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“How does this come to be in this house?”
“How do you mean?”
“Jack had my treasure box.”
“He stole it.”
“Oh? And how do you know that? I didn’t know it had gone until we moved to Hertfordshire.”
“Beatrice, what does it matter? Tell me what they did to upset you, darling.”
“They are not the reason I am upset, Mama. What did you do Mama? Or was it Papa? If you don’t tell me, I’ll ask them.”
Her face drained of colour. No matter that she was an alpha, she was my mother. The woman who had born me. Who had showered me with love and attention and her protection from my first breath? “Mother…” I growled. “Why does he have my box?”
“He wasn’t worthy of you. Nineteen and with no prospects. The uneducated son of a print maker. You were the jewel in the Hartwell crown. Beautiful, clever, possessed with every omega grace and virtue. Your father and I cherished you as if you were an—. Alphas and omegas are equal, but if we’d only had omegas, know I was proud you were my daughter. Could look as high as you wished. Your choice was that of a child who’d yet to see the sun. Of course, I ensured that he left and never came back. I wanted you to have everything. Not be confined by your mate’s estate.”
“But he was my choice, Mama.”
She stepped towards me, her hand reaching out, and a face that mingled fear with fury. “He was not worthy of your choosing.”
“How?”
“How?” Her posture stiffened.
“How did you—” I stopped, realising that if I did not push her I might never learn the truth. “If you don’t tell me, I will go to them.”
“I made it impossible for him to stay.”
“Mama,” my omega’s growl grew in strength.
“I—” She ripped her gloves off. “I don’t want you to hate me. You shouldn’t hate me.”
The silence stretched out. I’d done my asking. It was her turn to talk.
“Very well. He would have been charged with your rape.”
“Rape.” My teeth hurt I ground them so hard. I needed to do something or else I’d launch myself and claw her eyes out for what she had done.
“It was the only way to keep him as far from you as possible. Until you found a better alpha. We hoped your bite would fade.”
“Papa would not—”
“Your father was a good mate. He knew I was right.”
Her words were a slap. Their teachings that alphas and omegas were equal meant nothing in their relationship where my father was meant to submit to my mother. How had we never seen it? Polly had, I realised. Just myself and the twins believed them to manifest their ideals.
“Your actions meant I spent a decade miserable!” I cried out.
“That was his fault. A true alpha—”
“Out! Do not dare tell me what a true alpha would or would not do. A true alpha? What is that? Certainly not one who ruined their child’s happiness and considers themselves justified in accusing an innocent man of rape! He could have been executed. You were happy to kill a man because you thought him unworthy. You disgust me.”
“I did it for the best!”
“Liar. You did this for you. How—” I broke off, my words choking me. For one of the few times in my life, I stopped myself from speaking out of anger or passion. I shook my head.
“I always put omegas first!” she declared. “You do not understand. Our society must ensure omegas are afforded every opportunity. Mating a nobody would have taken that from you.”
