Page 61 of Dream Mates
You’re letting Riley ditch school? Seriously? What kind of guardian are you?
We didn’t get along. I’d made mistakes, like letting her, Sonja, and my grandparents bear the brunt of caring for Riley for far too long. I’d tried my best to own up, apologize, and make amends.
But when it came down to it, it was me awakening as an omega that Sasha had the biggest problem with. With a sigh, I replied.
Me
It’s two days.
Sonja didn’t have an issue as long as Riley did her homework. Riley had already made arrangements to get assignments and notes.
Sasha
I can’t believe that you went on a vacation without Riley.
Me
It wasn’t a vacation.
I sighed again. Sasha knew what it was for. But she didn’t like me to talk about anything omega-related–my job and mates included.
Sasha
Why are you telling her that she’s a theta?
Um, because she is a theta?This time, I didn’t respond, I just sent the test results–and the follow up testing. Then I texted Sonja about it.
Sonja
None of this is your fault. You know Sasha.
Sasha had been one of those little kids who’d dreamed of awakening as an omega and being ‘special.’ She was devastated when her middle school prick-test marked her as beta, though we fully expected it, given we had beta parents and our family’s mostly beta. When I awakened as a surprise omega in my twenties, she got her hopes up, and every year she hadn’t blossomed made her more and more bitter.
While thetas weren’t coveted like omegas, they were exceedingly rare. Rarer than deltas, but not as rare as iotas or kappas. I wasn’t actually sure where that gene even came from;especially since thetas were closer to alphas than betas. They were hyper-independent misanthropes who liked collecting wealth. Yep, that was my baby sister.
So, I could see Sasha being angry thattwosiblings became something other than a beta. She’d also been a little jealous of all the extra attention Riley got growing up because our parents were gone.
My phone buzzed again.
Sasha
Who the fuck is this woman you’re letting around Riley?
Me
Grace is Wes’ other mate. She’s a mathematician and works for Spencer.
My sisters all knew Spencer very well. Why was I even doing this? I loved Sasha. I just didn’t know how to fix things between us.
Me
If you’d like to meet her we’d be happy to visit or fly you here or meet someplace at my expense. It looks like you three had an amazing time. I appreciate you spending your spring break with them. It means the world to Riley.
I love you very much and I hope you have a safe trip back and that your studies are going well.
Sasha was at her dream university studying to become an anesthesia nurse, after having completed numerous smaller courses while living at home and helping with Riley.
Shoving my phone in my pocket, I went inside to find Grace. She was in her room, curled into a ball, smothered in blankets, watching the boats on the lake through the window. She smiled when she saw me and opened her arms. Warmth shot through the bond.
