Chapter 3

Tyler slumped in the passenger seat, his head against the window. His skin was pale, and there was a sheen of sweat on his forehead. He looked small, fragile in a way Dylan had never seen before. The Tyler he knew was tall, confident, always ready with a sharp comeback. This Tyler was a stranger, and yet he was also the same person Dylan had known his whole life.

"You okay?" Dylan finally asked, his voice rough.

"Peachy," Tyler muttered, not opening his eyes.

Dylan wanted to push, to demand answers, but he held back. He had seen the way Tyler's hand kept drifting to his stomach, a protective gesture that made something twist in Dylan's chest. He didn't understand what was happening, but he knew they were in this together, whether he liked it or not.

The doctor's office was a small building on the edge of town, the kind of place where everyone knew your name. Dylan helped Tyler out of the car, his hand hovering near Tyler's elbow, ready to catch him if he stumbled. Tyler leaned into him for a moment, then straightened, pulling away.

"I'm fine," he said, but his voice was shaky.

"Sure you are," Dylan replied, but he didn't push.

Inside, the waiting room was empty except for an elderly woman reading a magazine. The receptionist smiled at them, her eyes lingering on Tyler with a knowing look. "Mr. Harris? The doctor will see you now."

Tyler nodded and followed her down the hall, Dylan trailing behind. The exam room was small and sterile, with a single chair and a paper-covered table. Tyler sat on the table, his legs dangling, while Dylan leaned against the wall, his arms crossed.

The doctor came in a few minutes later, a middle-aged woman with kind eyes and a calm demeanor. She reviewed Tyler's chart, then looked up at them both. "Well, the blood tests confirm it. You're pregnant, about five weeks along. And the hormone levels indicate a significant shift in your biology. You're presenting as an omega now."

Dylan felt the words hit him like a punch to the gut. He had known, deep down, but hearing it out loud made it real. He looked at Tyler, who was staring at the floor, his face unreadable.

"What about me?" Dylan asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

The doctor turned to him, her expression thoughtful. "I'd recommend you get checked as well, but based on Mr. Harris's symptoms, I suspect you're now presenting as an alpha. The changes can be disorienting, but they're not dangerous. You'll need to monitor your health closely, especially during the pregnancy."

Dylan nodded, not sure what else to say. The doctor gave them a list of resources, recommended a prenatal vitamin, and told Tyler to come back in a month for a follow-up. The whole thing felt surreal, like a dream he couldn't wake up from.

They left the office in silence, the afternoon sun warm on their faces. Dylan drove them to a park on the edge of town, a place they had come to as kids, before the rivalry had taken over. He parked the car and turned to Tyler.

"We need to talk," he said.

Tyler sighed, but he didn't argue. They got out and walked to a bench overlooking a small pond. The water was still, reflecting the sky like a mirror. Dylan sat down, and Tyler sat beside him, their shoulders almost touching.

"I don't know what to do," Tyler admitted, his voice small. "I can't be pregnant. I'm a hockey player. I'm supposed to be strong, not... this."

"You're still strong," Dylan said, surprising himself. "This doesn't change who you are."

Tyler laughed, a bitter sound. "Doesn't it? I can barely keep down breakfast. I have to carry a bucket everywhere in case I get sick. And you... you're different now too. I can smell it on you."

Dylan looked at his hands, remembering the way Tyler's scent had driven him wild that night. "I know. I feel different. Stronger, but also... I don't know. Protective. Like I need to take care of you."

Tyler turned to him, his brown eyes searching. "Is that what you want? To take care of me?"

Dylan met his gaze, and for a moment, the years of rivalry fell away. "I don't know what I want. But I know I don't want to lose you. Not again."

Tyler's eyes glistened, and he looked away, blinking rapidly. "We're a mess, aren't we?"

"A complete disaster," Dylan agreed, a small smile tugging at his lips.

They sat in silence, watching the ducks paddle across the pond. The weight of the future pressed down on them, but so did something else—a fragile, tentative hope. They had started this journey together, and they would see it through, whatever that meant.

"I should probably tell my parents," Tyler said finally. "They're going to freak out."

"Mine too," Dylan said. "But we can figure that out later. For now, let's just... take it one day at a time."

Tyler nodded, and they stood up, walking back to the car. As Dylan drove them home, he glanced at Tyler, who had fallen asleep, his hand resting on his stomach. A fierce protectiveness surged through Dylan, and he knew, with a certainty that surprised him, that he would do whatever it took to protect this family, this strange new life they were building together.

The road ahead was uncertain, but for the first time in weeks, Dylan felt ready to face it.