Page 83 of The Omega

“We heard.” Ma nodded.

“All the way out here…” Aunt Sunny added.

“Oh gosh.” Opal cringed. “Sorry about that.”

“You’re fine.” Aunt Sunny winked as she handed Opal a flask from her pocket. “Here, have a drink. You must be thirsty after all that screaming.”

I tried to intercept the flask, but Sunny smacked my hand away. “Be careful,” I warned. “My aunt is a bad influence.”

Opal was still laughing as she sipped whatever rot-gut concoction Sunny gave her. My girl didn’t even make a face.

Aunt Sunny and my ma both looked at her with a newfound respect.

We need to make sure she eats.

I gave her my chair and pulled up a plate, piling it with food while Ma leaned closer to Opal.

“I’m Shelly, by the way. Dorian’s mother. And we’re all really glad you’re here. If this pack of fools gives you any grief, make sure to let me or my sister know,” Ma whispered.

Opal smiled brighter. “Everyone here is perfect.”

“Perfect,” Sunny laughed. “Alright. We like you. You can stay.”

“Good.” Opal nodded.

Ma’s eyes were still dancing with humor. “And what about you? Where are you from?”

Opal shrugged like it was nothing. “A small pack in West Virginia. Not much left for me there.”

“No parents? No family?” Sunny pried because she didn’t know how to keep her mouth shut.

And I found myself hanging on every word.

“No. Just me. I had a good Alpha, though.” Opal’s soft voice didn’t betray the hurt I knew was buried there.

I glanced at Atlas, suddenly not so smug that he sat in the corner by himself looking like a bump on a log.

“Then you’ll fit right in here.” Ma rested her hand on Opal’s forearm, giving it a little pat. “We’re making our own roots somewhere new.”

“And you’ve been everywhere, right?” Opal asked, trying to get the attention off herself.

“Everywhere.” Ma gave me a knowing look. “It wasn’t until recently we had any hope of settling down and putting up our feet.”

“Until Dorian took control of the pack?” Opal asked.

It was an innocent question, but an uneasy silence filled the table. I wasn’t worried about them spilling our secrets. My pack was tight-knit. But I wasn’t sure if—or when—I wanted Opal to know the truth.

It definitely wasn’t right this moment with Atlas sitting in the room.

“To Dorian,” Sunny raised another glass, breaking the awkward pause. “Our great and only Alpha who brought us the prettiest Luna in the world. We like her, so if you mess this up, we’ll revolt.”

“I’ll drink to that.” Opal giggled again as she took another sip from Sunny’s flask.

30

Atlas

Dorian was hiding something. I’d discreetly sniffed, wondering if I might find Ava after all, but it was as I thought.