Chapter 59: Throat Dry, Belts Off
Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations
Editor: Karai
“Dr. Elaine, this…” Manager Shang’s eyes were filled with urgent worry. From the previous moment, neither of the two alphas present had emitted pheromones to induce estrus—otherwise, Shang Sanjiu himself would have been affected. Yet Lu Yao nearly collapsed the instant he saw Zhou Yunchen.
This made Shang suspicious of the true nature of Lu Yao and Zhou Yunchen’s current relationship; he feared letting Zhou Yunchen in might cause Lu Yao secondary harm. But Elaine’s voice was urgent, “There’s no time, General Zhou. If you’re willing to help, come in now.”
“I’ll go in.” He stood at the doorway, leaving only a broad back to those behind him. No one could read his true thoughts from his deep, low response.
The door reopened. Rich, sweet omega pheromones flowed out from the cracks. Li Mo pulled Manager Shang back to avoid being affected. Zhou Yunchen swiftly slipped through the gap, his exquisite, elaborate military uniform scraping the wall without care.
Inside, Lu Yao was curled up on the cold marble floor, his hair disheveled. Elaine was lifting his jaw and the back of his neck, relaxing the muscles around his airway to reopen it, letting air flow in. Seeing Zhou Yunchen approaching, she quickly lifted Lu Yao, “Clear the counter nearby, help me put Lu Yao up there.”
The serving counter was by the window, slightly higher than the table. There were no dishes, just a rough, cold stone surface, not much better than the floor. Zhou Yunchen bent to lift Lu Yao. “Put him on the sofa?”
The moment he got close, Lu Yao’s trembling and cold sweat intensified.
“The sofa’s too soft. He can’t lie flat,” Elaine said quickly. “I’m worried he might suffocate again. If he experiences airway blockage during marking, immediately reopen it. Do you know how?”
“Yes.”
“Good. I’ll step out. I’ll stay right outside and inform you immediately if anything happens.” Elaine could see that the dense omega pheromones were affecting Zhou Yunchen as well; the effort to control himself caused veins to bulge on his forehead. Yet his hands remained gentle, carefully placing the omega on the counter.
Elaine gritted her teeth and left. She had no way of knowing if this was the right approach; the outcome depended entirely on Zhou Yunchen’s self-control.
The space returned to quiet, leaving only Lu Yao’s painful gasps and Zhou Yunchen’s gradually deepening breaths. The white waves outside and gray waterbirds became mere silhouettes, fading into stillness.
The catnip pheromones grew denser, as if someone had scooped a handful into the air, leaving sweet droplets in one’s palm. Guaiacwood’s scent began to mix in. At first, the sharp, fresh grassiness of the catnip overwhelmed the guaiacwood, but within seconds the clear, bitter woody aroma swept through, blending seamlessly with the catnip around them.
Long-dormant memories surged as the scent hit Lu Yao’s brain. His eyes remained tightly shut, yet he saw blood-soaked visions: explosions, strong winds, and howls crowded together in hallucination. Pain and helplessness consumed every inch of his body. Lu Yao felt out of control, trapped in a pitch-black, endless despair.
His jaw trembled; curled-up on the floor, he experienced suffocation and oxygen deprivation again. The strong flame of omega pheromones raced through Zhou Yunchen’s veins. He forcibly suppressed the impulse, holding Lu Yao’s shoulders, lifting his jaw, relaxing the tightened airway muscles.
Yet Zhou Yunchen’s actions alone weren’t enough; Lu Yao still struggled for breath. His usually pale, cold face flushed purplish-red. Sweat soaked his hair and cheeks, and his clenched teeth cut into his lips, blood pooling at the corners like red gems.
As the alpha’s presence approached, the defensive Lu Yao began to thrash violently. Zhou Yunchen feared Lu Yao would fall in the uncontrolled struggle, so he used one hand to block Lu Yao’s punches, leaving him unable to fully support Lu Yao.
Zhou Yunchen grabbed Lu Yao’s wrists, but he kicked at him with his legs and even tried to headbutt him. His hair, once smooth, now resembled feathers whipped by a storm, reflecting the lightning-like fractures in the sky.
He struck Zhou Yunchen’s shoulder with a dull thud, sending him back slightly. The rich pheromones of catnip surged like fire upon contact with Zhou Yunchen’s skin. His throat dry, he began unfastening his tactical belt. The holster and sidearm went flying. Zhou Yunchen secured Lu Yao’s wrists with the belt, wrapping the rest around himself, restraining both Lu Yao’s hands and shoulders.
Red marks formed on Lu Yao’s wrists. His gasping contained muffled whimpers, blocked and stifled. Zhou Yunchen sensed something was wrong; squinting through the rising bloodshot in his eyes, he placed his fingers over Lu Yao’s jaw and throat, forcing open the clenched teeth.
Lu Yao’s soft tongue was taut and blocking his airway. In pain, he made sounds and drove his knees into Zhou Yunchen’s back. Zhou Yunchen staggered but took the opportunity to insert his index and middle fingers into Lu Yao’s mouth, forcing the tongue down.
The hot, sweet air rushed in. Lu Yao gasped greedily, yet the proximity of the foreign object made him nauseous. Zhou Yunchen noticed tears glimmering on Lu Yao’s thick lashes, sliding down his temples and cheeks, finally pressing into the dimple of Zhou Yunchen’s hand.
Oxygen entered Lu Yao’s blood; the cyanosis faded, but his skin was marked with deep reds from Zhou Yunchen’s grip. He continued trembling, eyes heavy and blurred, feeling warmth approaching, carrying rough, restrained breath and the tangible guaiacwood scent.
It was as if a forest, burning like wildfire, was expanding around him, enveloping his senses. The blood-soaked hallucinations spread like fuel-fed flames, imprisoning him again in a shocking red awareness.
Water in his body evaporated and flowed outward, first hot, then cooling quickly upon contact with air, clothes, and the cold stone. His throat became dry and hoarse, while Zhou Yunchen’s fingers still pressed his tongue—he could not swallow.
The hoarse sound escaped through his nose. Zhou Yunchen could tell Lu Yao was in severe discomfort but could not release his grip, or Lu Yao might suffocate again. As Lu Yao’s knee strikes lessened, Zhou Yunchen loosened the tactical belt slightly, securing it around Lu Yao’s knees to free his hands. The leather was now damp with moisture.
Zhou Yunchen’s hands brushed over the cold stone of the counter—it felt wet and slippery, like a smooth rock soaked in a rainwater pool, covered with a thin layer of moss. A third scent, different from the two pheromones they already emitted, emerged. It couldn’t be called fragrant, yet it was more maddening to the mind than any aroma.
The omega’s instincts were taking over, preparing the body regardless of Lu Yao’s willingness. The forced estrus drove his body temperature up; the accelerated blood flow radiated heat through every inch of him. His muscles went soft and numb, and though he hadn’t done anything, his calves already trembled.
Zhou Yunchen held his breath and closed his eyes. He then removed his military jacket and draped it over Lu Yao’s lower body. His left hand remained on Lu Yao’s face, while his right supported the back of Lu Yao’s head.
“Lu Yao, Lu Yao?”
The omega only muttered incoherently. His brain had completely ceased functioning; his body was now controlled entirely by instinctive desire. Zhou Yunchen knew Lu Yao couldn’t respond.
He leaned closer to Lu Yao’s neck. The scorching heat and the thick catnip scent were overwhelming; one slip could make Zhou Yunchen lose control as blood rushed away from his brain. He struggled to stay rational, but the canine teeth so close to him constantly threatened to undo his restraint.
The scars from the previous encounter had not yet faded. As skin and muscle were pierced again, Lu Yao groaned. Blood trickled along his skin; pheromones followed, flooding into his brain. Pain spread like waves, overwhelming his nervous system.
Lu Yao clenched his teeth and bit down on the fingers pressing his tongue. Zhou Yunchen’s blood mingled in his mouth. He felt as if sinking into a molten swamp—nothing could hold him, and every attempt to struggle only pulled him deeper. His forearms trembled. The fear surging through him ignited his instinctive will. He flailed and struck Zhou Yunchen’s shoulder. Zhou Yunchen stumbled, and Lu Yao rolled over, toppling onto him.
Lu Yao fell from the counter. Zhou Yunchen cradled his head and waist, taking the impact himself. The two rolled a few times across the floor until hitting the wall, yet Zhou Yunchen still held onto the back of Lu Yao’s neck, like a feline biting its mate. He felt wetness slipping into his ear—it was Lu Yao’s tears, unstoppable.
“General Zhou! Are you okay?” Elaine’s voice came through the comms. Hearing a loud crash, she feared something had gone wrong.
“Just fell,” Zhou Yunchen’s rationality returned. He released the bite and hugged Lu Yao tightly.
“Is it serious? The doctor will be there soon. Is the marking finished?”
“It’s done…”
Lu Yao curled up again. Despite his fear and struggle, he clutched Zhou Yunchen’s uniform tightly.
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