A Baby for Christmas by Ann-Katrin Byrde

Author:Ann-Katrin Byrde
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Kindle Unlimited
Published: 2017-11-26T05:00:00+00:00

11

Ben

"You looked depressed today," Lorene said, handing me another stack of papers to organize into our filing system at the shelter. We were doing good work here, really, but sometimes it was damn boring too.

"Relationship troubles," I waved her off, taking the papers and looking back at the computer on my desk. I'd picked the wrong words, though. Lorene grew even more interested in knowing what was wrong with me now.

"That's too bad," she said, coming around the desk, obviously hoping for some office gossip. "I didn't even know you were in a relationship."

"Actually, I'm not. It's complicated."

"I like complicated stories." She leaned against the desk, making herself comfortable. I wasn't gonna get rid of her, was I?

"Don't you have work to do?" I asked, making a show of looking at the excel table on my computer.

"It's quiet right now. Everyone's fed and happy. Even our newest problem case."

I swallowed as she mentioned 'our newest problem case.' Mitch Hastings had just come to us after escaping the exact same kind of domestic abuse I knew from home. He had a little one with him too, a cute girl only two years of age. I was glad he got out, but seeing these battered omegas always reminded me of my childhood.

In a way, that was good, though. I could never forget where I'd come from, what I'd seen, what I could never let myself become. "I'm glad he's doing well," I made myself say past the lump in my throat. Honestly, you'd think my time working here would have numbed me to the tragedies of omegas, but no.

"Yeah, he's adjusting well. But back to the topic at hand." She grinned at me. "Who are you dating?"

"I'm not dating anyone." And that was the problem, wasn't it? The omega I loved was already taken by someone else. I tried not to think about it day in day out, but it was impossible.

"You said you had relationship troubles."

I had said that, hadn’t I? I leaned back in my chair and ran my hands through my hair. "The omega I like is seeing someone else. That’s all. I’m sure it happens to all of us." Although, maybe not. Lorene was a beta. But I was sure there was some beta guy or girl out there who'd caused her heartache at some point.

"I see." She nodded thoughtfully. "Does this omega know how you feel about him?"

I licked my lips, letting my gaze roam the office as I thought about this. My eyes stuck on one of the many colorful drawings on the wall. Drawings given to us by the children we'd sheltered here. Children with parents like mine. "I suppose he knows," I found myself saying. "But he also knows that we wouldn't work out. It's all pointless really." Why couldn't my heart accept that fact? Why did I keep thinking about it?

"Why couldn't you work out?"

Should I tell her? Would she understand? "He wants children," I started. "And I... I really don't think I should have any.

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