I speak up immediately.
"In that case, maybe I should step outside so he can have some privacy."
"Unfortunately, that won’t be possible. Partners are required to be present during examinations. It’s an important part of the bonding process, as well as the hormonal stimulation of an alpha’s possessive nature. Please trust me. This has been thoroughly studied," Dr. Lee replies.
His words sound completely abstract to me, but I’m not going to argue anymore. After what Miller said earlier, it’s clear there’s no chance Salt will be granted any privacy, which is beyond fucked up.
This whole Beta Activation program is starting to seriously rub me the wrong way, and it’s only the first day. What comes next, damn it?
"Please lie down on the table."
The ‘table’ looks like a cross between a gynecological chair and some kind of sex furniture.
It’s covered in red leather, with metal supports positioned near where the heels would rest.
"Please undress, Mr. Einarson."
"Just my pants?" Salt asks, sounding tight and defensive.
"All clothing. I’ll also be examining the mammary glands."
Salt flushes deeply. The tension in his body is obvious.
I turn away and face the wall, trying to give him at least that much privacy, but Dr. Lee immediately speaks up.
"Our regulations require you to observe the examination."
I look at him, and a hostile, warning growl slips out of my throat before I can stop it.
"Whatever you’re attempting to communicate right now, I’m afraid I don’t understand it. If you have objections, please voice them in normal language," Dr. Lee says coldly.
I’m tempted to say it’snormalfor me, but instead I focus on the problem in front of us.
"This program strips people of their basic human rights to privacy," I reply equally coldly.
"We know exactly what we’re doing here, Mr. Eliano. That’s why I ask you to trust us. Our success rate is very high."
I clamp my mouth shut and decide not to say another word. The last thing I want is to make the atmosphere worse and add even more stress for Salt.
However, Salt stands there without moving, his eyes fixed on the floor. His heart is pounding, I can sense his energy with unsettling clarity, and he’s extremely tense.
Without thinking, I quietly start to purr.
Dr. Lee glances at me with raised eyebrows, but I ignore him.
For a minute or two, I keep up the soft purring, and Salt’s fists relax slightly. At last, he slowly reaches for the collar of his T-shirt and pulls it over his head.
But that’s not all he has on his chest.
My eyes go wide. Salt is wearing something omegas sometimes use, a… flattener.
Omegas, especially those who are still maturing or feeling self-conscious, sometimes wear these kinds of sporty compression tops to hide their nipples, often swollen due to a sudden increase in hormone levels.
Then Salt takes it off as well, and it becomes immediately obvious why he had it on.
His nipples look like those of some omegas. They’re large and raised, with pronounced, elongated tips, a deep dark rose color, and the moment I see them I’m hit by a wave of heat I can’t control. And suddenly I can’t think about anything else except a moment that might happen someday, when I’ll be able to touch them, squeeze them, and close my mouth around them.
Then, something even worse happens, completely without my consent or control. A low sound slips out of my throat, an AO call that means ‘Appreciation’. I react instantly, lifting my hand and clapping it over my mouth, clearing my throat to try and cover it up, but that kind of sound falls firmly into the range betas can hear. Salt shows no reaction at all, except for his heartbeat speeding up even more.
