Chapter 9: He Is My Alpha
After He Yu Shen's words, the omega below seemed to not register them, only staring with teary eyes.
The pitiable omega made He Yu Shen's gaze turn cloudy. Drawn to those rosy lips, he leaned down.
Panicking, Nan Yi turned his head away in fear.
He Yu Shen paused, his eyes clearing, before he frowned, stood up, and exited the room.
Startled, Nan Yi sat up as the door slammed shut with a bang.
After sitting in a daze for a while, Nan Yi crawled under the covers, clutching his head. The lingering scent of the alpha on the sheets gave him an inexplicable sense of comfort.
That night, He Yu Shen didn't return to the bedroom.
It was only in the morning, upon noticing the uncreased pillow beside him, that Nan Yi realized he had been alone.
Newly awake, he stared at the ceiling for a while, once again acknowledging he was in an unfamiliar place.
After freshening up, he descended the stairs to find Song Jing seated at the dining table, enjoying breakfast.
The foot he'd injured the previous night was bandaged, clearly visible against the backdrop of his shorts-clad, long, pale legs. The additional bandages were impossible to miss.
Nan Yi felt no guilt. He cast a fleeting glance before continuing to the table to have his breakfast.
Song Jing snorted coldly upon seeing him.
Nan Yi ignored him.
"Must be tough being your brother, having his marriage stolen by an inferior omega like you," Song Jing remarked sarcastically, looking across the table.
Nan Yi continued to eat in silence.
"Seems like your brother wasn't destined for greatness after all."
"And you?" Song Jing sneered at Nan Yi.
"Had you not enticed him with your pheromones and had he not been in a vulnerable state, why would he ever mark an inferior omega like you?"
Nan Yi looked up, giving Song Jing a cold glance.
Despite Song Jing's constant jibes about him being an inferior omega, Nan Yi had long stopped caring. He'd faced countless injustices growing up due to this label, so he treated Song Jing's remarks as white noise.
After finishing his meal, he got up and headed out without a word.
Song Jing, who had been recovering for about a week, took every chance he got (when the butler wasn't around) to mock Nan Yi.
He Yu Shen hadn't returned either, perhaps due to work or maybe because he'd taken up with another omega.
Nan Yi's days in the mansion revolved around eating and sleeping, almost making him feel trapped and stagnant.
That day, as Song Jing finally went to school after removing his foot bandage, Nan Yi watched him leave with a hint of envy.
Since being forced to replace his brother, he'd only managed half a term in college before being pulled out by Nan Zhai Min, which was always a point of regret for him.
After watching Song Jing drive away, Nan Yi turned back, feeling dejected.
By noon, he left the mansion and hired the same driver from before.
He visited his former college, wandering around for the afternoon. He then spent a while watching others play ball on the field before heading to a street-side stall for some fried rice as evening approached.
As dusk settled, he decided not to bother the morning's driver and instead hailed a pricier taxi to return to the mansion.
"Mr. Nan, you're finally back."
Just as he stepped out of the car, the anxious butler, who had been waiting outside, hurriedly approached him.
Nan looked at the butler with confusion.
He signed with his hands: "What happened?"
"Please come in quickly. Mr. He is experiencing a sensitivity phase. Even the suppressant did not work," the butler said with evident concern.
"He's been agitated looking for you."
After hearing this, Nan furrowed his brows, frozen in place.
"Didn't he experience a sensitivity phase the night he arrived?"
The memory of that night still haunted Nan, and he felt as though his feet were weighed down with lead, standing motionless.
"Mr. Nan, top-tier Alphas during their sensitivity phases need their omega more than other Alphas. Mr. He really needs you right now."
Seeing Nan's hesitation, the butler grew even more anxious, casting worried glances towards the distant house, then back to Nan.
Indeed, during an Alpha's sensitivity phase, they are more vulnerable and clingy towards their omega, which could last anywhere from three days to a week. During this period, they need the comforting pheromones of an Omega.
Nan had learned about this during his schooling.
Yet, recalling the events of that night, Nan found it hard to move.
Clenching his teeth, he mustered the strength to move his legs and followed the distressed butler, moving briskly towards the mansion.
During those brief moments, a thought crossed his mind.
Having been abandoned by Nan Zhai Min and having taken his brother's place to marry He Yu Shen, perhaps this was his fate.
Even though He Yu Shen detested him, he was the Alpha who had marked him.
At least for now, he was his Alpha.
Nan Zhai Min had benefited quite a lot from He Yu Shen as well.
He had no reason to refuse comforting an Alpha during a sensitivity phase.
Approaching the entrance of the living room, the overwhelming scent of mint pheromones changed both their complexions.
The entire living room was saturated with strong alpha pheromones.
"Mr. Nan, Mr. He is upstairs," said the butler, frowning. This time, he didn't continue forward with Nan but respectfully waited outside the door.
As Nan slowly made his way upstairs, the closer he got to that bedroom, the more overpowering the alpha's pheromones became.
Under such a potent influence of the pheromones, he too began to feel uncomfortable.
Standing outside the door, anxiety washed over him, prompting him to swallow hard. Slowly, he pushed open the bedroom door.
The scent of mint inside was even more overpowering. On the carpet beside the bed lay two syringe tubes, presumably from suppressants. But where was everyone?
With a slight frown, Nan hesitated for a moment before stepping inside.
Calming himself, he faintly heard the sound of running water from the bathroom. He Yu Shen was taking a shower.
Nan settled on the edge of the bed, head bowed, hands nervously wringing each other. His face remained composed, but his fingertips were turning white.
"Bang"
The bathroom door was abruptly opened. Just by the sound, one could infer the person's agitation.
Startled, Nan Yi looked up.
He Yu Shen emerged, draped only in a towel that barely covered his lower body. A sheen of moisture coated his well-defined chest, and droplets trickled down from his hair tips.
"Where have you been?" His face was stern, eyes fixating on the apprehensive figure on the bed.
He advanced towards Nan Yi, his gaze growing increasingly menacing.
"Don't forget the reason I kept you around."
Drawing closer, he gripped the chin of the Omega, forcing him to look up.
A sharp pain made Nan Yi wince, but he nodded in acknowledgement.
Though the pheromones of a lower-grade Omega might not be too potent, to an Alpha in a sensitivity phase, they could easily rekindle suppressed desires.
His eyes darkened significantly, and He Yu Shen found himself irresistibly drawn to that delicate stretch of pale neck.
Without any warning, pain shot through the back of Nan's neck. He clenched his teeth to suppress a grunt, his hands trembling slightly.
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