I got out of the car, eyes fixed on the mansion before me without taking a step forward.
“Let’s go in,” Noah whispered.
I nodded absent-mindedly.
Yes, I had to go in.
He held my hand, and we went in together.
“Someone’s home,” Father commented.
I could tell.
The house seemed more lively than usual, and the sweet aromas of dishes in the air made that even more obvious.
Those scents…
they were my favorite dishes.
Mother.
My Dad and I shared a glance.
His expression dimmed slightly.
“She’s back.”
“Hm.” I couldn’t manage a smile.
The sound of a door opening attracted my attention, followed by a hurried footstep.
Then, my mother’s figure appeared in my line of sight.
Tall, lean, and beautiful.
A young omega who looked no older than thirty.
She approached us with a radiant smile on her face.
Ignoring my father, she grabbed my hand and pulled me into a warm hug.
“Son.” She called.
My lips twitched, trying hard to pull a smile.
“Mum.”
She patted my back.
“Mum missed you so much.”
I was silent.
Of course, I missed her so much, too.
But what would that change?
It wasn’t like telling her I missed her would make her stay longer with me.
It wasn’t as if my complaint would change her mind.
It was always like that.
Confession.
Tears.
Yet, nothing changed.
Nothing ever did.
Realizing I wasn’t saying anything, she rubbed my back gently and took a step back.
“I heard you weren’t feeling fine.
How are you feeling now?”
“A lot better.”
“That’s great.” She brushed her finger against my cheek.
“Hello, Aunt.”
My mother paused for a second.
Turning her head, she seemed surprised to see Noah.
Then, her eyes flickered with embarrassment.
“Noah.
Sorry, I was too busy checking up on Elian.”
Noah chuckled.
“I could see that.”
My mother winked at him.
The two laughed.
I released my hand from hers and walked toward the dining room.
“You made these?”
She smiled sweetly.
“For you.”
My mood lightened a bit.
I loved my mother’s cooking.
“Thanks.”
She rubbed my hair.
“Anything for you, baby.”
My fingers twitched.
I wished that were true.
We settled around the table, and my mother served the dishes.
I glanced at my dad, who hadn’t said a word to his omega since we entered, and a low sigh escaped my lips.
I lowered my head and began eating.
Fortunately, eating wasn’t as difficult as it had been for the past few days.
The meals were just as I remembered them.
Sweet.
Savory.
Carefully cooked.
My mother always tried her best to make it exactly how I liked it.
Less salt.
It was the best.
The meal was silent, with only the sound of cutlery being heard.
I pushed my plates away after a while and stood up.
“I’m going to my room.”
Mother paused.
She dropped her cutlery.
“Why?
You haven’t eaten much.”
Indeed, my plate was still filled.
But wasn’t that because she kept adding more?
I pressed a hand on my belly.
“I can’t take more than this.” Glancing at my father, I realized he was also staring at me.
I looked away.
“I want to take a bath and rest.” My words were hurried.
I turned around to leave.
“Elian,” my father’s voice.
“Stop right there.”
I froze.
My lips tightened briefly.
“What’s it?” I tried to sound as composed as possible.
He pointed to my seat.
“Take a seat.”
“Not interested.
Would rather sleep.”
“I said, take a seat.”
My fingers curled slightly.
Holding my breath, I returned to my seat.
My father pushed his plates aside and sat right.
“Now, talk.”
“Talk?
About what?” I blinked innocently.
My father’s expression remained stern.
“This is serious, Elian.
Who is the father of your child?”
The air froze.
Clang.
Something broke the silence.
My head snapped toward the direction.
It was my mother’s spoon.
Her eyes darted from her plate to my face.
“Pregnant?”
My heart sank.
I shook my head.
“Pregnant?” I laughed.
“How could that be?
How could I be pregnant?”
“Don’t give me that shit, Elian.
You and I know Cole wouldn’t make mistakes.
You’re pregnant!” His voice rose.
My breathing hitched.
My fingers tightened involuntarily.
“I’m not pregnant.”
“Elian!”
I flinched.
“Dad, I said I’m not pregnant!”
My father stood up from his seat.
His eyes darkened with anger.
“Two minutes.”
My face paled.
“Sterling, you’re scaring our son.”
“Shut up, Judy.”
“And you don’t talk to me that way, Sterling.”
“What if I do?
I told you to shut up.
I’m talking to my son right here, not you.”
“Stay out of it.”
My mother sneered.
“I birthed him.”
“Say that to the ghosts.
Whoever cares to listen to the nonsense.”
“That isn’t nonsense, and you know it, Sterling.”
My father laughed mockingly.
“Ask him if he ever sees you as one.
You don’t even stay long enough in his life for him to see you as one.”
“Sterling!”
Hearing their slowly escalating argument, my heart raced faster.
I grabbed the edge of the dining table, holding it firmly as if it could magically steady my breathing.
My eyes reddened slightly.
“Stop,” I murmured.
The two turned to look at me.
“I don’t know who the father is.”
My hold tightened on the table.
My knuckles whitened.
“I’ve been with so many alphas.
I don’t know who the father is.”
Silence.
I swallowed hard.
Yes, I had no idea who it was.
I’d promised Sébastien that it was only a one-night stand.
No way would I mention his name here.
Why would I even do that?
Act bitchy, walk up to him and tell him I was carrying a child?
No, that wouldn’t be me anymore.
That wouldn’t be Elian.
Also…
why would I have to keep this baby?
“I really don’t know who the father is.”
“You’ve gone crazy, Elian.”
My father breathed.
“You’ve really lost your mind.”
My mother shook her head.
“No…
son.”
Her eyes.
That look…
She seemed disappointed.
I looked away.
“So, you don’t know who you slept with about three or so weeks ago?”
“Dad, I said it already, I don’t know.”
“I sleep with different alphas all the time.
How am I supposed to know which one it was?”
My Dad slumped on his seat.
He closed his eyes briefly.
“Think, Elian.
Who exactly was it?”
My lips pursed.
My heart ached.
I hated to see my dad this way.
I hated to have his smile wiped off his face.
I hated even more that he looked so sad…
But I really wouldn’t say.
“I need to wash up.” I turned to leave.
“Stay right there, Elian!”
He roared.
“If you don’t name who the father is, you won’t take a step further!”
Bang.
I flinched.
Turning around, I saw my Dad slam his hand on the table.
The plates clattered, some almost falling off the table.
I took a step backward.
“You don’t want to mention who it is, then you don’t have to wash up or do anything.
Let’s all stand here until you remember.”
My nails dug into the flesh of my palm.
I kept quiet.
Eyes lowered slightly.
“Uncle Sterling, please calm down.”
“How can I, Noah?
This boy doesn’t even know who impregnated him.
Do you believe that?!”
“I’ll talk to him.
Elian will talk to me.”
“Then, you better do.”
He sat back.
Noah walked up to me and took my arm.
Raising my head, our eyes met.
“Let’s go.”
He led me toward the stairs.
“A day, Elian.
If you don’t say who it is after a day, you’ll have to get out of my house!”
Noah gently patted my arm.
We walked up the stairs together.
Closing the door behind us, Noah led me to my bed, where he sat and looked at my face.
Our eyes met.
“Elian, will you tell me who it is?”
A low sigh escaped me.
I closed my eyes and rubbed my brows, feeling weak from within.
“Not again, Noah.
I don’t think I’m in the mood to hear anymore about this pregnancy, please.”
“I don’t know who it was, and even if I do, you think I’ll go to him?”
I laughed bitterly.
“You and I know how impossible that is.
Who among those alphas will accept a child from me?
Who among them would want an omega like me?” I frowned and shook my head.
“What am I saying?”
No,
“Why should I choose any of them because of a pregnancy?”
“You know it, too, Noah.
You know all of them are only good for fun.
I can’t settle for any of them.”
Noah nodded.
“Yeah, they are unworthy of you.”
My lips twitched.
Why did that sound so weird?
Whatever.
I swept my hair to the back.
“I need to take a bath,” I said, unbuttoning my shirt.
Noah immediately turned to look away.
I sneered.
“Let’s talk about tonight’s street when I’m done.”
Nothing beats going to the club when the world becomes too confusing.