“I don’t think it’s necessary. They’re just older doctors who think that because they’re doctors, they deserve some sort of extra respect. I’m all for respecting others that have done something beyond what others have, but they go about it with an entitled attitude.”
I sighed and shook my head. “Owen, I’m an older doctor. I’m not sure how old your former employers were, but I’m knocking on three and a half centuries here quite soon.”
Owen’s eyes grew. “Yeah, I don’t think they are your age. Older than me. Possibly older than Jun, but I’m not sure. I never asked.”
I nodded but didn’t get a chance to continue the discussion because Alpha Mate Theobald entered. I smiled at him as he walked toward us. “I’m early. But I got a message this morning that Julian and the kids are coming for a visit with Nikolai, and I was wondering if you could fit me in early?”
I smiled. “Of course,” I told him. “Come on back if you’re ready.”
Alpha Mate Theobald smiled again and nodded as he veered toward me. I nodded at Owen, and he returned the gesture.
“Oh. I didn’t mean to forget, but this is Owen,” I said. “He’s my new office manager.”
“It’s nice to meet you, Owen. I think I’ve seen your mate around the council building. He was walking out of the cafeteria yesterday with Alpha Pascal.”
“Yes, that was probably him. Alpha Pascal has been incredibly kind. Everyone has, actually.”
“That’s good to hear,” Alpha Mate Theobald said before he looked back my way. “Okay, I’m ready for this. I’m in agreement with Maynard that we’ve had a lot of kids. We have, actually. And it’s time to slow down and enjoy life with just the two of us.”
I gestured to the exam room on the right. After Alpha Mate Theobald entered and easily hopped up onto the exam table, I pulled up the rolling stool and sat. “You mentioned life with just the two of you. Has Sean left?” I asked. I knew that both Alpha Maynard and Alpha Mate Theobald were quite protective of their youngest, and although he was enrolled at the local college, he still lived at home.
“Not really left, but he and Longwei have moved into their own place. They said it was needed so they could have the wholecollege experience.” Alpha Mate Theobald sighed. “I completely understand, and Maynard has been a bit overly protective with him. Which is also understandable after what happened with Julian.”
I studied Alpha Mate Theobald for a moment. “Are you certain this is what you want? I’m not here to second-guess you or your family planning. I simply wish to help you make the best decision.”
Alpha Mate Theobald nodded. “I’m in agreement. Completely. We might revisit having more children later, in a decade or two, but we both agree that with the council taking up a lot of Maynard’s time, and with me wanting to travel to visit our children and their families, this is what’s best.” He sighed. “That, and if I’m honest, I’m tired. I’ve had twenty-three children. I never really intended on having that many, but thenagain, I never thought I’d live nearly as long as I have either. Here I am though.”
I chuckled. “I understand that. There are two options. You can take a daily pill, or you can get a monthly shot. In my experience with other omegas, they seem to prefer the shots, as they don’t have to remember to take something every morning.”
“Are there any side effects for either?”
“Not that I have heard of. In some ways, the suppressors are much like humans’ birth control. Only they’re really not, since our DNA is quite a bit different than that of a human. It’s easy enough to stop them whenever you would like. The pills, you simply stop taking them. The shot is the same. You simply stop receiving them. Both are monitored worldwide, and of course, there have been a few instances where someone has had some sort of side effect with them, but it’s very rare, and the side effects weren’t severe. They simply made them ill, as one would become with pregnancy sickness.”
Alpha Mate Theobald nodded. “I’ll take the shot. I know we want to hold off. Possibly indefinitely. I’m not nearly as busy as an omega chasing after toddlers or newborns, but I do keep busy. Not having to remember to take something every morning would be nice as well.”
I nodded. “Completely understandable. Would you like to come in monthly to have them, or would you like to take them with you, and you can administer them yourself?”
Alpha Mate Theobald’s eyes grew. “No. I don’t want to do it myself. I’m good with making sure I can come in every month and have you dispense them. Where do you stab me?”
I chuckled. “In the hip or upper thigh. It doesn’t hurt, from what I’ve heard. Of course, I’ve not taken them myself, but I have administered quite a few.”
“I’m good,” Alpha Mate Theobald said. He lay back and pushed on his pants, exposing his right hip.
I stood, and with a bit of magic, I had the shot ready for him. I tugged on his pants a bit more, and after swiping at the area with an alcohol pad, I fanned it a few times to help it dry. It took another few seconds to administer the shot, and then I swiped at the tiny spot again with the alcohol pad and helped Alpha Mate Theobald pull his pants back up.
He looked up at me. “That’s it?”
I nodded. “That’s it. It doesn’t take long. The lower on the hip, the better, as it tends to not be directly over the bone.”
“That makes sense. That would hurt, I would think.” I helped him sit up and sat back down on the stool.
“Do you have any questions for me?”
“No. I feel like I should. How will I know if I’m experiencing side effects?”
“Most have started throwing up. It can happen within hours or can be a day or two after. We can counter the shot, so if you do start to experience or feel anything out of the ordinary, call the office, and we’ll get you in right away.”
“I can do that. How soon does it take effect?”
