Page 49 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

Miles

W e're just about to pull into the driveway when a red truck parked in front of the house makes my blood run cold. "Fuck!" I panic, making Bethany startle awake off my shoulder. "Shit, fuck, shit!"

"What!?" Titus panics, nearly slamming on the brakes.

"What's wrong?" Bethany asks, grabbing my arm and sending soothing feelings through the bond.

I can't take my eyes off the truck though. "My parents are here." They must have let themselves in, they still have the key I gave them when I moved in.

This wasn't supposed to happen. I must have gone too long ignoring their calls. They got worried about me and came all the way here to make sure I'm okay.

Our only saving grace is that nobody else is home yet.

Bethany's grip tightens on my arm. "It's okay, babe, we'll figure it out."

"Do you want me to make a few laps before dropping you off?" Titus asks, his eyes catching mine in the rear-view mirror.

"We don't have anywhere to be, Miles," Hannah reassures me. "You can take all the time you need."

"I might need a few…weeks." I swallow roughly, pulling the little terrycloth headband out of my hair, and Wren gives me a wry smile.

" That might be pushing it."

"It's fine," I let out a breath, steeling myself. "I'm going to have to face them sooner or later, right?"

Bethany wraps her arms around me, filling my nose with her addicting scent. Then I get an idea. Maybe…maybe we can pass off our combined scents as Bethany's scent. My parents are betas, they won't be able to scent the difference.

"Are you sure?" Cady asks, turning in her seat to look at me.

I nod. "Yeah, I…have it figured out."

Bethany shoots me a questioning look, but I wait until we're out of the car and Titus has driven away to take her hands in mine. "Please…just go with me on this, okay?"

Her brows furrow in confusion. "On what, exactly? Aren't you going to tell your parents—"

"That I'm a happily bonded pack beta and your scent is a unique combination of raspberry, blueberry, dark chocolate and hibiscus?"

Her expression softens in understanding. "Miles…"

"I know. I know that I need to tell them, but…next time. When I've had ample opportunity to prepare for their visit instead of having it sprung on us." I give her my best puppy-dog look. "Please?"

Her eyes flit between mine for a second before her head falls back. "Dammit, Miles! I'm supposed to be immune to other omegas! Fine. But only if you promise to tell them next time."

Relief fills my chest as I move her hair to cover her bite marks. She gives me an amused smile until I lean down, grab her face, and kiss her deeply. "Thank you," I tell her, pressing our foreheads together.

"There you two are!" Dad's voice calls from the front porch, and I let my surprise show.

"Da d? What are you doing here?"

"We let ourselves in because your car was in the driveway and we wanted to surprise you, but then when you weren't home, and were just watching some TV." Mom explains, coming onto the porch next to dad.

Grabbing Bethany's hand, I lead her up to the porch.

"Mom, Dad, this is Bethany." Looking at Dad is like looking into a mirror that shows twenty-five years into my future.

The resemblance is so striking that even I can see it.

His black hair is cut shorter than I keep mine, and of course he doesn't dye his blue.

I get my eyes from Mom though, and she gives Bethany a once-over, warmth in her gaze.

Bethany gives a shy smile, leaning into me. "It's nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Hawthorne."

"Oh please," Mom waves her off, "Jenna and Neal. We came because…" she turns to me. "Well, to be honest Miles, we thought maybe you and Bethany broke up and you weren't taking it well. But now I see that we were wrong?" She looks between the two of us.

"You guys didn't have to drive all the way out here," I say, pulling Bethany closer. Mostly because I want her closer, but also because when my parents inevitably hug me, I need to be able to tell them my scent is from her.

"We were worried, son," Dad says, the hard lines of his face turning down into a frown. "It's been two weeks of dodged calls and flimsy excuses. We needed to make sure you were alright."

"I know," I sigh, rubbing a hand over my face. "I know. I'm sorry. Let's…let's go inside. We can talk."

And I can figure out how to convince them to leave soon.

By the time we're settled at the breakfast nook, glasses of iced tea on the table, Mom and Dad are looking around the kitchen, their gazes wandering. At least they had believed me when I passed off my scent as Bethany's, and didn’t ask any more questions.

Mom 's brow furrows. "I can't put my finger on it, but there's something…"

"Different," Dad says, frowning. "Did you redo the tiles? The house is looking good."

"No…listen, you guys, I have something to tell you." Just say it. Tell them you and Bethany found a pack and you're happily bonded.

Then, we hear the front door open.

Dad frowns. "Were you two expecting company?"

No, because nobody is supposed to be home for another hour.

"Bethany? Miles?" Brody's voice sounds from the front room, and my gaze darts to my parents in a panic. They just look confused. "Are you guys back from your day of pampering—" Brody stops short in the doorway of the kitchen, tie loosened and sleeves of his button-up shirt rolled up.

He looks between the four of us, confusion clear on his face.

"Um, hi," he rubs the back of his neck. "I'm Brody."

Fuck. What the hell do I say?

I shoot Bethany a panicked glance, and she shrugs, her eyes wide.

My parents give us questioning looks before turning back to Brody. "Hi Brody," Mom says politely. "Are you one of Miles' and Bethany's friends?"

"Brody lives here," Bethany says quickly. Then winces at the pure bewilderment in his expression.

"Brody, these are my parents." I motion to Mom and Dad. "Neal and Jenna. They popped in for a surprise visit." Brody's mouth forms an "o", before he nods.

"Gotcha. It’s great to meet you two, I'm going to run upstairs and get changed."

"Brody is an alpha." Dad states, looking between Bethany and I. Then he shakes his head. "If you needed money, son, you should have just asked, not resorted to renting one of the bedrooms. You don't know how dangerous it is to have an unmated alpha near your omega."

A protective growl rips out of my chest at the insinuation that Brody would be anything other than a gentleman.

Luckily, Bethany covers for me, pretending to swallow her iced tea wrong and forcing herself into a coughing fit so that my parents fuss over her for a second.

I take the opportunity to send out a quick text to the rest of the pack. Why didn't I think to do that sooner?

Me

Surprise visit from my parents. They don't know I'm an omega. Cover story is I'm a beta. Bethany's scent is the combination of our scents. I'll tell them the truth next time. Please don't come into the kitchen when you get home.

Hunter

I'm not a fan of lying but I'll support whatever you feel like you need to do. But I do expect a broader explanation later.

Please.

Brody

That text five minutes ago would have been super helpful

Damien

Will it be weird if I ask them to see your baby pictures?

Ignoring Damien and shoving my phone back in my pocket, I rub my hand over Bethany's back.

"You okay?" I ask, feigning concern.

"Yeah," she chokes out, her face red.

Oh shit. Had she actually been coughing?

"Sh it, I'm sorry baby," I murmur, rubbing a little harder.

"Miles…" Mom says once Bethany is settled.

"What is it?" I ask, my brows furrowed.

Her eyes go between us, her gaze suddenly more analytical as she studies Bethany.

The front door opens again. What the hell? The one day I don't want anyone coming home before five and everyone decides to come home early?

"You guys home?" Kieran's voice calls out, and Bethany quickly stands, presumably to head him off. He's the only one who didn't answer the text I sent, so he must have been driving already.

Bethany isn't fast enough, and Kieran opens the door before she can leave the kitchen, quickly sweeping her into a kiss before she can say another word.

Mom and Dads jaws drop.

My stomach drops.

The iced tea that Bethany had been holding in her hand drops.

She rips herself away from him, cursing as she runs to grab a paper towel to clean up the mess. Dad suddenly stands to his feet. "Another alpha? Miles, what the hell is going on here? And why is he kissing your girlfriend?"

Kieran seems to notice my parents for the first time through all the chaos, and now his eyes are widening in confusion. "And you are…?"

"Oh my gods." I run a hand over my face. "Mom, Dad, will you give us just a second?"

Before they can answer, I'm grabbing Kieran by the arm and he's letting me lead him back into the living room.

Sorry Bethany, I grimace at the thought of leaving her to fend for herself with my parents, but I can't go back for her now.

"Did you see the text I sent?" I hiss, stopping in front of the couch.

"No?" His brow furrows. "What text? Who are those people?"

"My parents," I sigh, running a hand over my face. "We're…they don't know I'm an omega. It's complicated. But to them, I'm a beta, and I'm passing off my scent as Bethany's."

Kieran frowns. "Wouldn't it just be easier if you told them the truth?"

"The truth about what?" Dad storms in, looking flustered. "Miles, what is going on in this house?"

And of course, it's that moment that Hunter and Damien quietly open the front door like they're going to try to sneak in. It would have worked, if I had stayed in the kitchen like I was supposed to.

"More alphas?!" Dad's face is turning red, and Brody's footsteps halt at the bottom of the stairs.

Oh good, we're all here.

"I'm flattered, sir, but I'm actually a beta," Damien smirks, and I want to facepalm.

"Is she fucking all of you?" The disgust is clear in his tone.