Page 27 of Saving Nevin
“He told me that his Alpha took him to a specialist. They ran a bunch of tests and did ultrasounds and found that his womb was disfigured. He can’t physically carry a baby.”
My sister stared at me for a long while after I finished, chewing on her bottom lip. She reached out and grabbed the blanket Nevin had wrapped himself up in this morning, drawing the fabric to her nose.
“Hesmellsdifferent, Kace,” she said finally, shaking her head. “You say it’s a false pregnancy, but I don’t think so. When did his symptoms first start?”
“A couple of weeks ago. It started with morning sickness.”
“And did you have him take a pregnancy test?”
I nodded. “Yeah, he’s taken two. Both positive, but he swears up and down that it’s his body playing tricks on him.” Sadness tugged at my heartstrings for my mate. “It’s really eating him up inside. He said that it’s happened to him before, when he was surrounded by the other Omegas in his pack who were expecting.”
She tutted softly. “I think maybe you should see a doctor, just to rule out any possible hormonal irregularities. That is,ifhe’s not pregnant.” Her golden eyes softened. “I really feel like he is, Kace. Take it from another Alpha; I might not have kids of my own yet, but I know Omegas and yours is most definitely pregnant.”
I was pretty sure that taking Nevin to see another doctor would only make his depression worse, especially if they confirmed what we already knew, what he’d been insisting on since we met. But… What if they were wrong? What if hewaspregnant? What then?
Tasha must’ve sensed my hesitation, because she patted my knee and stood. “Think about it, would you? I’ll text you Dr. Rinehold’s number and I want you to really consider giving her a call. At least set up an appointment for an ultrasound. Rule out the possibility, you know?”
“Thanks, Tash,” I said, walking her to the door. “I’ll try.”
For the rest of the day, the possibilities of Nevin actually being pregnant swirled around in my head, until it was all I could think about.
I envisioned a beautiful little girl with dark hair and blue eyes, cradled in the arms of my mate. Nevin’s smile beaming brighter than the sun as he hugged her close. Our laughter as we walked together, with our daughter swinging between us, giggling up a storm. It made me ache in a way I had never felt before.
What if. What if. What if.
That evening, I decided to bring it up.
“Hey, Nev?”
“Mmm…”
“What if youarepregnant. What then?”
Nevin’s smile fell. He dropped his gaze, and I could practically see him shutting down on the inside. “Kace, I told you. Ican’tbe pregnant. I saw doctors. I even went to a specialist. They said I’d never carry a child.”
“But what if you are?” I insisted. “What would you do?”
His bottom lip began to wobble as tears filled his eyes. “I-I don’t know… I’ve wanted a baby since I was old enough to be mated off. Seeing all the other Omegas with their newborns ripped my heart out every time I failed to conceive. It hurts to even think about.” He looked up at me with sadness written all over his face. “Why?”
“Tasha thinks you’re pregnant,” I said. “She gave me the number of a doctor she trusts. I’ve been thinking about what she said all day and I really feel like we should go see her, run some tests. At the very least, rule out the possibility, you know? Just in case? And if you’re right and you’re barren, then maybe she could put you on hormones or a heat blocker or something? Because it’s killing me to see you so sad, Nev.”
He sniffled, but he didn’t say no. Sighing softly, he rested his head against my shoulder. “Okay,” he whispered. “I-I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for,” I told him, kissing the top of his head. “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
20
NEVIN
I hadto give Kace credit—he was steadfast, at my side through it all. Every morning when I puked, like clockwork, Kace was there to hold back my hair and offer me a cool washcloth. Every time I burst into tears over something so stupidly small, he was there to comfort me, to dry my face and tell me stories about his family to give my mind something else to latch onto.
I honestly didn’t know how I got so lucky, but I thanked the heavens every day I woke up next to my Alpha.
Which is why I agreed to go see Dr. Rinehold. Kace seemed so determined to prove to me something I knew couldn’t possibly be true. My womb was disfigured. Rex took me to one of the top specialists in the state. They told me that surgery wouldn’t fix it, that I was simply a barren Omega.
It hurt, and I knew it would hurt even more when this doctor told Kace exactly what I’d been telling him this whole time. This was just another false pregnancy. I was not pregnant. But I couldn’t deny the hope in his eyes or his “what ifs” anymore, even if the pain was eating away at my soul.
Once Kace saw, once and for all, that I was barren… Would he leave?
