Page 20 of Enticing Little Omega (Twisted Little Tales #5)

Drew

T he cabin smelled like her.

Warm syrup. Sweet skin. Sleep mussed hair and the soft, clean scent that made my Alpha settle every time she got near.

Christa moved like she belonged now. Almost like something inside her had finally clicked and she knew where she belonged.

It made something tight in my chest loosen every time I saw her glance at one of us and smile like it was safe to do so.

"We need to figure out what comes next," William said, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his knees. "As much as I love being here, and getting to know you, Christa, we can't stay here forever."

Anton gave a quiet grunt of agreement from the other end of the table. "The cabin is comfortable for short term living, and the nest is passable for a night or two, but not for an Omega in full heat."

My cock perked up at the mention of an Omega in heat, but now wasn't the time for it.

Christa glanced between us, then down at the coffee cup she held with both hands. She didn't speak right away, and that silence felt loud.

Annerly cleared his throat. "It's not about rushing anything, sweetheart. But we've all got jobs, a home, back in Wondersburg."

"And we're not asking you to give up what matters to you," I added quickly. I leaned in a little, just enough to brush her knee with mine and grab her hand. "We'll stay and start new lives here if that's what you need. No question."

She looked up at me then, eyes wide and honest. "You'd really do that?"

"Of course," I said, knowing I didn't need to double check with the rest of the pack. They'd agree.

And they did.

"But..." she started, then paused, her lips twitching like she wasn't sure whether to smile or cry. "I think it's time to move on."

"You don't have to," Annerly said gently.

"I know," she replied. "But it's not just about me.

I love Jo. And Honey. But I'm not the girl who ran into this town two years ago.

Honey's claimed and settled in with her pack.

In a way I think that means she'll stick around and keep an eye on Jo.

It's time to make space for the next lost girl who stumbles in, scared and alone. "

My throat tightened, pride, love, and sadness warring inside me. I hate knowing Christa was once that scared, lonely Omega, but she's come so far, and she's survived so much.

"So, we go home?" William asked.

"Yeah. We go home," I agreed.

Together, we cleaned up the last of the breakfast dishes and headed down the road toward town. The diner was quiet from the outside, and we'd obviously missed the breakfast rush.

In our time here, I'd grown used to the small space, the people inside it.

What I'd not grown used to was the scent of my fucking mother filling the space, almost drowning out the smell of grease, eggs and coffee.

"Fuck," I muttered.

"Fuck indeed," Christa returned, her scowl focused on the female Alpha sitting in a booth, her arms carefully folded in front of her.

The clink of plates and indistinct murmur of conversation dropped to silence the moment we stepped in.

Tracy didn't even blink.

She just sat there, one painted nail carefully tapping on her arm, like she hadn't just shattered years of distance with one uninvited appearance.

"Boys," she drawled, lips pursed like she'd smelt something sour. "You don't write, you don't call... What's a mom to do but come and hunt down her sons?"

William stiffened beside me. Anton's jaw clenched so hard I heard his teeth grind.

Me?

I've never wanted to punch my own fucking mother as much as I did right then.

"Cindy," Tracy added, smile sharpening even more. "Or should I call you Christa now? You've caused a lot of trouble, little girl."

Christa shrank back instinctively. I stepped in front of her.

"You don't call her anything," I snapped. "You don't even fucking speak to her."

Tracy arched a brow. "I don't need your permission, Alpha . She's not yet twenty-one. Therefore we have an underage Omega, unclaimed... and unregistered at that. And wouldn't you know... I'm the only Alpha with a legitimate claim."

"I'm not yours," Christa said, her voice low but steady. "I never was. Never will be."

She didn't reach for me, but I felt her fingers brush mine. A quiet anchor. I grabbed her hand and held on tight.

"Your hold on her is tenuous at best. She's mere months from being a legal adult," Anton said coldly.

Tracy tilted her head. "Now, now. Let's not pretend blood and law don't still matter in our world. And you..." she flicked her eyes toward Christa, "Ran away from a perfectly suitable Alpha who would have been willing to guide you and help you find the best pack possible."

"You mean you would have paraded me like livestock until someone offered you the right price or alliance," Christa said, her voice flat now, edged with steel.

And the fuck of it was, she spoke nothing but the truth, because that's exactly the thing my mother has been trying to do with us since we presented as Alpha.

Tracy's lips curled. "You were always so dramatic.

I gave you everything after your father abandoned me with you.

A roof over your head, food in your belly and safety from all the feral Alphas out there who would have taken you even if you were nothing but a useless Beta.

Do you know how many orphans would have killed to be in your position? "

"I'm not some livestock for you to fatten up and sell to the highest bidder!" Christa's voice rose. Not overly loud, but clear. Steady. And it cut through the quiet diner like a blade. "I'm a damn person. And you don't get to decide what happens to me anymore."

The air in the room went still. All you could hear was the steady drip, drip, drip of the coffee.

Tracy's eyes narrowed. "I don't think you fully understand your situation, Cindy . I have all the required paperwork. Guardianship agreements. And luckily for you, when you presented at my sons' pack bonding ceremony, I had you registered as an Omega with the proper authorities."

She waved a dismissive hand towards us, like we were inconsequential to her and her plans.

"You'll gather your things, I'll take you home, and if my sons can come to heel in the required manner, then I might consider allowing them to court you."

"No." William's voice was deadly and final.

"Fuck off," Anton growled out, grabbing hold of Christa and pulling her tightly against his side.

"Not a chance," I responded as I stepped closer and put my arm along her other side.

Annerly stepped up to William, intertwined their fingers and looked at Tracy with nothing but disdain on his face. "Tracy, I believe you've gotten about as much time from us as we're willing to give you. No one here will allow Christa to leave with you, so it's best you be on your way."

My chest puffed up with pride at the way our pack had stood up to my mother, but I couldn't help but worry about what we were going to do.

We all were successful in our own fields, and William was formidable, that was for sure, but we couldn't stand up to the law.

As my heart beat in my throat, and Christa shivered in our embrace, we watched together as Tracy lifted one disdainful eyebrow at us before leaving the diner without looking back.