Page 40 of Where There’s Smoke (Fire House Omegas #2)

Melody

W hy were my parents at Station Seventeen?

How the hell did they even know I was there? It only took me a second to realize that it was without a doubt Reed who’d told them I was staying here. He told them everything. Reason one million that I hated him.

Maybe that was why he was the favorite.

Putting the pot of pasta down, I wiped my hands on my jeans nervously, my heartbeat climbing up as a nervous rumble in my stomach set up shop.

“This can’t be good,” I muttered as I followed Elliot out of the kitchen.

“They’re in my office. I thought it best we avoid another Smoke family discussion in the lobby,” Elliot said.

He had a point. The lobby had been the location where both of my brothers and I had talked—and made a scene, thanks to Reed’s delightful “request” that I return with him. Maybe a slightly more private location would be better.

My nerves hummed, and my nausea only got worse with each step.

I didn’t want to do this. I’d distanced myself from my parents for a reason, and there was no way this was going to go well.

My thoughts spiraled, landing on each worst-case scenario it could come up with.

Sweat tickled my brow, and my pulse was so hard and fast I could practically taste it.

My parents were sitting in the office when we arrived, a look of superiority on their faces, as if they were better than everyone else in the room.

My mother was wearing what looked like a knock-off designer tweed skirt and blazer, and my father was in a polo shirt and slacks.

Next to them stood Reed, wearing a suit that was immaculate and far too expensive.

All of them were doing their best to look more important than they really were.

Everything is always about image with them. God, I hate it.

“Melody!” My mother, Janet Smoke, jumped up at the sight of me, rushing over and pulling me into a hug. I couldn’t distinguish her scent over the expensive perfume she layered on in an attempt to seem affluent.

It was cloying, and I had to resist the urge to gag.

And it hit me. I stilled. When was the last time my mother had hugged me? She was far from touchy-feely. Hell, as far as doting mothers went, she only ever managed that for Reed. This was…odd.

“M-mom?” I asked, just standing there dumbly as she hugged me. “What are you doing here?”

Her face fell; it was almost believable, but I knew her better than that. “I wanted to see you! We miss you, and we’re worried.”

I was grateful for Elliot’s presence behind me because this felt so damn weird. My mother wasn’t like this. She didn’t fret over me or anything that didn’t have to do with her precious reputation. Reed and Dad were quiet, looking on as if they didn’t regularly speak over my mother.

Pulling back from her, I instinctively moved toward Elliot, my brows pinched together as I stared at my mother like she might explode at any minute—a robot malfunctioning.

“A phone call would have sufficed. And there’s the fact that I’ve asked you not to contact me or spring things on me like this.”

My mother waved off my comments. “Oh, nonsense. I need to be there for you.”

Wrong. This is all wrong.

As the nausea peaked, I heard footsteps behind me and was relieved to see Samson and Fitz joining us.

Turning back to my mother, I shook my head. “You must want something if you came all this way,” I insisted.

“It's time for you to come home,” Reed said, his stiff posture not changing as he spoke.

I turned to him, my face crumpled in confusion. “Didn’t I tell you before? I am home.”

He glowered at me. “You know what I mean. New York.”

Every sentence he said just furthered my confusion. I had been living on the West Coast for years. There was zero reason for me to return. My life was in California.

“I have no interest in going back to New York, Reed.”

His glare intensified, and I hated the way fear tickled the back of my throat.

“You don't want to come home?” my mother asked, pouting, as if she was hurt by my rejection.

“Of course she does, Janet.” My father grizzled. “She's had her time to play independent, and now it's time to come home and settle down.”

I looked between my family members, trying to find the words to express just how baffled I felt. They hadn't given a single crap about me in the last five years. Why did they care now all of a sudden? Why wouldn’t they listen? Why push me to go back with them?

“This is ridiculous. I live here. I have. For five years, no less. I thought you guys accepted long ago that I wasn't going to settle down with the kind of man you wanted me to,” I pointed out.

My mother nodded thoughtfully. “Well, while you are difficult, I suppose it's understandable, given your change in designation.”

Ah. My change in designation.

Was that why they had turned up?

“What does that have to do with anything?” I asked cautiously.

“Well, naturally, we made missteps when we were looking for suitable matches for you. As an omega, it’s understandable that you needed alphas. It's no wonder none of the betas we matched you with appealed to you.”

“It's just biology,” my father grumbled.

“But this is a good thing,” my mother insisted, clasping both my hands in hers and beaming at me. “Packs are so much more affluent. Your prospects just increased! You know, we have business relationships with several different packs who are doing very well for themselves.”

She was grinning as she spoke. My chest pinched as any hope I had for them sank faster than the Titanic.

“Her prospects ?” Elliot growled softly, and I flicked my eyes to him, witnessing the undeniable irritation and outrage.

My mother didn't notice the growl and just nodded excitedly.

They weren’t concerned about me. They were merely concerned with what I could do for them.

I was a meal ticket, a chance for them to gain more.

To my parents and brother, I was nothing but a way to land them in a “better” social circle, so they could harp off any of the undoubtedly “rich” packs they would be setting me up with.

It was no secret that packs tended to be wealthier.

Alphas often dominated in business, and when there were packs of four or five of them, it was normal that they would generate substantial wealth.

It was one of the reasons that omegas were often extremely spoiled.

Because they had so many partners who could financially provide for them.

Clearly, my family had learned about my change in designation and had only seen dollar signs.

“I understand why you might want that for me, but I don’t want that. I want to stay here,” I said, trying to keep my tone polite.

“Well, that's not really your choice,” Reed said, his tone as smug as ever, making Elliot step up closer to me.

“Excuse me? It’s certainly not yours.” My words were sharp as I turned to him.

“Melody! Be polite to your brother,” my mother admonished, her face twisting with that exaggerated disgust she was so good at.

“You're an omega. Omegas are a protected class,” Reed explained, a smug smile spreading across his face. “Technically, we are still your guardians. Well, our parents are. If they want you to come home to New York, you don't really have a choice…”

“What a load of bullshit!” I laughed, shaking my head.

“Melody!” My father had always disapproved of swearing, and right now I felt like tossing them all at him for good measure.

I turned to look at the guys, who all looked equally pissed. Only, they didn't say anything to disagree with what my brother had just said, which worried me. Panic flared brighter, and I turned to face Elliot, keeping my voice low.

“Is this true?” I asked. My stomach was officially on the floor.

Fitz grimaced, answering instead of his pack mate. “It's true that parents do have some more rights when it comes to their omega children. They can't just force you to move across the country at the drop of a hat, though.”

“Actually, we can. I happen to be a lawyer.” My brother's tone was as smug as ever, and physical violence sounded more and more like a good idea.

Elliot glowered at him, stepping forward and towering over him.

“You're in law school . You're not actually a lawyer yet. Do you know how incredibly illegal it is to give legal advice when you're a lawyer, when you haven’t even passed the bar yet? I think the New York Bar Association will be very interested in that.” His voice was a low, dangerous growl, and at his words, my brother's face paled.

I bit back a smile. The sight of Elliot scaring my brother brought me far more glee than I wanted to admit. Except, screw it. They’d all been horrible, and I wasn’t going to bend over and just let them walk all over me.

“And I’m sure there are a few skeletons in that closet of yours that you wouldn’t want my lawyer digging up.”

What did Elliot mean by that? In any case, seeing Reed—as well as my parents—so shaken after his words, I was feeling more confident.

Folding my arms, I glared at all of them. “I will not be moving. This is my home.”

“We have legal claims, young lady,” my father replied. “You will do as we say.”

“So, sue me or whatever. I’m not coming back with you, and furthermore”—I stepped forward and then turned sharply, going to the door of Elliot’s office and jabbing my hand outside into the hall—“you are not welcome here, and I insist that you leave.”

My parents spluttered, their words faltering and failing to form coherent sentences.

Even Reed was at a loss. The guys helped to direct them toward the door, ushering them out.

My heart hammered against my ribs when they came back from officially kicking my family out.

Fury still radiated through my blood, but so did anxiety.

I didn’t have a lawyer or understand the laws when it came to omegas.

What was I supposed to do about all this?

Elliot could clearly tell that I was spiraling, and he came up to me as I stood in front of his desk, putting his hands on my shoulders.

“We’ll call a lawyer—a real one. And hell, he’s damn good, considering it’s Fitz’s money that pays for him.”

I nodded at him. “Okay, yeah. Let’s do that. I…I don’t want to leave. I hate them. I can’t live all the way across the country and never see you guys. You’re…you’re my real family.”

Emotion washed over each of the three alphas I adored, and they surrounded me in a huddle.

“You won’t be going anywhere, firecracker.” Fitz hugged me as Samson rubbed my back and Elliot pressed his lips to the top of my head. “We won’t let anyone take you, least of all them.”

Fear still clung to me, but for at least a moment, I allowed myself to lean on my alphas. This was far from a good situation, but we had each other. Right?

I breathed them in, focusing on their scents.

Yes, I had my guys. I had a new life out here, and I wasn’t going to let my family take it from me.

No matter what.