"Mmm..."
Morning sunlight filtered through the window. Lowell stirred with a low groan.
Wait, wasn't the window on the other side in my room?
Sensing something was off, he sat up—and spotted an unexpected figure lying next to him.
Felix, cheeks tinged red, was already awake.
"You...came into my room?"
His groggy voice echoed in the quiet. Felix let out a dry laugh as he sat up.
"What nonsense are you spouting, Lowell Clarke? You came barging into my room in the middle of the night. I tried to push you off, but you wouldn't let go. And now you're pretending it didn't happen?"
Lowell looked around. This wasn't the room he remembered. The layout was different.
No way Felix carried me in here... Did I sleepwalk or something?
Scratching the back of his head, he gave an awkward smile.
"Yeah, I guess I ended up in the wrong room somehow."
"You came over, clung to me, rubbed your face into my chest, and then started releasing pheromones. Do you have any idea how annoying that was?"
His expression said otherwise, but Lowell didn't bother pointing it out.
"Sorry. I must've messed up because I fell asleep in an unfamiliar place."
"So what, you just go clinging to random Alphas any time you're in a strange bed?"
Felix recoiled in horror. Lowell began to seriously worry about how promiscuous Felix thought he was.
"This is the first time it's happened, okay? If it were something I did often, I would've known what was going on as soon as I woke up."
Only after his breathless explanation did Felix's expression soften. If Lowell had simply denied it, he probably wouldn't have believed him.
"As long as it hasn't happened before, I'll let it go. Come on, let's go eat."
After washing up, they headed to the dining hall. But the closer they got, the more tense Lowell looked. Just before opening the door, doubled over with a sudden retch.
His stomach turned, his head swam—just like that night at the banquet when he'd been overwhelmed by Alpha pheromones.
No way...
Just yesterday, he'd been thinking maybe he was one of the lucky ones who didn't get morning sickness.
"Still hurting from the stab wound?"
No—definitely not. The priest had healed it completely, and he'd had plenty of rest.
"No, I just—ugh."
He tried to explain, but had to cover his mouth to stop himself from vomiting
"Is it morning sickness?"
Lowell blinked in surprise. Felix had figured it out.
Well...most Alphas would know that, sure—but Felix isn't exactly a typical Alpha.
Socially inept, lacking any real exposure to pregnant Omegas—and yet he somehow recognized it.
Then again, he did stop me from drinking back at the banquet...
Lowell wanted to respond, but every time he opened his mouth, the smell of food made him gag. Without hesitation, Felix swept him up in his arms. Lowell squirmed, nervous, but Felix's solid frame didn't budge.
Surprisingly, the subtle smoky-apple scent of Felix's pheromones eased the nausea a little bit. Overwhelmed by the gentle comfort, Lowell let his body relax into his arms.
"Let's go to the priest."
But as Felix turned to dash out the door, Lowell had to stop him.
"No one goes to a priest for morning sickness!"