town. So, I guess I have four people coming, my Gran, mom, and dads.”
“If you don’t want them there?—”
Shiloh cuts me off with a smile. A fake one at that. I can feel her hesitancy and worry down the bond. “It’s no big deal. My bonded mates should probably meet my parents at some point, anyway. I’m going to go take a shower.”
I want to say something, tell her that we’ll handle it. But just like she didn’t pressure me about my parents, I don’t pressure her about hers.
“You want some company?” Jonah asks.
Shiloh shakes her head and wraps her arms around herself as she hightails it out of the living room to her bedroom.
“Let her be. She’s still allowed to process things on her own. When she’s ready, she’ll come and hang out with us,” Cole says, and I blink at my brother.
“When did you become so level-headed?” I ask.
He scratches his beard with a shrug. But we all know when it happened. Probably before we bonded, but I know he has to feel the need of wanting to rush into her room and make sure she’s fine.
“He’s probably right,” Jonah complains. “We’ll be cordial and nice, but at the same time I don’t think she realizes she’s not alone in facing them anymore. She has us now, and I don’t give a fuck if they’re her parents. If they’re disrespectful, I’ll kick them out of the damn suite.”
“Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that,” I say and Jonah grunts, leaving the room, his echoes of grumpiness following him down the bond.
It’s game day, and Shiloh seems more nervous than ever. Jonah’s parking the car as she grabs four knitted caps out of the bag she brought.
She places the green, silver, and white cap on her head before handing me one. I place it on my head proudly. When’s the last time anyone made me something?
“Thanks, baby,” I say, placing a kiss against her cheek.
She passes one up to Cole, and he does the same, happily putting it on his head. The three of us match; all of us wearing Eagles attire, our newfound hats to match, except Jonah.
The traitor has on his Patriots jersey.
“Don’t worry, Jonah. I got you one too, since we’re a pack now, I thought it would be cute if I made us all hats that match,” she says so sweetly.
I have to fight a grin as Jonah looks at her in the rearview mirror.
“This is manipulative as fuck, you know that?” he says.
“Spending hours crocheting you a hat large enough to fit your especially large head is manipulative?” she asks, her tone still sickly sweet.
Cole isn’t doing a good job of hiding his laughter, and Jonah knows he isn’t going to win. How do you turn down a handmade gift from your newly bonded Omega? The short answer is you don’t.
He grumbles, but grabs the hat, and puts it on his head. I can hear him cursing as we get out of the car, Shiloh’s hand in mine as we go through stadium security and head to our suite.
We’re here pretty early, at Shiloh’s request. I think she wanted more time to prepare for her family to meet us here.
Luckily, Claire, Axel, and Elliot are the first people to join us in the suite.
Claire and Axel are also wearing Patriots’ gear and immediately start giving their brother shit for his hat.
“I think he looks handsome in green. It really makes his eyes pop,” Shiloh says, petting his face as the big Alpha takes all the jokes thrown at his expense.
“Whipped in under a month. Shiloh, I’m impressed,” Claire says.
Shiloh laughs and the two chat. It’s nice seeing Shiloh talk to someone outside of the pack. It’s something I feel like I should do more of as well. But let’s be real, I’m not going out of my way to make new friends any time soon.
I’m grabbing a beer as Shiloh’s Gran and parents walk in, all donning Eagles gear. It’s palpable that her Gran feels uncomfortable as she gives me a quick smile and holds out her hand for me to give her my beer that I haven’t taken a sip of. I give it to her and she sighs next to me.
“Hey, Gran,” Shiloh says, giving her Gran a hug.
“Hey, honey. I’m so happy for you,” she says, holding her granddaughter tight.
It’s a stark difference from the way her parents greet her, no physical affection.
Shiloh clears her throat. “Mom, dads, this is my pack; Mack, Cole, and Jonah,” she says pointing to each of us as she says our name. “These are my parents; Tiffany, Derek, and Mark.”
“Nice to meet you,” her father, Mark, says, shaking our hands.
They’re cordial enough, but there’s clearly a thick tension in the air for this meeting. Based on everything Shiloh has told me, it’s not surprising. Her parents haven’t been present most of her life, and it’s evident in the way they’re interacting now.
Mark seems to be the most friendly, quickly trying to engage Jonah in conversation. It rubs me the wrong way. When’s the last time they saw Shiloh? I get that this is a way for us all to meet each other, but you would think they would want to talk to their daughter more than anyone.
“You look good,” her mother tells her. The woman has the same eyes as Shiloh, but her hair is lighter. She doesn’t seem like a malicious person, but how can she not be for abandoning her child?
“Thanks. How long are you visiting?” Shiloh asks.
“We’ve been here for about a week and a half. Our flight to Perth is in a little over a week,” she says.
I feel it down the bond, though Shiloh schools her features.
Disappointment.
They’ve been here a week and a half and didn’t try to see her, but when the opportunity arose for the football game, they decided that was the perfect time to admit they were in the same city.
I toss my arm around her shoulders and kiss her on top of her handmade hat that matches mine.
“Shiloh has been the best thing that’s happened to us. We’re glad that we could actually meet; it seems like you guys aren’t ever around to make time for your daughter, so it’s really great that you were able to make the time to come to our suite right before playoffs,” I say.
Shiloh’s Gran coughs, clearing her throat and I can feel Shiloh’s love for me down the bond.
I’m not a confrontational man. Far from it, actually. But if these people think they’re going to come in here, take up our generosity, and make my girl feel like shit, they have another thing coming.
Tiffany looks me up and down, her smile fake.
“It’s good you found a pack, Shiloh. Now you understand your pack means more than anything to you. It’s just a shame it took you so long.”
“Tiffany,” Derek says her name, trying to calm the situation.
“Right. Let’s get to know your pack and see how they compare to the last one,” Tiffany says, turning around and taking a seat next to her two pack mates.
“Damn, Shy, your mom’s a cunt,” Claire says a little too loud, but she isn’t wrong.
“Shiloh, just say the word and I’ll ask them to leave,” Gran says. “I’ve been cordial with them because she’s my daughter. But enough is enough.”
Shiloh shakes her head. “No, it’s fine. They’re here for the game, not me, let them enjoy it,” she says.
Gran gives her a kiss and takes her seat, as Jonah and Cole come stand next to me and Shiloh.
“I’ll kick them out, just say the word,” Cole says easily.
“It’s fine. Let’s enjoy the game. I’ll deal with them later,” Shiloh says in a small voice.
We make sure to sit Shiloh as far away from her parents as possible and it seems to ease some of the tension lingering there. Along with the excitement of the game, it’s like we can ignore the narcissist’s sharing the box with us.
Until the door to the suite opens and a very unfamiliar and unwelcome face walks in.