Page 92 of Omega's Refuge

“The least you can do is show me respect by being honest with me.” I threw back the covers, getting out of bed.

Looking puzzled, he wrinkled his brow. “I am being honest.”

“I’m sostupid,” I rasped. My legs were shaky and my breathing was even worse now. What the hell was I going to do now? I steadied myself on the nightstand, glaring at him. “I… I should never have accepted your offer.”

“Don’t say that.” He took a step toward me. “Tanner, it’s going to be okay.”

“Yeah?” I wheezed. “You always say that but nothing is going to be okay, Rex. I’m fucked. You got my hopes up, and then you let me down just like every other alpha I’ve ever known.”

He gritted his teeth and moved closer. “I’m sorry, Tanner. I didn’t realize it would upset you this much. I didn’t think you’d care. I feel awful.”

“You feel awful? You didn’t think it wouldupsetme?” I growled. “Of course I’m upset, Rex.”

He winced. “But, you know the rules. I… I can’t go to bed until all the guests go to bed.”

I scowled at him. “What are you talking about? What does this have to do with the guests?”

He squinted at me. “I left you alone all evening because of them, and your upset with me.”

Confusion rippled through me. “No, you left me alone because of Vance.”

“Vance?” He squinted at me. “What does he have to do with anything?”

I blinked at him. “You can drop the innocent act. He told me about yourdate.”

“My date?” He cocked his head, looking bewildered. “Tanner, I have no idea what you’re talking about. I haven’t seen Vance since the first night you and I slept together.”

Uncertainty nudged me because he sounded so sincere. “No… Vance… Vance said you were meeting him for drinks tonight.”

“Vance said that?” Now he looked and sounded angry.

“Yes.” I sat on the edge of the bed because my legs were shaking so bad. I pressed my tight chest, feeling a rush of anxiety. I was having trouble getting full breaths, and finally realized I was having a panic attack.

“Tanner, if he said that, helied. I didn’t see him tonight.”

His voice seemed so far away. Was he lying? Was Vance Lying? Anxiety jolted through me as my chest constricted even more. “Shit, I… I can’t breathe.”

Rex was beside me in an instant. “Put your head between your knees, Tanner.” His hand rested lightly on the back of my neck. “You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“Yeah. I… I think I am.” I did as he said, struggling to suck in air. Little stars flashed on the side of my vision as I fought to remain conscious. I felt nauseous, and even though I was suspicious of Rex, the sound of his deep, rumbling voice and the touch of his hand on my skin began to calm me. Instinctively, my inner omega responded to his alpha energy.

He rubbed my back gently as my breathing slowly returned to normal. My stomach was still unsettled, but the horrible panic was ebbing away. Once my breathing was under control, he had me lie down. He moved around to the otherside of the bed, and he joined me. He curled around me, wrapping me in his arms.

My eyes burned with unshed tears because it felt so good to be in his arms. I didn’t know what to think or what to believe, but his arms calmed me. He pressed his warm lips to the back of my neck, and a sense of peace washed through me.

“I wasn’t with Vance tonight, I swear,” he said softly.

I wanted to believe him, but Vance had seemed so confident earlier today when he tossed out that stuff about meeting up with Rex. “He said you were. Why would he lie?”

“You know why,” he said harshly. “He wants to cause trouble between us, Tanner. You must see that?”

“Or maybe he’s telling the truth,” I mumbled, “and you’re the one who’s lying.”

“Do you really believe that?” He sounded hurt. “Why would you believe Vance over me? Have I done anything to make you doubt my loyalty to you?”

“How would I know?”

He sighed. “Tanner, come on. This isn’t fair. I haven’t done a damn thing wrong. I don’t want Vance. I know that, deep down, you know that’s true. I just want to protect and take care of you and the baby.”

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