SKYE.3

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.