Expecting You

by Claire Cullen

  Expecting You

  Omega’s Luck, Book One

  Claire Cullen

  Copyright © 2020 by Claire Cullen

  All Rights Reserved

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Epilogue

  Author’s Note

  Chapter One

  Zac sat in the clinic’s waiting room, jiggling his knee nervously as he watched the clock tick closer and closer to eight a.m.

  “Aaron Clark?”

  It took Harper elbowing him in the side for Zac to remember that he was Aaron Clark. For today, at least.

  “Here, sorry.” He jumped to his feet, waving awkwardly.

  The nurse glowered at him and shoved a clipboard into his hands. “Fill that out. I’ll be back.”

  He sat down and tried to detach the pen from the clipboard. It took three attempts before he finally managed it, only to promptly drop the pen on the floor.

  “I’ve got it.” Harper snatched the pen up before he could. “Give that here.”

  He yanked the clipboard from Zac’s hand and started filling it in.

  “You’ve got to hold it together,” he murmured in Zac’s ear. “Just a few more hours, then it’ll be done, and you’ll have a life again. A future.” He gave him an encouraging grin. “We’ll celebrate, with pizza.”

  Zac, who’d been fasting since the previous evening, glowered at the other omega. “You know I can’t afford pizza. I’d have been living off instant noodles for weeks if it wasn’t for you.”

  “My treat,” Harper promised. “To celebrate.”

  His friend’s enthusiasm was infectious. Zac leaned against his shoulder and smiled at him. “Pizza sounds great. A life sounds great.”

  He’d been crippled by his omega biology for far too long. It had lost him his last three jobs. The families he was a nanny for had tried hard to be understanding. But an unreliable omega, one who could be absent for days, sometimes weeks at a time at short notice, just didn’t cut it.

  “Last meal… six p.m.?”

  “Seven,” Zac corrected quietly.

  “Date last heat ended?”

  Zac didn’t need to check a calendar to remember that.

  “The ninth.”

  “Average duration between heats?”

  He groaned. “They know all this. Why are we going through it for the hundredth time?”

  “Busywork,” Harper said easily, pressing his leg against Zac’s. The contact calmed him. “To keep people from going stir crazy in the waiting room.”

  “The only thing making me crazy right now are these questions.”

  “Allergies?” Harper pressed.

  “Strawberries, as you well know.”

  “Hey! I only forgot that one time...”

  “My lips swelled up to twice their size. I looked like my cosmetic surgery had gone horribly wrong.”

  Harper snorted with laughter before biting his lip, looking the picture of contrite. “I said I was sorry. It was berry jam. How was I supposed to know there were strawberries in it?”

  “The clue is in the name. Berry.” They glared at one another before they both dissolved into giggles.

  The nurse stomped back in, looking unimpressed as she held out her hand for the clipboard.

  “Follow me. Not you,” she added when Harper stood to join him. “You can collect him in three hours.”

  Harper caught his hand, squeezing it tightly. “I’ll be right here the whole time. See you on the other side.”

  Zac squeezed back, grateful beyond belief to have such a good friend by his side. Without Harper, none of this would have been possible, and his life would have continued to freefall until he hit rock bottom.

  He followed the nurse to a room. She handed him a gown and thrust the clipboard back into his hands. “Finish filling this out. Every question, not just the easy ones.”

  She marched off, grumbling under her breath.

  “Aren’t you a ray of sunshine,” Zac muttered.

  He sat down on the chair next to the intimidating medical bed and tried to remember the details he’d memorized about Harper’s cousin Aaron. It had been Harper’s idea for Zac to use Aaron’s insurance to cover the cost of the implant that he’d never have been able to afford alone. Even the co-pay had taken him months of scrimping and eating noodles to save up.

  He couldn’t wait any longer, not with Aaron leaving the country with his alpha boyfriend to go live and teach in Japan. That was the main reason Aaron had agreed to let Zac do this. The chances of them being found out were tiny and, even if they were, Aaron wouldn’t be around to face the repercussions. For Zac, it was worth the risk.

  He filled in the last few details on the form, then quickly changed into the crinkly paper gown. Grimacing at his reflection, he was glad there was no one there to see him except the medical staff. Couture fashion this was not. Just as he sat down again, a doctor popped his head through the doorway, stethoscope around his neck.

  “Aaron Clark?”

  “Yes.”

  “Great, you’re all gowned up. I’ll be right with you.”

  “Um… Dr. Hains is supposed to be doing my procedure.”

  He’d met her at his initial appointment. She’d been nice, as doctors went. Sympathetic but practical.

  “She’s out with the flu, as are half the nursing staff. I’m afraid you’ll have to make do with some new faces.”

  That explained Nurse Unfriendly from the waiting room.

  “Oh. Okay.”

  Before he could say any more, the doctor was gone. He returned a few minutes later, scanning a page of notes which he set down on the table next to the bed.

  “Sorry for the delay. The computer system is having a few hiccups. We’ve been forced to go old-school with pen and paper. Now, let’s get you on the bed. You’ve got your IV line in… Nope. You haven’t. We’ll get the nurse in to get you all kitted out. Best sleep of your life, I promise.”

  Already uneasy, Zac pushed himself up onto the bed and swung his legs around. The nurse bustled in, a tray in her hand, and the doctor turned to her.

  “Good, you’re here. Austin doesn’t have his IV line in yet.”

  “I’ll get right on that, Doctor,” she said through gritted teeth.

  Sensing the room was already tense, Zac didn’t bother to correct the doctor on his fake name. Austin, Aaron—what did it matter? He offered his arm up readily to the nurse, trying to seem like the model patient.

  “Any concerns about today’s procedure?” the doctor asked, busying himself setting out equipment and donning gloves.

  “No. I don’t think so.”

  Zac felt like this wasn’t how things were meant to go before a medical procedure. He’d have liked more explanations of what they were doing. But the more he talked, the more likely it was that he’d slip up and give the game away. Keeping his mouth shut was the lesser of many evils.

  “Alright, then. Let’s get this sh
ow on the road. Sedation, coming right up. You won’t remember a thing.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  Zac watched the doctor hand the nurse a syringe. That was quickly followed by a cold sensation that washed up his arm from where she’d placed the IV line.

  He felt a hand pat his knee as a distant, disembodied voice said, “Helping create new life—isn’t that what this job is all about?”

  There was just enough time to think ‘huh?’ before the lights went out.

  Chapter Two

  Beckett’s morning was off to a bad start, and it was only eight a.m. Kyle stood at the door to his home office, tearful, his lower lip wobbling, all but wringing his hands.

  “I’m really sorry, Mr. Rayne, but I can’t do this anymore. I have to hand in my notice. I’ll stay until the end of the week, but that’s all I can do.”

  Beckett stood up from his desk and crossed to the door.

  “If you need more money, we can discuss it.”

  Kyle was shaking his head before Beckett had even stopped talking.

  “It’s not that. You know it’s not.”

  He glanced back across the corridor behind him to where Luca was playing in the middle of the lounge, oblivious to their conversation.

  “It’s too hard. I’m so sorry. I can’t watch him go through this, getting sicker and sicker…” Kyle blinked furiously, a few tears escaping as he refused to meet Beckett’s gaze.

  “I understand.” Of course he did. He wouldn’t wish this reality on anyone, and he wouldn’t force anyone to live it if they couldn’t handle it. “You don’t need to work out your notice. But if you could spend some time with Luca today, let him draw you a picture to say goodbye, I’m sure he’d appreciate it.”

  Kyle had barely been there a month. Beckett had really hoped he’d work out but wasn’t too worried about the fallout from his departure. Luca hadn’t gotten used to having him around. Still, his heart ached for his little boy losing yet another caregiver.

  He and Kyle talked through the details of his resignation, Beckett paying out for the week even if Kyle wasn’t working it. Then, while Kyle and Luca were busy drawing, he called William.

  “Hey, can you handle tomorrow’s meeting solo? Something’s come up.”

  “Shit. Is Luca in the hospital again?”

  “No, no. He’s here, at home. But the nanny’s leaving.”

  William groaned.

  “Already? He’s only been there, what? Two weeks?”

  “Almost four.”

  “Yeah. Not even a month. Where are you finding these guys? The school of unreliable nannies?”

  Beckett couldn’t help but defend Kyle.

  “It’s not easy, you know it’s not. All the care Luca needs, all the precautions. Most omegas can’t handle growing attached when they know how sick he is.”

  “Well, you need to find someone who can stay the course, for both your sakes.”

  “I know. I’ll try that agency Sally recommended. If I’m lucky, I’ll have someone by next week.”

  “I can handle this week’s meetings, but we’re consulting with the city council next Thursday. If Lee Prendergast doesn’t see your handsome face, we’ll never convince them to give us the courthouse redesign.”

  Their architectural firm had grown in leaps and bounds in the three years since they’d founded it, but it was getting to the point where it was hard to keep on top of all the work coming their way.

  “I’ll be there,” he promised.

  “I’ll get Trey to ask around his omega music group, see if anyone knows of a nanny at a loose end.”

  It was a bad time for it; most families had already made arrangements for the school year, but Beckett could always hope.

  After going through their urgent projects with William, he called the agency Sally had suggested. They emailed him the profiles of those nannies who were both available and suitable for the level of care Luca needed. Beckett read through them but could immediately see the problem. They might have had the right certificates, but all three of them were inexperienced. They’d never taken care of a kid with Luca’s needs.

  Ignoring the sinking feeling in the pit of his stomach, he tried the agency that had sent him Kyle. No luck there; they didn’t have anyone who could meet his requirements. As he set down the phone, feeling disheartened and a little at a loss, he heard a giggle from the next room.

  Putting his work aside, he crossed the corridor and leaned against the lounge door. He watched as Luca built towers of blocks, only to knock them down with glee seconds later. Kyle was sitting nearby, his eyes suspiciously red-rimmed.

  “Hey, Kyle?”

  The omega glanced up.

  “Go take your lunch. I’ve got him.”

  When he was working from home, which was most days, Beckett made sure that Luca’s nanny got a proper break—a chance to leave the house, get some fresh air and some time to themselves. It also meant, even on his busiest days, he got one-to-one time during the best hours of Luca’s day. Evenings could be tough—Luca was often tired, cranky, and hurting.

  He sat on the floor next to him.

  “Hey, buddy. Can I play too?”

  Luca grinned and handed him a block.

  “On top!”

  “You want me to put it on top? Here?”

  “Yep.”

  The tower of blocks wobbled precariously.

  “Uh-oh.”

  “Uh-oh!” Luca echoed, grinning at him before knocking the blocks with his hand and sending them tumbling down.

  “Oh, no! What are we gonna do? The tower fell down!”

  Luca laughed and grabbed hold of a block. “Again!”

  Beckett relished the days when Luca was happy and distracted, the days when he could forget how sick he was. Today was one of those days.

  “Want to help me feed the fish?”

  Luca nodded eagerly, and Beckett swept him up into his arms. Together they fed the little school of tetras that provided endless hours of fascination on days when neither of them had enough energy to play.

  “Not too much,” Beckett warned. “Or they’ll grow too big for their tank, and they’ll have to live in the bath.”

  “With my ducky?”

  “Yep. They’ll live in the bath with your ducky and all your other bath toys. But there’ll be no room for you, so you’ll have to have your bath in their tank.”

  That set off another round of giggles, but he could see Luca was already tiring.

  “How about a nap, kiddo? You and me and the starry sky.”

  Luca’s mouth turned down at the word ‘nap,’ but the promise of starry skies had him smiling again. Beckett carried him up into the converted attic, closing the door and pulling all the blackout blinds to throw the room into darkness. They lay down on the thick, soft rug on the floor, watching as stars came to life around them.

  “Pretty,” Luca mumbled, resting his head against Beckett’s chest.

  “Yeah,” he said with a sigh. “They’re perfect.”

  Just like his life should have been. Him, Darcy, and Luca, inseparable. Or so he’d believed. How wrong he’d been.

  Darcy was long gone, and holding onto Luca had become a never-ending fight. But today, finally, there was a glimpse of hope. Out there in the city, a tiny embryo, the last and only hope for Luca’s survival, was about to be implanted.

  “Pick a star and make a wish,” he told Luca.

  He made one of his own. Hugging Luca tightly, he wished that little bundle of cells, that potential life, would find itself a home.

  Chapter Three

  Harper was staring at him. Again.

  “How do you feel?”

  “Fine.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Yeah.”

  He tried to hide his irritation, knowing his friend was just trying to get a reaction.

  “No nausea? Cramps? Pelvic pain? The leaflet said most people experience some side effects.”

  Zac rolled his eyes and threw his pen at
Harper. “What, did you memorize it?”

  “Dude, I spent three hours in that waiting room with no Wi-Fi. There was literally nothing else to do except agonize over your health. The least you could do is humor me.”

  “Well, I hate to disappoint you, but I seem to have been one of the lucky few. No side effects.”

  The fact worried Zac a little. Even though he knew that getting side effects didn’t mean the implant was working any better, feeling so… normal… just seemed wrong.

  “Okay, okay. No side effects. We’ll chalk that up to luck. But you’re, what, twenty-five days since your last heat?”

  “Twenty-eight.” Four blessedly heat-free weeks.

  “Any sign it’s coming on?”

  Since Zac’s cycle had gone haywire, he’d rarely gone a week without pre- or post-heat symptoms when not experiencing the heat itself. It had left him constantly exhausted and notoriously unreliable where his job was concerned. But all the telltale symptoms were absent.

  “Not a one. I think this might actually be working.”

  “It had better. That shit’s expensive. Five thousand just for the implant. Another five to get it placed. And a grand easily for all the checkups before and after.”

  Just thinking of the cost made Zac nauseous. As it was, it had taken him almost six months to earn enough to pay the co-pay on Aaron’s insurance, and that was with Harper pitching in to help out.

  “I’m thankful your cousin has such a great healthcare plan.”

  There was a pause before they both snorted with laughter. Zac’s erratic work schedule meant he didn’t make nearly enough to pay for insurance, but he wasn’t eligible for state help either, since they’d disqualified treatment for heat irregularities a few years before. Stuck between a rock and a hard place, he had ‘borrowed’ Aaron’s identity, and used his insurance to get the implant that was now regulating his cycles. It was fraud, plain and simple, but Zac had been backed into a corner.