Page 36 of I Replaced His Husband
Still, funny thing, Kay didn’t have the slightest problem with it, but there were other people who clearly did, so for their sake, I added, this time in a more formal tone.
"I accidentally overheard your conversation. It wasn’t exactly quiet, and what stood out to me was the lack of regard for Kay’s choices. His body is his own, and his decisions are final. He’s been through enough already. I’m here to ease the burden on him, not replace anyone. Just to be there for a friend and his family through a difficult time."
I surprised even myself with how clearly that came out. But if I had hoped it would settle the matter, I was mistaken.
Then the gray-haired omega spoke, unimpressed and blunt. "Young man, you clearly have no idea what kind of bond forms during pregnancy. So maybe you're sincere when you say you’re not trying to take someone’s place, but it’s as naive as what Kay was saying earlier. You have no clue how strong what’s happening between you two really is."
"Whatever’s happening between us, like you said, it’s between us," I replied, putting emphasis on the words. "I’m only here because Kay asked me to be. I’ll follow his wishes. If he wants me to leave, I’ll go. If he wants me to stay, I’ll stay. Butwhile I’m here, I know what my job is as an alpha: keep him safe, and make sure his stress doesn’t get any worse."
I looked over at Kay. His face was completely pink now. Maybe even yesterday, he’d still have scolded me for jumping in like that, but something had changed. Especially right now, when he just wanted them gone, I was the perfect excuse to make it happen.
Danny Sanders smirked a little.
"That’s a noble thing to say. It’s a nice quality in an alpha, especially one around a pregnant omega." His tone was laced with sarcasm. "But it all sounds very idealistic. Don’t take it the wrong way, but we don’t know you. And two months after losing our only son, you show up in Kay’s life while he’s carrying our grandchild. Can you really blame us for being cautious?"
It was almost funny how he tried to mirror my tone, formal and assertive, like he wanted to meet me on my level.
I took a deep breath, glancing at the young omega. Kay’s shoulders were drawn in tight; his whole body radiated stress. I didn’t want things to get even more heated, so I tried to meet them halfway, to show some empathy.
"I get it," I said. "I’m not here to cause trouble or stir anything up between us. I really do understand where you're coming from. And I’m concerned about Kay, too. I’ve been friends with Adam for years and I care about his family. This time is difficult, but every decision Kay’s made so far has been with that child’s well-being in mind. He’s put the baby first, even when it meant making things so difficult for himself. His sacrifice deserves respect. I know from Adam how much courage it took for Kay to ask for help in such a vulnerable moment. He’s not doing anything wrong. He just needs support, not judgment."
I felt Kay’s eyes on me again, but I stayed focused on getting my message across. His energy had shifted; he seemed… amazed, somehow.
The old alpha frowned. "We’re not saying Kay did anything wrong. Just… controversial. We know he wants what’s best for the child. But we’re not sure every other option was explored. We have the money. We could’ve helped him find other specialists, people who work with pregnant omegas who’ve lost a partner."
Adam jumped in right away. "We did look into it, John. For weeks, Marco and I spent all our time digging through articles, books, anything we could find. Online, in libraries. This wasn’t a rushed choice. Dr. Johnson supported it. This is the natural way, and nature knows best. No artificial method or hormone substitute could replace what Rain offers."
It sounded kind of weird that we were all talking about my involvement here as if it were shares in a company, some kind of business, while what I was actually ‘offering’ was basically my dick, making the euphemisms we used, at a certain level, downright comical.
"For his physical health, sure. But what about his mental state?" Danny asked, fingers fidgeting nervously. "Kay lost his husband two months ago. That kind of sudden shift can’t be easy. Bonding with a stranger… it’s overwhelming. You all keep saying you don’t want him stressed, but I really doubt he’s been shielded from it as much as you think."
It was hard to disagree with that, no matter how much I wanted to dismiss all of the Sanderses’ observations, but that part of their point was valid. Everyone knew that this was a difficult situation.
This time Marco stepped in. "I’ve worried about that too. I know neither Kay nor Rain are casual about things like this. But we’re choosing to trust Nature. If Kay gets stronger physically,we think his emotional well-being will follow. Believe me, we consulted several specialists. They all said the same. That’s why we brought Rain in. If there had been a better option, we would’ve taken it."
Silence fell over the room. Kay’s in-laws looked between Adam and Marco, still skeptical, but they could see we weren’t backing down, and neither was Kay.
Finally, Danny stood up slowly. "Well, we don’t have much choice but to wait and see how this… therapy turns out. We really do hope it goes well. But we’d appreciate more detailed updates about Kay’s health moving forward. We care about him deeply."
Adam nodded. "Of course. Sorry we’ve been vague. We were stuck in a tough spot and needed time to figure things out. Now that everything’s a bit more settled, we’ll keep you in the loop."
Danny walked up to Kay, sat down next to him, and wrapped an arm around his shoulders.
"Kay, take care of yourself, okay? And don’t hesitate to reach out if anything comes up. We're really on your side. Everything we said today came from a place of concern."
"I understand and appreciate that," Kay replied curtly.
John got up too and stepped toward Kay, but I moved slightly forward, just one step. I didn’t do anything more. It was small and, honestly, kind of irrational, but it was enough to make John pause. He only extended a hand toward Kay, watching me… watch him.
"I wish you the best, truly. Hopefully, this all ends well and we’ll owe you an apology."
Kay just nodded.
A minute later, the Sanderses said their goodbyes and left the house. Marco walked them to the driveway.
Adam, Kay, and I stayed behind in the living room. I immediately went over to the omega, taking the chance to sitbeside him on the couch. I didn’t touch him, though the urge was strong. I just wanted him to feel my support without words.
He was hunched over, looking miserable. I closed my eyes for a second and did something even stranger. I tried to send him a wave of positive energy.
