Page 12 of My Omega's Gift

I decided to split the difference and moved to the doorway. “All set?”

He pulled the covers over his shoulders and snuggled down. “Yes. Thanks. It’s so nice and warm in here.”

“Sure is. I’ll be by the fire if you need me.”

In your fur, right?”

“Exactly. Night again.”

“Good night.” He looked so cozy and comfy in the big bed, one with plenty of room for both of us, but it was not my place to join him. I didn’t close the door though. The fire’s heat would be cut off from him. Returning to the fireside, I divested myself of clothing and shifted. We curled up near the fire, but every time I fell asleep, slight sounds from the next room woke us. The omega was restless, and he shifted, turning and moving, probably having trouble finding comfort this late in his pregnancy.

My wolf wanted to go in there, get closer to him, and after a while, I stopped telling him no. After all, I wanted the same thing. We padded in and circled a few times on the rug next to the bed before curling up and laying our head on our paws. Wade never indicated he was awake, but he settled down and we all passed the rest of the night in peace.

Morning came, and I opened my eyes in time to shift and shower before Wade woke. He looked so relaxed under the covers, and I saw no reason to disturb him, but my stomach rumbled, so I went to the kitchenette to see if there was anything I could use to make breakfast. The night before, I’d noticed there were several teas and a single-serve coffee maker. Also, Wade had returned from the main house with cookies and the makings of cocoa. But none of that was enough for a nutritious meal for him. And the snacks left from my picnic weren’t much better.

An exploration revealed that the owners had left more in the refrigerator than I realized and there was a pantry cupboard semi-stocked as well. Among the goodies, I found a quart of eggnog, a loaf of bread, butter, syrup, and orange juice. I could work with that.

As a single alpha, people were always trying to feed me, dropping off casseroles and inviting me to dinner, but, when time permitted, I enjoyed cooking simple meals for myself. Breakfast for dinner, for example. And French toast was a favorite from childhood. Since it was made with eggs and milk and vanilla and spices, it stood to reason that I could substitute store-bought eggnog for the homemade mixture.

At least I hoped so.

I was dipping thick slices of sourdough bread in a pie pan filled with the substitute custard when I heard him rise from bed with a groan. I tensed, wondering if I should rush to see how he was doing but opted to remain in place, listening for any crisis. Instead, the bathroom door closed with a click and the old pipes rumbled bringing hot water to the shower.

The pregnant omega arrived in the kitchen in time to pour the orange juice and select his tea from the varieties available. “Lemon Zinger, I think,” he said. “I really want coffee, but I haven’t been able to do a lot right for this baby, the least I can do is avoid caffeine.”

From what I’d heard, most shifters could tolerate caffeine even while pregnant, but I ached that he had so little control over himself until now that he was searching for any he could get. He wanted to take care of his babe. “Then good choice!” I opened the bags and put them in mugs then poured hot water from the electric kettle over them. “Breakfast is all ready.

We took our plates to the table and sat down. I’d already set out the butter and syrup as well as the sugar for tea, and for a few minutes, we were too busy eating to do anything else.

“This is so good,” Wade said, finally. “Thank you for making it for me.”

“You’re welcome. It was my pleasure.” I was so polite, the courtesy glossing over the feeling churning underneath. “Would you like more?”

He helped himself to two more pieces, pouring syrup while he said, “You slept by my bed last night.”

“I did.” I reached for my juice. “My wolf insisted.”

“Thank you. I can’t remember when I felt so safe.”

Chapter Nine

Wade

The wind wasn’t nearly as bad as it had been the night I arrived, but it was still whipping and the temperature was still below zero. It was the reason I gave for staying each day, but if I were being honest with myself, that wasn’t why I was still here, sharing a cabin at a resort I couldn’t pay for, with the alpha who had booked it. Nope. Kurt was.

I could try and convince myself a thousand different ways that it was being so pregnant or cold or tired. At the end of the day, none of that had stopped me from traveling on before. This time it was different, and that difference was the sexy alpha who treated me like I had worth.

Did I love the warm food, the hot showers, the clean clothes, and the soft bed? Of course I did. Who wouldn’t. But if this had been a run-down motor inn with a cracked window and mold on the ceiling, I’d still be here. Kurt tethered me to this place. He was sweet and made me laugh. He treated me like I was someone of worth and not a disgraced rogue. Even when I’d been living in my pack, no one had respected me the way he did. It was a first for me, and an omega could get used to that.

Not one time did I catch him looking at my scars with disgust or discomfort. The only time I saw anything other than “normal” was the occasional anger that crossed his eyes when I mentioned the alpha who had done this to me. Honestly, I was right there with him on that one. That alpha was a piece of shit. If I had been strong enough, brave enough—and not carrying another life—I’d have challenged him.

I wouldn’t have won, but I’d have gone out with a fight. And maybe, just maybe, it would’ve convinced someone else to try and take him out—someone who could succeed.

This morning, I woke up planning to cook for Kurt. He’d been the one making breakfast every morning, always getting up much earlier than I did. But today, the sun was barely up when my eyes cracked open.

I’d love to say it was because I’d had a great night’s sleep—which I had—but no, it was because I had to pee. My sweet baby had shifted and was living on my bladder, making the bathroom my new best friend.

It took a bit, but I managed to climb out of bed and shuffle into the bathroom without too much noise. As I washed my hands, I caught sight of myself in the mirror and froze. I looked…healthier. My eyes were less sunken, and I could tell I’d put on a few pounds. That was a good thing—I’d been woefully underweight when I arrived. I wasn’t perfect, not even close, but I was heading back in the right direction.

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