Ch 11: My Place - Part 3

Anabella's heart skipped a beat as she walked through that thick pheromone shower the young alpha was letting out.

But her sense of duty kept her going, and it even kept her standing straight and brave in front of a pair of annoyed and angry eyes looking back at her.

"Y-You-! What do you think you are doing? Put me down right at this moment."

James tried to get out of Anabella's, but she kept a tight grip on the slippery kid.

Her interference made everyone else sigh with relief, but James had a red face and a teary expression.

"Let me go, or I will tell Father all about this! You cannot humiliate me like this-"

James tried to scare Anabella, but if she were one to be moved by threats, she would have long left him and Daniel by now.

None of what James said or did affected Anabella. Only his pheromones gave her a small headache.

"I-I am so sorry, Miss Ross! I was unable to prevent this fight from breaking out. I tried to separate the kids before it was too late, but I-"

The teacher finally moved, and she apologized to Anabella.

Seeing her act like this, Anabella could not hold the teacher accountable. Nor did she want to do that.

"It's fine! Since no one got hurt, we should consider this an accident that was prevented and move on. I will take James home now since he looks agitated-!"

"NO! Clear the air first! Tell them all that you are not my mother. I don't want anyone to mistake you for my mother and father, and I do not like or want you as one!"

Silence descended across the classroom at James's outburst.

The alpha kid regretted nothing, but all the adults and other children had awkward expressions.

'Well, they did just when I thought things could not get any worse. Why do I even try to be positive?'

Anabella sighed as she felt her face redden.

Most teachers and kids felt sorry for her, but some caretakers looked at her gleefully. They were enjoying the humiliation Anabella was going through.

'Well, fuck it! If things are going to be like this, I might as well do whatever I want this time. The worst that could happen is Daniel getting angry at me.'

Anabella sighed before joining in and confirming what James had said.

"Well, as you heard! I am not James's mother. Now, does that satisfy everyone's curiosity?"

Anabella asked, and the atmosphere became even more awkward.

People were not supposed to ask more questions at that time, but no one had told the kids that. 

So, just when everyone least expected it, the same kid who had been arguing with James before ended up asking a loaded question.

"I-If you are not James's mother, then why do you live in the same house as him and his father and share the same last name? Mommy said that only married people or family did that."

The kid asked this question, and Anabella knew that she was not under any legal obligation to answer it.

Everything inside her told her it would be best to keep quiet.

And yet, despite all that, Anabella opened her mouth to give the kid an answer he would never forget.

"Well, according to James, I am his sister. Make what you want of it. James, I think we've had enough for today. We shall head back now. Your father will be late, so tell me now if you want to dine out."

Anabella asked the now suspiciously-quite kid.

James's face looked red, and he looked away from her.

Despite being six years old, James knew that his classmate's comment that Anabella was technically his mother was right. 

She was his mother, if only in name and a paper relationship. And he had been the one to reject her repeatedly.

But he felt annoyed and hurt when he heard Anabella rejecting him and refusing to call him her 'son.'

It was a weird feeling that James had never expected to feel, and he tried to calm his heart down.

"Tsk, do whatever you want. I don't care anymore. I just don't want to be here anymore."

James quickly decided once he realized that everyone was looking at him. His cheeks reddened, but he did not back down once his decision had been made.

Anabella sighed and watched his reaction, but James no longer cared.

Why would he care anyway? It was not like he owed Anabella anything anyway. Whatever she was going through was because she took his mother's place and nothing else.

The car ride was silent for the most part, but just before they reached home, Anabella stopped the car at the side parking space, and she looked at James with her hauntingly familiar eyes that made James freeze in place.

"Would you like to have dinner or ice cream before we return? Just for your knowledge, I did not feel hurt or annoyed by what I did and said back in school. So, if you feel sorry for it, you don't have to."

Anabella assured James, and it made his mood worsen significantly.

"Tsk. I was not sad or anything about what you did or said. I don't care about you like that anyway. Stop making yourself out to be more important than you are."

Despite saying that, James continued to watch Anabella's expression, which did not change even a bit.

The older omega kept her car silent until James decided. He finally did tell her what he wanted.

"Ice cream. I would like to have some. Cookie and cream, but not too sweet. My father always takes me to an awesome restaurant for it. I bet you cannot do better than that."

James challenged, and something finally flashed across Anabella's eyes before she calmed herself down.

"Yeah. I bet I cannot do better than your father. But I bet I can match him when it comes to ice cream and how good it can be. Would you like to make a bet with me?"

Anabella asked, and James felt curious.

Despite his instincts telling him not to humor this omega and to go his own way, James could not help but feel competitive.

"I see! Since you are suggesting this, I will take you up on it. I bet you will not be able to impress me-"

…

"Alright, I admit that this is pretty good. Can I get another cone before we head back? I promise I can handle it without any problems."

James made a reluctant expression when he looked at Anabella. But in front of the frozen treat, he could not keep it up for long.