Page 7 of All That We Keep
A heavy sigh falls from my chest as I look to Grayson, who's been unusually quiet since we arrived at the house. He smiles when our eyes meet, but I can see the worry etched into the lines around his ocean-gray eyes. He's been carrying more of the emotional burden lately, the one who is our calm during the storm while Maceo and I handle the logistics and security concerns. The stress is wearing on him, even if he's trying not to show it.
Finally, my gaze moves to Maceo, who's currently holding Blake in his lap with the kind of gentle protectiveness that makes my heart clench. Blake looks small against Maceo's broader frame, pale and exhausted in a way that has nothing to do with his usual workaholic tendencies.
It should feel like victory, like Grayson and I have achieved everything we dreamed about during those late-night conversations years ago. Instead, it feels fragile and temporary, like we’re just waiting for the next shoe to drop. No doubt in the next week one of us will be summoned for questioning, something will go wrong at the company, or Hudson will resurface trying to steal Luca away for the umpteenth time.
I just hate not knowing what to brace for.
I can’t protect my family from the unknown.
A sharp knock on the front door breaks through my thoughts, Grayson immediately rising from his chair. He shoots me a small nod before disappearing into the foyer as I shift Luca carefully in my lap, trying not to wake him. His head falls back against my shoulder, and he makes a soft sound of contentment before curling up tighter against my chest.
Blake looks over from where he's curled against Maceo's chest, worry immediately creasing his features as he tries to crane his neck to see toward the front door. The anxiety that's beenriding him all day spikes again, our bond pulling tight with the emotion.
He twists around more fully when Grayson returns, Quentin falling in step behind him, his medical bag slung over one shoulder. Blake frowns immediately, his expression shifting to something between embarrassment and irritation. "We could have waited until tomorrow for this."
I chuckle softly, shaking my head. "Not with what happened in the car earlier." Watching Blake panic and steal Luca from his own Alpha wasn’t just concerning. It was strange. As endearing as it is to believe that Blake just wants to protect Luca, there’s something else going on and I’m praying that it can be explained biologically. "Just let Quentin check you out, and then you and Luca can go upstairs and find out where you'd like to set up your nest, hmm?"
Blake shoots me a glare but doesn’t fight me as Quentin takes a seat in front of Maceo, setting his medical bag down on the floor. Grayson pushes the used dishes out of the way as Quentin starts digging through his bag to produce a few items.
"Blake, do I have your permission to examine you in front of your mates?" Quentin asks as he meets Blake's tired eyes.
Blake doesn’t even sit up fully as he nods without hesitation. The fever flush from this morning is still coloring his cheeks, and his breathing seems slightly labored even though he's been sitting still for the past hour.
Quentin starts preparing a small digital thermometer and a blood draw kit before arranging them methodically on the table. "Generally, after an examination, I would let you know the best course of action privately and then discuss it with you before involving anyone else." He pauses, keeping eye contact with Blake. "However, I'm pretty sure this situation might involve your mates as well. Do I have your permission to discuss your diagnosis while you're not present?"
Blake frowns, confusion creasing his features as he tries to process the unusual request. "You've never asked all that before. Why are you asking now?"
The doctor's expression grows more serious, and he sets down the thermometer to give Blake his full attention. "Because I don't think I've ever seen what this is before. Maybe once, years ago, during my residency. I'm just going to take your temperature and draw a little blood, okay? Nothing invasive or complicated."
Blake nods, though I can see the worry building in his eyes. "Will this tell you why I keep getting so tired all the time?"
I lean forward slightly, unable to keep quiet about the symptoms that have been concerning me for days. "Blake keeps fainting and getting pretty weak, too. He's not eating enough either, even when we try to make sure he gets regular meals."
Quentin hums thoughtfully. "I hope this will tell me a few things, yes." The thermometer beeps, and he makes a note of the reading before setting it aside. "Your temperature is elevated, but not dangerously so." He moves onto drawing blood, working with an efficiency that is more than just practiced. I watch with interest as he then fills a small device with the blood he’s drawn. "I've got everything I need for now. Blake, if you don't mind giving me some time alone with your mates? I'd like to run a quick preliminary test and discuss the results before we talk about next steps."
Blake pushes to his feet with more effort than it should take, and we all watch as he moves carefully toward where Luca is still dozing in my lap. He gathers the pregnant Omega up against his chest before Luca plants his feet onto the ground, both of them then pushing toward the stairs without another word.
I frown at the way Blake is taking charge of caring for Luca even when he's clearly unwell himself, though I notice that Luca seems to provide him with something to lean on as they climb the stairs together. Their bond has always been strong, butlately it's taken on an intensity that goes beyond normal pack dynamics. Blake treats Luca like his personal responsibility, like he's the primary caretaker rather than just another pack member looking out for him.
When their footsteps fade and I'm sure they're out of earshot, I turn back to see Quentin staring at that little device he poured the blood into. The expression on his face is one of shock mixed with something that looks almost like dread, and my stomach drops at the implications.
"Explain what that face is about," I demand, a growl at the edge of my words.
Quentin sits back in his chair and drags a hand down his face. "I've suspected something for a while now, but I hoped that it would never actually happen. Do you remember when I first called Blake's phone after Luca was brought to the hospital, and the contact information said 'Alpha Blake' instead of just his name? That's actually more significant than any of us realized at the time," Quentin continues. "I know that it was meant to protect Luca and make sure he got proper care, but another Omega would have never let themselves be called an Alpha, even temporarily. It just goes against their basic biology in ways they can't control. Playfully? Sure. But not as a serious thing."
Maceo shifts forward, his brow furrowed with confusion. "What do you mean? Blake didn't seem to have any problem with it."
"Exactly." Quentin's voice carries a note of something like amazement mixed with concern. "He didn't even hesitate when the hospital staff called him Alpha Blake. He just answered to it like it was completely natural, while any other Omega would have had some kind of hesitation."
Grayson leans forward as well, all three of us now on the edge of our seat, trying to understand what Quentin is saying. "We've all kind of noticed how protective Blake is over Luca, but we justthought that had something to do with how strong their bond is from growing up together."
“You would be correct that their bond is incredibly strong, but biologically it's more than just childhood friendship or even normal pack dynamics. What you're seeing is actually what's been affecting Blake's health these past few days, and it explains why he's been getting progressively sicker." The doctor pushes the small device further across the table so that all of us can see it clearly. It looks like a miniature tablet with a digital display that shows some kind of chart or graph. "This is a preliminary blood test device that shows a person's designation - Alpha, Beta, or Omega. It reads hormone levels and biological markers to give an instant classification."
At first glance, it looks like any other medical readout, just numbers and indicators that would mean nothing to someone without training. But as I focus on Blake's results, I realize that his blood sample has lit up both the Beta and Omega indicators, two bright lines glowing against the dark background of the screen.
My frown deepens as I try to process what I'm seeing. "That's impossible."
The contradiction doesn't make sense from anything I know about biology and designations. People present as one thing or another, not some kind of hybrid combination. Alphas are Alphas, Betas are Betas, and Omegas are Omegas. There might be variations in strength or specific traits, except for the fact that someone like Maceo is sitting right beside me.
