Page 163 of Toxic

Soren made a strange face. "So, it’s all my ex’s fault—my mini-heats?"

"It probably stimulated the awakening of some omega traits in you, yes," Dr. Jim said, tilting his head. "And this is the part where I have to ask you a personal question."

The doctor glanced at me meaningfully.

I cleared my throat. "If Soren prefers, I can leave the room," I offered, not wanting him to feel uncomfortable.

"No," Soren suddenly said. "I want you to stay."

Dr. Jim nodded. "Okay. How often did you have sex with your previous partner during the pregnancies?"

I noticed Soren shift uneasily.

"Soren, seriously, I can leave. You don't have to answer that in front of me," I added more softly, but he shook his head again.

"When I first got pregnant, we were pretty active, maybe once every two days? But then, as I realized what the chances were, I got depressed and ended up in a bad mood throughout the whole second and third pregnancy, so… I don't know. Maybe once, twice a week at most…"

Dr. Delgado took some notes, then asked, "And in your current relationship, how often are you intimate?"

I saw a faint blush creep up Soren's cheeks as he replied, "Every day, sometimes for hours, and when we sleep, he’s practically inside me the whole time…" His cheeks flushed even deeper, and I felt my own face heat up. Confessing such private details, even to a doctor, felt uncomfortable.

Dr. Jim, however, didn’t show any surprise. "Well, that could be the difference. Soren, with that level of intensity, the alpha’s pheromones are likely to have a strong effect on your hormonal system, modifying and stimulating it. Once every two days may have been too sporadic before. This present level of frequency might be what's causing your hormonal system to awaken."

"What’s going on… exactly?"

"Soren, your hormone levels are much higher now than they were during your previous pregnancies—actually, they’re normal for an omega in the first month of pregnancy. There’s no deviation. Everything looks good."

I saw Soren blink in surprise. "And what about my uterus? Is it still small?"

"It's larger than in the previous scans, about the size you'd expect at the end of the first month and the beginning of the second. From what I can see in your medical records, your uterus is naturally very small, typical for a beta. Now, it's over twice the size. Previously, it never grew beyond an inch during the first month."

"Is that related to hormones?"

"Yes, they stimulate the growth and expansion of the uterus, and maintain your pregnancy."

"Are you saying that I might actually have a chance, that there's a possibility that—?" Soren’s voice trailed off, and I saw the color drain from his face.

"I’d rather not give you too much hope because these situations are usually complex. But your chances are definitely better than before. If you don’t mind, I’d like to examine your neck glands now to see if there are any changes there as well."

"Y…yes… please."

Dr. Jim stood up and approached us. Soren was wearing a loose T-shirt, so Dr. Jim could easily reach his glands.

"They’re slightly larger than typical beta glands. They’re not fully pronounced yet, but the tissue has definitely altered. I believe they’re partially activated."

"Sex… stimulates this?"

"Yes, Skye's pheromones are stimulating your endocrine system. Of course, this isn’t the only scenario where the Omega Awakening happens; it’s just one of the possible triggers."

"What are the others?"

Dr. Jim continued, "Another possibility is a spontaneous Omega Awakening. Some betas are actually hidden omegas, referred to as late-blooming omegas. Sometimes, their glands can activate even in their twenties, occasionally even around thirty. Other factors could include past illnesses that affect the hormonal system, extremely intense emotions, and, of course, a bond with a True Mate."

"A True Mate?" I looked at Jim, narrowing my eyes.

"Yes, in this type of relationship between a beta and an alpha or a beta and an omega, their hormonal systems can, over several months, lead to a near-complete transformation into another secondary gender. In the case of a beta with an alpha, the beta can transform into an omega. With an omega, the beta can become more like an alpha, able to enter ruts and fighting modes."

"What do you mean by 'transform'?"

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