Page 21 of Where the Current Takes Him
Dr. Enas paused. “In regards to your current health, no. I was just… surprised by the number of tests you’ve undergone. It seems that your former doctors put you through a lot of unnecessary procedures.”
Beau shrugged. “There’s a lot they don’t know about human Omegas. My father—well. I was… available.”
Dr. Enas gave him a hard look. “From the time you were five?”
Beau remained silent.
“Well,” the Mer said. “I can assure you that we do not conduct our medical practices in that way. Your comfort and wellbeing is our priority. Now, go ahead and get dressed. You and your Alpha may return to the reception desk when you have finished.”
∞∞∞
Beau sat in the luxuriously wide passenger seat of Loriun’s car, clutching a packet of test results, flyers, and wellness pamphlets. A soothing, cool mist rained down from the roof of the vehicle, and a large gap in the seat back stood ready to accommodate a tail. Any other time, Beau would have been fascinated by the adaptations, but a much more pressing matter held his attention. Beside him, Loriun’s fingers were clenched around the steering wheel, and the tendons in his forearms stood out beneath the faint shimmer of his skin.
A wave of pine, cedar, and musk filled the car, but not in the way that too often made Beau’s dick twitch. Fury radiated from every inch of the Mer, in stark contrast to the idyllic island scenery flying by.
Beau peered sidelong at him, fear thrumming through his veins.
“Loriun—”
“Explain,” Loriun growled through clenched teeth.
Beau trembled under the weight of the Alpha’s command. “Explain what?”
“Why your medical history is rife with inhumane tests and procedures.”
Beau felt the blood drain from his face. “Dr. Enas told you…?”
“Not,” Loriun said through gritted teeth, “in detail. Only that your file holds more tests than a dozen humans combined. And that it has been going on since you were a child.” His voice broke, almost imperceptibly, at the final word.
“I…” Beau stared down at his lap. Explaining without incriminating his father would be nearly impossible, and incriminating his father likely meant he’d never see his mother again.
“What did they do to you?” It was more of a demand than a question.
“Just… research. Humans don’t have all that much data on Omegas, and… they… I’m an Omega, so…” Beau trailed off.
“Tell me. What. They. Did.” The steering wheel looked moments away from shattering under Loriun’s grip.
“Blood tests, a lot of them,” Beau said at last. “Stress tests. Biopsies. Some exploratory surgery—”
The car jerked to the left as Loriun snapped his head around to stare at Beau.“Surgery?”
“Only a few—”
“And wereanyof them medically necessary?”
Beau was quiet for a few minutes, listening to the sound of Loriun’s tightly controlled breathing.
“No,” he finally whispered. “They weren’t.”
Loriun’s jaw tightened even further, but he remained silent. The car flew by bulbous trees and waving vines, all in shades of purple.
“Um. Are we going somewhere else?” Beau ventured. His head was beginning to spin from the furious pheromones that filled the cab.
The Mer took a slow, deep breath before answering. “I thought you might like to do some sightseeing, after an appointment you found unpleasant.”
“It wasn’t as bad as I thought.” Internally, Beau’s stomach gave a little squirm at the gesture of kindness.
“Regardless. I have seen that humans often reward themselves after completing a difficult task.” The cloying musk and pine was dissipating, and Loriun’s fingers no longer seemed at risk of crunching through the steering wheel. “There is an observation deck at the top of the tallest building on the island. I was going to take you there, so you could see your new home in its entirety.”
