An Omega's Desire

Chapter Thirty-One: "Parents"

Sean opened up about trying to get Nathan to join the Pack and how they went about it. Resulting in him being told to give them space. When he finished, he stopped working on the food to ask his mom in a meek undertone. "Am I being stupid? I should be happy they are talking it out, right...? I just... Why does it upset me...?" His mom picked up the cutting board to slide the bits of chicken into the pot, before saying a little cautiously. "Well... Maybe you heart and head don't see it the same way." Sean blinked, asking perplexed. "What?" His mom smirked, then told him calmly. "Logically, you are happy that they are willing to talk things out. That's a good thing. Especially, between an Alpha and Beta with... tension. From my experience, what Nathan is doing is very personal. Leaving everything you know to join a Pack that is full of different rules and family structures... It's a lot to take in." Touching his shoulder, she added with a warm smile. "Maybe he didn't want to look weak in front of you. He didn't want to ask questions on things he doesn't understand... and ruin how you see him." Sean rolled his eyes, lightly growling out. "Why would that matter? After what we've done together..."

He looked at his mom, who raised an eyebrow with an amused look. He straightened up more, prompting her to snicker out. "It's a Beta and Alpha thing. We like to pretend that we have the answers to everything. We would rather have people thinking that we are fighting it out, than talking it out. It's..." While she tried to think of the words, Sean blurted out. "Stupid? Annoying? Pointless? Why bother at all with the charade if it's all just an act?" His mom exhaled heavily, causing him to bite his lip. Had he gone too far? He always tended to forget that she was a Beta. His mom stirred the broth a moment, then tried to correct him by saying. "It's not stupid to us. We... We have a job. We do it. If we look..." Turning to face him, she started again and said a bit more confidently. "Parents. Parents protect their kids by keeping them from seeing the true horrors of the world. If a kid doesn't feel safe, then they never learn how to have fun. How to enjoy the little things in life. They would hide. Parents never show how vulnerable they are because puppies need to feel safe. Alphas and Betas are the parents of the Pack. We protect and keep you safe. We can't show weakness. Especially to those we love. When things go wrong... we want you to rely on US. We stand our ground. We are hope. We are safety. But if Omegas don't believe that... Then we don't."

Sean thought about that, while his mom reluctantly told him in a low voice. "Our comfort is keeping the ones we love safe. From the moment our scents come in... We play rougher. We become possessive and aggressive. We settle things by fighting. We don't share. We hide our weaknesses. We rise to challenges and always think about how to survive and win. It's all training. To prepare us for fighting the enemy and protecting the things we love. That is what we want you to see. And in moments when we fail... and we don't feel good enough or strong enough to do what we are trained to do... That is when we need YOU. Family. Friends." She touched the underside of his jaw, leaning in closer to look him in the eyes better before whispering to him lovingly. "Now that you are older. Maybe you'll understand it better... They aren't doing this to hurt you. Or shut you out, puppy. They are doing this so that you keep the faith in them." Sean rolled his eyes, mumbling out. "They don't have lie to me... I'm not a puppy anymore." She smirked, kissing his forehead, before telling him warmly. "No, you're not anymore. But one day when you have puppies of your own, you'll understand. You can get older all you want... but you'll always be my puppy. And in their case... You'll always be someone to protect."

Letting him go, she went back to stirring the pot, before saying openly. "I think what scares you isn't that they are getting so close. It's that you feel like once again Mark is pushing you away from the big dog's table. You don't want to feel like you can't play with them. And it is understandable... but sometimes... you've got to let the boys be boys. You know what I mean?" Sean shrugged, mumbling out innocently. "He can do those things with me. I can play rough." His mom smirked without looking at him, but he saw it. When she finally looked away from the pot, she told him gently. "He will do things with you. But some things... He would never take the risk if it meant hurting you. I know you think you can play rough with him... but people get hurt. I've broken so many bones due to accidents from playing too rough with others. But we get hurt and bounce back to be friends and think nothing of it. But if you get hurt... Emotionally, I don't think you could bounce back like that." Sean puffed his chest up, stating out defensively. "I could! I got Nathan off Mark in our backyard! I deal with the Omegas harassing me daily! I am-" Sean stopped talking when his mom held up a hand nicely to signal him to stop.