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I flicked away stray tears as I worried my bottom lip between my teeth. “Let me finish, or I won’t tell you.” Tristin's grunt was the confirmation I needed and I continued on, telling him about the other man and how Eli’s parents didn’t believe me to be an omega. I shared with him how they all discussed how minimal my scent output was and how they swore I was a beta. I told my best friend how Eli and I fought and how I was called out for withholding my true feelings and how that was likened to me lying as well. When I finally arrived at my truth, I faltered, my voice cracking under the weight of my grief. “His father said he’s always wanted kids… and I,” my voice softened further, dropping to almost a whisper as I finished, “I can’t give that to him. I asked him if he could be okay with it just being the two of us, because I can’t—I can’t—,” a small sob preceded my slide down the back of the couch. I drew my knees into my chest, burying my face in my hands.

An arm was thrown over my shoulders, and I was pulled into Tristin's side. We sat huddled together, his cheek resting atop my head as I cried on his shoulder. When all I could do was hiccup, Tristin spoke up, asking,

“Are they sure?”

I nodded. “Yeah. I spent a couple of months going through some rather uncomfortable tests, but the hormonal testing confirmed it. My levels are so low that despite presenting as an omega, I’m hormonally a beta.”

“How does that happen?” Tristin questioned, his concern evident in his soft tone.

“Doctors don't know. It just… does.”

“I would say I’m sorry, but I’m pretty sure you’d choke the life right out of me,” Tristin joked.

I chuckled softly as I straightened up, moving away from his side. “You’re absolutely right.”

“I know you, Lane, and I know you well,” Tristin started, “And you’ll deny thinking any of this, but remember, I know you.”

I rolled my eyes and tried to turn away, but Tristin cupped my face, gently turning me back to meet his sincere stare, his blue eyes brimming with tears. I swallowed around the impossibly large lump that was forming in my throat. “You’re being so dramatic,” I sniffled.

“You’re more than enough as you are, okay? You’re not less than. And it’s not your fault.”

I held back my tears in favor of questioning, “Must you be so extra?”

“It’s my brand, you curmudgeonly bitch,” Tristin muttered as he kissed my forehead and pulled me into a hug. “I love you.”

“I know.”

“Say it back.”

“Why would I do that?” I teased.

“Asshole.”

“I love you.”

“I know,” Tristin stated as he gently squeezed me.

Chapter Fifteen

Jonah’s face scrunched up as I walked past him. “You smell awful. Like sadness and pride.”

I grunted as I scowled at Jonah, ignoring the commentary in order to continue wiping down the tables.

“He’s smelled terrible for the past three weeks,” Jason said as he came back from the kitchen. He was balancing a tray of food in one hand and a small tray of drinks in the other. When he sat the items down on the table I just finished wiping, I turned to bite out,

“What are you doing? We’re closing.”

“Like hell we are,” Jason replied with a smile. “You’ve been forcing us to do this pack bonding for years now and once I’m into a good routine, any disruption causes issues with my executive functioning.”

“Oh! Congratulations!” Jonah cheerfully quipped, grinning. “You’re back in therapy!”

“Yes, and I’m learning to not suppress my feelings. Which is why we’re having this pack bonding night. I have feelings.” Jason pointed to a chair. “Sit.”

I let loose a loud exhale but didn’t argue. I threw the towel over my shoulder, settling into the chair. “What?” I stared at Jonah before directing my attention to Jason.

“I feel—no, I believe you’re being an idiot,” Jason stated, a little too happily.

I glared daggers at him. “I’m being an idiot? You both know what happened and yet I’m the idiot?”