Page 8 of Enticing Little Omega (Twisted Little Tales #5)

Christa

I woke to the scent of coffee. Not the diner kind either, burnt and acidic. No—this was fancy. The sort of brew that made you feel you could take on any challenge the day presented.

My eyes blinked open, slow and gritty, the morning light cutting through the curtains in thin gold ribbons.

Our homemade nest was a mess of blankets and pillows, our half-eaten pizza, cold in the box, an empty milkshake cup overturned on the side table.

Honey was padding across the floor in her ridiculous bunny slippers, a tray balanced in her hands.

“Morning, sunshine,” she said, chipper in that dangerous way people were when they knew something you didn’t.

I pushed myself up, groaning softly as my body reminded me of the emotional storm I’d weathered last night. “You’re a saint,” I rasped. “An honest-to-goddess saint.”

She laughed and set the tray down on the bed. “I’m many things, love. But the breakfast? That wasn’t me, or my Daddies.”

I blinked. “What?” Well, now that she mentioned it, it made sense. Honey is not the kind of girl that should ever be allowed in the kitchen. She once lit a fire inside our oven thinking it was an old wood burning stove. That's a story for another day.

“The coffee, either.” She sat beside me, tucking one leg under her. "I was woken with a knock this morning, and Doc Annerly handed it to me, along with a gift. For you."

She reached into the pocket of her robe and pulled out a small, velvet jewellery box.

My chest clenched.

Wordlessly, she placed it in my hands.

My fingers fumbled with the clasp before I flipped it open—and everything inside me shattered like glass.

Nestled inside was a delicate gold chain. Simple, elegant. My mother’s necklace. The one I hadn’t thought about in ages, because remembering it meant remembering that night. The rushed escape. The door I hadn’t dared go back through.

“Why…?” I whispered, voice cracking.

“I'm guessing from the look on your face, that necklace is more important than your usual courting gift." Honey’s voice was softer now, careful.

My hands trembled as I picked it up, holding it like it might vanish. The little moonstone pendant caught the light and winked at me like it had missed me too.

Everything hurt.

The necklace. The coffee. The fact that they figured out what I liked, gave it to me without any strings attached and didn’t try to corner me with it. That they just… gave. Freely.

“What the hell am I supposed to do with this?” I asked, more to myself than to her.

Honey didn’t answer right away. Just sipped her coffee, watched me with those big, kind eyes that had always seen too much.

“I can tell you what I think,” she said at last.

I looked up, brow furrowing in question. Last night she’d been resolute in not sharing her thoughts or opinions with me.

“You should talk to them,” she said. “You don’t owe them your heart. Not after what you’ve been through. But you do owe yourself a chance to see what could happen if you stop running.”

I looked down again, at the necklace resting in my palm. I couldn’t figure out if it felt like a lifelin or a noose.

“I’m scared,” I whispered. Scared didn't even begin to cover the terror building inside me, but it was a start.

“I know.” Honey reached over and squeezed my hand. “But you’re brave too. Brave enough to start over. Brave enough to love again, if that’s what you want.”

I didn’t know what I wanted.

But for the first time, I didn’t want to run.

I turned the necklace over in my fingers once more, then looked at Honey. My voice barely a whisper. "Would you... would you call them? Annerly and William?"

Honey didn't smile, didn't tease. As always she was the best of friends that read the room, and gave me what I needed. With a nod she pulled out her phone and stepped out of the room.

I stared at the necklace the whole time, willing my hands to stop shaking.

There was a soft knock at the door about twenty minutes later.

What? Were they waiting down the damn road or something?

Honey answered the door, and I soon heard murmured voices. Low, careful and restrained.

When she led them inside, I stood, fingers clenched around the necklace, the butterflies running rampant in my stomach.

William and Annerly stepped into the living room like they were entering a sacred space. Neither pushed forward. Neither said a word at first.

William's gaze locked onto mine, his sharp Alpha intensity somehow dulled by a gentler expression I wasn't used to seeing on someone of his designation.

Annerly's eyes flicked down to the necklace around my neck before flicking back up, like he didn't want me to think he was staring at my cleavage for too long or something.

It drew a small smile from me.

"Thank you for the necklace," I said, voice tight. "You've no idea how much it meant to me."

William cleared his throat. "It's nothing, little Omega. It was yours to begin with so it was the easiest thing in the world to keep it safe for you."

Annerly added, "I saw your expression when it came loose. I'm sorry you haven't had it with you all this time. I hope one day you'll tell us why it's so special to you."

I swallowed the lump forming in my throat. "It was my mother's."

William stepped forward, just a bit. "Oh, little one," he murmured, the strange pet name doing something to me. His hand reached out as if he wished to touch me, or hold me, and the Omega in me ached to move into his embrace.

I blinked fast, then sat down to avoid the urge.

I couldn't just give in. Not that easily.

Right?

"Can we sit, pretty girl?" Annerly asked me, indicating the other chairs in the living room.

When I nodded in response they both sat down, close next to each other and William instantly claimed a spot on Annerly's thigh with his large hand.

Oh yes.

They were together .

Why was that so freaking hot?

"So..." I said, trying to break through the awkward silence that just seemed to stretch and stretch and stretch between us.

"I guess you want to know what we've been doing the last couple of years, because we're sure as hell curious about you." William started up.

"Uh. Yeah. You don't smell mated, so I guess you haven't found another Omega?"

Annerly cringed, and William moved to pull him closer, wrapping his arm around the Beta's shoulders.

Worry and confusion filled me at Annerly's expression. What was there to cringe about? Why did he need to be soothed by his Alpha?

And why the fuckity fuck wasn't I jealous of him for being cuddled by my Alpha?

Not your Alpha, Christa!

I cleared my throat to push away the unwanted thoughts. "Uh... so what happened after I ran?" This time, I cringed at the harsh words.

"You were right to run," Annerly said gently. "We know what your stepmother put you through. We don't blame you, considering your history."

I stared at them. "You don't?" Confusion filled me at Annerly's calm words.

"No, little one," William soothed with that damn sweet pet name again. "We don't blame you, but we do wish you'd given us just a few minutes because after you ran, we kind of fell apart."

Annerly looked up at his Alpha before sitting forward and holding out his hand to me in offer. I could see the hope in his expression, and something inside me wished to answer it, so I grabbed his hand, interlacing our fingers.

"When we met you the first time, we weren't ready for you. To be honest, Omega, I'm not sure we're ready for you now, but we want to be. Our pack is fractured, but we hope you will still give us a chance. Give us a chance and help us rebuild it."

Well.

What the fuck am I supposed to say to that?