Beautifully Broken Omega: A Dark Reverse Harem Omegaverse Romance, page 28
Before I can talk myself out of it, I answer.
“Hello, Mother.”
“Katherine.” Her voice sounds smaller than I remember, frailer. “Thank you for picking up. I wasn’t sure you would.”
“I almost didn’t.” I keep my voice steady, emotionless. “What do you want?”
There’s a long pause, filled with the kind of heavy silence that comes before words that change everything.
“I want to apologize,” she says finally, and I can hear tears in her voice. “For everything. For sending you back to Roman when you called me scared. For giving him information about where you lived. For choosing what I thought was best for you instead of listening to what you needed.”
I sit down heavily on the edge of the bed, my carefully composed facade cracking slightly. An apology. After all this time, another apology.
“I was wrong, Katherine. So terribly wrong. I let my own fears and desires cloud my judgment. I wanted you to have the life I thought you deserved—financial security, social status, protection. I didn’t understand that none of that matters if you’re not safe. If you’re not happy.”
Tears threaten at the corners of my eyes, but I blink them back. “You’re dying,” I say quietly. It’s not a question.
“Yes.” Her voice breaks. “The cancer is aggressive. The doctors say I have maybe two months left.”
“And now you want absolution.”
Another pause. “I want... I want you to know that I love you. I’ve always loved you, even when I failed to show it properly. Even when I made choices that hurt you. You deserved better from me, and I’m sorry I couldn’t be the mother you needed.”
The words I’ve wanted to hear my entire life, and they feel both healing and too late.
“You love me?” My voice comes out sharper than I intended, years of pain finally breaking free. “You have a funny way of showing it, Mother. Do you know what it’s like to grow up feeling like you’re never enough? Like no matter what you do, how hard you try, you’ll always be the disappointment?”
“Katherine—”
“No, let me finish. You want to apologize? Then you need to hear this.” My voice grows stronger with each word, all the hurt I’ve carried finally finding its way out. “I never felt loved by you. Not once. Even as a little girl, I knew Melissa was your favorite. She was the perfect daughter—beautiful, compliant, everything you wanted me to be. And I was just... there. Taking up space.”
I can hear her crying on the other end, but I can’t stop now. The words are pouring out like water through a broken dam.
“Do you remember when I was eight and made you that Mother’s Day card? I spent hours on it, drew little flowers all around the edges, wrote ‘I love you, Mommy’ in my best handwriting. You looked at it for maybe two seconds before putting it aside to answer a phone call. You never even hung it on the refrigerator.”
“I remember,” she whispers. “I’m so sorry, Katherine. I was—”
“You were always too busy, too disappointed, too focused on what I should be instead of who I was. And when Roman came along, you finally saw your chance to fix me. To make me into something worthy of your approval. You didn’t care that he was controlling, that he made me feel small and afraid. He looked good on paper, and that was enough for you.”
My voice breaks completely. “When I called you that night, terrified and begging for help, you told me to go back to him. Your own daughter, bruised and broken, and you sent me back to my abuser because it was more convenient than admitting you’d been wrong about him.”
“I was scared—”
“You were selfish!” The words explode out of me with decades of suppressed rage. “You were more concerned about what people would think than about my safety. You chose your reputation over your daughter’s life.”
“I can’t,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “I can’t do this anymore, Mother. I can’t keep hoping you’ll change. I’m done trying to earn love that should have been unconditional.”
“Katherine—”
“No.” My voice grows stronger, more certain. “I need you to leave me alone. I need you to never contact me again. I’m building a life with people who actually love me, who protect me without trying to control me. I’m happy, Mother. For the first time in my life, I’m genuinely happy. And I won’t let you take that away from me.”
“But I—”
“Goodbye, Mother.”
I hang up before she can say anything else, then immediately block her number. My hands shake as I set the phone down, but underneath the tremor is relief. Finally. Finally, I’ve told her exactly how I feel, and I can move on. I can stop carrying the weight of her expectations and disappointments.
The family I found with Griffin, Nolan, and Declan is the only true family I’ve ever had anyway.
Just as I’m wiping away a stray tear, careful not to smudge my makeup, Nolan enters the bedroom. He stops in the doorway, his blue eyes drinking in the sight of me, and I feel my breath catch. He’s wearing a perfectly tailored black suit that emphasizes his massive frame, making him look like he could be on the cover of a magazine. So handsome and broad and tall that he fills the entire doorway with his presence.
He moves to stand behind me at the mirror, his hands settling gently on my shoulders as we both look at our reflection. I lean back against the solid warmth of his chest, feeling immediately grounded by his presence.
“You look absolutely stunning, sweetheart,” he murmurs against my ear, his voice rough with appreciation. “Like a queen.”
“Thank you,” I whisper, then turn in his arms to face him. “I just got off the phone with my mother.”
His expression immediately shifts, protective tension radiating from his massive frame. “What did she want?”
“To apologize. She’s dying, Nolan. She wanted to make amends before...” I gesture vaguely, unable to finish the sentence.
His jaw tightens, and I can smell the shift in his scent—sharp and dangerous in a way that speaks of barely controlled anger. “And?”
“And I told her to leave me alone. That I never want to hear from her again.” I reach up to cup his face, my thumb stroking along his cheekbone. “I had to do it, Nolan. Our engagement will be all over the news after tonight. I wanted her completely out of my life before that happens. I don’t want her calling to tell me I’m making a mistake or trying to insert herself into my happiness.”
Something in his expression softens, pride replacing the protective fury. “I’m really proud of you, sweetheart. That couldn’t have been easy.”
“It wasn’t. But it was necessary.” I smooth my hands down his lapels, steadying myself with his solid presence. “The car is waiting downstairs, isn’t it?”
“It is. Are you ready for this?”
I take a deep breath, thinking about the conversation I still need to have tonight. “I’m nervous about talking to Becca. I haven’t told her anything about us yet. But I invited her to the event, and I’m planning to talk to her before the announcement.”
Nolan’s large hands frame my face gently. “Don’t worry, sweetheart. Based on everything you’ve told me, she just wants you to be happy. And you are, right? Happy, that is?”
I smile up at him, feeling my heart swell with so much love it almost hurts. “Very. Happier than I ever imagined I could be.”
He leans down to press a soft kiss to my forehead, careful not to disturb my makeup. “Then that’s all she’ll need to know.”
* * *
The Sentinel building has been completely transformed for tonight’s event. The normally sleek, professional lobby now gleams with elegant decorations—soft lighting, floral arrangements that perfume the air with jasmine and roses, servers in crisp uniforms carrying trays of champagne and hors d’oeuvres. The company is announcing a major expansion tonight, and the energy in the room buzzes with excitement and anticipation.
As we enter together, Griffin and Declan immediately pause beside me. Griffin’s hand finds the small of my back, his touch steadying.
“You’re going to do great with Becca,” Griffin murmurs against my ear, his voice warm with confidence.
“Just be honest with her, love,” Declan adds, his easy smile doing wonders to calm my anxiety about the upcoming conversation.
“We need to handle some last-minute preparations,” Griffin says, pressing a soft kiss to my temple. “But you’re in excellent hands with Nolan.”
“Good luck with the talk,” Declan adds, squeezing my hand gently.
They both head off into the crowd, immediately switching into business mode as they’re approached by various executives and investors. I watch them go, feeling a moment of pride at how effortlessly they command the room.
“Ready to find your friend?” Nolan asks softly, offering me his arm.
I scan the crowd, my nerves ratcheting higher with each passing second. Then I spot her—Becca, standing near the reception desk in a simple black cocktail dress, her curly hair tamed into an elegant style. She looks slightly out of place among the business executives and potential investors, but she’s here. She came.
“There she is,” I tell Nolan, squeezing his arm before making my way across the lobby.
“Becca!” I call out, and she turns toward my voice. The moment she sees me, her eyes go wide with shock.
We embrace tightly, and I breathe in her familiar scent, warm and comforting.
“Kit?” She pulls back to look at me, her hands on my shoulders. “Oh my God, you look so different. Not different—transformed. You’re glowing.” She pauses, her nose wrinkling slightly as she breathes in. “And your scent... it’s changed. You smell like...” Her eyes widen in shock. “You smell like an omega again. Vanilla and jasmine, just like before Roman.”
My cheeks flush with heat. I’d hoped she wouldn’t notice, but Becca has always been perceptive about these things.
“I hope I look different in a good way?” I laugh nervously, suddenly feeling self-conscious about the transformation I can’t hide.
“In the best way. You look...” She searches for the right word. “Radiant. And your scent—Kit, how is this possible? I thought once it changed...”
“It’s complicated,” I say softly, glancing around at the crowd. “I’ll explain everything, I promise.”
Before I can respond, Nolan appears at my side, his protective presence immediately drawing Becca’s attention. Her eyes widen even further as she takes in his impressive height and size.
“Becca, this is Nolan. Nolan, this is Becca,” I say quickly, watching my best friend’s face carefully for any signs of judgment or disapproval.
Instead, I see confusion and growing curiosity. Her gaze darts between Nolan and me, clearly trying to piece together the puzzle.
“Nice to meet you,” Nolan says politely, extending his hand. His voice carries that careful tone he uses when he’s being deliberately charming.
“You too,” Becca replies, but I can see the questions building behind her eyes.
“Come on,” I say, taking her arm. “Let’s talk somewhere more private.”
Nolan catches my hand gently as we move toward the elevator. “I’ll see you later, sweetheart,” he says softly, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Take all the time you need.”
I squeeze his hand. “Thank you.”
We step into the elevator together, and as the doors close, Becca explodes with questions.
“Nolan? As in Nolan Reid? One of the owners of Sentinel Security?” Her eyes are as big as saucers. “Kit, what the hell is going on?”
“Yes, Bec. I...” The elevator opens before I can explain further. “Let’s go in here.”
I lead her down the familiar hallway to Griffin’s office, the nameplate on the door reading “Griffin Hayes, CEO” in elegant script.
“Are you sure it’s okay for us to be here?” Becca asks nervously, looking around the expensive hallway like she expects security to appear at any moment. “This is the CEO’s office. What’s going on, Kit?”
I unlock the door with the keycard Griffin gave me weeks ago and gesture for her to enter. The office looks exactly the same as always—sophisticated, organized, powerful. I settle onto the leather couch against the far wall, the same couch where Griffin and I shared our first kiss. It feels like a lifetime ago, but the memory still makes me smile.
“Bec,” I begin, patting the cushion beside me. “Please don’t get angry at me for not telling you sooner, but... I’m engaged.”
She sits down slowly, her expression shifting from confusion to shock. “Engaged?”
“Yes. To be married.”
“To who?” But even as she asks, I can see understanding dawning in her eyes.
“Griffin, Nolan, and Declan.”
“Pack Hayes?” she whispers.
“Yes.”
For a moment, Becca just stares at me in complete silence. Then she shakes her head slowly. “My God, Kit. Tell me everything.”
So I do. I tell her about starting work here, about how kind they were from the very beginning. About my panic attacks and how gently they handled them. About how my scent started changing back to what it used to be. About Roman showing up that terrible day and everything that followed.
“He found you?” Becca’s voice is barely a whisper, her face pale with shock and old fear.
“Yes. But they protected me, Bec. They...” I struggle to find the right words. “They make me feel so protected and loved, but not suffocated. Does that make sense?” Tears gather in my eyes as I remember how safe I felt in their arms, how completely they accepted every broken piece of me.
“I... I think it does,” Becca says slowly. “I’m sorry, Kit. I might just need a minute to absorb this. So when did you go from employee to fiancée exactly?”
I tell her about what Roman did, watching her face pale further with each detail.
“What the fuck?” she breathes when I describe the injection.
“Yeah. He injected me with a heat accelerator.” I can’t bring myself to look at her directly for this part. “It triggered my heat artificially, made it incredibly intense. Luckily, the alphas managed to find me, and Roman is... locked up now.” The lie tastes bitter on my tongue, but I can’t shock her with the truth about Roman’s fate. “The alphas… they helped me through it.”
Heat floods my cheeks as I remember those incredible days, and I know I’m blushing furiously.
“I bet they did,” Becca says with a knowing smirk, waggling her eyebrows in a way that’s so perfectly her that I burst out laughing despite my embarrassment.
The relief that floods through me is overwhelming. She’s making jokes. That means she’s going to be okay with this.
“I wanted you to know first, Bec,” I say, reaching for her hand. “They’re announcing the engagement tonight at the event.”
Her expression grows serious again. “Are you happy, Kit? Really, truly happy?”
The question hits me right in the chest, bringing tears to my eyes. “I’m happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion. “For the first time, I feel like I’m exactly where I belong. Like I’m home.”
Becca’s own eyes fill with tears, and she pulls me into a fierce hug. “If you’re happy, then I’m happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted for you.”
We hold each other tightly, and I think about how lucky I am to have this friendship, this constant in my life when everything else was chaos.
“I want you to meet them properly,” I say when we finally pull apart. “All of them. Will you stay for the announcement?”
“Are you kidding?” Becca grins through her tears. “I wouldn’t miss this for the world. My best friend is marrying Pack Hayes. This is going to be the scandal of the century.”
I laugh, wiping my own tears carefully to preserve my makeup. “Just wait until you meet Declan. You’re going to love his accent.”
“Oh God,” Becca groans dramatically. “Three gorgeous, powerful alphas? How are you even functioning?”
“Very carefully,” I admit, and we both dissolve into laughter.
Tonight is going to change everything. Our engagement will be public, making us a target for gossip and speculation. But sitting here with my best friend, knowing that my alphas are somewhere in this building preparing to claim me publicly as theirs, I’ve never felt more ready for anything in my life.
Let the world talk. I’m finally exactly where I belong.
Chapter Forty-Two
NOLAN
The moment has arrived.
I stand near the back of the transformed lobby, watching Griffin take his position at the front of the room beside the elegant podium that’s been set up for tonight’s announcements. The crowd of investors, employees, and business associates gradually quiets as he adjusts the microphone, his presence commanding attention without effort.
Kit stands to the side with Becca, her dark red dress catching the soft lighting like liquid fire. She looks absolutely radiant—not just beautiful, but luminous with happiness in a way that makes my chest tight with emotion. Her eyes find mine across the room, and I give her an encouraging nod. My beautiful girl, finally able to shine the way she deserves.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” Griffin begins, his voice carrying easily across the hushed space, “thank you all for joining us tonight to celebrate Sentinel Security’s expansion into international markets.”
The crowd murmurs appreciatively as he outlines the business growth, but I barely hear the words. My attention is fixed on Kit, watching the subtle play of emotions across her face as she waits for the second announcement—the one that will change everything.
Then Griffin’s voice shifts, becoming warmer, more personal.
