Page 108 of Begrudgingly Yours
My birthday is so close to Christmas, it seems like a bother. Stacia and I don’t usually do anything but hang out in front of the TV. She normally gets me a present and a cake from the grocery store and then we chill for the night.
She messaged me to see if we were meeting up, but I didn’t know what to say. I’m still trying to navigate my friendships while being newly bonded. Do I go do what I normally do with my friends? Or do I let my pack decide how they want to spend the day? Because birthdays are really about the people who love you, right?
“If you guys have something planned, let’s just do that. I don’t think I can make any definitive decisions today.”
I fold the last pair of sweatpants and go to stand up to put them away but Jett swats at me instead. “Sit down. Let me take care of my mate on her birthday,” he says, taking the pants from my hands and heading for the dresser. The smile that erupts is quick despite the simple favor.
My attention turns to the doorway as Everett appears, his knuckles knocking slightly on the door.
“This isn’t my nest, you can come in,” I joke. The prime gives me a lighthearted smile and walks in, holding an envelope in his hand. “What’s that?”
“I don’t know,” he says earnestly as he hands it to me. “It’s for you.”
My breath hitches when I see the letterhead, the symbol so familiar to me that I can feel the same grief I did the first time I saw it on my eighteenth birthday. The white paper suddenly feels heavy in my hand.
“It’s from my dad’s probate attorney.”
I feel their eyes turn on me instantly. Jett pauses at the dresser, one half-filled draw hanging open in front of him.
“Do you want to be alone when you open it?” Everett asks but I’m already shaking my head.
“No, I’d like it if you guys stayed, actually. If that’s okay.”
Everett sits down next to me and nods. “Of course it’s okay.”
Jett goes back to putting my clothes away as I stare at the envelope. I’m not sure what could be in it, but the last time I opened this it was a beautiful surprise. My father had left me the inheritance that changed my life, helped me get out from under my mother’s thumb. It’s that knowledge that pushes me to tear it open and pull out several pages. I read the top one, which is simple.
Rory Cromwell,
Attached to this legal document is your father’s final wish in his will and testament. As per his request, the executor (I) must send you this letter on your 21st birthday. With the arrival of this letter, your father’s will is now finalized. I wish you all the best.
It doesn’t escapeme that his lawyer used my dad’s nickname for me over my legal name. It sticks out to me as I stare at the words, my fingers hesitating to turn to the next page. I take a deep breath and rip the band-aid off.
My beautiful Rory,
The greeting causes me to whimper but I swallow it down quickly. Everett’s fingers find my empty hand at my side and grips me tightly, grounding me in place. I give him a signal that I’m okay and keep reading.
If you are reading this, it means I am gone. I want to first apologize for not telling you about my condition. There were many secrets that I kept from you only because I had to keep them from your mother as well and I’m sorry for that inconvenience.
This letter will have many apologies for what I have allowed tohappen in regards to your mother. I probably look like a broken man in your eyes but I promise I am strong. You have made me strong simply by existing. Your life made mine more than bearable. I was flourishing because I had the best little girl in the entire world.
I hope your mother is no longer in your life. She never deserved to be, but she is as manipulative as they come. I wasn’t willing to take her to court and possibly lose you. I’m sorry for that decision as I’m still not sure if it was the right one. None of it seemed worth it, and the idea of you being alone with your mother meant the decision was already made.
Please don’t feel sorry for me, Rory. I made my choice willingly. I hope you have made the opposite choice for the exact same reason. Your happiness is the most important thing.
I hope you found the love you always deserved. And if you haven’t yet, please don’t hold back from it. I always wanted to show you that unconditional love was out there, that there’s nothing you can do that would ever sway my admiration. Whoever you end up with will feel this same way, you just have to give them the chance.
I’ll be watching over you when you get that Oscar, Rory. Makethe speech as memorable as the performance. You’re an absolute star.
I love you forever.
Signed, Dad
By the timeI’m done reading, tears are falling down my face. Still, my alphas don’t move without permission. I close the letter, moving it to the end table so none of my tears fall upon it, and then I let myself cry. Everett immediately folds me into his side and holds me as I become a whimpering mess.
Jett falls on my other side, kissing my shoulder and caressing my hair. Neither of them say anything. They let me fall apart because they know they can put me back together afterwards.
When I eventually stop crying, we all lie there, soaking up the quiet. I give a heavy sigh.
