Omega's Truth - Nora Phoenix Page 0,25

name is Luciana, and she’s your mother. Unfortunately, your grandmother was killed in a car accident when Luciana was only three, leaving your grandfather to raise her alone. He did an admirable job by all accounts, helped by a cousin of his, a beta who had inherited some money and who supported them financially. Your grandfather showed an aptitude for science, and his cousin financed his further education, then helped fund his research, and things took off from there.”

Sando felt like he’d stepped out of his own body, like it wasn’t him who was sitting there on Lucan’s lap, held tight, listening to Naran telling stories that he should’ve known. Stories about his family, about him. And yet it didn’t feel that way but rather as if Naran was talking about someone else. Someone Sando knew. But not him. How could this be about him? It changed everything.

“You good, kitten?” Lucan asked softly. The room had grown quiet.

Sando cleared his throat. “It’s…it’s a lot to take in. But please, continue. I need to know the truth.”

“Your mother showed the same head for science. She did brilliantly in school, and if she hadn’t been an omega, she would’ve gotten some prestigious college offers. As it was, she did get accepted into the state college, where she excelled. She still lived at home, where she assisted your grandfather in his research. But when she’d just turned nineteen, she met a man…a beta named Thomas West. He was an assistant professor. Smart, but a player who had messed around with many students over the years, both male and female. He got her pregnant, and she got kicked out of the college for it.”

“My f…grandfather must’ve been furious,” Sando said.

“My research didn’t find any proof of that, but I’m sure he was. She gave birth to you at the hospital and was discharged the day after and sent home. Your grandfather’s home was listed as her home address. After that, she disappeared, and I haven’t been able to find a trace of her. Your grandfather legally adopted you when you were a week old, and every record shows him as your legal parent…except for the birth certificate of which the hospital still had a copy. That showed your mother’s name, and she had registered Thomas West as your father, which suggests he knew about the pregnancy and at least hadn’t forced her to have an abortion.”

It all made sense now. His father’s ramblings about a girl who had thrown it all away. His attempts at isolating and controlling Sando from birth. Him secretly dosing Sando with hormones, blocking his development and heat. He’d tried to prevent Sando from making the same mistake his mother had. And in the end, Sando had made a similar choice, choosing friendship and love over his career. That must’ve broken his grandfather’s heart. How strange was it to think of him as anything else than his father. That would take some time to get used to.

“Is Thomas West still alive?” Maz asked.

“Yes. He still teaches at the same college, now as a full professor, which is quite the achievement for a beta. He’s married and has four kids. After Professor Melloni disappeared, I talked to your father, and he remembered your mother with fondness. He said he’d offered her to pay child support but that she refused, and he never heard from her again.”

“Do you…” Sando swallowed. “Do you think she’s dead?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t found a death certificate for her, so that’s good news, but she seems to have vanished.”

Sando let out a shaky sigh. “I can’t believe you knew this all along.”

“I’m so sorry. I never realized your grandfather had kept this from you, or I would’ve told you much sooner.”

The guilt was thick in Naran’s voice, and Sando didn’t want him to blame himself. “It’s not your fault.”

“Could you try again to see what you can find out about his mother?” Maz asked.

“It’s hard right now, since we’ve lost cell coverage and Wi-Fi, but if and when that gets restored, I’d be happy to try. But is that what you want, Sando? It’s your call.”

Sando frowned. Why was Naran stressing that last part? Oh. Maz had asked, and Naran wanted to make sure he wasn’t making decisions for Sando. He liked that, and judging by the proud look Sivney gave Naran, the other omega approved as well.

“Whatever you can find out about my father and my mother would be most appreciated,” Sando said. “And thank