Avery's anger surged like a tidal wave. The room thickened with it. His pheromones filled the air dense, sharp, and choking. If someone had walked in at that moment, they might've passed out on the spot.
Noël, unfortunately, did.
Or at least, almost.
He had decided to come downstairs, hoping to quietly warm some tea and take his mind off the strange tension lingering since the morning. But as soon as he descended halfway down the staircase, he froze. Something primal struck him in the chest like a hammer. His lungs contracted. His vision blurred. His throat burned.
He stumbled against the wall, coughing harshly.
Avery turned around immediately.
His eyes widened in horror when he saw Noël gasping for air, hand clutched to his chest like he'd been hit.
"Shit," Avery breathed, panic washing over him. He quickly centered himself, clenching his jaw and forcing his Alpha instincts to pull back. He drew a sharp breath. His scent slowly changed from something acidic and oppressive to the calmer, cooler scent Noël had grown used to. Warm sandalwood with a hint of clean rain.
Noël leaned heavily against the rail, trying to breathe again.
"I'm sorry," Avery said, rushing toward him. He helped Noël down the last few steps and onto the sofa. "I didn't mean to...my scent, it just got out of control."
Noël swallowed hard, still recovering. He'd experienced angry pheromones from other Alphas before, but this… this was something else. It had felt lethal. If he hadn't already been weakened from the fever and lingering heat symptoms, he might've been able to handle it better. But now his body felt like it had been wrung dry.
"What happened?" he asked, voice strained but steady.
Avery paused. He opened his mouth. Closed it again. For a moment, he looked like he wanted to tell the truth, but then he shook his head. "Nothing important. Don't worry about it."
Noël frowned, but didn't press. He was still too lightheaded.
Instead, Avery sat down beside him and stared for a moment. The silence stretched until Avery finally broke it.
"How are you feeling this morning?"
It was a question layered with concern, but also guilt.
"I'm fine," Noël said instinctively.
Avery gave him a look. "No, you're not."
Noël dropped his eyes, unable to meet the Alpha's.
Avery ran a hand through his hair. He looked tired like his thoughts hadn't let him sleep all night.
"About yesterday…" he started.
Noël looked up.
"I'm sorry," Avery said. "I shouldn't have spoken to you like that. I didn't mean it. I was angry. Not at you. Just... things I haven't dealt with properly. That wasn't fair to you."
Noël blinked. Apologies weren't something he expected from Alphas. He didn't even know how to respond.
Before he could think of anything to say, Avery stood.
"Get ready," he said.
Noël looked confused. "For what?"
"You need a checkup," Avery said without looking at him. "The doctor said your heat cycle isn't normal. You need proper testing."
Noël's eyes widened. "A hospital? I—I don't think that's necessary. I'm okay—"
But Avery was already walking up the stairs.
Noël stared after him, stunned.
He hadn't agreed.
But it didn't matter, did it?
Avery had made the decision for him.
Still, there was something oddly comforting in that. Someone cared enough to make sure he got help. Even if it felt overwhelming, even if he wasn't ready to face whatever the doctors might find...
He sighed and leaned back into the sofa, listening to Avery's footsteps above.
Little did he know, this was only the beginning of everything unspoken between them starting to come undone.
The hospital was too quiet. Noël sat stiffly in one of the waiting chairs, arms folded tightly over his stomach. His eyes fixated on the white tiles beneath his feet, tracing the cracks between them like they held some kind of answer. The results hadn't even been announced yet, but he already felt sick.
This was the first time he'd ever gone through a full body check-up. The unfamiliarity of it all gnawed at his nerves. He didn't like hospitals. He never had. His caretaker used to bring him to places like this under the pretense of routine checkups, but those visits always felt off. Secretive. He was never told what kind of tests they were running, only warned never to let anyone know he came here regularly.
Now he was afraid the truth, whatever it was, would finally come out.
He swallowed the knot in his throat and turned to Avery. "Can I use your phone?" he asked. "I left mine in the car."
Avery hesitated. "Who do you want to call?" he asked, though he handed over the phone anyway.
Noël didn't answer the question. His fingers typed in a number he hadn't dialed in a long time. The line rang once, then a robotic voice echoed back at him:
"The subscriber you are trying to reach has their phone switched off. Please try again later."
Noël's lips pressed into a thin line. He handed the phone back without saying anything. He didn't try calling again.
What he didn't know… was that the person he was trying to reach was no longer alive.
Just then, the nurse called out Avery's name.
Dr. Wu greeted them at the doorway, but instead of leading both of them in, he gave Avery a pointed look. "Can I speak to you privately first?" he asked.
Noël looked confused, but Avery gave him a small nod before disappearing into the doctor's office. The door clicked shut behind him.
Dr. Wu sighed heavily, locking the door behind them.
"What I'm about to tell you is extremely important," he said, crossing his arms. "Frankly, I don't know if I should be telling you before I tell him but since you're listed as his guardian, I'll proceed."
Avery remained silent, expression unreadable.
"He's a special Omega," Dr. Wu continued. "A rare case. Noël manifested both his genders at birth. It's highly uncommon. Maybe one in a few hundred thousand. His biology is... complex."
"I know," Avery said calmly.
Dr. Wu blinked. "You… already knew?"
"Yes."
The doctor frowned. "How?"
"That's not important right now."
Dr. Wu shook his head but didn't press. "Fine. Since you already know, I'll get to the point. Noël's heat cycles aren't just irregular, they're dangerous. His fertility rate is much higher than a typical Omega's. It means even the slightest exposure to an Alpha could result in pregnancy."
Avery's jaw clenched.
"Not only that," the doctor went on, "but his symptoms are intensified. He's more sensitive, more emotional, and the physical strain on his body is severe. Prolonged or unassisted cycles could cause long-term damage, or even… death."
The words hung heavy in the air.
"Suppressants would be the usual treatment," Dr. Wu continued, "but in his case, they're ineffective. He's built up resistance, likely from overuse. And because his condition is rare, there are no approved suppressants for someone like him."
"Then what does he need?" Avery asked.
"A partner," Dr. Wu said, without flinching. "Preferably an Alpha who can help regulate his body during the cycle. Physical intimacy isn't just for comfort, it's necessary. His instincts will be intense. If he doesn't find relief, the fevers, the cramps, the hormonal surges… they'll overwhelm him."
Avery was quiet for a long time.
"There's something else," the doctor added more softly. "Because of how rare he is, Noël is in danger. If word gets out… if a research institution or hospital finds out, they'll want to study him. Possibly take him into custody for observation."
Avery looked up sharply. "That's not legal."
"Not yet forbidden, either," Dr. Wu said darkly. "They'll claim it's for science. They'll say it's for the future. And they'll get away with it."
He leaned forward. "That's why I didn't record all the test results. They're off the grid. But if anyone else finds out, I can't protect him."
"I understand," Avery replied. "But why didn't you want to tell Noël directly?"
Dr. Wu hesitated. "Because he doesn't seem to know. From the way he talks, the way he reacts… it's like no one ever told him he was different. If you want to protect him, Avery… don't just keep this secret. Help him survive it."