The Alpha, whose nerves were agitated to the extreme, paused for an instant when he heard that low call. The next moment, an even more exhilarated emotion surged up, smothering most of the anger burning in Shen Zhixiao’s brain.
His pitch-black eyes widened slightly as his entire body loomed over Qiu Sui like an excited giant beast, clearly displaying his face right in front of him. His tone shifted, and he let out a joyful laugh he couldn’t suppress: “That’s right, baby, it’s me.”
Looking at the pitiful Qiu Sui beneath him—cheeks so flushed, eyes hazy and unfocused—Shen Zhixiao couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache. He pulled him up into a sitting position and cradled him in his arms like a long-lost treasure, his palm gently stroking Qiu Sui’s cheek as he murmured softly, his heart softening: “Fine, I’ll forgive you this time… It must be the dizziness that stopped you from dodging that damn Beta. Good thing I’ve been by your side the whole time…”
His breath came in turbulent gasps as he slowly pressed his cheek against Qiu Sui’s from behind. The joy of skin touching skin seemed to mask the intense pain of his Pheromone Disorder. Shen Zhixiao let out a low laugh of pleasure and leaned close to Qiu Sui’s ear, his voice warm as he reminded him: “We’re almost home, baby.”
Home?
The alcohol made Qiu Sui’s head feel hot and fuzzy, but sitting up was far more comfortable than lying down. His previously dizzy mind and disoriented senses gradually cleared.
He began piecing together the chaotic memories, sorting out what had happened and his current situation. He felt a body heat that wasn’t his own enveloping him from behind, his stomach and the side of his neck held firmly by an external force. His now-clear mind recognized the identity of the other man. His heart urged him to break free, but his body obeyed some other instinct and made no move.
Just as Qiu Sui grew a bit annoyed and tried to regain control of himself, the vehicle jolted to a sudden stop, the force catching him off guard and shaking his freshly cleared vision into dizziness again.
A hand gently rubbed his cheek in concern. The alcohol made Qiu Sui more attuned to his inner feelings; he instinctively narrowed his eyes to savor the pleasant sensation, but his brain quickly flashed a warning, repeatedly chiding his current behavior. In some distress, Qiu Sui tried to pull away.
In truth, the movement was very slight—like a cat nuzzling against someone—as he brushed lightly against Shen Zhixiao’s palm, making the other’s fingers tremble involuntarily.
Qiu Sui’s seventy-plus kilograms felt as light as a feather in Shen Zhixiao’s arms. He carried him out of the car, Qiu Sui’s backpack slung over his elbow, and strode briskly into the apartment.
The bright indoor lights allowed Qiu Sui to see Shen Zhixiao’s face even more clearly. His head rested on that shoulder, his gaze traveling up from the sharp jawline.
Even from this angle, it was breathtakingly handsome.
Qiu Sui, still a bit dazed and unsure of the situation, found himself appraising it hazily.
The plush king-sized bed was far more comfortable than the leather car seats. Qiu Sui sank into it, acutely aware of the Alpha’s voice as he set him down.
“Drink this honey water, and you’ll feel better, baby. Wait here obediently for me.” The man said caringly, his fingers lingering reluctantly on Qiu Sui’s brow before he slowly stood.
Qiu Sui’s mind felt split in two. One part was clear-headed enough to detect the oddities and strangeness in every word Shen Zhixiao said, rationally urging him to react correctly. The other part uncontrollably yearned to draw near that receding figure until it vanished from sight.
He waited in a daze for a minute. The dizziness had eased, and suddenly he sat bolt upright.
Qiu Sui didn’t actually know what he intended to do. His mind felt clear, but he was like a bystander unable to control his actions. He sluggishly moved to push himself off the bed when a familiar voice suddenly exploded from behind him.
“What are you doing?”
Shen Zhixiao returned with the freshly prepared honey water and saw the scene, his emotions surging almost uncontrollably into agitation.
His eyes locked tightly on the disobedient man on the bed as he strode toward him, his tone laced with a hint of uncontrolled anger: “Planning to run away, baby?”
Qiu Sui’s arms braced against the bed surface. He turned to see the vanished Alpha reappear, reacting for a few seconds before staring blankly as the man approached. That sharp-featured face loomed larger and larger in his vision.
He continued shifting his body slowly, then awkwardly lay back down in a clumsy manner, staring straight into those gloomy eyes.
Shen Zhixiao knelt on one knee on the bed and leaned toward the Beta who’d returned to his position. His fingers gripped the cup of honey water tightly, his face still somewhat gloomy as he repeated word by word: “Were you trying to run away just now?”
Sensing the other’s unhappy tone, Qiu Sui subconsciously clutched the bedsheet beneath him, staring blankly at the face before him without reacting.
Feeling a flood of negative emotions vying for control in his mind, Shen Zhixiao’s temple twitched. He realized his emotions were spiraling toward utter loss of control, amplifying his sensitivity endlessly.
This was the precursor to the Susceptible Period arriving early.
His chest heaved dramatically. He set the honey water on the nightstand, took a tolerant breath, pulled the Beta into a sitting position, and pressed his forehead against his for a moment of comfort. His voice was low and hoarse: “Sorry… baby.”
Qiu Sui’s rationality told him to pull away, but in truth, he loved the feeling of the other man pressing close. He ultimately gave in to his heart, narrowing his eyes—even wandering off to think that the other’s body temperature felt even higher than his own.
Shen Zhixiao suppressed the urge to bare his sharp fangs and flood the air with Pheromones to mark the other man. He pressed the cup of honey water to Qiu Sui’s lips, his voice rough as he coaxed: “Open up and drink.”
Qiu Sui stared at that handsome face, which seemed unwell, then at the honey water. It took him a good while to understand, and he finally held the bottom of the cup with both hands to drink half of it.
The warm, sweet honey water slid into his mouth and down to his stomach, instantly easing much of the burning discomfort from the alcohol.
The Alpha before him was like a starving pack leader, his fierce eyes glued to Qiu Sui’s lips against the cup rim. The palm pressed to Qiu Sui’s cheek trembled almost imperceptibly.
He fed the last sip into Qiu Sui’s mouth, then shakily set the cup aside. Parched, he swallowed hard, unable to hold back his desire. He leaned toward Qiu Sui with urgent breaths.
The instant his lips touched, Shen Zhixiao felt like a desert creature tasting sweet nectar. His brain screamed for more. His tongue aggressively probed forward, brushing Qiu Sui’s lip seam before delving into the warm, wet cavern of his mouth.
The honey water’s sweetness lingered, swirling and tangling between them in sticky bliss.
Qiu Sui’s mind clearly knew what was happening. His nerve endings were overwhelmed by an unfamiliar sensation, his heart pounding unprecedentedly in his chest. In that moment, he felt the urge to press closer to the body opposite him.
He savored the numbing touch of their tongues, his insides softening like they’d been steeped in water, so comfortable that his hands inched forward. And just then, the contact on his lips vanished.
Shen Zhixiao’s hand clenched the Pheromone Suppression Ring around his neck, forcibly pulling himself back. He gazed at Qiu Sui with longing, finally calling out “baby” in a voice thick with need before fleeing the room in haste.
The intoxicating sensation cut off abruptly. Qiu Sui leaned against the headboard, lips parted in a daze, watching the Alpha’s figure disappear from view again. His eyes widened slightly.
As the honey water digested in his stomach, the dizziness faded further. He waited a moment, then started climbing off the bed—but this time, the other man didn’t appear.
He licked his lips. Nothing.
Qiu Sui’s nerves jittered. He began walking slowly out of the master bedroom. Passing the spacious hallway and open tea nook, he keenly sensed intense commotion from the adjacent room.
He paused sluggishly, shuffled to the door, grasped the handle, and twisted. The click instantly silenced the inside. The gray wooden door eased open, but Qiu Sui saw no sign of the figure he sought.
The room was pitch black. Corridor light seeped through the crack, casting a warm white line inside. In a place beyond Qiu Sui’s perception, thick Pheromones billowed fiercely through the open gap.
Through the light from the doorway, Qiu Sui spotted the messy floor inside—several fully used thick syringes scattered haphazardly, emanating a dangerous aura.
At that moment, Qiu Sui lacked the capacity for thought. Every action and reaction was purely instinctive feedback from his heart, oblivious to the wrongness within.
Gazing at what seemed an empty room, his fingers tightened on the handle, preparing to close the door.
And just then.
A veined hand suddenly gripped the doorframe, fingers digging into the wood, slowly forcing the nearly shut door back open.
Qiu Sui stared blankly at those hands. Drawn by the force, before the door fully opened, a tall figure rose from behind it. Those sharp phoenix eyes gleamed fiercely in the darkness, locked onto Qiu Sui’s face. Each breath came out scorching like magma.
Qiu Sui’s eyes widened slightly, his lips parting instinctively. The next second, a burning-hot arm wrapped around his waist, yanking him straight into the dim space.
The door slammed shut with a deafening bang beside his ear. Danger dawned on him too late, and he struggled. In the darkness, his flailing hand hit a switch.
A small lamp flickered on in the sealed study, illuminating the chaos: nearly all books and files strewn across the floor. Only one clean corner held a disheveled set of clothes and a… backpack.
The familiar items made Qiu Sui’s eyelids twitch. Before he could react, a massive force pressed against him from the front, seizing his lips and capturing his tongue.
This was nothing like the gentle kiss from before. The ferocious force felt like it wanted to devour him whole.
Qiu Sui didn’t like it much. In panic, he grabbed at the Alpha in front of him, his tongue struggling as he made muffled sounds.
This only further excited Shen Zhixiao’s nerves. Staring at the Beta he’d longed for day and night, he nipped at those lips with agitation, breathing heavily. His hands clutched that body a size smaller than his own, murmuring madly: “Baby… wife… why did you come find me… mm… am I dreaming… you’re so soft.”
The Alpha trembled all over as he lowered his head. One hand slowly trailed up from the Beta’s waist and abdomen. Qiu Sui, breathing raggedly, tilted his head back and called his name indistinctly: “N-no… that’s not…”
” Mm? A baby who can talk.” Shen Zhixiao, grinding his sharp fangs against Qiu Sui’s lower lip, hummed joyfully. His palm brushed over Qiu Sui’s chest, tugging up the hem of his short-sleeved shirt.
Qiu Sui let out a sensitive whimper and struggled in resistance. He opened his eyes to see Shen Zhixiao’s obsessed expression, his movements slowing dumbly. The next second, he felt a finger gently press the skin at the back of his neck.
A numbing softness instantly spread through his limbs. He shuddered instinctively, his gaze focusing on Shen Zhixiao’s clear face as he let out another soft cry.
Shen Zhixiao’s Pheromones, briefly suppressed by the injected Suppressant, began to resurge. His mind in chaos, he stared at Qiu Sui and dove in for another urgent kiss.
Qiu Sui drowned in the sensation, eyes half-lidded as if lost between dream and reality. His fingers clutched tightly at the Alpha’s lean waist.
But the next second, the other man pulled away from his lips again. His palm cradled Qiu Sui’s neck, eyes burning as he gazed at him, nerves alight: “Baby, call my name.”
Qiu Sui’s lips burned, his mind feverish. He stared at that speaking face, his hazy brain confirming: This is a dream, right?
The handsome Alpha before him called “baby” again. Qiu Sui swallowed dazedly, his voice faint: “Shen… Shen Zhixiao.”
The Alpha hugged him tightly in bliss, lips rubbing against his ear, breaths ragged as he murmured: “Call it again, baby. One more time.”
But before Qiu Sui could speak, the Alpha nuzzled along his ear to the back of his neck. His nose pressed against that soft spot, inhaling hungrily with a sigh: “Mm, so fragrant. Does baby have Pheromones too?”
He confirmed it repeatedly, reason slipping as he kissed that patch of skin. The Pheromones raging inside drove him mad with the desire for a Temporary Mark on the man before him. He mumbled incoherently a few times before losing control and biting down.
If it was a dream, the moment of the Temporary Mark wouldn’t actually hurt, but Qiu Sui felt a drilling, heart-piercing pain as sharp fangs pierced his vulnerable nape. It nearly made him tremble violently in an instant, sensing a foreign substance injected into the skin there along with the fangs.
But the Pheromones couldn’t fuse with his body. They could only linger on the surface of the broken skin, radiating a hot, numbing-like ache.
He came somewhat to, eyes widening, but his throat couldn’t produce a sound.
Shen Zhixiao kept injecting his own Pheromones relentlessly, yet no matter how hard he tried, he couldn’t sense any change in the Beta beside him.
The frenzied Alpha licked and nuzzled that fragile patch of skin, holding Qiu Sui close and sniffing lightly over and over. He released his Pheromones in a helpless, urgent flood, then kissed Qiu Sui’s lips with irritable desperation. His eyes brimmed with wet sheen as he met Qiu Sui’s gaze, murmuring in bewildered confusion: “Baby, baby… I can’t Mark you. Why can’t I Mark you? I can’t Mark you.”
Qiu Sui let out a pained, muffled groan, feeling the other’s tears drip onto his cheek. He glanced at the Alpha’s flushed-red eyes—imagining him crying like this was impossible. It really is a dream.
He thought hazily, mumbling, “I’m a Beta. I can’t be Marked.”
“Can’t… can’t… No, no.” Shen Zhixiao’s emotions surged with agitation and rejection at Qiu Sui’s words.
He paced restlessly around the cramped study with Qiu Sui in his arms, pausing now and then to kiss and nibble the Beta’s lips. Finally, a spark of hope lit in his eyes.
“Lifelong Mark… Lifelong Mark…” He held Qiu Sui with serious determination and carried him out, lips brushing his ear as he repeated persuasively, “A Lifelong Mark will work, baby.”
Qiu Sui sank deep into the big bed again, enduring the Alpha’s fierce, heated kisses. His body trembled violently because every sensation felt too real—not like a dream born from drunkenness. Especially the strange emotion pulsing from his heart, tugging at every nerve as if it were genuine.
He struggled with some agitation, staring at that face so close, nuzzling and speaking to him intimately. Unable to hold back, Qiu Sui let out a low whimper and called Shen Zhixiao’s name.
The Alpha kissed along Qiu Sui’s cheek, his Pheromones released to the utmost, but the man before him still carried only a faint scent.
No matter if he Marked the Gland or tried for a Lifelong Mark again, nothing changed in the other.
Until the night view beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows turned into blinding white light, the Alpha in the throes of his Susceptible Period had to admit he couldn’t Mark his partner.
In a frenzy, he wrapped himself and the sleeping Qiu Sui in the blankets, hauling out every piece of clothing to build a nest on the two-meter-wide bed. He hoped to immerse Qiu Sui completely in his Pheromones this way, clinging tightly to his treasure with lingering anxiety and unease before finally drifting into heavy sleep…
