“Mason, is that okay?” I asked.
Mason nodded. “Yeah.”
Carefully, I lifted Mason into my arms. Everyone parted for us as we exited the building. We quickly made our way back to the house. I rested Mason down on the couch. Ken immediately went to work. He opened his briefcase and took out all his important tools. He took Mason’s temperature and measured his heart rate, and a bunch of other things I didn’t even understand. I just stood there helplessly and watched.
“Is there anything I can do?” I asked, feeling useless.
“You can comfort Mason,” Ken muttered as he was deeply concentrating on his work.
I kneeled down. I didn’t want to touch Mason without his permission. But suddenly, he reached out on his own and grasped around for my hand. His palms were clammy and cold, but at the same time his body was burning up. I was so worried, but all I could do was hold his hand. I bit my lip and intertwined our fingers. I hated waiting, sitting here and not being able to do anything.
Ken sat back and frowned. He almost looked puzzled.
“What?” I asked frantically.
Ken stroked his chin in thought. “There’s something strange going on here. And before you get alarmed, I don’t think it's somethingbad. Just unusual.”
“What the hell’re you talking about, Ken?” I asked. I was so upset that I started slurring my words, but I didn’t even care.
“Mason,” Ken began, looking the omega in the eye. “Have you ever heard of something called adouble heat?”
“What?” Mason asked weakly. “No, what is that?”
Ken crossed his arms. “It’s a very rare condition in which an omega who is already pregnant undergoes a second heat cycle. Basically, it renders you fertile even though you’re already carrying a pup.”
Mason and I both stared dumbly at Ken. Suddenly I got up and scampered to pick up the encyclopedia I’d purchased earlier. I flipped frantically through the pages until I found what I was looking for. There, in a tiny section of the page, was a footnote about double heats. It confirmed everything Ken had just told us. I sat back and stared at the page in shock.
“It’s here, too,” I mumbled, holding the book.
“I’ve never heard of that before,” Mason said, panic sliding into his voice. “It can’t be true. It has to be something else.”
“Have you been sick lately? More than would reasonably be expected during early-term pregnancy?” Ken asked.
Mason and I exchanged glances.
“Yes,” Mason murmured. “I… couldn’t move for a few days. I was so weak and sore and kept throwing up.”
Ken nodded gravely. “And your arousal levels? Higher than normal?”
Mason blushed, but nodded.
“It’s nothing to be embarrassed about,” Ken said. “It’s normal for every omega to get aroused easily during pregnancy, but especially because of your double heat. The good news is that once this period of sickness passes, you should return to normal. However, that’s when the heat will strike. So I suggest taking precautions.”
“Okay,” Mason said, then he sighed. “I can’t take any pills or anything to suppress it?”
“I’m afraid not,” Ken said. “Besides, it would be unhealthy for the baby you already have. I suggest waiting it out, or - if you want - you can have sex with an alpha, although that will probably cause you to have another child. Either choice is valid.”
Both Mason and I nearly choked when he said that, but Ken was oblivious. I don’t think he knew much about our situation other than Mason was an omega who was living with me. At this point I don’t think that would seem odd to him, considering our friends Flint and Charlie went through a similar situation.
Ken turned to me. “Mason does have a bit of a fever, so he should stay home and rest. I know we had a hunt planned this week, but I think you being here is more important.”
“I know,” I said.
“Make sure he gets fluids and rest,” Ken said. “I know it might be difficult during his upcoming heat, but he needs someone to take care of him.”
“Don’t worry,” I said. “I’ll be here for him.”
“Good.” He nodded. “Call me if anything comes up.”
