Page 72 of Omega's Refuge

“Oh, god.” Panic washed over me and my body started trembling. There was no question the child was Steve’s, and that was an absolutedisaster. I couldn’t have his baby. I’d never be able to do it alone, and I sure as hell didn’t want anything to do with my ex.

“It’s okay.” She moved closer, looking worried. “Calm down. There are many options open to you. You could give the baby away for adoption, or you could terminate the pregnancy. There are also lots of groups now to assist pregnant, single omegas. There’s no need to be upset.” She glanced around nervously as if worried I was going to get her in trouble.

When Rex appeared in the doorway, I wanted to slide down and hide under the covers. Did he know about the pregnancy? His expression was blank so I couldn’t tell if he knew or not. As he approached the bed, his expression changed from casual to concerned as he took in my flustered demeanor.

“What’s wrong?” he demanded, moving to take my hand.

The nurse wailed, “I goofed up. He… he didn’t know he was pregnant.”

My face felt like it was on fire as Rex’s gaze shifted to mine. I expected him to drop my hand like a hot potato, but he didn’t. If anything, he held on tighter. “You didn’t know, Tanner?”

My lips moved but no sound came out.

“It just slipped out,” she cried. “I assumed he knew, but he didn’t. And then he got so upset, I realized what I’d done.”

He gave the nurse and impatient glance. “Can you give us a minute?”

“Absolutely.” She looked only too happy to have a reason to escape. She practically ran to the door, giving me a worried glance over her shoulder.

Once she was gone, Rex exhaled tiredly. “I’m so sorry you had to find out like that, Tanner. I assumed you knew already, but just weren’t saying anything to anyone.”

I swallowed hard. “No. I… they must be mistaken. I can’t be pregnant.”

He gritted his teeth. “I don’t think they’re wrong.” His thumb swept over my skin. “It’ll be—”

“Please don’t say it’ll be okay, Rex,” I growled, pulling my hand from his. “If I’m actually pregnant, it most definitely willnotbe okay.” I tried to sit up straighter, wincing when my injured arm throbbed painfully. “This can’t be happening. This absolutely can’t be happening.”

“It—” He grimaced. “You’re not alone, Tanner. Okay?”

I held his gaze, feeling like the world was ending. First a snake bite, now apregnancy? This was insanity. It just couldn’t be happening. The universe couldn’t be that cruel, right? There was no way the universe would allow Steve to get me pregnant, just as he abandoned me. That was too harsh.

“What am I going to do?” I whimpered, fear attacking me. “I… I can’t have a baby. I can barely afford to feed myself. I can’t pay for childcare, not with the kind of jobs I get. I’m ruined. This is an absolute nightmare.”

“I’ll help you if I can.” Rex shifted uneasily. “I swear, I’ll do whatever I can to help, okay?”

“What can you possibly do?”

He raked a hand through his hair. “I… I don’t know, but anything you need. I’ll be there. Just tell me what you need.”

“You don’t owe me that, Rex.” As much as I appreciated how he was trying to comfort me, my pregnancy wasn’t his problem. We hadn’t known each other long enough to impose on each other with something this serious.

“This isn’t about whether I owe you anything. I care about you and I want to help you if I can.”

“Nobody can help me. I… I have to terminate the pregnancy. That’s all there is to it.” I wasn’t in a position to have a child. Even if I were strong enough as a single omega to face the disapproval I’d surely get from our puritanical alpha-omega society, I couldn’t handle the financial responsibilities of a kid.

“If that’s what you want, then of course.” He rubbed my shoulder. “You don’t need to make a decision right this minute. You should think things over and decide when you’re feeling calmer.”

“There isn’t much to think over.” I blew out a shaky breath. “I… I can’t keep this baby.”

He hesitated. “Are you going to tell Steve? Perhaps he’d… step up and help you.”

I shuddered. “I don’t want to talk to him.” Guilt nudged me. “But… but maybe it’s the right thing to do? Should I tell him?”

“Whatever you think is best, Tanner,” he murmured. While his words were agreeable, he looked displeased.

“You don’t think I should tell him?”

“It’s possible he’d offer to help you with expenses. It’s the least he could do.” His mouth thinned. “But more likely he might use the pregnancy as a ploy to worm his way back into your life.”

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