This week, I’m having a chat with Enar Magnusson from the Irresistible Omegas series. Technically, I should say doctor Magnusson, if not for the fact that this man couldn’t care less about titles. In fact, he insists on being called by his first name. It’s just one of the many reasons why this man has stolen so many hearts.

Enar, thank you for sitting down with me.

My pleasure, Nora. Though I can’t imagine why your readers would be possibly interested in learning more about me than they already did in your books. It’s not like I’m the most exciting character, not even of the four of us.

Who would that be?

Well, Lidon would have to come first, I suppose, what with him being the True Alpha and all, but both Palani and Vieno are so much more fascinating than me. Palani is the beta who’s doing an alpha’s job and kicking ass, and Vieno is… He’s so strong and yet so kind. He’s this intriguing combination of dirty and innocent, of sexy and sweet, of strong and soft at the same time.

And you?

I’m just… I think the most interesting thing about me is my job. That’s where I feel I make most of a difference.

Let’s start with that, then. Has the clinic reopened now that order has been restored in the capital?

Yes. I insisted this had to be high priority, and Palani and Lidon agreed. Now more than ever, omegas need help. The hospital in the city needed weeks to be fully operational again, and even then, omegas lost a lot of trust in alphas after what had happened. They are well aware how close they came to being little more than slaves if the general had gotten his way. And the support from powerful alphas for that still has them shook. It’s not easy to forget that your alpha-neighbor basically wanted to make you his slave, his play thing, to strip you of all your rights. How can you trust alphas ever again after that? And considering most doctors are alphas… No, we needed to be back in business soon, and we were. Maz and I worked long, long days to help everyone who came to the clinic. We even taught Lucan how to do certain small medical procedures, like taking vitals, drawing blood, and giving shots. I’d love to have an actual nurse, but for now, the pack is closed, and I understand why.

How do patients treat the two of you? Maz is an alpha and you present as one, even though you’re not.

Our reputation has preceded us, luckily. Word of mouth from omegas we treated has resulted in many of their friends and relatives showing up, knowing they’ll be treated as equals. It helps that the first person they usually see is Lucan, who is a beta and a very non-threatening one at that. And Maz has a very calm, peaceful demeanor, so patients quickly trust him, even though he’s an alpha.

And you?

[smiles] You had to ask the hard questions, huh?

If you don’t want to talk about this, I completely understand. I’ll back off.

[takes a deep breath] My identity is a hard thing to talk about. I do because it matters, and if I can give even one person the courage to live their lives authentically, it will be worth it, but it’s not easy. I am a beta, but every time I look in the mirror, I see a body that doesn’t match who I am. That’s a daily struggle.

How young were you when you realized you were different?

Very young. I think I’ve always known, deep inside, but I didn’t have the words for it when I was a child. Lidon and I have been friends forever, and seeing how easy being an alpha was for him, how natural… I didn’t have that. It was always a struggle for me. Even back then, submitting to Lidon came naturally, which pissed my father off to no end. I didn’t even do it on purpose, but if Lidon suggested something, I followed. It’s how I’m wired. But it took me a long time to put it into words, to voice what had been inside me all along. No wonder, since there’s still such a taboo on this. Being an alpha is what everyone is supposed to want, so how can you turn your back on that? How can you deliberately turn away from the privilege you were born with? The judgment from others is strong, and not just from my father.

How do you feel about it now?

It’s gotten easier, but it’ll never not be a struggle, if that makes sense. Palani and I were talking about it the other day, and he commented on how much more I’ve become a beta in the way I act, how I position myself toward others. Even for a beta, I’m not very stubborn or strong-willed. [laughs] Unlike a certain beta we all know…and love. But Maz commented on it as well the other day, that he;’s noticed I’m deferring more to him, even though I’m technically in charge of the clinic. But that was never a position I wanted for the prestige of it. All I want is to help omegas, and other than that, I really don’t care. For someone who presented as an alpha at birth, I have very little ego. I appreciated Maz making sure I didn’t feel like he was overruling me. He is an alpha, and it shows…as it should. But I’m happy the way I am, and that’s taken me a long, long time to say.

You can still act as an alpha when the situation requires it. I remember you standing up to Grayson, for example, to protect Lars.

I did…but I’m not sure I could still do it. To protect my men, yes, and maybe my brothers, but that’s it. I’ve let go of that part of me since it’s always felt forced and foreign to me. I have no use for it anymore, not with the power of Lidon behind me. And let’s not forget Palani. That man would slay dragons for the people he loves.

Palani… Can we talk about how you felt when he was sick?

[his face tightens] I’m sorry, Nora, but I don’t think I can. The thought of losing him was… I can’t. You know, the old legends said that when one of a pair of mated fates die, the other follow quickly. I never understood how and why, but I think I do. Palani is… He’s our sun. My sun. Without him, I’m not sure my life would’ve been worth living. I would have continued, if only for Lidon, Vieno, and Hakon, but a part of me would’ve died with him.

Let’s talk about something happier, then. You guys have two kids now, Hakon and Mahina. How is it to be a dad?

It’s the biggest miracle in the world. When we discovered that Hakon was ours biologically and not just Lidon’s… That in itself is a miracle, but it doesn’t compare to being a dad. To see the joy on his face when you walk into the room, hear him cry out, “Dada!” and then come running to you on those wobbly little legs… It gets me every single time. And Mahina is like her father, all fire and stubbornness. We’re gonna have our hands full with that one. [laughs]

Vieno said your child would be next…

I… I can’t express what that would mean to me. Even after everything that has happened, I’m scared to hope, to count on it, even though I know deep inside he’s telling the truth. He says it will be a beta boy, and that he’ll be just like me. Only he will have the body to match his identity, and that’s… [tears up] That’s the biggest miracle of all. As a dad, you want nothing more than for your kids to be happy and healthy, and to know that he’ll never have to face that struggle is… It’s everything.

When we started talking, you said you weren’t that interesting. What would your mates say if they heard that or heard someone else say that about you?

[hesitates for a moment, then grins] Vieno would passionately list all the reasons why he thinks I’m awesome. Lidon would use far fewer words, but he’d defend me against anyone with his alpha power, and that would do it. And Palani… Palani would kick my ass for saying that about myself. So I guess I’d better be nicer about myself, huh? [laughs] Although arguments with Palani have been known to have a very happy ending…