"Everyone is different, but we generally prefer the diet of our animal, even in human form. For example, even like this, I prefer fish." He gestured to his dark, sculpted abdomen and winked. I tried not to blush again and failed miserably. Weston didn't comment on it. "You may notice carnivorous shifters are able to eat raw meat in human form without getting sick as well."
"So weird," I murmured. "But interesting."
"Now, unless you have other questions, let's talk status."
I grinned, and unable to stop myself, blurted out, "Okay, professor."
Weston didn't seem too weirded out by my outburst. He actually seemed amused. "There are three shifter statuses. Alphas, omegas, and betas. Alphas, regardless of sex, are capable of impregnating omegas. Omegas are capable of being impregnated, again regardless of sex."
I scratched my head. "I was kind of confused about all that. It helps to hear it again. So that's why omega men can have babies?"
"Yes."
I thought about some similar instances I'd heard of back when I lived among humans. "But… it's in a different way than human trans men, right?"
"Correct." Weston smiled, like he was glad to see me figuring it out. "Our biology is different than humans’. Some think it is a by-product of the ancient magic that allows us to shift, but nobody knows with certainty. In any case, male omegas are impregnated through anal penetration. Omegas periodically go through heats, in which their body goes into hormonal overdrive and they can only think about being bred by an alpha. It can either be waited out, or ended when an alpha impregnates them."
My face turned bright red again. This was definitely more interesting than anything I learned in college.
Weston went on. "Male omegas have a tract that connects to a womb-like structure, which is where the baby grows."
Trying to keep the squeak out of my voice, I asked, "And it comes out the same way?"
"Yes. Keep in mind omega biology is different than what you're probably used to. There is a lot more stretch and give when it comes time to deliver than a human would ever be capable of."
I slowly got over my embarrassment, which gave way to intrigue. The clinical, almost scientific way Weston explained it to me made a lot of sense and helped me think of it not as something weird and unusual, but just a fact of life.
"Okay, I think I got that part." I let out a laugh. "Though I'm glad I'll never have to go through with that."
Something almost like regret flickered across Weston's face, but it disappeared as quickly as it had come. Whatever it was, he didn't dwell on it.
Feeling bad, I quickly decided to change the subject. "Oh, what about betas? I don't think I’ve ever even met one."
Weston's usual calm demeanour returned. "On the contrary. You've probably met many. Because they don't go into heats like omegas, and don't feel the overwhelming need to find a mate like alphas, they are generally more suited to living among humans in cities and towns. They blend in better, so to speak. They can still assume their animal form, but the urge seems to be less powerful than it is for us."
I nodded along.
"Now, when it comes to alpha biology, how much do you know?" he asked.
"Er... it means I can impregnate people. Well, omegas, right?"
"Yes. Now, when the alpha's penis is erect—"
The heat flooded back to my face. I felt like I was on fire.
"It may take on a knot—a bulbous trait that aids in impregnation—or some other trait influenced by their other form."
I was really trying to take in the information, but despite how calm and controlled Weston was while relaying it to me, my body still awkwardly reacted to the lecture's contents. I folded my hands over my lap. If Weston noticed, he didn't say anything about it.
"It is then used to penetrate the omega, and the rest I'm sure you can visualize on your own."
I was trying very, very hardnotto visualize anything, but I nodded anyway.
"That's the majority of it," Weston said. He was so casual about it that he might as well have been giving me a math lesson instead. "Just let me know if you have any questions."
I forced myself to find my voice, which came out tight and thin. "No, I think I'm good for now."
"Excellent. Then let's be on our way while it's still daylight."
My jaw dropped as Weston clapped me on the shoulder, then began walking off in the direction we'd been heading in. I scrambled to my feet, then clutched my long hair and held it in front of my legs like a makeshift curtain as I followed behind him.
