Chapter 42 Scotty
Scotty
When he finally pulled back, he blew out a breath and dragged a hand through his hair, his face pinched with the kind of regret that looked too real to doubt.
"I'm so fucking sorry, Kid. I know it's not enough.
I know no apology will be enough for what I said to you, but you need to know that I mean it. "
"You really hurt me, Dad," I whimpered, my voice rough enough that it was painfully obvious I'd already cried my way through half the day and was somehow still not done.
I swiped at my cheeks anyway, because apparently I was committed to the illusion that I had any control over this situation. "And I am so fucking pissed at you."
He just stood there, shoulders slightly hunched, taking each word like it was a blow he deserved.
"I want you in my life." I forced myself to keep going before I lost my nerve. "But if you're going to make me choose between you and them…"
I hesitated, not because I didn't know what I wanted to say, but because saying it out loud meant I was real.
I looked at Morgan, and her encouraging smile gave me the extra boost I needed to tell Dad exactly how I felt.
"Everything I have done in my entire fucking life has been for everyone else, Dad. And I am done. I can't do it anymore. I need to start looking after myself. Giving myself what I need. I can't keep making myself suffer just so everyone else can be happy."
Once the words started, they didn't stop. They came out fast and messy and a little louder than I meant them to, but I didn't care, because I'd spent way too long swallowing this kind of shit down just to keep the peace.
"You made me feel like everything that happened with Ken, even him verbally attacking me, was somehow my fault.
I wasn't the one who cheated. I wasn't the one who got drunk and made a scene.
I was the one hurting!" Angry tears spilled over, and I wasn't fucking done, because this had been a long time coming, and it felt good.
My throat tightened, that awful pressure building again, the kind that sat right behind my sternum and made it hard to get a full breath in, and I swallowed it down hard because I was not crying again. I refused.
"And instead of comforting me when I got back. Instead of defending me last night, you made me feel like I was nothing. Do you know how much that hurt, Daddy? I needed you, and you broke my heart."
He looked like I'd actually hit him. The colour drained from his face. His eyes filling with tears threatening to break like a river in a storm. For a second, I almost felt bad about it before I remembered that I was allowed to feel hurt about this, too.
"I was a fucking idiot, Rebecca. I couldn't see past my own fucking hangups and be there for you. But if you let me, I swear on my life, I will never fail you again. You're my everything, Kid. I love you so fucking much." His voice broke, tears running freely now. "Can I hug you again? Please?"
I nodded before I could overthink it, because despite everything, despite how angry I still was, some part of me missed him.
The second he wrapped his arms around me again, it hit me all at once.
Familiar. Solid. His scent settled around me, something I'd known my whole life, and it tugged at that part of me that still saw him as my dad before anything else, even now.
"You remind me so much of your mom," he cried into my hair, holding on a little tighter.
"She would be so ashamed of me and so proud of you.
I never wanted you to go through the pain I felt when I lost her.
That's why I held onto your relationship with Ken so hard.
Because you can't bond with a Beta, you wouldn't have had to feel the pain and heartbreak like I did. "
My tears didn't stop, a different kind of dam broken.
I eased out of his embrace, needing a second to think without his arms muddying my resolve.
"I can't just tell you it's fine, Dad. I need time.
And if you're serious about fixing this, then you actually have to fix it.
With Morgan. With me. And you need to accept that Ryder and Hunter are going to be my Alphas. "
"I will," he promised. "I will do whatever it takes."
"Good." I dragged in a breath that actually filled my lungs for the first time since last night. "Because I love them, Dad. And I'm going to go find them right now and tell them."
"Are you sure? We still have a lot to talk about."
Yeah. We did. A lifetime's worth. Enough emotional baggage to sink a cruise ship and enough misunderstandings to write a soap opera. But not right now. Not when my instincts demanded I find my Alphas.
"Not today, Dad," I said, holding his gaze so he understood I meant it. "You need to talk to Morgan and fix things with her, and I need to go tell my Alphas I love them."
"We love you too, Sweetheart."
I blinked in stunned confusion, and my heart beat rapidly in my chest with audible thumps.
Because there, right behind Dad, were Hunter and Ryder. Something like hope, maybe nerves, and definitely longing all swirled together on their striking faces.
My knees wobbled as the room suddenly spun around me.
My lip trembled.
Oh no.
A sob escaped my lips.
Hunter's eyes widened in panic, and he dove for me, Ryder hot on his heels.
"Baby—hey, hey, shh, please don't cry," Hunter cooed, skidding to a stop on his knees in front of me and pulling me into his lap.
Ryder dropped beside us and immediately started running his hands over me like he needed to check for something broken, like I might've come apart somewhere he couldn't see.
"I-I a-am so s-sorry," I wailed, the words falling apart as fast as I was, ugly sobbing into Hunter's chest. "I shouldn't have run away. I should have let you come get me last night. Can you forgive me?"
"Sweetheart, it's okay," Ryder murmured. "You never have to apologize to us. We love you. Everything is going to be okay now."
Hunter nuzzled his face into the crook of my neck, and his deep chuckle reverberated against my skin. "He's still going to spank your ass for running," he whispered before placing a soft kiss against my skin.
"True, but I promise you will enjoy it," Ryder said, his big hand cupping my face tenderly as he looked into my eyes. "We missed you so much, Sweetheart. Will you come home with us? Will you be our Omega?"
"Yes," I sobbed, back to crying uncontrollably. "You guys went and made me fall in love with you. I don't want to spend another minute not being yours."
Hunter's kiss was hard and possessive. I whimpered against his sinful lips and threw my arms around his neck.
He ended the kiss too soon and spun me in his lap. Ryder pulled me into his arms and cradled me. Their scents wrapped around me at the same time—Hunter's warm, spicy sweetness and Ryder's deeper, richer coffee—and it settled something in me that had been off-balance since I left.
I caressed Ryder's handsome face, and I brought my lips to his.
Kissing Ryder was like coming home. These lips were already imprinted on my soul.
He growled happily, his hand tightening at my waist as his tongue brushed mine, and I opened for him easily, leaning into it like I didn't want to come up for air.
After not nearly long enough, he pulled away, kissing my cheek, my temple, and finally my hair. "We should probably get out of here," he said, a hint of teasing in his voice. "We have an audience."
I groaned, dropping my forehead briefly against his shoulder. I'd completely forgotten they were here.
Morgan was watching us with a satisfied smile from her spot snuggled up under Dad's arm, and it made me happy to see them getting along. Even if I was still mad at him, Dad deserved to be happy and Morgan…
Morgan deserved the world. I couldn't wait to get to know her better.
Another cramp decided that was the perfect moment to hit, and I almost doubled over, whining as I clutched at my stomach. Both of my Alphas immediately started purring, their nostrils flaring as they caught a whiff of my scent leaking through the scent blocker I was wearing.
"Baby Girl, are you-"
"Get her the fuck out of here," Dad barked, cutting off Ryder and startling me. I whimpered, and his tone immediately softened. "Kid, you need to let your Alphas take you home and take care of your, uh, needs."
"Yes, Sir," Hunter said, scooping me up and throwing a shit-eating grin Dad's way.
Ryder, at least, had the decency to look my Dad straight in the eyes and say, "I promise we will always take care of your daughter. Love her unconditionally for the rest of our lives."
I let out a happy little sigh.
My Alphas were perfect. And they loved me!
When I woke up this morning, I thought I was giving up everything that has ever mattered to me. Now I get to go home with my two insanely sexy Alphas and have them help me ride out these annoying heat spikes.
"I'm holding you to that, Ryder," Dad said, but there was no real heat in his voice. "Take the rest of the week off, but I expect to see you both at practice on Monday."
There was no more stalling after that. Hunter practically sprinted out of the house with me in his arms, placing me gently in Ryder's truck before getting in beside me.
"Let's get you home, Baby Girl," he murmured, and I sighed happily as Ryder got into the driver's seat.
"I'm already home."