Page 37 of Alpha & Omega

I turned and bolted out of the house, ignoring his calling to me, and I didn’t stop running after I slammed the door behind me.

Fuck him. He couldn’t have Alpha’s. It wasmine. Goddammit! Between losing money, my guys getting hurt, and that damn restaurant moving in, I felt the walls closing in on me, helpless to do anything about it.

Even if I believed what he said, that he truly wanted to help, he had no right. We barely knew each other. He couldn’t just come sweeping in and stick his fucking nose in where it didn’t belong. He looked up the credit records of my fucking bar behind my back, without asking or telling me.

If that was how life was going to be with Harley, shoving his ass in all my business, I wanted no part of it. I didn’t need help from anyone. I could do this on my own, just like always.

But those doubts crept back in that Harley had planned this. Maybe he hadn’t planned the dating thing. There was no way he knew who I was. I’d just said that through my anger. But he at least had the idea when he walked into my bar when I hadn’t been there, and he didn’t fucking say shit until now.

When I reached my car, I jumped in and drove back to my place. Once I was calmer, the disappointment set in. I really liked him, but I couldn’t do this. There were too many doubts, along with a hefty dose of mistrust. This relationship, or whatever it was, was too new. I didn’t have time for doubts, wondering, or frustrations. It would only get worse down the road.

It was over, and just as well. I needed to focus on getting my bar back in financial order. There was no time for love.

As I drove, flashbacks from the last time I saw my parents slammed into me, and I had to catch my breath, forcing me to pull over. I rested my head on my steering wheel, trying to push the memory away, but I was too agitated.

My hands tremble, and I sweat a little. What I’m about to tell my parents is so important and terrifying, too. But I need to be myself. Jacob said that I had to be honest with my parents, just like he had. He said my parents would be fine because parents love their kids.

My parents were all right, but they weren’t as kind as Jacob’s parents.

We’d been best friends since middle school, but when we started ninth grade, we confessed that we liked each other more than friends. I really want to date him openly, and the only way to do it is to tell my parents, just as he did. We already told our friends, and they were cool with it. I really want my parents to be cool with it, too, but I’ve got doubts.

I walk into the living room, where they’re watching TV, and I stand in front of them.

“C-can I talk to you?” I ask.

They glance at each other with unreadable faces as I wipe my clammy hands on my jeans.

Dad turns off the TV and nods. “Okay. Are you here to confess?”

God, why does everything have to turn into religion? Why do I need to confess anything at fourteen? I’ve always been a good kid and made good grades. But I nod anyway.

“There’s someone I really like, and I want your permission to date.”

My parents look at each other again before Mom speaks. “You’re a little young, aren’t you?”

I shrug. “A lot of kids are dating now.”

“Who’s the girl? Does she come from a proper Christian family?” Dad asks.

Shit. This is all wrong. I shouldn’t have said anything. But instead of telling them to forget it, I push on.

“They’re… not a… she. Uhm, he’s a… he. It’s Jacob. He likes me, too.”

In those last moments, everything is chaos, and I barely remember half of it through my tears and begging. Dad beats me with a belt. Mom tells me I’m going to the church to wash away my sins and beg for forgiveness, or else I’ll end up in hell.

When I tell them I’ve always liked boys, they get even angrier. They’re mad at Jacob, too, believing he’s corrupted me.

The next thing I know, Dad is dragging me by my arm with one hand and my suitcase in the other. He tosses me into the back of the car and drives for about an hour. I have no idea where we’re going.

He says nothing to me the entire time as I’m crying and scared, not knowing what’s going on. Something bad is going to happen, even worse than them hitting and yelling at me.

Dad slams the brakes, gets out of the car, and opens my door before dragging me out and tossing me to the ground. Then he throws my suitcase at me.

“You’re in Baltimore, an hour away from home. If you can find your way back to us, you will need to beg for our forgiveness and allow us to take you to church to cleanse your soul. Then we’ll consider taking you back.”

“No, Dad! Please!”

He points at me. “No more words. This will be good for you since you refuse to listen to your parents, who have taken care of you for your entire life. As you walk, beg God for forgiveness. He will guide you home if he believes you.”

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