Page 107 of Pack Scratch Fever
“The inheritance that was meant for your college.”
Fury bubbles in my veins. We’ve had this fight foryearsnow. It’s the same conversation over and over, but he and my mom love to rehash it.
I’m the only daughter who didn’t finish college.
The only child who never left Luna County.
“You already know what I’ve done with it, Dad,” I say evenly. “Yes. I’m partially using it to pay rent. It’smyinheritance.”
“If Grandpa had known what you were going to do with it, he never would have given it to you.”
Alvin hops onto the front desk, his tail swishing behind him. I watch him closely through the window while my dad launches into a tirade, giving me a monologue of everything I’ve done wrong in my life.
He called me just to torment me.
Alvin catches me watching and slow blinks at me, and a smile creeps back onto my face.
I love cats and my cat rescue.
No matter how much my parents complain about it, I know I’m doing the right thing.
That matters more to me than a family that couldn’t care less about who I am.
“Piper? Are you even listening?”
I clear my throat. “Yeah, Dad.”
“I have no idea where we went wrong with you,” he sighs. “I just don’t know how your life could have turned out like this. Look at your sisters. Don’t you want to be more like them?”
The words stopped hurting a long time ago. I let them bounce off me.
There’s no point in telling him that I’m doing what I love and that I’m making a difference in the world.
Cats are important to me. They always will be.
“Do you really want to end up an old cat lady, all alone and wasting away in your apartment?”
Your words can’t hurt me.
Eventually, my mom joins the call. “Piper, your dad and I were talking,” she says matter-of-factly. “We think it’s time for you to be on a payment plan back to us. You didn’t use theinheritance the way you were supposed to, so it should have gone to us, not you. I’ve had our lawyer draft something that will be emailed to you tonight.”
My eyes widen, and I look around my car for hidden cameras, convinced that I’m being pranked.
This isn’t normal. This isn’t how parents are supposed to treat their kids.
I hate you;I want to scream at them.I hate you.
“Maybe once you get a pack, they can help you pay us back,” my mom adds, like she knows anything about what it’s like to be an Omega.
Like I can just pick up a pack of rich Alphas that would be willing to hand over money to my parents.
“Just so I’m clear,” I croak. “You’resuingme?”
“We’re making itright,” my dad corrects me. “Let this be a learning lesson for you.”
I’m not going to cry on the phone with them, even though the betrayal pierces my lungs and steals my breath.
I knew they disapproved of who I am and my choices.
