Chapter 6 CHAPTER 006

Iris’s hospital bills have been paid and the surgery has begun; that's one less of Soren's problems as he paces from one end of the emergency lobby to the other. She has to be okay.

“So, where did you get the money?”

Soren turns his gaze to his mother, who for the first time in weeks is sober and does not have her head in the clouds of alcohol. He shares a glance with Theo, who is resting on the opposite wall.

“I know playing a beta can't get you that much,” she continues with a scoff. “Did you finally sell that body of yours? You must have. No one will give you that much money unless you spread your legs for them.”

Soren rolls his eyes. He doesn't have time for this but she doesn't stop despite his lack of response. She approaches him, opening her palm.

“… Where’s the rest of the money? I have a few debts I have to pay and as my only son, it’s your responsibility to give me money.”

Soren stares at her for a long second, then lets out a short, tired laugh that holds no humor.

“There is none left,” he says flatly. “The money went straight to the hospital. Every single cent.”

She scoffs. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’m not,” Soren replies, voice tight. “And even if there was, you wouldn’t get a dime. You will only waste it on liquor.”

Her face hardens instantly. “Excuse me?”

Theo pushes off the wall then, stepping closer. “Mrs. Fox, this isn’t the time—”

“Stay out of this; this is a family matter,” she snaps at him, then turns back to Soren. “You think you can talk to me like that now that you have money?”

Soren’s jaw clenches. His hands curl at his sides, knuckles white. Why does she have to be so difficult? “Your daughter is in there fighting for her life and you're more worried about drinking?” He snorts. “I think taking care of Iris is more important. I don't owe you anything, mother,”

She lets out a bitter laugh, then runs her fingers through her hair before grabbing the front of his shirt, eyes hard with anger. “You have a lot of nerve talking to me like that. You think I'm begging you for money? You fucking owe me, Soren. If I wasn't so kind, I wouldn't have given birth to you, a worthless Omega. It's because of you I lost everything, so you owe me your entire existence.”

“You lost everything because of your choices,” he says quietly but the edge of warning and tiredness is evident in his tone. “Not because of me. So stop blaming me for everything and fucking see that I'm trying.”

Her face twists, rage flashing hot and wild. “You think you’re better than me now? Because you became some whore to some alpha, you think you're better than me?!” she says, uncaring that her voice could almost be heard throughout the hospital.

“Mrs. Fox, this is a hospital.” Theo intervenes again, this time grabbing her hand and pulling her away from Soren but she shoves him off roughly and points her finger at Soren.

“If I'd known you were going to be so ungrateful, I would have left you at some orphanage and lived my life the way I wanted.”

Soren shuts his eyes. He tries to remind himself that this is a hospital, tries to remind himself that his sister is in there, fighting for her life, and that he has to stay calm but she doesn't stop.

“Oh, you think I'm not worth talking to now, huh? Because you made some money selling your body. You're such a disgusting omega!”

Soren opens his eyes slowly and something inside of him finally snaps, his eyes turning into a bloodshot glare. “Enough,” he says quietly but his tone is sharper than any blade.

“You don’t get to speak to me like that anymore,” he continues. “Not here. Not ever. I've given my all for you and Iris; you don't get to blame me for shit!” The more he speaks, the louder his voice gets.

She scoffs, shaking her head. “Look at you, acting so fucking proud now.”

“No, I’m acting done,” Soren counters. “You want to blame someone for your life? Look in the fucking mirror!”

Her mouth opens, ready to speak, but the doors to the operating room suddenly slide open and a nurse steps out.

“Please lower your voices. This is a hospital.” She says firmly.

Soren nods immediately. “I’m sorry.”

His mother rolls her eyes. “We’re just talking.”

“This isn’t talking,” the nurse says, continuing. “If you can’t behave, you’ll be asked to leave.”

That finally shuts her up. She glares at Soren one last time, lips pressed thin, then turns away with a scoff, storming toward the chairs at the far end of the lobby.

Theo exhales slowly, rubbing the back of his neck. “You okay?”

Soren nods, though his chest feels like it's about to close on itself. “Yeah.”

It’s a lie, but a smaller one than the others he’s been telling his whole life.

“Are you sure you won't regret it?” Theo asks quietly.

Soren looks at his mother, then at the door that holds his sister, and looks back at Theo and shakes his head. “As long as Iris makes it out alive, I won't regret anything. I'm willing to sacrifice more than that.”

“But—” Theo starts but Soren cuts him.

“I just need a stronger dose of suppressants.”

Theo’s jaw clenches. He looks like he wants to argue, like he wants to shake some sense into Soren, but then he exhales slowly and lets his shoulders drop.

“I know you don't like being an Omega but this is not a solution,” he says quietly. “That’s you bleeding yourself dry.”

Soren lets out a tired breath, leaning back against the cold wall. “It’s temporary.”

“That’s what you said the last time and the time before that.” Theo counters even though he knows nothing will change his mind. Soren would rather die than be an Omega; that's how much he hates his sub-gender and then again, Theo doesn't blame him; life for Omegas isn't fair.

“Iris Fox,”

They whip their heads at the same time as the doctor walks out of the operating room.

“How is she?” Soren feels like he can't breathe as he waits for the doctor's response.

“There were a few complications but the surgery was successful; you can see her in a few minutes.”

Soren sighs in relief, and then he looks at Theo and shakes his head.

He has no regrets.