Page 90 of Omega's Refuge

It took everything I had not to react to what he’d just said. Was that true? Were Rex and him meeting up later? Rex hadn’t said a word about that. Had Vance just said that to rattle me? Feeling flustered, I kept my face expressionless as the clerk went around the counter to the cash register.

“Let’s see.” She pulled out an invoice book. “I see here you’ve already paid in advance, so you’re all set, Mr. Smyth.” She pushed the box andcanvases across the counter toward me. “Do you need help carrying this to your car?”

“Nah, I’ve got it. I appreciate the offer, though.”

“You bet. You have a good rest of your day.”

“Thanks. You too.” Being careful about my bandaged hand, I moved to grab the box, tucking the canvases under my arm. As I headed toward the door, I felt robotic. The things Vance had said were swirling in my mind.

Once outside, I walked straight to the truck and put the supplies in the back, all the while seething. It was possible Vance might be watching me from somewhere on the street, and I wasn’t going to give him the pleasure of knowing he’d upset me.

I covered the supplies with a tarp, and got in the truck, my mind racing with confusing thoughts. Was Vance making shit up, or was Rex actually having drinks with him tonight? Why wouldn’t Rex have mentioned that to me? He’d said he had to have dinner with the guests, and then he’d have to tend bar. He’d made no mention of meeting up with his ex-lover. In fact, Rex had invited me to join him for dinner tonight. Would he have done that if he was going out with Vance later?

Vance is bitter. He’s lying. Don’t believe him.

While all of that was indeed true, it was hard to shake the suspicions that ate at me. After all,maybe Rex didn’t see anything wrong with grabbing drinks with his old pal because it was harmless. But it felt strange that he wouldn’t have mentioned it earlier. He could easily have brought it up when we were moving our stuff into our cabin. Why hide it?

I started the engine and pulled out onto Main Street, my stomach churning from the encounter I’d just had with Vance. My instinct was to dismiss Vance’s anger and jealousy and trust Rex. But it bothered me that Vance seemed to feel so betrayed. If Rex had been honest with him from the start, why was Vance so antagonistic? Had Rex led him on and made promises? Vance wasn’t acting like a casual, no-strings-attached lover—he was acting like someone who felt jilted. Used.

I gripped the steering wheel, wondering if I should bring any of this up to Rex. I didn’t want to come off like I was accusing him of anything, but I would feel hurt if he was meeting Vance in secret. Especially on the first night in our new home together. That seemed unusually thoughtless for Rex.

I arrived at the ranch and noticed the guests were assembled outside. Rex and Seth were unsaddling horses, so the group must have just returned from a ride. Rex had his back to me, which I was glad of. I was still confused and flustered by my run-in with Vance. Since Rexhadn’t seen me, I was able to grab my art supplies and make my escape.

Thankfully, our new cabin was on the side of the ranch where the staff cabins were. That meant I didn’t have to pass Rex and the others, and was able to get back to the cabin without running into anyone. Once inside the cabin, I dropped the supplies on the ground and sat on the couch.

I didn’t know what to think about what Vance had said, but I wasn’t going to bother Rex when he was working. That meant I had no way of figuring anything out on my own. All I could really do was stew as Vance’s poisonous words gnawed at my confidence.

I got up and took my art supplies into my studio, then I sat on the floor with my back against the wall. I stared out the window as the sun lowered in the sky. I stayed where I was as the room darkened, feeling confused and worried. My mind drifted to the photo Rex had kept of Vance and him together. Why had he put that photo in with his special family photos? If things were just casual between them, why keep that picture in his little treasure box?

If Rex didn’t come home at a reasonable hour, did I even have the right to be upset? We weren’t a normal couple. Our situation had come about out of necessity. Rex had offered to claim me because of the unexpected pregnancy. Was it really my place to make demands on Rex?

I wasn’t sure if I should just keep quiet about running into Vance, or if I should confront Rex about the things Vance had said. Maybe Rex would resent being questioned. What if it led to a huge fight and he decided he didn’t want to claim me after all? I’d be back to square one: pregnant, alone, and unable to get the abortion I needed.

I’d told Rex that I trusted him, but my belief in him had been shaken too easily for that to be true. I felt flustered and insecure. Perhaps Vance was only bitter and aggressive toward me because Rex had deceived and used him. Maybe Rex planned on doing that with me too, but I was too clueless to see he was playing me.

Maybe the plain truth was that no alpha could or should be trusted.

Chapter Sixteen

I ended up going to bed early. After my run-in with Vance, I wasn’t feeling great physically or emotionally. I just wanted to bury my head under the covers and fall into a deep sleep. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to drift off. I was too wound up worrying about the future.

I was still unsure if I should I confront Rex, or just let things lie. If I challenged him about meeting up with Vance tonight, we might get in a huge fight. Things might blow up in my face, and I’d once more be back in a vulnerable position; pregnant and alone.

But part of me really didn’t want to keep my mouth shut. I’d put up with way too much from Steve. I’d ignored my feelings and suspicions just so I could play it safe. That hadn’t worked out, so maybe it was better to challenge Rex about his relationship with Vance. But, did I have the right to say I didn’t want him hanging out with his ex-lover? Was that fair of me to ask that of him? After all, they’d know each other longer than I’d known Rex. I was the interloper

When I heard the key in the lock, my heart began to race. I glanced at the clock taking in the time of 12:30 a.m. My heart beat even faster when Rex stealthily entered the bedroom. He moved quietly, which might have simply been becausehe didn’t want to disturb me. But feeling paranoid, I had to wonder if he was being considerate, or hoping to avoid a confrontation because of the late hour.

I once more wrestled with whether I should pretend to be asleep, or address the things that were eating me alive. In the end I decided getting answers meant more to me than protecting my pride. I sat up and turned on the bedside light, and he froze near the closet.

“You’re awake,” he said, looking surprised. “I’m sorry. Did I wake you? I tried to be quiet.”

“I was already awake.” I studied him, searching for any sign of shame or deceit. I didn’t see anything, but for all I knew he was a great liar. I barely knew him, which was part of the problem.

“Sorry I’m so late.” He smiled at me, but when I didn’t smile back, he frowned. “Are you upset with me?”

I wasn’t comfortable being too surly or accusing him of cheating on me. I opted for a more passive approach to figure out what he’d been up to. “You’re a lot later than I thought you’d be.” I made sure my tone was neutral. “I expected you way earlier.”

He sighed and began unbuttoning his shirt. “Yeah, I know. I’m really sorry. I planned on getting back much sooner. The guests are a lively group and they didn’t want to go to bed.At leastthey all get along, which is a relief.” He glanced at me. “How was your evening?”

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