Knot So Perfect Omega (Omega Match #1)(20)
“Is that the type of environment you grew up in? A pack that didn’t support their omega?” He grabbed a spatula out of a drawer and turned to look at me. “I know a lot of packs are like that, but this one isn’t.”
“You say that now... And no, I grew up in a pack that was supportive, but there was no time for my mom to explore her interests beyond being an omega. She got pregnant with me and Kara pretty early on, and we have six dads.” I sighed and rested my cheek on my fist. “I don’t even know if I want children. It doesn’t seem fair to match into a pack that definitely wants offspring when all I want is to make quilts and freely eat chocolate.”
“I think it’s hard to imagine children running around when you’re so goal-focused. There’s no law saying packs have to have offspring, and ultimately, it’s the woman’s choice.” He turned back to the stove to flip the toast, and I tried to calm the beating of my heart.
If the pack felt that way, maybe they weren’t so bad after all.
“But what are you doing quilting? Isn’t that for... you know...” He turned back to me, his plump bottom lip between his teeth as if he were biting back what he wanted to say. I knew a lot of younger people didn’t talk about quilting, but that didn’t mean we didn’t do it.
“Say it, Kane.” A smile broke free as he shifted from one foot to another. “Just know that I know where you lay your head at night.”
“Are you threatening me, sweet cheeks?” He grinned, his entire face lighting up.
“Me? Threaten you? Never.” I nodded to the griddle. “Don’t burn my breakfast.”
“Shit.” He turned back to the stove and turned it off. “They didn’t burn, thankfully.”
“Good morning.” I stiffened at the greeting coming from Beckett as he walked into the kitchen.
“Kara-”
“I’m not Kara,” I blurted, deciding to rip the Band-Aid off in one fell swoop. “I’m Kayla.”
It was like my body could sense his sudden shift in mood as he stopped abruptly and did a pivot to stare at me from across the island. “What do you mean you’re not Kara?” His tone was a partial growl, and my heart nearly stopped.
I’d been on the receiving end of many angry alpha growls in my younger years, and I hated it. I preferred Beck’s I’m going to fuck you senseless on this counter growl.
“I told you, I’m Kayla. By some horrible twist of fate, we matched.” I was starting to feel the same sass I had at the Alphaball meet and greet coming out. “I knew calling you a shrimp dick would turn you on.”
His nostrils flared and his eyes narrowed as he put his palms on the counter to lean toward me aggressively. I sat taller because he didn’t scare me. I’d braced myself for his wrath to be the strongest given our first interaction.
I just hadn’t expected to shove my tongue down his throat the night before.
“You will not speak to me that way when you so clearly are involved in some kind of deception with your sister. I almost fucked you last night thinking you were her!” His voice was starting to rise, and I bit inside my cheek to stop from whimpering. “Pack your bags. You’re going right back to where you came from.”
I didn’t move or take my eyes off him. He couldn’t just boss me around like he owned me. “Is your poor alpha ego bruised? I’m so sorry, but I barely passed Submission 101.”
His hands fisted on the counter. “That’s an actual fucking class?”
Kane made a disgruntled noise in his throat and slid a plate of delicious French toast across the counter, along with some syrup.
“Don’t act so surprised. The academy’s whole purpose is to prepare omegas to roll over on their backs for their alphas.” That wasn’t necessarily true, but it did feel like most of my peers would do just that if that meant they could live a life of luxury.
“If that’s the case, then how the hell did you make it past the first semester?”
I shrugged because I honestly didn’t know. “Fake it ‘til you make it.”
“Is that what you were hoping to do here? Fake being your sister until we bonded with you?” My mouth opened in shock at his accusation. I’d tried to tell everyone it was impossible for me to match with this pack.
“Beckett,” Kane growled in warning. “You don’t have to be an asshole. It honestly seems like a mistake on Omega Match’s end.”
“That’s enough,” Rio barked from the entry of the kitchen. I hadn’t even realized he’d been watching the whole exchange. “Let’s go call Brian and discuss this as a pack in private. Tossing accusations around isn’t helping anyone.”
Beckett pushed away from the counter and left the kitchen without another word. But he didn’t need to say anything for me to know he was thinking about wringing my neck.
“Eat your breakfast. This shouldn’t take long. I’m sorry he’s the way he is.” Kane tapped the counter as if that was going to comfort me any and followed Rio and Beckett.
I heard them yell for Rylan, and a minute later heard him ask what was going on. The French toast was calling to me, but the need to know what was happening was strong, so I jumped up and quickly went toward their voices coming from downstairs.