Page 30 of Captive Omega

For the longest time, I’m not sure what to say. I’m used to being pulled and pushed. But choice?

I clear my throat, unsure what to say about the reminder that for the entire time I’ve been pregnant—however long that’s been—I haven’t taken one vitamin or even thought of it.

There’s no blame or judgment, just a genuine offer of something I should have been taking all along.

I don’t know what to do with that kindness.

Swallowing the spiky ball lodged in my throat, I wait until I’m no longer so close to tears. “Thank you for coming to see me.”

“Happy to.” She smiles. “The prenatal vitamins are safe for most women, but any allergies I should know about?”

I shake my head. “Nothing.”

“I can have some pregnancy materials sent over as well, if you’d like?” she softly offers. “Might help to answer any questions you have.”

The thought of preparing to have a baby, of reading about it, of not knowing I will even survive Nathaniel Lang long enough to do any of the above is like a fist squeezing my heart.

“That’s okay,” Sadie reassures, confirming that I need to work harder at hiding my emotions. “We can talk about it later when you’ve had time to recover from your stressful day. No rush to get to everything all at once.”

There it is. More proof she’s used to dealing with women seconds away from a panic attack.

Sadie pulls a white card from her back pocket. “I’ll leave my card here. Anyone can bring you to me whenever you want. Even if it’s just to talk.”

She places the card on the dresser, gives me a small smile, and walks out.

As I wait for the door to close, I breathe through the overwhelming sense someone is standing on my chest.

I won’t shatter.

I refuse to shatter.

“You’re okay,” I whisper. “No need to freak out now. Everything is fine.”

Perched on the edge of the bed, I bend over, tucking my head between my knees as I suck in long deep breaths that don’t help even a little.

I’m shaking as a cold chill invades my body, and the sound of Rupert’s head cracking like an egg is back to playing on repeat in my mind.

You’re okay. No need to panic. You’re fine.

But I still can’t breathe.

Chapter 9

Garrison

Awide smile stretches across Vaughn’s lips. “We have an omega in the house, a beautiful, broken bird who would happily stab us in the neck if she thought for one second we would hurt her.”

Bloody footprints mark her path along the white carpeted hallway. I make a mental note to have the cleaner come deal with it early first thing tomorrow, so Resa doesn’t see it and thinks she has to pay for cleaning it.

Despite Vaughn’s comment in the kitchen, carpet stains mean nothing to any of us. The woman behind that closed door does.

“Quit being so dramatic.” Blaine doesn’t lift his head as he speaks, leaning on the wall further up the hallway. Since Sadie arrived, his tension levels have skyrocketed.

“You don’t have to be here if it’s too much,” I tell Blaine.

“I want to be here,” he says.

I don’t believe him. Neither does Vaughn from his raised brow. Sadie isn’t just a doctor we trust, she’s a friend, but Blaine hasn’t been easy around doctors for years.

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