Page 31 of Claiming the Pack’s Omega (Riverwell Omegaverse #2)

One, because I don’t know how he’d react if I were to kiss him, considering what happened during what I assume to be the last time he kissed a girl.

And two, because I don’t know whether the urge is coming from an entirely good place.

Sure, I’m attracted to him. But I just had my world rocked by a man who’s had me under his thumb for the past six years and an evil crime family who does God knows what to omegas like me.

My first reaction to a man showing me kindness in a moment of high stress shouldn’t be to throw myself at him.

“I’m going to call my sister, now,” I say.

He stares intently at me before nodding and moving towards his desk.

I spin away from Milo, needing a bit of space.

Shame starts to pool low in my belly. Am I broken?

I’ve used my body as a tool to get what I’ve wanted for years, at this point. Sure, sex and physical intimacy has been enjoyable on occasion, but there’s always been an underlying sense of it not being for me.

My pleasure, if it was even a consideration, was always second.

I run my hands through my hair.

Before I started my job with Dom, before Nate betrayed me, I actually enjoyed sex. A lot. It was fun, and I like feeling sexy.

But I don’t know what a healthy sexual relationship looks like, because the one that I’ve had that I thought was healthy ended up with me living a nightmare.

“Do you need me to help you call them?” Milo calls softly, spinning in his chair to face me.

I glance over to him, sitting at his desk with my phone plugged into one of his laptops and a bunch of code I have no hope of understanding running on the screen.

“No,” I shake my head. “I’m fine, sorry.”

“You don’t have to apologize,” he says, standing and taking a single, hesitant step towards me before he decides to keep his distance.

I don’t know whether I want to tell him to sit back down or come closer. The omega part of my brain certainly wants him close, but my body language is probably screaming at him to stay away.

“I—I just don’t know how to tell my family that the house is gone,” I say.

It’s an excuse, at first, because that really wasn’t what I was thinking about, but the moment I say it, I start internally freaking out.

Because I really don’t know how to tell them everything we love is gone.

My shoulders curl inwards as I fight the second wave of sobs that’s threatening to crash over me.

Milo doesn’t hesitate anymore.

“I’m going to hug you now. Tell me to stop if you don’t want me to," he says as he walks over to me.

I don’t say anything as I cling to the front of his T-shirt as my throat goes tight. His arms wrap around me, cradling my head to his chest.

“I’m so sorry," he murmurs. “That’s heavy.”

“Y—yeah,” I say, between sniffles. “Everything I’ve done has been for my family. And now it’s because of me that our lives are fucked.”

“It’s also because of you that they have a better chance at things here,” he murmurs, petting my hair as a soothing purr leaves his chest.

There are butterflies in my stomach. Such a contrast to the funeral dirge pounding its way through my chest.

I don’t think I’ve ever had an alpha purr for me before.

I hate to admit it, but it’s kind of like magic.

“I know we haven’t known each other for long, but I can tell that you love your family a lot. And they love you too. They’re not going to blame this on you,” he continues.

“You’d bet money on that?” I ask, staring up at him.

God, I probably look like a mess. I need to fix my makeup.

I know it’s stupid to keep on thinking about something like my looks at a time like this, but I can’t help it.

I can’t tell very well, in the dim lighting of his room, but I swear there’s a blush on his cheeks.

“I would,” he says, glancing away. “And I’ve never bet money on anything before. Unless buying something on eBay counts.”

“Okay,” I say, wiping away at the remaining tears on my cheeks. “I’m going to call them, now.”

“Do you want me here?”

I bite my lower lip. “If it’s not too much trouble?”

“Of course not,” he says.

He’s like a completely different person. Maybe it was the conversation we had earlier. Now that he knows that I know about his past, he can relax around me.

Whatever it is, I like it.

I hand him his phone so he can unlock it for me again and type in my mom’s phone number.

I have all of my family’s phone numbers memorized, but hers is the first one that comes to mind.

I think part of it stems from the fact that I just want my mom to tell me everything will be okay.

“Hello? Who is this?” My mom says, after she picks up on the fourth ring.

“Hey, Mom, it’s me,” I say, trying to hide the waver in my voice.

“Reyna? Sweetie, is everything okay? Why aren’t you calling from your phone?” She asks, automatically jumping into Mom mode.

I’ve spent so many years hiding something huge from her. Now I don’t have to hide anything from her anymore. She knows.

I can have my mom back.

“Mom, I—I have some bad news,” I say, my voice breaking.

“Where are you? Your dad can come pick you up right now, what’s wrong?”

“I—I’m okay. You don’t need to send dad to me.”

“What’s going on, Rey-Rey?” My dad says over the phone. Mom must’ve put the phone on speaker.

“The house—the house is gone,” I say, my voice falling to a whisper. “They came there looking for me and they?—”

Milo squeezes me closer to his body, reminding me of his presence. I sink into him, his soothing gunmetal scent giving me the courage to continue the conversation with my parents. They deserve to know what’s going on.

“They burned down the house,” I continue.

“What!” My mom cries out. “They—they burned the house down!”

“They—they did—” I say, my voice breaking.

“Are you safe?” Dad immediately asks.

“I—I’m safe.”

I can hear my mom sobbing in the background, and my heart shatters all over again.

We’ve all spent so long in that house, it was all I ever knew, and now it’s gone. The only thing we have left are our memories.

“Those Northside alphas promised me they’d keep you safe," he grunts. “They better keep their fucking promise.”

“They—they are Dad,” I say, glancing up at Milo.

His expression is soft and encouraging. It’s just what I need.

“It’s why I’m calling from Milo’s phone. He’s trying to track the people who’re threatening me and they’re getting me a new phone tonight. I just didn’t want you to text or call my old number and freak out when I didn’t answer.”

“There are people threatening you?” Dad growls. “Put whatever alpha that’s next to you on the phone.”

Milo and I are standing close enough together that I’m pretty sure he can hear what my dad is asking, even though I have his phone pressed against my ear.

He gives me a quick and jerky nod, though I don’t miss the nervous bob of his Adam’s apple as he swallows hard.

I put the phone on speaker and hold it between us.

“H—hello Mr. Carver,” Milo says.

“Milo, was it? You’re the quiet one of the bunch,” Dad says.

“Yeah,” Milo answers.

“Didn’t get a chance to talk to you. Are you gonna make sure my daughter is safe?”

Milo takes a deep breath, his chest expanding and pressing against mine. He looks down at me, his amber eyes intense and deadly serious.

“Yes. I promise. I—I know I may not look like much, but I’ve got a good skillset to protect your daughter in ways other than physical. I’m really good with technology.”

“Hm, okay then. I expect updates that come from the pack, not just from my daughter, got it?”

“Of course,” Milo says, nodding. “Depending on who we’re dealing with, it may be necessary for you to know just as much as we do so that you can keep the rest of your family safe.”

“Good. Thanks,” Dad sighs. “Are you really alright, Rey-Rey?”

“I—I’m alright,” I answer. “Just a little shaken up, is all. But I’m safer than I’ve ever been, you know?”

“Send us your new number when you have it,” Mom says. “We love you, sweetie. It doesn’t feel the same without you here.”

A hand comes to my mouth as I stifle the shaky breath caused by my mom’s words.

“I love you, too. Are you guys settling in well?”

“We are,” Dad says. “This new job almost feels too good to be true. I’ve got healthcare for everyone and I can make it home for dinner, too.”

“And it’s paying enough for me to stay home with the kids,” Mom adds. “I never would’ve thought that would be possible.”

“I know this is a bullshit situation, and I’d never wish for you to go through the things you’ve gone through, but you’ve changed our lives, Rey-Rey. You did good.”

So much for keeping the tears in.

“I—I did?” I ask, my voice soft and high-pitched, almost childish.

“You did,” Dad says, his voice thick with sincerity.

Milo’s computer beeps and he glances down at me.

“I love you guys, but it looks like I have to go,” I say to the phone.

“Call us soon!” Mom says over the phone. “We love you, sweetie!”

The room is silent after I end the call. It would be suffocating, if it weren’t for Milo’s constant presence.

“Th—thank you for not leaving me,” I whisper, resting my forehead against his chest.

“I’d never dream of leaving you,” Milo says back.

“You should go check that, though, right?”

“I should, but only when you’re ready for me to go do that.”

I take one last shaky breath before looking at him. God, he’s so sweet.

“I’m ready, tell me what it says, Hack Horizon,” I say, teasingly.

He narrows his eyes at me.

“Maybe I should start calling you Razzle, if you’re going to be calling me that,” he huffs, lacing my fingers with his as he heads to his desk. “Here, come with me.”

I follow along, my hand in his, like it’s the most natural thing in the world.