CHAPTER SEVEN

RAIN

The next morning, we were up very early. Kay had trouble waking up fully, so while we drove in my van, I let him lie down in the back seat and continue sleeping. He slept until almost 9AM, and by then, we had covered about a third of our planned distance. He woke up kinda disoriented and in a strange mood.

We stopped at a small gas station because I needed to buy something from the adjacent grocery store. Kay said he wanted to go there as well to get some snacks for himself, even though we had packed a real breakfast. I could feel that he just wanted to improve his mood with some sweets.

While waiting in line, I noticed the gazes Kay was attracting again, but this time it wasn't just alphas. Betas and even omegas were glancing—or rather, staring—intensely at him. Some might have recognized him from his modeling past, others were surprised by his height, which was very unusual for an omega. He looked like a tall, aloof prince among them, towering over the people in line. He stood out with his perfectly symmetrical face, long, lush hair, and flawless complexion.

One omega ahead of us actually turned his head and stared at Kay intensely, with a strange curiosity. I observed Kay's reaction. He remained totally impassive and didn't acknowledge the staring in any way.

As we neared the cashier, three alphas entered the store. I immediately noticed a change in Kay's behavior. He made one small step toward me, his body pressing against my chest. The alphas glanced over at our line, and it was obvious—they fixed their eyes on Kay.

My pulse quickened, but one of them noticed my arm around Kay's waist and grimaced sourly. All three men moved to the back of the line, and nothing more happened. They looked rather burly and menacing, so I was glad they let it go.

Once we left the store, Kay hurried into the car. It was only as we drove away that I saw him slowly relax.

"Were you afraid of them?" I asked.

"Yeah, well, those kinds of alphas are the most dangerous," he replied gloomily. "They're from small towns and think they can run things their way. They get away with rapes and violence because they have friends in the police and city councils. All is always connected; everybody knows each other… Our town is a bit like that. As you may remember, Deputy Johnson's cousin married into the Dawsons."

"Well, my house is in the town where my parents live. It's a suburban type of town next to a bigger city; there's no such vibe you've just described. I left that place to come here. If you don't feel safe at Adam's house, we can move there together," I offered, but seeing his hesitant face, I quickly added, "My suggestion is just a precaution. I wanted to offer you this option if you feel the stress here is just too much."

Kay stayed quiet for a moment before responding quietly, "My child is the sole heir of the Sanders family, and his grandparents wouldn't appreciate me moving so far away."

He mentioned an external factor as the main thing stopping him from moving, and it spoke volumes. Somehow, I felt that he was trying to avoid coming to a conclusion about what was going on between us now. Despite the seemingly better energy between us, Kay was still cautious, and perhaps that was a reasonable thing to do. But I just needed to offer him an option out.

We drove for a while in silence. Kay seemed increasingly tense.

Finally, I settled on a question: "Did you call the Sanders to tell them about yesterday?"

"No, Adam called them, but he gave them a very censored version of events."

"I'm relieved. They could have reacted strongly."

He nodded. "Yeah, definitely."

We continued our drive in silence.

Around 10:30, I noticed the scent of his pheromones increased. I glanced at him, and he was a bit pinker on his cheeks, but he was just staring out the window. So I decided to wait. Around twenty minutes later, he turned his head toward me. I looked at him again. He was even more pink, and I could see a bulge in his pants.

"Do you need me?"

He slowly nodded. I pulled over to the side of the road and got out of the car. In the back of the van, I prepared a small foam pad and a sleeping bag for his comfort. I opened the back door, and Kay climbed inside, sitting on the pad.

He looked so… vulnerable now, and rather uneasy. I sat next to him and gently moved his thick braid from his arm to his back.

"Are you still uncomfortable that you need this?" I asked, gently stroking his thigh. "Were you hoping it would stop after the pregnancy situation stabilized?"

Kay bit his lip. "I won't lie; I'm not happy about depending on someone for these cravings. I feel like my body is out of control, and normal life is almost impossible. They say that widowed pregnancies take two months to stabilize with a new alpha around. But it's just annoying that I can't even have a longer car drive without feeling like this."

"I can see how it can be annoyingthat your body just doesn't listen, like being in a permanent heat. But, you know, it's not a hardship for me to assist you. To be honest, I sometimes just wait for it, hoping you'll show interest, counting the time."

He raised his eyes to me and didn't answer, so I added, "I know you see it differently, but for me, it's a very pleasant experience. Something that can happen only once in a lifetime. I like it, a lot. It's not something I do out of pity; I want to do it too, and sometimes I even think with some unease that the waves will disappear."

Kay stared at my face for a moment. "That's nice. I'm happy it's not bothersome for you. It's just that there are times when I'm not mentally into it, like for example, in the middle of a road trip, but my body doesn't listen," he said wincing.

I stroked his cheek and neck, skimming over his gland. "I'm sorry. I wish it was as you want it to be, but for now, the only advice I can give you is not to worry about being 'dependent' on me. It's more like I am dependent on you, waiting and hoping for it to start…"

Kay's face flushed, finally looking just a tad more relaxed. "Really, you feel that way?"

"How could it be any different? You're stunning, Kay. I want you all the time."

He swallowed. "So, take me."

I didn't need any more. I removed his t-shirt and sweatpants, then grabbed his thighs and pulled them over my knees. He was now sitting on my bent legs, his own legs at my sides. His face was at my level, in a very intimate and close position. I could see that he suddenly became more tense. This position was basically just a rider's position, except I was sitting instead of lying down.

"Kay, would you mind trying to ride me a bit?" I asked him softly, looking at his flushed face.

He didn't react for a few seconds. I slowly stroked his back and massaged his round buttocks.

"You don't understand. If I do that, it would mean that I'm the one who's actually—" he trailed off. "I'm not sure if I'm ready." Kay pursed his lips and didn't say anything more.

I gave a little nod. "Okay, Kay. I understand."

There was time to act. I raised us a bit and flipped to my front, so I was now lying on him, and he was under me in the classic missionary position. I didn't say anything or push the issue. I just unzipped my pants and slowly sank into his wet entrance. His face was turned aside, and he avoided my gaze, almost like he was ashamed he denied my request. But I didn't make a big deal out of it. I was firmly set on being patient.

When we finished and resumed our trip, we still didn't talk; I sensed Kay wasn't in the mood for chit-chat. Not a single word was exchanged between us until we arrived in the city where the company headquarters was located.

After stopping in a parking lot full of cars, we walked around the building and were shocked by how giant it was. I guess the pharmaceutical industry was doing fine.

In front of the building, there was a long line of people waiting to go inside for some business meeting or other matters. As we got closer, I realized we'd be standing for at least half an hour in the scorching sun on a hot, concrete surface.

Kay had a very light complexion, and since he was pregnant, it wouldn't be ideal for him to stand there and fry himself on that 'pan'. I looked around and noticed an old signboard leaning on the guard booth that read 'Parking closed'.

I excused myself for a moment and went to the booth. An old beta guard was there, and I asked him if I could borrow the sign for a while, holding a $50 bill in my hand. He smirked and handed it to me, no hesitation. The money changed hands quickly.

When I returned to Kay, all the other people waiting in line gaped as I approached him and raised the sign over his head. Many heads turned in our direction, some people whispering, but I didn't pay attention to them.

Our eyes met. I could see something in Kay's gaze, something… new. I couldn't interpret it at the time, as his energy seemed to be in a constant state of flux. He was certainly all over the place, the trip cost him more than I would have expected.

"Thank you," he said quietly.

"You don't have to thank me. It's my duty."

He blinked and didn't comment. We waited until it was our turn and went inside the building. I left the sign next to the doors.

Inside, there was a big lobby with a few reception desks where employees were directing visitors to their appointments. We were sent to Dr. Jon Darren, who was already expecting us. His office was on the first floor, so it was a quick walk.

As we knocked and entered his room, we were met by a small, older beta who eyed us with surprise.

"Welcome to Malden Pharmaceuticals, Mr. Nolan. And this would be—?"

"Kay Sanders."

Dr. Darren shook our hands and looked intently at Kay for a moment. He was a beta, so he couldn't scent Kay's pregnancy allure, but he was probably amazed by Kay's looks, like everyone else.

"You're tall for an omega," he said suddenly.

Kay smiled, but it was a forced smile. "Yeah, well, my alpha father was 6'7" and my omega father was almost 5'11", so I took after them."

"Did you suspect you were a beta while in high school, before the gland maturation?"

Kay's eyes widened, and so did mine. We both didn't expect this question.

"Many people actually thought I was going to be a beta, even my parents. Although, inside, I kinda knew since I was fifteen, and my boyfriend at the time also felt I was an omega, we had no doubts."

I gaped at him, feeling dumbfounded, but forced myself to focus.

"Why do you ask, doctor?"

The scientist smiled subtly. "Very few people know this, as it's a very rare occurrence, but it's called Tall Omega Syndrome, or Tall Omega Blooming. Scientists have discovered that tall omegas have slightly stronger pheromone excretion than normal omegas and may attract more attention from alphas. This occurs especially often in families with several beta siblings. The mechanism is unknown. Some theorize it's Nature's way of increasing the chances of passing on genes within a particular family. Since there are infertile children, betas, nature seems to boost the attraction of their omega siblings to compensate for their infertility. It's not a well-researched topic, but I thought it might interest you."

"Since I have two older beta brothers and I experienced increased alpha interest in me, I would say the theory seems pretty accurate," Kay said in a gloomy tone, looking away.

Dr. Darren didn't seem fazed by his grim expression. "Well, that was just a side note," he said with a cheerful expression, turning toward me. "Anyway, nice to meet you both."

The scientist grinned and turned toward me.

"First, we'll do blood work to determine the level of Seprudin 500 in your bloodstream. After that, we'll do a compatibility test between you two, called a separation test. It'll take around two hours. Then, we'll know if you're indeed True Mates. Please sit; the nurse will be here soon."

He asked a few more questions about our health, including some about Kay's pregnancy, but nothing too specific.

Soon the nurse came in. He was a young omega, rather pretty, with burgundy curly hair and big, green eyes. He stared at us with curiosity.

"Jimmy, please take blood samples from Mr. Nolan and Mr. Sanders."

Jimmy came closer to Kay first but kept glancing at me, which caught Kay's attention. He didn't react, though. Jimmy took a sample of Kay's blood and moved closer to me, watched by Kay the whole time.

I rolled up my sleeve, and as Jimmy touched the skin on my forearm, I moved my hand away almost instinctively.

"Sir, I need to take your blood sample."

"I would prefer Dr. Darren did that."

"Dr. Darren is not a nurse."

"I don't want you to touch me," I said in a calm voice. My eyes met Kay's. There was something in them. Again, something new. Did I somehow surprise him today? "Sorry, I'm mated. I do not wish to be touched by other omegas," I explained, trying to sound polite.

"Okay, Jimmy, I can do it. I have training in drawing blood," Darren said with a smirk.

As soon as he touched me, the unpleasant feeling disappeared. He finished drawing a sample of my blood while Jimmy stared at me with a strange grimace.

Then Kay stood up, approached me, and placed his hand on my shoulder in an obviously possessive gesture. Jimmy winced a bit and soon left the room, taking the samples with him.

Once he was out, I looked Kay in the eyes, and he looked back at me. For the first time, I saw this strange kind of contentment on his face. Did I just pass some mysterious test?

"Now, I'd like to separate you both for about two hours. This time is necessary for the level of veradiol in your blood to increase to one detectable by the chromatograph that will analyze your blood samples. Our equipment is very sensitive; usually, the test requires at least five hours of separation to note such a slight increase, but our measurement accuracy is excellent!" he said with great pride in his voice.

"How exactly does this separation work?" I asked suspiciously.

"We have two comfortable rooms where you can wait. You can't have contact, even on the phonebecause it reduces the release of veradiol into the bloodstream."

I glanced at Kay questioningly. He slowly nodded.

"Okay, fine. We can start. I'd just ask that Kay be in an air-conditioned room with access to water and a restroom."

"Of course, we have all that under control. The rooms have a water cooler and even a vending machine with snacks. The restrooms are just a few steps down the hall."

Kay and I both stood up and followed Dr. Darren. He first led us to the room where Kay would wait. It looked like a small, unused office—almost empty, but it had a small sofa, a desk, and a water cooler. I squeezed Kay's hand before leaving.

Dr. Darren then took me to another room a floor up, which was similar but without a sofa. It had only tables and chairs, probably a small conference room. He gave me his phone number in case there were any problems.

Waiting felt quite long.

I stared out the window at the parking lot, mindlessly watching the crowd of people coming and going. At one point, I observed an interesting scene.

A small van, painted in glaring fluorescent green, pulled up to the building. The side of the car displayed a slogan: "Stop Killer Pharma!" A group of people spilled out—betas, omegas, and just one alpha—all looking young, probably student activists. They carried buckets of some substance and ran to the main entrance, splashing it on the door and all over the front of the building.

Two security guards in the parking lot couldn't handle them, but a much larger group of security personnel quickly ran out of the building and subdued the overly enthusiastic youth. Soon, the police arrived, and the young ecoactivists were packed into a police car.

I sighed, watching this. It seemed Malden Pharmaceuticals had many enemies, protesting against… what? I had no idea. Research methods? Side effects of their drugs? Environmental pollution with chemicals? I googled 'Malden + ecological issues' on my phone. A list of articles popped up, and I managed to catch one line from the top article: "Malden Pharmaceuticals announced today the appointment of renowned omega scientist Blue Lowen as its new CEO, following an extensive search process…" but I didn't have a chance to read it all because my cell beeped.

It was a text message—from Storm.

"Today, I sneaked a peek at Nate's laptop screen and noticed your previous conversation with him. I guess you're hopelessly falling for a pretty widower. Seriously? It's the oldest (cheapest?) story in the book."

Clenching my teeth, I responded, "That conversation is private; you shouldn't have read it."

"The wrong tense. Was. It isn't private anymore."

"Piece of shit. Always was, always will be."

"So, Kay Sanders, huh? I googled him. Impressive Instagram profile. 5 million followers? Nice. He's a looker, and he draws well, too! You are lucky, my tiny brother."

"Are you hoping he'll reject me so you'd have a chance? Isn't that your MO?"

"Yep, it is my MO against my assholish brothers, but not this time. It won't work. I have good news for you."

Fighting my nerves and the slight tremor in my body, I sent back, "Enlighten me. What's the news?"

"I'm pretty sure he is your True Mate."

My hands went still, fingers immobile over the screen.

What the fuck did he just say?

Before I could answer, he sent another message: "I know you all always made fun of my talents, but I have a knack for matchmaking. A real one. My purple alpha magic!"

Purple alpha magic, my ass! I had no idea how to react: scold him, tell him I was about to get my answer on the TM thing, orjust ignore him.

Cowardly, I chose the last option. Giving him satisfaction would be… uh!

So I just huffed in mild irritation and slid my phone into my pocket. I was very tempted to send him a text saying, "Rather purple alpha delusion", but to be honest, maybe his 'talent' was the real deal?

We were about to find out.

But it didn't stop me from being angry at his arrogant attitude.

The rest of the two hours passed as I reminisced about various situations from my family home. Despite my parents' immense efforts, each of my brothers had their own distinct personalities, which often clashed, causing a lot of friction. I wasn't the most easygoing among my brothers, so I certainly added to the overall chaos.

My omega dad often said he was amazed at how such strong and sometimes combative personalities emerged from parents with such non-confrontational natures.

In my mind, I could see scenes from my childhood. I was 10, Storm was around 8.5, and Skye was 6. We were fighting over our awesome new gift from Uncle Timothy—a Nerf plastic BB gun with continuous shooting Gatling and suction cup bullets. It was bright and flashy, with loud sounds and flickering lights.

Storm grabbed it first and wouldn't let us have a turn. We argued, and he said, "This is for real pure-blood alphas like me! Not for weaklings!"

"Pure alpha, my ass! You've been playing for ages. It's our turn!" I yelled.

"Come and take it if you can!" Storm laughed and started running away.

Skye and I chased him and finally caught up by the greenhouse. He was strong, but not that quick, with his heavy bones. When I bumped into him, I bounced off his hard body. Purple alphas have their bony horns hidden just under the purple tissue lines that run along their limbs. Their bones are nearly twice as thick as ordinary human bones, and the horns normally lie flat along the bone but can stand up, pushing through the special gelatinous-like tissue that isn't found in any other organism on our planet. It's an alien inheritance. The horns can pierce through this tissue without causing bleeding.

Storm laughed hard when I fell. "What now, weakling? You'll never be an alpha, just a beta! You'll see! Stupid little runt!" he taunted.

"I hate you!" I screamed. Skye tried to kick Storm in the shin but jumped back, holding his foot in pain.

"I told you, namby-pamby! Who's the purple king now, huh? Who's the champion?!" Storm yelled, sending a series of orange-red rubber bullets toward us.

I closed my eyes, trying to push the memories away. My childhood was full of these stupid fights and humiliating beatings. But I didn't want to dwell on it now, especially with the important news waiting for me. I needed to focus my energy, stay calm and composed.

So I spent the next half hour reading some interesting articles about Malden Pharmaceuticals and their CEO, Blue Lowen, who was appointed two years ago. The guy was considered a genius for his groundbreaking research on tissue regeneration. In one interview, he admitted that he had suffered an accident as a child which left him infertile, and later, due to complications, he had all his glands removed. He had spent his entire career searching for a way to regrow damaged tissue and even missing organs.

I got so absorbed in reading about him that I only managed to skim one article about the student activists' issues with the company. It mentioned Malden participating in a new government-subsidized program studying the possibility of making betas fertile, and some preliminary experiments that were being conducted in a way considered morally questionable. The Beta Protection Organization called it an attack on the beta community that could lead to "beta erasure" if all betas were essentially turned into omegas.

It was fascinating, but time was up. I heard footsteps outside the door and Dr. Darren came in to take a new blood sample. He already had Kay's blood, so he took me with him, and I was able to reunite with Kay in the scientist's office. He looked a bit bored, but otherwise okay.

Dr. Darren handed the vials of blood to Jimmy to compare with the samples taken two hours earlier.

Then the scientist took some time to inform us about the company's policy regarding research involving True Mates and drug testing on them. He assured us that we'd receive a certificate of compatibility to deliver to the police if needed. He also asked me how long I'd been taking the suppressant and why.

"I took it to have fewer interactions with omegas," I explained, feeling Kay's eyes on me.

"Are you planning on going off it now?"

"It depends on the results. If we're proven to be True Mates, it'd be wise to go off it. But if we're incompatible, it wouldn't be a good idea to stop."

A few minutes later, Jimmy came back with our test results. Dr. Darren analyzed them first, his brows furrowed, and then his smile widened.

"Good news! Squeaky clean results! The spike in veradiol is notable and similar in both of you. There's no doubt, you are, in fact, True Mates! So we're in the clear!" He beamed, clearly relieved that his company was free from any wrongdoing.

Although the World Health Organization treats True Mates as a special group, usually exempting companies from testing on them due to the high costs, it is still considered good practice to conduct some research on TMs to ensure the increased safety of the product. So the fact that their beloved Seprudin 500 wasn't to blame for my strong reaction toward the Dawsons—but rather the nature of our mateship—had to be positive news for him.

Dr. Darren seemed so excited that he didn't even wait for our reaction or ask what we thought but immediately headed toward the door, taking the results with him and left the room, saying only "Excuse me". I guess he wanted to prepare a certificate for us, or… was just eager to deliver the good news to his superior.

I slowly turned to Kay, grinning widely, ready to make a jab at Darren, but then I froze. Kay didn't look as happy as I'd hoped. He was a bit pale and sat down, pressing his hands to his eyes.

"So it's true," he whispered.

For a moment, I didn't know what to think about his reaction. Of course, I remembered what he said about the True Mate status overshadowing what he had with Maurice. But taking all things into consideration, news like this was usually regarded as a miracle, a miraculous thing. Only 5% of people meet their True Mates. The rest are just happy to find high or half mates. For most, it would be a reason to celebrate, not hide their face in their hands.

So I stared for a while, trying to gauge my own reaction. Not knowing what to do, I sat motionless at a complete impasse.

Suddenly, I heard his quiet sobs. He wasn't happy—not even neutral. Kay just… cried!

Wow. Did he, in fact, hope for the results to turn out negative? Perhaps he didn't want me to be his True Mate? I could understand a bit of apprehension, but him crying was very unsettling. I stood up quickly and went to the window, glancing at the parking lot.

I fought with unpleasant feelings with all my mental power. I didn't want to overreact; I knew I needed to show understanding, no matter how hard it was for me now.

But on some level… I felt rejection. True Mate rejection—I guess it was a thing after all.

And it hurt like hell. Now that we knew for sure, it was time to take our stances. His stance was seemingly obvious. But I still remained silent, frozen, unable to decide what to do, only idly waiting for his words.

Before anything happened, Darren returned with some documents.

"Please, Mr. Sanders. Here's the certificate. It's admissible in court. It's your way out of trouble." He handed it to Kay, who took it in silence.

Darren eyed us. "Not the news you were expecting?" he asked, raising his brows. He didn't need to be a genius to read the room.

"No, it just confirmed what we already suspected," Kay replied tersely, wiping his cheeks with a quick motion.

"Okay, well, that's wonderful news anyway!" expressed Dr. Darren, but he was met with deep silence. "You can now stop taking Seprudin if you wish!" he said to me enthusiastically.

"Yeah, about that. How long will it take for my allure to be back?"

Dr. Darren took a deep breath. "Seprudin 500 is a strong suppressant, not a level-one medication that exits your system within 24 hours. With your current level of Seprudin, the effects should wear off within twenty days. One month at most!"

I cleared my throat. "Wow, much longer than I thought."

"It's a highly effective and excellent product, very reliable!" Dr. Darren sounded like a skilled marketer.

"Don't you have some antidote or something?"

Dr. Darren hesitated. "Well, there is a method."

"What method?"

"We are currently in an advanced phase of testing a drug that can remove the suppression in about three hours. It will be available for sale in a few months. If you want, I can give it to you."

A test drug? It sounded like he wanted a volunteer for an experiment.

"Hm, maybe one month isn't that long after all," I murmured cautiously. "However, I read Seprudin might compromise me a bit during fights."

Dr. Darren's smile strangely widened. "Well, suppressants in general are known for reducing the power an alpha can draw from his body during fight mode. They can hinder strength and speed and limit other natural reactions. It can surely put you at a disadvantage."

That sounded familiar. I raised my eyebrows. "Indeed, I've fought in fight mode already, and I didn't extend my claws."

"Yes. Well, without the suppressant, you'd be even more powerful, fueled by your mate glands, which aren't fully active right now."

"It's only twenty or thirty days. Why risk it?" Kay muttered, eyes fixed on the floor.

"That's your decision," Dr. Darren responded, pursing his lips. "I mentioned it only because you came here right after having some trouble and Mr. Nolan was forced to fight. So there is some danger you are dealing with."

Some unease washed over me. "Well, if the Dawson's find out they have no case against us, that the True Mate status did the trick, it may infuriate them," I murmured.

Dr. Darren spread his arms. "I'm just saying, the decision is yours."

I hesitated. "Is it safe?"

Dr. Darren took something from his drawer and stood up.

"Yes, it has only mild and very short-term side effects. Here's the list. We don't have an official package leaflet yet; it's just a printed version from lab tests. I'd be very grateful if you reported any issues."

We were both silent, and the doctor added, "None of the test subjects had any serious problems. There was a slight tingling in the glands and a feeling of passivity, but that was it. They all took the pills under our vigilant watch, and we monitored all their vitals. Everything was fine," he continued.

Sighing, I straightened up. "Okay, give it to me. The Dawsons can be unpredictable after they get the news. And on top of that, I'm pretty curious about how Kay's allure smells. It's a mystery to me." I smiled, but Kay didn't even raise his head.

Dr. Darren squeezed out a pill from a blister pack, and I quickly took it.

"Well, wonderful. Now, did you bring your gas bills? We'd like to pay for your trouble."

Kay stood up. "There's no need. Thank you for your assistance, Dr. Darren. It was nice to meet you."

"Likewise, likewise!" Darren hesitated. "Let me just say, you two make such a stunning couple. Like movie stars. You're both so lucky to have met your True Mate, and he turned out to be so handsome!"

"Truly lucky, indeed. Thank you, Dr. Darren. We'll be on our way," Kay muttered and turned away.

I nodded at the doctor, and we both left. In total silence, we headed toward the exit. As we passed it, I noticed the sign still sitting there, under the wall. I picked it up and carried it back to the guard's booth. When I returned to the car, Kay was already inside. Curiously enough, he was in the back seat, as if he didn't want to sit next to me during the trip.

I started the engine and merged into traffic.

"Do you want to stop somewhere and eat before we get back on the highway?"

"No," came a terse answer from the back.

I glanced at him in the rearview mirror and noticed his eyes were reddened. There was nothing to add without making it all worse. Kay was on edge, he didn't want to talk.

Soon, I turned left, heading toward the highway. The next two hours were spent in absolute silence. I felt dejected. I never suspected he would take such great news so badly. I expected some uneasiness, but totally shutting down, closing himself off from me?

Did he really think I was overshadowing Maurice?

But I also knew there was a time for his wave, and I could detect his pheromones much more intensely than before. I started to sense new things. A sweet, intoxicating scent began to fill the air. I was shocked to discover that Kay's natural allure wasn't the vanilla tinge I had sensed from the first day we met. I realized that was part of his pregnancy fragrance, but his natural pheromone essence was actually different and now piercing through it. It was a very distinctive smell, a blend of jasmine and lime flower aroma. The fresh, citrusy hint was dizzying, growing more potent with each passing quarter-hour.

The Seprudin 500 disappeared from my blood—I was now fully exposed to the rising power of Kay's pheromonal allure, and it dominated my senses.

Yep, we were indeed True Mates.

The scent perfectly complemented mine. It was like two halves coming together. I realized that he must have sensed mine too—and maybe a lot more strongly, since he was in a wave. If it was even half as wonderful for him as it was for me, he really had to be super strong-willed to pretend it didn't affect him.

I knew I shouldn't say anything bitter to him. My feelings, if shown, would look petty. I was expecting him to start opening up to me, but really—how quickly could I replace his husband in his heart? It seemed impossible. I needed to wait for his decision, for his hand to reach out. Too much pressure, and I could lose him.

As we turned onto the interstate, I glanced at him again in the rearview mirror. He had an impassive face and was looking through the window. His cheeks were pink, but his lips were tightened. I knew he was fighting his rising arousal. I waited and waited.

Fifteen minutes, twenty minutes, forty minutes! And nothing. His cheeks were solidly rosy, his lips deep red, and his eyes a bit glazed over, but he was resisting! I read somewhere that unresolved, the pregnancy arousal wave could continue even for two hours or more.

Feeling bad for him, I asked in as quiet and gentle a voice as I could, to avoid applying any pressure, "Do you need me, Kay?"

"No." His answer came quickly, in a nervous, almost angry tone. He lowered his head and fixed his eyes on the tablet.

I was so in tune with him that I felt part of his arousal in my body, and part of his irritation. Fighting it alone had to be hard, but I was truly hesitant to insist we have sex—not in his state of mind.

Soon, we were more than halfway back when he suddenly said, "Can you stop somewhere? I need fresh air."

Fresh air? Was my allure annoying him? Overwhelming?

"Sure."

Not that far away, I spotted the gas station we had visited earlier, just ahead. I stopped in the small parking lot next to the grocery store. Kay got out, and I followed him, but the moment I went around the car, a glow of light drew my attention.

Kay forgot to turn off his tablet screen, and a shape visible there caught my eye. I quickly opened the back door of the car and took a peek at the display. I was stunned—it was my portrait! A profile view, just like how Kay might have seen me sitting in the back seat; my face with a thoughtful, slightly sad expression. The sketch was really beautiful—probably made me look better than I did in real life. Or maybe that's how Kay saw me?

Why did he draw me?

He was so distracted, upset… yet what he was working on during our quiet drive was a portrait of me. It was a real mystery, but there wasn't time to think deeply about it. Kay was already approaching the grocery store, so I shut the car door and hurried after him.

He walked inside, and I trailed behind him in silence. The shop seemed empty except for the cashier, who stared at us with wide eyes. Kay ignored him and strolled down the narrow aisles, as if looking for something. I shadowed him silently. Kay stopped in the beverage section, checking out some juices. I watched him, lost in thought, confused.

Suddenly, two alphas emerged from either side of the shelf, approaching Kay, who flinched and took a small step back. They looked a bit familiar—had I seen them before?

"Hello, honey!" one of the alphas said with an ugly grin.

I stepped forward until my chest was against Kay's back.

"Oh, you have a boyfriend? But from what my nose can smell, he's not taking care of your needs, is he? The whole grocery store reeks like your sex pheromones, hon."

Kay stared at him with wide eyes.

In a low, growly voice, I said, "Okay, guys, leave him alone. He's pregnant. You need to back off."

"Do we? Maybe you can share him. Such a pretty face. It's a waste for just one alpha. So many more could enjoy him."

At that moment, I realized what was happening. The third alpha, the same one we had met earlier in the morning while waiting in line, joined them. He now appeared behind the others. So, they remembered us. It almost seemed like a trap.

"Oh, hello again, sunshine!" he said with narrowed eyes.

I leaned down and pressed my lips to Kay's left gland, licking his pheromones. I heard it could speed up coming into fighting mode, and I already knew I'd have to fight.

"Oh, come on! Don't spoil the fun!" said their 'leader', the tallest alpha, probably around 6'5''.

But strangely enough, I couldn't feel my muscles swell with blood, my body priming for a fight like before, during the beach attack. Nothing was happening!

"Please, leave us alone," Kay said loudly, though his voice betrayed subtle signs of fear.

"We'll be back with you, hon, as soon as we're done with your boyfriend." The leader smirked, his face twisted into an unpleasant grimace.

"Go away! I'm pregnant!"

"We can sense it, hon. Good, you'll be wetter for us."

Kay turned to me, wrapped his arms around me and looked pleadingly into my eyes. "Please, Rain. Protect me!" The pure horror in his eyes broke me. I growled and grabbed his arm, swiveling him behind me.

Adrenaline was pumping through my blood, but I didn't feel any of the typical changes in my body that would suggest I was entering fighting mode. To my shock, I realized my glands weren't working!

But I knew that I still had to save us somehow. I felt Kay, pressed against my back, pull out my phone from my pocket, probably discreetly trying to call the police.

"Something isn't right, Kay. My glands don't work," I mumbled to him, but I couldn't wait any longer or hope for a miracle. The fight was imminent, and they were closing in on us. So, I grabbed a couple of glass bottles from the shelves and stood with my arms spread wide.

"You have to come through me!" I roared, but it didn't sound half as low and demonic as during my fight with the Dawsons!

"Don't be so overdramatic, dude! We just want to cuddle him a bit, and then we'll let you go!" The leader laughed but his amusement quickly faded. Anger powered me enough—despite the lack of extra strength from my glands. I threw a bottle at him, and I didn't miss. The bottle hit him in the nose with such force that it seemingly broke! The man fell down…

Both of his sidekicks jumped at me, pulling out knives from their pockets. Having only seconds to act, I grabbed a six-pack of mineral water from the shelf, and one of the blades went into the bottle on the front—water spurted from the hole, obscuring the view. The other one ran around his friend and swung the knife at me. It slid over the plastic and scratched my hand. I managed to knee-kick his wrist, but the weapon didn't fall from his hand; I didn't do it with enough force. Enraged, he swung at me again, and this time I felt the blade graze my forehead, blood streaming down immediately.

I knew I was in big trouble. The second guy was already charging at me, and their leader was standing up. In an unpleasant realization, I recalled what Kay said about Maurice and how he once fought three alphas at once, and he was an actual martial artist—I was not! I knew I definitely needed a gun permit in the future if I survived this. And that was a big if.

Agitated, I was swirling around now with the six-pack of mineral water as my shield and a glass bottle in my right hand. They were attacking me like maniacs, knives flashing in the air. Fortunately, the narrow aisles worked to my advantage. Once I pressed myself between the shelves with juices, I was able to fend off their attacks, as they could only come at me one by one. At a certain point, the knife of their 'leader' got stuck so deep in the plastic that I managed to pry it out of his grip. I used the moment perfectly. Throwing the six-pack to the floor, I grabbed another glass bottle from the shelf and hit him on the head with such force that the bottle shattered in my hand, creating a 'tulip-like' improvised weapon with sharp edges. The alpha was hit so hard that he fell to the floor—but I had no break—the next one attacked me, stomping over the fallen alpha. I didn't have a shield from the six-pack anymore, but the view of the lying alpha added to my hope. Maybe I could still win this? I rammed into the one coming at me, surprising him, and his hand bent aside. I stabbed his right palm with the glass 'tulip', cutting deeply into his flesh. He roared and jumped aside, falling to his knees. He couldn't use his right hand anymore, and the knife fell from his grip. I jumped over him, but… the leader was already standing up, charging at me! With horror, I realized I wouldn't be able to cover myself in time, the knife was on its way—but suddenly, the six-pack was pushed back into my hands—it was Kay!

Armed with that, and with a wild growl, I charged at the last guy, using the plastic 'shield' which was now spraying water everywhere. It was a great distraction as the water hit his face. In a split second, I saw my chance. I lunged at him, pushing him to the ground. Instinctively, he tried to save himself from the hard fall by sticking his hand behind him, causing his knife to fall to the floor. Kay kicked it aside with lightning speed. My glass tulip also fell from my hand as we hit the floor, but now I was on top of him and didn't hesitate, punching him in the face with all my strength.

And I didn't stop—hitting him like a machine, one punch after another, until his face became a bloody pulp (I guess it was my thing!). I didn't have fighting-mode strength, but I was dizzyingly high on adrenaline anyway.

Between punches, I heard the police shouting at me to stop.

So, I stopped, feeling strangely disoriented.

I slowly turned my head (and I must have looked like a menace with blood covering my entire face), but not toward the police—toward Kay. He stood next to the chiller with cold sodas, eyes wide. Our gazes met. Despite not being in fighting mode, I was still excited enough to emit a low, grumbling sound that meant: "You're mine."

He responded right away with the sound: "And you're mine."

"Call the True Mate Government Agency!" I breathed out. "Or they'll separate us!"

A couple of policemen came closer. I stood up, hands in the air. Kay, however, jumped toward them, pulling our certificate from his wallet.

"Officers! I was threatened with rape, I'm pregnant, and my True Mate protected me! That's our certificate!" One of the officers, an alpha, probably already sensed Kay's intense pregnant allure, as his nostrils flared. I moved toward Kay and wrapped my bloody hands around him.

The shop clerk shyly peeked from behind the policeman and said, "We have it all on the shop cameras. We can watch it."

The officer frowned. "Sure, one thing at a time." He eyed me and tilted his head. "You're not in fighting mode. So you beat them while fully lucid?"

"I can explain! I think it's a side effect of an antidote drug I used recently—"

The policeman shook his head and almost snorted in amusement. "Oh, so convenient, right? The explanation can wait a sec. We need to call for medics, but we probably need to go to the precinct anyway."

"No!" I growled. "I won't let you separate us. My mate's in a fragile state."

"You have no say in this, alpha."

Kay quickly took out his phone and started to call. I almost had a déjà vu moment. The local police wouldn't be keen on us, that's for sure—probably siding with the attackers and maybe even knowing them well. "You'll have to kill me before you touch him," I said, narrowing my eyes.

Another policeman chuckled. "Nobody's gonna touch him, hold your horses, fire-eater."

"I don't believe you. He has a powerful allure, and he's pregnant! It can be beyond your control!"

Behind me, I heard Kay on the phone. "My name is Kay Sanders. I'm with my boyfriend in a grocery store by the Shell gas station in Salton. We need help; I may be separated from my True Mate. We have our certificate, but the officer is ignoring it. My mate protected me from rape, and now they want to take us to the precinct—" He listened for a few seconds while the other officers let the paramedics in to take care of the wounded alphas lying on the floor, cursing rather loudly.

"I can't go now, I have a pregnancy wave, I may be endangered—" Kay muttered nervously.

Another alpha policeman, who watched it all with an unfriendly grimace, came closer. He demanded our IDs and started writing something on his pad.

Kay finished his conversation with the Agency and said to me, "They'll be here in half an hour. We're lucky. They have a unit branch ten miles from here."

I smirked triumphantly at the policeman, who had also listened to the conversation. He now looked seriously pissed.

"You jackasses think you're above the law?" he growled. "True Mates or not, you can't just go around and—"

Kay responded with a growl, though it was an omega growl, much higher-pitched than an alpha growl. To me, it sounded kinda sexy!

"If they didn't want to rape me, we wouldn't have a problem! You should be on the side of the victim, not the rapists slashing my mate with knives, officer!"

"Walking around with such a strong allure isn't wise, Mr. Sanders. Wouldn't you agree?"

I had to step in. "We're on the way home. We don't have the best conditions to deal with this matter, officer," I said with a raspy voice, even though we both knew we could have handled it better.

I could see Kay's lips tighten. He must've felt guilty.

"It's your duty to take care of it and not become a public disturbance!"

"You're out of line, officer. Kay can't control when the waves come, and it doesn't justify their behavior!"

Another policeman approached us. "We can watch the camera recordings now. The clerk has access."

We all went to the backroom, Kay's fingers entwined with mine, he was tightly holding my hand.

On the monitor, we saw Kay and me near the chiller, and the alphas approaching us. Kay took a step back, and I pulled him behind me. Then I took the bottle and spread my arms. And I threw the bottle at the face of one of the alphas.

"It looks like you were the first one to attack," the policeman said with a smug smirk. "So, no fighting mode, and you started it. We may still have a case."

"You didn't hear what was said! He said after they finished with my boyfriend, they'd come for me. And it's good I'm pregnant because I'd be wetter!" Kay hissed.

The policeman didn't react, only the clerk stared at us with great curiosity. Such an interesting one-on-three alpha fight probably wasn't a frequent sight in this town.

The next part of the recording clearly wasn't to the officer's liking. It was evident that I was defending myself against their group attack, knives were flashing in the air. The recording stopped when the first policeman arrived. They had to be pretty close to the gas station.

"But you were the one who started the physical altercation, anyway," one of the cops murmured.

All three policemen stood next to us, watching the recording, but I could sense their unease. Kay's allure was really strong now, practically filling the air.

"Do you seriously believe I'd attack three alphas armed with knives without a real threat?" I asked.

"You can feel my allure, right? Think they couldn't? And they weren't exactly polite about it!" Kay growled.

"As I said, you should've dealt with this in the back of your van. It's large enough," the officer replied.

"Kay didn't know when the wave would hit. We were already in the store," I protested, but he cut me off.

"Don't lie. The clerk is an omega. He said the moment Mr. Sanders came inside, the whole shop was filled with his intense allure."

I snorted. "So what? It started on the way here. We can't just have sex in public."

"You should've gone back to the car. It has a tinted back window."

"The hell we should! You can't tell us what to do. What shouldn't happen is treating a pregnant omega this way, endangering the unborn child and terrorizing us!" I raised my voice.

I caught Kay's gaze, but I could also feel him through the Bond—he was astonished and touched.

Just as the policeman was about to respond, the door opened, and a small omega in his fifties entered with furrowed brows. "Mr. Sanders? I'm Norman Miller from the Agency."

He came closer, and Kay immediately handed him our True Mates certificate.

"Yes, we've been waiting for you. I'm Kay Sanders, and this is my boyfriend, Rain Nolan. I was threatened with gang rape by three local alphas, and my True Mate defended me," Kay said.

The omega's nostrils flared. "You're pregnant."

"Yes, I was hit by a wave here. Does our status as True Mates help in case the police want to separate us?"

"Well, that doesn't even matter in this situation. An omega during pregnancy can't be separated from his partner, so the police can't take you to the precinct, and… they know it. The law is clear."

The policeman snarled. "You always interfere in our matters. He attacked them first!"

"He was defending his mate. You have no jurisdiction over True Mate couples, so you will release them right now."

"I need to take their statements!"

"You can do it here. No need to separate them." Mr. Miller obviously knew the drill and wasn't easily intimidated by the police. The law was on his side anyway.

He turned away from the officer and said to me, "I am curious why you're not in fighting mode. After such a fight, you should be for at least forty-five minutes, but your eyes aren't red."

My gaze shifted between Kay and Mr. Miller. "I think we had the worst luck. I suspect the antidote to Seprudin 500 blocked my glands, but I need to check the package leaflet."

Mr. Miller raised his eyebrows. "Seprudin 500?"

Kay quickly reacted, "I'll bring it!" He rushed to the car and soon returned with the small box Dr. Darren gave us.

Annoyed, I took the leaflet and read it, feeling my heart rate rise a bit.

"Yeah, well, obviously Dr. Darren downplayed it. He said the medication might cause some temporary side effects, nothing too serious. However, it's emphasized here as 'tests done in a controlled testing facility', so how could they know anything about fighting mode circumstances? I don't expect one of the test subjects went berserk just because the air conditioner in the lab was set 2 degrees too high!"

Mr. Miller checked the leaflet over my shoulder, and snorted. "The antidote to the notorious Seprudin? I know this drug well. Our organization issued a petition to block this product. It has a strong effect and significantly lowers the probability of recognizing one's True Mate by reducing the First Touch effect, among other things."

"Well, that doesn't concern me. Offering me this antidote while I'm traveling with an omega in the middle of pregnancy waves and making me practically useless—that was pretty reckless. And indeed, I had to fight those guys without being in fighting mode. If I hadn't had the advantage of those aisles, things could've gone south really fast!"

Mr. Miller nodded sympathetically. "A knife fight is no joke, I agree."

Kay growled. "I kinda understand! They tested it in a controlled lab environment, but you're a real test field. Perfect, now they can add the side effect to their list at no cost."

"If we report it!" I winced.

Mr. Miller spread his arms. "You should. As I said, the True Mate Government Agency is fighting with Seprudin's makers. They're a big corporation. Our mission is to help more people find their mates, not fewer. They just don't care. They're meddling with people's chances by using misinformation."

"Well, some people may choose to use suppressants for their private reasons. There are even people who don't want to find their True Mates. There's this organization called 'Highs over Trues'," I muttered.

"We don't have a problem with that—everyone has the right to choose—but that's not the essence of the issue. This company is terrible at fully informing people about how their products work, which borders on a lack of informed consent. If a patient doesn't know what he's taking and its effects, it's problematic. For example, the original Seprudin leaflet doesn't mention that the First Orgasm under the influence of this drug is no different from a regular strong heat orgasm. And for both partners, even if only one is using the drug. There's no electrical discharge, no white-blue light, so the Bond takes weeks to develop instead of kicking in right away. People often don't know they're True Mates; if it was just a hookup, they might part ways without exchanging contact information and then… they die from separation and a high level of veradiol in their system. We have seen such cases, and they are on the rise. Without Seprudin, they'd know immediately. It's currently the strongest suppressant on the market. Other suppressants can cause mild drowsiness or apathy, so they have trouble 'competing' with it."

Mr. Miller was clearly very passionate and well-informed about Seprudin-related issues. Both Kay and I listened to him with our mouths open.

"I had no idea, but everything you mentioned fits. The First Orgasm was strong, but there were no electrical discharges around!" I exclaimed, a bit shocked. Had Seprudin robbed us of this unique experience?

"And can you find that information in the leaflet? No. They're not being transparent, and that's why we're fighting them. Ever since they got a new CEO, they've become even more competitive and ruthless. This guy is like an ascetic monk, focused on a mission, on generating profits—"

"That's really concerning. They should be informing people honestly about these side effects. I hope you can bring attention to this issue," Kay said in a serious tone, with furrowed brows.

Mr. Miller smiled and nodded. "We try all the time! The fact that they want to market this antidote and don't know that it blocks fighting mode is a prime example of their reckless practices."

Our three stood there, with me holding the leaflet and rolling it absentmindedly.

Suddenly, Kay muttered, "Despite not having the benefit of fighting mode, you… fought with everything you had. Thank you, I… really respect you for it."

My eyes widened. I didn't expect him to say that, especially since he wasn't in a very friendly mood before, but now his energy was different, more… dazzled. Kay's whole aura had somewhat changed, his eyes fixed on my face with a rising determination, although I had no idea what it was exactly.

"But if not for your help, Kay, I would've been stabbed by their leader. It should be me thanking you for the… six-pack shield." I smiled softly.

Silence fell, and we stared at each other. His eyes were wide and glassy.

"We were a team," I whispered.

There was a deepening blush on Kay's cheeks as he nodded shyly.

"Yes, we were a team."

Mr. Miller raised his eyebrow and smirked. "Well, the most important thing is that it all ended well."

For a moment, we ignored him and continued to stare at each other. I was relieved that, even under such terrible circumstances, the energy between us had shifted and Kay wasn't as stressed anymore.

After half an hour of giving statements and enduring angry glares from the local police, we were finally released. We said goodbye to Mr. Miller, who gave us a hotline number dedicated to True Mates. He also suggested we get a card to formally confirm our status as True Mates, with an official chip. He gave us the website link to fill out the forms.

When he drove away, we turned toward the car.

As we approached the van, Kay opened the back door, which surprised me a bit. He went inside and sat on his bent knees. I followed him and sat in front of him in the same manner. He had a small bottle of mineral water in his hand, and his face appeared focused and emotional at the same time. After he locked the door, he moved closer to me.

In silence, he cleaned my forehead and the scratches on my left hand with a tissue. Then he said with emphasis, "Rain, I wanted to truly apologize. My behavior was reckless and emotional, and I—" His voice became shaky.

"You don't have to apologize, Kay! You have the right to deal with emotions in your own way. It was news of epic proportions, life-changing. I know how hard it all hit you—"

Kay interrupted me.

"No! That's no excuse. I endangered us both with my stupid outburst. But you… you did everything right. You defended me, lied for me, argued with them for me. Despite being hindered by the antidote, you fought with everything you had, and you were unequivocally on my side. It means the world to me, Rain. You truly are my fated mate. I felt your unwavering support and protection all the time."

I didn't answer, feeling slightly perplexed, but he moved closer and sat astride on my thighs, cupping my face with his hands.

"Thank you, Rain. You didn't fail me. You didn't disappoint me. Not once, no matter the test I threw at you, consciously or not. You are perfect."

Blinking, I was out of my words.

"I apologize, Rain, I am truly sorry. I will do everything I can to make us work."

Then he leaned in, and his lips grazed mine for the first time. I literally froze.

He pulled back and smiled softly, peering into my widened eyes. "Yes, I know you wanted the kiss… So many times, I could feel how you fought off the temptation."

Swallowing hard, I muttered, "Yes, but I decided to wait until you were sure. I want you to be one hundred percent ready, Kay. Don't rush anything. I can wait, I will be there for you no matter what."

"I know and appreciate it, but I am truly ready. For it and for even more."

Kay leaned down and his soft, warm lips pressed gently against mine. At first, it was just a fleeting contact of surfaces, light and caressing, but then his tongue slid into my mouth, shy and searching at the same time; he tasted so delicious. I gasped into his mouth, almost overwhelmed. Damn, it was a sweet and dizzying feeling—the kiss was perfect. Despite my body still being affected by the effects of the fight and the aching knife cuts on my hands, I felt heavenly, my pulse racing along with my hunger for more.

Kay tore his lips from mine, a great intensity painted all over his face. Without hesitation, he pulled his pants down—he was already hard, his wave long overdue, then he quickly unzipped my pants as well and straddled me again.

"I want you, Rain," he whispered.

And we kissed again, passionately, his sweet lips almost crushing mine, his wet tongue swirling with mine. It was a blissful feeling, and surprisingly wild! I had never seen this side of him before, with his usually very passive, subdued behavior.

Suddenly, he lifted his hips and grabbed my shaft, looking deep into my eyes. The tip of it grazed his opening, dripping wet, swollen, pulsating—and then inch by inch, Kay impaled himself on my dick. For a moment, he just sat there, having me deep inside him, his breathing ragged. After that, without breaking eye contact, he began to slowly move up and down on my shaft.

Our eye-lock was surprisingly sensual and intense. But even more than arousal, I felt a wave of joy, knowing that it was his own choice to ride me, to take the initiative in sex. He was an active side for the first time, and it made me almost drunk with happiness.

Kay's inside was so wet and hot, massaging me and making me moan, his movements smooth and almost elegant as he rode me beautifully, just as I had imagined so many times.

His slender hips rose over my dick, his slender thighs flexing as he worked perfectly, in a steady and very steamy rhythm.

"You called me boyfriend, in front of them," I managed to whisper, feeling like I was on the verge of exploding into his tightness and fighting it with everything I had.

The view I had of him on top of me was like a wet fantasy… I had trouble concentrating.

"Because you are… for me," he replied breathlessly, tilting his head back, his cock pulsing and his hole rippling as he came, with a long sweet moan, and I joined him, falling deeper into him… and maybe even for him?