He took a deep breath, and spoke with a shakey voice. Every word it sounded like he might start crying. “My... My childhood... My parents... It...” He paused. “They were both alphas. They fell in love deeply, and emotions ran high. They... even fought with lots of energy. There was shouting, and bickering... If my father punched my mom, she'd hit him right back.”

The king's face remained stoic while he listened. “They fought in front of you, physically?”

“Yes, my King.” He stated, his voice just as uneasy. “They were equals in everything... Except... My mother was really bitter that she had to carry me and give birth to me. Not my father. So in arguments and to who I was listen to... It was always her. She. Gave birth to me. She. carried me. She. Gave life to me.”

“That sounds difficult.”

“When... When I was a kid, my King,” he turned his eyes to the floor. “I got hurt at school. There was a lot of blood. I fell off of... something. I had to go to the hospital and be admitted. I...” He paused, and swallowed hard. “I spent my whole childhood afraid that I'd be born an alpha. I didn't want it. I'd stifle it.”

“You cannot. They're pheromones. That's not how the body works.”

“I know. I know that, my King.” He shook his head. “They had to do surgery on my collar bone or upper ribs... Something anyway. The doctor came in and said, since you're here, let's get you tested and learn your gender anyway. I told him how my parents were, and how I refused to be an alpha.” He took a deep breath to steady himself. “I went to bed, and woke up the next morning after the surgery. My voice was weak, and I couldn't talk. The nurse gave me a discharge paper. And in teeny tiny paper – I don't even know where he found a pen that small! I had to squint to read it – there was this small note that said simply: Surgery. All but one removed. Legally not allowed to remove all. Good luck.”

“When I got home after being discharged after a few days, and I was able to change the bandages around my collar. It.... I could see some scars from the surgery he had to do anyway. I.... I realized what he meant. He'd... My King.” He finally looked up to the king's stoic face. He was listening intently. “He'd removed all but one of my pheromone glands. So... So I...” His voice fell soft. “I am an alpha in name only.”

He wanted to step away. Normally this is where you'd end the conversation and step away from the other party. But, in this awkward case, the other party was the king. He couldn't leave without permission.

A few moments passed in silence.

Long enough that he made an uncomfortable sound as he looked up to the king's face.

The king had been lost in thought, still with his eyes focused on him. He noticed himself being watched shortly, and straightened his posture. “Oh... You're waiting to be dismissed...” He paused, then a smile came onto his lips. “On the contrary I'd like to ask you to sit down.”