Page 41 of Claiming the Pack’s Omega (Riverwell Omegaverse #2)

I guess neither of them expected me to say that.

Reyna covers her mouth to stifle a snicker.

“You’re joking,” Maximus snorts. “You’re just saying that ‘cause you’re too embarrassed to not have one.”

“You do, Killian?” For whatever reason, she sounds excited. Maybe even eager. Which is so bizarre because she’s never taken any interest in my love life. “Are things serious?”

My gaze lands on Reyna and I reach down to rest my hand on hers, which is still on my thigh.

“Yes. They are,” I say.

Those words are more to Reyna than they are to my mother, and I hope Reyna can see that.

“Oh that’s wonderful! Bring her to the next family dinner! I expect you, your pack, and your omega here at seven o’clock sharp on Saturday, do you understand, young man?”

“I’ll check my schedule,” I say.

Like hell am I going to give her an obedient “Yes, mother,” right after that shitshow of a call.

“But—”

“I’ve got to go, Mom. Lunch break is over,” I say, pressing the bright red end call button, cutting her off before she has a chance to say anything more.

The silence that fills the car is so amazing.

“Holy shit,” I say, breathing out a sigh of relief. “I’ve never hung up on her like that before.”

“Whoa, seriously?” Reyna asks, her eyes wide as she leans forward, trying to catch my gaze.

“Yeah,” I say, scrubbing a hand down my face to try and get rid of the embarrassment. It doesn’t work very well.

“You’re kidding, you put up with that kind of bullshit on the regular and that’s the first time you’ve ever hung up on her?”

I blink at her slowly before I nod.

She flips her hand over so she’s lacing her fingers with mine.

“I can see why you’re such a workaholic, holy shit!

‘Even if you’re off playing politics, we still expect you to show up at home.

’ That’s actually insane," she says, mocking my mother’s breathy tone of voice.

“ Playing politics? You’re the youngest council member this stupid ass city has ever seen! ”

Her rant has my heart threatening to beat out of my chest again. I’ve never been more attracted to someone in my entire life.

Well, technically, I’ve never been more attracted to anyone other than Reyna anyway, but there’s just something special, seeing her worked up in my defense.

“You seriously put up with that kind of bullshit?” She asks, her voice going soft as her brows draw down in concern.

“Yeah,” I sigh. “I’ve never been good enough, ever since I was a kid.”

“She treats your fucking brother like he’s the second coming, seriously, what the hell is his deal?

Considering you’re doing a ridiculous amount of stuff like saving Southside omegas and working on legislation to make sure that god damn omega scholarships are well funded, he’s got to be some crazy doctor or scientist, right? ”

Looks like Charlotte must’ve spoken to Reyna about me. I wonder what she’s said.

Maybe that’s what has Reyna all fired up on my behalf. But as I look Reyna, truly look at her, I think there’s something more here.

There’s so much emotion swirling in her deep gray eyes it’s threatening to pull me into the storm that resides there.

“He’s a failed entrepreneur,” I say, unable to hide the bitter laugh that leaves my throat. “My parents have bankrolled him ever since he barely passed his business degree. He still lives at home.”

“You’re joking ,” Reyna sputters, throwing her head back as she laughs loudly.

I wouldn’t be able to drag my eyes from her even if I tried. And I have no interest in trying. The sound of her laugh and the way her raven black hair flows around her shoulders steals my breath away. It’s like the world moves in slow motion.

“No wonder you’re a little bit of a dick sometimes," she says, crossing her arms over her chest. “If I had a mom who was such a bitch, I’d be a bit of a bitch too!”

I purse my lips, my brows drawing down.

“I didn’t mean anything bad by it," she clarifies. “I just mean that I’m starting to get why you act the way you do. It’s a defense mechanism.

I mean, I have plenty of defense mechanisms that served me at a particular point in time that are a pain in the ass to have now.

” Her expression softens. “For what its worth, I think they’re full of shit.

Anyone with eyes can see how hard you work.

They’re fucking stupid for not seeing that. ”

Fuck.

I take a shaky breath.

“Wow,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper. “Really?”

“Fuck yes.”

My lips tug up into a genuine smile as I look down at my hands.

“Good to know,” I nod. “I’m sorry you had to get dragged in there, at the end. And I’m sorry in advance for whatever happens when we go to dinner on Saturday.”

Her shoulders tense as she blows out a deep breath, her cheeks puffing out with the motion.

“I don’t care what they said, I’ve been called a lot worse than a bitch, so don’t worry about that.”

I bristle at her words.

I should cut out the tongues of anyone who’s ever said shit to her.

Damn.

That was intense.

“I think what I’m worried about is your parents asking questions about me. Sounds like I’m one of the first few girls you’ve brought back home in a while, right?”

“Not since my sophomore year in college,” I say, softly. “My brother fucked her in my bed on Christmas Eve. Haven’t had a relationship since.”

“You’re fucking kidding me," she says, her eyes going wide. “That jackass is insane.”

“Yeah,” I say, rubbing out a tightness in my shoulder muscle that seems to always lock up after talking to my brother.

“Well, I can promise you, that fucker isn’t going to get anywhere fucking near me.”

She says it with such fiery conviction that I can’t help but smile. I believe her.

“I do have to say though, I’m a little worried I’m going to make things harder for you," she says, clasping her hands in her lap and staring down at them. “What if your parents ask me what I do or where I’m from? Your family doesn’t strike me as the kinda people who’d be okay with a Southside omega strolling into their house. ”

“They’ll suck it up and fucking deal with it,” I growl, my jaw ticking.

I reach out and gently tilt her chin so I can look into her eyes again.

“I’ve never had one thing that’s just mine before,” I say, stroking my hand along her jaw. “I’m sure as hell going to protect her.”

Her chin trembles as she leans into my touch.

“Fuck, you’re going to make me cry," she whispers.

“There’s nothing wrong with crying.”

Her lips open and close and her brows draw down as if she wants to say something, but doesn’t know how.

She reaches up and cradles my hand against her cheek as she brushes her lips against my thumb. The intimacy of the movement has my cock stirring in my pants. Who knew a thumb could feel so sensitive?

The silence between us is interrupted by the buzzing of my phone.

I let out a deep sigh as I check my watch.

“Looks like my break is over. I have to head back into the office,” I say, pulling my hand away from her face.

It takes all my willpower, because all I want to do is touch her.

“I’ll drop you off at home, is that alright?”

She nods silently, her hands returning to her lap as she stares out the window.

Fuck, did I do something wrong?

“You—you’ll be back for dinner, right?” She asks quietly, as I pull up to the driveway of the pack house.

“Do you want me back for dinner?” I ask, my brows drawn down in concern.

She swallows hard as she glances at me out of the corner of her eye.

“Yeah—yeah, I do," she says.

I put the car in park and turn to face her.

“Then I’ll be back for dinner,” I say, reaching out and brushing a strand of hair that’s fallen in front of her face behind her ear.

“Okay, thank you," she says, her lips pulling into a tight smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She almost looks nervous.

“Hey, is everything okay? I know… I know my family can be a lot, if you’re not interested in dinner on Saturday, we?—”

“No, dinner is fine," she says, shrugging. Her eyes dart to the notifications that keep popping up on my phone. I’m pretty sure my secretary has texted me a dozen times. “I should let you get back to work. I’ll see you at dinner.”

She pops open the car door and hops out, not sparing me a second glance as she lets herself into the house.