Page 65 of Claiming the Pack’s Omega (Riverwell Omegaverse #2)

I nod, smiling at her.

"Even though you guys couldn't give me that kind of childhood, I don't hold it against you.

There're some real systemic issues going on in this stupid town.

You and Dad have worked harder than anyone I ever met and you could barely keep a roof over our heads.

That's not normal. That shouldn't be normal. "

I feel it, then. That calling that Milo and I talked about, a while ago. I feel a spark ignite in my chest.

"I'm going to fix it," I vow. "Or at least I'm going to fucking try."

"If anyone can do it, it would be you," Mom nods. "You've always been so strong, Reyna. But something's changed in you, recently. I can see it."

"It's because I'm not alone, Momma."

"Dinner's ready!" My dad calls as he carries a large tray full of burgers and hot dogs in from the backyard. He sets the tray down on the kitchen counter and opens his arms out for me.

I wrap my arms around him, and he lifts me up off the ground as he hugs me close.

"Good to see you, Rey-Rey. Those alphas of yours been treating you well?"

"They have been," I nod, smiling up at him. "Real well. I hear you're doing good too. Do you like your new job?"

"I do. But you shouldn't be worrying about that. You've done far too much worrying about your mom and me when we should be the ones worrying about you."

My stomach growls loud enough for the both of us to hear and my dad throws his head back, letting out a deep belly laugh that makes me giggle.

"Let's get some food in you," he nods.

There's quite a bit of chaos as everyone walks through the kitchen, building their own burgers and hot dogs before settling in at the dining table.

We have to pull over a couple of barstools to fit all ten of us, and my mom and siblings are all squished along a bench that should only hold two people, but we make it work.

There's something homey, looking at all of us squeezed around a table that's a little too small to fit a group this big.

"The food is delicious," Theo says after his first bite. "Thank you for hosting!"

"Of course, you're always welcome," Mom says.

"We wouldn't want to impose?—"

"I mean it," glancing at the five of us.

Damn. She's smart.

She knows. Or at least she suspects.

"I hear you've got some news for the family," Dad says, clearing his throat.

"I do," I say, setting down my half-eaten burger and wiping my hands on a paper towel. I guess there are certain things my mom doesn't want to splurge on, even though they can all afford to live on the Northside now.

Killian nudges his thigh against mine reassuringly, as a reminder that I'm not alone. He's been doing that a lot, since that dinner with his family. I'm certainly not complaining.

"So, to start from the beginning, I was taking suppressants ever since I turned 18 because I didn't want my heat," I say.

I'm toning down all the parts of the story not fit for my younger siblings to hear, but I think it's important for everyone to know the context.

"They were from the black market, so they fucked with my hormones and apparently. .. that can affect your scent."

My parents nod slowly, hanging on my every word. Daisy and Eli are more consumed with seeing how much of a hot dog they can fit in their mouths, but I can see in the way they're glancing between me and my guys that they're also curious what I'm about to say.

"Long story short, the members of the Graylock Pack are my scent-matched mates. I didn't know because my hormones were jacked up when I first met them, but now, I know."

"Holy shit, no way!" Sav says, jumping up from her seat, a bright smile on her face. She immediately turns to my guys. "So you guys are basically going to become our brothers-in-laws? That's so cool!"

Eli and Daisy jump up, following Sav.

"No way, I've always wanted a brother!" He says. "Wait, so now I get four? That's so cool!"

"Yeah!" Daisy says, jumping up to her feet too.

"This is so exciting," Mom says, her eyes twinkling.

"You knew, huh?"

"I suspected," she shrugs. "You'd have to be blind to miss the way these four tend to you."

"So, you four are her fated mates, huh?" Dad says, his voice gruff as he stares down my guys.

"Yes, sir," Killian nods, his tone firm.

All four of them, even Milo, hold my Dad's intense stare. I don't know what kind of macho alpha dominance measuring contest they're doing, but my guys seem to win.

"I would say you better take care of her, or else, but you all have already proven you're more than capable of doing so," he says, gesturing to the house around us. "If it weren't for you, none of us would have any of this."

"Actually, if it weren't for Reyna, none of this would have happened," Theo adds in. "Making sure that you all were taken care of was her first demand, before anything to do with herself."

"Yeah, but it's your guys's money and resources," I huff. "It's really not like I did very much."

"Just take the compliment, Wildflower," Stone chuckles softly. "You were the one that brought us all together. We're more than happy to make sure that all of you are taken care of."

"And it's not like we're bankrolling you for all of eternity," Killian adds, nodding towards my Dad. "I get the impression that a strong work ethic is genetic in this family, so I'm sure you all will be fine."

My dad nods as he has another moment of strong eye contact with all of my guys.

"Thank you," Dad nods. He turns his gaze down to me, and it instantly goes soft. "Congrats, Rey-Rey, this is a big deal."

"It is." I say, smiling at my guys. "It really is."

I pick up my burger and take another large bite. Damn, these are good.

"Anyways, I just wanted to let you all know before my heat knocks me on my ass soon," I say, wiping my mouth with a paper towel again.

"Are you going to bond with them?" My mom asks, leaning in conspiratorially, even though the rest of the table can hear us. "Make things official?"

I blink at her.

Wow, why is now , out of all times, the first time I consider this question?

Do I want to bond with all of them?

A bond can only be completed during an omega's heat, and once an omega and her alphas bite each other, there's a nearly unbreakable connection between the two. I've even heard that bonded mates can feel each other's emotions, which frankly, seems like magic to me.

It would be giving myself to the Graylock Pack for life.

But more than that, it would be them giving themselves to me for life.

I'd be a bonded omega. With a pack of four amazing, considerate, and strong alphas.

That's a dream come true right there.

I glance at my guys who are all looking at me intently, trying to gauge my reaction to my mom's question. Killian's devotion, Theo's excitement, Stone's rapture, and Milo's hope all make my throat grow tight.

I shift my gaze to look at the rest of the dinner table full of my family.

This is a dream come true. Not only a kick ass pack, but a kick ass pack that knows how important my family is to me, how important caring for them has been all my life.

"Yeah, I am," I say, my smile bright as I answer my mom's question. "I'm going to bond with them."