Page 76 of His Surrogate Omega

Jamie shook his head. “I just…”I cannot tell him.“I knew I couldn’t give you what you needed. I wanted to find someone who could.”

Rohan stared at him, his face swirling with a myriad of emotions. After a moment, he reached for Jamie.

Jamie backed away.

He’d sacrifice his own happiness… and a little of Rohan’s now… because later…

Later Rohan might need to find love again.

Without me.

Chapter Twenty

A day later…

In the late afternoon, Rohan pulled into the drive behind the long black car that had arrived moments before him. Even though it was still early, the weather and the season brought darkness early. The sky was a dark, dove-gray and looked like another snow might fall soon. Rohan watched as Jamie stepped from the backseat, oblivious he was there for a moment. Steam swirled around his mouth, the air so cold. Part of Jamie’s face was cast in shadow, but even so, Rohan could see something weighed on his omega.

Would he even tell me if I asked?

Just as he pulled his long coat a bit tighter around him, Jamie lifted his stare and saw Rohan behind the wheel. A forced smile came seconds later and filled Rohan with dread. He’d seen a look similar to that once before… a dread-filled glance that had been the start down a long, dark, and winding path. A little voice screamed for him to back out and leave. Go back to the office. Anything, to avoid hearing more bad news.

Maybe I’m the bad news.

Or maybe I can be his salvation… if he’d let me.

One way or another, he wouldn’t leave Jamie to shoulder whatever it was alone. Rohan shifted into park and turned off the engine as the thought he might be the one bringing pain to Jamie made it harder to breathe. Climbing from behind the wheel, he watched his omega closely. The driver of the car pulled on through the semi-circular drive and exited their property, leaving them alone.

The cold made things quieter, the hush a calm before the storm. Jamie looked as if he wanted to say something. He opened his mouth, the words appearing not to come. After a few seconds, he closed his mouth, a look of resignation on his face.

“What’s wrong?”

That forced smile was unrelenting. Jamie shivered some and drew his coat tighter around him. “Nothing’s wrong.”

The snow that had threatened began to fall. Tiny flakes appeared in the air around them. He drew his briefcase from the car and closed the door.

“I know your looks. Something’s wrong.”

Jamie shook his head. “You’re being paranoid.” He backed up a step and pivoted. As he walked toward the house, he tossed over one shoulder. “You’d best go get ready for supper. Papa’s already called, asking if we were on our way.”

Rohan closed his eyes. The last thing he was in the mood for was dealing with Jamie’s family. It was bad enough he had to deal with them on and off through the day in the office. He’d spent most of his afternoon avoiding Wilder’s evil glares as it was. It would be harder directly across the table from them all.

And if Wynter and Warden had learned what had happened, he’d never hear the end of it.

He followed Jamie inside and lowered his briefcase as soon as he was inside. It was silent within—almost as silent as the snow falling outside. He looked around the darkened interior—only a few shafts of low light came in through the shuttered windows. The house was an empty shell. It had once held so much promise, but now… now it was a reminder of all his failures.

Once Jamie had ascended, Rohan climbed the carpeted stairs, the thick padding muffling his steps and adding to the disquiet of the place.

He entered their bedroom…

And noticed something wasoff.

Glancing around the room, he realized Jamie’s belongings were…gone. Pain slammed into him as he searched the room. Tugging drawer after drawer… all in vain. They were all empty.

He stalked over to Jamie’s closet and flung open the door.

Empty.

Rohan swallowed past the lump in his throat. His knees weakened before he leaned against the doorframe to catch his breath. Rage flew into him… and he wanted to race through the house and scream his head off.

---