Page 142 of Loving Ladybug: Part One
Clark was there on the couch in boxers and a shirt, drinking a cup of coffee. “Ladybug, what’s wrong?”
“I’m broken.” I sobbed as Tenzin gently placed me on the couch.
“You’re not broken, Precious. It’s normal. I didn’t take good enough care of you last night. That’s all.” Tenzin sat down next to me and wrapped a blanket around me.
I shook my head, hating that he thought any of this was on him. “It’s not you. It’s me. I didn’t think it would be a problem, but it is. You should know. Um, I have to start at the beginning. Do we have anything stronger than coffee?”
Clark stood and came back with a bottle of champagne. “It came with breakfast. Who drinks champagne with breakfast?”
“You mix it with juice.” I took the cup of coffee Tenzin poured for me and leaned into him.
“Okay. Do you want it with juice?” Clark picked up a glass.
“Sure.” I didn’t want to be hungover for the wedding later.
Clark brought me a mimosa that looked like it was mostly champagne and sat down next to me.
He opened one of the covered dishes. “We got this one for you. I got myself waffles. You can have them instead if you want.”
They’d gotten me a meat with vegetables omelet and crispy potatoes. His was whipped cream with some waffle. Maybe. And a strawberry rose with a mint leaf for posterity, along with a side of fried ham and loaded hash browns. While I did like strawberry waffles I was feeling eggy.
“Thanks.” I devoured my eggs. I should start talking, but I was hungry.
They let me, keeping my coffee full and feeding me bites of their meals. Tenzin had steak and eggs, along with potatoes and toast. The food was delicious and beautiful.
Finally, I downed the mimosa, then made myself another.
“You don’t owe us anything,” Tenzin stated, rubbing the back of my neck as I returned to the couch.
“I have to, if I want this to work. And after last night… I… I want this,” I pleaded. Tears pricked my eyes. “But…” My head bowed. “I don’t even know where to start. I broke my hip while playing hockey when I was fifteen. At the time, I was living with my grandparents in New York, so I could train with a specific figure skating coach, though it was a ruse to play hockey. The dads brought me home to Vancouver to recuperate, since my mom was dying of OOC and she wanted me there. My mom and I were close, even when I was living with my nonna.”
I sniffed. Other than my nonna, she’d been my biggest advocate and supporter. OOC was a type of cancer that only affected Omegas.
“Her death devastated the dads, after all, she was their bonded omega. It wasrough.My uncle, one of Dad’s brothers, wastrusted with helping them run their shipping company, so that they could spend time with Mom while she was dying–and later grieve for her. He staged a takeover of the company. I don’t know much about it, other than he conspired with some powerful people and offered them things to help. It failed. Badly. Uncle was ousted.”
I took a sip of champagne. I was one of those things.
“After my mom died, I wanted to go back to my nonna’s. I was making a very good recovery, and I liked my life in New York. The dads wanted me to stop playing hockey, so I wouldn’t get injured again, and to stay with them in Vancouver. It was a huge fight. Nonna offered to fight for legal custody–and had a case given I’d spent years living with her already.”
That had caused a rift with my siblings. Some agreed that I should be allowed to return to New York and live my life. The others told me that I was being mean to the dads and should suck it up and stay.
“There was this guy that I’d known for some time casually, mostly from social stuff my parents made me attend. While my mom was dying and I was recovering, we started messaging a lot. His situation had changed, and he’d been feeling lonely. We were just friends–if that.” Thoughts of Lucius made me want to retch.
He went too far. Got away with too much. Some people blamed me. Apparently betas were only kind to alphas because they were flirting.
“Oh.” Clark’s voice was soft.
“His parents were some of the people helping my uncle with the failed takeover. I still don’t know all the details, but my uncle had promised me for Lucius, as part of their payment for helping. The idea of me leaving Canada made Lucius angry. Hewantedme even without the deal. His family’s rich and powerful and it became easier to let Nonna and her pack get legal custodyand have me leave Canada, than for the dads to put a stop to his nonsense.” In some ways, Matty was right. One misstep and the dads could go to jail.
I still felt betrayed.
“They didn’t get the police involved? They simply sent you away?” Clark made a face.
“His family is powerful. For a time, I was so happy with my grandparents, playing hockey and going to high school. But Lucius was a spoiled, wealthy, young alpha used to getting his way. Things got scary. Nonna and her pack got the local police involved, even though the dads said not to, and…” I winced. “And that led to my name being changed, and me being sent to Rockland alone at sixteen, emancipated, and hidden in junior hockey.”
Which had taken some work. One simply didn’t just get on a team like that, and I couldn’t exactly bring my old name’s records with me. But I wouldn’t go anywhere if I had to give up playing hockey.
Still, starting over had cost me a lot. Not to mention the work I had to do to separate myself from her. That life.
