He’s currently unfit for pregnancy

Elias's breath came in sharp gasps as he pressed his palm against the doorframe for support. His body still ached from the lingering effects of his heat, his limbs weak and trembling, but the moment he realized Cassius wasn't in the room, instinct had taken over. He had to leave.

But just as his fingers curled around the door handle, the heavy wooden door swung open. A rush of cool air hit his overheated skin, and his legs—still unsteady from exhaustion—gave out beneath him.

He braced for the impact, expecting to hit the cold floor. Instead, a warm, firm grip caught him mid-fall. The scent of freshly baked bread filled his senses, warm and inviting, mixing with the sharp, crisp scent of the man before him.

Elias slowly lifted his gaze, his vision still hazy. Cassius peered down at him, expression unreadable, but there was a flicker of something in his golden eyes—amusement? Disappointment?

He didn't get the chance to decipher it before Cassius scooped him up effortlessly, his strong arms securing him against his chest as he turned back toward the bed.

Elias barely had time to react before he was placed back onto the soft sheets. His heart pounded, whether from exertion or the close proximity, he wasn't sure.

Cassius set the tray of food on the bedside table before tilting his head at Elias. "I went to get breakfast, and you planned to escape?…" His tone was almost conversational, but there was an unmistakable edge beneath it. "You want more red lines on your already bad record?"

Elias swallowed, his throat still raw, but he didn't answer. There was no point. They both knew he had no chance of making it far in his current state.

Cassius exhaled, his gaze lingering on Elias for a moment longer before shifting. He took a seat on the edge of the bed, resting his elbows on his knees as he studied him.

"The doctor is on his way," Cassius continued, his voice quieter this time. "After such an intense heat, it's surprising that you didn't knot…" His gaze darkened slightly, unreadable. "Something is wrong."

Elias stiffened at those words, his breath hitching slightly. He had suspected it—suspected that something wasn't right with his body—but hearing it aloud made it all the more real.

Cassius leaned in slightly, his golden eyes sharp as they locked onto Elias's. "And we're going to find out why."

The room was silent, save for the distant sounds of the town outside. Elias sat stiffly on the bed, his fingers gripping the sheets as he avoided Cassius's gaze. The weight of those words pressed down on him.

Something was wrong.

He had known it the moment his body had failed to follow its natural cycle, the moment the unbearable heat had passed but left him hollow instead of fulfilled. He hadn't knotted. Hadn't even felt the usual build-up leading to it. His body had burned and begged for relief, but it had all led to… nothing.

Cassius didn't seem to care about him—Elias knew that much. The man was cold, detached, and had proven time and time again that he saw Elias as nothing more than something to control, something to use.

And yet, the fact that he couldn't bear children bothered him.

Cassius's expression was unreadable, but his fingers had curled slightly, as if suppressing something. Frustration? Annoyance? Elias couldn't tell.

Before he could dwell on it further, a knock echoed through the room.

Cassius didn't take his eyes off Elias as he called, "Come in."

The door opened, and a tall, middle-aged man in a dark coat stepped inside, carrying a medical bag. He barely spared Elias a glance before turning to Cassius, his voice professional.

"You mentioned an abnormal heat cycle?"

Cassius leaned back slightly, arms crossed over his chest. "He went into heat as expected, but his body didn't complete the process." His golden gaze flicked to Elias, sharp and assessing. "No knotting. No conception. Something's off."

The doctor nodded, setting his bag down as he pulled on a pair of gloves. "I'll need to run a few tests."

Elias stiffened as the man approached, but Cassius gave him a look—one that made it clear there would be no arguments.

Swallowing back his discomfort, Elias forced himself to remain still as the doctor got to work.

The doctor's hands were clinical, impersonal, as he tilted Elias's chin up, checking his pulse and observing the lingering flush on his skin. His gloved fingers moved with practiced ease as he pressed lightly against the glands on Elias's neck.

"You're still running warm," the doctor noted, his voice neutral. "Any lingering discomfort?"

Elias hesitated, glancing at Cassius from the corner of his eye. The man was watching—silent, unreadable—but his presence was suffocating.

"…No," Elias muttered, even though his body still ached in ways he didn't want to acknowledge.

The doctor hummed, unconvinced, before moving lower, fingers pressing against Elias's abdomen with slow, methodical pressure. Elias flinched, but the doctor merely adjusted his grip.

"Any pain here?"

"No."

The examination continued, it was impersonal and detached, but Elias still felt exposed. He kept his gaze locked on the ceiling, willing himself to ignore Cassius's presence.

Finally, the doctor pulled away, removing his gloves with a quiet snap before turning back to Cassius.

"There's an imbalance," he stated plainly. "His hormone levels are fluctuating beyond normal parameters. His body should have reached its peak during heat, but instead, something disrupted the process."

Cassius's fingers tapped against his knee, his gaze darkening. "And the cause?"

The doctor exhaled. "Stress, malnutrition, or—" he hesitated slightly, "—a genetic defect. Without further testing, I can't determine the exact reason, but one thing is certain: he's currently unfit for pregnancy."

Elias's stomach twisted, but he kept his face blank.

Cassius, however, didn't move for a long moment. His jaw tightened slightly, but his voice remained calm. "Is it permanent?"

The doctor shook his head. "Not necessarily. With the right treatment, his cycle may stabilize. But if the issue is genetic…" he trailed off. "It could be irreversible."

Elias felt something sink inside him, but Cassius merely leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable before he spoke again.

"Fix it."

Elias tensed. The doctor looked at Cassius, then at Elias, before nodding slowly. "I'll prescribe some stabilizers. He'll need to be monitored closely."

Cassius's gaze never left Elias.

Elias clenched his fists beneath the sheets.

He wasn't sure which was worse—the fact that his body was failing him… or the fact that Cassius cared enough to ask the doctor to fix him.