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Untrodden paths need exploring.
Especially on a dark night, one instinctively reaches out to feel their way, to avoid missteps.
But the weather was bad, and as he carefully felt his way forward, a thick mist filled the air.
Even with a clear direction, each step on the damp earth was difficult and cautious. After all, the path was untrodden, and one had to be careful to avoid injury.
As he slowly ventured deeper, the grass and branches beneath his feet were crushed, leaving a faint trail, making it slightly easier for others to follow.
It was at this moment that the rain started to fall.
At first, it was just a soft drizzle, like mist, a fine net blown by the cold wind, like a knife scraping against his bones, a sharp pain.
A piercing, bone-deep pain.
But after enduring it, perhaps becoming numb, the sharp, tearing pain gradually subsided, replaced by a different kind of rhythm as the rain intensified.
The sound of raindrops hitting the leaves grew louder, the entire forest noisy, yet strangely silent, a captivating stillness.
Incredibly eerie.
The heavy rain poured down, the air thick and suffocating, a constant sense of oppression, like a net tightening around his heart, inescapable.
Qi Zhao could hear Qi Wei speaking to him from time to time, his low, magnetic voice a perfect match for the weather, yet also a torment.
He couldn’t quite make out what Qi Wei was saying, his mind blank, just passively listening, unable to even tell him to shut up.
He was tired, his body trembling uncontrollably, but he couldn’t do anything.
He truly was like a doll in Qi Wei’s hands, manipulated at will.
He was dying.
This thought, flashing through his mind countless times, wasn’t because he wasn’t enjoying it, but because it was too much. Everything was too much.
This downpour lasted for over two hours. If it weren’t for the alpha noticing Qi Zhao’s hazy eyes, the flushed color of his skin, the rhythmic rising and falling of his chest, the clear signs of his arousal…
He probably wouldn’t have been able to stop.
Seeing Qi Zhao like this, he couldn’t help but want to take him completely.
So, before Qi Zhao could finally breathe a sigh of relief, he experienced the most overwhelming sensation—
…
Qi Zhao’s mind went completely blank.
He heard himself cry out, but whether it was words, or just a hoarse, animalistic moan, he didn’t know.
In the end, when Qi Wei lifted him, their sweat mingling, Qi Zhao still hadn’t regained his senses. It wasn’t until Qi Wei carried him to the bathroom, and he vaguely felt… something, and then the muffled sound of water dripping onto the carpet, that his soul returned to his body.
…He wanted to die even more.
Qi Zhao was truly on the verge of collapse.
One person shouldn’t have so much…
Were alphas truly this overwhelming?!
But Qi Zhao couldn’t speak, he didn’t even have the energy to care anymore, just tilting his head tiredly, not knowing when he finally fell asleep.
Qi Wei carried him into the bathtub, looking at the countless marks covering his body, gently caressing his neck, then lowering his head to sniff.
There was no scent.
Even after taking him completely, he couldn’t leave his pheromones on a beta’s body… Betas couldn’t be marked.
Qi Wei knew this, but he couldn’t help himself.
He wasn’t thinking about why Qi Zhao was a beta, but rather, how useless he was.
A useful alpha should be able to mark their partner.
No matter what their partner was.
Qi Wei actually wanted to go a second round; an alpha’s desire wasn’t so easily sated, but he paused, realizing he couldn’t.
Alphas… especially super S-rank alphas, were too much.
Especially since Qi Zhao was a beta, his body not designed to accommodate an alpha like an omega’s.
So Qi Wei could only endure.
Just like during those two hours, although he felt a deep satisfaction from having Qi Zhao, it wasn’t truly fulfilling.
He hadn’t even dared to use much force, and Qi Zhao was already moaning and breathless, repeatedly seeking his kisses for comfort.
If Qi Zhao hadn’t insisted on letting him finish, Qi Wei would have retreated, holding him close and saying it was okay.
He had already resigned himself to never experiencing this fully.
But Qi Zhao had said…
He wanted it too.
Qi Zhao saying he wanted it wasn’t a lie.
Firstly, because he also wanted Qi Wei to feel good, not to have to endure and suppress himself so much; and secondly… because he liked Qi Wei, and he truly wanted…
But Qi Zhao hadn’t expected that even after preparing himself, he still wasn’t truly ready.
It was far more intense than he had imagined.
When he woke up, it was already past ten. Qi Wei was still holding him, but Qi Zhao didn’t want to move a muscle, feeling more exhausted than after climbing a snowy mountain.
And more importantly, because Qi Wei was too… much, there was a lingering, strange feeling…
As if he was still inside him.
Unbearable.
Qi Zhao, as his consciousness returned, even realized that Qi Wei must have applied ointment, but he still felt that fullness, and the lingering feeling of suffocation.
Of course, it could also be because Qi Wei was holding him too tightly.
Qi Zhao exhaled, and Qi Wei asked softly, “Awake?”
Qi Zhao moved his lips, unable to make a sound at first, then finally managing a hoarse, dry whisper. “Hungry.”
He was surprised by his own voice, vaguely recalling crying out many times last night.
Qi Zhao: “…”
He was a prideful man.
And crying because of this… Qi Zhao felt embarrassed.
He, a grown man, had actually cried and begged for mercy???
Qi Wei kissed his hair softly. “I’ll get you some water.”
Qi Zhao swallowed, his throat dry, and didn’t refuse.
So Qi Wei kissed him again before reluctantly letting go and getting him a glass of warm water.
Although the heating was on, Qi Zhao always preferred warm water in this cold weather; Qi Wei knew this.
So Qi Zhao leaned back against Qi Wei’s arm, letting him feed him the perfectly warmed water.
“Do you want to wash up?”
Qi Wei asked.
“…Yes.”
He knew Qi Wei would carry him, but it didn’t matter anymore.
Qi Zhao let Qi Wei lift him and place him before the bathroom sink, his arm supporting him. “Are you uncomfortable?”
“…A little.”
He was just a beta, after all; being with an alpha was like losing half his life, but… it had also been… pleasurable.
Qi Zhao looked at himself in the mirror, seeing the marks covering his exposed skin, even a few bite marks on his forearms.
The alpha, in his passionate haze, seemed to believe that he had what alphas and omegas had, biting him everywhere, his sharp canines easily breaking the skin.
Of course, perhaps it wasn’t about marking him, but simply wanting to leave his mark.
After all, even normally, Qi Wei loved to nibble on him.
Qi Zhao raised his still slightly weak arm and murmured, “You’re very skilled.”
These simple words, spoken softly, carried a subtle undertone he hadn’t even realized himself.
Qi Wei, however, always attentive to Qi Zhao, caught the hint, his eyes blinking with amusement. He hugged Qi Zhao from the side, mindful of his “injuries,” not putting his weight on him, but holding him as if to lift him.
Qi Wei said with a smile, “Ah Zhao, you’re jealous.”
It was a statement, and before Qi Zhao could deny it, he continued, “Alphas learn these things in physiology class. We watch videos and presentations—proper, educational animated videos. And we also learn aftercare. Actually, omegas aren’t as… accommodating as you think; they also need the alpha’s care.”
Although it wasn’t the first time Qi Wei had openly discussed such things, Qi Zhao, caught off guard by his bluntness, still blushed.
So Qi Zhao pushed Qi Wei lightly. “Don’t lean on me.”
Qi Wei obediently released him and asked softly, “Are you uncomfortable?”
Not exactly, Qi Zhao just… didn’t want to talk to him.
Qi Wei understood and didn’t push further, just supporting him, watching him brush his teeth, then taking a towel, wetting it, wringing it out, and gently wiping Qi Zhao’s face, carefully avoiding the wound on his lip.
Qi Zhao’s eyes flickered, and Qi Wei immediately asked if it hurt.
“…No.”
Qi Zhao chuckled, his heart softening. “It’s itchy.”
Qi Wei, reassured, continued wiping his face, his hand gently caressing Qi Zhao’s skin.
Qi Zhao paused, not saying anything.
He himself never washed his face so meticulously, even wiping his eyelashes.
Afterward, Qi Wei carried Qi Zhao back to the bed, letting him lean against the headboard. “What do you want to eat?”
“Anything… I’m very hungry,” Qi Zhao said, “make it quick. You go wash up first.”
Qi Wei said okay and went to wash up obediently. He was quick and kissed Qi Zhao again on his way out. “Wait for me here.”
Qi Zhao: “…”
How did Qi Wei think he could even move?
Just shifting his legs slightly sent a jolt of pain through him.
But Qi Zhao was too hungry to argue. “Okay, okay, okay.”
Qi Wei kissed him again, then went to the study to get him some snacks, before finally leaving.
Qi Zhao didn’t even bother checking if he had locked the door, just nibbling on the small cake, exhaling softly, and unconsciously rubbing his stomach.
It wasn’t exactly painful; he could tell that Qi Wei had been very careful last night, afraid of hurting him, but…
It was truly overwhelming.
