Page 155 of Coco and the Misfits

EPILOGUE

COCO

Inviting my parents to meet my pack is nerve-wracking. Thankfully, Dad is away on a business trip but Mom says she can make it.

Sorry if I can only handle one parent at a time. My stomach has been eating itself from the inside out since I decided to invite them over. And I still haven’t told her about the kidnapping.

Mom enters the apartment, dressed more formally than I’ve ever seen her in a power suit and high heels, her dark hair done up and red on her lips. She smiles and waves at me, then halts.

“Hey, Mom…”

“Oh my God, look at them!” Mom totters on her high heels, hands pressed to her mouth. “Aren’t they gorgeous?”

“What? Oh…” I glance back at my three mates. They’re standing there in their jeans and T-shirts, hands stuffed in their pockets. I mean, she’s right but…

“Where did you get these hunks?”

I shake my head, mortified. “Mom!”

“Is a woman not allowed to admire her sons-in-law? Hi, boys.”

Atticus comes forward first, smiling, hands open. “A pleasure.”

Mom freezes for a moment, but recovers well and smiles back. “Hi, yourself. Are you the top alpha?”

“Guilty as charged.”

He’s older than her, but she doesn’t comment on it. Of course, Atticus tends to dazzle people. He’s gorgeous, polite, polished. Mom giggles like a schoolgirl when he lifts her hand to his lips.

His lips never touch her hand, though. With a smile at me, he steps back and reaches for me. I take his hand and he draws me to his side. “Go on,” he nudges me.

“May I introduce Zach and Ryder, our mates?” I take a deep breath. “This is my pack, Mom.”

They come forward to greet her. Zach hugs her and kisses her cheeks, and she visibly melts. Then Ryder takes her hand, all seriousness, and she nods at him.

A moment of awkwardness follows while she turns in a circle, looking our place over.

“This is a very nice apartment. Will you be living here now?”

“It’s my honor and pleasure to host our pack,” Atticus says in his grave voice. “The truth is, it had always felt too cold and empty until now.”

“Aw, isn’t he cute?” Mom gushes. “So diplomatic.”

“That’s not diplomacy; it’s the truth,” Atticus says and I lean into him. “Your daughter changed my life. And these two guys made it complete. Though…” He smiles down at me. “We’re thinking about buying a little cottage out of town. For the weekends. And vacation.”

I blink back tears. He has been listening to everything I say, noting what would make me even happier. I want to burrow into his side, climb into him, feeling cherished, safe, desired.

Ryder and Zach come to slide their arms around us and it feels too intimate a moment to be sharing with others, even if it’s my mom.

Then I remember that it’s okay, it’s normal to touch your mates. It’s normal to be who you are and have a pack even though you were told all your life it would never happen.

On cue, Mom asks in a theatrical whisper, “You didn’t get a heat, did you?”

Heat scalds my face. “No, Mom.”

“So you’re a beta, after all.”

“I’m not.” I lift my chin and my men’s arms tighten around me. “I’m an omega. Heat or no heat.”

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