Page 6 of His Omega Bear

“Hey, have you thought about hiring a nanny or a babysitter?” Shep asked, breaking the silence.

I shook my head. “Not yet. I think I want to try to do this on my own for a little while, at least until I get the hang of things.”

Shep nodded, “I understand. But just know that you don’t have to do this alone. There are people who can help.”

I smiled weakly and took another swig of my beer before speaking up.

“I admit there are days I don’t know if I can do this.” My voice was barely above a whisper. “I don’t know the first thing about being a parent. What if I mess her up?”

He placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “You won’t mess her up. You’ll make mistakes. That’s life. But what’s important is that you love that little girl.”

“More than life,” I said simply. Not even my terror and fear of fucking up could change that.

Shep turned to me with a serious expression. “Listen, Jax. If you ever need anything, anything at all, I’m here for you. And I mean it. Raising a kid on your own is tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. If you ever need me to come down, just call man. Don’t think for a second that I don’t have you’re back ‘cause you upped and moved out to the boonies.”

I snorted even as I felt a lump form in my throat at his words. “Thanks, Shep. I really appreciate it.”

He clapped me on the back. “Anytime, brother.”

We both got lost in our own thoughts. I couldn’t help but let my mind wander back to the past, to the memories of Jayson and Leanne. It felt like a lifetime ago, with everything that had happened, but the pain was still fresh. Having Emilia, having to focus on her, helped, but it didn’t stop the gaping hole losing the closest two people in my life had left behind.

As much as it terrified me sometimes, I welcomed the responsibility of raising Mia. It had given me something to focus on since the only other option was falling apart — not like I hadn’t done that too.

But as I looked around at the house, at all the potential for new memories, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe this was the fresh start I needed, a chance to build a new life for myself and my niece. I took a deep breath and looked back at Shep. “Thanks for everything, man. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

He grinned. “You’d probably be lost without me,” he joked. “But seriously, take care of yourself and that little girl. And don’t hesitate to call if you need anything.”

He kept saying it because Shep knew I could be a stubborn ass, but with Mia, I would put my pride aside. Heck, I knew fuck all about raising a kid.

I nodded, feeling grateful for his support. “I won’t.”

As Shep headed out, I took one last look around the house. It was my responsibility now to make it a home for me and my niece. And even though the journey ahead was uncertain, I knew that I would do whatever it took to make it work.

For her sake.

Chapter 2

Rhys

Of course they’d send me on this errand. Why wouldn’t they? I was Rhys, the mateless.

That’s not fair. Gods, I was in a shit mood.

If I’d said I couldn’t do it, someone else would have, but really, what else did I have to do on a Friday night?

Well, maybe not Hunter. My asshole brother had been quick to point out he had a pregnant mate and child at home when I’d asked why he wasn’t the one going to check things out at our cousin Jayson’s house since, after all, he was the town sheriff.

He had apologized immediately, but I wanted to punch him so hard the second the words came out of his mouth. Not because of what he’d said… well, not only because of what he’d said, but because of the look I’d seen in his eye that was eating me up.

What I’d really wanted to do was curl up in a ball and cry because really, he wasn’t wrong. He had a pregnant mate and child at home, and I had Netflix and no one.

For the longest time, both Hunter and I were alone, but in reality, he’d known who his mate was.

Back then, I’d felt so sorry for him. I remember thinking how much I would hate to be in his shoes. The idea of knowing who my mate was and not being able to be with them. It felt like torture of the worst kind. But right now, I’d give anything to have even that.

“Quit with the pity party, Rhys.”

I sighed as I drove through the subdivision that had been a part of our family’s ranch before I’d been born. My great grandfather had divided it into smaller plots to provide homes for members of our den. You couldn’t even really reach it from our land anymore.

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