Page 40 of Nanny Omega

Clearing his throat, he began to recount everything, from his conversation with Shiva about finding a specialist to help Ersa relactate to him going into heat. “Everything would have been fine if I had found the service omega I hired attractive. And the fact that he used scent blockers, just like I asked, and I couldn’t smell a thing made it even worse,” he confessed, his voice thick with frustration and something far more dangerous—yearning. “I’ve been trying to keep my distance, trying to be professional, but it’s impossible. He’s always there—in my mind, under my skin. I can’t stop thinking about him.” He ran a hand through his hair. “I want him back in my bed,” he said, his voice rough, nearly a growl. “I want to feel his body against mine, his warmth, his kiss—God, I want everything.” He let out a bitter laugh, shaking his head. “And the worst part? I’m jealous. Jealous of Benjn, of my own cub, because he gets to be close to him when I can’t. That’s insane, right?” His eyes were wild with frustration, his breath uneven. “Tell me I’m not losing my mind.”

Shiva tilted his head, considering him for a moment before asking, “Have you ever considered that he might be your true mate?”

Xander laughed again, but this time, there was no humor in it. “No. That’s ridiculous. If he was my mate, wouldn’t I feel it? And I think we would have recognized each other from the moment we met. Besides, true mates haven’t existed for a while now.”

“Every couple’s journey is different,” Shiva said, his voice soft and thoughtful. “Some don’t even recognize their bond right away, but the feeling… the pull… it’s there.” He chewed the inside of his cheek, his brows furrowing thoughtfully. “Don’t you think it’s strange? How you and Ersa just… clicked? You barely knew each other, yet there was something between you—something undeniable, a connection—deeper, stronger than anything you ever had with Nath. With Ersa, you don’t have to try so hard. You don’t have to shape yourself into something you’re not. It’s natural—effortless. And that’s what I wanted you to see with a companion omega. When you meet the right one, you don’t have to force it. You don’t have to change who you are. It just… fits.”

“I get that, but…”

“But what?” Shiva asked.

“There’s a lot to consider,” he said. “What if things don’t work out between us? Benjn has to come first—his happiness, his stability… that’s what matters most.”

“And you?”

“I don’t matter,” he said quietly.

“Don’t say that,” Shiva whispered. “You’ve longed for an omega for so long—someone who sees you, someone who makes you feel whole. You deserve that, Xander. This… this is your chance. I know there’s a lot to think about, but you can’t keep putting your happiness on hold because you’re afraid things might fall apart. Sometimes you just have to take the risk and see where it leads. You deserve to be happy too.”

Xander twisted his hands together, a nervous energy rolling off him in waves. “You make it sound so easy.”

“It probably won’t be easy. Trust your instincts. Deep down, you already know what you need to do. Let the alpha inside you guide you. Ersa already likes you—he doesn’t flinch at your intensity, doesn’t shy away from who you are. That’s a great start. Just go with it.”

Xander exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair. “Damn, don’t tempt me. I’m already holding myself back as it is.”

“I want you to try,” Shiva insisted. “Since you believe you won’t respond to another omega’s scent, then chase what’s right in front of you. See where it leads. You tried to change yourself for Nath, fought for him—don’t you think Ersa is worth that same fight? Maybe even more?”

Xander swallowed, his throat suddenly dry. “Yes. I’ve never felt this way before about anyone. With Nath, it was… a bond of necessity. I forced myself to believe it was the right thing to do.”

“And you tried,” Shiva said, his voice gentler. “But now? Now, you’ve found an omega who stirs something real inside you. Someone who sees you, challenges you, and doesn’t run. Don’t let him slip through your fingers because you’re afraid of what might happen if he says no.”

Xander nodded.

Finally, Shiva exhaled and said, “For now, let’s put a hold on finding a companion omega and see how things unfold between you and Ersa.”

Xander let out a breathy chuckle. “Damn, now I’m nervous. I’ve never been lucky with omegas,” he admitted as he pushed to his feet. “But I want this. I’ll cherish every second he gives me. And if, in the end, he doesn’t want to be with me…” He trailed off, shrugging, but the mere thought of losing Ersa sent a sharp ache through his chest.

“Don’t give up yet.” Shiva’s parting words echoed in his mind, following him like a shadow as he made his way home.

The moment Xander stepped inside the house, the warm scent of spices and roasting meat greeted him. Xander followed the scent to the cooking station, hope blooming in his chest that he’d find Ersa there, chatting with Vina. The two had grown surprisingly close. But as the door slid open with a soft hiss, the warmth in his chest dimmed—only Hicks and Vina stood at the counter, deep in conversation.

“Where’s Ersa?” he asked.

“He’s resting. He got a little sick when we were on our way to the center, but he’s…” Xander barely registered Hicks’s next words as he took off in a sprint toward the house, his pulse hammering in his ears. Taking the stairs two at a time, he gripped the railing for balance, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps, worry coiling in his gut, tightening with each step. When he reached his room, he was surprised to find the bed empty.

“Where is he?” Xander muttered to the empty room, his voice barely above a whisper as he strode toward the nursery, hoping to find Ersa there. But the room was empty.

Frowning, he inhaled deeply, filtering through the mingling scents in the air—detergent, furniture polish, cooking meat, the lingering traces of his own scent—until he found what he was looking for. Ersa’s scent. Clean, soothing, familiar. He followed it like a thread, weaving through the house until he reached the guest room.

There, curled up on the bed, was Ersa, his delicate form tucked close to Benjn’s smaller frame. The two were nestled together, their soft, rhythmic breathing the only sound in the room. Peace radiated from them, an unspoken bond that made something in Xander’s chest tighten.

Drawn to the scene, he eased onto the bed, careful not to wake them, his gaze drifting from Benjn’s tiny, relaxed face to Ersa’s serene features. The omega’s lashes fluttered, and after a moment, one sleepy eye cracked open, locking onto him.

A slow, tense moment passed.

Xander’s heart pounded, not from worry this time but from something deeper, something that sent a shiver through him. Desire.

He cleared his throat and murmured, “Why are you sleeping in here?”

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