Page 14 of The Don’s Omega

But then I picture Fabio on the couch, looking pale and broken. Sometimes he gets an expression in his eyes that haunts me. It’s as if he’s given up. It’s as if he knows there’s no hope. It’s as if he’s accepted he’s going to die before he even really got to live. The thought of that is worse than anything any alpha could do to me.

“What happens next?” I mumble.

“You’re interested?” His voice is sharp. Borderline surprised.

“I think I am.”

“You can’t think you’re interested. You must be sure, Mr. Conti. I don’t want to waste my time, yours, or any potential alpha’s time. I’m sure you understand.”

“Yes, I do.” I take a breath. “I’m definitely interested,” I say with more conviction.

“All right. Well, in that case we’ll need to begin the intake process. That entails a medical screening and a background check. If you pass the vetting, I’ll match you with a potential alpha based on compatibility. To be honest, I think I have an alpha in mind already.”

“Really?” My voice sounds more panicked than I’d like.

“Yes, I think I might. Your timelines match up. Of course, compatibility is a mysterious thing. It’s not up to me. What I might think looks good on paper sometimes crashes and burns in person.”

“Oh.”

“It doesn’t happen often, but it does happen.” He lets out a breath. “But if you do choose to move forward, you’d meet the alpha in a neutral setting and decide whether you wish to proceed. Nothing is final until both parties agree to terms and sign a contract. You can walk away at any point before the contract is signed.”

“And after it’s signed?”

“After it’s signed, you must fulfill the terms of the agreement and you’ll receive your compensation. It’s that simple.”

Nothing about this is simple. But simple or not, it’s the only door left.

“I’d like to proceed with the intake,” I say because what choice do I really have? The fact that I actually called Kessler shows I already know I’m out of options.

“Very good.” He’s pleased. I can hear it in his voice. “I’ll send you the paperwork electronically. There’s a medical screening appointment that I’ll need you to attend. I’ll choose a clinic in Philadelphia for your convenience. I’ll book it for tomorrow. Can you manage that?”

“I’ll manage it.”

“Excellent. Mr. Conti, one more thing.”

“Yes?”

“I’m selective about who I work with. On both sides. I don’t take every alpha who calls me and I don’t take every omega. But even though everyone is vetted, sometimes problems can arise. If at any point during the process you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, you tell me. That is not negotiable. Do you understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good. You’ll have the paperwork within the hour.” He hangs up.

In a daze, I drive to the bar for my shift. My conversation with Kessler spins in my brain as I work. The shift goes by in a blur and around dinnertime I head home. When I enter the apartment, Fabio is at the kitchen table doing homework. He looks up when I come in and he gives a tired smile.

“I was just about to make dinner,” he says.

“No need. I’ll do it.” He looks relieved and anxiety nudges me. Even the simplest things tire him out lately. Is his condition worsening? Is it his medication? I don’t know why he’s so fatigued and that just makes me more stressed out. “Spaghetti sound good?”

“Sounds amazing.” He closes his textbook. “I thought you had today off.”

“I picked up a shift.” I move to the pantry and begin pulling out things to make the spaghetti.

Worry flutters through his eyes. “You’re working too much, Elio. You’re going to get sick too if you never take a day off.”

“Nah. I can handle it.” I give him what I hope is a reassuring smile. “You had a test today in your online psych class, right? How’d it go?”

He hesitates but then begins to tell me about the test as I cook dinner. I find joy in how animated he is when he talks about his classes. His face lights up as he shares his stories. I could listen to him talk for hours. All I want is to hear his voice the rest of my life, telling me about the things in life that make him happy. While the idea of allowing an alpha to use my body for breeding terrifies me, I focus instead on what it will provide for Fabio. Because that’s all I care about. I can endure whatever I need to so long as in the end, Fabio is okay.