Page 59 of Nanny Omega

The cub wailed, tiny fists flailing, and still, Nath did nothing.

“What are you doing?” Xander snapped, his frustration spilling over as he strode into the room and scooped Benjn into his arms. The cub quieted almost instantly, snuggling against Xander’s chest with hiccupping sobs. “He’s been crying for five minutes, and you’re just standing there! Why would you do that? He’s just a cub, Nath!”

“I—I’m sorry,” Nath whispered, his voice ragged and strained. He looked… lost. “I don’t know what’s wrong with me. It’s been three months—I should know how to soothe him by now. I should know how to feed him. But I can’t seem to get anything right. He doesn’t respond to me. I try—I swear I try—but nothing works. I feel broken.”

Xander’s first instinct was to lash out—to remind Nath of everything he’d ruined, of what they’d lost because of him. But when he looked at the omega’s face, the words died in his throat.

Nath’s eyes were hollow, his expression a mask of pain and fear. He was drowning, and Xander couldn’t bring himself to push him under.

“It’s going to take time,” Xander said instead, his voice gentler. “You have to give yourself a chance to adjust.”

Nath shook his head, tears spilling down his cheeks. “No. I don’t think I can. I’m sorry, Xander. I don’t—I don’t belong here.”

The words hit like a punch to the gut. Xander stared at him, his mind scrambling to catch up. “What are you saying?”

“I don’t know,” Nath whispered, his eyes darting around the room. He looked like a caged animal—scared and ready to bolt.

“Wait,” Xander said quickly. “Just wait here.”

“Vina!” Xander called as he rushed out of the room. He met Vina in the hallway and handed Benjn over to her before hurrying back. Nath hadn’t moved. He stood exactly where Xander had left him, his arms wrapped around his waist as though trying to hold himself together.

Without a word, Xander pulled the trembling omega into his arms.

“Everything’s going to be okay,” Xander murmured. “I promise.”

Slowly, the shaking eased. When Nath seemed calm enough, Xander guided him to the settee and helped him sit down.

“What’s wrong with me?” Nath whispered after a long silence. “Why can’t I take care of my own cub? Every time he cries, I freeze. I get so scared—and I don’t know why. When he was born, I could barely tolerate being near him. I thought I’d get better. I thought I was healed. But it’s still there—this fear I can’t explain.”

“It’s normal,” Xander said softly. “Every new parent is scared. They just… push through it. For their cub’s sake.”

“I don’t know how.” Nath’s voice broke on the words, and the despair in his face twisted something sharp and painful in Xander’s chest. “I shouldn’t have come back. I see that now. That omega—he was good for Benjn. And for you. I could tell how much he loved you both. He was willing to fight for you. But I think… I think he felt sorry for me.”

“He lost his cub three years ago,” Xander said quietly. “He understands how you feel.”

Nath nodded slowly, his gaze distant. “I saw you two on the news,” he said after a moment. “You looked so good together. Perfect. And I—” His voice wavered. “I was so jealous. I kept wondering why you were never like that with me. I wanted you to look at me the way you looked at him. But it’s him, isn’t it? He brings out the alpha in you.”

“Yes,” Xander admitted, the word aching with longing.

For a long moment, Nath said nothing. Then, with a deep, shuddering breath, he whispered, “I’m going back to the center. Our bond is already broken. We can just go our separate ways. Benjn deserves a parent who isn’t scared of him—a parent who can love him the way he deserves.” He turned to Xander, his eyes swimming with unshed tears. “You’ll let me see him sometimes, right?”

Xander sat there in stunned silence, struggling to process what he was hearing.

“Xander?” Nath’s voice was soft.

“Of course,” Xander finally managed.

Nath rose to his feet, still frail but steadier than before. “Go to him,” he said quietly. “Take Benjn with you. I’m sure he missed him. And I—I’ll find my own way to the health center.”

“I’ll ask Hicks to take you.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I know,” Xander said. “But I want to.” He stood, wrapping the omega in a gentle embrace. “Thank you, Nath.”

“Go,” Nath whispered, pulling away. “And tell him… tell him thank you for taking care of our son.”

Xander didn’t waste another second. He packed a bag for Benjn, made sure everything was in place, and called for a shuttle.

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