Page 35 of Talk About… Secrets
Spencer chuckled, the sound raspier than usual. “That’s the whole idea, freckles.”
Our attention slowly shifted back to the movie but they never stopped touching me. My omega soaked in the attention, taking in every brush of their hands or gentle rubbing as they massaged me into a relaxed puddle of omega.
At some point, I was so warm and cozy, full of snacks and feeling absolutely adored, that I drifted off to the most peaceful sleep of my life.
All the peaceof the evening was washed away rather quickly thanks to the next morning spent avoiding everyone possible.
Every step out of the room was made with quiet, purposeful steps and looking around corners. The staff likely thought we were insane, but I needed to give my sister a chance to do things her way.
“There you are!” I groaned internally at my mother’s voice. She had a chair outside our room, just outside of view through the peephole.
“Hey, Mom,” I offered, plastering a smile on my face. “We have to stop meeting like this.”
Honestly, I was close to climbing out of our window at this point.
“Why are you hiding away?” Her voice was curt and her lips pinched as she stared me down. I was alone this time at least. Having my pack at my back would have only raised more questions.
“I’m busy helping run your daughter’s wedding,” I countered, keeping my voice even.
How had I not seen just how little she cared about us? She wasn’t pretending this time, all I could read on her face was selfishness and playing the victim. Likewe’ddone something toher.
For years we were punching bags, but the moment we strike back, all of that feeble, timid act falls away.
Her scowl deepened and she scoffed. “My missing daughter?”
“She’s not missing, she’s stepping back so her wedding isn’t tainted because you insisted on her having this huge affair and then proceeded to let them ruin it,” I countered, my voice rising in my annoyance until I was forced to take a few breaths. “I’m all done holding back and watching out for your feelings, when you clearly never cared about ours.”
She stood then and threw her hands up.
Cue the dramatics. I was wondering when we’d shift back to this.
“Oh, yes, because I was such a terrible mother,” she laughed in that mocking way that grated on my nerves. “A monster. How did you ever survive?”
“Yes. Not defending your daughter as your sister and her daughters sabotage her one and only wedding, does make you a bad mother. You should reflect on that. I don’t have time for this,” I said as I stormed off, ignoring her sputtering behind me.
I wasn’t falling into that trap again.
Now, I was more than ready for that call from Hailey to tell me that I could break the news to the masses. I couldn’t fucking wait to see their faces.
I’d never considered myself the angry, petty type. But maybe it was time to embrace that side.
At this rate, I was so ready for it all to be over that I couldn't even find it in me to be sad that I wasn’t there to witness it.
A door burst open and Spencer rushed out, eyes wide as he saw me. “Don’t go that way unless you want to blow our cover. Beck can handle himself.”
“What?” I started to protest, glancing back to make sure Mom didn’t hear, then realized what he meant. “It’s them, isn’t it?”
My cousins would set their sights on the richest men here, even though they have packs. They were only loyal to themselves.
His hand slipped through mine, his scent reassuring even as it was laced with nerves.
“Just how handsy did they get?”
He raised a brow. “Don’t ask for details you can’t hear right now, freckles. Let’s just say he’s about to hurt their feelings.”
I let my mate drag me away, even though my omega was calling for me to storm in and set them all straight.
“One more day at most,” he reminded me gently. “Then all the lies are over.”
