Page 103 of His Surrogate Omega

“A barest hint of something… but easily controlled. No wetness, no readying to be taken.Noneof it.”

“That’samazing. Why don’t they allow omegas to use this?”

“Dr. Conover says it’s a means of control. If omegas could choose when they got pregnant, and by who, then the birth rates might drop even more. That and the fact that alphas like power. Omegas might demand more freedoms if they weren’t slaves to their sex drive. It would effectively destroy the systems in place—and the governmentdoesn’twant that to happen. It would be anarchy.”

Anarchy.Gray sighed. While he hated the way things were, he knew there was danger in trying to create change. Avery was walking a thin line… and had two young wards to consider, too. Gray already had enough to worry about as it was. He reached for his stomach, an ache forming. “Just promise me you’ll be careful and not get yourself into trouble.”

“I can only promise so much,” Avery said with a glittery smile.

The buzzer for the oven went off, and after Avery took the lasagna out, he walked next door to collect his brothers. Gray set the table and awaited the reaction from the youngest in his family to his new appearance.

He chuckled as they both came into the dining room and froze in place, eyes wide.

“You, too?” Lake said before sliding a hand down his own braid. A smile then formed on his face. “I want to cut mine.”

“No!” both Avery and Gray said at the same moment.

“But why not? If you both did it, I should be allowed to, as well.”

“You’re too young to make a decision like that,” Gray said. “If you still feel the same way when you’re older, then you can do what you will.”

“It’s not fair!” Lake cried.

“Life isn’t fair,” Gray spat. “It’s best you learn that lesson sooner versus later.”

Lake scowled at him before stalking to the table and dropping into one of the chairs.

“While you’re over there, you might as well help finish making the table,” Avery said while checking the lasagna.

“I hate it here!” Lake spat before rising… and setting the table.

Auggie quietly went to help his brother, looking quite confused.

“I see Lake’s good mood was short lived,” Avery whispered when Gray neared.

“Teenaged moods are mercurial, at best. I remember some of the horror stories your papa told me about you at that age.”

“I wasneverthat bad,” Avery whispered hotly.

Gray chuckled. “Maybe. Maybe not.”

Avery looked aghast.

Of course, he hadn’t been. But now he was creating new issues with his youthful optimism and progressive ideals. Gray clutched his aching stomach again.

Avery eyed him, his smile fading. “Everything alright?”

Gray nodded. “Just worry catching up to me. I’ll be fine.”

He sure as hell hoped he’d be fine.

The doubts began as the pains continued.

Chapter Twenty-Four

The following day…

Jamie sat in the oversized chaise in his new bedroom, curled up in a blanket. A different nurse had arrived that morning, not Jefre, and the beta wasn’t as pleasant as the other man. He’d already been overly rough with Jamie while helping him dress and clean up first thing. And instead of taking him downstairs like he’d asked, the nurse had just sat him on the chaise in his bedroom.

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