CHAPTER 51: THE RESULT!

Dr Patel’s expression remained calm as he handed the tablet to Jace, the screen glowing with numbers and data. Jace’s eyes locked onto the results, his breath catching in his throat. Elias leaned closer, his heart pounding, his voice barely above a whisper.

"What does it say?"

Dr Patel adjusted his glasses, his tone professional but gentle.

"The matching test shows a compatibility score of 45.5%."

Jace’s face froze, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the screen. Elias blinked, confusion clouding his features. Neither of them spoke for a moment, the weight of the number hanging in the air. Jace’s grip on the tablet tightened, his knuckles whitening. Even if he couldn’t understand what the result meant, he definitely didn’t like that low number.

"45.5%?" he repeated, his voice low. "What does that mean? Can we be together?"

Dr Patel shook his head, his expression sympathetic but firm.

"I’m afraid it’s not that simple, Jace. For a bond to be considered viable, the compatibility score needs to be above 50%. The highest recorded match in the country is 78.9%. Anything below 50% means the bond wouldn’t be strong. It could lead to emotional instability for both partners, and for an omega like Elias, it would make conception extremely difficult, if not impossible."

Jace’s face darkened, a storm of emotions flickering across his features... anger, disappointment, frustration.

"So, what, we’re just... not good enough?" His voice rose, sharp with disbelief. "That can’t be right. Can we do the test again?"

Dr Patel shook his head again, his voice steady. "The test is highly accurate. Retesting won’t change the results. The compatibility score is based on a combination of genetic markers, pheromone alignment, and emotional resonance. It’s not something we can manipulate."

Elias watched Jace, his own emotions a tangled mess. A small part of him felt a flicker of relief—he wasn’t ready for a bond, not with Jace or anyone else. But he couldn’t show it, not when Jace looked so crushed. He reached out, his voice soft.

"Jace... maybe it’s fate. Maybe we’re just meant to be friends."

Jace’s head snapped toward him, his eyes blazing.

"Fate? I don’t believe in that crap." He clenched his fist, his jaw tight. "I wanted this, Elias. I wanted us. Don’t you get that?"

Elias’s throat tightened, guilt washing over him. He didn’t know how to respond, his gaze dropping to his lap. Jace’s intensity was overwhelming, and Elias felt a pang of doubt.

’Is it my fault? Did I mess this up somehow?’

Dr Patel continued to check Elias’s vitals; his movements were calm and methodical. He glanced at Jace, his voice gentle.

"Jace, I need to focus on Elias right now. Why don’t you take a moment to cool off?"

Jace’s eyes flicked to Elias, then back to the doctor. He let out a frustrated groan, his shoulders tense.

"Fine." Without another word, he stormed out of the room, the door clicking shut behind him.

Elias stared at the closed door, his chest heavy.

’What’s wrong with me?’ he thought, his fingers twisting the edge of the blanket.

"Why is he so upset? Is it because of me?" He wanted to chase after Jace, to explain, but his body felt heavy, the suppressant still working through his system.

Dr Patel pulled a chair closer to the bed, his expression kind.

"Elias, you’re doing fine. There’s nothing wrong with you. Do you want to talk about what happened?"

Elias shook his head, his eyes still on the door.

"I don’t know... I just feel like I messed everything up. Jace is so mad, and I don’t even know why he cares so much about this result."

Dr Patel smiled softly, his voice reassuring.

"You don’t need to hide anything from me, Elias. I’m a doctor, and I’m here to help. Do you have feelings for Jace? Romantic feelings, I mean."

Elias’s cheeks flushed, and he lowered his head, his fingers fidgeting.

"I... I don’t know. I only see him as a friend. He’s been so kind to me, and I’m grateful, but... I don’t think I feel the way he does. I don’t understand why he sees me as more than a friend."

Dr Patel nodded, his expression understanding. "That makes sense. Sometimes, when feelings are one-sided, it can affect the matching test. The emotional resonance between partners is a big part of the score. If one person isn’t fully invested, the compatibility can come out lower than expected. That’s likely what happened here."

Elias’s eyes widened slightly, guilt creeping in.

"So... it’s my fault? Because I don’t feel the same way?"

"No," Dr Patel said firmly, placing a hand on Elias’s shoulder. "It’s not about fault. It’s about compatibility. You can’t force feelings, Elias, and you shouldn’t feel guilty for being honest with yourself. Jace will need time to process this, but he’ll come around."

Elias nodded, but he didn’t say anything else. The room fell quiet, the only sound the soft beeping of the monitor. Dr Patel tapped on his tablet, his expression thoughtful. After a moment, he spoke again, his tone careful.

"There’s something else I need to discuss with you, Elias. It’s important, especially given your status as a dominant omega."

Elias frowned, his stomach twisting.

"Is this about me not being able to get a job? Because I need to work. For my sister."

Dr Patel nodded, his smile reassuring.

"I understand, and I’ll get to that. But first, I want to show you something." He turned the tablet toward Elias, the screen displaying a document with the government’s seal at the top. "This is a contract offered to all dominant omegas. You’re special, Elias, and the government wants to ensure your safety."

Elias’s eyes narrowed as he skimmed the document.

"Safety? Are they going to lock me up or something?"

"No, no," Dr Patel said quickly, shaking his head. "It’s not like that. The contract provides you with a house, a car, a monthly allowance... everything you need to live comfortably. In return, you’d use your Siren’s Voice ability for the benefit of the country. It’s also to ensure you don’t leave the country, as dominant omegas are considered national assets. You’d have security, too... no one would be able to harm you."

Elias’s heart raced, his mind spinning. A house, a car, money... it sounded too good to be true. But the idea of security, of being untouchable, made him pause.

’If the government protects me, I’d be safe. Lila would be safe and Viktor wouldn’t be after my life,’ He looked up, his voice hesitant.

"What about my sister? Can they take care of her, too? She’s in the hospital, and I need to pay for her treatment."

"About your sister... She..."