“It’ll be fine,” Xavier says. “My parents like you.”

That’ll probably change, he thinks, but doesn’t voice it out loud. His parents adore you, but that’s before Xavier became your boyfriend. Of course they loved the fact you two were best friends growing up. Their alpha son hanging out with another alpha? Xavier’s mother was all for it. It looked better for their family.

He tries to be understanding. His mother and father are both betas, his younger brother ended up one as well. They’re always bragging about Xavier, always talking about how proud they are to have an alpha for a son. He wonders if they care his favorite color is purple and that he’s always wanted to be a writer. His entire family’s always felt like strangers to him.

You’re his salvation. In a small town hardly made up of anything but betas, you’re one of the only other alphas. From the moment he met you, you two were nearly inseparable. Sure, Xavier dated omegas to keep his parents pleased, but he never liked them as much as he liked you. You’re the reason most of those relationships ended. They didn’t like how he’d choose you over them. Xavier doesn’t care. Obviously you’re more important.

And maybe it’s bad that he’d kiss you while dating those omegas. You’re an alpha, too, so it’s not really cheating, right? When he was finally single again, he’d taken to only being with you. Sneaking you around behind his parents’ back felt wrong. You’re not a dirty secret, you’re his lover.

“Just get through dinner,” he tells you, reaching to intertwining your fingers. One meal with his parents won’t hurt. They probably won’t have the courage to say anything against the relationship anyway. You’re an alpha, they won’t want to look bad in front of you. “If they don’t like it, I don’t care. They can be disappointed all they want.”