Chapter 65: Helping Each Other

Chapter 65 Mutual Aid

Rut!

Alarm bells blared in Yuan Shiyuan's mind as the Alpha dragged him into the nest. The makeshift nest, cobbled together from a few clothes, collapsed with a rustle of fabric at his feet the moment he entered.

Pei Yanbing paid it no mind.

The agitation of his rut had pushed his rationality to the brink. It wasn't until his fingertips brushed Yuan Shiyuan's warm skin that the turbulent sensation began to melt away like thawing ice. He pulled Yuan Shiyuan tightly into their small den, burying his nose in the other's hair, greedily inhaling the pleasant scent emanating from him.

The fragrance, clearer than any memory, made Pei Yanbing's blood run hot, intensifying his desire to draw closer.

Cold pheromones permeated Yuan Shiyuan from head to toe, intertwining with his own scent. Pei Yanbing continuously nuzzled Yuan Shiyuan's pink hair tips, cheeks, and the side of his neck, like a courting Alpha yearning for a response from his mate.

When the Alpha's rich, icy pheromones enveloped Yuan Shiyuan, he instinctively tensed, fearing an unexpected turn of events.

But the anticipated loss of control never came. Instead, Pei Yanbing simply held him and inhaled his scent, just as he had during his previous sleepwalking episode.

"Captain? Captain…"

"Are you alright?"

"Did you use an inhibitor—"

Yuan Shiyuan was about to ask when he noticed a small mountain of Alpha inhibitors piled in the corner of the wardrobe.

It seemed Pei Yanbing had used quite a few, but they were proving largely ineffective.

"Captain, can you hear me?"

Pei Yanbing's gaze was clearly unfocused, his pupils clouded as if veiled in mist—a common sign of an Alpha's impaired awareness during rut.

During this special period, an Alpha's mind is consumed solely by marking and pheromone exchange, like a beast trapped by genetic instinct.

Pei Yanbing wasn't lucid now, or perhaps he believed he was still caught in a hallucination.

For Yuan Shiyuan, this was a good thing.

His control over his pheromones was excellent; even in this current state of disarray, not a trace leaked out. But that didn’t mean he was unaffected by Pei Yanbing.

The pheromones Pei Yanbing emitted during his rut were several times more concentrated than usual, laced with intense mating signals. For Yuan Shiyuan, currently enduring the throes of his own heat, it felt like a glass of ice-cold water, fresh from the fridge and still giving off a chill.

The heat and itch deep in his abdomen grew stronger, as if a persistent signal reminded him that this Alpha possessed 100% compatibility with him.

He could obtain anything he desired from the other, satisfying his own hunger.

No matter how much he craved, the other would fulfill it.

Pei Yanbing was in rut, and as luck would have it, Yuan Shiyuan was in heat. If Pei Yanbing gave him a temporary mark now, wouldn’t that be helping each other out?

Yuan Shiyuan pondered this, convincing himself.

If he were to simply let Pei Yanbing bite him unilaterally, he’d feel a pang of guilt, as if taking advantage of a friend. But now they both had needs, and Pei Yanbing wasn't even in his right mind!

Perhaps because Yuan Shiyuan had once been an Alpha himself, he unexpectedly discovered that he not only possessed the ability to mark an Alpha on his own but also to erase marks from both parties.

Did this imply that if he were to just get bitten once, temporarily resolving his heat and helping Pei Yanbing through his rut, then completely remove their marks afterward, everything could proceed as if it had never happened?

They’d wake up and still be good brothers.

Very cautiously, Yuan Shiyuan released a tiny amount of pheromones.

The next second, an overwhelming flood of cold pheromones wrapped around him. The electric sensation from the pheromone exchange surged directly to his brain, making his limbs go weak and numb. He involuntarily collapsed against the Alpha’s shoulder, a small whimper escaping his throat.

"Wah…!"

His face buried in the Alpha’s shoulder, hair disheveled, Yuan Shiyuan lifted his head, his eyes under his pink bangs wet and translucent, filled with disbelief.

Just releasing this little bit of pheromones in response… felt this good?

While Yuan Shiyuan stood stunned, Pei Yanbing gripped his waist with large hands, lifting him briefly before staggering and settling Yuan Shiyuan onto his lap.

He quickly wrapped his arms around the Alpha’s neck, and as he lifted his face in panic, he met a pair of dark, intense eyes.

Their eyes locked, and Pei Yanbing’s throat moved, his canine teeth becoming more prominent behind his thin lips. It was clear he was extremely restless and insecure—or perhaps he still believed everything was just another hallucination.

Otherwise, why would Yuan Shiyuan suddenly appear in the music room, emitting such a tempting scent? And why would he respond to his mating signals with his own pheromones, just like an Omega?

Thinking he was dreaming or hallucinating, Pei Yanbing seemed to grow bolder. Craving deeper contact for a sense of security, he kept lowering his head to nuzzle Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes, cheeks, and the tip of his nose with his lips…

It wasn’t until the nuzzling reached his neck that Yuan Shiyuan reacted strongly, pulling away to the side.

"No… it’ll leave marks!"

Kissing and nuzzling elsewhere was one thing, but the neck was too obvious an area to touch casually.

Pei Yanbing’s movements halted mid-air, as if he felt wronged.

That expression made Yuan Shiyuan feel like he was being cruel. He coughed lightly and tentatively suggested, "As long as you’re gentle and don’t leave marks, is that okay?"

The moment the words left his mouth, the arm around his waist tightened abruptly, pulling Yuan Shiyuan firmly into an embrace.

Pei Yanbing buried his face in the crook of Yuan Shiyuan’s neck, nuzzling gently. His warm breath sprayed against the sensitive skin, making him itch. Yuan Shiyuan turned his head away hurriedly, but this only made it easier for the other to bury his face deeper…

Close skin contact acted like a catalyst; the Alpha’s pheromones and body heat seeped through the thin fabric of their clothes. Yuan Shiyuan leaned weakly in the Alpha’s embrace, feeling so good he couldn’t help releasing a bit more pheromones in response.

Their pheromones tangled and merged in the air, like a silent yet intimate deep kiss, gradually making Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes grow wetter, soft, trembling whimpers in his throat.

Pei Yanbing’s pheromones were cold, but his body temperature was high. This extreme contrast amplified the pleasure of their pheromone exchange to the maximum.

The warmth at his neck gradually moved to his face. Thin lips wandered slowly over his chin and lips, then began to give light kisses. Before Yuan Shiyuan could react, the Alpha had already licked the tip of his chin, marking him with saliva like a beast, leaving him damp.

Their significant size difference meant Yuan Shiyuan was almost completely enveloped in the embrace. He let out a soft moan, unconsciously increasing the concentration of his pheromones to heighten his pleasure, when suddenly the Alpha froze, as if controlled by some stronger force.

Pei Yanbing’s breathing quickened abruptly, his whole body tensing.

The delightful fragrance seeped from Yuan Shiyuan’s clothes and hair, wrapping around him, luring him closer while also bearing down with a crushing pressure that made it hard to breathe, carrying a force that demanded submission.

Soon, the pheromones turned soft and delicate. Yet, Yuan Shiyuan still radiated a signal that compelled the Alpha to submit.

Pei Yanbing’s heart raced. Right now, he wanted to approach Yuan Shiyuan, hold him, mark him. But he could only forcibly suppress his marking instinct, sweat forming on his forehead as a new craving awakened…

He desperately longed to be marked by Yuan Shiyuan.

All these psychological shifts happened in an instant.

Naturally, Yuan Shiyuan had no idea what was going through Pei Yanbing’s mind, nor did he know that his pheromones could evoke such complex changes in an Alpha.

Seeing Pei Yanbing stop, he only felt annoyed at having his comfort interrupted. His gaze toward the Alpha was both confused and concerned.

"Why did you stop?" Yuan Shiyuan blinked his damp eyes and called out, "Captain?"

"Can I continue?" Pei Yanbing asked softly.

Pei Yanbing right now still seemed unable to distinguish the boundary between illusion and reality.

Yuan Shiyuan hooked his arms around the Alpha's neck from the front and kissed the corner of his lips from above.

The moment their lips met, it was soft and warm, carrying the scent from his body. The Alpha’s pupils contracted in disbelief as he watched the moisture at the corners of Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes glisten under the light.

Pei Yanbing murmured in a daze, "Is this an illusion?"

Moonlight illuminated the dim corner of the wardrobe. The Alpha lifted his head, his expression bewildered. The person he was looking at had slightly flushed lips and cheeks, messy pink hair, but eyes completely clear and sober.

"No."

Yuan Shiyuan leaned in closer, his lips almost brushing against the Alpha’s, and said word for word, "It’s me kissing you."

The air seemed to freeze.

The next second, Pei Yanbing hungrily captured Yuan Shiyuan’s lips. This was something he hadn’t even dared to dream of—holding Yuan Shiyuan in his arms in the music room, kissing him passionately.

How could an illusion feel so real?

The soft lips, slightly yielding under the kiss, slick with moisture, as the Alpha sucked and tasted them.

For now, Pei Yanbing could barely hold back, kissing him gently—sucking on the lips, licking gently, then slowly pushing his tongue past the moist seam of the lips, easily slipping past his teeth. Yuan Shiyuan’s tongue twitched slightly but was quickly caught and licked, sucked at the root, making soft, wet noises.

This slow, lingering kiss soon made Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes narrow slightly, his mouth filling with saliva. Just as he thought he couldn’t swallow fast enough, the Alpha would quickly drink it up, his rough tongue swirling and stirring, creating messy, wet sounds.

Despite Pei Yanbing’s quick movements, an excessive amount of saliva still escaped from their grinding lips, making Yuan Shiyuan’s chin glisten.

Their pheromones, mixed into the saliva, were thick and intense. Pei Yanbing’s icy, intense scent intertwined with Yuan Shiyuan’s sweet, fresh one as they exchanged wet, heated kisses, their pheromones blending into one.

As their tongues tangled and saliva exchanged, each other’s fluids carried the other’s taste.

Pei Yanbing’s throat moved constantly as he swallowed, as if he could never get enough. When Yuan Shiyuan was kissed until breathless and tried to open his mouth wider to gasp, the Alpha’s rough tongue eagerly plunged deeper, claiming every part of his mouth.

Yuan Shiyuan was kissed until he teared up, his hands weakly circling the Alpha’s neck, fingers clutching his collar. His body leaned back continuously, trying to escape the overwhelming pleasure, but he was pulled tighter, chest pressed against chest.

"Hah…"

Pheromones exchanged at a high frequency, pleasure coursing through their limbs like electricity. The near-spiritual euphoria made Yuan Shiyuan’s head spin. He wanted to reel in his pheromones, but the Alpha’s scent clung to him pitifully.

The Alpha kept releasing signals, begging him to release more pheromones.

His already-red lips grew even more inviting and swollen under the moist attention; the faint dip of his lip was sucked and nibbled, slightly swollen.

The root of his tongue soon grew soft and numb, his mouth aching and wet. Saliva continuously escaped the corners of his lips. As the deep kiss continued, the outline of the rough tongue pressed visibly against Yuan Shiyuan’s cheek, making his small face bulge slightly.

He tried to turn away, but his tongue was caught and swallowed completely, a string of saliva hanging from his lip.

All that escaped were broken sobs and tears that spilled from the corners of his eyes, as if he were crying uncontrollably.

"Ngh… whimper."

Yuan Shiyuan finally managed to lift his chin, slightly avoiding the kiss. But Pei Yanbing chased his lips from below, his tongue plunging deep, almost reaching his throat.

The depths of his mouth felt like a broken fountain, gurgling with wet sounds. The kiss was too deep; he couldn’t take it, letting out broken, soft moans filled with pitiful cries, "Captain, don’t… not so deep, mm…"

Compared to their last kiss, Pei Yanbing was clearly much more out of control this time, kissing deeper and harder.

The rough tongue rampaged through his mouth with such force it felt like he was being devoured whole.

"Hah… hah…"

Yuan Shiyuan could only turn his head desperately, desperate for air. He tried to push back with his hands behind him, retreating step by step. Pei Yanbing seemed to sense his intention, following on his knees, pursuing him.

Seizing the opportunity, Yuan Shiyuan shoved the Alpha back. He had barely crawled two steps out of the wardrobe when a large hand grabbed his ankle, dragging him back under the Alpha.

His hands pinned above his head, Yuan Shiyuan lay on the soft rug, his already loose sleepwear in disarray. The hem rode up to his chest, revealing most of his slender waist and fair, pinkish skin.

As he caught his breath, he widened his wet, dazed eyes, watching helplessly as the Alpha knelt before him, advancing on him.

His swollen, soaked lips gaped for air, the tip of his tongue trembling between his teeth, unable to retract. Continuous saliva streamed from the corners of his mouth; his entire face was tear-streaked.

In the quiet room, only heavy panting and trembling sobs could be heard.

Before Yuan Shiyuan could steady his breathing, Pei Yanbing lowered his head again. Afraid he would be kissed again, Yuan Shiyuan quickly turned his face away and pressed his lips shut, keeping the Alpha out.

The tears at the corners of his eyes and the saliva at his lips were licked away cleanly by the Alpha’s tongue.

Then, Pei Yanbing buried his face in Yuan Shiyuan’s chest, his damp lips slowly grazing the pink skin as he nuzzled against him.

As he rubbed deeply, Pei Yanbing hoarsely murmured, "Baby."

Yuan Shiyuan: "?"

"???"

Yuan Shiyuan looked horrified, "C-Captain, what are you calling me?"

Compared to kissing an Alpha, being called "baby" by one seemed even harder to accept.

His face flushed and dazed, he wore an expression of disbelief and rejection, even clear distaste.

Pei Yanbing paused, taking in the disdain in Yuan Shiyuan’s eyes, a flicker of hurt passing through his cool gaze. Without a word, stubborn and upset, he buried his face back into Yuan Shiyuan’s chest.

Whether intentional or not, his hot lips dragged heavily over the slightly indented pink skin. As he spoke, his lips parted and closed, suddenly sucking lightly but firmly.

"Mm!" Yuan Shiyuan gripped the rug beside him tightly.

"..."

"He calls you that too," Pei Yanbing’s voice was muffled, tinged with jealous resentment.

"Him? Who?"

Yuan Shiyuan panted breathlessly, replying in a daze. Struggling to think through his muddled mind, he said, "You mean, Ying—"

Before Ying Mingche’s name could fully leave his lips, Pei Yanbing suddenly bit Yuan Shiyuan. Not hard, but with the deliberate drag of his canines, it was hard to endure.

Yuan Shiyuan couldn’t suppress a whimper, instinctively biting his finger before gasping for air raggedly.

The next moment, a shadow suddenly covered his vision. As Yuan Shiyuan’s lips parted in a gasp, Pei Yanbing’s lips crashed onto his, his tongue driving deep through the open mouth, kissing him impossibly deep!

Yuan Shiyuan’s eyelashes flew up, pupils dilated, the tears in his eyes shimmering violently.

Pei Yanbing kissed him from underneath, leaving him completely dazed. And Pei Yanbing’s change in demeanor seemed to start when he mentioned Ying Mingche’s name?

But he had only said a surname, not even the full name—could just that much drive Pei Yanbing to this level of loss of control?

Yuan Shiyuan’s sobs gradually grew more muffled, blending into the slick, wet smacking sounds.

His guess was correct.

During their rut period, Alphas’ possessiveness grows wildly, their jealousy reaching its peak. They can’t even bear their partners being half a step away. Yet Yuan Shiyuan had chosen this moment to mention the name of another Alpha…

A jealous Alpha only feels they’re not getting enough attention and tenderness; they can’t stand hearing the name of another Alpha from their partner’s lips.

Even if it’s just a surname.

Pei Yanbing’s kisses now carried a fierce, plundering-like intensity, even more shocking than Jiang Hang’s earlier loss of control!

And to make matters worse, Yuan Shiyuan was in heat, able to taste the high-concentration pheromones being fed to him through the Alpha’s saliva amid this torrent of kisses.

His eyelashes trembled weakly, a trembling nasal murmur escaping his throat.

“Mmm…”

So…

So good.

The excessively deep kiss brought intense waves of pleasure. Yuan Shiyuan, kissed into submission, bent his legs, his heels scrabbling helplessly against the floor. Then they lifted high, weakly kicking against the cabinet behind him, or toes pressing against it, trembling, curling, then stretching out.

Sweat left a damp trail on the cabinet door, the flesh of his calves swaying with each frantic kick. Even the cabinet door shook and vibrated from the force of their kiss.

The suffocating feeling of being unable to breathe returned, Yuan Shiyuan’s vision blurring. Because Pei Yanbing wasn’t fully in his right mind, he didn’t dare push too hard, only pushing back gently, slightly.

But the moment Pei Yanbing’s tongue was pushed out or slid partly free, it would thrust back in even deeper and more forcefully. The escaping saliva was instantly pushed back into his mouth.

His blush-red, parted lips were once again filled by the invading tongue. The sensation was extraordinary—Yuan Shiyuan’s eyelashes fluttered upward violently, the whites of his eyes flickering slightly.

“Gllu… glluck… Wuh, waaah!”

The significant size difference had Yuan Shiyuan completely pinned beneath him as he was kissed. His head swayed uncontrollably, his legs lifting involuntarily.

The smooth pajama pants slid from his calves to his thighs, revealing long, pale legs now glistening with a fine sweat-sheen and flushed pink.

Every time Pei Yanbing licked the root of Yuan Shiyuan’s tongue, he almost instinctively wrapped his legs around the Alpha’s waist, seeking more stability to avoid being rocked uncontrollably by the kiss.

His heels scrabbled and kicked wildly against the Alpha’s lower back, his toes curling downward temptingly.

His already slender legs, barefoot now, pressed unconsciously against the Alpha’s waist as they kissed, making the latter’s broad, powerfully-built hips appear even more pronounced.

This kissing position allowed for the deepest possible kiss, but it was also dangerous.

N-no…

His gland was already sensitive; during heat, it was an area that absolutely shouldn't be touched carelessly. Yet with each deep kiss, the rubbing against his clothes stimulated the gland. Some parts were even exposed to the air!

The delicate patch of skin, already swollen and feverish from his heat, was now repeatedly rubbed. The sickly-sweet, cloying scent gushed out like a broken dam, flooding the entire room.

Yuan Shiyuan’s stomach felt sore, his eyes growing hot. As if having incontinence, tears sprayed everywhere, soaking the rug beneath him, spreading large, irregular dark wet spots.

The heat deep within his lower abdomen grew increasingly intense.

His gland was also emitting signals of hunger.

Not enough…

Still not enough.

Kissing did allow for pheromone exchange and made Yuan Shiyuan feel good. But compared to the quantity of Alpha pheromones needed during heat, the current quantity was clearly insufficient.

Yuan Shiyuan wanted more, a much larger amount of pheromones.

“C-Captain!”

Yuan Shiyuan turned his head trying to escape, but his chin was gripped, forcing the kiss deeper. The Alpha’s thumb pressed past his teeth, entering the warm, wet mouth along with the thick tongue, mixing into wet, sticky noises.

A shocking intensity appeared on Pei Yanbing’s usually cold face, as if unwilling to separate for even a second. As Yuan Shiyuan spoke, Pei Yanbing nipped at his lip.

“Listen to me first… mmmph!”

Yuan Shiyuan deliberately put on a stern expression, releasing a hint of oppressive pheromones.

Pei Yanbing, who had been lost in the passionate kiss, suddenly stopped, as if obeying an irresistible command—more like a subdued wild beast.

“Hah… hah…”

While catching his breath, Yuan Shiyuan placed his hands on Pei Yanbing’s shoulders and spoke in a negotiating tone, his damp lips parting to reveal a glimpse of his warm, wet tongue. “Captain, listen to me. We both need help right now, right? You’re in your rut, and I’m in heat… Bite me and mark me.”

“Don’t worry, it’s just help. Once you mark me and my heat ends, I’ll erase the mark right away…”

“I’ll also release pheromones to soothe you, help you get through your rut. We’ll help each other.”

“Mark me, okay?”

Worried that Pei Yanbing might pounce and bite his lips again, Yuan Shiyuan spoke extremely quickly, rationally analyzing the pros and cons, explaining that this was a mutually beneficial arrangement where neither would lose out.

“It’ll be quick! Just a temporary mark.”

“A temporary mark only requires biting the gland.”

Pei Yanbing stared at Yuan Shiyuan’s face, his Adam’s apple bobbing violently.

Breathing rapidly, as if unable to believe he could be granted such an honor, he asked with cautious disbelief, “Is it okay?”

“Can I really… mark you?”

Finally getting through to him.

Yuan Shiyuan breathed a sigh of relief and nodded firmly. “Your rut seems pretty severe right now. We’re both high-level; after you mark me, I’ll release pheromones to soothe you. That should help you get through your rut smoothly.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll do my best to cooperate.” As he spoke, he unconsciously turned his head, revealing slightly reddened ear tips. His voice grew softer. “Although my gland is a bit special, the process should be the same as a normal mark. Anyway, just go by feel…”

Marking an Omega was an instinct for Alphas—something Yuan Shiyuan certainly didn’t need to teach.

Out of politeness, he hooked his arms around Pei Yanbing’s neck, lifted his face, and gazed at the Alpha with wet, reddened eyes, saying courteously,

“Thank you for your hard work.”

No sooner had he spoken than Yuan Shiyuan was slammed down onto the ground by Pei Yanbing. The dominant scent of the Alpha settled at the nape of his neck.

Yuan Shiyuan felt a moment of confusion—Wait?

Hot breath accompanied his thin lips, continuously spraying on the skin at the nape of his neck. Pei Yanbing nuzzled against him while asking in a hoarse voice, seemingly determined to hear a definite answer from Yuan Shiyuan.

"Can I?"

"Can I bite?"

"Can I really mark you?"

Pei Yanbing persisted in asking, but Yuan Shiyuan, as a straight man, couldn't bring himself to speak those two words.

The nape of his neck was constantly rubbed by thin lips, while canine teeth tentatively grazed against the throbbing blood vessels.

Yuan Shiyuan had had enough and pushed the Alpha away.

As the Alpha was pushed to the ground, his thin lips were glistening with saliva, and his usually cold face was now flushed with an unusual redness. Yet, the look he gave Yuan Shiyuan was filled with infatuation.

The marking hadn't even begun, but he was pushed away. He felt hurt and wronged but didn't dare to say anything about it, nor did he dare to approach again.

"My gland... isn't there."

Yuan Shiyuan seemed somewhat embarrassed to explain the exact location of his gland, so he chose to demonstrate it himself.

Trembling, he bent his leg, his sleep pants slipping off completely and pooling around his ankles.

Holding the back of his knee, he parted himself.

The unusually located gland was now flushed with a strikingly vivid, watery red, its surface already slick and glistening with sweat. With Yuan Shiyuan's slight trembling, the slowly trickling sweat looked like glistening honey seeping from within.

After a moment of hesitation, Yuan Shiyuan extended his slender, pale finger.

His fingertip pressed gently into the soft, delicate skin, pressing into a subtly sunken curve.

"It's here..."