Page 14 of His Surrogate Omega

“No,” Jamie said with a wide smile. “It gives me something to look forward to. And in making such a grand plan, it has a sense of… continuity. I’m planning for my future, a future Iwillbe here to see.” Jamie smiled. “And in some ways, this plan has been ongoing for many years before now. I’ve tried myself so, so many times. Miscarriage after miscarriage… and then the cancer. They took my womb, it was filled with tumors.” Jamie paused, tears shining in his eyes. “I’ve wanted this for so long… to give my alpha the son he deserves.”

“Any alpha worth his salt wouldn’t put you through that stress,” Gray said. He’d seen good alphas. His father had been wonderful to his papa. Gilead had treated Silver like gold. He knew what to expect in his own, had he found one to cherish him. If Jamie’s alpha was pressuring for a family, perhaps this wasn’t the right couple.

Jamie smiled. “I love Rohan and want to provide the family he expected when we mated. He says it doesn’t matter… that he loves me and doesn’t care if we have a child. But itdoesmatter. It mattersto me. I want to know there’s something of that wonderful man to live on. I want to see his child…ourchild… grow up and be like his father. This world needs more men like him.”

Gray could see the desperation in Jamie’s eyes… and he understood it. Somewhat. He felt something akin to it now. A desperation to ensure the next generation lived on. For him, that was his brother’s children…

Also, he’d been brought up like any other omega. They’d been raised to be breeders, and the expectation to deliver was huge. Those who were unable to provide children for their alphas were looked down upon by society as a whole.

Just as those who were left unclaimed were looked down upon.

Jamie had the alpha Gray didn’t. Gray had the womb Jamie didn’t.

Added into the equation was that biology was beginning to take its toll on Gray. Their species was hardwired to mate and breed. Omegas went through heats, and alphas were drawn to them like moths to the flame. Gray’s body, after years of unfulfilled heats, was beginning to drive him mad.Heat Represswas only meant to be used a handful of years, until an omega had found their alpha and started a family. And then used in between children, until the childbearing years were over.

Nearly twenty years after his first heat, andHeat Represswas starting to fail him. If he didn’t have a child soon…

He might end up climbing the wall into the Alpha Quad and begging to be bred.

Gray reached over and took Jamie’s hand in his. The omega’s hand was cool to the touch when he squeezed it. He wanted to change the subject. Talk of better things than breeding and dying.Anythingwas better. “Where did you grow up?”

Jamie looked up from their bound hands and smiled softly at Gray. “The Berkshire neighborhood.”

“Oh really? Do you know Riley Haversham?”

“I went to school with his younger brother, Sydney.”

“Ah, so you must be a few years younger than me.” Gray hadn’t been sure. The ravaging of Jamie’s disease had made it harder to guess. “Riley and I went to art classes together at the Basin Community Center when I was younger.”

“Do you paint?”

“A little,” Gray answered. “Mostly sketches.”

“You any good?” Jamie asked with a grin.

Gray shrugged. “Not really. It’s just something to occupy my time.”

“I saw some of your work when researching you,” Tensen murmured. “It was beautiful. You have an amazing talent.”

Gray felt his face flame a bit. He wasn’t aware any of his work was accessible to the public. “Where?”

Tensen shrugged, evading the question.

“I’d love to see some of it someday,” Jamie said, giving Gray’s hand a squeeze.

“Maybe,” Gray answered.

They spent the rest of the hour talking about their shared likes, dislikes, and by the end of the meeting, Gray felt a bit of a bond forming with Jamie. He liked the man very much…

But there was still a dark cloud lingering above them.

“Well, I believe this was a good start,” Tensen said with a smile. “Perhaps we can schedule a meeting soon with Rohan?”

“My alpha,” Jamie added with a soft smile. “I think you’ll love him.”

Gray nodded. What would it hurt to get the introduction out of the way? He still wasn’t completely settled on being Jamie’s surrogate considering the health issues, but he was willing to continue the conversation. If Jamie’s alpha rubbed him the wrong way, then it would be easier to know that sooner than later. Before he grew any closer to Jamie. “Sure.”

The smile that blossomed across Jamie’s pale face was lovely.

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