Page 75 of Omega's Refuge

I couldn’t speak because my throat was closed up with anxiety. The longer I waited to have an abortion, the more the baby would become real to me. Right now, it was a faceless nothing. But in a few months, my omega instincts would kick in big time, and I’d begin bonding with the unborn child. It was unavoidable. I couldn’t stop thematernal omega instincts from coming, even if I wanted to.

“Doctor, I can’t wait.” My voice shook with emotion. “It’ll be too difficult for me to go through with an abortion if we wait. You must know that.”

Dr. Jones shifted uneasily. “I… I do know it will be harder for you. Perhaps you’ll get lucky and your blood will begin clotting normally in a few weeks.”

Rex nodded, squeezing my shoulder. “That’s right. That could happen, Tanner. Don’t look so worried.” He attempted an encouraging smile, but it didn’t quite come off.

“But what if that doesn’t happen?” I mumbled, holding Rex’s compassionate gaze. “What if I’m forced to wait months for an abortion?”

Rex opened his mouth, but then closed it again. His expression was strained, and it was obvious he didn’t know what to say to comfort me.

“I’m sure it’ll all work out.” Dr. Jones said brightly, heading toward the door. Just like the nurse earlier, he seemed eager to escape. “Oh, I meant to tell you, we’ll be releasing you tomorrow morning, Tanner. Try and get some rest. You’ll heal faster.” He slipped out into the corridor.

I met Rex’s anxious gaze. “If it takes months for my blood to return to normal, I’m fucked,Rex.” My voice broke. “I… I’ll start bonding with the kid.”

“I know.” He let out a shaky breath. “I’m so sorry, Tanner.”

“I don’t know what to do.” My bottom lip quivered, and my eyes burned with tears of frustration. “How am I supposed to job hunt while healing from a snakebite and dealing with morning sickness? And even if I somehow snag a job, I’ll almost immediately need time off to recover from the abortion—if I’m even emotionally strong enough to go through with it. This is an absolutenightmare.”

“Yes.” Rex sat on the edge of my bed, his face tense. “Plus, I worry if you go back to Billings, Steve will talk you into reconciling because you’ll feel desperate.”

“No. I can’t trust him.”

“I agree, but you’ll be desperate to trustsomeone. I wouldn’t blame you for letting him back in, not in the situation you’re in. You need help, and if Steve is there, I fear you’ll let him get his claws into you again.”

Panic washed through me because I worried he was right. If Steve came back to me, I might cling to him simply because I had no one else. “Maybe I should just risk an abortion now,” I rasped. “If I die, then I die.”

Rex shuddered and his face paled. “No. Absolutely not. You think I’m just going to let you do something that dangerous?”

“It’s not really up to you,” I mumbled, wincing at the angry glare he shot me. “You’re not my alpha.”

“No, I’m not.” His voice was hushed, his expression solemn. He took my hand and his throat worked as though he was trying toforce words out. He let out a harsh breath and said hoarsely, “But what if Iwasyour alpha, Tanner?”

Chapter Thirteen

My mouth fell open as shock rippled through me. I blinked at him and whispered, “Wha… what did you say?”

His cheeks were flushed and he looked a bit nervous, but there was a stubborn tilt to his jaw. “You heard me. There’s no reason to go back to Billings. Stay, and I’ll protect you. I’ll be your alpha.”

I swallowed, still grappling with what he’d said. I couldn’t deny the idea of being his omega was tempting. Exciting even. But I couldn’t let him fall on his sword for me. That wasn’t right. He felt sorry for me and so he'd made that insanely noble offer. However, it seemed wrong to accept, knowing the situation wasn't fair to him. I carefully pulled my hand from his grasp. “Rex, I… I can’t do that to you.”

“Do what to me?” He frowned. “I care about you, Tanner. You’ve said if you didn’t have to worry about money, you’d want to have this child. I can help you with that.”

“While I… I did say that, I can’t let you become my alpha and saddle you with a baby that isn’t evenyours. Why would want that burden?” Alphas didn’t usually like taking on children from other alphas. They were generally too prideful.

“I don’t care that the child isn’t mine.” He wrinkled his brow. “All I know is, you need help. You need the protection of an alpha right now. I’m happy to give you that to you.”

I dropped my gaze, feeling embarrassed. “I’m not a charity case. I’m sure I can go back to Billings and find a job.”

“Sure, but it’ll be really hard on you. Why go through all that? You said yourself it would be difficult dealing with morning sickness and, after the abortion, needing time off to heal.”

“I… I know, but still.”

“What is there for you in Billings?” He hesitated. “You have no family there. You’ve said you’re through with Steve. If that’s true, why go back?”

“Because it’s my home.” Even if I hated living there, it wastechnicallyhome.

He shrugged. “You could make a home here. Then you could keep the child and I’d help you raise it. You wouldn’t have to worry about looking for a shitty job every few months. You could have a more stable life.”

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