Dash’s anger tempered hearing that.
“I feel weakright now,” Dash muttered. “I hate feeling this out of control.”
“I’m sorry,” Emerson murmured. “I can’t even begin to imagine what you go through.”
Dash wasn’t sure if he saw pity or compassion in his mate’s eyes. He hoped for the latter. “Seven years later and I’m still not adjusted to it myself. It doesn’t help that they’re inconsistent and arrive off schedule at times.”
“Do you take the meds?”
Dash nodded. “HeatexandScentex.”
“I thought those were supposed to stop your heats completely?” Emerson said.
“They are, but it’s not completely. I still feel… horny as fuck.” He paused a few seconds. “We’re also supposed to take the occasional break from them to maintain potency. I’ve been… ignoring that need for too long.”
One of Emerson’s brows rose.
“I’ve been busy trying to rebuild my life… and…” Dash sighed. “I dragged my feet because I didn’t want to experience another full heat. I hate them.”
“Did you hate it with me?”
Dash’s gaze whipped to Emerson’s. “Not as much, no.”
“I suppose I’ll take that as a win.”
Emerson’s knot shrunk seconds later. Dash pulled off, but Emerson stopped him with a grip of his hips.
“Hold on.”
Emerson reached between them and then nodded. Dash moved off Emerson and noticed the condom covering his mate’s cock.
Thank heavens.“I appreciate that,” he said as Emerson removed the condom.
“What?” Emerson asked as he rolled over and discarded the sheath.
“Realizing Ididn’twant to get pregnant, even though I said… that I did.”
Emerson rolled back over, eyeing him. “I suspected it was the instinct… not you.”
Dash nodded.
Emerson lay silent beside him, examining his face. “Can you ever see a time where you might want to have children?”
“And allow the entire world to find out what I am?”Dash barked—all while an image of him swollen and pregnant with Emerson’s child appeared in his head.
“Would it really be so terrible? You’d be free to be yourself.”
“I wouldn’t be free. I’d be a freak, stared at by everyone I passed. A punchline, laughed at in all corners of the Palatinate.”
“With all the changes appearing all over, maybe they’d come to accept you. Look at Cassidy. He was born a beta and changed into an omega once he was with both Harrison and Raimy. He’snot the first, and he won’t be the last. Cassidy’s said folks are beginning to chill out around him.”
“Youhave a higher opinion of people than I do,” Dash said. “And don’t forget that Cassidy’s always looked somewhat omega-ish. I’m a massive alpha with omega pipes who shouldn’t be with anyone who could get him pregnant. I’m going to be harder to accept.”
“Maybe,” Emerson said, sounding disappointed.
“I was forced out of the Guard over it, even though I had a spotless record and multiple commendations,” Dash said, trying not to snarl with anger. “There’s noacceptancewhen the truth comes out. Only doors being slammed in your face and backs being turned.”
“I haven’t turned my back,” Emerson said. “And nor have two of my brothers so far. There are those who would welcome you with open arms.”
