Page 77 of Alpha Awakened

Not too long after he was settled sitting at the end of the exam table, the door opened and the doctor walked in. She was a beta, average height with blond hair cut short in an easy to manage style. Her dark green uniform had a blue medical staff symbol patch over her left breast. She gave him a friendly smile as she closed the door behind her.

“Good afternoon, Corporal Mitchell. I’m Lieutenant Adams. What seems to be the problem today?”

“I think I’m going into heat, but my suppressant cycle isn’t scheduled to end for another couple of months.”

“That’s unusual. Let’s take a look.” She picked up the metal clipboard that held his chart and looked it over. “Your chart reads your temperature is 101 degrees. That’s high, but normal for omega pre-heat range.” Looking concerned, she put the chart down and snapped on a pair of exam gloves. “Lift your chin for me.”

Hazard raised his chin and she carefully prodded his scent glands. He winced and had to force himself not to recoil from her touch. His Instinct told him that it was wrong for her to touch him there because she wasn’t his mate. Fuck. Thinking like that, he already knew what her diagnosis was going to be.

“Well, Corporal Mitchell, it looks like you are indeed about to go into heat. I’m surprised you caught it this early.”

Hazard groaned. He didn’t have time for this right now. Especially with this being his first heat on this base. He hadn’thad the chance to adequately prepare for it. “I didn’t. Someone else did.”

“Well, whoever did is very attuned to you. Is it someone you might consider sharing this heat with? It will make it go by faster than riding it out on your own.”

“No. I don’t know.” He scrubbed a hand over his buzzed hair in agitation. “Maybe I’ll ask them.”

“If you don’t there’s a store just off base where you can get heat aids to help you get through it on your own.”

“Roger that, doc. Thanks.”

“You’re new to Fort Grove, correct?

“Yes.”

“The omega unit will accommodate you if you choose to have your heat without a partner. They have private rooms where you won’t be disturbed until the heat is finished.”

Hazard sighed. He hadn’t checked out the omega unit to make sure he would feel safe experiencing a heat there. “How much time do I have before it hits?” Normally he had about two days between the start of his heat symptoms and a full heat.

“Let me take your temperature again.”

Hazard opened his mouth so she could put the thermometer beneath his tongue.

“Close.”

He closed his mouth. He stared at the health posters on the wall while she watched the clock.

“And open.” She withdrew the thermometer and read the mercury. “A hundred and one point two.” Adams peered at his scent glands but this time she didn’t touch them. “Going by how fast your temperature is rising and the increased swelling in your scent glands, I’d say you have about eight hours.”

Hazard’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “That soon?”

“Although this is extremely unusual, I’m afraid so.” She frowned. “Did you do anything that would have counteractedyour suppressants? Take any new medications or anything like that?”

“No.” Hazard shook his head. “No new meds. Same diet.” He suddenly remembered the flowers from the other day. “There is one thing. I was out on a mission. There were these big yellow flowers that made all the alphas recoil in disgust from the smell but they didn’t bother me at all. We thought it could be some kind of bio agent that only worked on alphas, but they’ve all been fine since we got back.”

“Hmm. That could be the culprit. I’d like to examine those flowers.”

“We didn’t bring any back with us. But the major put it in her report that they might be something for science team to check out. I can let her know you’d like to have a sample of them as well.”

“Please do. I’ve never heard of an omega having a heat due to an allergic reaction, especially in a case where it’s overpowering suppressants. But it’s not outside the realm of possibility. If there is something out there that can do this, that’s information that the medical field needs to know.”

“Okay. Thanks for your help, Doc.”

“You’re welcome. Come back for a checkup after your heat clears and we’ll do another examination and adjust your suppressant schedule.”

Hazard left the medical center and returned to their barracks. On the way back, he came across Ice. The captain was watching over a group of privates running drills. Before he realized he’d changed direction, his feet took him to the alpha. He came to a stop and stood there facing him across the line of soldiers doing burpees. For once, he didn’t have anything to say. But he didn’t need to speak. Ice knew what he was there to ask and he gave his answer without hesitation.

A single shake of his head.