Chapter 83: Rut Trouble

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

Has something happened at the exercise site? Why was Zhou Yunchen sitting alone in the pitch-black Distant Star, sending such strange communication? Lu Yao clenched his personal AI assistant, his knuckles turning white, and sent a message to Zhao Minghe.

The call was quickly answered. On the other end, chaotic chatter and footsteps could be heard, as if commanders were urgently discussing strategy. Seeing who was calling, Zhao Minghe quickly moved to a secluded spot. “Major General Lu, is there something you need?”

“Aide Zhao, what’s Zhou Yunchen doing now? I just received a call from him.”

“You… the General contacted you?” Zhao Minghe’s voice was filled with surprise.

“It only lasted five seconds,” Lu Yao said. “His state is abnormal. He didn’t say anything. Did something happen during the exercises?”

“The General…” Zhao Minghe paused for a moment. “He’s entered his rut period.”

“Rut period?! Now?”

“Yes, Major General Lu. You know, an alpha’s rut period is unpredictable, and its intensity increases with the alpha’s rank. The General hasn’t had one in years. This time, it came on fiercely, like a long-dormant volcano erupting.”

“So he’s…”

“The medical staff can’t control him. Yesterday, the General locked himself in Distant Star. The fleet’s operations are now handled by the Vice Commander and Chief of Staff.”

“How long will it last?”

“It’s hard to say. If he resists like before, it could last a week.”

“I understand. Take good care of him.”

“Zhou Yunchen is in his rut period?” Mo Feng asked, looking at Lu Yao, who held his temple.

“Yes,” Lu Yao said with a complex expression. “He looks like he’s in a lot of pain. Are alpha rut periods always like this?”

“Just like in the physiology books,” Mo Feng said. “Alphas in this period become fragile, sensitive, and lonely. They don’t feel physical pain, but these emotions are torturous.”

“And they rely on omegas, right?” Lu Yao’s question made Mo Feng’s hand tremble slightly, causing the flight craft to shudder. “That’s correct. But it’s not like an omega’s estrus period, where physical needs must be resolved. For an alpha, it’s more about losing control of the mind. Someone like Cheng Cheng could go from a strong, confident dog to a small, curled-up cat in the corner.”

“But I feel… Zhou Yunchen’s situation isn’t that mild,” Lu Yao said.

“Sure, but he’s endured it for decades. Theoretically, the higher the alpha’s rank, the more painful the rut period,” Mo Feng said, taking out a cigarette and handing it to Lu Yao. “Sociologists and anthropologists speculate that only alphas who experience these periods intensely and rely heavily on omegas—and live with them—have higher survival rates or chances of reproducing. If an alpha is a lone wolf, focusing only on suppressing other alphas and not seeking an omega, natural selection would remove their genes from the human population. Zhou Yunchen’s pain shows his genes are strong and ancient. Relax a little.”

The intense minty smoke flooded Lu Yao’s nose and brain. He gripped the cigarette tightly. “I can’t relax. I need to go to Zhou Yunchen.”

“What? Go to him? He’s hundreds of light-years away right now.”

“I know. I’m going to see him now. Mo Feng, have Shen Zishen take over the NTL assembly work. He knows what to do. I’ll be back in a week at most. Help me tell Chang Jian to get me from the logistics channel to the Silver Halberd Fleet.”

“Lu Yao, you—”

“Take me home now. I’ll pack and leave. Use the high-speed warp channel—I can reach him in four hours.”

Mo Feng, still holding the cigarette, tried to argue, but faced with Lu Yao’s serious expression and tone, he sighed and redirected the flight craft toward the mountain villa.

Lu Yao packed a few essentials and boarded a spaceplane to transfer to the fast cruiser at Starport One. Before leaving, he scooped Torque into his arms, gripping the cat’s fur to calm his anxiety.

Midway through the journey, Chang Jian sent a message confirming that all formalities had been completed. Lu Yao would board the Ares under the guise of collecting mecha combat data.

Three and a half hours later, two enormous planets and the Silver Halberd Fleet appeared before Lu Yao. In the silent vacuum battlefield, countless explosions shimmered like scattered gems on black velvet. The flagship, the Ares, floated at the rear of the fleet, surrounded by several escort ships. Unseen wavelengths carried constant communications, transmitting information and commands across vast distances. Zhao Minghe personally came to receive Lu Yao. As soon as Lu Yao set foot on the Ares, he asked quickly, “Where’s Zhou Yunchen?”

“In the independent mecha hangar, on Distant Star,” Zhao Minghe said, barely keeping pace with Lu Yao’s rapid strides.

“I’ll go straight there,” Lu Yao said, tossing his backpack with the cat inside to Zhao Minghe. “Zhao Aide, you go on. I’ll handle it.”

“Understood.” Zhao Minghe staggered slightly from the weight of Torque, catching his breath. “Major General Lu, alphas in the rut period generally won’t act aggressively, but still… please, be careful. If anything happens, contact me or the AI, Wonderland.”

Lu Yao nodded grimly and sprinted toward the mecha hangar. Zhao Minghe ordered everyone else to stay back, leaving the space to Zhou Yunchen and Lu Yao alone. Perhaps Lu Yao’s arrival could help the General return to normal and resume command…

As Lu Yao ran down the narrow, silver corridor and stood before the fifty-meter-high mecha hangar, waiting for the alloy doors to slowly open, his heart finally surged with nervous anticipation. His pulse accelerated as he rode the lift to Distant Star’s cockpit. By the time he reached the door, sweat had already broken out on his forehead.

How’s Zhou Yunchen? Is he in pain? What should I do when I get inside? Lu Yao licked his dry lips and entered the administrator password. The door clicked open. He reached out and slowly pushed it.

Darkness flooded in, immediately scrambling the memories of ABO physiology courses in his mind, scattering them like dust. The cockpit lights were completely off. Even the front window was closed, blocking any outside light. The cockpit door behind him became the only source of light.

As Lu Yao stepped forward, the door slowly closed automatically behind him. The click of the latch made his body hairs stand on end. For some reason, he felt a fear like a wild beast trapped in a cage. He could only steady himself against the cold metal walls and move forward.

“Zhou Yunchen, it’s me, Lu Yao,” he said softly, so low even he doubted Zhou Yunchen could hear him.

“I know it’s you, Lu Yao,” a hoarse voice answered from the darkness. No one else had access to Distant Star besides Lu Yao. Zhou Yunchen’s words carried the faint sound of a sigh.

Darkness amplified every sense. With even the slightest sound from Zhou Yunchen, Lu Yao could pinpoint his location—slightly ahead and to the side, near the control panel. To move toward him, Lu Yao had to let go of the metal wall for support, like a small boat plunging into a pitch-black sea.

Zhou Yunchen stayed silent, his breathing heavy, occasionally letting out muffled groans as if enduring something. Lu Yao gritted his teeth, removed his hand from the wall, and slowly took a step toward the source of the sound.

There was nothing to fear. He knew every inch of Distant Star’s cockpit. Between the door and the control panel, the only obstacles were the pilot seat and a section of the control stick. Lu Yao bent his knees, lowered his center of gravity, and carefully used his hands to feel the way forward, stumbling slightly as he advanced.

“Don’t come any closer!” Zhou Yunchen suddenly shouted.

“Why not?” Lu Yao asked immediately.

“I… I’m not in a good state. You don’t need to be here.” Strange logic.

“I came because you feel unwell,” Lu Yao said, calmly correcting him. His voice was cold and steady, stating the fact, yet it made Zhou Yunchen feel even more exposed and embarrassed. He shouldn’t appear like this in front of Lu Yao… Lu Yao would—hiss—

Lu Yao accidentally hit his knee and lost balance, pitching forward. He flailed his arms to grab something but only brushed past the pilot seat, catching nothing. The pain he expected didn’t come. Instead, Zhou Yunchen gasped sharply. Even the softest body could still be heavy when falling onto it.

Lu Yao instinctively grabbed the nearest object to steady himself. The almost-burning sensation in his hands made him realize something. He had fallen directly into Zhou Yunchen’s embrace.

“Zhou Yunchen…” Lu Yao whispered his name. Alpha pheromones surged around him, tingling his nerves.

At first, at the door, he hadn’t felt it—but now, pressed together, the pheromones’ force was inescapable. Lu Yao felt like a sponge, the air, pheromones, and warmth filling every pore, making his body unbearably heavy. Zhou Yunchen immediately wrapped his slender frame around Lu Yao’s waist, pressing him into his chest.

Lu Yao’s cheek pressed against Zhou Yunchen’s chest, and he could hear the General’s heartbeat, rapid and uneven. “How do you feel?”

The only answer was the heavy, hoarse breathing, as if a storm was raging inside Zhou Yunchen’s chest. Zhou Yunchen sat against the control panel. Lu Yao’s fall had been awkward. He slowly adjusted and carefully wrapped his arms around Zhou Yunchen’s back.

The world was pitch-black. Every scrape of cloth sounded painfully clear, sending subtle tingles up to the face, spreading along nerves into the brain. Zhou Yunchen tensed his jaw, feeling the back of his head go numb, unable to understand Lu Yao’s intentions.

A faint current mingled with Lu Yao’s breathing. “Zhou Yunchen, may I release some pheromones?” A moderate amount of omega pheromones could calm a susceptible alpha’s restless, sensitive mind. But Zhou Yunchen’s trembling voice replied, “No…”

Why not? Lu Yao nodded slightly, pressing his forehead against Zhou Yunchen’s chin. The unshaven stubble scratched his skin, adding a subtle, masculine scent. As Lu Yao leaned closer, Zhou Yunchen couldn’t say no—but he still held Lu Yao tightly. This made Lu Yao doubt how fully conscious Zhou Yunchen was at this moment. “I’m releasing pheromones now, Zhou Yunchen,” Lu Yao said, his icy voice carrying an undeniable authority.

Moments later, Lu Yao felt Zhou Yunchen’s hands on his, still trembling but slowly relaxing. It seemed to be working, though the darkness prevented Lu Yao from reading his expression. Suddenly, the cockpit lurched violently. Zhou Yunchen’s hands gripped Lu Yao’s waist, hoisting him up and onto the control panel.

 

 

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