123: 3.63 This Is Serious

3.63 This Is Serious

In the end, Oliver was unable to get the kiss he wanted.1

He held Lu Yizhou's hand firmly and pouted all the way down to the doctor's office. Hmph, stingy Alpha! Oliver knew that Lu Yizhou understood perfectly what he wanted but the Alpha firmly insisted that they listened to what the doctor said first. He was always like this. He would unhesitantly relent to Oliver's wishes regarding everything else but his health. It was so sweet and endearing of him but couldn't Oliver just get one little kiss? Just a little peck was also not good? It wasn't like the doctor would disappear if they took a little longer, he grumbled inwardly. 

If the Alpha was this urgent, then how could Oliver tell him that he was lying?!

Well, not really lying. To be exact, the doctor had told him to have a good rest and they could talk about the rest tomorrow. He had just exaggerated the situation because he wanted to force the Alpha to appear. Oliver vehemently prayed that his lie wouldn't get exposed so soon and he perked up when he saw the lights inside the office that was signed with the doctor's name. Right, Doctor Verren, Oliver remembered his name this time.

The doctor was shocked to see two drenched beastmen on his doorsteps in wee hours in the morning, water trailing behind their wake. He scanned the two up and down alertly. "Is there something wrong? Why are you two soaking wet?!" He pressed on the speed dial to request a few towels and warm clothes and less than two minutes later, a nurse appeared to hand them the things. Doctor Verren's lips twisted in displeasure. "Please refrain from wandering around in the middle of a rainstorm, or should I give you a concrete detail of how delicate your condition is now?!"

"My apologies, it's my fault." Lu Yizhou said in a matter-in-fact tone. Of course, he would take the blame. Oliver stared up at him with a lovestruck expression that he was sure would be visible from miles away.

The doctor pinched his brows exasperatedly and waved his hand. "I don't care whose fault it is. Change your clothes first. I will be just outside. Call me when you're done." He went out to give them some space and closed the door behind him.

Left on their own accord, Oliver jutted his bottom lip out, giving a silent protest but Lu Yizhou just didn't budge. Instead of changing his own clothes, he slipped Oliver's coat off him and held the hem of the omega's wet hospital gown. "Lift your arms." Oliver begrudgingly obeyed and let the Alpha strip him and wipe his drenched body gently. He was careful around the patches of bruises around Oliver's shoulders, back and thighs. Regret dulled his eyes. 

Oliver hated to see him like this. He snatched the towel from Lu Yizhou, messily dried himself and shook the water out of his ears. He still hadn't gotten used to having cat ears. Sometimes he would scratch his head and inadvertently tug on the ears, hurting himself in the process. If that happened, he would run into his Alpha's arms every single time and whine like the spoilt omega he was. Lu Yizhou would indulge in his whims and kiss the pain away until Oliver melted into a liquified cat and needed to be carried to bed. As much as he wanted to do so, there was more pressing matter in hand. He slipped a new hospital gown over his head and grabbed the hem of Lu Yizhou's shirt. "Your turn."

"I can do it myself—"

Oliver glared. "Your. Turn."

Lu Yizhou showed a helpless look and relented. However, because he was too tall — much taller than Oliver — he still took off the clothes himself in the end. Oliver gasped at the fresh stitch marks that ran across his abdomen. It was so long and horrendous that it almost split his waist into two! Not to mention the black and purple bruises that colored the intact skin, nasty burn marks and little gashes that had almost scabbed over. Compared to him, Oliver who only sustained light skin abrasions, a little burn on his arm and yellowish bruises seemed perfectly healthy. How…How could he still manage to fight the leader of the rebellion group in the end and even bore the brunt of Oliver's fall?! 

His fingertips reached out on their own, stroking over the jagged scar of Lu Yizhou's otherwise perfect abdominal muscle. He heard the Alpha's breath hitch as his wrist was caught. "It's not as bad as it looks."

Oliver snapped his eyes up in a glare. The rims of his eyes reddened. "Don't lie. Derek said that you almost died." The Alpha's lips moved in what seemed like a curse. "Don't blame Derek either. If he didn't tell me, how would I know? You never told me anything. You never told me that you're hurting—"

His body was pulled forward gently and Lu Yizhou's warm body enveloped him. Broad palm stroked his back up and down, another massaged his nape right where it was aching and sore. Oliver instantly forgot what he was angry about and melted into the Alpha's arm, his eyelids fluttered shut in bliss. "I'm sorry." Before Oliver could recover to give a protest of 'no sorrys between us', Lu Yizhou added, "I am not used to having people worry about me. So that's why I acted alone that time. It's a habit. It won't happen again."

Oliver frowned. It was strange. Not used to people worrying about him? But he's the Crown Prince of Versatine, the rare hybrid beastman that should be fussed over upon birth. If he so wished for the moon and stars, everyone would gladly climb up to the sky to pluck it and deliver it under his feet. How could he say something like that? He opened his mouth to ask, but a series of knocks on the door interrupted him.

"Excuse me, are you two done yet?" It was Doctor Verren. He sounded half-frustrated and half-awkward. "You're not doing anything else inside, are you? Let me tell you that intimate entanglement isn't allowed in my office no matter what kind of circumstances you are in!"

Oliver flushed red and hastily stepped away from the Alpha's intoxicating embrace. W—What nonsense was the doctor saying? He wasn't the kind of person bold enough to attempt such indecent things in public, okay?! He cleared his throat and raised his voice to answer, desperately hoping that he didn't give anything away. "G—Give us a minute!" Wait, why was he feeling guilty? He hadn't even received a kiss, for God's sake! 

He went to open the door after Lu Yizhou had properly slipped on the hospital gown. Oliver complained inwardly about how he still looked messily ravishing dressed like that. Well, the Alpha would still be drop dead gorgeous draped only in a potato sack. How was that even possible? It defied natural sciences! 

In the end, his attention dragged away from how attractive his husband — husband!!! — was when Doctor Verren grumbled under his breath. Oliver couldn't catch what he was saying, just something about 'idiot couple' and 'newlyweds' but that alone was enough to make him blush, again. It was kinda refreshing to meet people who weren't intimidated by their royalty status. So far, Doctor Verren had been the only one. He didn't hesitate to lecture them about the Alpha's rut last time and he certainly lacked such inhibition this time either.

"So to what do I owe the honor of this impromptu visit?" The doctor finally asked.

O–Oh, Oliver's eyes flew wide in panic. Would his lie be—

Lu Yizhou answered. "We are here to hear your diagnosis regarding Oliver's condition."

Please, please, please, don't expose his lie! Oliver desperately prayed and tried to make eye contact with the doctor. He didn't succeed as Doctor Verren was focused on scrutinizing Lu Yizhou's expression. Something must have shown in the Alpha's face since the doctor nodded in understanding and gestured for Oliver to lie down on the examination bed. "This is quite…serious. I need you to answer some questions for me, Your Highnesses. Honestly, please."

The desperation was soon forgotten as Oliver bewilderedly registered the doctor's instruction. Wait, wait a minute. So, there was really something wrong with him…? 

Lu Yizhou quietly took his hand and squeezed. His silent gaze was conveying comfort, that Oliver didn't have anything to worry about as long as he was here. Oliver let go of the breath he didn't know he was holding and nodded. "Okay," 

A million scenario was running in Oliver's mind yet nothing really prepared him for the question that suddenly dropped like a nuclear bomb. "Your Highness Prince Oliver, when was your last heat session?"

Oliver spluttered, expression morphing into one like a deer caught in the headlight. The sudden change of topic toward his personal sex life was the last thing that Oliver was prepared to hear. "W—Why are you asking about that?" Oh God, his face felt so hot. He couldn't imagine how red he was right now!

The doctor's face was somber. "Please answer my question. Don't worry, it will be strictly confidential."

"It's two months and five days ago." In the end, Lu Yizhou was the one who gave the answer.

The doctor instantly latched onto him. "Then how about your rut, Your Highness Prince Altair?"

"...It's the same."

"Did you two go through it together?"

Oliver let out a high pitched sound akin to boiling kettle and pressed his ears flat together as if he could block off all the sounds this way. He was so mortified that he wanted to curl into a ball and let the ground open up to swallow him. But Lu Yizhou had no such concerns. His frown got deeper and Oliver felt the Alpha's hand tightened. "We did," he swallowed, voice turning strained. "Is something wrong with Oliver? Have I done something…to hurt him?"

"Altair…" Oliver chided softly. There was no way that the Alpha would have done something to hurt him. But he didn't look at Oliver. Eyes stared ahead and jaws tense, his entire body was overwrought with distress, regret and guilt.

"Well, you have certainly done something to him…" Lu Yizhou stiffened further. Then the doctor shook his head and offered them a small smile as if he couldn't help it. "...but don't worry, he's not hurt. I am delighted to inform you that your omega is currently eight weeks pregnant, Your Highness Prince Altair."

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