A Tale of Two Omegas

Chapter 10: Breaking Point

"Gulf!" Mew instantly dropped to his knees on the floor, taking the barely-conscious Omega's face into his hands and patting roughly at his cheeks in an attempt to rouse him. "Gulf, wake up!"

"Mew, wait--" Mild hurriedly stooped beside him and made a gentle attempt to urge Mew's hands away from Gulf's face-- "he's fine. This is actually pretty common for him."

"What the hell do you mean fine? " Mew snapped. "What do you know?"

"Alright, maybe don't bite my head off. That would be great." When Mew looked about ready to tackled him, Mild lifted his hands up in wary surrender and added, "okay, okay! Jeez, you've clearly never seen an Omega in heat distress before, I take it. It's a benign complication; it happens when the circumstances aren't favorable for a heat, and the body becomes overwhelmed by it. He just needs some water and a quiet place to rest for a while."

" Heat distress? " Mew echoed, astonished. "You're telling me he's in heat right now?"

"Yeah, and he hid it remarkably well, too," Mild replied. "I honestly thought he was just really anxious earlier. He hates big crowds; especially ones as loud and bloodthirsty as the one that was camping outside the venue."

Mew narrowed his eyes at his friend, apparently unsatisfied with his answer. "And you didn't find it at-all strange that he decided to take scent blockers before showing up at the venue? He never takes scent blockers. Did you even notice? "

"I was a little busy running a security detail, Mew. I wasn't paying all that much attention to Gulf's scent, or lack thereof," Mild reasoned. "And what about you, huh? Why weren't you able to connect the dots earlier if you noticed he'd taken scent blockers and looked 'off'? You're the Omega here; you should know the signs better than anyone."

"Yeah, an Omega who's only ever experienced two heats, both of which were traumatizing and didn't present the way a normal heat would," Mew countered. "And in case you don't remember, I haven't held Omega company in five fucking years. It's not like I've ever had any experience caring for a friend in heat or other 'examples' to go off of, and God knows the health education in our schools is abysmal, so tell me, Mild, where exactly was I supposed to learn the signs or how to spot them?"

Mild looked faintly penitent for his insensitive assumption and was about to apologize when he was interjected by a string of delirious mumbles and whimpers from Gulf as he wriggled onto his side, clutching his abdomen with a pained grimace on his face.

Mew frowned and, huffing a breath of composure, looked to Mild with a sudden business-like air about him. "Do you have somewhere I can take him so he can rest?"

Mild nodded curtly and replied, "second and third floors are reserved for overnight stays. Ren and Jen can show you to one of the available rooms."

Mew glanced back toward the Alpha twins, who'd been standing idly by, soldier-like, guarding with discipline.

The two had yet to make Mew believe they weren't to be trusted, but there was a slightly guilty part of him that had to ask...

He leaned closer to Mild and whispered, "are they... Well-behaved? Gulf's scent blockers are already wearing off; will they be able to handle themselves?"

Mild clicked his tongue affrontedly. "Who do you take me for? You really think I would hire Alphas who can't control themselves around Omegas in heat?"

"Um... If it means anything to you, Khun Mew, Jen and I already have mates," Ren said. "We wouldn't even dare to look in the direction of another Omega. Heat or not."