SKYE

I woke up to the soft, peachy-pink light filling the room. I looked at Soren, lying in my arms, his head resting on my shoulder, his long black hair spilling over my chest. He was here, with me. My dream was fulfilled, at least the first stage of it, the rest I had to work hard to build myself. Slowly and carefully, I got up and headed to the shower.

Afterward, I made breakfast, put it on a tray and went back to the room where Soren was still sleeping. He stirred when he heard my footsteps, his pale face turning toward me, looking apathetic.

"Breakfast for you, sleepyhead," I said, trying to put on a happy face.

I sat down next to him and placed the tray on his lap.

"Thank you," Soren mumbled quietly, looking strangely uncomfortable, oh how well I knew this expression.

He seemed calmer but still a bit sad. His thoughtful eyes drifted to the tray. He reached for the coffee cup and lifted it to his lips. I stayed silent, watching him.

Soren ate for a while, then his gaze fell on the violin case lying on top of the wardrobe.

"Will you play something for me?" he asked.

I winced slightly because I hadn't practiced much lately, I had tuned the violin about a week ago, but I was hoping it would sound decent.

"Alright, I can play, but I'm not warmed up, so I might be a bit rusty."

I took the instrument out of its case, stood by the window, and raised it to my shoulder. I started playing slowly—"A Thousand Years" by Christina Perri, violin cover—noticing with some surprise that my fingers didn't feel as stiff as usual, despite the lack of practice.

Soren watched and listened for a while, even pausing from eating his breakfast.

When I finished, he said, "Do you like these ancient songs?"

Unsure how to answer, I shrugged. "Well, I like the lyrics. Especially the part about 'I have died every day waiting for you' and ‘all along I believed I would find you.'"

His eyes roamed over my face for a while, but he didn't comment on the lyrics.

"My dad used to play beautifully. He started teaching me even though he had very little time since he was the one supporting us. But after the accident, he never picked up the violin again."

I put the instrument back in its case and sat down next to him again.

"What happened to your dad?" I asked.

"Car accident. He lost the use of both legs and one arm. He couldn't work and had back problems… He suffered a lot. The pain was so intense it drained his will to live."

"How old were you then?"

"Nine."

I froze. I hadn't realized Soren was so young when all this happened. For some reason, I assumed he had to be older—at least a teenager. How else could he have managed everything?

"Did you have any help?" I asked.

"The Omega Aid Agency sent a nurse to help with my dad's hygiene needs, but I had to do the rest—cleaning, shopping, cooking, going to school on my own. He couldn't even attend parent-teacher meetings; he only spoke with the school principal online."

I blinked in shock, realizing that Soren's life had been much harder than I'd imagined.

"Oh my God, Soren. You really had no one to help you?"

Soren shook his head. "My dad was an only child. He had no siblings, and both my grandparents were already gone."

"And your alpha father?"

"He's gone too. He was a soldier and died during an overseas mission."

"How did you get by financially? Was there a pension?"

"My parents weren't married. My alpha father was a… stud. Very handsome guy. He got five omegas pregnant, so I have a lot of half-siblings, but I don't know any of them well. We met during our father's funeral and later when our granddad died. I was also invited to some weddings, but there is no close bond. I didn't get any money from my father, I only inherited a small sum from my granddad, who left a bit to all of my father's illegitimate children, which covered two years of my tuition. So money was tight, and I was always taking on part-time jobs from the time I was fourteen. My dad worked online as a text editor. He had one functioning hand, and that's how he supported us."

I was quiet for a while, unsure of what to say. Soren finished eating and stared at the empty tray.

"I'm sorry, Soren. I can't even imagine what it must have felt like to have so much responsibility fall on you… You had to grow up fast."

Soren stayed silent, now fixing his eyes on the wall opposite the bed. A framed photograph of my family hung there, showing all of us smiling on the porch of my childhood home. I felt strange, knowing that he didn't have such a support system and that his upbringing was so different from mine. I used to complain about my situation—growing up with so many siblings with wildly different personalities—but Soren had real reasons to be upset. His rough childhood would certainly shape anyone's character and outlook on life.

"He died one and a half years ago," Soren continued, "after another unsuccessful surgery that was supposed to fix his constant pain. I don't have anyone. I only had Anton and Liam throughout high school and most of college, but Anton left too, soon after my dad died. And Liam… well, you know the rest of the story." Soren trailed off and pressed his lips together.

Suddenly, it all clicked in my head—the understanding of Soren's deeply stressful reaction to the thought of losing another person in his life, especially someone who had been present for almost a decade. He didn't want to push Liam away—that's why he was ready to sacrifice his own happiness and play along with the ‘platonic boyfriend' scenario. But at the same time, he didn't want to lose me either, and that was his dilemma. Have his cake and eat it too?

Even though I had backed him into a corner, and anyone else in their right mind would have told me to fuck off, he stayed. This realization gave me a new perspective on Soren. It helped me better understand his fears and why he clung so desperately to the people in his life, even when it didn't always make sense.

"I won't leave you," I whispered, reaching for his hand.

Soren laughed bitterly. "Everyone says that, but there's always a way out for anyone. You can't control everything in life."

"But you can try. I know what I want. I want you in my life. I want to be with you."

"We'll see. Time will tell."

He looked down at our intertwined hands. My finger gently brushed over his tattooed wrist, and something caught my attention—did the scar there seem flatter? I didn't dare mention it, not wanting to lead to a conversation he might not be ready for. His fingers moved slightly in response to my touch, and his eyes slowly lifted to meet mine.

I could feel the electricity increasing in the air. Soren slowly pulled the blanket down, exposing his chest. My eyes fell on his hard, dark pink nipples.

I couldn't take my eyes off them, so I stared unabashedly.

"Do you want to touch me?" he asked in a velvety, sensual tone. "I love it when you suck on them. Will you make me cum like this?"

My pulse quickened in a second. There was something fascinatingly naughty about the way he could change his demeanor from dejected to lascivious in a matter of seconds.

"I'm on board," I blurted out, grabbing the tray to toss it aside.

And then I did exactly what he asked me to do.

***

The next week passed in a strange, quiet way—almost peaceful. Our relationship seemed to stabilize somehow.

Soren was mostly silent. We didn't talk much, but we spent hours each day making love—slowly, gently, tenderly. We kissed a lot, especially while I was inside him. Sometimes I'd be moving within him, and our mouths would stay locked together. Just as he found relaxation and escape in it, I learned to see it the same way.

So, we spent long, lazy hours like that, connected, merged into one, lost in pleasure, not thinking about anything, moving from one orgasm to the next.

We were both waiting.

Each day felt like a countdown to something inevitable… Ten days. Fifteen. Twenty. Soren marked those days on a wall calendar he found in a closet that came with our apartment. The closet had a few things left behind by an older omega, including that paper calendar. The dates didn't match, but Soren hung it up anyway. It showed a panorama of our city—the same view we once saw from the hill we climbed together. He marked the passing days with crosses, counting down to… the expected miscarriage. He never said it out loud, but it was obvious.

One day, something seemingly insignificant happened. In our department, there was a monthly raffle organized among the employees. Anyone could participate, and various items were raffled off—sometimes not very useful—just funny gadgets to add a little extra fun to the workplace. Afterward, people would talk about who won what.

Once, I decided to join in without expecting much. But on Friday, when the results were announced, I saw my name next to one of the prizes. I was stunned to see that I'd won… a nesting kit!

I went down to the HR department, where they were distributing the prizes. As I approached the door, I passed Sariel Lowen, who was holding a small glass figurine—he had obviously won. I murmured a quiet 'hi' as I walked by, and he responded, a little surprised by my greeting, his mint-colored eyes swept over my face. My mood was definitely better those days, even though my situation with Soren wasn't perfect. But I felt like we were getting somewhere, so I had no reason to be grumpy around my co-workers.

When I entered the HR room and saw what my prize was, I was quite shocked by its size. The package was enormous!

The huge box contained at least thirty colorful throw pillows, sashes, and bright, sturdy ropes, plus a few blankets and scarves! The colors were beautiful—I have to admit—vibrant but not too intense: lovely shades of mint, turquoise, emerald, lime green, bottle-green, sea green, and more.

There were two omegas in the HR department, and they blushed when they saw me. Of course—there was still that social taboo around nesting. This wasn't something an alpha should be involved with, and the world wouldn't let me forget it. Feeling awkward as hell, I muttered, "A perfect gift for Dad…"

I was met with deep silence. Somehow, I managed to carry—or rather drag—the huge box out with me. I got it down to my car and stuffed it in the trunk, but of course, part of it stuck out. The box bulged over the seats, its contents clearly visible.

After work, when Soren came down to the car with me, he got in, then suddenly turned around and opened his mouth. "What's this?!"

I sighed in embarrassment. "I won it in the raffle. Just ignore it. It's a nesting kit for omegas."

Soren blinked and muttered, "Nice colors."

"That's what I thought, too."

And that was the end of that situation. I hauled the box up to my apartment and stuffed it in the empty closet in the hallway. I decided I'd give it to my dad for his birthday.

At the time, it didn't seem like anything more would come of it.

***

A few days later, an important date came around. It had been a full month since Soren's heat. That day, I decided to bring up something that had been bothering me more and more. So, I sat down at the kitchen table after serving him dinner and said,

"Would you be willing to go see a doctor with me?"

Soren jerked his head up from his plate, his gray eyes locking onto mine like a hawk's.

"For what purpose?! I've been to the doctors so many times, and it's never changed anything."

"But would you do it for me? I've never been to that kind of appointment," I said quietly, moving my plate away.

He sighed, irritated. "What's the point? So you can listen to its heartbeat? Or so you can get attached to it?" Oh, how bitter he sounded, even though his reaction wasn't surprising, still it somewhat hit me, so I closed my eyes, feeling strange.

"I just want to know it existed, even if it disappears quickly. I want that memory because it means something, right? Like a candle that burns out fast, but I'll keep the memory alive. It'll make it… more special, more real. It'll bring it out of nothingness."

Soren cursed under his breath and stood up abruptly from the table.

"No! I won't be tormented! I won't be dragged into this again, these false hopes, these attempts to find meaning where there isn't any. I just want to stop thinking about it. That's all I want, Skye… for it to be already over!"

I watched him for a moment, almost physically sensing that he was trembling inside. But I also felt something else, something strange, very unexpected. Deep down, Soren wanted to bring that small life out of nothingness just as much as I did. Our odd quasi-telepathic connection told me that without a doubt. A part of him was aching for it to mean more than just… fleeting pain.

"You've been through this before, this loss, and you don't want to go through it again. I respect that. But would you agree to go to the appointment with me? After the exam, you could leave and wait in the hallway while I talk to the doctor. You wouldn't have to be involved. It would be just for me—"

"But why?!" he burst out. "Why do you want to stir this up? Why do you want to torture yourself? It doesn't make sense. In another month, it'll all be gone, vanished into the void…" His lips trembled.

I stared down at my plate, feeling a sharp pain in my heart. At that moment, I knew he felt it too. Whatever this bond between us was, it seemed to be growing stronger, working both ways—connecting us tightly. Now every intense emotion could be felt vividly and clearly.

Soren stared at me for a long time, struggling with it. Then he walked over to the window and looked out. The city was already glittering with evening lights, a soft glow painted across the gray sky, distant and elusive.

"Ugh, here I am, being a selfish bitch again. I guess you have a right to experience your share of the loss, too." He sighed, resigned. "Fine, I agree. We can go to the appointment. I'll let the doctor examine me, then I'll leave and wait in the hallway. "

"Thank you," I whispered, lowering my head.

"Well, out of all the things you've asked of me, this is definitely one of those you should thank me for. It's a big sacrifice on my part," he said coldly.

"That's why I'm thanking you. I really appreciate it. I know how much it costs you."

He looked out the window for a moment, then said quietly, "Now, take me to bed. I want to forget. I don't want to think."

So, I did what he asked.

***

Two days later, we went to the doctor, who happened to be Finn Delgado's brother—yep, the same Finn, Winter's ex. Jim Delgado was an omega, which was one of the reasons I wanted him to be the one to examine Soren. From what I'd heard, Soren's previous doctor was a beta.

Before the appointment, I called Jim and explained the arrangement we wanted for the visit. I also briefly told him about Soren's history of miscarriages. Jim expressed his sympathy, said he understood, and promised to accommodate us. He assured me that he'd conduct the examination without any unnecessary comments, and that Soren could leave and wait in the hallway afterward.

When we arrived at the clinic, I could tell Soren was nervous. I took his hand and held it the whole time. He sat there, staring at the opposite wall, his body tense. Then the receptionist called us in, and we went into the office.

Jim stood up from behind his desk and came over to greet us.

"Soren, this is Dr. Jim Delgado. He's a family friend," I said, a little vaguely. "Jim, this is Soren Einarson, my boyfriend," I introduced him that way, even though Soren and I had never officially used that term between us. Soren didn't object and lay down on the exam table as Dr. Jim instructed.

But then Jim said, "I'd prefer not to do the exam through the abdominal wall. It would be more accurate to do it transrectally."

Soren got up and went behind the privacy screen. A moment later, he came out, dressed in a special examination gown.

Jim gestured for him to lie down again. I could see the tension in Soren's body—he was very pale. I moved to the other side of the exam table and held his hand, which was cold and clammy. Soren didn't look at the ultrasound screen, and honestly, it didn't make much sense to me either. I saw a dark spot that seemed to catch Jim's attention, but I didn't understand the rest. Jim was also measuring the size of Soren's uterus and checking a few other things, but I had no experience with this kind of exam, so I just ignored the screen.

Dr. Jim then pulled out a small device, similar to one used to check blood sugar levels. "Do you mind if I take a small blood sample?" he asked.

Soren silently extended his hand, and the doctor pricked his finger. "Thank you, that's all," Dr. Delgado said with a kind smile.

Soren didn't reply. He just went behind the screen to change back into his clothes. After a moment, he said to me in a grim tone, "I'll be waiting in the hallway," and headed out of the room.

Jim and I were left alone. He invited me to sit in the chair by his desk, and after typing something on his keyboard for a while, he said, "I'm going to take a closer look at the ultrasound images from Soren's previous appointments. If you don't mind."

"Of course, I'll wait," I murmured.

For a few minutes, Dr. Delgado carefully studied the images and the accompanying notes from Soren's previous doctor. Then he went over to the machine where he'd placed the blood sample earlier, printed a small piece of paper, and returned to his desk.

"It looks like we have a different situation here compared to before," he said to me.

"What do you mean?"

"The previous images show a different shape of the uterus—it was smaller. Now, it's the normal size for this stage of pregnancy. I don't see any abnormalities, but the most significant difference is in the hormone levels." He turned the monitor toward me, showing me results from before Soren's second miscarriage. "The levels were very low, barely higher than outside of pregnancy. But now, they're within the normal range for the first month of gestational period in omegas. None of Soren's previous pregnancies had those levels anywhere near this high. There were slight fluctuations, but nothing significant. All his past miscarriages followed a similar pattern, but here we have something different."

I stared at him wide-eyed. "What exactly does that mean?"

Dr. Jim sighed. "I don't want to give you false hope because we have no idea what caused the hormone increase. But at the moment, Soren's pregnancy isn't threatened. Everything looks normal, whereas in these previous cases, there were already significant issues at this stage."

"Are you saying there's a chance Soren could carry this pregnancy to term?"

"If the hormone levels stay consistent, there's no reason he shouldn't. Hormones are mainly responsible for the growth of the uterus, and in their absence, his previous pregnancies ended in miscarriage because it just stopped growing."

"Is there any way to support this with synthetic hormones?"

"From what I see, they tried that during his second pregnancy, but it didn't help, and it still ended in miscarriage."

"So, could the same thing happen this time, despite the higher hormone levels?"

"No one can rule anything out at this stage. Soren's history is complicated, so I'm cautious. But his hormone levels are now comparable to those found in the blood during a healthy omega's gestation. And natural hormones are stronger than synthetic ones, so this is a good sign."

"I think Soren should hear this."

Jim spread his hands. "Are you sure you want to give him that hope?"

"No, but it would be wrong to keep this information from him. It's his body, after all."

The doctor nodded in understanding and said, "Then bring him in, and I'll explain what I just told you."

I stepped out into the hallway, where Soren was waiting, bent over as if in pain. His face was pale, and there were dark circles under his eyes. I hadn't seen him look this miserable in a long time.

"Soren, can you come back in? Dr. Delgado has something to tell you."

"What is it? I'd rather not drag this out—"

"It's not bad news, I promise. Please, come in—it's worth it."

Soren stood up, but I saw him sway, like he was about to faint. This was taking more out of him than I'd realized. Guilt washed over me as I put my arm around him and guided him back to the office. When we sat down, Soren unexpectedly… sat on my lap! The wave of emotions that hit me was overwhelming. This one little thing made me realize that my ‘kidnapping' of him may not have destroyed all the trust between us, which was… comforting.

On one hand, I was touched by this display of trust; on the other, I started to feel even more protective and responsible for the situation. I had dragged the poor guy here, so how he felt now was on me. I tightly wrapped my arms around him and softly kissed his cheek. Soren closed his eyes and leaned on me, and I held him even closer.

Dr. Jim Delgado watched our interaction attentively for a moment before saying, "I'd like to ask you a few questions, Soren. Some of them will be very personal."

"I'm listening," Soren replied in a rough voice.

"There are theories among biologists that a very close and intense relationship between a beta and an alpha can trigger a phenomenon known as Omega Awakening Syndrome."

Soren remained silent, resting his head on my shoulder, avoiding Jim's gaze. It was incredibly moving that in these emotional moments, Soren sought comfort in me, trusting me in such a primal way. It gave me… almost a thrill, a feeling of happiness, amidst all of this stress.

"It's been observed in several cases that certain traits in betas can change while in such relationships. Their senses improve, and their neck glands enlarge and become more active. Many betas with Omega Awakening Syndrome can conceive, often successfully carrying to term."

"I was in a relationship with an alpha before, but I had several miscarriages anyway."

Jim stayed silent for a moment. "Well, when did your relationship start, and how long did it last?"

"From junior year in high school until halfway through sophomore year of college."

"That's likely the reason you're having these mini-heats at all. Teenage betas who remain in sexual relationships with alphas, especially around the time when their glands mature, are prone to experience some forms of heats more often than others."

Soren made a strange face. "So, it's all my ex's fault—my mini-heats?"

"It probably stimulated the awakening of some omega traits in you, yes," Dr. Jim said, tilting his head. "And this is the part where I have to ask you a personal question."

The doctor glanced at me meaningfully.

I cleared my throat. "If Soren prefers, I can leave the room," I offered, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable.

"No," Soren suddenly said. "I want you to stay."

Dr. Jim nodded. "Okay. How often did you have sex with your previous partner during the pregnancies?"

I noticed Soren shift uneasily.

"Soren, seriously, I can leave. You don't have to answer that in front of me," I added more softly, but he shook his head again.

"When I first got pregnant, we were pretty active, maybe once every two days? But then, as I realized what the chances were, I got depressed and ended up in a bad mood throughout the whole second and third pregnancy, so… I don't know. Maybe once, twice a week at most…"

Dr. Delgado took some notes, then asked, "And in your current relationship, how often are you intimate?"

I saw a faint blush creep up Soren's cheeks as he replied, "Every day, sometimes for hours, and when we sleep, he's practically inside me the whole time…" His cheeks flushed even deeper, and I felt my own face heat up. Confessing such private details, even to a doctor, felt uncomfortable.

Dr. Jim, however, didn't show any surprise. "Well, that could be the difference. Soren, with that level of intensity, the alpha's pheromones are likely to have a strong effect on your hormonal system, modifying and stimulating it. Once every two days may have been too sporadic before. This present level of frequency might be what's causing your hormonal system to awaken."

"What's going on… exactly?"

"Soren, your hormone levels are much higher now than they were during your previous pregnancies—actually, they're normal for an omega in the first month of pregnancy. There's no deviation. Everything looks good."

I saw Soren blink in surprise. "And what about my uterus? Is it still small?"

"It's larger than in the previous scans, about the size you'd expect at the end of the first month and the beginning of the second. From what I can see in your medical records, your uterus is naturally very small, typical for a beta. Now, it's over twice the size. Previously, it never grew beyond an inch during the first month."

"Is that related to hormones?"

"Yes, they stimulate the growth and expansion of the uterus, and maintain your pregnancy."

"Are you saying that I might actually have a chance, that there's a possibility that—?" Soren's voice trailed off, and I saw the color drain from his face.

"I'd rather not give you too much hope because these situations are usually complex. But your chances are definitely better than before. If you don't mind, I'd like to examine your neck glands now to see if there are any changes there as well."

"Y…yes… please."

Dr. Jim stood up and approached us. Soren was wearing a loose T-shirt, so Dr. Jim could easily reach his glands.

"They're slightly larger than typical beta glands. They're not fully pronounced yet, but the tissue has definitely altered. I believe they're partially activated."

"Sex… stimulates this?"

"Yes, Skye's pheromones are stimulating your endocrine system. Of course, this isn't the only scenario where the Omega Awakening happens; it's just one of the possible triggers."

"What are the others?"

Dr. Jim continued, "Another possibility is a spontaneous Omega Awakening. Some betas are actually hidden omegas, referred to as late-blooming omegas. Sometimes, their glands can activate even in their twenties, occasionally even around thirty. Other factors could include past illnesses that affect the hormonal system, extremely intense emotions, and, of course, a bond with a True Mate."

"A True Mate?" I looked at Jim, narrowing my eyes.

"Yes, in this type of relationship between a beta and an alpha or a beta and an omega, their hormonal systems can, over several months, lead to a near-complete transformation into another secondary gender. In the case of a beta with an alpha, the beta can transform into an omega. With an omega, the beta can become more like an alpha, able to enter ruts and fighting modes."

"What do you mean by 'transform'?"

"Well, you can't change on a genetic level, of course—you're still a beta. But the change goes deeper than in the case of Omega Awakening triggered by frequent sex. Betas change depending on the subgender of their partner. For example, there are cases of betas having growth spurts that bring them into the alpha height range if they are with an omega. And those betas who are with alphas can display omega-typical behaviors. Their hearing, sense of smell, and other physiological traits also become similar to those of AOs. This is not the case with a basic Omega Awakening, which only affects fertility."

We were both listening with our mouths agape.

"I only care about one thing," Soren finally choked out, "Do I really have even a small chance to carry this pregnancy to term? Like REALLY?" I could see he was struggling to breathe, barely managing to get the words out.

"If these hormone levels remain stable, then I believe you have a good chance."

I watched Soren's face—it was as pale as I had ever seen it. Then I realized what was happening. Soren suddenly went limp, collapsing into my arms as he fainted.

"Oh, fuck!"

I stood up quickly and laid him on the examination table. Dr. Jim rushed over, checking Soren's pulse.

"This really means a lot to him, doesn't it?" Dr. Delgado said, gently stroking Soren's chalk white cheek.

"Yes, I think even more than he lets on. He's tried to numb himself to what happened in the past, but now it's hitting him full force, even the slightest chance is… so much."

Dr. Jim lifted Soren's legs and placed a plastic roller under them, which he pulled out from beneath the table. I leaned over Soren, brought my lips close to his ear, kissed his cheek, and whispered, "Wake up, baby, it's not time to sleep now."

That seemed to help, or maybe it was the elevated legs. Soren slowly opened his eyes, though he was still very pale.

"Take me home, Skye," he managed to blurt out, his voice trembling.

"Of course, my love. I'll take you home right away, but the doctor—"

"Take me home now. I want to go home!"

I looked at Dr. Delgado, and he gave me a nod.

"I encourage you to come back for a check-up in two weeks. Every week is crucial; we need to monitor the hormone levels closely."

I nodded too, slipping my arm under Soren's back and legs before lifting him up. Dr. Jim Delgado opened the door, so I could carry my boyfriend into the hallway.

Soren lay almost limp in my arms, pressing his head against my shoulder and hiding his face, as if he were ashamed to be seen by the people in the waiting room. I carried him down the stairs to the parking lot and to my car. As I prepared to open the door with one hand while holding him, he stirred and managed to stand, though he was still unsteady. Once I got the door open, he slid inside and collapsed onto the seat.

He remained silent. I walked around the car, got in, and started the engine, merging into traffic without delay. Soren stared out the window, his head resting against the headrest.

I was afraid to say anything; I knew he still had trouble believing it was real. Just like he didn't believe our relationship would last. On some level, he was pushing away the thought that this pregnancy would end well. It was just unfathomable to him. He was even a little angry that he'd been given a sliver of hope and now had to live with it—caught between ‘no chance' and ‘maybe', which was draining him.

The reaction was so Soren-typical. This extreme pessimism and resistance to any chance of a positive outcome.

But something else happened that shocked me. One moment he pulled a pack of cigarettes out of his pocket and then… he froze, fixed his eyes on the box and then suddenly threw it in the back of the car! My heart fluttered with happiness because it could mean that he took Jim's word more seriously than it seemed.

When we arrived at our house, I rushed out of the car and opened his door. I offered him my hand, and his was cold and trembling.

As he got out, I could see he was still barely able to stand. The emotional shock was stronger than I'd expected. Without a word, I bent down and scooped him up again. He didn't protest—in fact, I sensed his gratitude.

Also feeling quite emotional, I carried him inside, thankful the door opened with a code I could punch in with one hand, the one supporting his back.

I brought him to our bedroom and laid him on the bed, then took off his shoes and the sweatshirt he was wearing and covered him with a blanket.

"I'll get you something warm to drink—"

"No. I just want you to stay with me."

Soren so clingy? It was so uncharacteristic—beyond sex, he was never snuggly. I blinked, but nodded. I took off my shoes and slid into bed beside him. Then Soren… climbed onto me in a way he'd never done before. I was sitting up, leaning against the headboard, and he sat on my lap, almost identical to how I had carried him home. His head rested on my shoulder. I held him close, and we stayed like that in silence for a long time.

Eventually, Soren fell asleep. His face, which had been tense with stress, finally relaxed, and I took the chance to gaze at him without interruption. As usual, I admired the length of his eyelashes and the sweet curve of his full lips. He looked so innocent, so vulnerable. Despite everything that had happened between us, my feelings for him hadn't faded—they hadn't even lessened.

After hearing what he said to Liam on the balcony, I regained some faith in us. When he basically admitted that he loved me, despite his better judgment, I decided to let time work its magic. Even though he never said it to my face, my patience kept me going.

For the past three weeks, I've done everything I could to take care of him. I've cooked all the meals, done the cleaning and laundry. It wasn't an issue for me—I was used to it. Growing up with seven siblings, you learn how to fend for yourself. Soren, on the other hand, had a bit of a ‘prince' attitude for now, accepting when someone else handled things for him. That's what Liam used to do, from what I know, and it's what I've been doing too.

Maybe it was his mental state—the depression—but he had been showing very little initiative. I went to the gym and jogged regularly, but he only swam twice a week. He wasn't interested in walks or anything more active. He remained very passive and just went along with whatever I suggested.

The only time he showed initiative was at work. He was still in control as team leader, but the second he was in the car with me, that bossy energy faded, and he handed me the steering wheel in our relationship.

Soren stirred in his sleep. He muttered something that sounded like ‘sorry'. I gently stroked his pale cheek. A wave of tenderness washed over me as I saw the small, scared child inside him—forced to face his fears over and over again.

Suddenly, his eyes opened. His irises, with their dark graphite outer ring and silver interior, locked onto my face.

"How do you feel, baby?" I whispered, hesitant to use the endearment when it was just us.

He blinked slowly and looked up at the ceiling, swallowing hard.

"I don't know… numb."

"You're afraid to hope, aren't you? You don't want to feed it with your energy, only to be disappointed again."

He sighed softly, looking somewhat surprised that I'd read his thoughts so easily. "Yeah, exactly."

I kept gently stroking his cheek and neck. My fingers brushed the gland with my mark, and he let out a soft gasp.

"I'll be with you, no matter what. I'll take care of you."

He remained silent and continued to stare at the ceiling.

"Do you still love me, Skye?" he asked suddenly.

"You know I do, Soren. Despite everything that's happened, that hasn't changed."

"Why? I'm such a shitty person, with a shitty character. I'm just an ungrateful bitch. To everyone."

I thought for a moment before replying.

"I don't think that's true. You're very hard on yourself. Some people would just brush things off and move on without remorse or a troubled conscience, but you actually care. It kills you when you hurt people, it's not just for the show. And remember last semester? You spent so much time helping me with programming, even though you were then working late for DevApp, catching up, but you didn't finish the tutoring. You still made time to teach me, helped with my essays, and even worried if I had breakfast or caught a cold. I saw through you, I saw beneath the armor of one who was bitter and kept others at arm's length. I know, I can sense the real Soren, what you're like underneath. Deep down, before Anton broke you, you were…" I paused, feeling my voice crack. "You were… pure. You gave him everything and then some. Your innocence and natural kindness took a hit when he left, but I know at your core you're a damn good person. I wish I could have known you when that innocence was still a part of you. Before life's circumstances … tainted it. I would protect it and cherish."

Soren's lips trembled, but he pressed them decisively together.

"That old Soren is dead, Skye. All that's left are ruins and ashes."

"I don't believe that," I said gently. "Sometimes I see him underneath. He's scared, but he really wants to be saved. To be healed."

For a moment, Soren didn't answer, then I was shocked to see a single tear rolling down his cheek. "If anyone can do it, it's you… You're my last chance."

I leaned down and kissed him gently on the forehead. "I'll try, Soren. The only thing that could make me leave you is betrayal. Other than that, I'll be here, hoping that you'll allow yourself to open up and become the person you were before.

"I'd never cheat on you, Skye. I know how it sounds because I did cheat on Liam, so I guess you just have to take my word for it."

I winced. "Well, I'll try. But I'm not Liam, I can't share. Not you. I need you—whole."

"I'm the same. Loyalty is important to me, too."

A moment of silence passed between us.

"Do you want to talk about… the baby? Plans or anything?"

Soren shut his eyes tightly. "The baby… I don't even call it that in my head. I'm denying its humanity, so I won't get my hopes up. But if a miracle happens—" His breath hitched. "I'll be the happiest person in the world. I have no family. This baby… it would be a miracle. I want him to survive so badly."

I smiled warmly. "We can increase those chances in a very enjoyable way. Sex with me stimulates your hormones."

Soren opened his eyes and bit his lip slightly. "Yeah, we should definitely increase those chances, as often as we can."

Our eyes met. I whispered, "Soren, it really can happen. It can! We can have a baby."

Something flickered across his face. I knew what he was feeling—anxiety, excitement, hope, and fear. A powerful mix. Slowly, he nodded.

"It's pretty early in our lives, but… honestly, nothing is more important. I'm not like the typical career-driven betas. I—I want to be a parent."

"Maybe it's your omega soul, hidden beneath your beta design?" I smiled. "You'll never hear me object to having a baby. I'm an alpha—it's in my genes to want to reproduce. And I've got the money and a family that can help us. My omega dad has eight kids; he loves babies. He'll be thrilled with any grandchild! We'll get all the support we need, so don't worry."

He smiled sadly. "I'm not worried about support; I know we'll have it. I'm just really scared to start believing in this. In all of it. In the baby, in… us."

Silence fell, but I leaned closer, taking his hand in mine.

"Try to believe it. I bought the suppressants that block Allure. And I promise… I won't even shake hands with omegas. I'll adopt that rule to minimize any risk, though I'm becoming more convinced that it's not necessary. That you and I… are indeed a rare case of True Mates."

"Stop." He looked away, fixing his gaze on the wall, avoiding mine. "That's still hard for me to believe. Too many miracles at once. But I appreciate that you want to take the suppressants and avoid touch. It'll definitely lower the risk."

Now it was time to ask him the question.

"So, are we in an official relationship, Soren? I told Dr. Jim that you're my boyfriend, but is that how you feel? Are you on board?"

Soren looked back at me, his lips trembling slightly. "Yes. We are." It sounded almost shy.

"Can I tell my family? They're kinda waiting for the news from me since some good things happened with my other brothers lately, and with my cousin. They found their TMs."

"Sure, you can, about the relationship, but… with the baby, please wait, just to be sure," he muttered, reddening a bit.

"Of course."

A moment of silence.

"So… are we also exclusive now and all?"

He huffed in irritation. "Of course. Since I met you, I haven't been able to bring myself to do anything… sexual with anyone else!"

I hesitated before asking, not wanting to upset him, but it had been on my mind for some time.

"You know, it's hard to believe Liam didn't try anything." Even saying it made me feel uncomfortable.

Soren flinched slightly. "He tried. But nothing happened."

I cleared my throat, "So, what did you plan for your heat while you were in a relationship with Liam?"

Soren huffed. "It was an awkward scenario to think about. The thought of him fucking me… I just couldn't imagine it."

"You really never… even gave him a handjob?"

"No! I didn't want to. Even after he got a tattoo of my name on his back, I couldn't. He had to take care of it himself."

"Wait a sec. Liam got a tattoo of your name on his skin?"

"Yeah, it's pretty big. Two-thirds of his back."

I cursed under my breath. "That's crazy. The guy's clearly unstable!"

Soren pouted slightly. "Why? You wouldn't get one with my name?"

Maybe I shouldn't criticize tattoos… I quickly corrected myself, "Of course I would. If you want, I'll get the same one. Or even bigger!"

Soren burst out laughing.

"Oh my God. What is this, high school? You don't need to compare yourself to him, seriously. You know you've got the bigger… everything."

There was a brief silence. I watched him closely and decided to address the issue that had started the convo, "Me too… I haven't touched anyone since I met you. I couldn't. For me, it's been… only you."

Our eyes locked in an intense gaze. Soren's hand slowly lifted and traced over my chest. He wasn't the type to initiate touch often; he preferred being touched. So this was a nice surprise.

I felt a pleasant shiver as his slender hand slid down to my neck gland, and I let out a short gasp. Soren's eyes were fixed on this spot. He leaned in slightly and pressed his lips against my skin, licking and sucking the gland. It was strange; he had never done anything like this before, and certainly not with such intensity! But his actions had some effect, in addition to my huge erection, of course. A wave of excitement surged in me. In one fell swoop, I rolled him from his side to his back, and I too sucked on his neck gland. I felt it under my lips, just as Dr. Jim noticed, the tissue was softer, more spongy, almost like in omegas. Immediately, in response to the softness of his flesh there, I felt a slight itch in my gums. One smooth motion and I lay on top of him without even taking my mouth away from his skin. Soren quickly stripped off his clothes, pushing his jeans down. Without removing my mouth from his neck, I unzipped my pants with one hand, and he immediately pulled his legs up to his chest, grabbing under his bent knees.

Mumbling with my lips closed on his neck, I tried to ask, "Do you con—?"

"Get in…!" he howled, and my hardened cock pushed against his wet entrance. One thrust and I was inside—a deep moan came from his throat.

"Do it… do it…" I heard him muttering under his breath, and I knew what he wanted.

There was no stopping me as I began to thrust passionately inside him, with relentless movements of my hips, long and slightly rolling—I already knew he loved the motion, as the head of my dick stroked his prostate firmly. All this time, I felt the tension building in my gums… I could feel my mating fangs piercing through my skin and popping out! With a low growl building in my throat, I sank it deep into his gland…

And of course… we both came.

The orgasm that accompanied the marking was peculiar, as if my whole body had tensed into a bowstring and was firing shots. Soren almost screamed; his semen gushed onto my belly in a warm splash. I stayed like that for a while, my teeth sunk deep into his neck, before slowly pulling them out. I lifted my head and looked at him, and… a wave of shock went through me—there was a trace of blood in his gaping mouth.

He was trembling slightly.

"Why are you bleeding, Soren? Did you accidentally bite your tongue?"

His voice broke a bit. "I don't think so, something is pressing on my gums!"

The matter required some investigation, so I raised my hand, freeing it from under his back, and pulled his upper lip up slightly. Long, white, thin fangs pierced his skin just above his normal teeth.

"Soren, you're a beta, but… you've extended mating fangs!"

He swallowed. "I have no idea what's going on!"

The sight sent a new wave of arousal through me, and I let out a gasp, boiling inside from the strange euphoria. I thrust my hips slightly and he moaned again. Propping myself on either side of his head, I began to move even faster inside him, his calves still resting on my hips. Some instinct tempted me to do this. I lowered myself to the side and positioned myself so that my neck was exposed to him, right in front of his face, in front of his mouth.

But I didn't suggest anything or gesture for him to bite me, I just continued to slide into him, moving at a medium fast pace. I had the feeling that he was stunned by what had happened and needed some time. His lips touched my gland almost shyly, more like skimming over it, cautiously exploring. My glands were bitten by Martin over a year and a half ago, but after we broke up the mark started to fade very quickly, and now the scars on my body are gone.

I could feel there the wetness of Soren's saliva, the feathery brushing of his teeth. I sped up, plunging into him with more intense thrusts. I could hear his gasping, almost slurping sounds as he clumsily tried to lap and suck on my gland. Well, I could make an AO sound, used in such situations, that would signal that I was accepting his bite mark, but that would be pointless for now, so I just whispered, "Do it, Soren, I love you…"

I felt him press his lips more firmly against my gland, and a delightful, penetrating pain pierced through me. Another orgasm racked my and Soren's body. He clenched into me almost desperately, his teeth dug into my skin, pain and pleasure mixed sweetly together.

For a few seconds, I was immobilized, letting him immerse himself in this connection, although in my mind I was also completely dumbfounded, not understanding what had just happened! However, the confusion didn't diminish the rush of immense joy. That was a monumental event, a milestone for our relationship—Soren marked me!

What a sensation! Even outside of the heat, this act of his was still significant.

In a daze, I waited for him to pull his fangs out of my neck (it took a while), then lifted my head to look at him. He didn't seem to be in much better shape than I was, kind of shaken. We stared at each other, breathing heavily.

"Something interesting and wonderful has happened, Soren," I murmured tentatively, trying to gauge his reaction.

He broke eye contact and looked at the wall, seemingly lost. "Yeah, that was weird, for sure."

I could feel a strange suspicion rising in his mind, but before I could get to the bottom of it, he suddenly began to wriggle out from under me, pushing me away as if desperate to get rid of the thought along with our closeness. My dick slipped out of him, and he sat up with his back to me.

"I think it's just part of the 'Omega Awakening' that Dr. Jim mentioned. It doesn't have to mean anything more than that."

"You marked me, Soren," I said slowly, emphasizing the word.

"It has no bearing on anything!" His voice sounded almost panicked and high-pitched. "It happened outside of heat, and I'm still a beta by design," he added dismissively, as he usually did when it came to this subject. Yup, Soren chose to treat it as just a random occurrence related to his hormonal changes.

I opened my mouth to say something, to protest, to ask about other possibilities, but… the words wouldn't come out.

It became more and more disheartening and exhausting to keep coming to the conclusion that we could be True Mates, only to be discouraged from even delving into the subject. It felt like a constant cat-and-mouse game with the thought. Are we True Mates or not? Back and forth, back and forth.

But… on the other hand, what would be the purpose of annoying him and pushing the topic if it really didn't change much? If we were True Mates, we would experience all the effects of it, whether he accepted it or not. So I gave up on pressing him to discuss it for now, not wanting to disrupt his mood.

Soren left the room, heading toward the bathroom.

We didn't speak about it anymore that day, but during dinner, as I wore a T-shirt with a loose collar, I noticed his short, curious glances at my neck glands, now reddened and slightly swollen.

At one point, I caught him with a sort of absent-minded smile on his face as he stared at the mark. When he noticed I was watching him closely, he quickly lowered his head over the plate, pretending nothing was going on. Still, he couldn't quite hide the subtle smile lingering at the corners of his mouth. He seemed very pleased with the mark on my neck, whether he wanted to admit it or not.

***

The next morning, I woke up feeling something strange. My neck tingled, and the area around the gland was a bit sensitive to the touch. I knew it shouldn't be the case—after I bit Soren, he didn't have any inflammation there; it had all healed overnight thanks to the MT healing magic.

But what if it didn't inflame because Soren was still hormonally beta then, with his glands unreceptive, and now he had changed, making the effect of his marking much more intense?

I went to the bathroom to check it out.

Indeed, the bite mark itself had healed into a smooth, perfect scar—the only thing left was this weird tenderness. As I stared at myself in the mirror, Soren walked into the bathroom behind me, completely naked, heading for the shower.

Suddenly, my attention was drawn to an unusual smell.

"Wait."

Something caught my attention, and I looked at him more closely, inhaling deeply. I didn't have to try too hard; the scent was strong, much stronger than usual.

"Your scent—"

Soren snorted. "I know, I know, I probably stink after the whole night—"

"No, that's not it. You never stink. Your scent… is so much stronger, but also different. You smell more like an omega now!" Saying this, I grabbed him around the waist, pulling him close with a swift motion to investigate his glands.

Yes, Soren's scent had become more Allure-like! There were pheromones present, very enticing and intoxicating. Soren's eyes widened, he swallowed loudly, as if struggling with how to respond. His pupils dilated, and his gaze settled on my gland.

"Do I have my own Allure…?"

I nodded with a soft smile. "Yes, and it's getting stronger. You're changing," I whispered, gently kissing his forehead.

Soren blinked, his gaze still stubbornly fixed on my neck, and he made no comment.

My hungry eyes wandered toward his bitten gland and… it was slightly reddish too! A curious case. Was it now just more susceptible to marking after its hormonal activation?

Soren raised his hand and skimmed over my neck.

"There were two pretty large puncture marks after my bite, and now there's only a flat scar," he said softly.

I smirked. "Yes, it's healed, just like my bite on you. It's smooth, with a bit of reddening. I suspect since you're more hormonally active now, our bites will have a stronger effect."

There was a moment of silence.

My hands on his warm, naked skin could only mean one thing—a delayed shower. We didn't have much time left before work. I could already hear his breathing deepen, his hands rising to embrace me as his eyes instinctively closed. Seeing him get worked up, I reluctantly took a small step back.

"You know… there's one more thing. I've been wanting to tell you this for a while. I noticed a new, very light and subtle note in your scent right after the first time we made love, but today… it's even more potent."

He blinked, his face a bit disappointed that I stopped stroking him. His hand, unbeknownst to him, slid down to his already hard dick. I had to admit, Soren was incredibly reactive to even the slightest touch—more than anyone I'd ever been with. Or was he? By his own admission, he didn't have a high libido before he met me. Could it also be the magic of TMs between us?

Soren shrugged. "Yes, you mentioned it already, vanilla, from the pregnancy."

"Not just that. A hint of lime. Seems like you're mated to me." I said this, tilting my head and narrowing my eyes.

His hand froze. He blinked, and there was a flash in his eyes, like he was starting to realize something.

But then he took a big step back and muttered, "We need to hurry; we've only got a few minutes before we have to leave…"

And there it was again—the denial, the dismissive approach. I almost laughed, struggling against a wave of dark humor. It was absurd how stubbornly Soren refused to believe it. If we weren't TMs, I wouldn't have been able to mark him and, as a result, mate him successfully because he was genetically a beta. But TMs didn't follow that rule. I had this suspicion that my bite during our first sex had partially mated him to me, but only now… it was complete.

For a few seconds, I studied his face. It was unfortunate that something was happening between us, yet it remained unspoken, unacknowledged, elusive—like a missing link.

"Wait." I opened the drawer and pulled out a blister pack of pills. Soren's eyes immediately locked onto the blue and green package with the Malden Pharmaceuticals logo. It was Seprudin 100.

I waved it slightly in front of him.

"It's a suppressant, Soren."

There was a flicker in his eyes that I couldn't quite read.

"I bought it a long time ago, but I kept putting off the day I'd actually take it. I truly believe there's no need for me to use it because of what I suspect. But it's ultimately your decision. If you want me to, if you still think it's necessary, I will."

Again, I waved the blister pack, and his eyes stayed glued to it.

"I want us to be together forever, with nothing ever separating us, Soren. I want to marry you someday, see our grandchildren, and grow old with you. If it means living on suppressants, I'll take it."

There was a long silence. Soren's eyes were wide, kind of shocked by my confession. It was the first time I laid out my plans for our future like this, and I guess it was a lot to take on. I could feel he was pondering my words, fighting an emotional wave.

"It's all your decision, Soren," I repeated, as we stood there for quite some time already, seemingly in an impasse.

We both knew that if we were True Mates, there'd be no need for suppressants. But if we weren't… I wanted to honor the promise I made to him.

Soren's eyes moved from the blister pack to mine.

He straightened slightly and said calmly, "I want the same with you, Skye. That's why I don't want to risk it. Take it."

Saying nothing more, I pushed a pill out and swallowed it under his watchful gaze.

"Do you really want it all with me?" His voice seemed strangely weak, almost scared.

"I do."

Soren slowly nodded, biting his lip.

"Good." He gave me a small, warm smile.

Was it the first time he had ever smiled at me like that? It could be, actually! Before, he only smirked or gave me shy half-smiles. But now, his face seemed brighter, his energy gentler.

Looking almost embarrassed, he turned away and went to the stall to take a shower. We didn't discuss it any further that day. We just continued to live on.

***

The next week, Soren's behavior changed quite a bit. I got the impression he wanted to talk to me more often, even about simple, everyday things. He had been very quiet before, but now we'd occasionally have pleasant (even cheerful!) small talks.

I also noticed some shift in how he interacted with people around the office. He seemed a bit friendlier with the employees. In the cafeteria, if there weren't any open tables, and we had to join someone, he'd actually start conversing, coming across as more relaxed and laid-back.

A few times, we even ended up sitting with Sariel Lowen, who usually ate alone, and Soren would chat with him a bit. I remembered how he used to avoid all the alphas back in college, refusing to give them the time of day, but now he didn't seem to care about Sariel being an alpha at all.

Overall, there was a subtle change in Soren's vibe; his energy felt lighter and more cheerful, as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. I wouldn't say he'd suddenly become a carefree life-of-the-party type, but it was a good start.

A few days after he bit me, I caught him looking into the hallway closet, rummaging through the pillows from the omega nesting kit I'd won.

When he noticed me watching, he blushed and muttered, "There's a nice mint blanket in here. Maybe we could use it."

"Sure, Soren, if you see something you like, go ahead and take it."

I walked over to him, and he was holding the edge of the fluffy mint blanket in his fingers. I noticed two small pillows in the same color. "Maybe we should take these too? They match."

Soren's eyes lit up. "Yes! They're beautiful."

I didn't comment further. We took the items to the bedroom, and Soren carefully spread the blanket out and placed the two pillows against the headboard.

***

Two days later, something happened at work. While we were sitting in the office, I noticed Devon and Fay glancing at Soren now and then, eyebrows slightly raised.

Later, when we went down to the cafeteria for lunch, Soren suddenly said, "Devon asked me something today."

"What about?"

"He asked if I'm pregnant because my scent smells like a pregnant omega's."

My eyes widened. "Right… We didn't think others would pick up on that. What did you say?"

Soren shrugged. "I told him the truth that today I forgot to use the deodorant that covers the pregnancy scent. Now I have to deal with it."

"Is this even that effective? You used it before, but I could still smell it on you."

"Yeah, well, but you were getting pretty… close to my skin. The rest of the people in college never noticed. And I didn't want anyone else to figure it out. Even though it's not the first thing people think of with a beta, they usually assume it's just some body wash or cologne. But I didn't want to risk even jokey questions."

"What did Devon say?"

Soren shrugged again. "He was a little surprised. He asked if I'm a beta with omega traits."

"Seriously? He's heard of that?"

"They talk about it in advanced biology courses, even in high school. So I wasn't too shocked. I just told him, ‘Yeah, but pregnancies for someone like me aren't always guaranteed.' And I asked for his discretion."

"I get it. Not to deal with any awkward situations later."

"Exactly."

"Did he ask who the father is?"

Soren scoffed. "Of course not! Would you ask that? It's a pretty personal question."

I stared at my plate, brooding over what to answer. "So… our relationship. You still want to keep it a secret at work?"

There was silence. Soren, leaning over the table, ate his soup quietly, occasionally glancing out the window. He looked deep in thought and didn't answer for a while.

Finally, as we finished eating, he cleared his throat. "I don't. But I'm struggling with how to navigate it. They all saw me with Liam during the first few months I worked here. I don't know how to explain it to them, especially when it comes to paternity. They can do the math. The dates match up with when I was still with Liam."

"But… he's a beta."

"I don't follow."

"How could he be the father?"

Soren looked a bit annoyed. "If I'm fertile, they might think we just matched up that way. About 2% of betas have fertile sperm. But that's not really the issue here, Skye."

Now I snorted. "Well, the cat's probably out of the bag by now. We've been hanging out together day after day. They see us sitting at the same table in the cafeteria all the time. They'd have to be stupid not to put two and two together. And they already know I've got a ‘mysterious beta love interest' who just so happens to look exactly like you. I'm pretty sure they've figured it out."

Soren stared at me for a moment, tension on his face. He glanced over at the table where Jess and Fay were sitting. Devon wasn't there, but it didn't matter. Those two had been sneaking looks at us all day too, their eyes… yeah, they seemed to know.

"Shit. You're probably right. I've kind of been in my own bubble lately," he muttered, "ignoring what everyone else thinks, just dealing with—" he trailed off, clearly at a loss.

I didn't say anything. I just wondered—did they really think Soren was carrying Liam's baby? For some reason, this thought was quite upsetting.

Although I hadn't seen Liam in the cafeteria lately—it seemed he'd stopped going there—the fact that he was still working here made me uneasy. I knew that any confrontation with him might stress Soren, sour his mood, and hinder his progress.

Later that day, I was making coffee in the break room when Devon and Fay walked in. I could tell right away they wanted to talk. I stubbornly kept my head down, focusing on the coffee machine, but it didn't help. Devon came to my left, and Fay stood on my right.

"So, we've been meaning to ask you something for a while now," Devon started. "Did you ever solve that love life dilemma you told us about?" His tone was a little ironic, his eyes playful as he looked at me.

"I did, and I'm pretty sure you've already figured that out," I grumbled and gave them a wry smile.

"The tall, slim beta with black hair, pale skin and gray eyes, right?"

"That's the one."

"And he's got tattoos too, I bet."

"Yup."

"So, the situation wasn't as impossible as it seemed, huh? Are you… happy?"

It felt weird talking about Soren like he wasn't Soren, but I played along.

"I am. And I handled it, yeah, though it got… a little controversial."

Fay cleared his throat.

"The beta you're in love with—wasn't he dating another beta? The other guy is not around anymore."

"Well, yes, he was. That's where the controversy comes in." I gave a sour smirk. "But I'm not really in a position to talk about any of the details."

"Fay, give us a minute. I need to ask Skye something," Devon said.

Fay pouted but left the break room.

Devon leaned in and lowered his voice. "You're the father, right?"

I took a sharp breath. Hearing it said out loud felt bold, almost shocking. But I wanted to own it, make it real.

"I am." I looked him straight in the eyes.

Devon chuckled softly. "That's… interesting. I didn't know he was one of those rare betas with omega traits. Does he have regular heats?"

I snorted. "Come on, man, are you really asking about that? I'm not saying anything else. And I'd appreciate your discretion. There are some risks, and I wouldn't want him to get stressed."

"Yeah, yeah, I get it. Sorry. Just… congrats. On locking him down and on becoming a father."

He was the first person to congratulate me, and it made me light up a bit.

"Thanks. I'm… happy with him. I don't want anything to mess that up."

"Totally understandable. Are you on suppressants now? I can't smell you."

"Yeah. I promised him I would be."

Devon nodded, looking thoughtful. "That's… considerate." There was actual admiration in his voice, like he regarded it as a kind of noble sacrifice for the sake of making our relationship more secure and stable. "You truly do love him." His voice became a bit dreamy.

"Yeah. I do. He's… everything."

Devon slowly raised his head, rubbed his chin, and sighed as he gazed through the window.

"So romantic!"

***

The next evening, something interesting happened.

After I took a shower, I walked into our bedroom, and to my surprise, I noticed two rolled-up blankets and six small pillows on the bed. Soren must have brought them in from the hallway closet. In addition to the mint green set, there was now a turquoise blanket, two turquoise pillows, and two lime-green ones.

I stood there for a moment, staring in disbelief because I knew exactly what this looked like.

Should I bring it up? While asking an omega about nesting was considered impolite, asking a beta about it seemed downright crazy. But then again, the fact that he was a beta might leave some room for that conversation.

When Soren walked into the room, I was still standing by the bed.

"Interesting setup," I commented, trying to sound casual.

He raised his eyebrows, genuinely surprised. "What? What are you talking about?"

"The blankets and pillows…"

Soren's face twitched, and he almost jumped, like I'd accused him of something nefarious. "I just wanted to make it more comfortable for us! I don't see the problem—two blankets and six pillows aren't exactly overkill," he said defensively, pouting.

I stared at him for a second. Was he really this clueless?

"It looks like a nest, Soren."

There was a pause. Soren glanced at the bed. "I don't know… it's just some blankets and pillows…"

"Come on. I know what omega nests look like—I was in a relationship with omegas for years."

Soren started to get annoyed. "What do you want me to say? I didn't do it on purpose; I just wanted us to be comfortable. There's nothing more to it, so stop reading into it!"

I took a step closer to him. "Soren, I don't mind if you're building a nest. Actually, it makes me happy. But it could be another sign of what Dr. Jim mentioned…"

Seeing his grimace, I tenderly put my hands on his shoulders, but he still looked a bit grumpy.

"I don't know if I'd call it that. I didn't do it with any intention—"

"Because you did it instinctively, which means something in your nature is waking up."

He was silent for a moment, then slowly lifted his head and peered into my eyes. "So, you're saying this is just the beginning? You've probably seen much nicer ones. What I did is pathetic."

"I smiled and gently lifted his chin. "Soren, you know it's a rule that alphas don't comment on how an omega's nest looks. I include betas who are transitioning into omegas in this too! We understand how intimate that process is, I would never say anything critical.""

"But you thought about it."

Classic Soren, jumping right to the pessimistic scenarios! I sighed in frustration. "What I thought was all positive. Honestly, I'm really happy because the stronger your omega side wakes up, the better the chances for this pregnancy. You understand that, right?" I slowly moved my lips to his temple and kissed him gently. "My sweet omega Soren…" I murmured in a low, teasing tone.

"Stop it," he murmured back, but he let me continue placing soft kisses on his temple and cheek. Then I slowly trailed them down to his neck, where I licked his gland with the pale, curved mark left by my teeth.

"You are mine, Soren. Mine forever," I whispered directly into his ear.

I could practically feel the little shiver run through him as his hands slid up to wrap around my back.

"I wish that were true, Skye. Now, take me to bed."

***

The next few weeks passed in much the same way.

Soren gradually shifted from the withdrawal he'd shown at first to opening up more and more. There were certain behaviors that I remembered from our college days, which started resurfacing. His previous self-absorption and focus solely on his own needs began to fade. Occasionally, he would make me tea, sometimes even clean up a bit, suggest small outings like walks, or invite me to join him at the pool. It was in the same building where we lived, so we could go often. Soren loved swimming; as he explained, he was on the swim team as a child. While he used to go there alone, he started spontaneously asking if I'd like to join him.

Changes started appearing in other areas too. He began touching me more casually during the day, like running his fingers through my hair or gently massaging my shoulders. After sex, when we lay cuddled up, his hands would trace small circles on my chest, and sometimes he'd even touch my cheek shyly, gently caressing it.

It was a slow process, like unraveling a thread from a ball of yarn. Gradually, something inside him was unlocking, warming up to our relationship. With each passing week, I noticed these small but significant improvements.

Interestingly, nesting also became a part of his daily routine. Soren began making nests more frequently, and they became better, bigger, more elaborate, and even more colorful. He started bringing in new elements from the closet.

Once, I brought him as a gift a few decorative silver cords to help form the nests. He blushed a little, and the next day, I noticed he had used two of the cords to reinforce the structure of a new nest.

I liked to watch him while he was busy building it, with a cute little frown on his forehead.

These were small things, but they brought me great joy because I knew Soren was, in a way, thawing out. I wouldn't say he completely trusted me yet; there was still a certain cautiousness, a bit of shyness when it came to openly expressing his feelings. But I could definitely see a lot of progress.

He still spent time alone on the balcony, staring at the city skyline in quiet contemplation, but it didn't last as long as it used to. And, of course, he'd quit smoking, which to me was another sign that he believed… that this pregnancy could have a positive outcome.

***

Everything changed one day when I got a call from my older brother, Bay. I had the weakest connection with him of all my brothers, except for Snow. Although he wasn't exactly a quiet loner, he always seemed a little disconnected from our family, focused on his career as a musician and YouTuber.

His call really surprised me, but I answered, curious about what he had to say.

"Hey, Skye, I'm calling about something a bit unusual. Do you remember…" He cleared his throat. "Alex, the guy I was dating in high school?"

That conversation certainly had an unexpected start.

"Of course, he used to come over sometimes. We played chess, and he always beat me—never went easy on a ten-year-old!"

Bay chuckled. "Well, Alex played chess at the state level. He was great; why would he go easy on you? You'd never have learned anything that way."

"And I never did. I still hate playing chess."

Bay coughed quietly. "Anyway, I've kept in touch with him over the years… we chat sometimes on Messenger. Alex always had numerous health issues—allergies, asthma, atopic dermatitis, and so on…"

"Yeah, yeah. I remember. He always carried an inhaler."

"He's in an experimental desensitization program run by Malden Pharmaceuticals that gives him a good chance of a full recovery. The initial results are promising, but the therapy is really tough. He's passed out a few times after leaving the therapy chamber and gets dizzy often. I've driven him a few times, but I have a concert on Friday afternoon and can't make it. I know you live close to the Malden branch, where he gets his therapy. Could you take him there and bring him back? I'd really appreciate it. I asked Winter, but he already has a meeting scheduled for the exact time, and it could run late since there are sometimes a few people in line for the therapy chamber. The appointment times are scheduled in two-hour blocks, and you have to try to get in."

Still somewhat puzzled by the unexpected call, I answered, "Sure, I can take him. It'll be nice to see him after all these years, although… I still won't forgive him for constantly cornering my king in chess!"

Bay chuckled, sounding relieved. "Thanks, bro, I owe you one!"

When he told me the time, I realized it would mean leaving work a little early and possibly getting home about two hours later than usual.

Since the ByteBites project was entering its crucial phase, and we were just days away from presenting it to the client, I headed over to Winter. I'd been working eight hours a day on it lately, doing Nathaniel's tasks only in the evenings, so I wanted to clear it with my director.

I saw Winter standing in the hallway, talking to an employee. As I approached, they were just wrapping up their conversation, so I quickly mentioned I needed to leave a bit early today. I gave him a brief summary of my conversation with Bay, and Winter agreed without any issue. I noticed that during our talk, Winter glanced over my shoulder at something behind me but didn't say anything.

"Sure, no problem, you can leave early today if Soren agrees. Tuesday is a big day for your team, so make sure you get everything done."

"I already asked him, but I wanted to clear it with you, too, because it's the hot phase now, and every hour counts."

"Yes, that's true. But since you have it covered, you can go."

I nodded and turned to go, and that's when I saw…

Liam was standing behind me.

It startled me slightly, as I hadn't seen him up close in almost six weeks, only from a distance. He looked incredibly pale and alarmingly thin. His eyes were still, like a shark's, and he stared at me with cold hatred. He was clearly waiting to talk to Winter, so I moved past him without a word, because what could I say? I didn't feel any triumph over him, just sadness that it had all ended like that—and Liam truly looked awful.

That afternoon, I drove to pick up Alex. He was waiting for me in the driveway of his small suburban home. He hadn't changed much since I last saw him at Bay's high school graduation. He was twenty-seven now, a very petite and pale omega who looked sickly and frail, but was still undeniably attractive. He and Bay had dated all through high school, head over heels in love. But when their glands matured toward the end of senior year, it turned out they were… incompatible. They agreed to break up amicably. Bay was devastated, but had to accept that they weren't meant to be. He was never quite the same after that, as if a part of his soul had died. Sometimes it seemed like he was just… a shell of himself, a mask. He smiled, but there was always a hint of something tragic in his eyes, a hidden pain and anger. He seemed extroverted, sometimes even the life of the party, playing concerts and participating in local events, but there was always an emptiness, as if a part of him was missing.

I greeted Alex and couldn't resist teasing him about beating ten-year-olds at chess, which he took in good humor, sincerely apologizing for his teenage ego. He looked so pale, like he was on the verge of fainting, that I offered him a sandwich. He declined, muttering that he had celiac disease and avoided bread—just one more thing on top of his many other health issues.

I glanced over at him from time to time. He was a very short omega with dark blond hair cut to shoulder-length, wearing glasses that hid his striking violet eyes. His features were delicate, which many would find very attractive, though I preferred sharper, more catlike features like Soren's. Still, I couldn't deny that Alex had a certain charm.

"So, you're still friends with Bay?" I asked, trying to fill the silence during the drive.

He blushed. "We ran into each other a few months ago when he played a concert at the school where I teach."

Alex was a math teacher, from what I remembered.

"And did the old feelings come back?" I asked jokingly, but was surprised by his reaction.

He blushed even deeper. "Well, Bay… Bay's always been amazing."

A moment of silence. It sounded so serious, definitely not the answer I expected. Most people joked about their high school flings, but not him.

It wasn't really my business, but I murmured, "It's a shame you're not even Low Mates. You two would have made a great couple."

Alex quickly turned toward the window, as if I'd hit him with that sentence. As he did, his collar shifted slightly, and I caught a glimpse of a faint bite mark on his gland.

"So… what about you? Are you seeing anyone now?" I asked, though I had a feeling he wasn't, considering I was the one taking him to therapy.

"No," he replied quietly.

Should I pry? Damn, well, I'd come all this way, I might as well be nosy…

"I'm asking because I noticed a bite mark on your gland."

Alex flinched and nervously covered his neck with his hand.

"That's… none of your business!"

The sharpness in his voice was so unusual for him. Alex was usually a soft-spoken omega, not one with a fiery temper.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to upset you, just curious how you've been doing lately."

To make my question seem more casual, I pulled down my own collar. "I'm marked too. By my boyfriend, a beta."

Alex's breathing grew rapid, his heart racing. He took out his inhaler but didn't use it.

Then, suddenly, he blurted out, "This is the mark Bay gave me in my junior year of high school."

There was a heavy silence.

I was a bit shocked because what he said was absolutely impossible for several reasons. First, no one, not even True Mates, could mark each other before their glands matured—the tissue was unreceptive. And the first half of high school definitely came years before that process. And another thing! Markings usually fade after about a year or two! Everyone had to renew them during the next heat! Well, except for people over sixty, only then would the mark stabilize.

"So… it's a tattoo?" I asked, trying to make sense of it.

"No."

Another silence. Finally, I muttered, "Strange."

"I know," he replied quietly. "It just stayed there."

I swallowed hard. "Maybe it's because of your unusual health problems. You're… different."

"I don't think so. Bay has one too. From me."

Okay, that exhausted my theories. What a strange situation.

We were pulling up to the Malden Pharmaceuticals branch building, so the conversation ended there. But I'll admit, Alex left me with a lot to think about. What on earth could have happened between him and Bay?

It was such a sad, almost tragic thing, that Bay and Alex weren't even Low Mates, meaning their genetic compatibility was below 10%. It made the chances of severe mutations in their children extremely high. Relationships like that were socially condemned and considered harmful to the ABO narrow gene pool.

When we walked in, we were surprised to see there was no line! The receptionist told us that Alex could go straight in for therapy.

The desensitization session lasted about 45 minutes. While waiting, I dwelled deep in my memories, remembering how Bay was before he separated from Alex. Cheerful and open. And how he changed afterward, becoming a strange shadow of his former self.

When Alex came out, he was pale and trembling. I helped him to the car, and on the way back, we didn't talk about the mysterious markings. Instead, he told me about the details of his therapy and the slow improvements he was noticing, like fewer asthma attacks and reduced skin flare-ups. He praised Malden Pharmaceuticals for their groundbreaking discoveries. Their CEO, omega Blue Lowen—who was, by the way, the younger brother of the owner of DevApp—was considered a genius scientist.

After dropping Alex off at his house, I said goodbye and offered to help in the future if he needed it, but he just mumbled that Bay usually takes him, and this was just an exception.

I drove back to my neighborhood, my head full of thoughts. I brooded over Bay and Alex's fate. It always puzzled me how they could be so in sync—they never argued and finished each other's sentences. I had met many incompatible omegas before. In fact, most of the population was like that; up to 70% of all people were genetically incompatible with each other. The rest were mostly Low and Half Mates, with a small percentage being High and True Mates.

On a daily basis, I did meet many ‘incs', and not only did their scent seem off to me—like they smelled sour or metallic—but personality-wise, we couldn't click either. They irritated me. I felt almost repelled by them; we had nothing in common.

Why was it different for Alex and Bay? I truly had no idea.

With all these thoughts swirling around, I entered our apartment building. But as soon as I unlocked the door and stepped inside, I felt something strange, something was different.

Slowly, I made my way through the hallway, hearing an unfamiliar voice. Suddenly, Soren emerged from our bedroom with a rather odd expression on his face. He looked uneasy.

"Oh, you're back quicker," he said, his tone uncharacteristically tense.

"Yeah, Alex didn't have to wait in line; the therapy chamber was ready to use."

Soren opened and closed his mouth, hesitation on his face.

Then, someone else stepped out of our bedroom. The person was… completely naked.

It was Liam.

Soren didn't look at him; he was still facing me, while Liam stood a couple of steps behind him.

"I hope you don't mind, I invited Liam over for a quick chat," Soren said, biting his lip. But I was only staring at Liam, at his body covered… in fresh hickeys.

I couldn't believe what I was seeing.

Slowly, I blinked and even rubbed my eyes.

"You know, I only ever told you one thing that could make me not want to be with you!" I choked out, my voice trembling.

Liam's cold eyes locked onto mine with a sense of triumph.

"What are you talking about?" Soren asked, confused.

"Cheating, Soren," I muttered.

His face went pale with shock. "What are you saying? We were just talking!"

"Really?" I growled in a pained voice.

That's when Soren turned around and looked at Liam for the first time—and… flinched.

"What the hell?" he blurted out.

It was like I'd been struck by lightning, my blood pressure spiking, my glands tingling. My vision turned red, and I knew I was losing myself.

It was imminent—in a few seconds, I would brutally kill Liam and end up in prison.

My head tilted back, and a blaringly loud roar came through my throat. I'd never made a sound so deafening. My neck glands bulged in two seconds, and my vision turned more and more crimson. I zeroed in on Liam's face and made a jump…

But Soren's body stopped me mid-air!

His whole weight wasn't enough—he bounced off my chest, and would have fallen if not for my reflex. I could never hurt him, not him, no matter if he cheated on me with a thousand men—my arms caught him as he was already falling to the floor. My growl—a continuous streak tearing from my vocal cords—echoed around us.

Liam jumped back, hitting the wall with his back, panic-stricken, making whimpering submissive sounds—instinctive sounds betas were wired to make in the face of a charging alpha in fighting mode. He fell to his knees, making himself as small as possible.

My body, primed for killing, tried to free itself from Soren's embrace, but his hands gripped me desperately, stopping me in my tracks. I was so fucking ready to continue the attack, merciless, conclusive—but he just wouldn't let me.

"No! No! Skye! I beg you!"

I could barely see him through the red filter clouding my vision. I could do only one thing to save myself from jail and spare Liam's life. The fighting mode was taking over more and more. My field of vision continued to narrow, and my neck glands pulsed painfully.

Running away was my only option.

I jumped, landing on all fours! And like this—like a wild wolf or something feral—I stormed out of the apartment, feeling like the biggest idiot (or cuck) in the world.

Only one conclusion was reverberating in my frenzied head now, completely unable to think logically: Soren clearly had more guilt toward Liam than I had suspected. Shaking with anger, I bolted down the stairs, avoiding the elevator, and ran to my car. Some people stared at me in shock as I passed them—I was sure my red eyes were almost glowing. An alpha in fighting mode was no joke.

I sped out of the parking lot within a minute. Soon my phone started ringing, but I silenced it. I didn't want to answer because, honestly, who answers the phone when their world has just collapsed?