Against All Odds

Chapter One

"I'm sorry," Dr. Cole says, closing the file and setting it down on the desk in front of her. "The hormones don't seem to be having as strong of an effect as we had hoped." She shakes her head, her brows scrunched together in sympathy as she looks in between me and my mate. "With the past few embryos not sticking and the negative effect the hormones seem to be having, I strongly recommend thinking about taking a break for a few months."

Aaron, my husband, gives a stiff nod, refusing to meet my eyes when I look over at him. Shame floods through me, knowing that I am a failure. Hot tears are threatening to spill over, but I hold them back, choking back the lump in my throat.

We have been at this for almost a year and a half now, trying to get pregnant. The posters on the wall, the ones with healthy pregnant omegas, with wide smiles on their faces makes my heart ache.

At the age of twenty-six, I am an oddity. My parents had been disappointed when I had wanted to go to college, and luckily I had my older brother who was able to help me with the expense. I didn't want to be someone who couldn't get by on my own. To be one of those omegas who only knows how to cook, clean, and take care of children.

I guess this is my punishment for daring to be more than my biology. Ollie would slap me upside the head if he ever knew I was having these thoughts. My best friend had stuck by my side all through high school and college, not letting my nagging and guilt tripping parents drag me back home.

"How long do we have to wait?" I say, voice coming out more like a croak. "Before we can try again?"

Aaron turns completely away from me, body tense as he stares out the window. With him facing away from me, I can't get a clear picture on how he is feeling. But after being with him for four years, I can recognize his emotions from his body posture. He is angry, barely holding himself back.

It just makes me flinch, tightly closing my eyes and letting out a shaky breath before looking back over at the doctor.

"At least six months." She looks back down at the file. "This disproportion in your hormones is not something I have ever seen, Mr. Harris, and frankly, it has me worried. We need to halt the hormone injections immediately and let your body try to get back on its own rhythm."

"But my hormones were already messed up before we tried getting pregnant," I say, the desperation creeping into my voice. I can't help it, though. This is what I always worked towards: a college degree, a stable job and marriage, and children. Now, it looks like I won't be able to have the last one.

Dr. Cole shakes her head. "Your hormones control your entire body. Think of them as the messengers, the things that tell your body systems when to start and end. Before the injections, your hormones were lower than normal, but not dangerously so. Your body was still managing to meet its needs.

She looks down at the chart, giving a small shake of her head as if she still can't believe it. "This, though... This isn't normal. Your body isn't handling the extra hormones well. If this continues, I fear that your body may start to rebel on you."

"But-"

"Milo, just shut up," Aaron says, his voice coming out harsh.

My teeth click from the force of me closing my mouth. Dr. Cole looks over at my mate with squinted eyes, completely unimpressed by him.

His tone doesn't surprise me, though. We have been doing nothing but fighting lately. This is no different.

"Let's just get out of here, before you make an even bigger fool of yourself," he hisses, standing from his seat and ripping his jacket from the back.

Pursing my lips, I look back at Dr. Cole. "Thank you for your help."

She gives a small nod of her head as I stand up from the seat, slipping my jacket on with trembling hands. A tear manages to slip out as I try to get my jacket zipped, and I brush it away roughly.