Chapter 51: I said no, Mother

Reid was completely full of shit. A lying, manipulative, arrogant brat who just wanted to see how much of my dignity he could strip away before Monday morning.

Then, he pushed one finger in, earning a slight tremor from me before putting in another, stroking me in sync with the heavy, rhythmic beat of the water hitting our heads.

My head fell back against his chest with a defeated thud. I hated myself for it, but the feeling of his fingers thrusting inside me felt too good, the heat was too consuming, and under the blinding rush of the shower, I let myself sink right back into his dangerous flow.

"Relax, Cap. Cause this is gonna be a very~ long night," he grinned.

This bastard definitely had it out for me.

The next morning arrived with a brutal clarity that the weekend’s heavy, steam-filled fog had desperately tried to hide.

​When I opened my eyes, the space beside me on the mattress was finally empty. The sheets were cold, the lingering, heavy scent of frozen pine and orchid mostly neutralized by the crisp morning air filtering through the half-open window.

For a second, a profound wave of relief washed over me. The monster was gone. I could finally put my armor back on, get through the mandatory team assessments, and pretend none of this depraved madness had ever happened.

​Then, the sharp, demanding ring of my phone on the nightstand shattered the silence.

​I winced, sitting up carefully as my left ribcage gave a dull, protesting throb. I reached out and grabbed the device, expecting Coach Devin or Russo. Instead, the caller ID displayed my younger sister’s name.

​"Hey, Chloe," I muttered, my voice still rough and gravelly from sleep.

​"Kain! Thank goodness you picked up," her bright, chaotic voice blasted through the receiver, instantly bringing a faint smile to my face. "Listen, Mom and Dad are totally abandoning us tonight. Dad suddenly remembered their anniversary date a week late, so they’re heading out to that fancy restaurant downtown. We’re all meeting up at the house for a massive sibling dinner. You’re coming, right? Marina’s making her lasagna, and the twins are already arguing about who gets the last piece."

​The mental image of my family’s crowded, loud dining room made my chest tighten with a sudden, protective warmth. Five Betas, one terrifyingly proud Alpha sister, and me—the solitary, hidden Omega. It was a chaotic house of cards, but it was home.

​"Yeah, I’ll be there," I said softly, leaning back against the pillows. "I need a proper meal anyway."

I don’t think I was able to digest that casserole properly, thanks to that scoundrel who wouldn’t let me be.

​"Awesome! See you at six, Cap!" she cheered before hanging up.

​I let out a breath, tossing the phone back onto the mattress. A quiet dinner with my siblings was exactly what I needed to ground myself before the grueling reality of Monday practice.

​I threw off the covers and swung my legs over the edge of the bed, walking out into the hallway to head toward the kitchen for some water. But the moment I stepped into the living room, my heart did a violent, sudden drop right into my stomach.

​Reid hadn’t left.

​He was sitting at my kitchen island, completely dressed in a fresh black hoodie, holding his phone to his ear with his shoulder while aggressively pouring a cup of coffee. His jaw was clenched tight, his expression thoroughly disgruntled, and a deep furrow settled between his brows.

​"I said no, Mother," Reid snapped into the receiver, his voice dropping into a rigid, icy pitch that lacked every ounce of his usual playful arrogance.

He aggressively stirred a spoonful of sugar into his mug, the ceramic clinking loudly in the quiet apartment.

"I don’t care what the board needs to discuss. My future is on the ice, not in a suit. Audit someone else. I’m not coming to the estate tonight."

​He listened for another three seconds, his smoky grey eyes narrowing into dangerous slits before he abruptly cut the call, slamming the phone face-down on the marble counter with a heavy click.

​"Suffocating old-money pricks," he muttered to himself, running a large hand through his messy blonde hair.

​I stood frozen near the hallway entrance, keeping my hand pressed over my bad rib. It was the first time I had ever seen him look genuinely rattled, and it was by his family’s corporate front.

He looked completely trapped, facing a weekend dinner where every conversation was a calculated investment, and he clearly wanted to blow them off entirely.

​Before I could quietly step backward and retreat to my room, Reid’s head snapped up. His sharp gaze locked right onto me, tracking the loose gray hoodie I was wearing and the phone still clutched in my hand.

The dark, frustrated cloud on his face suddenly fractured, replaced by a slow, calculating smirk that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

​"What’s that face for, Cap?" he murmured, leaning his hip against the counter as his voice slid back into that teasing, snobbish drawl. "You look like you just heard a ghost. Who was on the phone?"

​"None of your business," I said coldly, walking past him to grab a glass from the cupboard. "And I thought you left."

​"And miss out on your morning attitude? Never," Reid chuckled, though his eyes were still hyper-focused, practically reading the subtle tension in my posture. "Come on, Evans. I heard your phone ringing all the way from the bedroom. Your face gives everything away. What’s happening tonight?"

​I swallowed hard, filling my glass with cold water, desperately trying to keep my voice flat.

"My parents are going out on a date. I’m going over to the family house for dinner with my siblings."

​Reid’s eyes lit up with a sudden, malicious flash of pure mischief. He set his coffee mug down, a lazy, devastating grin spreading across his lips as he crossed his broad arms over his chest.

​"Perfect," Reid smoothly countered, tilting his head with absolute, unbothered confidence. "I’m tagging along."