6
Ken
For a few days,Wesley was quiet and somber. I didn’t bother asking why. I knew me telling him a relationship between us couldn’t work out must have upset him. But there was nothing I could do about that. As much as I enjoyed our physical contact that night, it wasn’t right. I could only pray Wesley recovered soon, moved out of my apartment, and found an alpha mate to callhisown.
One thatwasn’tme.
Even though that notion filled me with a deeply uncomfortable sense ofirritation.
Still, I had no time to dwell on that. I was a professional and needed to help my patient’s recovery. Once he was gone, then I could sit aroundandmope.
But something was happening to Wesley - something I hoped would happen later rather thansooner.
I knocked on the door. “Can Icomein?”
I thought he might be asleep, but instead hesaid, “Yeah.”
I stepped inside to find Wesley curled up in bed, facing away from me. Even though he had recovered enough to walk for the most part on his own, I still wanted to bring him food. Maybe it was to ease my own anxiety. Maybe I thought the gesture would make him hate me less aftersnubbinghim.
“Here’s something to eat,” I said, setting the tray down on thetable.
Wesley still wouldn’t turn tofaceme.
“Are you feeling okay today?” I askedcautiously.
“Yeah,” he said. “I mean… I don’t know. I feelreallywarm.”
Instantly I became anxious. If what I thought was happening was truly happening, all of our problems were about to getworse.
“Would you like me to check your temperature?” I asked as clinically aspossible.
“I don’t know,” he mumbled. “Maybelater.”
That was fine with me. “Alright.”
I left the room, closed the door behind me, and that was that. At least for now. But now I was getting worried. If even he noticed that he was starting to feel warm, there was aproblem.
Wesley might be going into heat. His veryfirst.
I recalled the disaster when he tried to be intimate with me, and I told him no. I couldn’t imagine how much worse it would be when he was desperate, and his needy omega scent would drive my wolf absolutely crazy. I knew I wouldn’t lose control and jump on him like a stupid sex-crazed alpha, but I still couldn’t be hereforthat.
What the hell was I goingtodo?
* * *
The next day,my fears wereconfirmed.
Wesley groaned and called for me in desperation. It was clear he was afraid and didn’t know what was going on with his body. His eyes flashed with fear as he clutchedmyarm.
“It feels like I’m on fire,” he criedpitifully.
I grimaced. Sometimes a first heat manifested like this; the arousal didn’t kick in right away, and the omega was left with a hot, burning feeling. It was overwhelming, especially if you didn’t know what wasgoingon.
“I’m going to check your temperature,” I told him, even though I was sure I already knew what was going on. I gently slid the thermometer in his mouth. Sure enough, he wasburningup.
“Do I have a fever?” he asked, staring at me with doe-like eyes. It was if he forgot about the tense situation from a few days ago, which is the one thing I was thankful for. I hated knowing that he was upsetwithme.
“Yes,” I confirmed. “But it’s… not a normal fever, I’mafraid.”
