Miller looks like a small, writhing flounder, bending submissively almost to the ground before Sidorov, who strides forward with a firm step and an aloof, proud expression.
But to be fair, they both look pleased, simply in different ways. Miller is just outwardly glowing, his round cheeks stretched into a wide grin.
Sidorov steps onto the podium and takes the mic from Miller’s offering hands. His flat, cold face spreads into a wide, almost unnatural smile as he announces,
"We have wonderful news for your sector. Another couple is becoming part ofourfacility’s success. Jeff and Shane are going to be parents!"
Boom.
Wow!
The entire hall jumps to its feet, bursting into loud applause. Even Eliano gets to his feet. I get up too, but my face contorts. I do not understand a damn thing that is happening. Iclap a couple of times so I do not stand out, but my stomach feels tight and wrong.
After what I saw last night, I’m doubting everything. This place feels deeply disturbing. I know I need to talk to Eliano, and soon, because this is all stacking up way too fast.
"In honor of this wonderful occasion, we are hosting a dance event as well as a special celebration for Jeff and Shane tonight. Tomorrow, a farewell breakfast will be held before their departure from the island."
Of course. Pregnant couples leave immediately, back to normal life. Program goal achieved. Stats boosted. In the case of Second Chance participants, they go back with ankle monitors for the rest of their original sentences. Still, they return to the world, to people.
Everyone knows that betas who have given birth once can later get pregnant again. Their hormonal profile shifts into what is known as a ‘beta with omega characteristics’, which means the program can, in a way, continue on its own into the future, allowing couples to have more children.
Jeff slips an arm around Shane and kisses him on the lips. Shane stiffens just a little, but nothing looks openly wrong. Nothing I can point to. He even looks happy.
"What the hell?" I mutter under my breath. "How did that even happen?"
Eliano turns toward me.
"What don’t you understand? How people get preg? I can explain."
I pull a face. "Asshole. Let’s eat and get out of here. I need to tell you something."
Eliano nods, unfazed. We start eating. Roman and Evan are buzzing with excitement, talking nonstop about how lucky Jeff and Shane are, how they hope the same thing happens to them someday. I nod when it feels expected and keep my mouth shut.
When we finally leave, after hearing that some massage class starts in about an hour, I suggest a walk to the beach. I haven’t been there yet, so why not check it out a bit?
The shore is warm, with a light breeze rolling in from the water. I drop onto a rock where the grassy slope turns into sand.
"I couldn’t sleep last night," I say. "Went out to clear my head." Then I tell him everything. All of it. I do not spare a single detail.
Eliano does not sit beside me. Instead, he lowers himself onto the sand in front of me, arms resting on his bent knees. He looks unfairly good like this. His hair is black with a deep violet tint, striking contrast against his light golden eyes.
He stays quiet for a long moment, a frown slowly forming.
"It is starting to make sense to me," he finally says.
"Oh yeah?" I snort. "Then explain it, because my brain is still a mess. Did they have some kind of weird romance going on, or was it something else?"
"Hardly a romance. When we met that purple alpha, Drax, I smelled something."
"What kind of something?"
"He has extraordinarily powerful pheromones. Almost aggressive. It hit me hard, like concentrated alpha scent during rut."
"What?!"
That sounds downright bizarre.
Eliano chuckles. "Yeah. It nearly twisted my gut. The intensity was overwhelming. I would bet his presence alone could trigger heat for omegas and maybe betas. I once heard about a heavyweight fighter who had such a strong pheromonal output that all his opponents had permanent hard-ons during matches with him and could barely focus, which worked in his favor, of course." Eliano makes a funny face.
