Walter
I slam the door to my old room, my chest heaving.
The room is still well maintained by Mom, the largest in the house though not as big as my room in the penthouse. I always said it was because I was her favorite, though she never admitted it outright. The bedspread is neatly tucked, the shelves dusted, the curtains freshly washed. It feels like stepping back into another life, one where things were simpler, one where I wasn’t an omega, one where I didn’t carry the weight of a pack that feels like it’s crumbling.
"Augh... ground swallow me whole," I groan, collapsing onto the edge of the bed with my head buried in my hands.
Am I being ridiculous? Probably. But I don’t care.
I’m mad at everyone and everything right now. I’ve been gone for nearly two weeks, and this is when they come to me, not to provide comfort, not to ask how I’m holding up, but to tell me to help them bring Lorali down. It’s insulting. Am I the devil to these people? If they want to bring Lorali down, can’t they do it themselves? Why does it always fall back on me?
I groan louder, the sound echoing in the quiet room as a sudden sensation prickles at the back of my neck, making me want to scream into a pillow. "My heat is coming," I shout, frustration boiling over. Talk about the worst possible moment. I don’t feel like being touched or like being fucked, not now and not even in the near future.
Just as I’m drowning in my misery, the door creaks open. I sit up too fast, my vision spinning from the wine I’ve drowned myself in. "Beth, please leave me alone," I mutter, my voice hoarse, irritation spilling out.
Beth steps inside anyway, ignoring me completely. "I’m not going anywhere," she says firmly, carrying a tray full of appetizing food, I clearly didn’t cook. She sets it down on the table before sitting beside me on the bed.
"So," she begins, her voice softer now, "what’s happening between you and your pack?"
I roll my eyes, huffing. "None of your business. You’re just going to judge me anyway."
"Me? Judge you?" Beth laughs, though there’s no humor in it. "Walter, have you seen my life?"
"I do. It’s really bad," I sigh.
"Exactly. So I’m the fuck‑up around here. Whatever your problems are, I’m sure they can’t compare to mine."
That’s true. Her life is messy, complicated and full of mistakes she owns without shame. I stare at her, my chest tightening. "Fine. I’ll tell you." I clear my throat nervously. "Remember earlier today, when I told you that Rod story?"
Beth’s eyes glisten, her voice trembling. "Walter," she whispers, tears spilling down her cheeks. "I knew. I knew you were Rod."
I knew it. She’s not dense. She’s my sister.
"Beth..." My voice breaks, guilt clawing at me. "I’m a bad person. I lied. I kn—"
"I’m disappointed," she interrupts, her words cutting but honest. "And if you weren’t my brother, if I didn’t know the type of person you are deep down, I’d never talk to you again. In fact, I’d never let you near my children, let alone be—"
"Beth." I cut her off, guilt heavy in my chest. "But I do know you, Walter," she continues, her voice softening. "I know you’re not beyond saving. You’ve done terrible things, yes, but you’re not lost. It’s not too late to be better. You must apologize"
I break down completely, sobbing into her shoulder, my body trembling as though the weight of everything I’ve done is finally crushing me.
She strokes my hair gently, her touch steady even as my tears soak through her shirt.
"You don’t understand, Beth," I choke out, my voice raw and broken. "I really messed up. Even if I apologize to Lorali, she’ll never hear it. She’ll never forgive me."
Beth’s hand pauses for a moment before resuming its soothing rhythm. Her voice is firm but kind. "It’s her choice whether she accepts it or not, but you must still apologize. And not just with words, you have to work for that forgiveness, Walter. You have to prove it."
I sniff, my chest tightening. "Does that mean I’m supposed to let her be in my pack?"
Beth tilts her head, studying me with sharp eyes. "Well, if what you told me is true, and she’s fated to two people in your pack, then it’s the goddess’s work. That means it’s her pack too, whether or not you were there first."
"But..." My protest dies in my throat, weak and uncertain.
"Walter, think about it this way." She leans back just enough to look me directly in the eyes. "What if she met Spade first, and you later? And then you found out you were fated to Augi and Oril, but you couldn’t be with them because this Lorali girl was already there and had been first? How would that feel?"
The thought twists painfully in my chest. "It would suck," I admit, biting the inside of my lip until I taste iron.
"Then there’s your answer."
"You know, you may be borderline crazy. But you’re still my brother. And I’ll always love you."
A shaky laugh escapes me, half-choked by lingering tears. "You’re still bossy. Always telling me what to do."
She grins, nudging me playfully in the ribs, her smile breaking through the heaviness. "Someone has to keep you in line."
Keion
The guest room feels colder than usual, though maybe that’s just me. The walls are painted a pale cream, the kind of color that tries to be warm but ends up feeling empty. Augi sits on the edge of the bed, his shoulders hunched, his eyes fixed on the floorboards as if they might offer answers. I stand near the window, arms crossed, watching the night settle outside.
The door creaks open, and Walter’s mother steps in, carrying a stack of blankets. She doesn’t look at us directly, her gaze sliding past like we’re furniture. She sets the blankets down on the dresser, her lips pressed into a thin line.
"Here," she says curtly. "It gets cold at night."