Chapter 9 Work was rough today. Lanie shot laser-eyes at me all morning after I rolled in right at nine. We usually carpool unless one of us has something after work, but I told her not to wait up last night, and then promptly shut off my phone. I know she has a million questions, but I don't really think it's something we should be talking about at work. Hilarious, I know, considering our blatant display yesterday. I'm trying to be better. The fact that I stole one of Miles' t-shirts to wear to work helps with my obsessive tendencies. It looks pretty cute tied off and with a blazer and jeans. Add in the ankle boots, and I'm cute-omega-in-love chic. Not crazy-enough-to-steal-a-mans-shirt-I-just-met chic. The shirt is the kind that's been so worn so often a hint of his scent is permanently embedded in the fabric, even though it's been washed. Every time I get a hint of blueberry-dark chocolate goodness, I get giddy all over again. But come on, he's my true scent match. How can my omega be expected to react in any way besides psychotic when our fated mate is a sweet, funny, sexy-as-hell fellow omega? It felt like I was walking on cloud nine all day. Miles heals some kind ache inside of me. It might have something to do with the multiple rounds of the best sex of my life, but mostly, it's just him. He has this...this way about him. He gets me out of my own head and doesn't take either of us too seriously. At the same time though, he has this possessive quality that makes him feel more alpha than omega sometimes. It's hot as hell. My mind is subconsciously counting down the minutes until I'm walking back into Mile's house tonight. I just need to stop and pack a few things so I'm not late for work again tomorrow. Right as I come up to Lanie's apartment door, it swings it open, and Lanie is standing there, raising a brow at me. She must have beat me here by like...two minutes. 'Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Omega-Screwer.' She smirks, and I roll my eyes. Her purple hair is in two dutch braids, and with her nose and eyebrow piercings, she looks pretty intimidating. Too bad I know she's just a big softie. 'Don't knock it till you try it.' My lip quirks, and she bursts out a laugh before stepping aside to let me in. 'I know you probably have plans, but do you have a little bit of time to talk?' Lanie asks hesitantly, shutting the door behind me. I always have time for Lanie. 'He's not expecting me until later so I have a little bit.' I smile softly at her. We settle on my bed-err, the couch-and she tucks one leg under herself as she turns to face me. She even ignores Marty's leaves as they brush across her hair. She's been a good sport about all my plants taking residence in her apartment, actually. Well, except Cal. Calathea's need sunlight, but it needs to be indirect. He's taken up residence on her preferred side table, and she's a little salty about it. 'So?' Her face is expectant, and I can't help but be thankful for my friend right now. She was there for me when I started courting my pack, as well as when that pack left me in ruins. I know no matter what, she's not going to judge me for jumping into bed with Miles the very first day I met him. 'It's...' I sigh, leaning back into the couch cushions, 'It's more than the scent match. Miles...it's like he's my soulmate or something, and I know that sounds cheesy as hell-' 'It's not, babe.' Lanie says, putting a hand on my knee. 'True scent matching...I may only be a beta, but I've seen the effect it has on people. What I saw yesterday...I can tell it's even more than that.' Her sweet words fly over my head as I focus on the first half of her sentence. Frowning at her, I sit up. 'Only a beta? Lanie Marie Perez, you better not be talking down about yourself right now-' She rolls her eyes. 'You know that's not what I meant-' I continue as if she didn't just cut me off, 'Because my big brother is a beta, as you know, and he's practically the backbone of that pack-' 'Bethany, chill!' Lanie laughs, taking my hands. 'I'm not talking down about myself. No offense, but if I had to go into a state of insane arousal and pain every three months that could only be soothed by alphas fucking me, I might lose my mind. I'm perfectly content being a beta. I just meant, we don't really do scent matches.' I frown again. Archie, even though he's a beta, still has a reaction to his pack's true scent matched omega, Cady. 'But my brother-' 'I know, babe. But Archie seems to be the exception, not the rule. I'll be perfectly content to settle down in a few years with another beta.' She shakes her head, giving me a look. 'How did this turn into a conversation about me? We were discussing your hunky new omega.' I snort. 'Who even says 'hunky' anymore?' 'I figured the term would be so ridiculous it wouldn't stir up any protective instincts.' She grins at me, and I bark a laugh. Yeah, she's right. The word is so awkward I don't feel like ripping her head off for noticing my omega. My omega. Dreamy sigh. 'We didn't get much talking done last night,' I admit, my cheeks flushing slightly, 'but I'm thinking we'll have a few important conversations tonight.' 'You want to be with him though.' It's not a question, but an observation. Of course I want to be with him. He's...well, he's Miles. 'I do.' Before I know what's happening, she's wrapping her arms around me, squishing me in a hug. 'I'm so happy for you, Bethany. You deserve this. To be happy.' I can feel the tears starting to sting my eyes. 'Thanks Lanie, I-' My words are cut off by my phone ringing, and Lanie releases me so I can see who it is. When I see the screen, I give Lanie an apologetic smile. 'It's my parents.' I had texted them this morning, asking them to give me a call after work. She doesn't look disappointed though. In fact, her face lights up. 'Mama and Papa Thomas! Put it on speaker.' Lanie doesn't have a great relationship with her parents, so mine have kind of adopted her, even though we're both almost thirty. 'Hey Mom, hey Dad,' I answer the phone, immediately putting it on speaker. 'You're on speaker with Lanie and me.' 'Well, hello to our two favorite Starbrook City girls,' Mom gushes over the line at the same time Dad says, 'How are you ladies doing?' 'We're good, Mom, I have some pretty big news-' Mom gasps. 'I knew it! You owe me dishes for a week, Glenn.' My brow furrows in confusion, and Lanie gives me an equally perplexed look. 'Mom what are you-' 'Well, hold on a minute, Penn, let's hear what the girls have to say first.' Dad says quickly. 'It's obvious,' Mom cuts in. 'You remember when my cousin Tommy was 'sleeping on his friends couch' for almost six months and then they came out as a couple? You've seen Bethy and Lanie together, we're clearly about to get another daughter-in-law-' My jaw nearly drops and Lanie covers her mouth. 'Mom, that's not-' 'Sweetie, you don't have to pretend anymore. We love Lanie, and she's already practically part of the family. I'm just glad you're trusting us enough to-' Mom's voice cuts off at the sound of Lanie's unrestrained laughter. Loud, boisterous laughter that makes me helpless but to laugh along with her. 'Mama Thomas, Bethany and I are not in a relationship.' Lanie's laughter comes down as she wipes the tears from her eyes. 'Though if it makes you feel better, if I was into girls, she'd be my first pick.' 'Well I should hope so.' Mom sounds dejected, but probably only because she owes my dad dishes now. 'If that's not the news, Bethy-bear, then what is it?' Dad asks, sounding a little smug. 'I found my true scent match,' I say, the words sounding strange to my ears. 'Oh, honey, that's wonderful!' Mom gushes, and I can just imagine her smile. 'Well, tell us about them,' Dad prods. Lanie and I exchange a look. 'Him,' I correct gently. 'There's only one match, because, well...he's another omega.' There's a beat of silence on the other line. Surely it can't be too surprising, considering my parents are a true scent matched omega pair. 'That's...' Dad lets out a sigh. 'Unexpected,' Mom finishes. 'Is it though?' I question, running a hand through my hair. 'I mean, you guys...' 'Honey, it's correct that we're a true match, but it hasn't been all sunshine and daisies.' Mom's voice is gentle. 'We love each other dearly, and your father is my soulmate, but those first years were hard. Coordinating heats, vetting alphas that wouldn't send either of us into a jealous rage...it's not a walk in the park.' As much as I don't want to hear about my parent's sex lives, they've always been very open and forward with sex and how omegas' bodies work. My stomach sinks at Mom's words though. My parents know the things an omega pair has to go through better than anyone. And they're telling me it's not going to be as great as I think it will? 'That's not to say we would change a single thing,' Dad points out. 'And obviously, it is what it is at this point. We just...we just hope you come to us if you have any questions. We've made plenty of mistakes in how we've handled things in the past, so hopefully you can learn from them.' 'Okay,' I swallow roughly, and Lanie gives my arm a squeeze, 'What...what would you do differently now?' 'We've talked about it plenty,' Mom admits. 'I think the one we both agree on the most is that we probably should have tried to find a pack instead of relying solely on each other.' My stomach drops. Miles and I both agreed on no packs. No alphas. 'Packs provide stability and support, something that neither of you can be for each other without significantly tamping down your instincts.' 'More often than not, that was your father,' Mom says quietly. 'You both deserve a place to be able to rest and just be omegas without worrying about anything else. With a pack, there shouldn't be any jealousy over each other, because if you're doing it right, you'll be just as possessive of the alphas and betas.' Dad adds. My heart pounds in my chest. If I tell them there's no way I'm going to go for a pack after what Pack Hansen did to me, they'll just argue. So I'll play nice and get some other answers. 'Okay. That's good to know.' Lanie raises her brows at my words, but I just shake my head. 'I've heard of heats being triggered when meeting a true scent match...do you think that could happen to us?' 'Hmmm...' Mom trails off like she's thinking. 'Glenn, did our heats trigger when we met? I don't think I remember that.' 'No, they didn't.' Dad confirms. 'I believe it has something to do with the fact that there are no alpha pheromones to trigger it, since it's alphas that are typically needed to ease a heat.' Phew. At least I don't have to worry about figuring out our heat situation completely for another couple of months. 'Anything else, honey?' Mom asks, and I shake my head. 'No, but I might call you back with Miles at some point.' 'Miles? What a great name,' Mom says fondly. 'We can't wait to meet him.' We say goodbye and hang up, though now I'm left with more questions than answers. My parents say they wish they had found a pack, and I would be stupid to disregard the words of two people who have literally lived exactly what I'm going through. But we're planning on riding out our heats with toys, which I'm sure my parents didn't have at the time. It'll be fine. Right? It has to be, because I'll be damned if I let a pack take away my vision of the perfect future I have with Miles. Title: A Mother's Rewind Tomorrow In "A Mother's Rewind Tomorrow" by CrushReel, Flora Hayes's life takes a tragic turn after a fatal car accident. However, her final moments reveal a chilling glimpse of a future fraught with peril for her children two decades ahead. Exploring themes of resilience and sacrifice, this CEO drama intricately weaves elements of modernity and time travel into a compelling narrative set within the grandeur of a mansion and the intensity of an office environment. As Flora grapples with the aftermath of her premonition, the story delves deep into familial bonds and the weight of destiny. What sets "A Mother's Rewind Tomorrow" apart is its masterful blend of suspense and emotional depth, captivating readers with its intricate plot twists and nuanced character development. Discover the gripping saga at CrushReel, where this ongoing tale awaits those eager to embark on a journey through time and motherly love.