Kieran let go of Teru's legs and took out his smartphone. He fumbled with the screen to find the contact app.

"Bottom left," Teru told him.

"How do you-? Nevermind." He found Dr. Charles's name and called it, but the ringing never stopped until they heard a monotone female voice. The alpha scoffed and tried again. Just when it got to the last ring, they heard a, "Brother? Did Blaise finally give you our birthday-?"

"Have you left town yet?" Kieran interrupted.

"Yes, I'm en route to Boston for a research collaboration. I won't be back until the day of the yearly equinox party. Is there something you need help with?"

"He's bleeding," and continued describing the location where the blood was coming from.

"Do you have other symptoms?" Dr. Charles asked Teru on speaker. "Or feel pain anywhere?"

"Um, no, some cramping, but I feel fine. Really."

"Still, explain to me the color and quantity, but you should know I can't make a proper diagnosis without me seeing it in person."

Teru removed his light grey briefs to inspect the inside of the material. Kieran stood beside him with the phone in hand.

"It's not a lot," Kieran observed. "I would say it's spotting."

"And the color?"

"Dark red, but some is brown."

"Not bright red? Fresh blood?"

"No."

"Hmm," the doctor pondered. "The color signifies that it's old. I'd say it's from a former wound, possibly a hemorrhoid. You two were quite busy for two months. There was likely tearing, but perhaps you didn't notice while under the influence. As for the cramping, well, have you been cleaning out the semen every time? That could be a contributor."

They both coughed simultaneously. No, they have not been washing out his body consistently. Most of the time, yes, but not always.

Their response was all Dr. Charles needed to hear. "This is my conclusion for now, but just in case, I'll send my head nurse momentarily to retrieve a blood sample for testing. I want to rule out any gastrointestinal issues. You remember Karen, right Kieran?"

The color drained from his face. "I do."

"I'll review the results upon my arrival. I wouldn't worry too much. If there's more bleeding, call me as soon as possible so I can make arrangements with a local physician. The other human specialist in the same department is clearly working with Abaddon. For now, I'll fax a suppository prescription to XX Drugstore, so pick that up first thing tomorrow when they open. Do you have other questions?"

"No-," Teru went to respond, but Kieran hung up mid-call. They needed to work on his bad manners of cutting people off.

"Let's change your clothes," Kieran grumbled, not in a good mood. He picked Teru up from the sofa and carried him upstairs. They put their recent argument aside for now, but the conversation certainly wasn't over yet, at least for Teru.

"Who's Karen?"

"A beta who's worked under Charles since she was human centuries ago. That old bat is fiercely loyal to him after he turned her, per request. From what I remember, she had stage three colon cancer, which is a disease with a low survival rate if progressed enough. Karen felt she had more work to do and wasn't ready to die. She's a little...matronly."

KNOCK. KNOCK. KNOCK.

That was quick, Teru thought as he changed into comfortable clothes.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

He was this close to admit he'd rather be in Abaddon's presence than the nurse. Unlike most vampires who were young and striking, Karen was old enough to be a grandmother. Kieran said she was turned voluntarily and that must've been in her golden years. She stood by in her navy blue uniform and watched him like a hawk for the past few minutes, no one uttering a word. Teru wanted to adjust his sitting position on the couch, but he was too nervous to move under her blue-eyed gaze. Even Kieran was tense.

"Too skinny," she finally said with a sharp tongue, breaking the silence. "What are you feeding him?"

"The recommended diet for-"

"Not good enough. I'll request the kitchen to upgrade his meals. Someone like you who has never been human wouldn't truly understand his needs." She was taking the reins from him, and he let her. Teru had never seen him so sheepish with anyone, so this was a shocker. He wasn't going to make her say his formal title, too?

The prince started to retort back, "He's my mate, so I can-"

"You and I both know you're clueless about humans, especially a dainty one like this boy. You've only cared about yourself the moment you were born." They glared at one another, neither yielding. You could hear a pin drop on the floor. Teru could see why Kieran didn't like her-she was blunt and not afraid to tell the blatant truth, no matter who she was talking to.

Karen broke contact first and went to the coffee table. She laid out various items from the metal case-a rubber tie, an empty needle, and glass tubes. Her sight rested on the several healing bite marks on his nape.

"That Pride is an absolute brute," she mumbled, low enough that Kieran couldn't have heard. After putting on blue gloves, she ordered Teru, "Arm."

He offered it without hesitation, not wanting to be scolded by this scary lady, too. Karen clinched the thick rubber band around his upper arm. His nose scrunched up from the painful pressure cutting off his circulation. What was she-?

Next, the nurse sanitized the spot inside his elbow. Seeing the needle and vials made him anxious, recalling unfortunate memories including the servants who stole his blood by force at the auction and the lime-green liquid injected into Liam and those alphas.

"Hey," Kieran called out to him. He was trying to get his attention from what she was doing. "Look at me instead."

Teru tried, but he couldn't peer away from the needle aiming at his inner arm. Wide-eyed. Quick purrs. Trembling jaw. Blurred vision.

"Breathe in. Breathe out," she cooed softly. Her demeanor was a complete 180° turn around, now sweet and caring.

As soon as it pierced his skin, an uncontrollable impulse took over his actions. It didn't like being hurt nor tethered. He snarled and struck his barring teeth at her hand to make her stop, sharp canines sinking into that beta's meaty flesh...

...but when he came to, Teru realized his mouth was firmly latched onto Kieran's wrist. He had intervened before he could bite Karen, who was already finished collecting his blood, bandaged his elbow, and speedily stored the vials in her case. She seemed used to this; someone who had seen it all.

Teru tried to let go. He couldn't. Were...his teeth literally stuck in his mate's arm?! The suction made by the congealing blood kept pulling them back in, making him bite deeper unintentionally. This was terribly upsetting!

"Ahm cmmt mmve." (I can't move.)

Teru's throat constricted from incoming tears. It was so humiliating for this to happen with an audience! Kieran rested on his knees in front of him and gently pushed a thumb into the corner of his mouth. "She already left. Open slowly. Don't worry about me. It doesn't hurt."

Liar, Teru accused inwardly. I can sense your discomfort.

The alpha carefully pushed upward on the roof of his mouth. The extra force helped dislodge his bite.

SCHLICK.

Immediately after Kieran was free, blood flowed from the puncture holes and soaked his hand in red. Guilt ate him as Kieran calmly ignored his deep injury to focus on Teru's face. His clean fingers grazed his canines.

"They're longer."

"What are?" The omega's tongue skimmed over his teeth. Kieran was right. His canines each grew by a few millimeters. Teru could barely close his mouth without them peeking over his lips. It was no wonder he got stuck! And since when did he lash out like that? He almost hurt her like he did with Blaise, as if something else controlled him for those brief seconds.

Everything was confusing.

Teru took a few steps back, not knowing what to do or what to think. "I-I-I want to take a bath." It was difficult to talk with the new length of his canines. When would they shrink?

"You were very scared." Kieran carefully reached out, feeling his distress. He obviously wanted to hug and console him. "Come here-"

But Teru moved further away, almost stumbling over the rug. "Give me a moment. Please. I'm sorry. I-just wait," and ran to the second bathroom. It's been a while to shower here because he was using Kieran's lately. He slammed the door and heaved over the sink, but nothing came up. Sweat beaded his skin. Hard to inhale. Fingers shaking. Blood hot as fire. Gums were aching. The slight cramping returned. No bleeding this time, which was good. Teru looked up at himself in the mirror, at the blood smeared across his face. This blood was from his alpha. It was gruesome. He resembled a mate killer. His crazed, half-golden eyes stared back at him. The shiny color filled his irises more, too. What the hell? Who was this person he was seeing?

"Teru," Kieran said on the other side of the door. "Can I come in?"

He avoided him, turning on the faucet to fill the bathtub. Once naked, he stepped into its watery warmth, but it wasn't enough to ease the apprehension hurting his heart. Teru wiped his face with the back of his hand. It mixed into the bath, tinging it with pink. He was lost in the mudded fog obscuring his mind and curled into a tight ball.

The door opened. Footsteps echoed in the marble room. Kieran didn't hesitate to remove his own clothes before stepping into the tub. He situated himself behind Teru, wrapped his arms around his waist, and rested his cheek on the virtue symbol. The calming pheromones did little, honestly.

Pride rotted in Kieran. As a fated one, they could only perceive a minuscule sliver of what the other was feeling, yet, this was enough to suffocate Teru. It wanted to figure out how to help. It wouldn't ease until the problem was solved. Otherwise, his sin would think it had failed and slowly slide Kieran's sanity into madness. Pride never failed at anything.

But neither knew what to do.

The alpha didn't know the solution to cure his mate's unstable body.

The omega didn't know his role in this destiny or the meaning behind the humility tattoo.