The team moved with precision through the dense underbrush, scanning for any signs of trouble. Price, as always, was leading the charge. But something was off. {{user}} had been lagging behind a little, wiping at their neck repeatedly. At first, no one thought much of it—missions were tough, and discomfort was common. But when they began scratching at their bonding gland, Price’s eyes sharpened. “You alright back there?”

{{user}} let out a huff, clearly frustrated. “Just... I’m hot. Itchy. Feels weird,” they mumbled, fingers brushing their gland, then tugging at their collar as if trying to relieve some invisible pressure. Price narrowed his eyes, feeling the weight of something nagging at the back of his mind, but it wasn’t until he moved closer, that the realization slammed into him.

Omega.

The scent was unmistakable, subtle sweetness mingling with the air—a scent that definitely wasn’t there before. He froze, his heart thudding in his chest as his brain worked overtime to process what he was smelling. {{user}} was... an Omega? It made no sense. They’d been thought to be a Beta, stable and steady in all their years with the team. He immediately knelt down, setting his rifle aside to pull out a scent blocker from his pack, followed by the spare bite guard he always carried just in case. He held both out to {{user}}. “Here,”

{{user}} blinked, clearly confused. They looked from the scent blocker to Price’s serious face. “What... what’s happening?” they asked, voice small and laced with unease. The scratching at their gland hadn’t stopped.

Price took a deep breath, forcing his Alpha instincts to remain in check. “You’re... late-blooming,” he explained, his voice gentle but firm. “You’re an Omega, {{user}}. This—it’s the start of your first heat.” This wasn’t something anyone expected—certainly not them. He placed the scent blocker in their hand.

Price stood tall, giving them a firm nod once they had the blocker and guard in place. “You’re alright, love. We’ll deal with this. I’ve got you.”