Page 74 of Talk About… History

Avery: So perceptive.

The notifications continued rolling in but I put my focus on getting out of the house instead. I could check emails later, this was too big to take chances.

I wanted to get to my brothers before my mama did.

They were all on edge when I walked into Whitaker Brews. They weren’t even pretending to work. Maverick was pacing while Cameron was glaring at the door. Nash was simply sitting on a bar stool, leg dancing with anxiety.

“Okay, hit us with it,” Cameron demanded, voice harsh enough Maverick swatted at him. He rolled his eyes and didn’t bother to take it back.

“Sit.” They all blinked at me for a second before they went from tense, to serious.

“You’re freaking me out,” Nash said, hands tapping his leg now.

“Okay, no point in dragging it out. Mama is having a bad reaction to her suppressors and the doctor is having to switch. For omegas, we can’t take two at once and our system has to be clear of meds before starting a new one. Dropping meds cold turkey can trigger a heat.”

“Oh,” Cameron said, letting out a huff of air. That was all any of them managed to get out for several minutes and I didn’t continue right away, letting that process.

“They suggested sedation, which is dangerous and invasive,” I said but was interrupted.

“What? No, that’s not an option,” Cameron said, indignant. He hopped up and started pacing, earning a glare from Maverick. Poor Nash just looked stunned.

“Agreed,” I said. “The other option is to find either an alpha heat partner, or I suggested a dating app.”

“You what?” Maverick asked, his words bit out more than spoken. I crossed my arms.

“First, watch your fucking tone,” I snapped right back, hands going to my hips. Nash bit back a smile, not freaked out like they were. “Second, Mama’s been alone this whole time. She raised us as a single omega, kept us together and thriving, and now she deserves to have a life. Do you really think our dads would want our mom to suffer alone all this time?”

“No,” Cameron relented, wrinkling his nose. “Ugh, why are we discussing Mom’s heat?”

Maverick groaned and smacked him again.

“Stop. I get it, she’s suffering, she’s done her duty with all of us, it’s time for her to find her own happiness.”

“I’m taking profile pictures for her tomorrow and I think she’s going to try a dating app first,” I said. “So, get used to it quickly and if any of you even try to talk her out of this or make her feel bad...I’ll fucking end you. She looked so hopeful, she needs this, and we won’t ruin it.”

“Agreed,” Cameron said, Maverick and Nash nodding along. They looked uncomfortable now, but not arguing any further so I’d call that a win.

“Ugh, I need to get to work again, this whole thing stressed me out,” Cameron groaned, dropping his jacket on the bar and heading for the storage room to grab his tools.

“I brought mine, too,” I said. “You guys sent some more videos I need to edit anyway.”

I was a bit more optimistic as I sat down at my desk to edit. Despite being distracted by the pack, I had great walking tour footage I took with Ford the other day and my brothers had been shockingly enthusiastic making videos once they saw how good they were doing.

Maverick had pulled records for the month before we started our PackVlog account and we’re doing it again in a few weeks to compare. That would be our true test on if this was all worth it or not.

Something clinked on the table, making me jump. I glared up at Cameron who just gave me his devilish grin.

Asshole.

“Here, you’re too focused. Have some water and some food, brat,” he said, flicking my nose then walking away. I swear my brothers were five when it came to me, not full grown adults.

Mason

Avery hadn’t answered our texts in a few hours so I headed for Whitaker Brews to see if she was there before hunting her down. My alpha was on edge already from another round of failed job searching, but knowing she was likely buried in work and not taking care of herself, was driving me crazy.

The door was locked but Nash was wiping tables nearby and spotted me, giving me a wave before pushing open the door.

“Tell me you can pull her out of that work,” he said immediately. I glanced around, spotting her things at a table but no Avery.

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