Jade stood frozen in the kitchen doorway, staring at the two women who had clearly conspired against him.
Niamh moved behind him, gently but firmly guiding him toward the table. "Sit down, sweetheart."
"I really need to finish that potion—"
"The potion will wait," Selene said sweetly, patting the chair beside her. "This is more important."
Jade's eye twitched. He glanced toward the window—measuring the distance, calculating if he could teleport out before they noticed—
"Don't even think about it," Niamh said, reading him like a book. She sat down across from him, blocking his line of sight to the door. "You're not escaping this time."
"This time?" Jade echoed weakly.
"You've been avoiding us for three weeks," Selene said, sipping her tea with infuriating calm. "Hiding in the workshop. Taking extra dungeon runs. Volunteering for deliveries to the outer sectors."
How did she—?
"We're not blind, Jade," Niamh added gently. "We know you're scared."
"I'm not scared," Jade protested, finally sinking into the chair with all the enthusiasm of someone accepting execution. "I'm just... busy."
"Busy avoiding a very important conversation," Selene corrected. She set her teacup down and folded her hands on the table, her expression shifting from playful to serious. "Jade. You're going to go through your first heat soon. Possibly within the next few months. You need to understand what that means."
Jade's face heated. "I—I know what it means—"
"Do you?" Niamh asked softly. "Do you really?"
Silence.
Jade stared at the table, jaw tight.
The truth was... no. Not really.
In his previous life as Dorian, he'd been a human male. No secondary gender dynamics. No heats or ruts or pheromones. Just normal human biology.
This world was different.
And despite fourteen years of living in it, despite all his knowledge and power, this was one area where he was utterly, completely, embarrassingly ignorant.
Selene reached over, placing her hand over his. "It's nothing to be ashamed of, darling. Every omega goes through this. I went through it. It's natural."
"It's mortifying," Jade muttered.
"It's biology," Niamh corrected. "And ignoring it won't make it go away."
Jade slumped in his chair, resignation settling over him like a heavy cloak. "Fine. Just... get it over with."
Selene's smile returned—gentle this time, not teasing. "Alright. Let's start with the basics."
"First," Niamh began, pulling out a small notebook—why did she have a notebook prepared?!—"you need to understand what a heat actually is."
Jade nodded mutely, already regretting every life choice that had led to this moment.
"A heat is a biological cycle unique to omegas," Selene explained, her tone taking on the practiced cadence of someone who'd given this lecture before. "It typically lasts between three to seven days and occurs roughly every three months once it starts."
"Three months," Jade repeated hollowly.
"Sometimes longer for dominant omegas," Niamh added. "Your body is different, Jade. Stronger. Your heat might be less frequent but more... intense."
Oh good. That's comforting.
"During a heat, your body will produce pheromones," Selene continued. "Strong ones. Very strong ones, especially for a dominant omega. These pheromones will attract alphas."
Jade's hands clenched on the table. "How... how attract?"
Selene's expression turned grim.
"Aggressively. Alphas in the vicinity will be able to smell you from several blocks away. Their instincts will drive them toward you. Most can control themselves, but some..."
She didn't finish.
She didn't need to.
Jade's stomach twisted. "So I'll basically be a walking target."
"Not if you're careful," Niamh said firmly. "That's why we're having this conversation. So you know how to protect yourself."
"First rule," Selene said, holding up one finger. "When your heat starts, you isolate. Immediately. Go somewhere safe,preferably somewhere with strong locks and soundproofing. Do not go out in public."
"Second rule," Niamh added. "Tell someone you trust. Me, Selene, Lio—someone who can guard you and make sure no one gets close."
"Third rule," Selene's voice dropped, deadly serious. "If an alpha tries to approach you during your heat, and you don't want them there—fight. Use everything you have. Your ice, your void powers, everything. Because an alpha in rut near an omega in heat... that's a dangerous combination."
Jade swallowed hard. "What if... what if I can't fight them off?"
The question hung in the air, heavy and awful.
Niamh's eyes glistened. "That's why you won't be alone, sweetheart. We'll make sure of it."
"I have already arranged for specialized suppressants," Selene added. "Medical-grade. They won't stop the heat entirely, but they'll dampen your pheromones enough that you won't draw every alpha in the sector."
"And Spectra's Band should help," Niamh said, gesturing to the artifact around Jade's neck. "You mentioned it could shroud anything and everything you want it to ?."
Jade touched the band unconsciously, drawing some small comfort from its presence. "How will I know it's starting?"
"You'll know," Selene said simply. "Your body will feel... different. Feverish. Restless. Your senses will sharpen. You'll feel an ache—" she gestured vaguely "—everywhere. And your pheromones will start leaking even before the full heat hits."
"How long do I have once it starts?"
"A few hours," Niamh said. "Maybe less. That's why you need to recognize the early signs and act immediately."
Jade nodded slowly, trying to absorb it all. "And... during the heat itself? What happens?"
Selene and Niamh exchanged a glance.
"It's uncomfortable," Selene said carefully. "Your body will crave... relief. There are ways to manage it—cooling baths, certain herbs, suppressants—but mostly, you just have to endure until it passes."
"Mated omegas have bonded alphas to help them through it,and some omegas have imprinted alphas for their heats" Niamh added quietly. "But you don't, so we'll focus on getting you through it safely on your own."
Jade's face burned. "Can we please not talk about bonds and imprints—"
"We're just being thorough," Selene said, though her lips twitched with barely suppressed amusement. "You're fourteen, Jade. You're too young to think about bonding anyway. But eventually—"
"Eventually is a long time from now," Jade interrupted firmly. "Can we move on?"
Niamh smiled softly. "Alright. Next topic: pheromone control."
"I thought you said I couldn't control them during heat?"
"You can't," Niamh agreed. "But outside of heat, you need to learn how to suppress them. Because if someone with strong enough senses gets close..."
"They'll know what you are," Selene finished. "And that's dangerous. Dominant omegas are rare, Jade. Dominant male omegas are practically mythical. If the wrong people find out..."
She didn't need to elaborate. Jade understood perfectly.
He'd be a target. A prize. Something to be captured, controlled, used.
His hands clenched tighter. "So I need to learn active suppression."
"Exactly," Niamh said. "It's a skill, like any other. It takes practice, but you can do it. Selene's going to teach you."
Jade glanced at Selene, who smiled encouragingly. "We'll start this week. Just an hour a day. You'll get the hang of it quickly—you're a fast learner."
"And," Niamh added, pulling out a small vial from her pocket, "I made you these."
She slid the vial across the table. Inside, small white pills glimmered faintly.
"Emergency suppressants," Niamh explained. "If you feel your heat coming on and you're not somewhere safe, take one. It'll buy you an hour—maybe two—to get to safety."
Jade picked up the vial, turning it over in his hands. "Thank you."
"Don't thank me yet," Niamh said wryly. "You're going to hate the next part of this conversation."
Jade's stomach sank. "There's a next part?"
"Oh yes," Selene said brightly. "Now we need to talk about what not to do around alphas."
For the next excruciating hour, Jade was subjected to a detailed, thorough, and deeply mortifying lecture on:
How to recognize alpha pheromones (and why certain scents were more dangerous than others)
Why he should never be alone with an unmated alpha during the week before his heat
The importance of scent blockers (and why the cheap ones didn't work)
What to do if an alpha tried to "court" him (Jade's internal screaming intensified)
Why dominance displays were dangerous and how to deflect them
The correct way to refuse an alpha without triggering their instincts (apparently there was a whole protocol?!)
By the time they finally finished, Jade felt like his brain had been wrung out and hung to dry.
"Any questions?" Selene asked sweetly.
"Can I leave now?" Jade asked weakly.
"Almost," Niamh said. "One more thing."
Of course there is.
She leaned forward, her expression turning deadly serious. "Jade. If anyone—and I mean anyone—makes you uncomfortable, you tell us immediately. I don't care if they're a noble, a councilor, or the Emperor himself. You tell us, and we handle it. Understood?"
Jade nodded, throat tight. "Understood."
"Good boy," Selene murmured, reaching over to ruffle his hair. "We're not trying to scare you, darling. We just want you safe."
"I know," Jade said quietly. And he did. Beneath the embarrassment and discomfort, he understood that everything they'd said came from a place of genuine care. "Thank you. Both of you."
Niamh's eyes softened. She stood and moved around the table, pulling Jade into a warm hug. "We love you, sweetheart. We just want to make sure nothing bad happens to you."
Jade leaned into her embrace, letting himself take comfort in her warmth. "I'll be careful. I promise."
"You'd better be," Selene said, joining the hug from the other side. "Because if anyone hurts you, Kael and I will personally hunt them down and make them very sorry they were ever born."
Despite everything, Jade smiled. "I believe you."
The kitchen door creaked open.
Lio poked his head in, took one look at the scene—Jade trapped between two fiercely protective women, his face still flushed with embarrassment—and immediately tried to retreat.
"Oh! Sorry! I'll just—"
"Lio!" Selene called out. "Perfect timing. Come here."
Lio froze like a deer caught in headlights. "I—uh—actually, I just remembered I have a delivery—"
"Now, Lio."
The command in her voice left no room for argument. Lio shuffled into the kitchen reluctantly, looking like he was walking toward his own execution.
"Sit," Selene said, gesturing to the empty chair.
Lio sat.
"You're Jade's brother," Selene began.
"Which means you have a responsibility to look out for him."
"I—I do! I always do—"
"Especially in the coming months," Selene continued as if he hadn't spoken. "Jade is going to go through some... changes. Physical and hormonal. He's going to need extra protection."
Lio's eyes widened in dawning horror. "Oh. Oh. Are we—are we having that talk?"
"Yes," Niamh said firmly.
"Right now?"
"Right now."
Lio looked at Jade desperately, silently begging for rescue.
Jade, still trapped between Niamh and Selene, could only offer a look of profound sympathy.
Welcome to hell, brother.
"Okay," Lio said weakly. "What do I need to know?"
....
.....
By the time the second lecture ended—this one focused on how Lio should help protect Jade from unwanted alpha attention—both boys looked like they'd aged ten years.
Lio slumped in his chair, staring at the ceiling. "I'm never going to look at alphas the same way again."
"Good," Selene said briskly, standing and smoothing her skirts. "That means you're taking this seriously."
"Oh, I'm taking it very seriously," Lio muttered. "Jade, if any alpha so much as looks at you wrong, I'm breaking their face."
Despite everything, Jade laughed—a genuine, surprised sound. "You're C-rank, Lio. Most aggressive alphas are at least B-rank."
"Then I'll get creative," Lio said stubbornly. "Maybe I'll ask Gorvoth to teach me how to make traps."
"That's actually not a bad idea," Niamh mused.
"Please don't encourage him," Jade said.
But he was smiling.
For all the embarrassment and discomfort of the last two hours, there was something deeply reassuring about being surrounded by people who cared this much. Who'd go to such lengths to keep him safe.
Even if their methods were mortifying.
Selene checked the time on her comm and sighed. "I should get back." She leaned down, pressing a kiss to the top of Jade's head. "Remember what we talked about, darling. And if you need anything—anything—you call me immediately."
"I will," Jade promised.
"Good." She straightened, her expression softening. "You're going to be fine, Jade. I know this all seems overwhelming, but you're strong. Stronger than you realize."
"Thank you, Lady Selene."
She smiled and swept out of the kitchen, leaving behind the faint scent of lavender and something uniquely her.
Niamh stood as well, stretching. "Alright, both of you. Back to work. Those potions won't make themselves."
Lio groaned but hauled himself to his feet. "Can we pretend the last two hours didn't happen?"
"Absolutely not," Niamh said cheerfully. "In fact, we're having a follow-up session next week."
Both boys groaned in unison.
Niamh just laughed, shooing them out of the kitchen. "Go on. And Jade—eat something before you go back to that workshop. You're too thin."
"I'm fine—"
"Eat."
"...Yes, Niamh."
....