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She says it so matter-of-factly that I’m inclined to take her word for it. A yawn takes over before I can say anything else, and she pulls me against her as she lays us down on the couch, snuggling against me as she curls around my back, clasping a hand with mine against my abdomen.
“Nap. Then we’ll brave your family together.”
She places a kiss on my cheek and then lays her head against mine. I close my eyes, smiling.
***
I take a deep breath as I park the car in front of the two-story brick home that I grew up in. Unlike our pack and Ripley’s parent’s place, my parents live in the suburbs with plenty of neighbors around. Little kids laugh and scream as they chase each other down the sidewalk as we get out of the car. Ripley grabs my hand when we meet at the front of the car, and I smile at her, albeit a little tightly. I’m not ready to deal with Grace.
“Come on. We’ve got this.” Ripley says, squeezing my hand encouragingly.
The front door swings open as we walk up the steps, my mother’s smiling face greeting us. She rushes out and wraps her arms around me, squeezing me tight and forcing me to let go of Ripley’s hand so I can hug her back. Her dark chocolate scent envelops me, bringing with it the comfort only a mother can give her child. I feel myself relax instantly in her hold.
“Oh, my baby. I’ve missed you!” she says.
“Ma, it’s only been a few months since you visited last.” I snort.
“Pish posh. Any amount of time away from my kids is too long. You’ll see one day,” she responds as she pulls back.
My mother is about Ripley’s height, with soft brown waves that stop between her shoulder blades. Her skin is a much lighter shade than mine, closer to Ripley’s coloring. Her eyes are my own, however. I got her steely eyes and cheekbones.
She flicks a glance at the omega beside me and beams at her. “Oh, look at you! You are just the prettiest thing.” She breathes out as she moves toward Ripley, pulling her into her arms as she did me.
Ripley hugs the woman back, saying, “It’s nice to meet you, Ma’am.”
When my mother pulls back, she places her hands on Ripley’s shoulders as she takes a good look at her.
“I’m Talia, but you can call me Mom or Mama Talia or just Talia, pretty girl. No ‘Mrs.’ or ‘ma’am’ in this house. You’ll make me feel old, got it?” She raises a brow.
Ripley laughs and nods her head. “Okay, Mama Talia.”
Ma’s answering smile is bright and cheerful at hearing Ripley call her that. She takes her hand and starts dragging her inside, leaving me behind. I roll my eyes as I follow the pair inside. Ma leads us through the house into the backyard, where everyone else is. I see my father first, and he grins at the sight of me, putting his grilling utensils down as he pulls me into a hug. He lifts me off the ground, my feet dangling, and I laugh, hugging him back.
“Hey, Pop. Missed you.”
“Missed you too, Pumpkin.” He replies in that deep timbre of his, setting me back down on my feet.
My father, Callum, is darker than me by several shades. I came out with a perfect blend of his and Ma’s coloring, like a cappuccino. He has eyes that are a deep, soulful brown with thick lashes that fan out around them. His dark hair is shaved close to the scalp, as it has been for as long as I can remember, and he’s big, like most alphas, standing at least six inches over me. His whiskey scent is subtle, yet a perfect pair with my mother’s.
“Cal, this is Ripley. River’s new bonded.” Ma interrupts us giddily, bringing Ripley over to meet him.
Ripley sticks her hand out to shake his, and before she can blink, he’s pulled her in his arms as well for a hug. She yelps, and I chuckle as he gives her one of his signature bear hugs that I always loved as a child.
“Well, would you look at that? I thought your mother and River were full of it when they told me you all went and found yourself another omega,” he says when he releases her. “Welcome to the family, Ripley. I’m Callum, but you can call me Cal. Or Papa Cal if you feel like it. That’s what River calls me.”
“Thank you. It’s really nice to meet you both,” she replies, a soft smile on her lips and her eyes shining as she looks at my parents.
My parents have given her such a warm welcome, taking to her immediately and making my heart feel like it could explode out of my chest with how much that means to me. I knew they would but seeing them with her brings me just as much joy as when they met River for the first time.
“Auntie!” A squeal behind me pulls my attention to the dark-haired little girl bouncing on her toes behind me.
She jumps into my arms and giggles as I spin her around. “Lilah! What have you been up to, pretty girl?”
I stop, and she pats my cheeks with her little hands. “I’ve been waiting for you to get here forever!” Lilah tells me, exasperatedly.
“Me next! Me next!” Violet hollers as I look down at the little tike that has her arms raised, waiting for me to pick her up.
I bend to pick her up as well, holding both girls in my arms as I spin them around. Their giggles are infectious, and I chuckle as they squeal in excitement. When I stop, we’re facing my parents and Ripley. Both girls look at the omega between my parents, and Violet leans in, loudly whispering in my ear, “Who’s that?”
