Light lay awake long into the night after the party. His mind couldn't stop racing as he considered L's proposal. The young Omega stared blankly ahead with Max's arm around his waist, warm breath ghosting along the back of his neck in a steady rhythm that suggested a deep slumber. All Light could see in the darkness before him was a bleak future.
He saw the days, months, years unfurling before him in the pitch-black room. A lifetime spent with the Alpha that lay beside him. Tears welled up in his eyes and he didn't fight their release. They spilled down in a silent river onto the pillow beneath his head and he allowed his mind to wander to the brief discussion he'd had with L before the detective had departed.
At the party earlier…
"Trust me. I can make it happen and I wouldn't be here if I didn't think you could provide something invaluable to the case," L whispered. "If you're interested in helping, the first thing I need you to do is build Max's trust in you. Get close to him and don't give him a reason to believe you're anything but his devoted Omega mate."
"He already trusts me," Light murmured in Russian, a small smirk on his face at the amused expression in L's charcoal-hued gaze. "You wouldn't believe the things he says to his employees when he thinks his mate can't understand him."
"Good, because his faith in you must be unshakable if you're willing to assist in the investigation." L spun him once again as they danced, drawing closer to the room's entrance.
"I will. I'll help," Light replied softly, watching in his periphery as Max came closer with each passing second, cutting a determined path through the crowd toward his mate.
"I have to go…" The Omega shot a beaming, joyful smile at Max as he stepped away from L's arms. He didn't look back once, wholly focused on the dark-haired Alpha before him as he reached him and wrapped his arms around the man's neck.
"I missed you," Light pouted as he released a small burst of his scent in the air and sought out Max's mouth with his own. His mate smiled against his lips as they kissed, clearly pleased with the brunet's display of affection as he wrapped his arms around Light's waist.
"I missed you, too," he murmured as they parted. "How do you do this to me, Light? Make me feel this way?" The young Omega curled his fingers in the other man's wavy locks, taking full advantage of the opportunity at hand.
"I don't know," Light whispered as he closed the small distance between them once more. "I guess we're just lucky to have found one another."
xxx
How can I continue to gain his trust? Light shivered slightly in the warmth of Max's embrace as he recalled the unwavering conviction in L's eyes. The detective truly believed that this was possible, that Light could do this; that he could help bring down a crime lord masquerading as a wealthy businessman.
I know at least one thing I can do to get…closer. Light's expression soured as he considered consummating their relationship. I suppose I might as well give Max what he really wants. It's not like I can avoid it much longer anyway.
The Omega's brow furrowed as he continued to consider the situation at hand and what he might be facing by taking part in this deception. Light's only frame of reference was the NPA case files he'd managed to hack into over the last couple of years. The ones that involved the Yakuza were some of the deadliest cases that he'd read. Rarely did things end well for those who attempted to bring down these types of organizations.
Witnesses found dead, informants cut into nearly unrecognizable pieces, Omega spouses murdered, raped or sold as sex slaves, their children…
Children. If I sleep with him, I could end up pregnant. Light swallowed hard as he considered the risks and worst-case scenarios that could develop from the investigation. A violent and bloody death for him if he was caught helping L. His brow furrowed as he realized Max would likely go after his parents and sister as well in retaliation.
I'll have to make sure that L can guarantee their safety before we proceed any further. Light grimly decided. I can't take a chance that Max would hurt them if I'm exposed.
Even if I don't survive, at least I'll be free. Either way…I'll be free. He sighed heavily and closed his eyes, exhaustion taking its toll to drag him into unconsciousness.
xxx
"Good morning darling," Max murmured, startling Light from his thoughts as he wrapped his arms around the younger man's bare torso from behind. The Omega glanced over his shoulder with a small smile on his face, shyly ducking his head and peering up at the older man. He shivered as Max's hands wandered across his smooth, freshly showered skin, sliding lower and lower until they skimmed the top of his pants. His reaction only seemed to encourage the man, even though it was meant to do anything but that.
"Do you want me to meet you downstairs for breakfast once I'm dressed?" Light cheerfully forced the words out and sweetly nuzzled his cheek against the Alpha's jaw, hoping that the other man would accept the suggestion and give him a few more precious minutes alone.
"Sounds wonderful," he replied, bringing Light's hand to his lips to place a kiss on the back of it. Light's heart skipped a beat in witness of the adoration in Max's eyes, the gentle tone of his voice. It was times like this that he questioned his aversion to their mating and wondered if he should make a genuine effort with the Alpha. He was always kind to him, understanding and-
"Don't be too long."
"I won't." Light smiled at the Alpha as he left. He listened closely until he heard the bedroom door close before darting over to the floor vent toward the back of the closet. He carefully pried at the corners and pulled it up, only to find the space where he'd stored his suppressants empty. His jaw dropped open and he panicked for several long moments thinking that perhaps Max had found them.
No, calm down. Light took a deep breath and tried to settle his rapidly beating heart. He wouldn't be so nice if that was the case. It probably just slid one way or the other in the vent.
Light peered down into the shallow, dim space and reached within, feeling along the left side and then to the right. He grinned in triumph as his fingers brushed the familiar curve of the container. He laid down on the floor so he could get a better angle and blindly reached in once again. His hand barely touched it again, bumping it slightly.
*plink…rattle…plink*
Light's eyes filled with horror as he heard the bottle ping against the metallic walls as it rolled, rattling loudly as it finally tumbled down into the depths of the mansion's ventilation system.
"No…no, no, no, no, no…" Light whispered in disbelief as he slowly sat up. He suspected he'd have only a few days at most before his heat hit him without the suppressants. The Omega grabbed at a jacket hanging nearby and muffled his frustrated screams in the hem of it. His breath came in short, sharp gasps as he pulled away.
"Why is this happening to me?! Fuck!" He growled, fists clenched tightly as his anger grew, cutting through the sorrow and panic to help him focus.
I'm fucking pathetic. If I can't deal with this, how could I ever handle assisting with the investigation? I'll have to make sacrifices and if it happens to come in the form of my body then so be it. He continued to internally scold himself as he evaluated his current predicament. There's nothing he could do to change the fact that he was going to go into heat and he was already planning on sleeping with Max.
I just didn't think it would be so soon.
He quickly put the vent cover back in place and rose, wiping his eyes as he rushed to grab a sweater from his side of the closet. He put on a soft cream-hued turtleneck that went well with the tan khakis he wore, dragging it over his head as he walked and smoothing out his ruffled hair afterward.
I'm going to make this work to my advantage. Yes, I can do this. I-I'm in control. Light's gold-flecked amber eyes blazed with determination as he slipped on a pair of loafers before heading toward the bathroom. The young man grabbed a tissue and carefully dabbed at his face in an attempt to erase any signs of his meltdown. His expression was grim, mind racing as he rapidly tried to rationalize his logic and thoughts.
It's not like it's a fate worse than death, right? I mean, h-he's attractive and he obviously cares about me, so at least there's that? Light tried to convince himself that everything was going to be fine, even as his breathing grew more panicked again.
The idea of finally going into heat after years on suppressants was terrifying. How would he behave once the haze of lust and desire overtook him? What would he say or do in such a compromised state? Would he even remember?
Do I want to remember? Light thought fearfully. Maybe it's for the best if I don't.
It didn't help that he was sure his mate would never agree to use a condom or allow him to take birth control pills ahead of time to reduce the chance of pregnancy. Numerous guests at the party had joked with Max right in front of Light about getting him knocked up, though a small number were classier about it and described it as 'creating a life'. Every one of them largely ignored the young brunet as he stood next to the Alpha, treating him like he was just a pretty incubator for the next in the Volkov line.
What a fucking joke. He'd seethed behind the smile on his face and imagined their heads exploding as he kept his mouth shut, barely able to refrain from snarky responses.
The Omega stared at his reflection as he leaned closer to the mirror, taking in the sight of the darkening circles under his tired eyes from the lack of sleep. Light closed them when he couldn't take it any longer, hands gripping the edge of the sink so hard he thought the porcelain would crack under the strain.
Just breathe.
It's going to be okay.
You've got this.
He knew he was lying to himself, but somehow, he managed to grow calmer, heartbeat slowing as his distressed scent faded away.
Light opened his eyes and forced a cheerful smile on his face for the mirror, mask perfectly in place as he left the bathroom and headed downstairs for breakfast with his husband.
xxx
Light Yagami.
Correction. Light Volkov.
L bit down on his thumb, gazing thoughtfully at the young man's photograph. He'd obtained what information he could from Chief Yagami regarding his son over the course of the last week in anticipation of approaching Light at the party, however, nothing could have prepared him for the fierce intelligence in the Omega's eyes.
He'd been rather disappointed a few days earlier when he'd received a sparse profile of the Omega. The lack of any in-depth personal information or insights spoke volumes about just how detached Soichiro Yagami was from his own home life. He'd asked Matt to dig deeper into Light's background to try and find what he could in the short window they had before the gathering at Max's home. If he was going to ask the young man to trust him, he'd have to ensure that he could trust in Light as well. That meant knowing as much about him as possible to make a decision in that regard.
The raven-haired Alpha hadn't originally intended to tell Light that he was, in fact, the detective known as L, but there was something in those honeyed eyes that had shaken him enough to divert from the plan. Something in his delectable scent of strawberries and vanilla that had drawn him in like a moth to flame. He loathed admitting it, but he found Light absolutely fascinating and begrudgingly, he admitted, attractive. Not only was he beautiful, he was incredibly intelligent based on what he'd learned so far.
The cherry on the sundae was that the Omega had quite the aptitude for detective work and had helped the NPA with a few small cases in recent years. His grades were exemplary and on paper, he was undoubtedly the ideal student. There were no apparent missteps in the life of Light Yagami, everything had seemingly been perfect, heading towards a bright future until the day he was mated to Max Volkov against his will.
You're going to help me bring it all crashing down, aren't you, Light? L mused, a wry smile on his face. He's almost too perfect. Can I really count on him to be willing to get his hands dirty and put himself at risk? To manipulate his mate and gather intel?
He had been waiting for an opportunity like this for the better part of a year, as the Syndicate's power rapidly grew, reaching new heights as Max surpassed his Father's level of reach and influence. He'd recently been contacted by several high-ranking members of the pack council to re-open the investigation into West Bank about a month ago. It rankled the detective that his efforts to dismantle the London based bratva years ago had been thwarted.
This definitely won't be as easy as last time. Max had learned from his Father's mistakes and didn't delude himself into the belief that he was invulnerable. The Russian Alpha was smarter than the former leader of the Syndicate had ever given him credit for. His legitimate business dealings, charming demeanor, and deep pockets had made him many friends in high place both in England and abroad. He ran a tight ship and the people he let in were incredibly loyal to their boss. The opportunities to dismantle the West Bank Syndicate were few and far between compared to his predecessor.
Light's one of the only solid options I have at the moment. I can bring Aiber in, but he's too dominant and foreign for them to easily open up around him. It would take months, maybe years for him to gain their full trust. L sighed and poured himself a fresh cup of tea. He'd already started the process of having Matt hack into the computers of several suspected associates of the Syndicate. The red-headed Beta had already informed him that there were a number of impressive firewalls and security measures in place on a couple of them. L had asked him to focus on those ones first.
Aiber would focus on building relationships and working his way deeper into their ranks. He'd serve as an alternate option if Light backed out or if he was exposed. At the least, he could potentially utilize Aiber to deliver messages to the Omega in the meantime. It was a decent backup plan…
Backup.
L's frowned as he dropped sugar cube after sugar cube into his steaming drink. The Alpha reluctantly turned to a different screen where he'd been adding information to another case he was working on. He'd received the official coroner's report a short while ago and knew it was undoubtedly his doppelganger's handiwork once more.
BB. The initials of the victims said it all as the dark-haired man cut a bloody path across the United States. L knew that the message was undoubtedly telling him that Beyond was coming for him…again.
The Alpha unconsciously reached toward his shoulder where nearly imperceptible scars graced his skin, a parting gift from the deranged former successor when he'd attacked him years ago.
When will this end? He wearily rubbed his eyes. When one of us is dead I suppose…
xxx
"You look tired, baby." Max reached over to cup Light's cheek from where he sat next to him at the dining table. He gently ran his thumb along the bruise-like circles beginning to form beneath his mate's eyes. Why didn't I notice them earlier? I've got to pay more attention to these things.
"Did you sleep okay?" The Omega shook his head and placed his hand on the older man's.
"I'm really nervous about my…my heat," Light admitted, lowering his gaze submissively, thick honeyed lashes fanning out upon his skin. "I don't know what to expect after so long on suppressants and I…"
"It's okay, you can tell me. I swear I won't be upset," he assured Light, who peered at him with a bashful expression on his face.
"I just don't want to disappoint you…"
Max felt a weight lifted from his shoulders. If that was all that Light was worried about...
"Oh, moy sladkiy," he crooned, briefly lapsing into Russian as he pulled Light out of his seat and guided him to sit sideways in his lap, holding him close and rubbing his back.
"What does that mean? M-moy sladkiy?" Light stumbled over the words as he rested his head on Max's shoulder.
"My sweet."
"That's nice, I like it…" Light murmured as he relaxed in the Alpha's embrace. The brunet's fingertips slid along Max's shirt, absentmindedly smoothing the fabric. In these quiet moments, Max found himself intoxicated by the vulnerability and innocence Light wielded so effortlessly.
There was a dark part of him that wanted to taint that purity. Leave a lingering and unquestionable impression upon Light's body and soul. He wanted to break the brunet apart and pick up the pieces; hold them close in his hands and then put him back together even more beautiful than before.
In all honesty, the Alpha couldn't wait for Light's heat to finally hit so he could see the young man lose himself to the lust and desire that would surely run rampant through his body. Max's mouth went dry with want at the very idea of his mate in such a state; begging and desperate to be filled, instincts to be fucked and bred overriding all else as his inhibitions melted away.
Of course, he refrained from sharing such fantasies, well aware that it may frighten Light to know the depths of his depravity. His gorgeous husband required comfort and reassurance for the time being.
"You could never disappoint me and I'll take really good care of you. I promise, okay?" The Omega nodded quietly and wrapped his arms around Max's neck. "Oh, I have something special to give you. I was going to surprise you, but maybe-"
"Boss?" Nick interrupted as he popped his head in the doorway, he raised an eyebrow at Light's subdued demeanor for a moment before continuing in Russian. He'd asked all his men to default to their mother tongue regarding business unless otherwise directed if Light was around. "Kingsbury is on his way. Trouble with his…hardware."
"Tch…I see," Max sighed and smiled tightly at his friend. These things never end well.
"Let me finish here. I'll meet you in my office." Max turned to Light once Nick was gone and transitioned back to English.
"This shouldn't take long. I'll come find you when I'm done and give you the surprise, okay?"
"Okay, I'll be in the library."
Max nodded in acknowledgment as Light returned to his seat and he rose to follow after Nick. He had a feeling he knew what he'd find on Cole Kingsbury's computer. His contacts within the council had recently informed him that L was asked to re-open an investigation into West Bank. He took it with a grain of salt when he found out.
I should view it as a compliment. Must mean I'm doing something right. The Alpha smiled darkly as he reached his office.
Come at me then, L. I can't wait to pay you back for taking so much from me and my family. He thought as he threw open the door.
"Cole! How are you doing this fine morning?"
xxx
Light was pulled from an unplanned nap in the library when Max tried to discreetly make him more comfortable. The young man was sprawled awkwardly on a chaise near the windows and the older man had seen fit to adjust his position just enough so that he'd avoid being in pain when he woke. Max had mostly succeeded until he'd attempted to take the book lying open in his lap.
"Wha…huh?" The Omega's eyes blinked open, gazing sleepily up at Max where he stood in the bright afternoon sun that poured into the room. Light felt the pillow that had been placed beneath his head and couldn't help but smile at the gesture. The Alpha kneeled beside him and sighed, expression sheepish.
"I was doing so well up until the end there. I'm sorry to have woken you." Max explained as Light yawned and stretched, fingers brushing against the blanket that his mate had laid over him as well.
"It's okay. I probably needed to get up anyways," Light mumbled as he sat up. Max's fingers gently brushed Light's sleep-mussed hair from his face and the young man found himself leaning into the touch. His breath caught in his throat as the scent of the Alpha filled his senses. He was unable to discern if the warmth enveloping him was from the sunshine illuminating them or from the affection he saw in Max's emerald-hued eyes. Light found his hand moving before he could stop himself, reaching out to cup the Alpha's cheek in his palm.
"I know we were thrown together by circumstance and politics, but I'm so happy to have you in my life, Light. I don't think I knew what it truly meant to care for someone until you came along," Max explained as he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. "I had this delivered from the family vault in Saint Petersburg. The first time I saw your eyes, I knew that it was perfect for you."
Light tried to breathe around the tightness in his chest as Max opened the black velvet box to reveal the ring inside. His jaw dropped open at the sight of the vintage champagne diamond ring displayed before him. It was a damn near obscene show of wealth, but also incredibly beautiful.
"Max…" The young man was at a loss for words as the Alpha took it out and slid it on the ring finger of Light's right hand.
"It fits wonderfully. Like it was just waiting for you to wear it."
"It's gorgeous and I love it. Thank you," Light murmured as he leaned in to kiss him. As their lips met, it was as if a match was struck to ignite a fire within him. A rush of desire ran through the Omega and he quickly grew disoriented, vision fading in and out, only catching bits and pieces…
The surprised expression on Max's face as he grabbed his collar.
The feeling of his mate on top of him, between his legs.
The sensation of his Alpha's hands roaming his body, mouth on his own. He whined softly, unable to fight the need that welled up inside him.
And at that moment he didn't want to fight it. Everything in his body was telling him to just lie back and submit…
"Light? Light!" Max's frantic voice finally brought him back to himself. Light stared blankly up at the other man for several seconds as the haze of lust faded. He felt like he was floating, detached…and then awareness came rushing back
"What…happened?" He whimpered quietly and tried to scramble back away from the Alpha in his panic.
"Calm down, it's okay, shh…" Max's dominant pheromones washed over him and he felt the fight leave him once more.
Yes, Alpha will make it okay. No…wait…
"I'm going to help you sit up now. Just take it easy," Max's scent began to recede as he explained. Light nodded in understanding and dazedly let the other man pull him up to sit in his lap. The Omega's body was shaking as Max wrapped a blanket around him.
"See, there you go. Going to be just fine," Max assured him. Light nodded automatically, mind racing after what had happened.
Is this a side-effect of coming off the suppressants? Already? Is this how I'm going to be when I'm in heat?
"…going to call the Omega Specialist, all right?"
"Hmm?" Light asked as he caught the tail end of what Max was telling him. The Alpha shot him an amused and indulgent smile before picking him up and carrying him from the room. The brunet let out a brief squeak of surprise. He was shocked at how easily the older man seemed to be able to carry him. To be honest, it terrified him. It was just another reminder that Max was much stronger than him physically and made him aware of the disadvantage that could pose if the dark-haired male ever decided to use it against him.
xxx
Max sat patiently on the other side of the bed next to Light, holding his hand as the Omega Specialist, a Beta by the name of Andrew Coleson examined his mate. His mind wandered back to what had happened earlier as he waited. He'd been shocked (and secretly elated) when Light had grabbed him by the collar and pulled him on top of him.
The young man displayed a hunger and passion he'd not seen before. Light's hot, wet tongue had licked greedily into his mouth, lips crashing violently against Max's own. He'd never gotten so hard so fast. The sensual roll of the other man's hips against his groin short-circuited his brain for several long seconds as he responded in equal measure, hands mapping out the curves beneath him.
It wasn't until Light had suddenly gone limp in his arms that he considered something might be off about the behavior, that Light wasn't being himself. He'd been trying to make it up to his mate since that moment of realization when he'd seen the confusion in the Omega's eyes, the disconnected expression on his face.
My sweet Light.
I want you to be fully present when we come together like that again.
Nothing less will satisfy me than having your full attention when we-
"You mentioned being on suppressants until recently?" The doctor asked as he took Light's temperature.
"Yes, I was." The brunet's face grew guarded as he responded.
"How long were you taking them?" The Beta frowned slightly as he checked the thermometer.
"I…" Light hesitated, glancing over at Max and letting out a resigned sigh before continuing. "About three years."
The Alpha's jaw dropped open. Yesterday, Light had told him that it was only two years. It's not as if that was much better, but Max wasn't sure he'd ever heard of someone so young taking suppressants for that length of time. He was incredibly frustrated to learn that he'd been deceived.
I can't believe he lied to me!
"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Light whispered, gaze downcast as he let out a quiet sniffle. "I just didn't want to worry you," he explained as he looked at him with tears in his eyes.
"Oh, honey…" Max's anger faded as quickly as it had arrived once he saw that sweet, apologetic face. "You can tell me anything. How can I take care of you and keep you safe if you don't?"
"O-okay," the Omega agreed. Max turned to the doctor once more, who had wisely stayed silent through their discussion.
"So, what are we looking at here? Is he going to be all right?"
"I believe this is a reaction to discontinuing the suppressants," Andrew replied as he placed a pulse oximeter on Light's fingertip and waited for the results.
"It's different in almost every case, but there are a few more common symptoms across patients that I've seen over the years. For example, his temperature is elevated, which is to be expected. In addition, based on what you described of his earlier behavior, he experienced a spike in hormone production which is also a fairly standard issue in these situations." The doctor removed the oximeter and seemed satisfied with the results as he set it aside and continued to explain Light's condition.
"His hormones have been regulated by suppressants for years. Now his body is trying to figure out how to manage them on its own and essentially, it's failing to do so. The sudden increase and rush of hormones creates a brief but potent pseudo-heat and when it quickly fades, similar to a rush of adrenaline would following a fight or flight scenario, for example, they crash just as you saw with your mate earlier."
"You said pseudo-heat," Light asked softly, fingers twisting anxiously in the blankets. "Is that how I'm going to be once I'm actually in heat? I can't remember much of what happened…"
"No, you shouldn't expect that to happen and your body will learn to regulate the hormones on its own with time. The only scenario where you may experience a crash during your heat would be immediately after being mated and knotted. However, in that case, your body is doing exactly what it's supposed to do to allow you rest between rounds," the doctor explained. Max watched as Light's cheeks burned bright pink and he started gnawing on his lower lip.
Fuck, he's so sexy and cute. I just want to-
"Mr. Volkov, have you ever helped an Omega through their heat?" The Alpha shook his head. "Or researched what is involved?"
"No, uh, I don't have any first-hand experience, but I've done research. I made sure to have a secure heat den built in this wing of the manor," Max assured the concerned looking doctor. Light eyed him with an expression of pleased surprise that made his inner Alpha preen, proud to have garnered such a reaction from his Omega. "I also had fresh blankets and pillows brought in so he can nest."
"Okay, that's a decent start, but I'd like you to go on my clinic's website at some point today and read a few of the articles about what to expect in cases when an Omega is coming off long-term suppressant use and how to support them during their heat."
"I'll make sure to do that." Max nodded in acknowledgment and reached out for Light's hand once again as a mild scent of distress began to waft off him.
"Good, good. Oh, and make sure to plan for at least a week this first time around."
"Seriously?" Max and Light asked simultaneously. Their eyes met before Light shyly looked away.
I suppose I'll need to talk to Anna and Nick to make sure they're able to cover anything that comes up.
"Yes, heats tend to last longer in these cases, sometimes five or six days."
"W-what?" Light's distressed scent continued to grow stronger and Max shot the doctor a warning look.
"Don't be alarmed. It will be fine. Just let your body follow its instincts" the doctor assured Light as he packed up the last of his things in his bag. "I can tell you have a very attentive Alpha, Light. I'm sure he will take wonderful care of you."
"I will." Max squeezed his hand. "I promise."
"One last thing, Mr. Volkov," the Beta gestured for him to follow as he walked toward the door.
"I'll be right back," Max kissed the back of Light's hand and rose to join the man as he exited the room.
"I didn't want to alarm your mate, as he already seemed rather…upset. I figured it would be better to-"
"Please get to the point Dr. Coleson," Max interrupted in a cold tone. "I would like to return to him."
"Yes, well…" The doctor raised an eyebrow at him as they continued to head down the hallway. "Now that I understand his medical history a bit better, I would like you to make sure to contact me as soon as his heat ends so we can monitor his health afterward. Depending on whether you manage to get him to eat or drink, he may come out of this severely dehydrated and malnourished. I've seen Omegas drop half a stone or more in high-risk heat cases such as his."
High risk? Max's eyes widened in surprise. Light was already so slender. He couldn't imagine losing that much weight would be good for him.
"Do you have a scale?" The Beta asked. Max shook his head. "Get one and weigh him as soon as possible to provide a baseline before his heat starts. Once he's through it and able to stand, weigh him again."
Able to stand? Jesus…
"I mentioned reading the documentation on the site, but given that he'll likely go into heat within the next day or two, I'm not sure you'll have time." The doctor smiled tightly at him, concern lacing his gaze. "Like I said before. I didn't want to scare him, hence our private discussion."
"All right, I understand. Just tell me what I need to do."
"Okay, so…ensure he drinks water as often as possible. Keep bottles of it in the room if you can to help remind both of you. If he'll eat, great, but don't force the issue too much as it will distress him."
"Water and food, got it. Anything else?" Max asked curiously.
"Yes, after his heat, he'll be incredibly weak. Be gentle, bathe him afterward, but do not leave him alone for a second in the tub. I've had too many cases where someone's Omega almost drowned after a heat that way."
Max felt a shiver run down his spine at the unwelcome visual that flashed in his mind with the mere suggestion. He stayed silent on the matter, intent on gathering as much information as he could from the other man. Apparently, there was much more to helping an Omega through their heat than just fucking.
"You will likely need to dress him, feed him, croon to soothe any aches he's experiencing during recovery. Once you call me after his heat, we'll determine if he needs an IV to replenish fluids or other medical treatments to ease discomfort." The doctor concluded as they reached the front entry.
The man extended his hand and Max shook it as he tried to absorb everything he'd been told. He felt a determined resolve building at the core of his being as he watched the doctor stroll down the sun-drenched path in front of his home. He closed the door and turned around, striding back to the bedroom with determination.
I can do this.
