"Turn that off" Levi's wandering mind came back as he watched Junior who couldn't stay still turn on the radio.
"Everything irritates you" Junior muttered under his breath.
Noah remained silent in the passenger seat, as he gazed out the window. Levi watched the alpha's slightly relaxed shoulders, and the hands that rested on his thighs, noting the urge to clench them into fists.
"So.." Levi's voice broke the brief silence. His eyes waited for the alpha's eyes to meet his at the rearview mirror.
And when the alpha did meet his eyes, he continued "This friend of yours, the specialist, is he a loyal friend or an indebted friend that will surely keep it private?".
Levi caught Ethan's sharp, darting eyes.
"No" Noah responded after withdrawing his gaze from the brief eye contact "Elias is a childhood friend. His hospital is the best facility in the city".
Junior snorted softly "Discrete because half of their patients are paranoid alphas who are too full of themsel.." His voice caught in his throat as he caught Noah's intense gaze on him.
"Or because some situations require more privacy" Noah's voice carried enough weight to suppress Junior's commentary.
Junior leaned deeper into the chair, as he tried to suppress his presence.
"Why Dr. Elias?" Levi continued to probe, not minding the discomfort he might be causing Ethan.
"He's a doctor who had handled type B compatibility issues before. And he also knows about…"
Noah's voice dropped as it thrilled. Ethan turned briefly to stare at his employer, as if noting the way his employer communicated with the new omega.
"Oh, so, he knows" Levi nodded in understanding as he noted it.
"Yeah. It's not for show. This tests might help"
The car continued to roar in the streets, while the silence inside was restored.
They gradually pulled from the city as they got into the hospital gates and into the compound. The building was rather smaller than expected, but it looked expensive.
Ethan parked swiftly, while Junior finally stopped fidgeting, his playful energy subdued by their environment.
They soon walked into the lobby that was all marble and in low lighting. It was designed to soothe rather than intimidate, but Levi had a frown on his face the moment he inhaled the antiseptic.
The nurse on duty at the desk looked up as they approached, her professional smile was soon on her face.
"Mr. Sterling" Her eyes flashed for a second as she recognised Noah warmly as she greeted.
"Dr. Elias is expecting you".
Before Noah could respond, footsteps echoed across the lobby's polished floor.
"Noah" A voice sounded behind them. It was laced with affection.
Dr. Elais looked nothing like what Levi had expected. Where he'd anticipated some slick, flexible physician who was specialised in cleaning up alpha messes, he instead found a man who looked older than thirty. His kind eyes had warmth in them, that might not be fake.
The man's frame was dapped in a white lab coat as he pulled Noah in for a hug instead of accepting the handshake Noah offered. Ignoring the professional courtesy required, revealed the intimacy that went beyond mere professional acquaintance.
"Noah"
Dr. Elias stepped back to watch Noah's face.
"Long time" He said with a soft smile on his serious features. He was fond of Noah, was what Levi could conclude.
"Elias" Noah's face had a smile, and his rigid shoulders settled, which Levi, whose eyes scanned for detail, immediately registered. Even the alpha's pheromones were almost nonexistent.
'He trusts the guy so much'
"Thank you for taking this on such short notice".
"When have i ever said no to you?" Dr. Elias smiled as his gaze moved to the small group, lingering just on Levi, thoughtfully.
"Though I have to admit, when you called about compatibility testing, I wasn't expecting..."
Levi met his eyes without flinching, while keeping his own features carefully neutral.
Elias observed, then his smile brightened slightly "It's… nice to meet you" with a polite tone.
Levi picked up the undercurrent of genuine wonder, from the doctor. The man wasn't fawning over Noah. And he looked at Levi as an unsolved medical mystery, rather than an unlucky omega. And this was risky.
"Levi"
Levi watched the subtle glances between the two men, noting the doctor's shifting expression.
"Elias is the only doctor I trust for this," Noah had stated earlier, adding that his friend was the only one who had seen Type B Alpha compatibility issues before. And he knew everything about Noah's previous failed matings. This was the expert, the one tasked with understanding why Levi hadn't ended up as 'another one for Sterling' according to those articles.
"Let's discuss this upstairs" the doctor said, gesturing toward a bank of elevators. "My office will be more private."
As they rode up in silence, Levi found himself studying the dynamic between Noah and his friend.