Chapter 40: Jealousy

Chapter 40: Jealousy

Pei Ju went straight to take a cold shower.

He'd overestimated his self-control.

It just wouldn't work—the delicious little lamb was right there, and he could bust through that door any second.

But he was scared Xu Shaoen would hate him.

Because he loved him that much, he was terrified of his hatred.

He threw on his clothes and hit the black market.

The night was heavy, and the flesh trade was booming.

An Alpha in obvious heat meant good business.

"Want me? One C-grade energy stone." A beta sidled up, caked in makeup, drenched in pheromone perfume.

"Get lost." Pei Ju shoved him away. The man walked off, unfazed, and went to find the next big spender coming into the bar.

Pei Ju kept his eyes straight ahead, crossed the bar, and slapped a handful of A-grade energy stones on the counter.

"Get your boss."

"Nice haul!" The bartender had sharp eyes and quickly called the boss out from the back.

"You're in heat? Too good for betas, huh? Want an Omega?" The boss lifted the curtain, his eyes landing on the energy stones on the counter right away.

Compared to the Empire's universal currency, energy stones were the real hard currency—they moved fast.

Tech was advanced now—every bill and coin could be traced, but energy stones were different. They boosted an Alpha's strength and were essential fuel for high-end weapons.

But most energy stones in the lower districts were dull, having passed through God knows how many hands. Stones like these, fresh from some alien beast's brain, were so radiant he wanted them for himself on the spot.

He looked at this Alpha in rough shape and knew at a glance he hadn't been properly satisfied.

An Alpha's heat hit hard, but if an Omega hadn't deliberately triggered it or deep-marked him, it was easy to calm down.

Unless he'd run into a nasty Omega—one who quietly messed with his mental sea while playing innocent, refusing to satisfy him.

Some high-ranking White Tower Omegas loved pulling this shit. During mental grooming, they'd "accidentally" plant a mental mark on an Alpha, then apologize and claim it wasn't on purpose.

That Alpha was screwed. He'd become obsessed, desperate for deeper contact with that Omega, willing to pay any price.

It was like training a dog—give a little taste, dangle the bone, and before long, the dog does whatever the Omega says.

So this guy didn't want to be a dog?

The boss smiled knowingly. "I can fix that for you."

If the top-tier White Tower Omegas were out of reach, settling for second best was fine.

He'd seen plenty of Alphas like this.

The White Tower only raised Omegas to adulthood; after that, they had to fend for themselves.

Some were low-rank and weak, nowhere near qualified to be Mental Groomers.

If their reproductive cavity hadn't developed well, they'd struggle to bear kids—basically pretty vessels that couldn't produce or support themselves.

They couldn't settle for a beta either—betas couldn't satisfy them. Their best bet was waiting for a decent Alpha to rescue them from the gutter.

The boss sized up Pei Ju. His rank didn't seem high, but the pheromones pouring off him right now were potent enough to make him uneasy.

And with all those energy stones, he was loaded.

Worthy of their best merchandise.

He signaled with his eyes, and an Omega in a little white dress came over.

"Big bro." His voice was soft, timid—the kind that easily triggered an Alpha's protective instincts.

"This Omega's clean. He just came to the lower district. Sweet pheromones. Want him to keep you company for a few days?"

The boss curled his lips into a smile, reaching out to scoop up the energy stones.

Pei Ju pressed his hand down.

"That's not what I'm here for." Sweat beaded on Pei Ju's forehead. He bit his tongue, and the pain and taste of blood brought back his clarity.

He didn't even give that Omega a second look, though the faint pheromones flooding his nose made his head throb.

"Alpha inhibitors, bite guards, sedatives—whatever you've got. You have any?"

"Wait, man, you're passing on this pretty Omega for this stuff?"

The boss's face twisted. He couldn't wrap his head around it—spending all those energy stones was supposed to be for a good time.

He had an Omega right here. Why take the long way around?

"Why I'm doing this is none of your business. Just tell me if you've got them." Pei Ju's head was splitting. He couldn't be bothered with this guy's yapping, so he gathered up the stones to leave.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah—but the price..." The boss's eyes darted slyly. He smiled, shoved the dejected-looking Omega aside, and led Pei Ju into the back.

**

Xu Shaoen finished showering and saw the light in the small room across was still off.

He cracked the door open—not a trace of Alpha pheromones inside.

Xu Shaoen looked at the low courtyard wall, beyond it a pitch-black alley, with drunkards cursing in the distance.

The lower district at night felt creepy without Pei Ju around.

Where'd he go?

Xu Shaoen paced the courtyard twice, went back to his room, still uneasy, and pulled open the curtains, watching the sky at the horizon slowly turn pale gray.

Finally, the latch on the front door rattled.

Pei Ju came back carrying the morning damp, a big pile of stuff in his hands.

Xu Shaoen scrambled out of bed and walked to the door, then remembered what he'd said earlier.

The Alpha's warning still echoed in his ears.

"Stay away from me."

"...Cry and beg me."

He had even said that if there was ever a next time, he'd rather go to prison than fuck him to death.

Xu Shaoen didn't dare get too close, but the morning breeze carried a hint of Omega pheromones that weren't his own.

It was faint, somewhat sweet and cloying, clinging to Pei Ju as if staking a claim.

Xu Shaoen felt like he'd been struck by lightning. He froze in place, his heart clenched tight, his head buzzing.

Blank. Confused.

Had Pei Ju gone off to find another Omega?

Yeah, he wasn't the only one around.

Even on a junk planet, even in the lower districts, you could find Omegas.

And with Pei Ju's build and looks, even at Dome Military Academy there'd be Omegas willing to throw themselves at him. Here, as long as he was willing, as long as he was generous, he could find endless Omegas for a one-night stand.

But the thought of Pei Ju lying on top of another Omega, kissing and whispering sweet nothings to them, felt like a sledgehammer to his chest, leaving him breathless.

He didn't even have the right to question it.

They didn't belong to each other.

For a second, Xu Shaoen couldn't even describe what he was feeling.

His nose stung, anger flared up, regret pressed down on him, and there was even a jealousy he couldn't name. All these emotions tangled up, and he could barely stay on his feet.

Why?

Why?

He'd already wanted to say yes; he just hadn't said it out loud.

Why did Pei Ju have to go and do this?

Tears suddenly streamed down his face. He turned without hesitation, threw himself onto the bed, buried his face in the blanket, and broke down sobbing.

It had been ages since he'd cried like this. He was also afraid the Alpha out there would hear, so his tears were pouring, but he didn't make a sound.

Just as he was about to suffocate, he felt someone grab the back of his neck.

"What's wrong?" The Alpha's voice was still rough, sounding tired.

Had he screamed himself hoarse in some Omega's bed?

Xu Shaoen didn't want Pei Ju touching him at all. Like a little animal with its hackles up, he cried until his eyes were red and puffy, barely able to open them. He didn't want to look at him either, didn't want to see any marks left by other Omegas all over him.

He struggled wildly, throwing wild punches and kicks, wishing he could claw this out-of-control Alpha to death.

Pei Ju had just put down his stuff when he saw Xu Shaoen's door open.

Did he wake up and come out, or did he forget to close the door?

After rubbing against the other's soft belly, Pei Ju hadn't been able to clean him up properly because he couldn't stay in a room full of Omega pheromones.

Was he angry about that?

If that was it, then he had a real temper.

Pei Ju used one leg to pin him down, grabbed his wrists with one hand, and raised them above his head.

The Omega's nose was red from crying, hair damp and plastered to his forehead, looking like a total mess.

His eyes glared at him with pure hatred, as if he wanted to rip him apart and eat him alive.

They hadn't even done it, so why was he mad?

Or was he mad because he hadn't done it?

Pei Ju had heard that some Omegas were the type to say one thing and mean another—no meant yes, and yes meant yes too.

Was Xu Shaoen one of those?

"What's wrong? Missed me that much? Crying about it?"

"Who'd miss you! You're filthy! Disgusting! Scum! Get away from me, you dirty piece of trash!" Xu Shaoen cursed him, leaving Pei Ju, who had gone out in the dead of night to buy a muzzle and suppressants, totally pissed off.

"I'm filthy? I'm scum? I'm despicable?" Did Xu Shaoen even listen to what he was saying?

"If I were filthy, despicable scum, you'd still be safe and sound here?" Pei Ju's voice was cold and hard.

"I'd rather not be safe and sound here!" Xu Shaoen shot back without thinking, tears pouring down again in anger, soaking the pillow and leaving a big embarrassing wet spot.

He bit his lip, not wanting to talk to Pei Ju anymore.

That pissed Pei Ju off. He leaned down to find Xu Shaoen's lips, but Xu Shaoen bit him hard, as if trying to tear off a chunk of flesh.

So it was going to be like that, huh? Pei Ju wasn't going to put up with that. The suppressant he'd just used at the bar hadn't kicked in yet, so he simply tore off his shirt, tossed it aside, wrapped his arms around Xu Shaoen's waist, and pushed him deep into the mattress.

They seemed to be competing to see who was meaner, tangled together, the sharp rip of fabric cutting through the air. His knuckles easily slipped in, from wrist to elbow, with unyielding force.

"Mm..." Xu Shaoen bit into Pei Ju's shoulder, leaving a deep mark. Pei Ju stared at him, breathing heavily, saying nothing.

When the clothes were off and the emotions had run their course, Xu Shaoen suddenly realized that Pei Ju's body was clean—not a single stray scent.

He stopped struggling, and Pei Ju just held him, not moving.

Once he'd calmed down, Pei Ju softened his voice.

"What were you so mad about? Come on, tell me now, huh?"

Xu Shaoen was too embarrassed to say anything.

He buried his face in the crook of Pei Ju's neck, suddenly realizing how unreasonable he'd just been.

Snapping at Pei Ju, biting him, kicking him, and crying on top of all that?

What the hell had gotten into him? Where was his brain? His common sense? If he'd just asked one more question, none of this would have happened.

The light seemed brighter now. He saw a big bundle on the floor, containing what looked like sedatives, suppressants, and metal things like a muzzle or handcuffs.

There seemed to be a red one—something he'd bought before, like pepper spray or something like that.

So Pei Ju had gone out to buy all this stuff? To protect himself from Xu Shaoen?

And yet he'd assumed the worst about him, without mercy, with pure malice.

Xu Shaoen felt ashamed of how small-minded he'd been. He buried his face deeper into Pei Ju's neck.

Pei Ju only felt a wave of heat at the back of his neck.

Forget it, if he didn't want to talk, then fine.

He gently traced his fingertips along Xu Shaoen's back, and when he tried to pull his other hand out, it was pressed down even deeper.

"Will you hold me?" Xu Shaoen's voice was still slightly hoarse, his lips pressing against the back of Pei Ju's neck.

It was as if he were making the most important decision of his life, his voice resolute.

"Now. Right now."

==========Author's Note:==========

Twenty little red envelopes given out randomly!!!