Page 37 of For the First Time
“No, no, no.Reach out to her alphas.You have their numbers, right?This should be a surprise for Chloe.She deserves something special.Ten years all packed up.And she picked a good one.You know Toni got a raise?He tested for lieutenant last year and finally heard back.”She was still going on as I nodded, letting her brag about Chloe’s pack.There was no denying that the prosperity and success of the pack alphas reflected on their omegas—at least in my parents’ opinions.
Eventually, Everett walked away, not that I blamed him.My moms loved to talk, all of them.Especially about my sisters and their packs.
As quickly as Everett left, he was back with my food in a bowl rather than on a plate and silently telling me to take it.I pressed the phone between my cheek and shoulder, then grabbed the hem of his sweats, since he wasn’t wearing a shirt, and pulled him to me, kissing his pectoral muscles in thanks.Of course, it was a little treat for me, too, since Everett’s chest, his whole upper body, was like a wet dream.Large and thick, with enough muscle underneath to show that he was strong without making him look like he spent more time at the gym than at home.I couldn’t stop myself from petting his chest, feeling the warmth of his skin as I leaned against him.
“Are you still on the phone with Eve?”one of my mom’s asked in the background.“I wanted to tell her about the ideas I had for Chloe’s anniversary theme.”I heard the phone be handed over before Mama Ruth just started talking.“I’ve been looking at all sorts of interest boards and I think a little disco theme will be fun.Lots of mirrors and sparkling lights.”
“Sure, we can do that.”
“Good.Make sure you reach out to Chloe’s pack.They need to approve the date and the venue, and they need to do it soon so you can start ordering things.You know all the customizations will take a while.”
I took a few bites of my dinner as Mama Ruth reminded me of all the little things I’d need to order customized.The table runners, table signs, a welcome sign, the parting bags, maybe a balloon arch, and the decoration for the top of the cake.
I didn’t need her reminders.I had planned plenty of my family’s events over the years.I had a well-structured list with plenty of notes about little decorations to fluff up a space as well as a list of different caterers that I’d worked with before.Honestly, I planned all my family’s parties, so I wasn’t sure why I had to listen to them explain everything.
As much as my moms were alphas, and like to be in control, they never actually helped with the party.Not beyond telling me their ideas.It worked out better this way since more people making the decisions and phone calls could get confusing.If my moms had to call the bakery for the cake, each one of them would call, and four completely different cakes would show up, probably all at different times.It was best if everything just went through me.
“I thought Eve was working?”Dad’s voice in the background had Mama Ruth pausing her rant about invitations.
“Are you working, Eve?”Mama Ruth asked.
“No, but I was doing dinner with—”
“Hear that?She’s not working.”
“She said she was,” Deborah-Ma said.
“No,” I corrected, even though they weren’t listening to me.“I said I was at my boss’ house.The pack and I—”
“Have you been writing down what I’ve said?”Mama Ruth asked.
“I got everything,” I assured her.“I promise.I can make this event great for Chloe and her pack.Right now, though, I would like to go finish dinner with my pack.”
“All right.But don’t forget to call Chloe’s alphas.And you need to start reserving dates for the venue and caterers.And—”
“Yep, I’ll get it all.I love you.”I hung up since I knew none of my moms would.If you didn’t hit the little red button on your end, they’d never hit theirs.Sometimes, it amazed me how anything in that house got done.Five alphas.Sure, Dad was a little more relaxed, but that was simply because he was going to do whatever he wanted.So long as their omega allowed it.For all the chaos the alphas caused, Mom Elizabet was a calm, decisive woman.What she said was the last word.Her decisions were final.
I let out a loud breath as I finally finished with that call.Without the constant talking in my ear, I hadn’t realized how quiet the house was.Both Atlas and Oaks had already finished their dinner, and Everett hadn’t touched his since I took my call.
“I’m sorry.I shouldn’t have answered,” I admitted.“I wasn’t thinking, but I know how they get once I’m on the phone with them.”
“When’s the last time you spoke with your family?”Everett asked.
“Uh, I’m not sure.We don’t talk on a regular basis, so maybe this last holiday?”
“You haven’t told them about us?”Atlas asked.“Or about your new job?”
“Like I said, we don’t talk all that much.My parents are busy.”I hadn’t even told Hannah about the pack courting me.
“I could tell,” Everett said.“So busy in fact that they didn’t even bother asking how you were.”
Um, I didn’t know what to say to that.“It wasn’t really a social call, though.They were asking me for a favor.”I was pretty sure they overheard everything, but I told them anyway.“My sister, Chloe, is having her ten-year anniversary with her pack.I’m going to help organize the party.”
“Are you close with your sister?”Oaks asked.I knew he had two siblings of his own, and that he wasn’t close to his parents.I wasn’t sure if that lack of closeness extended to his siblings, although if I had to guess, I would probably think it did.
“Define close, I guess.I go to all my family events and parties, so I see them for holidays and stuff.But I wouldn’t say we’re friends.They’re like your family?Not quite designation extremists, although probably fairly close to that.”
It wasn’t that my family was cruel to me.I remember when I was little, and my parents would reassure me that I could do anything.So long as I was kind and got good grades, I would achieve whatever I wanted.It was just that the achievements were all limited to my beta status.I could be the best homecare manager.The best beta physician.The best beta this or that.I would never be as good as an alpha, but at least they never expected it of me.They didn’t hold me to any alpha standard.Were never disappointed that I didn’t measure up.
