But I’m Just a Beta 21

21

Qi Wei finally calmed down.

The thermal imaging showed that they were alright, so the police officers waiting outside didn’t disturb them further.

Qi Zhao looked at the ceiling light, and after a moment of silence, listening to the alpha’s heavy breathing, he slowly spoke. “…Er-ge.”

He said softly, “How are you feeling?”

Qi Wei didn’t answer. Although his breathing was heavy, the rhythm was steady.

So Qi Zhao realized he might have fallen asleep and looked down. The alpha was leaning against him, his large body covering him completely. The head resting in the crook of his neck, that face, even in sleep, carried the aura of a killing god, yet inexplicably, Qi Zhao felt he was like a small animal…

He must be crazy.

Qi Zhao moved slightly.

He originally intended to help Qi Wei up onto the bed, but as soon as he moved, the arms around him tightened instantly.

The tranquilizer hadn’t fully taken effect yet; Qi Wei could still exert force.

Qi Zhao paused and called softly, “Er-ge.”

Qi Wei didn’t answer. Qi Zhao felt a slight headache, then seemed to remember something. “…Qi Wei.”

Qi Wei finally reacted, humming vaguely.

Qi Zhao lowered his voice. “Let go of me first…”

Before he could finish, the alpha’s muffled voice said firmly, “No.”

Qi Zhao: “…”

He paused. “Let me finish.”

“Let go of me first, and I’ll help you up. Don’t lie on the floor.”

Although there was a carpet, it was still uncomfortable.

And Qi Zhao didn’t know how long Qi Wei would stay like this; he was afraid Qi Wei’s arm would go numb.

After all, it was bearing both his weight and Qi Wei’s.

Qi Wei didn’t move or speak.

“…Qi Wei.” Qi Zhao said softly, “Are you listening?”

Qi Wei wanted to pretend he hadn’t heard because he didn’t want to move, and he didn’t want to let go of Qi Zhao. But he also didn’t want to ignore Qi Zhao. He had longed to talk to Qi Zhao for so long, he loved hearing Qi Zhao’s voice… During an alpha’s rut, all their emotions were amplified, making them seem especially vulnerable and sensitive.

Qi Wei’s current conflict made him hold onto Qi Zhao even tighter, wanting to say something but unable to, only managing to hum in response.

This was the first time Qi Zhao had seen Qi Wei so awkward.

He found it novel. Although they hadn’t known each other for long, if Qi Zhao had to describe him, besides the impression of him being a madman, Qi Wei truly seemed like someone in a position of power.

He was usually gentle and composed in front of him, but not subservient. Even though he often asked for his opinion, there was still an undeniable assertiveness in his tone, the air of a high-ranking individual.

And his humor always made people feel close. If Qi Zhao were a naive, innocent type, he would naturally find Qi Wei gentle, considerate, and playfully charming. But he wasn’t, so he could still see the turbulent danger hidden beneath Qi Wei’s calm surface.

However, this didn’t prevent Qi Zhao from thinking he was a good person, a gentle person.

After all, Qi Wei could have easily forced him into submission. He had countless ways to make Qi Zhao obey, but he chose the most difficult path, standing before him like this.

Speaking of which, looking at the alpha in rut, Qi Zhao couldn’t help but feel curious and amused. He wanted to know why Qi Wei didn’t want to move.

Did he have a particular fondness for the carpet?

It wasn’t unheard of. Some alphas preferred to stay in their favorite environment during their rut. For example, many alphas liked to confine themselves in small spaces.

It was said that this was because they could react immediately if someone attacked them.

Now, Qi Zhao patiently asked Qi Wei, “Don’t you want to move somewhere else? Why?”

Such a gentle beta.

Qi Wei couldn’t help but tighten his embrace, but the tranquilizer was starting to take effect. He gradually lost his strength, and no matter how hard he tried, to Qi Zhao, it just felt like a hug, no longer the terrifying feeling of his bones being crushed.

Qi Wei murmured, “I want to hold you.”

He knew that it was difficult for betas to accept alphas. If Qi Zhao didn’t want to, it was okay if they never took that step.

As long as he could hold Qi Zhao like this during every rut, he would be content.

Qi Wei lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of Qi Zhao’s neck, inhaling deeply, as if trying to fill the void of the past six years.

Qi Zhao’s scalp tingled from being nuzzled like this. This kind of behavior was beyond a beta’s understanding.

Especially since Qi Wei was speaking so close to him, his hot breath against his neck and collarbone, the high temperature seemingly seeping into Qi Zhao’s flesh, the intense itchiness making him extremely uncomfortable.

Qi Zhao wanted to move away but couldn’t escape, so he could only tense his body and say to Qi Wei gently, “We can move somewhere else, and you can still hold me.”

He had come here specifically to help Qi Wei through his rut. If Qi Wei needed him, how could he leave?

It was just a hug, still within his acceptable limits.

…Consider it repaying Qi Wei.

Qi Wei’s eyelashes fluttered, his hoarse voice slightly slurred even when he wasn’t burying his face in Qi Zhao’s neck. The alpha seemed to have thought of something, and his previous vulnerability vanished, replaced by a chilling danger that made Qi Zhao’s hair stand on end, especially given the content of his words: “To the bed?”

Qi Zhao: “…”

Well, the bed was indeed more suitable for hugging, and more comfortable for sleeping. He had shared a bed with male friends before due to certain circumstances. Just like he had hugged friends and arm-wrestled with them before. But… perhaps because Qi Wei had explicitly confessed his feelings…

That’s why Qi Zhao always felt a little at a loss in front of him.

Especially since he knew he couldn’t escape Qi Wei.

So Qi Zhao sighed softly and finally agreed, but quickly reminded Qi Wei, “Just hugging.”

The alpha was obedient. Hearing Qi Zhao’s agreement, he replied happily, “Okay.”

So Qi Zhao was pulled up by Qi Wei, who had his arm around his waist.

Qi Zhao was truly impressed that he still had strength after being injected with the tranquilizer, but he couldn’t help but feel a little worried. “Are you alright?”

Qi Wei stared intently at him. “…What?”

Qi Zhao subconsciously raised his hand and placed it on Qi Wei’s shoulder. “Here. With such a strong tranquilizer, it must be very uncomfortable.”

Qi Wei’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Yes.”

He tightened his grip on Qi Zhao’s waist, feeling the effects of the tranquilizer, his thoughts even more muddled than before, his whole being in a state of both tension and relaxation. “…It hurts.”

Alphas in rut became especially vulnerable and would try to show weakness to their partners to get what they wanted.

Qi Wei was no exception.

“Ah Zhao…”

He murmured, “Can you rub it for me?”

Qi Zhao moved his palm and actually rubbed Qi Wei’s shoulder a couple of times.

His compliance made it even harder for Qi Wei to control himself. He pulled Qi Zhao closer, lowered his head, buried his face in the side of his neck, and inhaled deeply, his movements chaotic and impatient, before finally calming down.

Qi Zhao stiffened but didn’t push Qi Wei away.

He knew that alphas were like this during their ruts, and since he didn’t have pheromones, Qi Wei could only absorb his scent as a substitute.

And because it wasn’t real pheromones, Qi Wei would probably…

Need to be constantly close.

Qi Zhao felt his future looked bleak.

He waited patiently. When Qi Wei calmed down, he was pulled up again. Afraid that Qi Wei wouldn’t have enough strength, Qi Zhao obediently stood up, supporting him, and then was pulled by Qi Wei, taking a couple of steps before falling onto the bed.

Qi Zhao was a little dazed from the fall. By the time he reacted, the alpha had already deemed his suit jacket an obstacle, biting off the buttons, then pressing against his chest and stomach through his shirt, his legs trapping Qi Zhao’s, preventing him from moving.

But at the same time, the alpha’s already obvious arousal pressed tightly against Qi Zhao’s leg.

Qi Zhao: “…”

He was slowly turning red, his entire body flushed in silence.

He had never encountered such a situation.

He didn’t know what to do, how to react. He could only let Qi Wei hold him, coiled around him like a snake.

After a moment of silence, Qi Wei suddenly moved again.

The beta’s excessive docility made it impossible for Qi Wei to resist pushing his boundaries.

If he were in his normal state, he definitely wouldn’t move any further, but during his rut, his rationality was almost nonexistent.

So Qi Wei opened his mouth and bit down on a button of Qi Zhao’s shirt.

The moment Qi Zhao felt the hot, wet breath, he reacted immediately. “Qi Wei!”

But by the time he spoke, Qi Wei had already bitten off a button, his nose pressed against the skin of Qi Zhao’s chest, inhaling deeply.

Qi Zhao wasn’t an omega.

So this meant that when his boundaries were crossed, he reacted instinctively, flipping over and pushing the tranquilized, weakened alpha onto his back, pinning him down.

At that moment, Qi Zhao’s eyes hardened, a sharp glint in them.

Qi Wei liked Qi Zhao, liked his gentleness, kindness, and softness, but he also loved his radiant, sharp, and compelling side.

So Qi Wei, surprisingly, didn’t become enraged at being denied, but just stared at Qi Zhao, watching him glare like an enraged lion for a moment before sighing and calming down. “…You can’t do this.”

His ears were red, his teeth clenched. Gone was his usual docility. “We agreed, only hugging.”

Qi Wei’s hand was still on Qi Zhao’s waist. Hearing this, he apologized instinctively. “Sorry.”

During their rut, alphas instinctively sought out their partners and tried their best to please them, to make them stay willingly by their side.

So Qi Wei held onto Qi Zhao’s waist, his hoarse voice soft and slow, like an old record playing a desert ballad. “I won’t move anymore… Come closer to me.”

Qi Wei paused, then added, suppressing his instincts, “Okay?”

Qi Zhao thought that they were already close enough.

But he knew what the alpha meant, so he relaxed his posture, lying on his side on the bed again, letting Qi Wei bury his face in his embrace once more.

But with the button undone, Qi Wei’s breath inevitably brushed against his skin, and Qi Zhao found it difficult to ignore, even when he tried.

Qi Zhao could only be thankful that he was a beta; he couldn’t smell Qi Wei’s pheromones and wouldn’t be seduced by them.

Otherwise, the situation might truly be… out of control.

And precisely because Qi Zhao couldn’t smell pheromones, he didn’t know that Qi Wei was already desperately trying to control himself. The sweetness of his pheromones was becoming increasingly aggressive, yet he was still holding back.

In the end, he could only manage a hoarse, “Ah Zhao.”

Qi Wei said softly, “Can you hug me?”

Qi Zhao’s stiff hands, which he didn’t know where to put, weren’t touching Qi Wei.

He was silent for two seconds, then slowly raised his hand and placed it on Qi Wei’s back.

Then he heard the alpha sigh, finally calming down again.

Qi Zhao lowered his eyes, looking at the top of Qi Wei’s head, wanting to ask him if it was worth it.

Even if his theory was correct, the help a beta could provide an alpha was too limited. This was determined by their innate physiological structure, not something that could be changed by liking or disliking someone.

Qi Wei was already this out of control even after injecting suppressants, let alone the fact that he couldn’t rely on suppressants forever.

But Qi Zhao also knew that asking Qi Wei this question was pointless.

Qi Wei had already given him the answer with his actions.

So Qi Zhao could only sigh inwardly.

He truly didn’t know what to do with Qi Wei.

He just hoped that he could live a good life.