Chapter 20 No More

Chapter 20: No More

"We interrupt this broadcast with a breaking news alert: Just moments ago, rebel leader Tao Juan claimed responsibility for yesterday's assassination of Finance Minister Jiang Zhuoxi and his son Jiang Huasen."

"Government spokesperson Mr. Lu stated that this assassination is a blatant provocation, and we strongly condemn the rebel forces' brutal assassination, and plan to officially declare war on the rebels at a date to be announced."

......

When Zhu Shinian returned to Jiang Huaiyan's home carrying his medicine bag, the door was ajar.

As he pushed it open, he was hit by a wave of cold, overpowering alpha pheromones that made him cough.

The pheromones were clearly completely out of control. Zhu Shinian's heart sank, and he rushed into the living room.

Jiang Huaiyan was leaning against the sofa, his fingers clenching the armrest, his breathing ragged and heavy, his skin flushed an unnatural red. His shirt was soaked with cold sweat, clinging to his body.

"Mr. Jiang, are you okay? Let me help you with the suppressant shot."

The alpha looked up, his pupils extremely constricted. The moment his gaze fell on Zhu Shinian, he instinctively tensed up.

It was a naked, primal look, as if he were directly treating Zhu Shinian as prey.

It was the dangerous state of a low-grade alpha in rut—leaving barely any rational thought, only the raw craving for pheromones and mating.

But Zhu Shinian wasn't an omega; he couldn't release pheromones to soothe him.

"It's me," he said in a softer voice. "I've got the suppressant. Let me help you with the injection."

A low, hoarse gasp escaped Jiang Huaiyan's throat, as if those words had yanked him back by the last shred of sanity.

He forced himself to look away. "...Don't come near me. Leave the suppressants on the couch. I'll get them myself."

Jiang Huaiyan's condition was terrible. This type of suppressant had to be injected intravenously, so he needed to find a vein. Zhu Shinian hadn't kept many in his car—only two vials, which he'd brought.

Zhu Shinian didn't listen to him. He walked over, knelt beside him, swiftly prepared the syringe, moving quickly and precisely, without any hesitation.

He reached out to steady Jiang Huaiyan's arm and murmured reassuringly, "Don't move. It'll be over soon."

The first shot of suppressant went in, and the pheromones subsided a bit.

But Zhu Shinian quickly realized something was wrong.

The dosage seemed insufficient.

Frowning, he examined the packaging and then looked down at Jiang Huaiyan. His condition remained poor.

The military only recruited B-level alphas and above, so the suppressants were naturally developed for them. As for C-level alphas like Jiang Huaiyan, it was assumed they'd find omegas to take care of it on their own.

Jiang Huaiyan had no lover, no matched omega, no prostitutes. All these years, he'd just been getting through it like this alone.

"You need another shot," Zhu Shinian said, swiftly opening the second vial. "I'll give you—"

But Jiang Huaiyan suddenly raised his hand and grabbed his wrist.

"Get out..." His voice was hoarse and broken, raw with desire, each word forced through clenched teeth.

"Give it back... the suppressant you took away."

Zhu Shinian froze. A thin layer of sweat broke out on his palm, and his heart hammered painfully in his chest.

That suppressant he had taken earlier... was nearly impossible to buy in the capital, a cheap kind that was only popular in District Twenty-Six.

Its side effects were severe, extremely harsh. For Jiang Huaiyan, who was still bleeding from his injury, even a single injection of that suppressant would nearly kill him.

"Another shot of what I brought," Zhu Shinian made the decision for him. "Just hold on and push through."

He lowered his head, preparing to administer the second shot.

The next moment, his wrist was violently yanked, the world spun, and Zhu Shinian's back hit the carpet hard.

The syringe slipped from his hand and shattered on the floor with a sharp crack, the liquid splattering across the floor.

The alpha's knee pressed between his legs, hot fingers clamped around his waist, the web of his thumb clamping onto his hipbone with such force it made his bones ache.

Jiang Huaiyan's pheromones went completely out of control—the scent of cedarwood flooded the space, suffocatingly thick, filling his nostrils and squeezing his lungs.

The world turned upside down, the alpha's handsome face loomed large before him. Besides the overwhelming chill of the pheromones, he could smell the blood on Jiang Huaiyan's body and a faint, cheap lemon-scented body wash.

An alpha in rut was far stronger than usual. Zhu Shinian tried several times to break free but failed.

Jiang Huaiyan was just a C-level alpha. Even if Zhu Shinian were to retire tomorrow, there was no way he would fail to subdue a C-level alpha if he used full strength.

But the bandages on Jiang Huaiyan's wound were already starting to seep blood. If Zhu Shinian used force to restrain him, the wound would split and bleed more.

His wound couldn't be seen by others; otherwise, Jiang Huaiyan wouldn't have bothered to bandage it himself.

Jiang Huaiyan had no skill in bandaging at all—the bandaging was sloppy and poorly done.

"Zhu Shinian," Jiang Huaiyan said, looking at him, his eyes actually clearing a little, though Zhu Shinian knew it was only temporary. "I'll be gentle. I'll make you feel good. Don't be afraid."

"I won't be inferior to an S-level alpha. I can control myself. I won't let it hurt you."

Zhu Shinian wasn't foolish enough to take the words of a nearly mindless alpha in rut seriously. He gave a vague nod, his back pressed against the carpet, his heart thundering.

Once a low-grade alpha completely lost control, the mating would become extremely violent.

In that state, they would instinctively mark, bite, and pump in excessive pheromones until their prey was completely subdued by their scent.

That was the point of the ranking system: the higher the alpha's grade, the more they could have the superior physical qualities and pheromones of an alpha, while also having the stability of a beta.

The alpha's breath, right in front of him, was terrifyingly hot. Zhu Shinian instinctively felt fear and wanted to get as far away as possible.

But he didn't.

He quietly raised his eyes to look at Jiang Huaiyan, obedient and docile, like a sacrificial lamb offered to a cruel god.

What he worried about more than the impending violence... was actually Jiang Huaiyan's wound.

But Jiang Huaiyan didn't even give him time to get used to it. A muffled groan escaped Zhu Shinian's throat, his pupils constricted sharply, and his whole body spasmed.

Mine, Jiang Huaiyan thought as he looked at him.

Mine.

Zhu Shinian could no longer speak.

His consciousness began to fade, but just as he was about to black out, he felt Jiang Huaiyan's fangs press against his scent gland again.

The thing I like, Jiang Huaiyan thought with difficulty, is going to be taken away by someone else tomorrow.

It can't be taken away. Can't be taken away by others.

I have to mark it. Let others know this is mine.

"Stop..." Zhu Shinian cried. "No more... I don't want this, I don't want it..."

Author's note: