Family

He shook his head and cried harder, "bite me."

My heart ached, "Ty...we talked about this."

"But that was when we were together every day!"

"I'm not going to shackle you to me, Tyler. I'm not gonna make the same mistakes he did."

"But you love me! You're not like him!"

"But he will win if he knows the truth! No one will treat me the same if they knew!" I sat up and grabbed a rag off the shelf nearby. I began cleaning up as Ty continued crying. After a few minutes, I couldn't take anymore and came over to him. I pulled him up into an embrace and he clung onto me as he cried harder.

"Someone might steal you from me! If I'm not next to you, someone might take you!"

I caressed his hair, "no one can ever take me from you, Ty. I've loved you since Kindergarten and love you more every day." I stood up and pulled him to his feet, but he quickly clung to me again. "We can make it through this, Ty. You have Jenny and Zack to keep you safe and happy. We can see each other on work days and weekends."

"But you don't even want to live with that Alpha! Why can't you just move back?"

I kissed his head, "just a year and a half. Then I'll be free of him and that family." I smiled towards him, "then we're gonna get our own place, remember? We promised."

He nodded before wiping off his face and we changed into our uniforms. By the time we came out of the storage room, we could hear that Marcus had come in and was talking with the cooks. Just his voice made the anxiety that still plagued my heart suddenly dissapeared. When he pushed open the back door, he froze and just stared at me.

I felt my eyes well up and saw his doing the same. My composure dissolved and I rushed over to him. We clung tightly to each other and both began quietly sobbing. I took deep breaths of the scent on his shirt and remembered how everything was supposed to be. I was reminded that I had been snatched away from the world I love and what I need.

Marcus pulled away just enough to look me in the eyes. A deep, sad smile filled his face and he began wiping my face with his shirt sleeve. I chuckled and wiped his face off too.

He patted my cheek, "you've lost weight. You promised to take care of yourself."

I bit my lip, "I'm trying. But..." I snickered even though I fought not to cry. "Rich people food isn't what its cracked up to be."

He laughed before letting go of me, "well don't worry. I'll fatten you up!" He noticed Ty and smiled, "how're you managing, kid?"

Ty gave him a sad smile, "I'm struggling to be honest. But we've been together this long so I know we'll always be together."

Marcus grunted, "well let's get to it! We open in 10 minutes." He looked to me, "you're working the bar tonight. Mac had to call out."

"Got it." We followed Marcus out into the dining area and I went to the bar on the far side of the room. Hailey happily gasped as I came into view before jumping over the swinging door at the end of the bar. She barreled into me in a hug and patted my back.

"Its been so long, kid!"

I snickered as she let go of me, "it's been just over a week."

She smiled, "that's way too long kid. You're like my own."

She took my hand and led me behind the bar. We began prepping for the evening crowd but I felt her frequently looking at me.

"What's on your mind?"

She let out a deep sigh, "you look tired." She took a deep breath in, "how is it at the new house? What the new family?"

I paused and fought my rage from coming out, "they aren't my family. You guys are my family."

Hailey lightly touched my back in a soothing circular motion, like Mom used to.

"And we're here for you."

I sighed and met her gaze, "that man is just like I thought he would be. A typical cocky Alpha with no sense of guilt for what he did. They treat me like a freak, just because of Mom."

I stopped talking as Marcus went and flipped on the switch for the outside lights. He propped the front door open and immediately the beautiful, dark skinned, curvy female Beta I had known since I was a toddler rushed in.

She grabbed my hand with desperation, "come around the bar or over it, kid!"

I snickered before walking around the bar. She tackled me in a strong embrace that nearly knocked me back on my a**. She rocked me back and forth as she kissed my cheek in continual pecks.

I hugged her back, "I've missed you too, Violet."

We heard an older women's voice choke up and she let go of me. The olive skinned, shaking, thin, frail female Omega rushed as fast as she could over to me. I bent my knees to meet her outstretched arms. She hugged me as tightly as she could while I made sure to hold her tight enough to support her if she got off balance.

"My baby. Oh, my baby. I've been so worried! Why'd you take so long to come back?"

I let go enough to meet her teary but overjoyed gaze, "I'm sorry, Nanna. I had a lot to do when I moved."

She patted my back lightly, "you're coming back when you're 18, right? Don't stay under that horrible man's thumb for any longer than you have to."

I nodded, "of course." She slowly let go of me and I wrapped my arm around hers. I slowly led her over to her usual table as Violet sat across from her. I gestured for Ty to come over and he hurried to hug each woman around their shoulders.

He came to my side and smiled, "I told you he'd come back. I made sure of it."

Violet smiled to me, "that's the first time he's smiled since you were last here."

"Its the first time anyone has smiled since you had to go."

I looked to Nanna with a sad smile, "I'm sorry. Its killed me to be gone."

"Is he going to let you keep this job?" A deep, male voice asked. I looked to the large, light skinned male Alpha smile to me. He came to my side as his Omega partner hugged my arm. Her long black hair, tan skin, and small but muscular build brought relief to my entire being.