Page 13 of His Snowbound Omega

He was on his feet and snatching the key before he even realized he was in motion. “Is Aster okay?!”

“He’s stabilized for now. The doctor will discuss everything with you when you get here.”

“I’m on my way.” The hospital was at least twenty minutes from here, thirty, if the streets hadn’t been plowed properly after the storm.

His socks grew damp as he rushed outside and raced across the frosted ground to the car, but he hardly noticed.

* * *

“There was an unforeseen complication with the new medication,” the doctor explained as Thorn sat across from him, picking at his thumbnail cuticle. “Aster’s body is rejecting it, and unfortunately, that means all of the healed tissue of the scent gland is also at risk.”

“I don’t understand,” Thorn admitted, the panic so overwhelming it was difficult to focus even though he knew he had to. “What do we have to do?”

“The repaired tissue needs to be surgically removed.”

“But…It was helping.” The new drug supported fast-acting nanite technology that somehow mimicked and produced fresh cells. They’d been working on removing dying tissue and replacing it with new material. “Aster has been improving…I don’t understand. How could this happen? He was fine yesterday.”

“I’m sorry I don’t have more answers for you,” the doctor said. “All I can do right now is tell you what needs to be done to prevent further damage. Your brother’s life is at real risk right now, Mr. Winters. At this point, if the surgery isn’t performed immediately, the only other course of action will be removing the gland in his neck entirely.”

“He’d lose the chance at a mate,” Thorn replied dumbly. Because of course the doctor knew how serious his suggestion was.

Syn’s had multiple scent glands in their body, but the ones in their neck were the most important, because that was where a claiming bite was placed. The mark could still be made, of course, but without the gland…No alpha would bother.

The doctor gave him a sympathetic look. “Have you considered relocating, Mr. Winters? Glyph is easier. More accepting. They have betas there, and it’s common for relations between them and alphas and omegas to occur. My suggestion is we do the surgery, wait for Aster to heal, and then for the two of you to move.”

They couldn’t. They’d never be able to afford it.

Their neighboring planet, Glyph, would be a better choice all around. It was also fairly easy to relocate, because Syns shared the same genetic makeup as Glyphians. All Thorn would need to do is get a job in order for his brother and him to legally be able to stay there, but…The price for the ship tickets alone was too great.

“I have a colleague who works at the main hospital in the capital,” the doctor continued. “She’ll be able to take over Aster’s treatment. Think about it. Removing societal pressure might do you both some good.”

Aster could live his life like a beta on Glyph. That’s what the doctor was getting at.

“How much will the surgery cost?” He hated himself for even having to ask, but that took precedence. If a damn flight ticket was out of their budget, did he even have a prayer of covering this unforeseen medical expense?

Had he really been considering dropping his third job?

What a fool.

At this rate, he was going to have to take on at least two more. How he’d find the time for it was beyond him, but he’d figure it out.

The doctor slid over a holopad, noting the way Thorn instantly paled. “I know it’s a lot.”

“It’s more than the last one.” It was more than the last three combined. “I don’t have that type of coin. I’ve maxed out my credit with the hospital even.”

“I’m very sorry,” he sounded truthful. “If we don’t operate within two days at the latest however…”

“Is,” Thorn had to stop himself and take a deep breath, “Is his life in danger?”

“It very well could be.”

He squeezed his eyes shut and dropped his head into his hands. Thanks to their father, they’d maxed out all of their credit cards and had terrible credit to boot. The banks had refused them loans smaller than this sum, and their insurance was at its limit.

What was he supposed to do? He couldn’t just let his brother die.

His eyes opened and he stared at the clothing he was wearing. All designer brands. Nicer things than he owned in his entire house.

They’d been gifted to him on a whim. A bonus for being a good lay. How much had the alpha spent on it all? On Thorn, an omega he didn’t know. Money was nothing for people like Baal.