Page 23 of Such a Sweet Omega

“I told you I was a widower, but I did not say that I lost him and a child at the same time. He died giving birth.”

“Oh, alpha.” Beale set his fork down and reached for my hand. “That must have been so hard. Just a mate is enough but a child as well?”

“He had been hiding a secret from me.” I swallowed. It was so difficult to talk about even all these years later. But I had to be vulnerable and show my mate where I was coming from. In fairness. “He had a rare condition that meant pregnancy was not only dangerous but likely fatal. And he never told me. I wanted children, but we could have adopted or just enjoyed nieces and nephews. Whatever. I really took the blame for not knowing.”

“How could you know? He didn’t tell you.”

“No, he didn’t and that is why I want you to know. I want us to be honest and transparent with one another. No secrets, no lies, not even of omission.”

“I promise to do my best,” he said solemnly. “And I admire the strong person you are after such a heartbreaking experience.

He could have complained that I had waited to tell him, although I had tried once before. I could have tried harder and not done it when we were both so ready to tear one another’s clothes off.

“I promise, too,” I told him. “And if you move in here, we’ll have lots of time to be transparent with one another.”

“Right.” He picked up his fork again and let it drop again. “Wait. What did you say?”

“I asked if you’d move in?”

Silverware clattered to the deck as he launched himself at me. I held my plate out of the way and caught him with the other arm. “Is that a yes?”

“Of course. I was just so surprised.”

“Omega mine, you’re my mate. Where else would you live but in my den?”

We spent the rest of the evening making plans. His lease would be up in a month, and I didn’t see any reason why he should stay there just because he had to pay one month. Why wait? I was very happy and very in love.

Chapter Twenty

Beale

Jabez had come in sometime in the middle of the night. Not a surprise. The club closed at midnight on weekdays, but there was work to be done after all the members and guests went home—and that was if there wasn’t a patient in need at the hospital.

I’d heard the door of his home open and lay there listening to the sounds of my mate. He threw his keys into the bowl by the front door. Kicked his shoes off and put them in the cabinet. Jacket placed on his hook. He would stop at the sink for a glass of water and then come upstairs.

Never thought I’d take joy from lying awake in the middle of the night listening to someone do such mundane things, but I did.

He entered the bedroom softly but came over and placed a gentle kiss on my lips. “I won’t be long,” he whispered. His wolf would feel through the bond that I was awake. This was our routine as well.

I turned over to face Jabez’s side of the bed. When he got in, we would have a bit of pillow talk about his night and my day and all the things that happened.

I hadn’t gone to the club this week, not feeling like myself. I was tired all the time to the point where I had to call in sick to work the day before.

Calling into work meant something was really wrong. I considered myself a hard worker.

I’d also been sick to my stomach—a lot. Jabez didn’t think I had any kind of bug or virus, but neither of us could deny that something was going on. He blamed himself. Between working and the club and our middle-of-the-night sessions once he got home, he thought I was simply worn out.

My mate showered and came to bed. The mattress dipped and, soon, he gathered me in his arms.

“How was your night?” I asked.

“Uneventful. I monitored the fire table.”

“Fun,” I said, already drifting back to sleep.

“Let’s talk about it in the morning, omega. I can feel your exhaustion.” He kissed my forehead and I snuggled in and drifted off.

Hours later, I turned over and stretched my arms over my head, but the moment I sat up, nausea swept over me.

---