Page 64 of Claiming the Pack’s Omega (Riverwell Omegaverse #2)

Reyna

" A re you nervous?" Milo asks me quietly, holding my hand in the backseat of the car.

"I mean, a little. This is big news. I know my parents have already met you all and stuff, but this is basically a 'meet the folks' type of situation, right?" I shift nervously in my seat, trying to find a position where it doesn't feel like the seat belt is choking me.

"I mean, we are telling your parents that we're your scent match and that we intend on spending the rest of our lives together," Theo nods. "That's big news."

"I don't know if that was very helpful," I groan, burying my head in my hands.

"Think of it this way, Wildflower," Stone says from the front passenger's seat. "Your parents love you. A lot. They want to see you happy, right?"

"Yeah. And you guys make me happy."

"Exactly. So I think it may be a little strange for them to hear, considering most people know instantly when a pack is their scent match, but I'm sure they'll understand the unique circumstances we've had together."

"We're not walking into the lion's den like we were a couple of days ago," Killian adds, pulling into the quiet suburban street where my family now lives. "This will be a much better family dinner."

"You're right," I laugh. "I don't know if it can get any worse than that, no offense."

"None taken."

Killian pulls up in front of my family's new home and parks the car.

Daisy instantly runs out and onto the front lawn like she was waiting for our car to pull up.

"She's adorable," Milo says, chuckling softly as he opens the door for me.

"She really is," I say.

"Rey-Rey!" Daisy yells, practically tackling me. Her little arms squeeze around my waist.

"Hey, peanut," I say, running my hand over her hair.

"I missed you so much!" She says, blinking up at me with tears in her eyes.

The sight makes my chest squeeze. I really should've come back to see them earlier. I can't believe I haven't yet.

My family used to be my entire life. Every single waking moment was spent trying to earn money to provide for them or taking care of things for everyone.

Now I'm the reason why our old life is gone, burned to the ground. But I'm also the reason why we have this golden ticket to a new, fantastic life.

"Let's go inside! Momma is grilling ! Did you know there's a grill in the backyard?"

"I didn't," I say, laughing as I'm dragged inside.

I glance over my shoulder to see my guys trailing after me, bright smiles on their faces.

"Rey-Rey's here!" Daisy yells, the moment she pulls me over the threshold and into my family's home.

"Rey-Rey!" Eli comes barreling towards me, very similarly to how Daisy just did outside, except he's slipping and sliding on the hardwood floors because of the socks he's wearing. New socks. Ones without holes in them.

One near faceplant and nearly slipping on the hardwood floors, and he's competing for real estate with Daisy as he wraps his arms around me.

"Let me hug her, you got to her first!" He mutters, trying to push Daisy away by her forehead.

"No! I get to hug Rey-Rey too!" Daisy argues.

"I'll be here for you guys to hug all night, no need to fight," I laugh, wrapping my arms around both of them.

Before I know it, another set of arms are wrapping themselves around me as Sav tackles the three of us.

I stumble backwards a bit, but thankfully, Killian is there to keep me from falling. His black tea scent fills my nostrils and I instantly relax.

"Hey, Sav," I say, smiling at my sister. "How've you been doing?"

"Oh my god, things have been crazy !" Sav says.

There's a bright, almost childlike glimmer in her eyes that shines so clearly.

It's like in the short time that she's been here in the Northside, that heaviness I was starting to notice has almost completely evaporated.

"We've all started going to school here and it's so awesome!

I got to test into some advanced classes and Dad can afford to buy all of the textbooks and?—"

Her voice breaks, and tears fill her eyes.

"It's been so awesome, Sis, you have no idea," she whispers.

"Let me hug our sister, guys," I say to my younger siblings. They seem to sense that Sav and I need a moment because they give us enough space for me to throw my arms around her shoulders and hold her tight.

She's getting so tall, these days. She's almost as tall as me.

"When did you get so grown up?" I whisper.

"Thank you," Sav whispers. "Mom and Dad haven't been answering my questions, but I'm smart enough to know that you're the reason we're here right now."

She pulls away, wiping at her cheeks.

God, she's going to make me start bawling like a baby.

"What about you?" She asks, hope in her eyes. "How've things been for you? Have they been good too?"

I smile at her, feeling the burn of heavy emotions behind my eyes that I fight back. "Yeah, they have been," I say, my voice a little strained.

She gives me one final squeeze before her arms fall away.

Killian immediately steps up behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist. It's a small and subtle gesture, but it keeps me from falling apart.I glance back at him and smile.

Eli is talking animatedly to Milo about something video game-related, and Daisy is just as excited in her conversation with Stone.

They get along so well. So easily. It makes my heart melt.

This feels right, my two worlds colliding like this.

"Where's Mom and Dad? I've actually got some important news to tell you guys."

"Your father is almost done grilling," Mom says, wiping her hands on the front of her apron.

This time, it's my turn to run and throw my arms around someone.

"It's good to see you, sweetie," she murmurs softly, her arms holding me tight.

When I finally find the courage to pull away so I can actually talk to her, she flashes me a bright smile.

"It's so good to see you too, Momma, I've missed you," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.

She cups my cheeks with her hands, her gaze darting between my eyes before she glances over my shoulder.

"Well, I'm going to steal away my daughter to set the table and things. Make yourself at home," she says to my guys.

I follow my mom to the dining room and kitchen, where I see almost everything has already been set up.

"You didn't actually need help, did you?" I laugh softly.

"No, I didn't," she says, flashing me a conspiratorial grin.

Her expression grows serious and she lowers her voice so that I'm the only one who can hear her.

"How have you been doing? Really doing? There was all the changes with your phone and all the craziness of you being swept away by that alpha pack. "

"I've been doing well, Momma. Really well," I say, my lips tugging into a soft smile at the thought of my guys. "Things were definitely crazy there, for a while, but I'm really excited for where things are going."

She takes a second to take me in. She's smart. I think I got my attention to detail from her. I'm sure she sees the lightness in my shoulders, the brightness in my eyes, the change in the way I carry myself.

"Okay then, I'm glad," she says, nodding firmly. "I know you're an adult and you can more than take care of yourself, you always have, and I know we haven't been the best of parents to you, but we love you so much, sweetie. So, so much."

I reach out and squeeze her hand in mine. The skin is still worn paper-thin, but I'd like to think it's a little softer than when she was working doubles at the diner all the time.

"You and Dad were dealt a shit hand in life.

You did all you could to make sure we still had a roof over our heads.

I want you to know I don't hold anything against you.

I made the decisions I did. I was an adult then too.

Maybe a stupid one. Maybe I was more kid than adult, but I wanted to help the family. "

My mom blinks quickly. I can see in the shadows in her eyes and the heaviness in her shoulders that she still feels guilty, but maybe that's something that won't disappear overnight. Maybe I have to show her that I'm happy, that I'm living a beautiful life I never thought I'd be able to live.

"How've you and Dad been doing, though?" I ask, leaning against the kitchen counter. "This place is really nice and I hear the kids are all going to school now?"

"It's been amazing," Mom says, her voice going soft and wistful.

"Like a dream come true. Your father earns enough on his income alone for us to afford all our living expenses without me needing to work anymore, so I get to spend a lot more time with the kiddos.

And he only has to work the normal nine-to-five hours, so he's home for dinner every night. "

"I'm so glad," I say, smiling at her. "You deserve that, Momma, you've worked your ass off ever since you got pregnant with me."

She shrugs and opens her mouth—probably to say something self-deprecating—but I interrupt her.

"No, Mom. You worked hard. Dad got you pregnant with me when you were both in high school, and you guys still managed to figure out a way to make things work."

She smiles at me, but it's a sad one.

"I just wish we'd figured out a way to give you that kind of childhood," she says.

My breaths quicken and my throat goes dry. Mom reaches over to me and brushes something off my cheek.

My tears.

Shit, I'm crying.

"Sorry," I say, wiping at my cheeks.

"You don't have to apologize for crying," Mom says, pulling me into her arms.

I cling to her, like I'm a child again. As my tears fall, I feel the sad mourning for the childhood I never had.

But I also feel this immense sense of joy that childhood is possible for my siblings.

That my parents can live a life where they don't have to kill themselves in order to barely provide for all of us.

Once I finally pull myself together, I straighten, wiping away the last remaining tears from my cheeks.

"My makeup still look good?" I laugh.

My mom helps me dab gently under my eyes before she nods.

"Flawless as always," my mom confirms.