Omega (Alpha & Omega #1)

{Chapter Sixty Four}

My heart was slamming hard against my ribcage. My palms were sweaty, and it didn't matter how hard I clenched my hands into fists, they continued to shake. I didn't want to see the alphas gathered at this function. I didn't want to see the omegas lining the walls. I didn't want to smell them.

Didn't want their judgement.

Keon and Cayson sat on either side of me, and they both put a gentle hand on a knee each. They didn't need to say anything, because there wasn't anything to say. If they said "everything will be okay", I wouldn't believe them. The only thing they could do was be there for me.

We rolled up to the familiar mansion, with familiar omegas standing outside to let people in.

I also saw a familiar face. An older man, but not quite showing his age. As an alpha, he aged slower than most. But the face had been in many nightmares before.

I almost begged to stay in the car.

But I didn't. I got out of the car first, to the annoyance of a beta valet. He sneered down at me, but flinched when Keon and Cayson got out and glared at him.

I'd grown used to not being around betas. So their smell tickled my nose, and I guess the look on my face pissed off the beta holding the door open. Because he growled at me, and I turned and growled right back at him.

Seth snorted as he stepped out of the car. "Never a dull moment with you, Phoenix. Also, beta trash? There's a reason you're a valet and not attending the function. So act appropriately before I tell your master that you've disrespected someone important to us."

The beta flushed crimson and he bowed his head, remaining silent as we walked away. But the moment all of us had our backs to him, I felt his eyes burning into my back.

So I turned my head ever so slightly to look back at him, and his narrowed eyes widened at what I assumed were my glowing irises.

My alpha side had a mind of its own, and seemed to sprout up more often ever since someone - I glared at the back of Teo's head - dug in my mind.

Teo turned his head and raised an eyebrow.

I narrowed my eyes further.

"Careful, mix breed," he murmured, turning his attention ahead. "Your alpha is showing."

I closed my eyes and breathed, allowing Keon and Cayson to guide me forward so I could relax. If I thought too hard about the beta at my back, I'd get more pissed off, which in turn would more than likely make my eyes shine that much brighter.

"Phoenix."

My eyes flew open and immediately found the man I wanted to avoid at all costs.

My grandfather stood by the entrance, a drink in his hand. He stared down at me as he always had, down his nose and with narrowed eyes.

'Stupid little girl.' The memory came back unbidden. 'Maybe if you'd been an alpha, you'd be loved. But alas...you never will be.'

His eyes found the marks on either side of my throat, then he raised his eyes to the two alphas I called my mates.

Seth and Teo both turned, which made Theo turn as well.

Seth glared at my grandfather, and I wondered what he had to have been thinking to piss off Seth. Probably the same old shit, except maybe it was directed at Keon and Cayson.

"Grandfather," I said, just as Seth opened his mouth to speak. "How nice to see you after so long."

Lies. Always spouting lies when it came to him.

"I got word of what happened to your father." His eyes fell away from Keon and Cayson to look down at me.

I shrugged one shoulder. "I've been made aware that I am, in fact, parentless. So your son is of no concern to me."

His hand clenched, then unclenched. He wanted to hit me. Hurt me like he'd done plenty of times before. Punch me. Kick me. I'm sure he was thinking of all these things as his jaw ticked.

"Anyway," I turned away from him, "have a good night."

I walked to the front door, patting Seth's shoulder as I passed. "Let it go. He isn't worth it."

I heard Cayson murmur something to Seth. Something about telling him later what he'd thought, and Seth agreed. I just hoped it would be way later, after the function was complete. I didn't want a scene, especially one between my mates and my grandfather.

It would just be pitiful, watching my grandfather be beaten down within seconds.

The doors opened and I caught sight of people I'd seen at the last function. Each of them glanced at me, then their eyes remained on Keon and Cayson.

"Who invited the Canadian alphas," someone whispered.

Seth grumbled something about hotdogs - I think - and we continued forward.

What seemed to astound them was the fact that five alphas surrounded one little omega. As if they were protecting me.

Because who would protect an omega?

"Phoenix!"

I stopped dead in my tracks.

No. Why the hell was he here?

I turned my head and met eyes with another omega. Actually, met eyes with the other omegas that worked for my parents. They all stood in a line against the same wall I stood against last time.

They were being sold off, weren't they? To alphas that were still alphas, since my father was less than trash.

The man who called my name ran over to me, sliding to a stop mere inches from me. His baby blue eyes grinned along with his mouth, and I hated it.

"Simon," I said as greeting.

When he wrapped me in a hug, I tensed. He hadn't touched me in years. I'd always been the one to touch him. Get him off. Make him feel better during his heat. The only time he touched me was that first time when I gave him my virginity.

The memory caught in my brain, just as I thought of it. Because someone undoubtedly was prodding into my head, waiting for me to explain who this random male was that was hugging me. Unfortunately though, I remembered. And within seconds, Keon ripped Simon off of me.

Simon raised his eyebrows, but finally looked back at me. "I'll talk to you later, okay? We have a lot to catch up on."

I stared after him as he walked away.

"When the omegas leave," Cayson murmured in my ear, "go out on the terrace we met you on. And don't fucking talk to him. I don't trust him."

Simon reached his friends - some of the other guys I'd helped along the way. They were the same ones who he told about my "power", and who wasted no time in asking for my help. And then promptly ignored me afterwards.

Theo grabbed me and pulled me to his side, kissing the top of my head gently.

I'd imagined what the function would be like. Sweated over it. But nothing prepared me for this. I hadn't expected to see them. Any of them. The males and females of my parents' house. Nor did I expect the memories.

I thought I'd go, be glared at and judged, and leave. Back to Canada. Back to the house I lived in with my mates.

Not to go and feel an ache return that I thought I'd long since forgotten.

°°°°°

A/N: More Simon coming up next chapter 🙈