Chapter 2.10

"Are..." she began crumpling the tissue in her hands, "are you married?"

"No," I replied and she suddenly looked to me with a sense of happiness in her eyes. "We're coparenting right now."

"Emit said he ran into you recently," she whispered, "he said you were concerned about him getting close to Luther." She gulped, "he asked me why, but I didn't have a clue." She stared into my eyes with concern, "at the orientation, did he do something? He left after you did and came back really angry."

I looked away from her, "it's nothing to worry about. It's all in the past."

She suddenly took my open hand I rested on the table in hers and squeezed it, "he did something to you in high school, right? There were rumors that...."

I shook my head, "you shouldn't believe rumors." I looked down to the table with a sigh, "Does he treat you well?"

She trembled, "I am only a source of pleasure for him. Other than that, we rarely associate. He is obsessed with his job and money and social status. It was a really big deal to him that Malcolm got into this school."

I was startled when she suddenly got up out of her chair. Without a word, she went over to the counter and ordered something. As she came back, my heart skipped as she held onto the only coffee type I drank. She handed it to me with a sweet smile.

"Thanks, Liz," I said quietly and she slightly chuckled as she sat down.

"No one but you calls me that," she smirked, "Willie."

I laughed quietly, "and you are the only one that calls me that." I took a drink, "do you feel safe with him?"

She nodded with no emotion on her face, "I am taken care of and he has never hurt me."

Her eyes met mine and I reverted back to my life before I became an Omega. Spending every day together, falling in love with her, planning our future.

I looked to my drink at I took another sip.

"But there is no love between us. We are just together to keep the lineage going."

"We knew that would always be the way, Liz."

Her eyes filled with tears as she stared at me with sorrow, "but it was different with us," she said as tears began to fall. "We were supposed to be mates but...but there was love. I loved you more than anyone I have ever known."

I quickly wiped the tears off her face, "and I loved you."

Her hand held the back of mine as she leaned into my palm. Her tears kept falling as she nuzzled her soft skin into my hand. Her eyes locked on mine as I saw how lovesick they were. "I still love you, Willie. You're the only one for me."

My stomach dropped and instinctively I caressed her cheek with my thumb, "I'm an Omega, Liz," I whispered and fought tears from showing. "I can't be with you."

She leaned in further and kissed my hand, "they don't have to know." I froze as she kept kissing my palm gently. "We can still be together. If...if I had your child, then maybe..."

I pulled my hand out of her grasp as I looked down to Addie, "even if I wanted to, Liz, I can't do that. I have given birth to children."

She grabbed my hand that was on the table faster than I could pull it away. "I don't care about that! I can please you in a way that man can't! I can truly love you! I can give you children! You can be a father and not have to struggle through pregnancy. He can't do that!"

I blinked back tears, "Liz, I can't be with anyone but a male Alpha."

"That's what we were told, but we won't know unless we try! Please, just once! If I can't please you, then I will give up. Just once, I swear!"

"I...we...but..."

Her face softened, "take some time to think about it. I've waited years so a few more days can't hurt."

I finally got my hand away from her and stood up. "I should go." I quickly set down some money on the table and rushed out of the shop. I hurried back to the school and raced home. As I rushed into the house, a startled Cora jumped slightly with a gasp. "Good god!" She gasped, "you scared me half to death!"

I sighed, "sorry. My bad."

She looked to me curiously, "you look pale. Are you okay? Maybe I should take Addie so you can go rest."

I nodded before gently handing her over, "thanks. Can you wake me up when it's time to get the twins?" She nodded before I rushed upstairs and into the bedroom.

I laid down and felt my mind raced at an insane rate. Being with Elizabeth? Is that even possible? Could she really have my child? She stole my heart as a child but I couldn't ruin her after my gender was revealed. Being her wasn't possible, right? We were always taught it wasn't possible. Could I even be with a female anymore? We did it before it all changed, but she is married to Luther.

I just got things slightly sorted out, I can't change things again. I can't love her again. Two loves are more than enough for one heart. I closed my eyes and forced my mind to sleep as I got overwhelmed.

I parked at the school and took a few deep breaths. Running into Elizabeth would be a disaster. But how can I avoid her? Her kids are in the same class as the twins. I got out and so did Cora. She insisted to follow me as I still looked pale and weak.

"This place is amazing," she said in a mesmerized way.

I nodded as I met her on the passenger's side of the car while she held Addie. "I can't believe my kids are going here," I replied with a smirk, which caused her to smile.

I led her to the area where parents of first graders were supposed to wait, "were they excited this morning?"

I nodded, "they were nervous too." I felt eyes on me and noticed five Alpha and Beta parents, waiting for first graders, were staring at me with annoyance. But the sixth set of eyes on me were the most problematic. Elizabeth blushed as she looked at me and I worked to keep from looking back to her. "I just hope their first day went well."

"They probably befriended everyone, you worrier," a male voice said and Cora smiled broadly as she glanced behind us.

I turned around to see Jayden's smirking at me, "what happened to being gone until tomorrow night?"

He rushed over and embraced me tightly. My feet left the ground as he pulled me up to his eye level. He kissed me and I couldn't fight back a small moan as his tongue moved around with mine. He squeezed me to him as he kissed me deeper. Jayden finally released me and placed me on the ground, but did not remove his arms from around my waist. "I couldn't stay away any longer." He took a deep breath, "I missed their first morning. Like hell I was going to miss hearing about their first day and picking them up." He caressed my cheek and looked to me curiously as my face turned red when I remembered where we were.

"We're at the school, Jay."

He leaned down to whisper in my ear, "I wanted to make sure everyone realized who your mate is so that they won't dare look down on you."

I pushed away from him as the door opened and kids followed their teachers in lines towards the packs of parents. I locked eyes with the twins and nearly cried at their giant smiles. They looked to their teacher and waited for her to gesture for them to go. The twins sprinted over to us as they squealed.

"Dad!" Ashley yelled before tackling Jayden as he knelt down to her.

"Momma!" Archer called as he rushed to me. I picked him up and he latched onto me in a hug. He suddenly began squirming and I set him down. He rushed over and swapped places with Ashley as she came to me. I picked her up also and she cuddled into my chest.

"Addie! Cora!" Ashley gasped as I set her down. Archer rushed to follow her as they went to Cora. She crouched so that they could both look at Addie and kissed her.

I was startled when Jayden came to me and pulled me against his side. He wrapped his arm around me again and leaned so that his head rested on mine. "They look happy," he whispered to me.

I squeezed his hand that wrapped around me, "I think they are. They never looked like that after a day at their last school."

He kissed my head, "I missed you."

I scoffed, "it's only been a few days. I'm surprised you had time to think about stuff other than your work."

He leaned down further and kissed my cheek, "I'm sorry I wasn't here this morning. It must have been hard on you." I shook my head slightly, "did he come near you?"

"Matt? He found us."

"Not him, that psycho."

"No, as far as I know, he didn't come today."

"Too bad," he grumbled, "I thought we could have a long chat."

I sighed, "leave it alone. It's in the past."

He kissed my neck and I shuddered, "when we get home, we need to talk about something," he kissed me again as I fought back a moan, "alone."

"You're a pervert," I mumbled and he laughed into my neck.

"I'm just a man insanely in love."

"Mr. Maurer!" The teacher called and I quickly got out of Jayden's grasp. I made my way to her with a large smile.

"How was the first day?"

She smiled kindly as she got closer to me than most Alpha's would dare. "They all did wonderful." She glanced over to the twins as they talked with Cora and Jayden. "I was very impressed by those two." I looked to her curiously, "I was sure I would have to intervene when a boy taunted them about having a male Momma," her smile turned sickening sweet. "Without a shred of upset or anger, they turned and smiled to him. They told him that they were proud to have a male Momma because he is the best Momma in the world."

I fought tears as I smiled to her, "they are stronger than anyone would imagine. It torments me that students try to tease them for something we cannot change, but I am glad they could show their charisma."

She nodded, "I will be sure to keep an eye on them."

I smiled, "I appreciate that." I walked back over towards the kids, but froze as I noticed another classmate taking with them.

"Momma!" Archer cheered happily as I came towards them, "this is our new friend, Malcolm."

I stopped near the kids as I kept my smile. "It is nice to meet you, Malcolm."

The boy that looked similar to Luther smiled up to me, "it's nice to meet you, Mr.Peters."

I looked up as Elizabeth jumped slightly, "no, sweetie. This is Mr. Maurer." She looked to me with a smile as her face reddened, "right, Willie?"