Page 44 of This Fate That Guides Us
It was an easy decision for Neb and me when we watched her climb out of the SUV ahead of us to flank her sides and offer her both the comfort of our presence and extra protection from the crowd. Anything to make sure the little omega isn’t stressed out by the protests.
I’m curious why she seems so easily affected by the shit the protesters are spewing. According to Shepherd, her family works with the DAU and she frequently attends protests. Shouldn’t she be used to this garbage?
None of what the protesters say is a shock to my pack. We’re used to their dated morals and condemning views. Growing up outside of Nashville wasn’t easy for any of us. Our state may not be the worst when it comes to pack rights and designation equality, but it certainly isn’t a forgiving place for anyone who dares try to live outside of their norms. That city was the birthplace of the scars on all our hearts.
One of my worst childhood memories was watching the way my community shunned my Aunt Abigail. She presented as a female alpha, the rarest of the designations and one facing heavy backlash from both anti-pack and anti-designation groups. Using suppressants, she managed to hide who she was for many years until one day they failed and the entire town learned the truth.
Hearing raised voices downstairs, I quietly leave my bedroom so I can see what’s going on. My parents aren’t the type to spend the day yelling at each other, nor would they raise their voices with someone else. They’d be appalled imagining the gossip our neighbors would spread.
At the top of the stairs, I see my Aunt Abby standing on the porch through the open doorway. Tears stain her cheeks and her eyes are rimmed red. She looks messy like she’s had to leave in a hurry, which is weird. She’s usually very put together, like the rest of our family.
“I just want to say goodbye!” She yells, her hands thrown in the air in frustration. I wonder who she’s saying goodbye to and where she’s going.
Briefly, I also consider asking her to take me with her, but I know that won’t ever be possible.
“After everything you’ve done, you won't let me have this? He’s my damn nephew, Owen.”
I don’t understand what she’s talking about or why my parents are looking at her like she’s dirt on their freshly mopped floors. Aunt Abby is the nicest person in Belle Mead. Always going out of her way to help the rest of the townsfolk when she isn’t working at her restaurant.
She also listens to my problems and doubts and doesn’t judge me for them, unlike my parents who judge everyone for everything. From the car they drive to the food they eat, it’s all open season for the folks around here.
My foot hits the top step and the wood creaking gives away my eavesdropping. Aunt Abby’s teary eyes fly to mine. When she sobs, I give up on hiding and start to rush down the stairs. My father’s sharp bark stops me in my tracks. One foot still on the staircase. “Go to your room, boy. This doesn’t concern you.”
“But–” He glares when I try to argue. Silently threatening me with a punishment I’m sure to hate if I don’t listen.
“Wild Man,” Aunt Abby breathes.
I meet her gaze and the weight of her heartache crushes me. “Are you okay?” I question. I want to know who hurt her.
“Boy–”
“No, Owen. He’s old enough to know the truth.” Momma interrupts my daddy and turns to me. She’s never been an overly affectionate woman but I know she cares for me in her own way. The malicious glint in her eyes scares me though. Momma’s never been mean before. “Abigail has been hiding a horrible secret from the family. For years she’s lied to us all.”
My brows scrunch in confusion. Aunt Abby lied?
“She isn’t a beta at all,” Momma spits. “She’s an abomination. A female alpha.”
Shock courses through my system as I look back at my Aunt. She’s an alpha? Why didn’t she tell me?
I can practically feel her shame as Momma continues to spit hateful words her way. Our family and the majority of our town are overly critical of the designations. Female alphas and male omegas are treated the worst of them all. That’s why there aren’t any left in this part of the city.
I don’t want my Aunt to be alienated the same way all those other people were. I want her to know she isn’t alone. “I don’t care if she’s an alpha. She’s my aunt.”
Momma and Daddy both snap their heads toward me with disgust written clearly across their faces. It’s the relief in my Aunt Abby’s eyes that straightens my spine though. No matter what happens, whether she stays or she leaves, I’ll always have her back.
Pain lances through my chest as the door slams closed, blocking my view of my Aunt. Momma grabs me by the ear and drags me into the living room. Forcing me to sit on the couch she paces back and forth, lecturing me about the immorality of female alphas.
Each hurtful word lands like a slap to the face and I start to realize exactly how conditional my family’s love can be.
I never expected my parents to disown my Aunt simply because she presented as an alpha. As if cutting her off wasn’t enough, my entire family, alongside many of the more prominent families in our town, had run her out of the city. They used their money and resources to get her restaurant shut down on fake health code violations and had her apartment lease terminated by her judgmental landlord. They’d even gone as far as to have her car impounded by the local police for a month’s old parking violation.
She’d left the next day. Moved north to Pennsylvania and found the pack of her dreams. Abby is the only person in my family I still talk to. Who supports me and my pack.
Technically I never gave my parents the chance to disown me. I packed everything I owned into Nebula’s car and left them a farewell sticky note. It wouldn’t have mattered if I tried to reason with them, they are far too stuck in their ways to ever give me and my mates a chance. I will never put my packmates at risk of facing their judgment and disdain either, so I’ve had no contact with them since the minute I walked out their door.
The thought of the sweet omega on tour with us experiencing the same harsh rejection my Aunt did brings an angry tick to my jaw. No one deserves to be treated so poorly, especially not Omen.
Post-show adrenaline has my knee bouncing where I sit on our couch. The others are still in bed, having worn themselves out with a plethora of orgasms before falling asleep last night. I barely slept, still too energized from our show.
