Page 77 of His Surrogate Omega

He wanted to roar against the dying of their love.

He wanted things to be like they’d once been, long before chemo and surrogates and emptiness. Once he was sure he had better control of his emotions, he exited the room and stood in the dark hallway. He listened for sounds and then followed it toward one of the guest bedrooms. When he walked in, he saw Jamie buttoning a long tunic.

One the same shade as his eyes.

Rohan looked about the bedroom—decked out with Jamie’s things.

“Don’t you think we should’ve discussed this?” he asked, desperately attempting to control the tenor of his voice. He didn’t want to argue. Nor did he want Jamie to know just how much he’d been hurt.

Jamie’s head whipped up. He lifted his chin and looked completely unaffected… if not for the slight wobble of his chin. “You said you’d give me the space I need.”

His hands fisted at his sides as he roared. “Thisisn’twhat I meant!”

Jamie’s eyes widened, and he stepped back, looking afraid.

The anger leeched from him with that look. He’d never harmed his omega…neverwould. Jamie had to know that. Didn’t he?

Jamie cocked his head to the side and smiled faintly. “Thisis what I need. You said you would give me what I need. Please… tell me you meant it.”

Rohan stood there, unsure of what to say. Hehadpromised that, but he’d never imagined his omega would resort to moving out of their bedroom.

More distance.

The ache inside was almost too much for him to bear.

“Now go get freshened up. We should already be on the way.”

“Should I even bother going?” Rohan spat. A hurt look crossed Jamie’s face, and he felt both joy and shame in it. He himself was in pain. He shouldn’t stoop so low as to cause it, too. They both deserved better than that, but it was hard not to lash out when he felt powerless to stop the madness.

“I already told them you were coming, but I suppose I can make up some excuse as to why you’re not there.”

Rohan was torn in two. He didn’t want to go and play the doting husband when he wasn’t allowed to be one in reality. Yet the thought of forcing Jamie to face a night alone with his parents didn’t sit well, either.The farce, it is.

“Give me a moment… I’ll be ready to go shortly.”

He spun and headed for his bedroom. Once inside, he hated how hollow and empty it felt. All the life had been sucked from it. Rohan sat on the edge of the bed, hands on his knees, and fought the tears that threatened to come.

He felt completely lost.

And he had no idea how to get them back to the way things were.

* * * *

A secret withheld…

Tell him.

Jamie turned his gaze from the passenger window to stare at Rohan’s profile. Even in the near dark, his alpha was handsome. Square chin… firm lips… strong jaw. A smile came to his lips as he remembered the first time he’d seen Rohan. Across the huge ballroom, he’d spied his mate a good head and shoulders over the other alphas in attendance.

Rohan hadn’t looked like he wanted to be there. His stare had scanned the place, as if he was searching for a way out. Jamie had gotten an image of a captive panther in his mind, pacing along the bars, back and forth. How Rohan had projected that kind of caged torment, he still wasn’t sure, but he’d sensed it all the same.

When their gazes had met, Rohan had visibly relaxed.

For a few seconds.

And then there had been a ruthless look that had come to the alpha’s eyes that had both scared and excited him to no end. Breathless, he’d stood frozen as his panther had stalked across the ballroom and held out his hand.

The minute they touched, Jamie had known. This was his mate. The man he’d die loving.

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