“He didn’t even recognize me. My omega called him out, and then he practically begged me to meet him for lunch. I guess he wanted to say his piece, and honestly, I wanted to say mine.”
“Was that today, baby? What did he say to you?” Now she was in full ‘protective mom’ mode. The woman was small, but mighty. I had a feeling if my guys didn’t get to him first, she’d kick his ass.
“It’s hard to talk to me when you don’t even show up. He stood me up, Mom. I sat there for hours, and sometime during that wait it just felt like all of the fight just drained out of me. Now I’m just sitting here unable to get out of this weird funk.”
“Oh, baby.” Her voice cracked. “I’m so sorry. I hate that man for what he’s done.”
“I hate him, too, and now I know never to trust him again. But my pack doesn’t deserve this, and I don’t know what’s going on. I’ve never been this emotional.”
“Did you bond with any of your pack members?”
I’d left that part out. It felt like a bit of an overshare, even with my mom, who I told everything to.
“Yes. Two of them.”
“I’m going to hold your hand when I say this—digitally, of course, because we’re not exactly close—but I’m guessing this is a pre-heat and your emotions just got to be too much and your omega sort of shut down on you.”
“I’m not due for a heat and only half mated,” I argued. “This doesn’t feel like heat, either. It’s like instant melancholy to the extreme. I’m numb.”
“It happened to me once. It was my first heat after he was gone. I had suppressed it, but for some reason I couldn’t shake it. I went to the clinic, and ended up in heat. After it was over I was feeling normal again. I probably would have sooner if I had a mate to help me through it.”
“I don’t want to wait a few days if this is our first heat together.”
“The difference is they’re there with you, baby. They can take care of you if you let them. You just have to reassure your omega that it’s okay to let it happen.”
That was easier said than done. She was just as wounded as I was.
As far as omegas went, rejection wasn’t exactly something we handled well.
Apparently, even parental rejection fell in that category.
“Have those boys take you shopping for your nest. Spend some time building it with them, and I think you’ll be fine. If you don’t want to go through the heat right now, though, then you need to get to the clinic. Now.”
I looked at Rylan.
“You know all four of us are here for you,” he promised.
Relief flooded through me. “No. I don’t need the clinic.”
“Then, it’s time for some of those really awkward conversations. Make sure you talk boundaries, bites, the works.”
“How long do I have?”
“With the way you feel… hours or days. You never know. The first heat as a pack, especially when there are uneven bonds, can be dicey. But don’t let that force you into something you’re not ready for.”
“Okay, Mom. I’m going to go handle this. Thank you.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa. I heard that young man talk. I’m going to need his information so I can check in on you.”
I handed my phone over to Rylan before resting my head against the pile of soft jerseys, breathing in my pack and trying to convince my omega that we were safe, that this was okay.
Or was I convincing myself?
When they hung up, Rylan pulled me closer, squeezing me tight. “The game will be over soon, and we’ll go get your nesting supplies tonight. I looked it up while you were talking. They’re open late.”
“Okay,” I whispered.
My eyes drifted closed, exhaustion finally taking over. I woke up to someone picking me up out of the nest.
