Zinn’s heart squeezed at the dejection in his omega father’s voice. At least he’d admitted Zeller had given birth. It was something.
Father looked at Daddy in disbelief. “No! We’re not going to make nice.” He scowled at Zinn. “You’ve come to our house, after our son just died, to tell us you’re stealing our grandsons and then you and Asher are never coming back again. You ran away.” He gritted his teeth. “You should have stayed gone! Not waltzed back in here and shown us how lewd you are. How far you’ve fallen.”
“You are so wrong,” Assa piped in. “And the irony that you of all people would complain about someonestealingyour grandchildren.” He exhaled. “Instead of trying to make amends with this wonderful man who is your son, you’re wasting the chance. Shame on you.”
“It’s disgusting,” Wes said sternly. “You don’t even know Zinn. Your own child. He’s an amazing artist, an in-demand baker, a father, and a partner. We are so lucky he found us, that Ryde gets to have his omega daddy in his life. And you’re just horrible, awful men.”
Daddy made a squeaking noise. A tear slipped down his face, but he didn’t protest.
Assa’s and Wes’s loathing was palpable. Zinn supposed betas had a different view of parenthood, considering the lengths they had to go through to become fathers. It was one thing for them to hear stories of Zinn’s parents’ disregard, but another to see it up close.
Assa got up from his chair and sat on Zinn’s lap, cradling his head in his hands as Father grimaced at them. “I wanted you to have closure, precious. The kind I never got with my dad.” He leaned in closer so only Zinn could hear. “Keyes is an asshole, so maybe you don’t need an apology. Maybe you just need to say your piece.”
He went back to his seat, but not before leveling Father with a side-eye that distinctly said,you’re a flaming pile of garbage.
Perhaps Zinn did just need to say his piece. He’d done it, in a way, when he left the estate. But it felt different now, with the love of his partners behind him.
He glared at his alpha father. “What you did to me, taking my child and forcing me to have an operation—those were monstrous things.” He spared a glance for Daddy. “You made my omega daddy a monster, forced him to be complicit, and my brother Jem. And all for what? A reputation that gets you status, but an empty home.”
“We gave you everything,” Father growled. “An education, opportunity, books and art supplies to keep you happy. We introduced you to the best people. You never appreciated it. And you repaid us by spitting in our faces.”
“You never gave me things to keep me happy. You gave me things to keep me quiet. And the minute I tried to use my voice, to ask for the one thing I wanted for myself, you made me a prisoner and violated my trust—”
“We protected you!”
Father said it with so much conviction, Zinn knew he truly believed it. And Zinn realized that the stubborn alpha wouldnever understand what he’d done, or why he’d been wrong to do it.
“I’m sorry.” Daddy spoke softly, tears falling from his cheeks down into his lap. “I should have done better. It’s not an excuse, but I didn’t think I could. I know now that I was wrong.” He swiped his hand across his nose and glanced at Asher. “You can take Lanni and Bevin. Maybe, once they’re settled, I can call them?”
Asher, obviously stunned by the quick acquiescence, simply nodded.
“Now wait just a minute!” Father protested.
Daddy held up a hand.
“My love, this is for the best. I can’t do it again. Can’t be anyone’s parent. I’m not strong enough for it.” Father opened his mouth to disagree, but Daddy was adamant. “Let it go, Keyes. You don’t really want the boys. It’s obvious that Asher and Zinn are more than capable. We’ll figure something else out.”
Keyes stood abruptly. Zinn thought he might continue to argue, but he had a soft spot for his omega’s tears. And Zinn suspected Daddy was right. Father had no actual interest in raising two omega grandsons.
“I’m going to my office,” Father announced. He looked at Asher. “Pack up the boys’ things and be gone by tonight. You’re still our heir—for now—but it would be best to handle things through our lawyers for the time being. And don’t expect any money anytime soon. We’ll figure out a reasonable explanation for why you reside in Bellwether. And you need to stick to your word of not airing our family business to the media.”
“Agreed.”
Turning to Zinn, Father said, “When you were young, you were the picture-perfect omega son. Quiet and mindful. Never caused a problem. Daddy and I had big plans for your future. Then you squandered every opportunity we gave you by being headstrongand defiant.” He eyed Zinn’s partners. “At least you landed, I suppose.”
Zinn reared back slightly. The words were as close to an admission of grudging acceptance as he could ever hope to get from Keyes Parkenson.
“Thank you for introducing me to your family,” Daddy said. “And for coming here to collect Jem’s boys. I’m sure it wasn’t easy.”
Zinn would never fully forgive his omega father. After years of fighting to find Ryde, he could not fathom that Daddy had sat on the sidelines and allowed his husband to inflict so much pain on their child. Still, Zinn felt for him, and was grateful to have his apology and his acknowledgement that he should have done things differently.
But it did not affect his resolve that he would never return to this place.
He could offer Daddy a few hours of his time today. A way of saying goodbye. He imagined Asher would occasionally visit, perhaps bring Jem’s boys, but he never would.
He told Daddy about his life, about getting off the train and wandering into Felton’s a few days later. Zinn gave him the abbreviated version of how he’d gone from being a single, angry omega to happier than he’d ever dreamed of being within a family of nine. Daddy still looked uncomfortable at the mention of polyamory, but he appeared to be making an effort not to let any judgement show on his face.
He thought about having the boys come back into the room to spend more time with their grandfather. Especially since they’d only heard the angry words. But ultimately, he decided against it. Perhaps Asher would allow Lanni and Bevin to speak to Deveron on the phone. But Zinn’s children never would. They would know their cousins, but they needn’t be connected to the elder Parkensons.
