The feather-like contact when Remy walked by him had Erin trembling, and he stood perfectly still, listening as Remy stomped up the stairs, and cringing when Remy slammed the door behind him. Erin stared down at the glass fragments on the floor.

“Look at this picture! Do you see yourself in it? No, you don’t! That's because you’re not in it!”

He leaned down and picked up the frame off the coffee table. It was broken. Cracked in the corner and void of the happy family that once sat in the center.

Even after hours of laying in his dark room, Erin couldn’t help but chastise his own thoughtlessness. What did he expect? For Remy to embrace him with open arms? For the Alpha to praise him and welcome him to the family?

Erin scrubbed away the tears still gushing from his eyes. He curled into a ball on his bed and covered himself with the bedspread. In the silence of the room, he could hear his own sobs clearly.

Remy told him he didn’t belong, and he was right.

Erin didn’t.

Erin decided at that moment he couldn’t stay another night. He threw the blanket off of him, gathered himself up, and rolled out of bed. Remy didn’t want him there, and Annalee would only make it harder for him to leave tomorrow morning.

Erin stuffed an overnight bag full of clothes and pulled on his puffy coat to shield him from the night air. As he crept out into the hall, he couldn’t help but check on Annalee one last time. It was a habit he’d developed. Just standing over her and watching her sleep soundly.

“Goodbye, Sweetheart.” He leaned in to place a soft kiss on her forehead. He would give her a proper goodbye when he came to collect his clothes, but for now, Remy needed space from him.

Erin rode the elevator down with several of the condo’s tenants. It was a sight, he in his puffy orange coat and zebra print duffle bag. And them in their elegant black winter pea coats and designer handbags. He was a cheap colorful painting, hanging in a world of elegant luxury. How did he think he would ever fit?

Erin shivered as he stepped outside, letting out a puff of smoke when he huffed.

“You alright there, Mr. Erin?” one of the bellmen asked when he stepped outside. Erin quickly adopted his bright smile and nodded.

“I’m just heading to my sisters.” He buttoned up his coat and slipped on his mittens and hat, glad he’d remembered to stuff them in his pockets.

“You need a cab then?” the bellman queried.

“No, thank you.” Erin adjusted the bag on his shoulder. “I’m going to catch the subway.”

“You sure, Sir?” The bellman pointed to the valet stand. “It’s no trouble to call you a taxi.”

“I’m sure.” Erin nodded once more with a laugh. “With this traffic, it’ll be over a hundred bucks in a taxi and it’s a quick train ride.”

“All right sir…” The valet frowned, clearly not approving the idea, but unable to refute Erin’s claim. “Be safe then.”

“Will do!” Erin chirped as he started his trek to the train.

It wasn’t a long walk to the station, but Erin’s limbs felt weighed down. Every step he took lengthened the distance between him and the condo, and instead of it making Erin feel better, it made him feel worse. He wondered whether he should have stayed to explain to Annalee what was happening.

And what would I say? That I snuck into Remy’s storage? Stole from him? Betrayed his trust?

True, he’d done it to help Annalee. He wanted to protect her and give her a piece of the mother she’d lost. He wanted to be a soothing balm to the open sore encasing the girl’s heart. He wanted to love her, and deep down, Erin wished she was his own daughter.

But Remy was right.

And Mitch was right too.

He was a broken Omega who didn’t belong...

As he walked, Erin peered up at the inky night sky, punctuated by a startling white full moon. The silvery hue seemed to caress his face as the tears slid down his cheeks.

Remy and Annalee are a family and I’m an outsider.

It wasn’t his place to act like a mother. It never was. And if the universe had anything to say about it, never would be.