Page 67 of Omega's Refuge

“You don’t need to worry. I’m sure I’ll be fine in just a minute.” I cleared my throat, doing my best to ignore how queasy I felt. “What did you have planned for today?”

He hesitated. “Well, before I knew you weren’t feeling well I was thinking we could do some hiking and fishing today. But if you’re not up for that, we can just hang out down by the river and take it easy.”

“What? No.” I scowled. “You didn’t go to all this trouble just to sit by the river and hangout in camp with me all day.”

“You got that wrong. It’s your company I want, Tanner. I don’t need activities. Just being with you is good enough for me.”

I smiled weakly. “You’re just saying that because you’re so nice.”

“I’m not being nice. I’m being honest.”

“I’ll be okay.” I sighed. “Thank you though. I appreciate how empathetic you are, Rex.”

He shrugged. “I care about you.”

That candid statement summed up Rex. His compassion and willingness to be vulnerable put me to shame. I’d never met an alpha like Rex. Maybe if I’d met him sooner in life I’d have learned to be more open too. “How is it possible you don’t have an omega?” I hadn’t planned on saying that out loud, but it just slipped out.

Pink tinted his cheeks and he dropped his gaze. “I could say the same thing about you.”

I laughed gruffly. “I’m not sure you could.”

He glanced up, frowning. “You’re a catch, Tanner. Don’t kid yourself.”

“I don’t see myself that way,” I rasped. “Hell, I couldn’t even hold on to the alpha I had.”

Anger fluttered through his eyes. “That wasn’t on you. It’s not your responsibility to stop your alpha from cheating on you.”

“I know. I know.” I squinted at him. “Hey, you turned the subject onto me. We’re supposed to be discussing whyyoudon’t have an omega.”

His jaw tensed. “Finding a life partner is twice as hard living out here in the middle of nowhere. Whoever I meet has to be willing to live out here in the middle of nowherewithme.”

“I guess that’s true.”

He frowned. “Or I’d have to be willing to move to where they’re from.”

I narrowed my eyes. “You’d move for love?”

“Depends.”

My pulse spiked at the way he was watching me. I wasn’t conceited enough to think he was trying to send me a message, but I’d have been lying if I didn’t admit I liked the idea maybe he was. “That’s surprising,” I murmured. “You seemed so certain this was where you belonged.”

“I think it is where I belong.” He glanced up at the big blue sky. “But I hope to settle down one day, and if living out here means that’s never going to happen, I guess I’d have to rethink some things.”

“I can’t see you living in the city. Even if you did before, I just can’t see you doing that anymore.” I picked up my plate, needing something to distract me. The conversation was making me uncomfortable. I didn’t like the thought of Rex one day meeting another omega who’d make him want to move back to the city just to be with them.

“If I were you,” I said gruffly, rising. “I’d try long distance before I uprooted myself for some city omega.”

He also rose. “Is that right?”

I nodded and took my plate to the rinsing station. “Seems wrong to pull you away from aplace you love. Especially if things didn’t work out.”

“I might end up alone forever if I’m too stubborn.” He followed me to the washing area, watching me as he spoke. “I mean, yeah, I love where I live and work. But a job can’t replace what an omega could give me. I’ll want a family one day.”

I met his gaze as I scrubbed the plate. “You’d regret moving back to the city. You know I’m right. Leaving this place would be a mistake for you, Rex.”

He laughed. “Is that right?”

“Yep.”

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