Omega (Alpha & Omega #1)

{Chapter Seventy One}

The rest of the day went along smoothly enough, with them grinning at me every time they seemed to remember those three little words I spoke to them. Their joy made me wish I would have told them much sooner. I'd never seen them so happy.

I tapped at my keyboard and smiled slightly as I read my first update in a long time.

This entire time, I'm sure you believed me to be an alpha. Jokes on you, especially to my alpha readers. You've been reading, and enjoying, an omega's work.

I read the last three words, and didn't want to change them. My readers had been with me for up to seven and a half years. And while some of them were more recent followers, I knew a good chunk of them were alphas by their usernames or the way they spoke through their computer.

While I've been away, I typed, I've been shoved into orphan-hood, thrown at two alphas - who, by the way, are still a pain in my ass - like I was something to discard, and finally...mated. I've come a long way since the beginning, and while years ago I absolutely hated alphas, now I realize not all of you are the same. Just like how not all betas are the same, and how not all omegas are the same either.

I pursed my lips, reading over it again. Might as well be honest, right? As I continued to write, I felt my lips curling into a small smile as I added one last bit to my post.

America - get your shit together. Debating on another human's life is bullshit and you all know it. One life is not worth less than another's just because of social ranking.

Old me would have snorted derisively at this new Phoenix. This new person who went from hating everyone, to finding love and friendship in the one place she never thought possible.

I hit submit, and the moment a little green check mark appeared, I heard a ding from a phone.

"Fucking shit," Keon hissed.

I turned my head and smirked at him as he turned his volume down too late.

"Your favorite little blogger post something new," Seth teased, walking in behind Keon and Cayson.

Theo followed close behind, grinning at something Marcus said.

Keon flipped Seth the bird, but smiled at me sheepishly. It had happened before and I pretended not to notice, but he really did have post notifications on. And by the look of it, so did Cayson. But he had his phone on silent.

My mother wasn't there though. She decided to move out the moment she got her second paycheck, and promised to come visit. She wanted to stay in Canada, close to me. I wouldn't have believed that a few months prior, before my father gave me away to two brothers I thought I'd hate for the rest of my life. But now? I believed she wanted the best for me and truly wanted to be a part of my life, even though on paper I'm still an orphan.

"So what are you cooking for us," Seth asked me.

I blinked at him. I never learned how to cook, and the thought of even attempting made me nervous. Which apparently seemed to amuse him to no end, because he grinned.

"She'd probably screw up jello," Keon teased.

I glared at him, even though he was probably right. Having never attempted to make jello, I wouldn't know. But it didn't need to be cooked, as far as I knew, so at least I wouldn't burn the house down trying.

I'd have to make jello sometime.

"We ordered Chinese," Cayson said, moving to go get drinks for everyone.

When he slid a beer in front of me, I eyed it curiously before moving that curious gaze to him.

"Try it," he said, smiling as he slid more beers out to the remaining four people, then himself. When they just sat there staring at me, I forced the cap off and took a sip.