AT THE SAME TIME
JAXON'S POINT OF VIEW:
It had been a few days since that first, unexpected purr, but it wasn't the only one. Since then, Xavier had grown more accustomed to our presence, his movements softer, less guarded. He still flinched every now and then habits built over a lifetime didn't vanish overnight, but there was a warmth growing there, slowly but surely.
That morning, I found him curled up in his omega's nest, layers of soft blankets and pillows piled around him. He was lying on his side, face partially buried into the cushions, and there was a slight furrow in his brow that hadn't been there before. Michael noticed it too, stepping in behind me with his arms crossed, his gaze sharp.
"He looks... off." He murmured.
I nodded, stepping further into the room.
"Xavier?" I called gently.
He didn't stir, just let out a faint noise, something between a sigh and a whimper. His eyes squeezed shut tighter, and his hand curled around the edge of the blanket. I knelt beside him, the mattress dipping slightly under my weight.
"Hey." I whispered, voice softer than usual. "You alright?"
He blinked, eyes slowly fluttering open. His gaze was hazy, unfocused for a moment before it landed on me.
"Jaxon?" He mumbled, voice hoarse.
"Yeah, I'm here." I said, brushing back a strand of hair from his forehead. He was warm too warm. "You're burning up." I murmured.
Xavier shifted, a light flush blooming across his cheeks.
"I'm... I'm fine." He mumbled stubbornly, though his body betrayed him.
He tried to sit up but slumped back almost immediately, his breath coming out in shallow puffs. Michael scoffed, stepping forward and pressing his hand lightly to Xavier's forehead.
"Fine? You're sweating bullets, Xavier."Michael said.
Xavier huffed, turning his face away, but he didn't resist when I adjusted the blankets, pulling them up to his shoulders. He closed his eyes again, brow still furrowed.
"Just... just tired." He whispered.
"Did you eat anything today?" I asked.
He shook his head, barely a motion, just enough for me to see.
"Wasn't hungry." He admitted.
Michael exchanged a look with me, his jaw setting.
"We'll bring you something." I said gently. "Just stay here, alright?"
Xavier didn't respond, already slipping back into sleep. His breathing evened out, his grip on the blanket loosening. I watched him for a moment longer, the fragile peace on his face settling something in my chest. Michael's hand landed on my shoulder.
"We need to talk." He murmured, his voice low.
I nodded, brushing my thumb once more across Xavier's cheek before I stood.
"We'll be right back." I whispered, even though I knew he couldn't hear me.
As we stepped outside and shut the door quietly behind us, Michael's expression darkened.
"That's not normal exhaustion." He said firmly. "That's the start of something else."
"Heat," I confirmed, my voice barely above a whisper.
Michael nodded, expression serious.
"We're going to need to be ready. This isn't going to be easy on him."He said.
A thrill ran through me, tempered with concern. Xavier was stronger than he realized, but this would be new for him. And for us.
"We make sure he's comfortable." I said finally, voice steady. "No matter what."
Michael's gaze softened slightly.
"No matter what." He repeated.
I glanced back at the door, heart thudding painfully in my chest. We had work to do, preparations to make. But more than that, we had to be there for him. And we weren't going to let him suffer alone. I was an Alpha taking charge came naturally, planning… not so much. But for Xavier? I'd do it a thousand times over. Michael and I spent the next hour gathering everything we could think of fresh sheets, softer pillows, cooling cloths, and enough water to keep him hydrated for days if necessary. The healer had stopped by as well, dropping off a few herbal concoctions meant to ease the worst of it. Michael paced the room, arms crossed tightly.
"It's too soon. He wasn't even supposed to go into heat for another few months. Why now?"Michael asked.
I shook my head, setting the last of the cooling cloths down beside the nest.
"Maybe the bond? We're at… what? Seventy eight percent?"I asked.
"Seventy eight." He confirmed, brow creasing. "Still... it feels like it's happening too fast."
I couldn't argue with that. Everything about Xavier defied logic. He was different. That much was clear. But the instincts, the pull were undeniable. Michael's eyes flicked to me.
"You ready for this?"He asked.
"I've been ready since the first damn time I saw him."I scoffed. "Like you're any better."
The banter helped ease the tension, but when I stepped back into the room where Xavier lay curled up in his nest, all the jokes faded. He was flushed, brow damp with sweat, and the blankets he had once curled around himself were now shoved off, like even their weight was too much. His breathing came in shallow pants, chest rising and falling unevenly. I approached him slowly, kneeling beside the edge of the nest.
"Xavier?" I whispered.
He stirred, eyes fluttering open. They were glazed with heat, the usual sharpness dulled.
"Jaxon?" His voice was a whisper, broken and rough.
"Yeah, I'm here." I reached out, brushing a damp strand of hair from his forehead. His skin was almost scalding to the touch. "How are you feeling?"
A faint laugh escaped him, though it sounded more like a whimper.
"Like I'm on fire."He muttered.
Michael joined us, crouching beside me.
"We brought you some water. Can you drink?"Michael asked.
Xavier hesitated, his eyes flickering between us. But when I held the cup to his lips, he obediently took a few sips. His throat bobbed as he swallowed, and I couldn't help but watch the delicate curve of his neck the place where our marks would be one day. When he finished, he slumped back into the pillows, eyes squeezed shut.
"What's… happening to me?"Xavier whispered.
I glanced at Michael, who nodded subtly.
"Why… why does it feel like this?" He whispered, voice hoarse.
I glanced at Michael, who nodded for me to take the lead. I leaned in, keeping my voice low and gentle.
"You're going through your first heat, Xavier."Michael explained.
His eyes widened a fraction, disbelief etched in every line of his face.
"Heat? Like… like those stories?"Xavier asked.
"Yeah." I confirmed, my voice steady. "It's not just stories. It's real. For omegas, it's how your body prepares… for bonding and for-" I hesitated, watching his reaction, "-for the possibility of children."
His breath hitched. He tried to push himself upright but fell back against the pillows, panting. Michael moved forward, steadying him with a hand on his shoulder.
"Easy. Your body's in overdrive right now. Fighting it won't help."Michael said softly.
Xavier's eyes darted back and forth between us, clearly processing the weight of what we were saying.
"But… I'm not woman. I didn't meant to-" He trailed off, confusion clouding his features.
"It's natural." Michael added softly, his hand still resting gently on Xavier's shoulder. "When an omega reaches a certain age and… certain bonds form, it triggers your first heat. Your body's recognizing the connection."
Xavier's cheeks flushed deeper.
"Connection?" His voice was a whisper, almost as if he was afraid of the answer.
I smiled a little, unable to help myself. He was too damn cute when he was flustered.
"With us," I said, voice low and sincere. "The bond isn't just emotional. It's… physical too. When you hit that fifty percent mark, your body began to sync with ours. It's why you're feeling this now."
"But… it's… it's so… hot." Xavier stammered, looking down as if embarrassed. "And… I feel… weird."
Michael chuckled lightly.
"That's normal too. Your senses are heightened. Your body's getting ready to-"Michael started.
"Don't say it." Xavier interrupted quickly, cheeks flaming.
He looked away, biting his bottom lip. I exchanged a grin with Michael.
"We won't push you." I assured him. "But the heat… it'll keep building. It won't just go away."
Xavier's eyes flickered back to mine, filled with questions he wasn't ready to ask yet.
"How… how long?"He asked.
Michael leaned in, voice softening.
"A few days, maybe longer. It depends."Michael said.
"Depends on what?" Xavier's voice was almost a whisper, like he already knew the answer and just needed confirmation. I leaned a little closer, our faces almost level.
"On whether the bond is… completed." I said gently.
He blinked, absorbing the words, his expression flickering with emotions too quick to name.
"Completed?"He asked.
I nodded, voice dropping to a whisper.
"Marked. Fully bonded. It's the only way to ease it completely."I said.
Xavier's breath hitched again, and his hands fisted the sheets beneath him.
"I don't… I don't even know what to do." He admitted, voice trembling slightly.
Michael's hand remained firm on his shoulder, grounding him.
"You don't have to do anything. Not unless you're ready. We'll be here, no matter what."Michael said.
I leaned back slightly, giving him space to breathe.
"But just know, Xavier… we're not going anywhere."I said.
His eyes flickered to mine, searching for any hint of dishonesty, any trace of manipulation. But I meant it. Every word. Xavier nodded slowly, his breathing still labored but a bit more steady. He didn't push us away. He didn't flinch. That was a start and I knew that soon we had to do something to make sure that his heat is over.