Page 158 of His Reluctant Omega

“No… they said it was someone named Vera?”

“Vero.” Avery winced.

“From what I’ve been told, Vero went into a manic episode. He’s supposedly been there for some time and has been incapable of carrying a child. He was trying to…steal ours.”

Avery’s hand went to his belly. Panic hit. He’d not wanted a child, but the thought of losing the babe they’d made together devastated him. “The baby?”

“Is fine. The doctors say he missed the vital organs.” Wilder squeezed his hand and smiled softly. “You don’t know how happy I am to see you awake.”

“How… how long?”

“It’s been three days,” Wilder answered.

Avery caressed his alpha’s cheek, the beard growth scratching his palm. “I like this…”

Wilder kissed the inside of his palm before turning and allowing Avery to stoke the beard again.

“Have you… have you… been here? All three days?”

Wilder smiled. “Nowhere else I’d be but at your side.”

A nurse appeared, opening the curtain some. “Did I hear voices in here?” The man smiled. “Avery… that was a close call. I’m glad you’re awake now.”

Avery didn’t recognize the nurse. “Where’s Dr. Middleton?”

“We had you transferred to the hospital. The clinic wasn’t prepared for the surgery you needed to repair the damage,” Wilder mentioned.

“I’m… not in prison?”

“Nope,” the nurse said, checking Avery’s vitals. “No prison for you, young man.” He moved the sheets and blanket back. “I need to check these wounds of yours.”

Avery got the first peek at the damage that had been done. Stitches zig-zagged his stomach. “Looks… looks bad.”

“Looks worse than it is, thankfully,” the nurse said. “A lot more rest and some TLC will get you back up on your feet in no time.”

“How long?” Avery whispered, his eyelids growing heavy. “Before I have to go back?”

“You don’t,” Wilder murmured, squeezing his hand. “You’re a free man.” He glanced at the wounds.“Relatively.”

“Free?” he asked, his lids closing.

“We’ll talk about it once you wake up again, baby.”

“No,” Avery said, forcing his eyes open. “I’m free?”

Wilder grinned. “Tensen and Rohan submitted an emergency plea to the Tribunal to have you removed from the prison. You still need to appear before them, but they have postponed the date until you’re in better shape. Until then, they have placed you in my care.”

Avery’s lids closed some, but he flipped them open. “Given to my alpha, hmm?”

“Given the circumstances and your need for care, I made an executive decision. You can be angry with me later.”

“Okay. I will,” Avery murmured lowly before drifting back into the peacefulness of sleep.

* * *

Wilder smiledas his omega slept again. At least he had the peace of knowing Avery had pulled through and regained consciousness. After a few phone calls informing the attorneys and family that Avery had woken and seemed clear-minded, he caught up on some work. He’d set up a desk of sorts within Avery’s room—not that he’d gotten much work done over the past days. With Avery appearing to be in the clear, he was more comfortable focusing on a few tasks. Using his laptop, he was staying abreast of emails and other communications… and spotted an urgent message from his assistant.

“An emergency board meeting has been called. You need to get here as soon as possible.”

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