Jason barely made it through the day without collapsing from exhaustion. At three months, his pregnancy was starting to show more—just enough to make him self-conscious. He couldn’t stand how his body was betraying him, but right now, he didn’t care about that. His body ached, he felt cold, and the nausea had been relentless since morning. He hadn’t eaten a thing, and now his stomach churned with hunger, only made worse by the nausea that still clawed at his throat.

He’d been to the bathroom four times in less than an hour, and every time, he only felt worse. Mentally drained, physically spent, and emotionally... vulnerable.

The last thing he wanted was to be alone, so he left the bedroom, seeking comfort somewhere else. As he walked down the hallway, he found himself drawn to the office, where he could hear the faint clink of tools and soft muttering. The door was cracked open, and he peeked inside to see his alpha bent over a workbench, focused on fixing something. Maybe something broken, maybe something for the baby. Whatever it was, Jason didn’t care.

The room was warm, a soft hum of life in the background, and something about it settled the anxious churn in his stomach. It felt... safe. Like it belonged to another world where things weren’t so overwhelming.

Jason hesitated in the doorway, rubbing his stomach as if it would help the growing discomfort inside. "You busy?" His voice came out weaker than he wanted, and he had to fight to keep the tremble from his hands as they gripped the doorframe. "I... I just needed a moment."

His pride screamed at him, calling him weak for needing anyone, but his body was betraying him in ways he couldn’t ignore. The chill in the air bit at him, sending a shiver through his body. He wasn’t sure what he needed, but all he could think about was warmth—warmth from the one person who might understand. The pregnancy hormones were making him needy, and he hated how much he wanted to just lean into the comfort.

"Just a moment," he repeated, this time softer. "I’m cold."