Page 17 of Untamed Omega (One Wild Alpha #2)

Markus

I had to turn around and hold in my smile as Sam’s belly bumped against our table filled with glass bottles and droppers, along with all kinds of jars.

As his belly grew, he asserted his balance went out the window and that gravity had a personal vendetta against him. “I swear, Markus, if you are laughing…”

He was joking, of course, but that triggered me. “I wasn’t laughing until you said that.”

“But you were smiling. I know you.” He had gained weight.

He glowed now. There were still scars on the inside and outside, some he would have forever, but he was healing.

Every day he got a little bit better. His eyes shone with a bit more happiness.

At night, he spoke to our babe and told them that they would be the most loved baby in the world.

He wasn’t wrong.

“Sam, I’m sorry. You’re too adorable for your own good. Trying to help out and learn new things while maneuvering a changing body. I’m not making fun of you. I’m happy because you’re mine.”

“Ugh, stop saying sweet things while I’m aggravated.”

“How about we take a break?” I asked. While he was still healing, he was also growing a babe inside him.

“A break would be nice.”

We stepped away from the worktable and sat on the couch I’d picked up in town. My mate needed places to rest. Some days were better than others, but as his pregnancy progressed, he would likely become more tired. Eat more. Would need more cuddles and hugs.

All of which I was game for.

Before Sam sat down, he grabbed his pre-made snack box from the lunch bag Rob packed for him every morning.

The first time he’d done that, I said nothing.

Rob shrugged it off. One day I asked him, and he said it was all he could do to help.

He wished he had an omega and if he did, that’s how he would want them treated.

He was a good guy. His mouth was not so good.

“How is the tea blend coming along?” I asked.

Sam was working on a tea to help with his anxiety and maybe the anxiety of others.

It included chamomile, valerian, and lemongrass, but he constantly read about and explored more things to make it better.

He was a fast learner and wanted to be of real help to our community.

“I think it’s going well. I gave some to Kellan, and he said it helped him to get to sleep faster. Of course, I won’t be able to try it myself until our little one comes along.”

I reached over to rub circles along his belly. Our little one was kicking on and off but kicked the most when his omega daddy was trying to get some sleep at night. I was thankful Sam had only gotten a touch of food aversion and in the meantime, there were plenty of nourishing things he could eat.

Sometimes, I looked at him and couldn’t believe my luck. Maybe, somewhere along the line, I’d done something to have Fate smile on me once more. I didn’t appreciate the way it happened, but we were stronger for it. Mostly my Sam. He was the strongest person I knew.

“That and the milk tea,” I said.

“Yes, that too. I should be doing more research but I’m tired today.” He leaned over, having finished his snacks.

“We have about an hour before lunch, and you’ve done a lot today. How about you take a nap?”

He groaned. Nap was once his favorite word but, somewhere along the line, he’d equated it with being lazy. “Not a nap.”

“Omega mine, you have to keep your strength up for our baby and yourself. Believe it or not, you’re still very much healing. I feel so guilty that you got pregnant while you were still getting better.”

“You weren’t the only one there, Markus. You have a habit of blaming yourself for everything.”

“Me?” I laughed. “Never.”

“Right.” Sam sighed. “I’m actually not going to argue any more. I could really use a nap.”

I walked with him to the bed, and it took everything in me not to join him.

But I had things to do. We had a new person coming in almost every week.

Our supplies had to always be stocked. We were always ready.

Locke wanted everyone who came here to be safe and well taken care of.

And the last two that did were two of our mates.

That made our mission that more important to all of us.

“Stay with me,” Sam said, his lovely lip pouted out.

“I have things to do, mate.”

“We lost so much time, Markus. Please. I want to spend every moment with you that I can. Just thirty minutes, I promise.”

How could I say no? I couldn’t.

I climbed into the bed behind him and wrapped him up in my arms. Holding him here, where he was safe and sound, was the best place in the world. When we found each other again, I thought maybe he would want to leave—to find a new place of our own, but he’d also found a home here and with me.

There wasn’t a day that went by that I didn’t offer my thanks to the Goddess. Finding my omega again was a blessing I didn’t deserve, but I sure as hell would try.