CHAPTER 96: VOICE OF THE OMEGA!

Elias’s ears rang. The word ’pregnant’ kept bouncing around inside his skull like a pinball, loud and impossible. His hand stayed glued to his stomach, fingers pressing hard against the soft fabric of the hoodie as if he could feel something already changing. His knees buckled again, and this time Viktor didn’t just catch him... he held him up completely, arms locked around Elias’s waist.

"Hey, hey, breathe," Viktor murmured, voice low and urgent against Elias’s ear. "I’ve got you. Just breathe, okay?"

Elias tried. He really did. But the air felt thick, like he was sucking it through a straw.

"I’m twenty-one in two months," he rasped out, the words scraping his throat raw. "I still have med school. I have Lila. I have plans. I’m not... I’m not ready for a kid, Viktor."

Viktor’s grip tightened, but not in a possessive way... more like he was the only thing keeping Elias from falling apart. Also, hearing what he said made his heart crack a little.

"I know," he said quickly. "I know you’re young. I know you have dreams. I’m not asking you to give any of that up."

Elias pulled back just enough to glare at him, eyes glassy and red.

"You say that now like it’s easy, but a baby changes everything! Diapers, crying at 3 a.m., no sleep, no time, no money..."

"I don’t care," Viktor cut in, voice steady. "I don’t mind a child, Elias. I’ll take care of every night feed, every doctor visit, every tuition bill. You won’t have to drop a single dream. I swear on my life."

Elias stared at him, chest heaving.

"You can’t just... fix this with money and promises."

"I’m not trying to fix it," Viktor said. "I’m trying to stand next to you while we figure it out. Together. Or not together. Whatever you decide. Let’s do whatever you decide,"

Dr Patel cleared his throat awkwardly from behind his desk.

"There are... options," he said carefully as Elias snapped his head towards him to listen. "Emergency contraception can still be effective up to five days after unprotected heat. There’s also a newer injection that terminates a very early pregnancy with minimal side effects. Or, if you choose to keep..."

"I’ll do anything," Elias interrupted, voice shaking but firm. "Anything that means I’m not pregnant right now. I’m not ready. I can’t."

Dr Patel nodded slowly. "Then we’ll start with the strongest dose available. I’ll have a nurse prep it immediately."

He stepped out to call someone, leaving the two of them alone in the sudden quiet. Elias’s legs finally gave out completely. Viktor guided him down into a chair, kneeling in front of him again.

"Elias..." Viktor said softly. "Look at me."

Elias did, tears finally spilling over. "I’m scared," he whispered.

"I know." Viktor brushed a thumb across his cheek, wiping the tear away. "I’m scared too. But we’re going to get through this. Whatever you choose, I’m right here."

Elias suddenly let out a wet laugh as he cleared his throat. "You’re being weirdly nice. It’s freaking me out."

Viktor huffed a small laugh.

"I’m trying not to be the asshole I used to be. Are you surprised? Don’t you like the new me?"

"Well..." Elias was about to give his response when the door creaked open.

Dr Patel came back in with a nurse carrying a tray: a syringe, cotton swabs, and a glass of water. Elias stared at it like it was a loaded gun.

"Arm," the nurse said gently.

Elias rolled up his sleeve with shaking fingers. The needle went in. He didn’t even flinch.

"It’ll take about thirty minutes to know if it worked," Dr Patel said. "We’ll do a blood test after."

Elias nodded numbly. Viktor never let go of his hand.

Dr Patel watched them, his mind racing.

’They’re close, but not close enough,’ he thought. ’It is practically obvious that Viktor is trying so hard, but Elias is still keeping him at arm’s length. If Nathan were here...’ He glanced at the 96.7% printout again. ’No one’s ever going to beat that. The government will lose its mind. They’ll lock these two together faster than you can say ’national interest’.’

He rubbed his temples.

’I should’ve kept my mouth shut about Mrs Voss. Now the whole city’s going to know by tonight.’

He then smiled and stared at the two of them again.

’Since the young master isn’t here, there’ll be no trouble, right?’

The door suddenly slammed open so hard it bounced off the wall.

Nathan stood in the doorway, hair dripping wet, white shirt clinging to his chest, the medical kit clutched in one hand like a trophy. Rainwater pooled at his feet.

He had rushed all the way from the Drago estate after finding out that Elias and Viktor had left that morning. He stormed out without even drying his wet hair.

"Saviour!" he barked, striding straight past Dr Patel without a glance. "Finally! Took you long enough to surface."

Elias blinked, his brain still fuzzy from shock and hormones.

"Nathan? H-how? What are you doing here?"

"It’s me in the flesh. We’ve finally met after so long and this is what you ask me?" Nathan dropped to one knee in front of Elias, shoving the kit into his lap. "Open it."

Elias fumbled with the zipper. Inside: three blister packs of morning-after pills, two injectables, a bottle of suppressants, and a handwritten note that just said

’Take all of these or I’ll be pissed. –N.’

"You didn’t get my texts?" Nathan asked, ruffling Elias’s hair like it was the most natural thing in the world. "I told you I was bringing this exact kit three days ago."

"I... lost my phone," Elias mumbled. "It’s probably still in my bag at school."

Nathan sighed dramatically.

"Of course it is. Can’t blame you, though. The heat brain is real." His smile vanished the second he turned to Viktor.

The temperature in the room dropped ten degrees.

Nathan stood slowly, rolling his shoulders.

"Hey, buddy," he said, voice ice-cold. "Long time no see."

Viktor straightened, wiping his hands on his jeans. "Nathan."

Without warning, Nathan’s fist flew. It connected with Viktor’s jaw with a sickening crack. Viktor’s head snapped to the side, but he didn’t fall. He just touched his cheek, flexed his jaw, and looked back at Nathan with murder in his eyes.

"What the hell was that for?" Viktor growled.

"Greeting," Nathan said, grinning like a shark. "Between old friends."

Viktor spat blood onto the floor.

"Since when do friends greet each other with a right hook?"

"Since one of them stole what was mine," Nathan snarled, pointing at Elias. "I was supposed to be the one in that room with him. Not you."

Viktor’s laugh was dark. "Elias isn’t property, Nathan. He’s a person. He chose."

"He didn’t choose shit," Nathan snapped. "He was in heat. You took advantage."

"I asked," Viktor said through clenched teeth. "Every single time. He said yes. Every single time."

Nathan’s nostrils flared. "Bullshit."

He swung again. Viktor caught his wrist mid-air, twisted, and shoved Nathan back hard enough to make him stumble.

"First punch was free," Viktor said, voice low. "Second one isn’t."

"Oh! I see," Nathan cracked his neck. "Bring it on then."

They collided like two freight trains.

Fists flew. Elbows. Shoulders. Grunts and curses filled the room. A table went over. Papers scattered. Dr Patel shouted for security, but no one came... probably because every alpha in the building suddenly felt like their lungs were being crushed.

Pheromones exploded.

Viktor’s scent... dark, smoky, dominant... clashed with Nathan’s sharp, electric and wild scent. The air turned thick and metallic. Dr Patel staggered back, clutching his throat. The nurse dropped her tray and bolted.

Elias’s head snapped up.

The pheromones hit him like a tidal wave. But it didn’t affect his heat... not at all. Instead, he felt something raw and primal crawling under his skin. His own scent responded without permission, vanilla blooming thick and sweet, cutting through the aggression like a knife.

His vision blurred. His heartbeat thundered in his ears.

And then he stood.

"STOP."

He said one word.

Just one.

Both alphas froze mid-punch... Nathan’s fist was an inch from Viktor’s face, and Viktor’s hand wrapped around Nathan’s throat. Their eyes snapped to Elias with their bodies locked in place like someone had hit pause.

The room went dead silent except for Elias’s ragged breathing.

He didn’t know how he did it. He didn’t know ’why’ it worked. He just remembered what Dr Patel told him about his ability being a dominant omega. But the two punching bags were waiting... Waiting for whatever he said next.

Elias’s voice shook, but it didn’t waver.

"Both of you... Sit down and shut up. Now."

Nathan’s arm dropped first. Then Viktor’s. They stepped back, chests heaving, eyes never leaving Elias.

Dr Patel stared, mouth open.

’Wow... As expected of him,’

Elias’s knees buckled again, and this time no one caught him... he hit the floor hard, the kit spilling everywhere.

The last thing he saw before everything went black was Nathan and Viktor both lunging forward at the same time, shouting his name.