Page 93 of Talk About… Dramay
“Thanks. I love my family and I miss them, but it’s kind of nice being able to do my own thing here. Though, my mom and sister have been freaking out at my abrupt move and not calling them enough,” he said, rolling his eyes.
“We’ll figure out a way for them to visit,” I promised. “Maybe being on our turf, with alphas and a possessive omega by your side, will make it different.”
He nodded slowly before letting out a shaky breath.
“I think I needed to hear that. It’s so weird, I’ve been independent for a long time but sometimes it’s hard being a beta. We’re overlooked, sometimes unnecessary even in packs, and the family always goes on about the alphas. I didn’t realize how much I internalized all that.”
Not even letting myself overthink, I pulled the beta into a quick hug. Squeezing him tight then letting him go.
“We’re family now, Ro. You’re ours just as much as she is,” I said again, voice firm and unyielding. He took a breath and nodded.
“Maybe we plan it for spring and it can be an outdoor family gathering,” he said, glancing over the space. “We can have Ori’s family and the Whitakers over, make an event of it.”
“You know, I think she’d love that,” I agreed. Now I had even more reason to make this whole thing happen.
“What about your families?” he asked, looking hesitant. Sometimes family talk was hard for people. Especially those of us without close knit families.
“Lane grew up in foster care, he’ll eventually explain more I’m sure. We became his family in our twenties and never looked back. Tate’s family obviously was shit, they were the ones whoarranged his marriage then disowned him when it went south. I was raised by my grandparents and they’re gone now.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, wincing. Our past wasn’t exactly pretty in a lot of ways, but we were all stronger men for it.
“No worries. It’s okay to ask, we’re family,” I reminded him again, and would any time he needed to hear it.
“Well, I’m glad you have us now, too,” he said before his watch started beeping. He hit a button and sighed.
“Sorry to run in the middle of this, but I don’t want to be late,” he hedged.
“Go,” I said, waving him off. “That’s enough deep conversations for this early anyway.”
He chuckled at my light tone and waved before rushing off, cheeks flushed and a happy smile on his face. I really hoped that meeting went well. I had a feeling Roman needed this new project and the classes that would eventually start.
I went back to work, arms aching as I shoveled out the path from the back patio to the area I was renovating, then around the perimeter of this new entertaining area.
“What is going on out here?” Oriana called out, amused and bewildered. “Other than digging up the yard. Are we hiding bodies?”
“I hadn’t considered it, but you say the word, Love,” I shot back, wiping sweat off my forehead and turning to face her.
She looked happy. A whole lot happier than when we first met our omega.
“I take it your night went well?”
Her flushed cheeks had my cock hardening again but I did my best to ignore it.
“Don’t deflect, alpha,” she said, avoiding answering my own question. I let out a small laugh before gesturing over to my plans.
“Making an outdoor entertaining area for us. Hopefully me diving right in isn’t an issue?”
“What if it was?” she asked, curiosity lighting up her ocean eyes.
“I’d fill it in and plant new grass,” I said, shrugging.
“No, keep going. I actually love this idea,” she said as she studied them, a cute crinkle on her forehead as she concentrated on each one.
“Does it bother you I didn’t ask first,” I asked, wanting to know if I had overstepped and just got lucky this time.
She frowned. “This isourpack house now, right?”
I nodded. “Where you are, we are.”