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“They were and they weren’t,” he sighed. “They’re charming and know how to make an omega feel cared for and attractive. But they hated talking about feelings and deeper conversations. They also never wanted me to make decisions, my opinion wasn’t ever regarded the same.”
“That’s awful,” Dean said. “I couldn’t imagine bulldozing our omega. You deserved better.”
“I wish I’d realized it sooner,” he said.
“Are they your fated mates?” Atlas asked the question I’d contemplated a few times.
“No,” Bear admitted. “In the city, it isn’t uncommon to settle for chosen. Sometimes, it’s not settling… but oftentimes it was.”
“So, what do you want now?” I asked. “What do you want out of this?”
“A real pack,” he said emphatically. “One that makes me feel like I matter, one where I care about everyone as much as they care about me.”
“That’s bare minimum,” Ezra said. “They’re assholes for making you feel like less.”
“Agreed,” we all muttered.
“I want us to have time together,” Collin said. “I just want this first.”
“I’m okay with that,” Bear said. “You have my number if you want to talk more. I just didn’t want to go on a pack date with all this awkwardness.”
“I respect that,” I said. “I’m excited to hang out tomorrow.”
“Me, too,” he agreed, before ending the call.
“Well, that went well,” I offered up, the others snorting at my obvious need to fill the silence.
“It’s going to be fine. Dean and I will handle the plans and reservations, leave it to us.”
“I’m a little scared,” I said. “Just be nice.”
* * *
Bear
My chest tightenedwith a mix of anxiety and hope as I ended the phone call. I half expected the entire pack to run me out of town. Instead, they were inviting me into a pack date and throwing me in a group chat.
I definitely wasn’t complaining, though.
This was what I had hoped for. It wasn’t a pleasant feeling realizing you had no place in the pack you planned to spend your life with.
But every second spent on that show was torture. They acted like horny frat boys, fucking Morgan and salivating at the prospect of Ellie.
When Morgan was around, I felt like I was invisible. She had no room for another omega in her life and she worked hard to push me out. It started with small comments to slowly tear me down. I tried to explain it away, as did the guys, but when they joined in, I was done.
No mate should look at you and tell you that you need to lose weight, that you’re boring, or to stop talking when you’ve barely said a word.
My stomach rolled and I had to push down the words echoing in my head.
“Fuck them,” I muttered. Yet I still pulled out my phone, glancing at the pictures in the folder. Image after image of the three of us, living our lives and smiling at the camera. We traveled and had plans together.
Apparently, that meant nothing.
I meant nothing.
A notification popped on screen and I thought my phone broke for a moment, the screen blurry. Then I felt the warm tears coursing down my cheeks. I swiped them away so I could read the message, surprised to see Collin’s name pop on screen.
Collin: So… we’re mates.
