Chapter Eighteen

Tate

I filled out as many job applications as I could. Everything from home improvement stores to grocery stores and even some restaurants. Bronson encouraged me to go back to school and someday I would, but in the meantime, while I was still taking control of my life, I wanted a paycheck of my own. My mate said every cent of my money would belong to me, whereas his would be shared between us but it didn’t seem fair.

I wanted to buy him gifts and surprise him with things and not from his paycheck or put it on his credit card.

That afternoon, I cleaned the house as best I could, but Bronson kept things in their place and so, the keeping up with it took up less than thirty minutes. He told me I didn’t have to do that either. He would take care of everything.

But being in this house got boring sometimes.

My new phone rang in my pocket, making me jump a mile high. I still wasn’t used to answering a phone where I knew the person on the other end wouldn’t scream at me.

“Hello, mate.”

He rumbled deep in his chest. “Hello to you. What are you up to?”

“I cleaned and applied for thirteen dozen jobs. Other than that, nothing.”

“Have you eaten? You haven’t been eating enough lately?”

I laughed. “Are you worried about me?”

“I am. You’ve been nauseated a lot and you skipped breakfast this morning even though it was your favorite French toast sticks.”

Sighing, I felt my chest warm at how sweet and caring my mate was. “I’m fine. I’m about to eat something now.”

“Good. I’ll be able to leave here in a few hours. You and I still have a date tonight?”

“Yes. Of course.”

“Excellent. Go eat, please.”

I giggled. “Yes, Daddy.”

I gathered up my new wallet and phone and tucked them into my jacket before walking out the front door. My gaze scanned my surroundings and when Bronson asked if I would agree to have a location tracker on my phone, I agreed. He didn’t care where I went, but if my ex showed up and tried to do something, Bronson would be able to find me. He even brought me to the police station to file a report. They wouldn’t give me a restraining order because I didn’t have any proof, but they knew who he was and that he was after me.

Or was.

I had no idea if Ryder was still tracking me or trying to find me. Hopefully he moved on. Not to another omega. Maybe to some serious counseling.

The corner store a few blocks down offered the best steak sandwich, and all my wolf wanted was meat lately but when I walked in, the smells instantly turned me off.

“Excuse me,” someone said and walked by me with a newborn in one of those fabric carriers strapped to their front.

That was when it all hit me.

The exhaustion.

The nausea from the sight of all my favorite foods.

The fluttering in my belly which I thought was from being in love with Bronson.

Still, despite the gag-inducing smells from all kinds of food, I was starving.

“One steak and cheese, grilled, please. Double steak.”

While the person behind the counter grilled up my sandwich, I ducked between aisles. There was one thing I needed.

A pregnancy test.

My hands shook as I tapped the card on the reader to pay for everything. I found my way back to the house in no time since I practically sprinted.

A pregnancy test.

I tossed the sandwich on the counter and went to the guest bathroom since it was the closest to me. After skimming the instructions, I peed on the stick and then slid to the floor with my back against the wall.

We hadn’t talked about kids. Or even if that was a possibility. Bronson didn’t know about my previous miscarriage.

Goddess, what if I lost this one too and he hated me—threw me out on the streets like Ryder threatened to.

What if he hated me because my womb was broken? Because I was broken as an omega?

When the timer on my phone went off, I reached for the stick and saw the two blue lines. Two meant pregnant. That much I hadn’t skimmed over.

Pregnant. Me.

With my sweet alpha’s baby. I had to tell him, but in that moment, holding the stick, locked in that tiny powder room, I didn’t know how. Certainly not by text or over the phone, but how would I face him and give him the news.

Because I would have to tell him about the other baby.

The one I’d lost.

Because I wasn’t strong enough to keep it, to protect it against Ryder and his violence.

My stomach gurgled from not eating all day, making me get up and answer the call. I washed my face and went to the kitchen. I had to be strong for this babe inside me. This one would make it.

This time I was strong.

Now to figure out a way to tell my mate.