Page 83 of Omega's Vengeance

“I do. I crave it constantly. Is it wrong of me to be Italian but be obsessed with Asian food?” I laugh, clipping my seatbelt in place. “I can’t seem to help myself. Nothing else satisfies me.”

“Nothing else?” he lifts one brow.

“I mean food wise.” I smile. “You satisfy me in other ways. And if I could only have sex with you or noodles, I’d pick the sex with you.”

He smirks. “I feel pretty special now. I know how much you love your noodles.” Dario closes my door. Once he’s behind the wheel, he says, “The important thing is that you eat nutritious food. It doesn’t matter what country the food is from.”

“In that case, take me to my noodles,” I say brightly.

“Yes, your highness.” Dario’s cheek curves in a smile as he pulls out onto the road. “Your wish is my command.”

Chapter Nineteen

(Six months into the pregnancy)

Dario

I’ve gone with Alessio to all of his doctor appointments. But the six-month checkup feels different somehow. It’s as if the weight of the upcoming arrival of our baby is settling more tangibly on both of us.

Dr. Martin enters the examination room with her usual warm smile. “How are you boys doing today?”

Alessio says, “I’m looking forward to not being pregnant. The baby can’t come soon enough.”

Dr. Martin laughs. “Yes about the six month mark most omegas are more than ready for it to be over.”

“Half the time he’s afraid of the birth part of things, and the other half he can’t wait for it to be over.” I grimace. “Which is the real Alessio?”

“They both are,” Dr. Martin says. “If I’m honest, pregnancy is a mixture of anticipation and dread.”

“You nailed it.” Alessio nods. “It’s like I can’t wait for the baby to arrive, but I also don’t want to go through giving birth.”

“That’s normal.” Dr. Martin studies her tablet as she speaks. “The rarity is an omega who can’t wait to give birth. It’s intimidating.” She smiles at Dario. “How are you holding up, Dario? Pregnancy isn’t exactly easy on the alpha either.”

“I’m okay.”

Alessio rolls his eyes. “How was it hard for the alpha? He doesn’t have swollen ankles and heartburn constantly.”

I frown. “I have stress about the pregnancy too. It’s my job to keep you safe, and I’m constantly worried about you and the baby. No, my ankles are swollen, but I do have indigestion a lot. I don’t know if it’s psychosomatic or what, but every meal gives me heartburn.”

Dr. Martin smiles. “You mustn’t negate the stress that your alpha is under, Alessio. He doesn’t have to give birth, but he’s still very much a part of this process. Dario isveryattentive. He’s one of the few alphas I’ve seen who accompanies his omega to every single appointment.”

Alessio looks sheepish. “Sorry.” He reaches out to me and I grab his hand. “I’m feeling grumpy because I feel fat, and swollen, and hungry, and sweaty. There’s a whole list. None of it good.”

I squeeze his hand. “Trust me, I know that you have a harder than me. I only mean that it hasn’t beeneasyfor me either. As an alpha, I’m used to being in control of everything. I have no control over anything when it comes to this pregnancy. That gives me a lot of anxiety.”

Alessio frowns. “Why didn’t you tell me any of this? You always act like you have everything under control. You never seem that worried to me.”

I laugh gruffly. “I didn’t want to burden you. You have it far worse than me. I’m supposed to be comforting you, not the other way around.”

“You can comfort each other.” Dr. Martin shrugs. “That’s what a healthy relationship is like. One partner shouldn’t do all the comforting.”

“From now on,” Alessio begins, “I want you to tell me when you’re feeling stressed.”

I wince. “I’ll try.” Talking about my feelings isn’t really my thing. I know that Alessio likes that, so I do try to share things with him if I’m feeling a certain way. However, when it comes to the pregnancy, I feel he’s burdened enough.

“Okay,” says Dr. Martin. “So, we know that you’re both feeling stressed emotionally, let’s see how you’re doing physically, Alessio.” She has Alessio lie down on the examination table, and she measures his stomach. “The size of your belly looks good.” She places her stethoscope against Alessio’s rounded belly. “Heartbeat is strong.” She gives a reassuring smile. “Everything is going smoothly.”

She goes to get the ultrasound machine, and she rolls it over to the examination table. “Today’s ultrasound should be a little more exciting than the first one. You should actually be able to see the baby this time.”

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