Page 62 of Generation Omega: Claimed
Yes, but I won’t share my decision—and Till doesn’t even know about my meltdown—until I’m with Kaz. He deserves to hear my answer first.
Okay, it’s a deal then.
I’m extremely nervous, and the legacy waits until I’m ready.
Your father had an undiagnosed heart defect. If he hadn’t died as a result of the fire, he would have been gone within a week or two.
“Oh my god.” My emotions riot—horror, relief, sadness, consolation. All of it unites to help me drop the weight of thesixty years I thought I’d stolen from him. I’ve never received a more incredible gift in my life.
The loss of your father made you a fixture in Tillie’s life. You gave her somewhere to be when no one was home, a place other than her closet where she felt safe.
I know.
What you don’t know is that almost a year after your father died, Tillie crept out of her house and walked to see you one night. You opened your window, helped her inside, fed her dinner, and let her stay until morning. She proudly wore your old clothes to school that day, rolled jeans and a green shirt with an orange truck on it.
It happened more times than I can count.
Yes, but that night there was a carbon monoxide leak in her house, when no adults were home. If not for you and your dependence on each other, Tillie would have died in her sleep on the floor of that closet, with no family to even mourn her. Fate doesn’t explain itself, but it always has a reason.
The legacy fades away, leaving me on my own. For the first time since I was a kid, I let myself completely break down and sob—for Tillie, for me, and for Kaz. Trauma built the walls that imprisoned us, but maybe together, we can find another way to live that honors and acknowledges where we came from, what we survived, and how limitless our potential for healing.
Fate doesn’t explain itself, but it always has a reason—I dare to believe that fate’s reasons have everything to do with this pack and our future that may just change the world for everyone.
I’m grateful for the time to grieve alone and unobserved, but when I wake with Tillie in my arms, I’m even more thankful.
“Hey, Till,” I whisper, kissing her head and holding her even closer, her robe warming us both.
“I missed you. I need more time with you, Ethan. We’re still us.”
“And we always will be.”
CHAPTER 31
TILLIE
It’s not enough. None of this is enough.
“What’s not enough?” I murmur, still mostly asleep and unwilling to even consider opening my eyes.
Ethan mumbles, “Who are you talking to?”
“I’m not sure I’m talking to anyone.” I bury my face against his chest. Oh, he smells so good, though it’s faint. Cheesy, bacon bread—that would be the best breakfast.
It’s not enough!Oh, it’s my omega, and she’s feisty.
What’s not enough?
Everything is fine, but it’s time to wake.Now, it’s the omega legacy assuming the role of a dastardly alarm clock.
What is my omega worried about?
More time with the origin alpha and other miscellaneous complaints about ancient betrayals—the usual.
That does sound like her. I sigh as I begin to drift off again, with Ethan’s arms still around me. We slept beneath the stars after I crashed Ethan’s solo campout up here. I felt almost guilty for trespassing on his alone time, but not enough to find another bed buddy.
With my omega cuddle drive now fully activated, I can’t imagine sleeping by myself. I get shaky even thinking about it.But I still want my own room someday, even if I’m bed-hopping forever.
You’ll have whatever you want.Gideon’s sexy voice is in my head.Also, it’s time to get up.
