Chapter 29

Chapter 29

Over a decade ago

"What? Hubert trapped on the front lines? The Dimlight Ambush about to fall? Why have we received no word?"

In the military council hall, Barnett stared in disbelief at the soldier lying in the recovery pod.

Half the soldier’s body was mangled, his eyes no longer able to discern colors—only a blur of blood and flesh. After multiple forced space jumps, his bodily functions were rapidly deteriorating.

"Equipment... interference... unable to transmit..."

"...The fortress was ambushed... we’ve been trapped for seven days..."

"Requesting... reinforcements..."

Those present listened blankly to the soldier’s mechanical, feeble words, as though his desperate pleas couldn’t resonate with them.

"I think we should still be cautious. Hubert has always been steady—he wouldn’t make such a mistake. This could be a trap."

"Exactly, it might be a deception!"

"A deception?! Has the Federation discovered a second species? Who would set this up? Who stands to gain? The insectoids or the star pirates?!" Barnett argued vehemently.

"Who knows? Maybe Hubert wants to use this chance to eliminate our three legions. His omega has openly criticized us more than once, calling our legions insatiable and claiming the Federation’s power is too decentralized, with the sovereign granting too much authority. I wouldn’t be surprised if—"

"Right, don’t forget—that Yi Shu has quite the reputation online..."

The current representatives of the Dean and Opus Families spoke with conviction, refusing to send troops! Watching the dying soldier’s unclosed eyes, Barnett turned and left the council, returning to his forces. He immediately ordered his adjutant to prepare for deployment, unwilling to wait for the council’s conclusion!

But at the last moment before departure, he was stopped.

A sweet omega scent suddenly filled the dimly lit cabin.

"Barnett, are you still an alpha?" Hodges appeared in a blood-red gown, her meticulously adorned eyes and rosy lips betraying that she had been waiting for some time.

Ignoring Barnett’s anxious expression, she slowly and gracefully pressed against his communicator, her delicate fingers trailing up his muscular arm as she leaned in, her breath warm against his skin.

"I truly admire you, Barnett. Hubert openly humiliated the three great legions in the council, showing you no respect, yet here you are, still so generous?"

"And Yi Shu—such a proud omega. These two have embarrassed you time and again. Don’t you resent them?"

Her words were like a splash of ice water, freezing Barnett in place.

How could he not resent it? As an S-class alpha, all eyes were always on Hubert, praising his humility and decisiveness, while Barnett was forever stuck with "good enough"!

Hodges had been watching Barnett’s expression closely—she didn’t miss a thing.

Tch. She’d known all along. So much for brotherhood—in the end, it was all petty grudges and hidden motives. What right did he have to judge her?

These self-righteous alphas!

"Barnett, I’m giving you a reason—an opportunity. It’s up to you whether you take it." As she spoke, a glint of cold light flashed at her fingertips, and she drove it straight into his back. Distracted by his swirling thoughts, Barnett failed to react in time—Hodges had succeeded!

"You... what did you inject me with?"

"What? An inducer. Didn’t you always say I loved using such underhanded methods?"

As the sweet pheromones began to fill the room, Hodges smirked, pressing another dose into her own arm. Her eyes gleamed with unbridled, provocative allure as she murmured,

"Ah—now you really can’t go. Imagine the humiliation—"

As heat and helplessness surged through him, Barnett grabbed an inhibitor and prepared to inject himself!

"Don’t," Hodges stopped him, her fingers tightening around the syringe. "I’ll warn you—if you use that, I’ll walk right out of here in plain sight. And then you still won’t be able to leave..."

With her other hand, she slipped open her outer robe, her arm winding around Barnett like a serpent.

"Remember... your father would *never* allow this..."

*

At that, Barnett closed his eyes.

The memory of his feelings escaped him—only that he had arrived too late...

"So, no matter what, everything between us and the Theodor Niller Family is broken beyond fixing."

"Daniel, let me tell you another harsh truth—why no one was willing to help Hubert. Back then, he rejected many noble omegas for Yi Shu’s sake. And Yi Shu... had no powerful allies. If anything happened, the Theodor Niller Family—with its only one heir—would be utterly destroyed!"

"That’s how noble families are—entangled, prioritizing interests. Born into this world, enjoying privilege means you don’t get to chase pipe dreams!" Barnett turned to stare at Daniel, his broad shoulders seeming to sag slightly in that moment.

"It’s not that I don’t want to help Ansel. But once lines are drawn, any assistance is meaningless!"

"Daniel, you need to think carefully—"

"Go on—"

Barnett sat quietly on the ground, his back against the medal display, his face tense.

Perhaps he had never been firm to begin with. Or perhaps, over time, he had lost his resolve—Hodges had rotted him from within, his heart corrupted by hatred and resentment, until he became just like her...

***

"Understood..."

Under the gentle glow of the lights, a hazy gold sheen settled over Ansel’s pale profile, his mood evidently pleased.

Though it was a soundless charade, he knew—the outcome he desired had been achieved.

Ansel rested his chin on his hand, eyes half-lidded, admiring the transmitted images before him, his fingers occasionally tapping the screen.

The scene vividly captured Hodges’ pathetic defiance.

Knowing Barnett, for the sake of the military's reputation, Barnett and Daniel would likely remain silent and merely observe. Now it’s up to Sean Opus.

Wonder if he’ll panic?

Ansel chuckled lightly, then opened his terminal to instruct Catherine to suppress the rumors. This matter should end here—any further escalation might tip them off. After all, how could an entertainment company stir up such a storm? They ought to be afraid.

He really went through hell finding medicine for Hodges...

[Beep—]

The terminal's chime jolted Ansel back to reality. He absentmindedly checked the message.

"What is it?"

"Huainan’s in rut!"

Ansel shot to his feet.

*

"Stop crying."

"Wahh... my head hurts..."

"Tor, wahh..."

"I said, stop—crying!"

"No!"

"...Fine, let's just wait for Ansel to handle this."

In the school dormitory, the overwhelming scent of mint filled the air. Huainan, usually calm and gentle, was now a sobbing mess, hugging Tor as she sat on the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.

Beside her stood Senior Bernard and her roommate Fei Lan, both expressionless as they watched Huainan’s scent going wild. Senior Bernard's eye twitched, unable to bear the sight.

He had never known an alpha's rut could be like this. Weren't they supposed to be pissed off and moody? Huainan was usually so composed—why was she such a handful now?

Was it too much of a good thing? But at worst, he himself only ever felt a bit moody!

Or perhaps this was S-rank alpha perks? Bernard could only console himself with such reasoning.

Meanwhile, Tor also looked concerned, placing a small hand on Huainan's head and stroking it gently from top to bottom, as if petting Ao Ting.

He was puzzled too. His sister had come to pick him up after class, perfectly fine at first, but halfway there, she started tearing up.

Seeing Bernard's stern expression, Huainan flinched, then continued to whine through tears.

"You're being mean to me!"

"And that beta too!"

"It's not my fault, why are you scolding me? Wahh... my head hurts..."

Faced with his roommate, who now resembled a damsel-in-stress omega, Fei Lan was speechless. At least he couldn't smell the pheromones—didn't he see Senior Bernard looking queasy?

Just then, Ansel finally arrived. In his haste, he was still in street clothes.

Seeing Huainan buried in Tor's tiny embrace, he chuckled.

"Huainan..."

Hm? Catching a familiar scent, Huainan suddenly looked up, her eyes shiny with tears like deep-sea pearls. She finally released Tor and, suppressing all her hurt, rushed toward Ansel with such force that she knocked him into the wall.

"I can’t even watch this. Ansel, I'm leaving." Bernard tsked at the sight of the two clinging to each other, waved Tor off, and walked out.

Huainan pressed herself tightly against Ansel, burying her face in his neck and inhaling deeply. After a moment, as if unsatisfied, she wrapped her arms around his waist, holding him even closer.

Feeling the warmth, Huainan finally relaxed. The tension that had been building in her mind eased momentarily as she lost herself in his pheromones, each breath of his sharp scent bringing her more comfort.

Ansel chuckled helplessly, letting Huainan do as she pleased while patting her back soothingly. He glanced up at Fei Lan.

"Just her roommate. Take her away already." Fei Lan spoke first, his face blank. "Crying and being dramatic."

Before leaving, Fei Lan ruffled Tor’s hair, his gaze weirdly nice—perhaps pitying the child for enduring this for so long.

Unaware of being pitied, Tor blinked but, sensitive as always, understood the brother meant no harm and just waved back.

"Tor, let's go home." Ansel kept one arm around Huainan and reached out to Tor with the other. Watching the boy approach him with complete trust, he felt at ease.

With two hangers-on—one of them being the notorious S-rank alpha Huainan—hanging off him, Ansel got looks from fellow students all the way until they realized the trio was heading to get permission to leave from their instructor.

"What's wrong with Huainan?"

"Not sure, but she reeks today..."

"Well, I can't smell it."

"Ah, so the rumors are true—they really are together."

"Must be her rut."

"Right, freshmen usually have their ruts around this time..."

"But why is her little brother coming too?"

"Wait! If that's the case, then doesn't that mean they're..."

Their expressions suddenly synchronized in creepy unison, eyes fixed on the trio's disappearing backs as they chorused:

"Living together!"

Author's Note:

Ansel: Two-for-one.

Huainan: Cuddles!