Page 19 of Fractured Fang: Omega

I hadn’t thought of it that way before, but he was right.

“I want for us to be here, to live here, and raise our future pups here. I want that more than almost anything. But I will not do that at the expense of your brother’s wellbeing. I refuse.” I closed my eyes, my wolf getting worked up as I spoke.

Calm down. We will go find him. He just needs a bit of time.

“We understand.” Jasmine said, her voice barely above a whisper.

I got up and grabbed his paintbrush, putting it back with his supplies. I wanted to fix the paint that splattered, but I didn’t know how to do that without making an even bigger mess of the masterpiece in front of me. He truly was an amazing artist, and I could see why he’d found success with it in the human world.

If only his father could see it the way I did instead of thinking of it as a waste of time.

Chapter 10

Gabe

Stormingawayinafit of anger was something a child or a teenager would do. It was more fitting for how Levi might behave if I told him no chocolate after dinner. It was not something a grown-ass wolf should do simply because he had a discussion with his parents that didn’t go well. But there I was, marching away, fighting back tears.

Over the past few years, I tried to convince myself I didn’t need my dad’s approval, that I was fine without it. I didn’t succeed. I might not agree with him, but I very much wanted him to approve of me. It made for a nearly impossible situation.

As I took off, I wasn’t even sure which direction to head. I didn’t want to go to where I was staying in the main house, unwilling to risk running into my father and having yet another argument over my life choices. I didn’t want to run into the woods, although that would’ve been the easiest of things to do, just to give my wolf free rein. No, instead, I took the liberty of marching directly to my mate’s unused cabin, going inside, and making myself at home in the space that technically belonged to Macs. He might not use it, but I needed to be in his space. I hadn’t even made the conscious decision to do so; it just sort of happened. And now that I was there, there was no place I’d rather be.

I collapsed onto his sofa. It was dark brown with a pattern of some horse-drawn wagons on it. It looked older than dirt, but it was comfy as could be. Best of all, it smelled just like him. Maybe he slept here sometimes when he wasn’t sleeping outside. I leaned in and inhaled deeply, my wolf savoring the sensation of being filled with our mate’s scent.

Frustration was still building inside me over what had transpired with my father and then my mother. I don’t know why I couldn’t just let it go whenever my parents nitpicked at what I was doing. I knew the things I painted, the art I created, was amazing. Sure, I had a lot of ways in which I could grow and get better, but I was good. Damn good, and I was proud of myself. Why couldn’t that be enough? Why couldn’t they be proud of me?

Not long after I stormed off and collapsed on my mate’s sofa, Macs opened the door and came inside. After looking at me for a few seconds, he sat next to me.

“I think the mural looks great,” he said.

I grinned because I knew he was telling the truth. My sadness and anger took a step back with Macs near me. It was hard not to be joyous when I was around him.

“I’m excited to finish it.” And I would. Franklin asked me for it, and I wasn’t going to let my father being a butt to get in the way of me delivering it.

“You’ll finish it then? Even though…”

“Yes,” I said. “Nothing’s going to stop me from putting the vision I have in my head onto that brick. I think it will mean a lot to the pack when it’s done. Also, I said I would.”

“It means a lot to me now, mate.” He placed his hand on mine. “I love that you would do this for me, for the pack. It will be cherished.”

I sighed and leaned into him, resting my head on his shoulder. “How is it you’re so perfect?” And how was it I couldn’t tell him about Levi? My gut told me that Macs would understand and be welcoming, but the embarrassed side of me, the side that wasn’t ready to reveal much of anything, was terrified.

“Do you want me to talk to your parents?” he offered.

I snorted. “Goddess, no. Eventually, I’ll have to talk with them, or I’m just not going to be able to stay here. I really am having trouble seeing how I can stay here with my parents all the time.”

Macs tensed under my fingertips. “You know you can tell me anything, right? About your life before coming here, about your hopes and dreams for the future.”

“I know,” I said. “I will.” I let out a long breath and sat back on the couch. Might as well start this story now. I couldn’t tell him everything. Not about Levi’s mom and his wretched birth father. But I could at least start the story.

“When I was at the human college, things were great there. Well mostly. I got a degree in fine arts with a specialization in drawing and painting. I had a gallery where I showed my art. People came, and they purchased it. A lot of it. And, of course, I didn’t love living in human society. There was nowhere I could shift. I didn’t have many friends because how do you explain to someone that you’re a wolf?” I felt more than saw Macs smile. I’d never told anyone this except the omegas at Asilo, and they all had their own troubles. My worries were small potatoes comparatively.

“I can see that might be difficult.”

“I made a friend there. She was great.” And this is where I wanted to, but couldn’t quite bring myself to tell him exactly what happened to Shelly and Levi and that stupid bastard Rick. I hated being so weak, so scared. But I was.

How did I explain to him that I had been attacked by a stupid human who had a child? Rick had been in a relationship with a witch and had a half-witch child. Rick knew nothing about witches or shifters. He thought he was such a tough alpha, but a human alpha isn’t a match against an omega wolf.

Of course, Rick didn’t take rejection well; it was in his nature—who he was. And ultimately, it was Shelly who had paid the ultimate price. Even now, when so much time has passed, I couldn’t think about it without all the emotions flooding back. How could I tell the story, one that would end with Macs needing to make a decision he shouldn’t be asked to make, but one that was inevitable?

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