Page 28 of His Omega Bear

Rhys nodded, though the worry didn't quite fade from his expression. “Yeah, that sounds good, ” he murmured, his voice quiet. “It's just… I don't want to mess this up, you know?”

I reached out to place a reassuring hand on his lower back, offering him a supportive smile. “Hey, we're in this together,” I reassured him. “We'll figure it out, one step at a time.”

He nodded, but just like the night before, it felt like there was something he wanted to add, but didn’t.

I leaned down and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “Relax, baby. It’s all going to be okay.”

He nodded as we continued to cook together. What was left of the tension eased, replaced by a sense of companionship and understanding. Rhys and I had a lot in common, and he was just fun to be around.

Yet, beneath the surface, I couldn't shake the nagging feeling that there was more to Rhys' worries than he was letting on.

I would be there for him, whatever challenges lay ahead, and to help him navigate whatever was weighing on his mind.

I was here.

He had me.

He just didn’t know it yet.

Chapter 8

Rhys

Sitting in my office, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was a complete idiot. Last night had been nothing short of amazing—spending time with Jaxson, sharing dinner, watching a movie, and those lingering kisses. But even with all the amazingness going on, guilt gnawed at me.

I’d rehearsed the conversation we needed to have so many times, determined to come clean about who I really was. I’d stood in my bathroom in front of the mirror practicing what I needed to say. I’d even mentally prepared myself for the revelation.

But every time I looked into Jaxson’s eyes, my resolve had faltered. How could I tell him I was a shifter, about Emilia and her likely heritage? What if he ran in the other direction? We were new. He clearly felt the connection. Was I committing a lie of omission by waiting to tell him?

Yes!

Stupid, honest subconscious.

The weight of my deception bore down on me, suffocating me with its magnitude. I knew I couldn’t keep hiding, couldn’t keep stringing Jaxson along under false pretenses. Yet, despite my best efforts, fear held me back.

As I sat there, struggling with my inner turmoil, I made a silent vow to myself. Tonight would be the night. Tonight, I would face my fears and tell him the truth, no matter how daunting it seemed. Jaxson deserved to know the real me, even if it meant risking everything we could be.

A text came in on the sibling chat, but I didn’t open it immediately. Then it hit me. I had someone who’d already been through this. I got out of my chair and hurried out, heading for Gabe’s office.

I hoped he would give me some clarity in the midst of my total confusion.

Gabe had told Kian about himself, so I knew he could offer me guidance. He had gone through the exact same thing when he had to reveal his true identity to him. Despite being my best friend, I never told Kian about my secret during our years of sharing a dorm room in college. I’d been eaten up by guilt then, and now holding back the information from my unknowing mate was times a thousand.

When I stopped outside his closed door, I rapped my knuckles against it and strode in without bothering to wait for a reply from him.

I walked in and took a seat across from Gabe. “Hey, Gabe. You got a moment? I need to ask you something.”

He rolled his eyes but motioned for me to go on. “Sure thing, Rhys,” Gabe replied, his gaze curious as he leaned back in his chair.

I hesitated for a moment, unsure how to broach the subject. “How did you tell Kian about being a shifter?” I finally asked, my voice betraying the weight of my uncertainty.

“I know you’ve heard this story before.”

“Yeah, but I don’t remember the details,” I sighed and blew out a breath. “Can you just tell me?”

He chuckled softly, a glint in his eyes. “Well, I basically just blurted it out,” he confessed with a shrug. “And then I shifted right in front of him.”

I nodded slowly. “That’s what I thought.”

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