Chapter 70

Chapter 70

After Morfa spoke those words, the small room fell into silence.

Neither of them spoke; one stood with his back turned, the other stubbornly watching. They remained in this standoff for a long time.

In these silent minutes, the air between them seemed to freeze, so quiet that they could hear each other's rapidly beating hearts, both feeling so overwhelmed it was almost suffocating.

Finally, Queqiu broke the silence that felt like it could drown a person.

"We'll talk about these things later." Queqiu didn't dare to turn around, even less to face Morfa who had suddenly confessed his feelings.

In his world, he had never considered such a thing happening, so he had never thought about how to handle it if it did.

Unable to find the right response, he chose the worst option – evasion.

Morfa's chest heaved with emotional turmoil, even surprising himself that he confessed his long-hidden feelings to Queqiu at the most inopportune moment, unplanned and unsuitable for a declaration of love.

Yet, he had no regrets.

Even as Queqiu feigned calmness, trying to lightly flip past the issue as if it hadn't happened, Morfa persisted and confessed again.

"I said, I love you."

His voice was not loud but resonated with conviction, leaving Queqiu unable to pretend he hadn't heard.

"You can pretend it never happened now, later, or anytime. Because I know you're not ready and have never thought in this direction. So, I've always restrained myself, kept it suppressed, not daring to let you know about my timid, hidden, anxious affection."

As he spoke, Morfa moved step by step behind Queqiu, then hugged him tightly from behind.

"No matter how many times you ignore it, I'll keep repeating it over and over: I love you, I like you, I want to be with you, I want to be your only Alpha."

He buried his head in the Omega's shoulder as he had done countless times before, greedily inhaling the warm, faint scent, his anxious heartbeat finally finding some peace.

Feeling Queqiu about to move and fearing being pushed away again, Morfa hugged even tighter, pleading in an almost broken voice, "Don't push me away, please..."

"Let me just hold you like this..."

Queqiu's hands, which were about to lift, paused, and after freezing for a few seconds, he eventually stopped resisting.

Held tightly from behind by the Alpha, Queqiu had never been more acutely aware of the other's strong, forceful heartbeat, as if it was trying to shatter him with its intensity.

It seemed as if Morfa was using this embrace to convey to Queqiu how every bone in his body, every heartbeat, was striving to love him.

Yet, feeling such intense love only made Queqiu panic and want to flee.

He was unwilling to have their relationship suddenly change drastically, just as he couldn't accept familiar people around him suddenly becoming strangers.

Queqiu had never regarded himself as a person; he always thought of himself as a canary. How could a plant, accustomed to one place its whole life, embrace a drastic change in its environment?

Similarly, how could Queqiu accept so many things beyond his understanding in such a short time?

"You..." Queqiu started and stopped many times, but in the end, he didn't know how to express himself.

Because he had to admit, Morfa had guessed everything right.

In healing those Alphas day and night, Queqiu couldn't deny that, aside from genuinely wanting to save them, he was also hiding from Morfa.

He instinctively avoided physical contact with Morfa, dodged his probing gaze, and disregarded his sincere confessions...

Everything that just happened in this room, Queqiu couldn't refute any of it.

In the end, all he could offer Morfa was a pale, "I'm sorry."

"In my heart, you can never do wrong," Morfa said, holding Queqiu tighter. "The last thing I want to hear from you is those three words; they're of no use. I can even imagine, one day, after you leave me, you'll say the same thing with that tone - what's the difference from sentencing me to death?"

A chill ran down Queqiu's neck; initially, he thought it was an illusion, but then he felt large, cold droplets on his neck and realized Morfa was crying.

It was Morfa who held him so tightly, almost crushing his ribs, yet it was also Morfa who was most afraid of being left behind, of being abandoned.

Even with Queqiu's unfeeling heart, his eyes couldn't help but show pity.

He sighed very softly, hesitated, and finally held Morfa's hand that was clasped around his waist.

"I'm saying sorry, not because I want to leave you, but because... all those things you asked me earlier, they are indeed true, and I'm sorry for that," he said gently. "I think you should understand why I did what I did."

Queqiu's hand was cool, but it felt scorching to Morfa, making his hands tremble involuntarily.

Controlling his excitement, Morfa continued to hold Queqiu tightly.

"I understand, I understand everything. You hate my background, hate the memories and identity I've lost, and I feel the same. During these days you've become cold, even I couldn't help but hate my unfamiliar other half."

Morfa laid bare his heart to Queqiu, presenting his sincere feelings, even if it meant being hurt beyond repair.

"I don't care who I really am, whether a general or a prince, those are just identities others talk about. If you don't like it, then I don't like it either. Identity, to me, is just a burden. As long as I can stay by your side, even if it means remaining this way forever, it doesn't matter."

For Queqiu, Morfa was willing to become an invisible person, known to no one else.

And that wasn't so bad for him; he wouldn't have to consider any responsibilities, not think about anything, just stay obediently in Queqiu's pocket, sleep, and be there whenever needed.

To Morfa, this was the happiest thing in the world.

"I can't promise about my past or my future, but what I can assure you is that right now, at this moment, I love you more than myself, and you will always be my top priority."

After speaking, Morfa carefully left a light kiss by Queqiu's ear. His expression softened immensely at that moment, his mind dizzy with happiness from the stolen kiss.

The Alpha lifted his head, his eyes treasuring Queqiu like a precious gem, wishing to turn him into a rose smaller than a palm and keep him in his pocket, hidden from everyone else, belonging only to him.

Queqiu listened quietly, not avoiding Morfa's kiss, and could even be considered indulging it.

He didn't want Morfa to continue misunderstanding: "It's not like that, I have never disliked you."

Morfa was momentarily taken aback.

Queqiu continued, "Whether it’s you holding me, kissing me, or confessing to me, I don't find it annoying, nor do I dislike your lost memories, your background, or your identity. It's more fear than dislike."

"Afraid?" Morfa was genuinely puzzled now.

"Just as you fear I might leave you, I too am afraid that once you regain your memory, things might become strange, that you might… no longer need me or rely on me as you do now."

Queqiu struggled to adjust to close relationships, but once accustomed, found it hard to cope with their dissolution.

"What I fear most is that all we’ve been through will only matter to me in the end."

Queqiu spoke calmly, not with the emotional outburst or intense fervor of Morfa, but beneath the calm surface, turbulent undercurrents swirled.

It took Morfa a long time to recover. He had never imagined Queqiu would say such things to him. When the usually strong and composed Omega said, "I am not always invincible," Morfa lost the last bit of his composure, holding Queqiu so tightly it was as if he wanted to crush him into himself, to merge them together forever, ensuring they could never be separated.

"It won't be like that," Morfa repeated, both joyful and sorrowful, tears choking his voice, "No matter what I become in the future, I'll always be your only butterfly. If we ever drift apart, it will only be because you don't want me. Even if you do leave me in the end, I'll still wait for you to come back to me."

"To me, you are always, always the most precious rose in the entire universe, the only one of its kind."

Queqiu felt his bones ache from Morfa's tight embrace, yet this pain seemed like the only way to keep him grounded in this situation. He even found a sense of being cherished in Morfa’s complete restraint, not repulsed but subtly enjoying it.

Perhaps a violent embrace is not always an invasion, but in extreme situations, a proof of one being sincerely loved by another.

Queqiu knew Morfa had been under immense pressure these days. More than himself, Morfa was easily affected by every word or action of Queqiu. If such a frantic embrace provided comfort and security to the sensitive Alpha, then Queqiu was willing to indulge him.

They held each other tightly, forgetting time, immersing themselves only in the powerful heartbeats and rapid breathing of each other.

Morfa was the first to release his pheromones, not cautiously controlling the concentration as before, fearing discovery, but releasing them en masse, wanting to infuse all of his pheromones into Queqiu.

The intense, rust-like scent overwhelmed Queqiu, a strength of pheromones he had never experienced from any other Alpha, as if a storm had swept over the sea, causing wave after wave of turbulence.

Queqiu felt like a small sailboat struggling on the sea's surface, battered by the huge waves, almost capsizing.

Apart from the strong pheromones, the temperature of the chest pressed against his back rose rapidly, the skin-to-skin contact burning like a raging furnace, turning Queqiu's pale skin a faint cherry blossom pink, as if someone had personally painted it.

Perhaps due to Morfa frequently releasing some pheromones, Queqiu's glands seemed to have matured under his daily nourishment. Although still showing a greenish pink, they had learned to heat up slightly under the Alpha's pheromones.

Under such overwhelming influence, Queqiu found breathing difficult. He had to tightly grip Morfa's hands clasped around his waist, gasping, "You, you let me go first, calm down, just calm down."

Morfa couldn't hear Queqiu's words, feeling something in his heart roaring wildly, urging him to consume the person in his arms. The repeatedly indulged desires were fully unleashed, quietly invading his brain and driving away the last vestige of reason.

"Mom, I really want to kiss you again."

He reminisced about the wonderful light kiss earlier and tentatively tried to repeat it, but Queqiu turned his head, causing the kiss to land on his rounded shoulder through the clothes.

Queqiu involuntarily shivered, not understanding why the person behind him seemed to have changed so drastically in such a short time, giving him the sensation of danger, like walking alone at night with a wild beast lurking nearby.

"Don't be like this, Morpha. I still need to think about your confession. Can we just calm down for now?"

He naively tried to pacify Morpha, but it became evident that an indulged Alpha, grown bold, was no different from a carnivorous beast that, once it has scented its prey, cannot be stopped from hunting.

Morpha had no intention of playing a game of cat and mouse with Queqiu. His focus was on the pale pink gland partially hidden by golden hair at the back of the Omega's neck, resembling cherry blossoms shyly peeking out from behind green leaves, which sent the Alpha's mind into a blank frenzy.

This was the spot...

Biting down hard, injecting his pheromones, would be like opening Pandora's box, unveiling this irresistibly alluring place.

Morpha's gaze darkened, silver eyes marred by a few streaks of red.

Queqiu, however, was oblivious to his predicament.

Although he knew that since coming to this world, his body had gradually transformed into that of an Omega, complete with an added gland, he never reacted to the pheromones unintentionally released by the hundred or so Alphas of the combat department. Thus, he didn't pay much attention to this extra gland.

Moreover, Queqiu had never properly learned about the physiology between Alphas and Omegas, leaving him indifferent to this additional organ on his neck. Deep down, he didn't see himself as an Omega, making him even less guarded against what Morpha intended to do.

So, in a situation where any other Omega would be vigilant, Queqiu naively exposed his most vulnerable spot to the predatory gaze of Morpha, who easily captured that tender flesh in his jaws.

Morpha, desperate to possess the Omega in his arms, wanted Queqiu to carry his scent wherever he went, warning off other Alphas who might covet his Omega.

It was only when his delicate flesh was seized by sharp teeth that Queqiu belatedly realized what Morpha was doing. Still clueless about Alpha-Omega marking, he didn't grasp the danger of the overly indulged Alpha. Even now, he believed he could handle Morpha.

"You're biting me, it hurts. Let go, be a good boy."

His obedient dog bared its sharp teeth, harboring possessive intentions, speaking in the most innocent voice, uttering words most dangerous to an Omega.

"Mom, I want to mark you."

"Is that okay?"

Marking...

Queqiu's eyes widened slightly, unsure how to respond to this unfamiliar term.

But the next moment, the sharp pain on the back of his neck snapped him out of his daze, followed by a swelling sensation as if something had been injected.

"Ah... it feels so strange..."

His pale cheeks flushed red, and even his waist and legs softened due to Morfa's actions. Queqiu had never felt such a loss of control over his body, collapsing helplessly into Morfa's strong embrace, feeling as if his soul and body had separated at that moment, unable to distinguish reality from illusion.

The sharp pain gradually turned into a throbbing ache. Queqiu's originally green and tender gland seemed to mature a bit after being infused with the Alpha's pheromones, even subtly emitting an alluring, intoxicating floral scent.

Unlike the faint scent that required effort to detect before, Morfa was certain this was Queqiu's pheromones.

It was a scent he had never encountered in his stored memories.

Fondly licking the immature gland, Morfa spoke somewhat unclearly, "Such a unique pheromone, is it the scent of roses blooming?"

Queqiu was nearly lost in this unprecedented feeling of unreality. He struggled to muster a bit of lucidity, trying to stay conscious amidst the overpowering rust-like scent, discerning the barely there fragrance of roses.

But in reality, he couldn't smell the pheromones born from his own body.

"I don't know, Morfa, I don't know," the Omega's voice even carried a hint of a sob. But upon closer listening, it was clear that the whimpering wasn't from pain but rather from a covert, almost-threshold pleasure.

Morfa, mesmerized, sniffed and kissed Queqiu's gland, utterly lost in the rose pheromones, willing to die right then and there.

The intense emotional collision gradually calmed in the ambiguity. In the end, Morfa had stopped marking, gently nuzzling Queqiu's nape like a puppy with his proud nose.

This temporary marking was like a sudden summer thunderstorm, arriving abruptly and departing just as quickly.

After it ended, Morfa gently licked the tender flesh he had marked, slightly loosening his hold on Queqiu. He soothingly stroked Queqiu’s slightly arched back, comforting, "Don’t be afraid, it was just a temporary mark."

Queqiu didn’t understand the difference between a permanent and a temporary mark. He only felt as if something had broken within him at one point, his body overheating, his gland experiencing a unique pleasure when pierced and injected with pheromones, compelling him to want to be close to Morfa.

Especially after the temporary mark was completed, his gland saturated with the Alpha's pheromones, he was even less inclined to resist Morfa’s embraces and intimacy.

"You didn’t have my consent, how could you do something like this…" Halfway through, Queqiu furrowed his brows, realizing he didn’t know how to describe Morfa’s actions.

Could he say Morfa offended him?

But it was he who had indulged Morfa step by step, leading to this outcome.

Moreover, during the process, he had not been devoid of pleasure and even welcomed Morfa’s close proximity.

If Morfa must be labeled the culprit, then Queqiu seemed to be an accomplice in his own offense.

Even though he was the one offended.

After completing the temporary mark, Morfa immediately reverted to his usual obedient demeanor, helping Queqiu to the bed and eagerly fetching his favorite flavored nutrition drinks.

He opened the nutrition drink for Queqiu and served him more attentively than ever.

Morfa watched Queqiu’s expression cautiously, fingers nervously fidgeting with his clothes, and said guiltily, "I'm sorry, I was too impulsive just now, acting without your permission."

Queqiu focused on drinking his nutrition drink, his cheeks puffing out like a little goldfish.

He glanced at Morfa, signaling for him not to continue.

But the next second, his eyes widened in surprise.

Morfa said, "But I had to do it, because…"

"I'm about to enter my cocooning phase."

Author's Note:

(Actually, Queqiu's transformation wasn't that fast, but the short shirt Morfa wore every day... directly accelerated the maturation of Queqiu's gland, hehehe)