Corey then whipped out an honest-to-god wooden yardstick and whacked the center of the screen. “Behold: the male uterus.”
This time, even Grayson chuckled as their lecturer continued.
“Male Mer Omegas have an anatomy similar to a female human, with extra fun bits attached—yes that is the technical term— but we humans aren’t so lucky.” The yardstick moved to the passage leading from the womb. “In order for human males to be able to deliver babies, the rectum had to undergo a lot of changes. As you see here, there is a sphincter which closes the passage to the uterus, and another which closes the gateway tothe colon. These openings work together to ensure the right path is open for the right activity.
“Additionally, the channel’s structure changed to allow for self-lubrication via vascular engorgement. Unlike a human vagina, however, a male Omega’s passageway only produces lubricant upon arousal or heat.”
A scribbling sound to his right pulled Grayson from his trance. Jenna was scrawling notes so fast her hand appeared blurred. He hastily opened his own notebook and began to write.
Despite the basics of Mer and human Omega anatomy being added to public school curriculums, a number of schools had rejected the changes. Unsurprisingly, most of those schools were located in the Bible belt. Grayson’s high school even went the extra mile to block any searches containing the words “Mer,” “alien,” “Alpha,” and “Omega.” He’d figured that out the hard way.
This pitifully short overview was his first opportunity to learn about how his own body functioned. Judging by the passive expressions on the other faces in the room, he was the only one with such a gap in his education. As Corey had said, male pregnancy wasn’t a required part of public school curriculums; only basic anatomy. However, many progressive schools and healthcare programs incorporated it voluntarily. Not Grayson’s tiny community college, of course.
When Corey finally called for a break, Grayson’s poorly padded ass was completely numb. Beside him, Jenna stretched, popping her spine on the seat back.
“Is he going to cover female Omega pregnancy too?” Grayson asked her. He stiffly hauled himself upright in an attempt to restart blood flow to his back end.
“Doubt it.” Jenna yawned. “It’s pretty much the same as standard pregnancy.”
“Is it?” He knew female Omegas experienced heat, but their anatomy remained largely unchanged after the Mer came.
Jenna raised her brows. “Didn’t you have to study Omegas for your degree?”
“Oh.” Grayson knew his skin was flushing red beneath the blanket of freckles. “I… went to a pretty small school in Georgia so the program was a little…”
“Ah.” Jenna’s mouth twisted down. “Well, female Omegas are different in some ways, but the actual pregnancy and birth is the same as any standard human. Well, ignoring the fact that Mer hybrid babies are massive.”
Grayson winced in sympathy. “Like how big are we talking here?”
“I think the average is around ten pounds?” A little dent formed between her brows. “Maybe eleven.”
Grayson couldn’t help but glance over at the front of the room, where Corey was practically shotgunning a coffee. “That is… big.”
“I hear the human staff in the Mermades make bets on weight based on the Alpha.” Jenna grinned. “Not that the job needs any spicing up.” Paeil may have been the correct name for the Mer’s global network of islands, but Mermades was the name that stuck.
A sharp crack made everyone in the room jump. Corey waggled his yardstick at them. “Playtime’s over, park it.”
∞∞∞
Beyond the walls of Grayson’s tiny room, the ocean rasped its gentle roar across the sand. He was exhausted after his frantic escape from Mineral Bluff, then a long day of lectures and note-taking, but his brain simply refused to shut off.
He’d seen photos of the Mer and of the violet foliage of the Mermade islands, but he couldn’t seem to picture himself there. It probably wouldn’t feel real until he set foot on the silvery sands that formed Paeil’s beaches.
For the hundredth time that night, Grayson’s phone screen spilled blue light over his face. He’d snuck off to the nearest phone store and signed himself up on the cheapest plan he could manage. His new number was the final safeguard he’d needed against his family. Now, he could use his phone to stare, enraptured, at the photos of his new apartment.
An expansive main space with a sprawling kitchen, open living room, and an entire wall of windows that overlooked the sea. One bedroom, complete with a king-sized bed, and a beautifully furnished bathroom. He couldn’t wait to put the enormous tub to good use.
An apartment like this one would have been incomprehensible to him on the mainland. Only people who pulled in six figures could swing this kind of accommodation. But as an Omega moving to the Mermades, it was completely free. Grayson was starting to wonder why more people weren’t signing up for Paeil’s many Omega work programs. Incredible housing, high salary, European levels of paid vacation…
His stomach clenched. Realistically, the work programs were designed to bring human Omegas and Mer Alphas together, so they could settle down and start churning out hybrid offspring. Of course it wasn’t mandatory, but the societal expectation lingered.
When Grayson finally drifted off, his dreams filled his mind with rounded bellies and finned babies.
It felt like only a few minutes later that a rap on the door startled him awake. “Grayson? It’s Destiny. Your boat will be arriving in thirty minutes! If you pack up quick, there’s a continental breakfast out in the lobby.”
“Thank you,” Grayson rasped. As her heels clicked away from the door, Grayson slumped back against the pillow. He’d forgotten where he was. The sound of someone at his door always triggered a spike of adrenaline.
Grayson drew in a slow breath.That’s never going to happen again.
