Page 51 of Slow Heat

“Very admirable,” Yule said.

Jason bristled.

Yule went on obliviously. “Now he partners with Professor Minze and Dr. Obi to study omega heat and breeding at the university. I was telling him about your interest in genetics earlier.” He smiled at Miner, clearly hoping his omega would approve of his conversation-starting skills.

Miner sighed and drank deeply of the wine beside his place.

Vale lifted his glass to his nose and sniffed curiously. It was a good vintage. It reminded him of some he’d opened from his pater’s wine cellar.

“Oh?” Jason smoothed his face with obvious effort and met Urho’s gaze. “Biology with an emphasis on genetics is my major. I’ve been a fan of Dr. Obi’s work for years now. I’d even considered asking him to sponsor me for some research ideas I have for my independent study next year. What’s he like?”

Urho swirled his wine glass and smiled indulgently. “He’s brilliant, of course, but stern. I can put in a good word for you with him if you’d like, but I should warn you he doesn’t suffer fools lightly.”

Jason smiled tightly. “I’m not a fool and, thank you, I’d appreciate that.”

Yule asked Urho, “So what is it about heat that you study specifically?”

“Omega presentation and its ties to the wolf genes versus our more ancient human ones.”

Jason’s brows lifted slightly. “That’s pretty close to the area I want to study.”

Urho leaned back in his chair, allowing the hired beta who’d entered the room to place a full dish in front of him. “Wolves don’t tend to present with such a deep back arch. That’s more often seen in primates.”

Vale sighed. Once Urho got going on his research, it could be hard to shut him up. He smiled gratefully at the beta laying a delicious-smelling plate down on his placemat.

“Broiled lobster tails with garlic and chili butter,” the beta whispered.

Vale’s mouth watered. Money wasn’t a bad thing to have if it afforded a chef who could make a meal like this one. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had lobster. Not since he and Urho had been on vacation near the sea several heats ago.

Vale was relieved his potential in-laws weren’t the kind to pray to wolf-god before a meal. He’d never been very religious, and it would be awkward to pretend now. The lobster was heavenly, and it was all he could do to stifle his moan around the mouthful. Jason shot Vale a happy look before taking another bite of his own lobster.

“How do you test your theories?” Yule asked Urho, seemingly the only person still paying attention. “Surely you don’t tweak the genes of omegas to see if it changes their heat behavior? I didn’t think we had the technology for that yet, though I know many are working on it.”

“Of course not. That would be unethical, though you’re correct that we don’t have that kind of technology either,” Urho agreed. “Right now, our studies are limited to finding omegas who volunteer. They must admit to a failure to demonstrate lordosis behavior—” He turned to Jason and explained, “That’s the stereotypical arched back—”

“I know what lordosis behavior is,” Jason snapped.

Miner groaned softly, shaking his head.

“Good, then you’ll understand that it’s one of the most identifiable positions of the beginning stages of heat. It sparks a reliable response in any alpha who sees it,Érosgápeor not—”

Jason’s cheeks grew red and his eyes narrowed on Urho, his hands clenching on his silverware dangerously. Miner cleared his throat, but only Vale seemed to notice.

“—leading them to instinctively mount and knot.”

Miner whimpered softly, trying to get Yule’s attention.

Yule asked, “So what happens if an omega doesn’t present?”

“They usually—”

Vale interrupted before Urho could continue. “An omega who fails to present with the lordosis behavior often seeks out medical help, worried something is wrong with them.”

“And then?” Yule asked, oblivious to his son’s tension.

“At that point, they often volunteer for genetic analysis,” Vale replied. “He takes their blood, runs some tests, and tries to draw conclusions based on that information.”

“And what have you found?” Yule asked.