26. Avery
Avery
W aking up alone was awful. Now that I knew I could wake up to warm puppies or sexy mates, my old bed just felt cold and lonely.
After the heavy conversations with Maverick and Lance, I wanted the night to think it all over.
Now, I was over it.
Yet, I still dragged my feet getting ready. It wasn’t necessarily avoiding them now, it was more knowing that the moment I was back with them, it would be pivotal. Things would be officially changed and I’d have to stop holding myself back.
Grabbing my laptop to check emails and notifications, I headed downstairs to set up in the kitchen… where there was coffee.
The kitchen was silent but a half-empty pot of coffee was on the warmer and a covered plate of waffles rested on the counter.
Mama was usually up and moving around in the morning. I was walking toward her room before I could stop myself, concern and worry bubbling up. She’d been tired lately, a little off, and I had meant to check back in with her.
The sound of her TV drifted through the closed door and I knocked gently. Her voice was hoarse when she answered.
“Come in.”
I pushed open the door and nearly gasped at how messy her place was. Clothes scattered about, blankets piled high on her bed.
Was she nesting?
My omega heart was breaking for her as I walked up to where she was curled up on her bed, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, looking smaller than I ever thought possible.
“Hey, Mama,” I whispered. “You okay?”
Her eyes brimmed with tears but she nodded.
“You’re not,” I said gently, hoping she would let me in. “I’m not a kid anymore, let me be here for you.”
“I’m fine. The doctors said I just needed to switch off my suppressors for a cycle and it’s just hard. I don’t want to go through a heat without them,” she admitted, a sob breaking free. In that one small sound I heard just how broken her soul was. I had just met my mates, my true scent-matches, and I couldn’t imagine losing them all.
Tears welled up in my eyes as I curled up next to her, holding my Mama like she’d done for me more than once in my life.
“I’m so sorry,” I whispered. “Are there any other ones you could try?”
“They said I could take a sedative through it,” she admitted, but sounded reluctant. “Or I could find a heat partner.”
“Just this heat?”
“I guess,” she sighed, her voice so small. “They think they’re making me sick and are finding an alternative that won’t affect me, but the first med has to be out of my system for a month and going off, generally triggers a heat.”
I wiped away the tears falling down her face and whispered soothing words, hoping to calm her.
“Would a heat partner be so bad?” I asked, trying to be as gentle as possible.
It was a sensitive topic, but she’d been alone so long now. Over ten years of solitude wasn’t good for anyone, especially an omega. It was in our nature to crave a pack.
“It’s not replacing them, but giving you a chance to find a connection we need as omegas. Maybe try a dating app first if you have time?”
She blinked up at me, eyes watery making those hazel eyes shine brighter.
“You wouldn’t hate me?” she whispered. Her voice wavered on that and she finally showed me her vulnerability.
“No, Mama, never,” I said, keeping my voice strong and sure. “Neither will the guys. We just want you happy and healthy. You’ve raised us, kept us functioning, now it’s your turn to have a life.”
“I’ll think about it,” she offered, before gripping my hand and forcing me to look at her. “If you promise to go see that pack of yours.”
“I was just thinking that,” I said, giving her a grin. “But I’m also okay if you want a girls’ night.”
“No, go, I need to shower and stop wallowing. Maybe I’ll consider making a dating profile like you said,” she hedged, watching me closely but I just grinned.
“I have a fancy camera, let’s do a photoshoot tomorrow and we can find a proper set of profile pictures for you,” I offered. That was all it took for her to shoo me away.
“Fine, fine, then get out I need to make a hair appointment and find something new to wear,” she said, launching out of bed and nearly sending me to the floor in the process.
She disappeared into the bathroom in a flurry and I left, knowing I’d already lost her focus. I couldn’t even be offended that I was dismissed so quickly, seeing her excited about something was enough to have me rushing off to confront my brothers.
If they even hinted at ruining this for her, I’d kill them all. In fact, I tugged my phone out and sent a message to our group chat.
Avery: We need to talk. Now. Where are you?
Cameron: Good morning to you, too, drama.
Maverick: We’re at Whitaker Brews, we had a distributor come in this morning for a meeting. You coming here or want us to meet you?
Avery: On my way.
Nash: Why do I feel like I need a shot for this conversation?
Avery: So perceptive.
The notifications continued rolling in but I put my focus on getting out of the house instead. I could check emails later, this was too big to take chances.
I wanted to get to my brothers before my mama did.
They were all on edge when I walked into Whitaker Brews. They weren’t even pretending to work. Maverick was pacing while Cameron was glaring at the door. Nash was simply sitting on a bar stool, leg dancing with anxiety.
“Okay, hit us with it,” Cameron demanded, voice harsh enough Maverick swatted at him. He rolled his eyes and didn’t bother to take it back.
“Sit.” They all blinked at me for a second before they went from tense, to serious.
“You’re freaking me out,” Nash said, hands tapping his leg now.
“Okay, no point in dragging it out. Mama is having a bad reaction to her suppressors and the doctor is having to switch. For omegas, we can’t take two at once and our system has to be clear of meds before starting a new one. Dropping meds cold turkey can trigger a heat.”
“Oh,” Cameron said, letting out a huff of air. That was all any of them managed to get out for several minutes and I didn’t continue right away, letting that process.
“They suggested sedation, which is dangerous and invasive,” I said but was interrupted.
“What? No, that’s not an option,” Cameron said, indignant. He hopped up and started pacing, earning a glare from Maverick. Poor Nash just looked stunned.
“Agreed,” I said. “The other option is to find either an alpha heat partner, or I suggested a dating app.”
“You what?” Maverick asked, his words bit out more than spoken. I crossed my arms.
“First, watch your fucking tone,” I snapped right back, hands going to my hips. Nash bit back a smile, not freaked out like they were. “Second, Mama’s been alone this whole time. She raised us as a single omega, kept us together and thriving, and now she deserves to have a life. Do you really think our dads would want our mom to suffer alone all this time?”
“No,” Cameron relented, wrinkling his nose. “Ugh, why are we discussing Mom’s heat?”
Maverick groaned and smacked him again.
“Stop. I get it, she’s suffering, she’s done her duty with all of us, it’s time for her to find her own happiness.”
“I’m taking profile pictures for her tomorrow and I think she’s going to try a dating app first,” I said. “So, get used to it quickly and if any of you even try to talk her out of this or make her feel bad...I’ll fucking end you. She looked so hopeful, she needs this, and we won’t ruin it.”
“Agreed,” Cameron said, Maverick and Nash nodding along. They looked uncomfortable now, but not arguing any further so I’d call that a win.
“Ugh, I need to get to work again, this whole thing stressed me out,” Cameron groaned, dropping his jacket on the bar and heading for the storage room to grab his tools.
“I brought mine, too,” I said. “You guys sent some more videos I need to edit anyway.”
I was a bit more optimistic as I sat down at my desk to edit. Despite being distracted by the pack, I had great walking tour footage I took with Ford the other day and my brothers had been shockingly enthusiastic making videos once they saw how good they were doing.
Maverick had pulled records for the month before we started our PackVlog account and we’re doing it again in a few weeks to compare. That would be our true test on if this was all worth it or not.
Something clinked on the table, making me jump. I glared up at Cameron who just gave me his devilish grin.
Asshole.
“Here, you’re too focused. Have some water and some food, brat,” he said, flicking my nose then walking away. I swear my brothers were five when it came to me, not full grown adults.