Page 43 of Undone
“And?” Michael said, his posture tense.
“We’re seeing significant deviations from the baseline alpha readings. Your body isn’t producing as much alpha hormones as it should. That’s why your scent is no longer as offensive to other alphas. And that’s not all.” Hugh pulled up a holographic projection of Michael’s brain scan. “See this region of your brain? It’s the fachea, the part of our brain that regulates our instincts.”
Michael eyed it with a frown. “Is it... Is there something wrong with it?”
“In a manner of speaking,” Hugh said. “The area is showing increased activity on our scans, indicating ongoing physiological processes, which should not be possible for Vos alphas outside the full moon.”
“Physiological processes?” Anthony said. “What does it mean?”
Hugh looked at his brother-in-law. “This region of the brain is not typically active to this extent in Vos alphas even during the full moon. Vos is a small moon, and it doesn’t affect alphas all that strongly. Even Torryn alphas’ brains don’t look like this during their ruts. But Xeus alphas’ do. That’s why it’s assumed that active processes in this region of the brain have something to do with body transformation, since Xeus alphas are the only alphas that transform into another form during their ruts.”
“But I’m not a Xeus alpha,” Michael said.
“No,” Hugh agreed. “Your case is unique. None of the moons are in their full phase right now, but your brain is acting like there’s an intense biological process going on. Something as intense as Xeus body transformation.”
“What does it mean?” Michael said.
“We can only speculate,” Hugh said. “I’ve discreetly consulted with a few Kadarian doctors that specialize in researching alpha biology—don’t worry, I didn’t mention your name—and we think the alien toxin that caused Anthony’s unnatural rut must have entered your system through Anthony’s bodily fluids.” He kept his voice impersonal, pretending not to see Michael’s flushed face. “It likely activated your fachea—in both of you—”
“But if that’s the case, is Anthony still affected too?”
“Anthony’s readings are normal,” Hugh said, shaking his head. “I wish you’d come to me right after your return from Belith—it would have been helpful to know how soon Anthony’s readings returned to the baseline. As things stand, we can only speculate why he’s back to normal but you’re not.”
“Then speculate,” Michael said. “What’s your personal opinion?”
Hugh folded his hands on his desk. “I think it has to do with his instincts and behavior aligning with a normal rut,” he said carefully. “He asserted his dominance. His fachea recognized the normal alpha behavior and went dormant again, satisfied. But yours... yours might have gotten confused. Because you submitted to another alpha.”
Michael couldn’t seem to hold his gaze anymore, his shoulders tense. Anthony was watching him like a hawk.
“But I slept with an omega during my next rut,” Michael said stiffly.
Hugh hummed thoughtfully, noting the way Anthony stiffened, his scent thickening.
“Did it feel right?” Hugh said.
Michael’s lips thinned. He didn’t reply for a long moment.
“It wasn’t very satisfying,” he finally said in a stilted voice. “I came, but it felt like it wasn’t what I really wanted.”
Hugh nodded. “That aligns with my theory. Your fachea got confused on Belith, getting your instincts used to a more receptive role.”
“Then shouldn’t spending my rut with an omega have fixed me?” Michael said.
Hugh searched for the most diplomatic answer. “It probably would have worked if you didn’t keep submitting to the same alpha. That likely confused your instincts further, making your body think it needed to reduce the production of alpha pheromones to appeal to what your body started perceiving as your alpha.”
Anthony cleared his throat. “I think it’s a sound theory, but what does it mean in practical terms? Is this temporary?”
Hugh frowned. “Again, I can only speculate, since there’s no precedent, but I think it’s not too late yet to reverse the changes to Michael’s body.”
Michael leaned forward, his eyes bright. “Really? How?”
“You’ll have to stay away from each other for a long time,” Hugh said. “Not even see each other from afar, much less...”Much less fuck.He didn’t say it aloud, but he didn’t need to.
“Oh,” Michael said, his face falling.
“That’s not acceptable,” Anthony said harshly, rolling his chair closer to Michael’s and laying a hand on his shoulder. “We need another solution.”
Hugh stared at Anthony’s hand. Didn’t he realize how proprietary that touch was? But neither of them seemed aware of it. It was the ease of it that got to him—the way Michael didn’t even flinch at being touched like that. It was… telling.
