Maybe it’s a kink thing, but why would Cato have that with him at work? Now that I think about it, he had Orion get it for him.
I psych myself up to ask about it. It will feel less awkward if I’m not looking at Cato directly, which is perfect because he’s sitting behind me while I soak in the tub.
I clear my throat and say, “Um, did you…”
But my courage dissipates before I can finish the question.
“What is it, pet?” Cato asks.
“Nothing. Never mind,” I say quickly.
“Tell me, omega,” he whispers in my ear.
My mouth opens of its own accord. “Did you, um, wear a mask or like, a muzzle during my heat? And did you haveaknot,” I say quickly before I lose my confidence again.
Cato chuckles, but that just makes me more tense as I wait for his answer.
“Did you like it?” he asks.
I squirm, squeezing my thighs together.
“You looked hot—um, good, from what I recall. Although it did rule out kissing. Not that you have to kiss me! I appreciate you helping me out. I know you didn’t get much choice in being there for my heat,” I say, thankfully stopping there before I ramble out all my insecurities.
Cato massages the back of my neck, and my body melts for him.
“It was an honor to help you, omega,” he says in the most serious tone I’ve ever heard from him. “I’m glad you liked the muzzle. I wore it for you.”
My mind spins, trying to figure out how he came up with the idea that I’m into masked men.Magnus looks good in his balaclava, but I didn’t think I liked it in a kinky way. Maybe I do.
“For your protection,” Cato adds quietly.
I try to turn so I can face him, but he still has his hand on my neck and won’t let me.
“I’m sure my anatomy wasn’t what you expected. I don’t meet the medical requirements to be designated as an alpha, my hormones aren’t high enough. I present like a beta most of the time, weak scent, weaker senses. But I do produce alpha hormones, albeit slowly,” he says.
That’s not what I expected him to say, although I don’t know what else could explain his knot.
“There’s a barrier between me and my alpha. It’s thin, so I can see through it, but it prevents those instincts from feeling like a part of me. I’ve tried all the treatments, seen every doctor and specialist, but none of them could fix this. The hormones build up in my system, and if I don’t do something to burn them off, eventually they’ll overflow,” Cato says. “When that happens, my alpha takes over, and if they’re too high, it can drive him out of control like a feral alpha. That’s why Orion had the muzzle made for me. It’s a safety measure so I don’t have to worry my alpha will do something we’ll regret.”
I’ve heard of feral alphas who have to be institutionalized. I’m glad his condition isn’t that extreme, but I feel terrible he has to go through this.
Cato pauses like he’s giving me the chance to pull away. Surely he doesn’t think I’d judge him for a medical issue. I don’t care what his designation is, I just want him to be happy.
I lean back into his touch, and after a moment, he continues.
“Since those base alpha instincts lean towardfighting or fucking, I do both to burn off my hormones. I fight in cage matches and find partners in nightclubs or on apps. The job helps too. Manual labor and adrenaline consume some of the hormones, forcing the body to work hard and use all available resources. If I worked in a cubicle, I’d probably have to fight or f—date, every night.”
I can’t contain my laugh at picturing Cato in a cubicle. He’d be a menace in an office.
“You don’t think I’d be a good corporate drone, pet?” Cato says, tugging lightly on my hair.
“I’m not sure the office would survive you,” I say, still giggling.
“Not unless I wanted it to,” he says, sounding pleased with himself. “I enjoy being a rescuer, and not just because it helps me self-regulate. I’ve never cared about being perceived as an alpha, so I’m fine with only letting him out every few weeks. I know some might judge the ‘treatments’ I use though.”
“That’s stupid! Why would anyone care how you choose to handle your condition? It’s not like you’re hurting anyone. Well, except for the fighting, I guess—but they agreed to it! Your methods sound just fine to me. It’s no one else’s business,” I say, huffing.
Cato laughs and strokes my hair to calm me down. I grumble and shift around in irritation, making the water slosh.
