Page 194 of Claiming the Pack's Omega
"It's been so awesome, Sis, you have no idea," she whispers.
"Let me hug our sister, guys," I say to my younger siblings. They seem to sense that Sav and I need a moment becausethey give us enough space for me to throw my arms around her shoulders and hold her tight.
She's getting so tall, these days. She's almost as tall as me.
"When did you get so grown up?" I whisper.
"Thank you," Sav whispers. "Mom and Dad haven't been answering my questions, but I'm smart enough to know that you're the reason we're here right now."
She pulls away, wiping at her cheeks.
God, she's going to make me start bawling like a baby.
"What about you?" She asks, hope in her eyes. "How've things been for you? Have they been good too?"
I smile at her, feeling the burn of heavy emotions behind my eyes that I fight back. "Yeah, they have been," I say, my voice a little strained.
She gives me one final squeeze before her arms fall away.
Killian immediately steps up behind me, wrapping his arm around my waist. It's a small and subtle gesture, but it keeps me from falling apart.I glance back at him and smile.
Eli is talking animatedly to Milo about something video game-related, and Daisy is just as excited in her conversation with Stone.
They get along so well. So easily. It makes my heart melt.
This feels right, my two worlds colliding like this.
"Where's Mom and Dad? I've actually got some important news to tell you guys."
"Your father is almost done grilling," Mom says, wiping her hands on the front of her apron.
This time, it's my turn to run and throw my arms around someone.
"It's good to see you, sweetie," she murmurs softly, her arms holding me tight.
When I finally find the courage to pull away so I can actually talk to her, she flashes me a bright smile.
"It's so good to see you too, Momma, I've missed you," I say, my voice barely above a whisper.
She cups my cheeks with her hands, her gaze darting between my eyes before she glances over my shoulder.
"Well, I'm going to steal away my daughter to set the table and things. Make yourself at home," she says to my guys.
I follow my mom to the dining room and kitchen, where I see almost everything has already been set up.
"You didn't actually need help, did you?" I laugh softly.
"No, I didn't," she says, flashing me a conspiratorial grin. Her expression grows serious and she lowers her voice so that I'm the only one who can hear her. "How have you been doing? Really doing? There was all the changes with your phone and all the craziness of you being swept away by that alpha pack."
"I've been doing well, Momma. Really well," I say, my lips tugging into a soft smile at the thought of my guys. "Things were definitely crazy there, for a while, but I'm really excited for where things are going."
She takes a second to take me in. She's smart. I think I got my attention to detail from her. I'm sure she sees the lightness in my shoulders, the brightness in my eyes, the change in the way I carry myself.
"Okay then, I'm glad," she says, nodding firmly. "I know you're an adult and you can more than take care of yourself, you always have, and I know we haven't been the best of parents to you, but we love you so much, sweetie. So, so much."
I reach out and squeeze her hand in mine. The skin is still worn paper-thin, but I'd like to think it's a little softer than when she was working doubles at the diner all the time.
"You and Dad were dealt a shit hand in life. You did all you could to make sure we still had a roof over our heads. I want you to know I don't hold anything against you. I made the decisionsI did. I was an adult then too. Maybe a stupid one. Maybe I was more kid than adult, but Iwantedto help the family."
