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"I want to ask him about it, but not until we arrive," Levi reasoned, sounding tense. "Let's just—"
"Nngh," Elias groaned, nuzzling his nose into the crook between Dane's thigh and hip.
It smelled so good he took a deep breath, relishing in the way his alpha's scent calmed him down. Today Dane smelt like soft, grassy plains tinged with a hint of fire smoke. He wanted to inhale it until he was drunk on it, but settled for sitting up instead. Elias used Dane's thigh for purchase, blinking tired eyes open.
"Morning," Dane murmured, leaning down to run his nose up the length of Elias' neck.
"Morning."
The SUV's windows were tinted, but he could still see it was late afternoon through the windshield. He succeeded in sleeping for most of the drive. Sitting still was never easy for Elias, especially now that they were aware of his suppressants. He had no idea how to conceal it.
"How much further?" he asked.
Ian turned around in the passenger's seat, staring at him closely like he had something to say. Dane handed him a cold water bottle, and he guzzled half of it, thankful. Every time he woke up from a nap he had cottonmouth. It was a rule. Plus, drinking gave him more time to think.
"Only three more hours," Ian replied after a few tense seconds of silence. "How are you feeling?"
Elias shrugged. "Fine. I was just napping to kill time. You know how I get when there's nothing to do."
His alpha nodded slowly, seeming skeptical but too stubborn to admit it. Knowing about his suppressants was probably eating them up inside. Bringing it up was probably the right call...too bad he was a fucking coward.
"We don't know," Levi stated.
"Hm?" Elias hummed, glancing at him.
He was studying Elias through the rearview mirror, dark gaze mellow compared to Ian's burning attention. "We don't know that about you. Sometimes I wish we were on a level playing field."
Elias sat back against the seat and leaned his shoulder into Dane's. "Don't worry, I'm not that mysterious. You'll catch up in no time. But I guess if you want to learn more about me, I'm a bit of a busybody. I don't do well sitting around or enjoying myself, which sounds bad—"
"—because it is bad," Ian cut in, shooting him a look. "There's nothing wrong with reading a good book or watching a show you like as long as you get all your work done."
"Yeah, but getting all your work done is also code for doing more work," he argued.
Levi chuckled. "There's merit in both opinions, but I think something in the middle is more healthy for the psyche."
Elias couldn't argue with that. "Probably, but finding a middle ground is definitely where I struggle the most. In all things."
"That's very insightful," Dane mused, rubbing his chin with one hand. "I'm not sure where I fall in that regard. If I had to, I'd say I'm more of a workaholic than most."
"Because your productivity means a lot to you, right?" Elias asked, pointedly looking at Ian, who pretended not to notice.
Dane slung his arm around Elias' shoulders, squeezing. "Exactly, and it's not like Ian can talk. I'm the administrator for his hospital and am well aware of the hours he logs."
Ian scowled at him. "I really don't like the direction this is taking. We're on the same side, buddy."
Elias playfully covered Dane's eyes with one hand, warding him off. "There are no sides! It's all about being open with one another."
Ian stiffened, and it made Elias want to slap himself across the face. If they were supposed to be on the same page, then he had to tell them about the suppressants before they asked, right?
Shit.
"Speaking of that…" he began, mumbling and twisting his fingers. "I have something to tell all of you, and it might not be the best news."
"You can tell us anything, Kitten."
It blew Elias' mind that he actually believed him.
"I'm on suppressants like any other unmated omega. Technically, they're not available to the public yet, but they're the only ones that work for me. I'm careful not to tell anyone because, technically, they're experimental. That's why I didn't say anything until now."
