Chapter 6
Jason
“You’re reaching the ages where having an omega in the pack is expected. People are going to start questioning why you don’t.”
I’m not sure she’s noticed no one’s listening. Knowing Meredith, I’m not sure she cares.
For an omega, her voice is almost bark like. It’s a blessing and a curse our penthouse apartment takes up two floors, or we’d be the upstairs neighbors from hell. Unfortunately, it also means Meredith knows she can talk as loudly as she wishes, no matter the hour.
It’s creeping closer to four in the morning, but she shows no signs of stopping her lecture. Fresh off the plane, tanned and full of energy, she’s come to pick up Clementine after her vacation. The creature presses himself into her legs, keeping a watchful eye on Evan.
“Don’t you want to give me and your parents grandchildren soon? Before I’m too old to enjoy them.”
Nico nods along good naturedly. If Meredith wasn’t so wrapped up in her speech, she might have noticed his blue eyes have completely glazed over. I’m not sure he even heard the question. He most likely nodded just for the sake of doing so.
Sebastian flips through papers at the coffee table, scratching his pen against them occasionally. He’s the best practiced at tuning her out, probably something he learned to do in childhood. If I had to guess, that isn’t even real paperwork.
Those two are still preferable to Evan, who isn’t even pretending to listen. He’s fashioned one of Sebastian’s papers into a ball, throwing or kicking it up and catching it repeatedly from his spot on the couch. The disinterest is clear of each of their scents.
Someone has to look at least a bit responsible, and, unsurprisingly, I’ve been elected. Or sacrificed, knowing Sebastian’s mother and how long her speeches can last. In the rare pauses where she seeks out a response, she turns to me.
“You agree with me, don’t you, Jason?” She looks at me pointedly.
“Of course, ma’am.” It’s half agreement, half placation. She seems satisfied with my answer, nodding to herself self-assuredly and continuing.
“You can’t let what happened with the last omega hold you back forever, after all.” Meredith half barks again, making the room go still.
Nico’s eyes sharpen, the color leaving his face. Sebastian’s pen stops moving across the reports he definitely wasn’t reading, and Evan comes to a stop, sitting up straight to face her. She still looks at me, waiting for a reply.
“Mom,” Sebastian starts, but she cuts him off.
“What? I wouldn’t have said it if I didn’t think he was capable of taking it. That’s why you’re my favorite of these hooligans, Jason.” Her voice is matter of fact, full of tough love like only parents can be.
The rest of the pack joins her in staring at me, waiting for my reaction with baited breaths. She’s just concerned, I remind myself. There’s no malice in her orchid scent.
I stand up straight, drawing myself to my full height. It’s not a ploy to intimidate the omega. She may be small, but I know she’s mighty. Pushy as she may be, I still respect her. It’s just a reminder we’re all adults, even if she still sees us as younger.
“If there comes a time where we find an omega who catches our interest, I promise you we won’t hold ourselves back.” My dismissal is clear, its tone final and professional. It’s what Evan calls my lawyer voice. “Can I offer you some coffee, mom?” I offer to change the subject.
Meredith softens when I don’t call her by her name. She may have only given birth to Sebastian, but I know she sees us as her children too. Though she looks like she wants to continue the conversation, she lets me divert it.
“At this hour? Are you trying to give me a stroke?” She ignores the suspicious mutter that comes from Sebastian, definitely some attitude filled retort. “I should get going before it gets too late.”
“Later than four am?” Evan asks, incredulous. Nico stomps on his foot to stop him from continuing, making him flinch.
‘You good?’ Nico mouths at me. The other two have similar concerns painted on their faces. I nod as Meredith continues speaking.
“It’s never too late to come pick up my darling Clementine,” she bends over, petting the dog. “Were they mean to you, Clemmy-wemmy?” Her voice raises several octaves, turning into a squeal unlike her.
Despite their lack of response, I can feel both the laughter coming off of Nico and Evan’s pistachio and aloe vera scents, and the embarrassment from Sebastian’s sandalwood one.
They return to feigning interest as she begins a new spiel on proper poodle care taking.
Even I let my thoughts run off, a rare occurrence for me.
An omega for our pack. We haven’t spoken about it since the incident, years ago.
My eyes settle on the candles Nico and Evan returned home with recently. Chamomile scented, scattered across almost every room. They said the smell helped them relax. I didn’t press it further.
We’re a pack. I’m sure they know I agree without saying so aloud. The scent certainly helps me sleep, despite the insomnia I normally deal with. Does that count as an omega catching our interest? She’s already bonded to a pack, though.
It makes me frown. We wouldn’t treat her the way her pack seemed to, leaving her to cry alone and be an accessory.
Maybe I’ll pick up my old textbooks on omega law again. I’ve got a sudden urge to check something. I wonder what she’s doing. Just out of curiosity.