Page 50 of Their Knotty Pack (Starbrook City Omegaverse #3)

I tense at the protective growl that rips out of both Hunter and Kieran's chests, and my eyes catch on Bethany standing in the doorway, a shocked and hurt look on her face.

I'm sorry, what ?

"What? Dad, this is my…my pack. I wanted to tell you, but…"

"But you didn't want to tell me that your girlfriend and her boyfriends are taking advantage of my son, living in his house, using him?"

Shit.

This…this is not what I thought was going to happen. I didn't think they would understand, of course, but I didn't expect the repulsion in their expressions either.

"We're not using him," Bethany jumps in. "Miles and I both decided that the alphas would move in because—" she cuts herself off, realizing she'll reveal my omega nature if she tells the truth. She changes directions. "I love your son. More than I've ever loved anyone."

"Th en how," Mom's voice is tearful as she looks at Bethany, "can you bring other men into your relationship? Your bed?"

"I…" Bethany looks down, shame coloring her cheeks. "They're my true scent matches."

"Then stop being selfish and let him go," Mom hisses, and Bethany's expression looks like she's about to start crying. The alphas are trying to inch closer to her without being obvious, but Kieran's the only one who ignores all semblance of polite-ness and gathers her in his arms.

Thank fuck.

After all of the work we went through to make her realize that choosing them wasn't telling me that I was less important…she's not going to correct them. She's going to let them keep thinking the worst of her, just so she can keep my secret safe.

"I can't." She sniffs, meeting my gaze across the room. She pushes shaky reassurance at me through the bond.

No. No, I can't let this continue.

Dad's face has been turning even more red the longer the conversation goes on. "This is not how—"

"They're my true scent match too." The words burst out of me, and the room goes so silent you could hear a pin drop.

"Miles, it's okay—" Bethany starts, but I shake my head.

"Bethany is my true scent match as well." There. The truth. Most of it, anyway.

"That's impossible," Dad argues. "You don't have a scent. You never have. You can't scent-match someone if you don't have a scent. And a beta scent-matching with an omega is already a rare occurrence."

"I do have a scent, Dad." My heart is nearly pounding out of my chest. I swallow roughly. "Blueberry, and…dark chocolate."

"But…" he shakes his head, his eyes widening, "but that would mean you're a…"

"An omega." I confirm, ignoring the tears welling in my eyes to stare my dad head on. "I didn't designate until college. I never wanted to tell you, because of the community you raised me in…" The community that believed male omegas and female alphas were blasphemous against the gods.

Dad looks at me like he's never seen me before, and suddenly, I'm surrounded by my pack.

Brody and Hunter are behind me, Kieran places Bethany between him and I, and Damien comes on my other side.

All the alphas purr, their chests vibrating with pure comfort.

"I can't change who I am." I will not cry.

Not with my pack at my back, supporting me every step of the way.

"Believe me, I've tried. And I was only ever miserable.

So I'm sorry if this isn't what you envisioned for your son, but it's my life. "

Mom looks at me, tears running down her cheeks as she looks me over. But there's no disgust or revulsion in her eyes. Instead, it's like everything makes sense.

"Mom?" I ask when she just continues to stare, and then she crosses the room, wrapping her arms around me.

"I'm so sorry, my baby boy," she sniffles, and my arms hesitantly come around her. "I'm so sorry that you didn't feel like you could tell us, and I'm sorry for how we just treated your pack. We just…we thought you were a beta. And we just want the best for you."

"Mom…" I sigh, relaxing a fraction. "Even if I was a beta, I still could have been a part of this pack."

She sniffs, stepping back from me as she wipes her eyes. "Well, I know, but we're just so used to…"

"Betas having one partner?" Damien jumps in, making Mom jump like she forgot they were all there.

"Um, yes." She nods, her cheeks reddening.

Dad is still staring me with that weird look on his face. "Dad?" I ask, my voice sounding small.

"I …" he sighs, running a hand through his hair. "I keep wondering what I did wrong."

My stomach drops in disappointment. "You think something about your parenting biologically changed me into an omega?"

"What?" He shakes his head. "No. I…feel like I failed somewhere, that you didn't think you could come to us with this. We would have made sure you were taken care of, son."

"I've been taking care of myself—" I feel a nudge from who I'm sure is Damien. "I was taking care of myself, Dad." I give Damien a pointed look, but he just winks at me. "But now, we're all taking care of each other."

Dad regards us for a moment, his face unreadable as his eyes log every point of contact from my pack. Hunter's protective hand on my shoulder, Kieran's and Damien's shoulders touching mine, Brody's chest against my back. Bethany's fingers threaded through mine.

For the first time, I think I truly understand what it means to be pack.

"Good." Dad finally says, nodding. "The more eyes looking out for my son's wellbeing, the better." His words have my jaw dropping. It's…it's that easy? "Looking at you now, it's a wonder I never saw it before." He gives a small smile, shaking his head, before stepping up to me and opening his arms.

"What about…" I clear my throat, shifting my feet. "What about the community views? On male omegas and female alphas? About them being abominations?"

"They can go fuck themselves," Dad says fiercely, surprising the hell out of me. "I never put much stock into what they say anyway, the community…it was just a safe place for you to grow up. I'm sorry I didn't see how that was going to affect you."

His response has tears welling in my eyes, and it's second nature to hug my dad, our arms banding around each other. He's only a little bigger than me, but somehow I feel like a little kid again. Mom sn iffles again, drawing my eyes before coming up to the two of us and joining our hug.

We break apart, all a little teary eyed, and Mom steps towards Bethany.

My hackles go up immediately, because I am not a fan of how they were treating her two minutes ago, but Mom surprises me by taking her hands.

"Bethany, sweetie, we are so sorry. We never should have spoken to you like that.

We just…we've always worried about Miles.

He's too sweet for his own good. And when it looked like he might be being taken advantage of, we panicked, and we lashed out. You didn't deserve that."

"Thank you," Bethany gives a small smile, "I meant what I said. I love Miles. So much that it scares me."

"I can tell," Dad steps in, "you were going to continue to let us think the worst of you, just so you could help keep Miles' secret.

" She looks at him warily, and he has the good sense to look sheepish.

"I'm sorry too, Bethany, and to the rest of you," he adds, acknowledging all of the pack, "for not respecting your pack as I should have. "

The guys seem to relax as they all accept his apology.

"Now, I don't know much about alphas…" Dad says, rubbing the back of his neck, "but everyone loves good food, right? We'd like to treat you all to dinner, if you'll have us." Mom nods in agreement behind him.

Holy shit. My parents…they not only accepted me, but…they're actually trying .

Then I glance at my pack, but they all look to me, letting me make the decision.

My parents look at us with so much hope, I can't help the feeling of lightness that takes over my chest. "Can we have an hour to get ready?"

Dad nods once. "Take all the time you need."

We retreat upstairs, each member of my pack taking a turn to hold me, including Hunter. They tell me how proud they are of me for telling the truth, and then I get to Bethany, who was willing to defame herself for me.

"I'm proud of you," she says, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me.

"I don't deserve you," I murmur against her lips.

"Yeah, well, you'll get there eventually." She giggles as I release her and chase her into the nest, the rest of our pack looking after us with longing in their eyes.

Maybe we'll all get there eventually.