Page 7 of All That We Keep (Always Yours #3)

Quentin hums thoughtfully. "I hope this will tell me a few things, yes.

" The thermometer beeps, and he makes a note of the reading before setting it aside.

"Your temperature is elevated, but not dangerously so.

" He moves onto drawing blood, working with an efficiency that is more than just practiced. I watch with interest as he then fills a small device with the blood he’s drawn.

"I've got everything I need for now. Blake, if you don't mind giving me some time alone with your mates?

I'd like to run a quick preliminary test and discuss the results before we talk about next steps. "

Blake pushes to his feet with more effort than it should take, and we all watch as he moves carefully toward where Luca is still dozing in my lap.

He gathers the pregnant Omega up against his chest before Luca plants his feet onto the ground, both of them then pushing toward the stairs without another word.

I frown at the way Blake is taking charge of caring for Luca even when he's clearly unwell himself, though I notice that Luca seems to provide him with something to lean on as they climb the stairs together.

Their bond has always been strong, but lately it's taken on an intensity that goes beyond normal pack dynamics.

Blake treats Luca like his personal responsibility, like he's the primary caretaker rather than just another pack member looking out for him.

When their footsteps fade and I'm sure they're out of earshot, I turn back to see Quentin staring at that little device he poured the blood into. The expression on his face is one of shock mixed with something that looks almost like dread, and my stomach drops at the implications.

"Explain what that face is about," I demand, a growl at the edge of my words.

Quentin sits back in his chair and drags a hand down his face.

"I've suspected something for a while now, but I hoped that it would never actually happen.

Do you remember when I first called Blake's phone after Luca was brought to the hospital, and the contact information said 'Alpha Blake' instead of just his name?

That's actually more significant than any of us realized at the time," Quentin continues.

"I know that it was meant to protect Luca and make sure he got proper care, but another Omega would have never let themselves be called an Alpha, even temporarily.

It just goes against their basic biology in ways they can't control.

Playfully? Sure. But not as a serious thing. "

Maceo shifts forward, his brow furrowed with confusion. "What do you mean? Blake didn't seem to have any problem with it."

"Exactly." Quentin's voice carries a note of something like amazement mixed with concern. "He didn't even hesitate when the hospital staff called him Alpha Blake. He just answered to it like it was completely natural, while any other Omega would have had some kind of hesitation."

Grayson leans forward as well, all three of us now on the edge of our seat, trying to understand what Quentin is saying. "We've all kind of noticed how protective Blake is over Luca, but we just thought that had something to do with how strong their bond is from growing up together."

“You would be correct that their bond is incredibly strong, but biologically it's more than just childhood friendship or even normal pack dynamics.

What you're seeing is actually what's been affecting Blake's health these past few days, and it explains why he's been getting progressively sicker.

" The doctor pushes the small device further across the table so that all of us can see it clearly.

It looks like a miniature tablet with a digital display that shows some kind of chart or graph.

"This is a preliminary blood test device that shows a person's designation - Alpha, Beta, or Omega.

It reads hormone levels and biological markers to give an instant classification. "

At first glance, it looks like any other medical readout, just numbers and indicators that would mean nothing to someone without training.

But as I focus on Blake's results, I realize that his blood sample has lit up both the Beta and Omega indicators, two bright lines glowing against the dark background of the screen.

My frown deepens as I try to process what I'm seeing. "That's impossible."

The contradiction doesn't make sense from anything I know about biology and designations.

People present as one thing or another, not some kind of hybrid combination.

Alphas are Alphas, Betas are Betas, and Omegas are Omegas.

There might be variations in strength or specific traits, except for the fact that someone like Maceo is sitting right beside me.

Quentin runs a hand through his hair, looking like he's been dreading this conversation since the moment he walked through our front door.

"I would say so as well under normal circumstances, but it seems like being around another Omega for an extended period is forcing Blake's biology in a certain direction that we don't typically see. "

Grayson shifts in his chair, his eyes moving between the device and the doctor's concerned face. "So, Blake is becoming a Beta instead of an Omega?"

"No, not really." Quentin shakes his head, his expression growing more serious as he tries to explain something that clearly doesn't have easy answers.

"We have several terms for designations that are kind of.

.. in between, I guess? Not lesser in the slightest, just different from the standard three categories that most people are familiar with. "

"But how is he presenting so late?" I ask. "He already presented as an Omega years ago. I’ve never heard of someone’s designation changing after becoming an Omega."

Quentin chuckles nervously, the sound lacking any real humor as he fidgets with his medical equipment.

"Designations can fluctuate more than most people realize.

It can be a very fluid thing, especially in a pack dynamic like yours where there are multiple mates and now multiple Omegas with different needs and biological pressures. "

Maceo huffs out a frustrated laugh. "I still don't understand what's happening to him.

He's tired all the time, his scent is sweet as fuck, and I can't decide whether I want to fuck him or coddle him.

" He pauses, a blush creeping up his neck as he realizes what he just said. "I'm sorry, Alpha, but fuck."

I can't help but chuckle at Maceo's bluntness, having never heard him be so direct about his feelings regarding any of our pack dynamics. Usually, he's more silent and giving, but Blake's condition has clearly been affecting him more than he's been letting on.

"It's fine," I assure him. "We're all worried about him, and you're not saying anything that the rest of us haven't been thinking."

"Those reactions you're having are completely normal, given what's happening with Blake's biology.

His scent changes are triggering instinctual responses in all of you.

" Quentin explains as he meets each of our gazes. It seems that there’s something more than just fluctuating biology, though.

"You're not going to like what I'm going to tell you.

Blake's biology is completely in flux right now.

He's presenting more like what we call a Delta at this moment, but his body is trying to match Luca's pheromones and biological needs. "

"What does that mean exactly?" Grayson asks, though from his tone I can tell he's not sure he wants to hear the answer.

"It’s a mixture of two things. All of that protective, Alpha-like drive is really that addition to his Omega designation.

I don’t think he’ll ever be an Alpha, just that his pheromones are changing and morphing in that direction.

His protective instincts are at an all-time high, a very Delta-like trait that usually presents in the loss of some of the Omega traits.

However, Luca's pregnancy hormones and pheromones are also drawing Blake into another heat cycle so that he can reproduce alongside him.

The problem is that I'm not sure his body is ready for that kind of biological stress, especially with everything else he's dealing with. "

The thought of Blake going through a heat while he's already sick and exhausted makes my chest ache. He can barely handle his normal workload right now, and the idea of adding the intensity of a heat cycle on top of everything else feels like it would break him completely.

"How can we help him?" I point to the little device, hoping that Quentin has concrete answers and not just suggestions. I need more than wishes and pills at this moment.

"This is the hard part, because I know you can't make him quit his job since he owns the damn company.

But he's going to need you - your knots, your cum, the biological support that only Alphas can provide.

He might not specifically ask for it," Quentin lets out a nervous chuckle, "but you'll be able to tell when he gets a little drained or his symptoms worsen. There are nutrients in an Alpha’s release that an Omega and even a Delta absolutely need to maintain their health during times of biological stress. "

A growl slips out into the air, my attention falling on Grayson as his expression darkens. "What aren't you telling us? There's something else, isn't there?"