Page 88 of Begrudgingly Yours
She’s like old Hollywood glamor mixed with modern art all mixed into one magnetic picture. Her blonde hair reminds me of Marilyn Monroe and her diamond earrings shine under the chandelier in the most notable way. But she’s wearing a simplewrap dress and kitten heels that make me feel more comfortable in her immortal presence.
And she’s looking at me with the warmest grin, that I can’t help but let the anxiety fall away as quickly as it came.
“Welcome to our home, dear. I’ve heard a lot about you. Is this your first time in New York?”
I nod, still in awe over the friendly way she looks upon us. I look over and see that Jett isn’t surprised but he’s just as marveled over being this close to an Oscar winner.
My body is slowly pushed forward by Everett’s helping hand. When I get to Dax’s mother, she pulls me into a tight hug.
Holy crap. She smells like champagne grapes.
The scent of it is gentle, soothing. Her alpha energy is subdued, and I can’t lie and say it doesn’t make me a little bit emotional to see a female alpha embody this kind of benevolence. It’s not something I’m accustomed to, and I’m really happy to witness it firsthand.
It heals something inside of me, something that I didn’t think could ever be repaired.
“What the hell is going on here?”
I pull away from Dax’s mother, startled by the aggressive tone that just cut through my calm thoughts. When I turn back towards the elevators, Nicole is standing there with a suitcase, her features pulled taut with absolute disgust and shock.
“Nicole, language,” her mother scolds her. “We have guests. This is?—”
“I know who they are,” Nicole replies with a clipped tone. “We’re all in the same major. The question is, what the fuck are they doing here?”
That’s when I realize that she didn’t know we were coming. Just like Dax never told me about his family’s big secret, he never told her about me. I don’t have any siblings, butI’m sure my love life wouldn’t be the topic of choice with them if I did.
“Jett is my pack mate,” Dax tells her first, his face showing his surprise and confusion. I never thought about whether or not he knew about his sister’s behavior, but Everett doesn’t look surprised as he crosses his arms and whispers something in his mother’s ear. She nods her head and then finds her way out of the foyer.
“Your pack mate?” Nicole’s eyes widen. “When did that happen?”
If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she looks hurt about this knowledge being kept from her. Then her eyes dart to me and the glare she reserves for me is back tenfold.
“It’s been… well… it hasn’t beenthatlong.” Dax hesitates, realizing just how long it’s been.
“A month,” Jett states.
She flinches and a tiny bit of guilt arises. Dax must feel it, too, because he immediately starts damage control.
“I’m so sorry, Nic. I wasn’t thinking. Things have been so busy lately with Alpha Xi and hockey?—”
She interrupts him and points at me. “So, why isshehere?”
Dax meets my eyes and his expression lightens. I let him take my hand. “She is my omega. This is my pack, Nicole.”
The way he says it is so light and soft, full of admiration in the best way. He is excited to share us with his family, excited to show them how happy he is. The boyish charm in it is contagious, causing me to return his happiness.
“Please tell me you’re joking.” Nicole’s voice brings us back to reality.
Dax’s smile falls and I suddenly don’t feel guilty anymore. The sadness in my alpha’s eyes completely eradicates any ounce of it. My omega growls in my chest, prepared to rip her throat out for upsetting what’s hers.
“Nicole, you’re being rude,” their mother hisses. I turn to her, completely forgetting she was in the room. I bite back my sudden aggression. This is supposed to be a good holiday. I don’t want to turn it into a cat fight.
Nicole obviously doesn’t feel the same way. “Mother, are you serious? Out of all people,these two? They are the bane of my existence!”
“That’s just because Rory got the lead and you’re now playing her mother,” Jett points out, coming up to my side as silent support.
“The lead? In what?” their mother asks.
I decide to answer her, just so I can have any sort of control in the situation. “In our Shakespeare class. We’re studying Romeo and Juliet.”
