Page 61 of Undone
Changing his gender wouldn’t have been a problem. But changing one’s designation was unheard of. Unfathomable.
“I’m a man,” Michael said curtly. “That isn’t the issue.”
His mother was frowning, looking lost. “Then what is the issue, darling?”
It said a lot that she didn’t even consider it as a possibility. People just didn’t switch their designations. It was largely believed to be impossible. Even people who were into alpha bitching porn didn’t actually believe it could happen. Maybe itreally couldn’t have happened without the alien toxin and all the stars aligning. For all he knew, his case might be one in a million.
It wasn’t a comforting thought. It was a daunting one.
It could have been easier had he not been such a high-profile figure in Pelugian society. There were only twelve people who had a higher rank in the kingdom than he did. He’d always been in the spotlight as one of the most eligible alphas in the country. If people found out he had suddenly become an omega...
Michael grimaced on the inside.
He couldn’t believe he was even considering it.
But Anthony’s words had caught on something inside him and refused to let go. They made him yearn.
We wouldn’t have to hide anymore. We could live together, see each other all the time without people side-eyeing our unusual closeness. I could bite you, I could put my mark on you, I could breed you.
It shouldn’t have been so appealing, but it was. Even the breeding part, to Michael’s mortification.
The question was, what was worse: living a lie or living in shame?
His options fucking sucked either way, but only one of them would make him happy. Only one of them would make Ant his. Sooner or later, Anthony would have to take a mate to continue his line. The mere thought of him mating another omega caused a nauseating, acidic feeling in his stomach.
Anotheromega.
It seemed he really considered himself an omega. Anthony had been right about it. He was right that Michael didn’t actually want to be an alpha. He felt more settled in his skin as he was now, his instincts nowhere near as annoying as they used to be. He’d never liked the aggression he felt around other alphas, the constant need to one-up them. Omega instincts were mellower, more laid back, which suited his personality more.
It still didn’t make this conversation any easier.
Michael drew in a deep breath. If he couldn’t tell the truth to his mother, the person who was supposed to love him unconditionally, he wouldn’t be able to tell it to anyone.
“I’m not an alpha anymore,” Michael said, his voice sounding like sandpaper. He couldn’t look her in the eye. “I was exposed to an alien toxin while I was offworld. It changed me. It changed my body chemistry enough to shift my designation to omega.” That sounded a lot better than confessing that Anthony’s cock had turned him into an omega.
Silence fell over the room.
Michael chewed the inside of his cheek, dread twisting his gut into tight, trembling knots.
He expected disbelief. He expected questions.
But his mother surprised him when she finally spoke.
“Ah,” she said faintly. “That explains a lot.”
Michael’s gaze snapped to her face. “What?”
Her lips were pursed as she eyed him thoughtfully. “I have noticed that you’ve been acting differently since you returned from that trip. Your scent started softening. It was a subtle,gradual thing, but I’m your mother. I know your scent better than anyone. I knew something had changed.”
“You didn’t say anything,” he said hoarsely.
“It clearly troubled you—you became twitchy when I mentioned your changed scent—so I pretended to be oblivious.” Her dark eyes were soft. “I was waiting for you to speak about it when you felt ready, though I obviously didn’t imagine the extent of it. Is... Is the change permanent?”
Michael could only nod, unable to speak. His throat felt tight, his tongue too big. Was she disappointed? Unsettled? Disgusted?
“Don’t be silly, darling,” she said, as though reading his thoughts. “Of course I’m not disappointed. I could never be disappointed in you.” She smiled wryly. “It will take some getting used to, I admit, but I’m nothing if not adaptable. And I suppose it’s a good thing most of the Terlaine fortune is not entailed to alphas—I’d hate to depend on the charity of your cousin Jerome.”
A harsh laugh left Michael’s throat. “Nice priorities, Mother.”
