Hearing Gu Xuanze confess to him, Lu Youze only felt his heart rate speed up again. He realized that something was off today, and it seemed that Gu Xuanze wasn’t the only one acting out of the ordinary. He wasn’t sure if it was the influence of the situation, but he too had started to feel strange.

He couldn’t help but feel his body growing hotter, and a restless stirring he couldn’t release. It was as though he was on fire, yearning for the person next to him to come closer.

Gu Xuanze had initially appeared calm, but when he saw Lu Youze’s sudden change, his expression tightened with concern.

Had he lost his memory and forgotten even the most basic knowledge? As an Omega, didn’t he know that his estrus period was approaching? With no precautions or inhibitors, Gu Xuanze’s mind began to recall unpleasant memories, and his face paled for a moment.

“Youze, your estrus period has started. It’s dangerous now.” Gu Xuanze couldn’t get too close to Lu Youze for fear of uncontrollably releasing his own pheromones, which would only make things worse for Lu Youze. He didn’t want him to experience that nightmare again. “Sit here for a moment. I’ll go find some inhibitors.”

Lu Youze’s thoughts were growing more and more disordered. Instinctively, he leaned towards Gu Xuanze, drawn to the familiar scent coming from him—the scent that brought him comfort.

“Don’t go,” he reached out to pull Gu Xuanze closer. An estrus-stricken Omega had surprisingly strong strength, and he pulled Gu Xuanze into his arms. “I feel terrible, help me.”

Since both heads of the Gu family were Alpha, most of their household staff were Beta. Gu Xuanze also had strict rules about not bringing Omega home overnight, so there were no inhibitors for Omega in the house.

Lu Youze’s estrus was coming on strong. Ignoring the forced estrus from the hospital, this was his first experience with the physiological effects of Omega’s estrus. He felt his mind clouding, acting purely on instinct, pulling Gu Xuanze closer because he found comfort in his proximity, rubbing against him.

Gu Xuanze felt his self-control on the brink of collapse. Looking at the Omega in his arms, the one he liked, the one that should belong to him, his natural possessiveness over Lu Youze as an Alpha nearly drove him mad.

He wanted to mark him, to possess him, to make him his.

Not long ago, he had done so.

Then… that cold gaze looking at him had sent him to hell. He could never forget that look in his life. Gu Xuanze shivered at the memory of Lu Youze’s disgusted and cold stare. He could feel his clarity returning a little. He fought against his instincts to prevent his pheromones from leaking out and cautiously picked up the restless Lu Youze, stepping out of the dining room only to meet Gu Xuanhao, who had been affected by Lu Youze’s pheromones.

Gu Xuanhao’s face was grim. He looked nervously at Lu Youze in Gu Xuanze’s arms. “Big Brother, Lu Youze… could it be that…”

“Yes.” Gu Xuanze replied as he walked, his expression tense. “Ah Hao, drive to get some Omega inhibitors nearby, as soon as possible.”

“I got it.” Gu Xuanhao didn’t dare to waste time. After a quick response, he hurried out.

Even though Gu Xuanze was holding him in a princess carry, Lu Youze still squirmed. He felt Gu Xuanze’s cold skin and found it oddly comforting, pressing closer to him. Gu Xuanze used all his strength to carefully carry him to his room and laid him gently on the bed. He leaned down and lightly tapped Lu Youze’s cheeks twice, hoping to bring him back to some awareness.

“Youze, I’m Gu Xuanze. Can you hear my voice?”

Lu Youze’s body was burning with heat, as though he were in a fire, his whole body nearly consumed by the flames. The pain was unbearable, and yet he couldn’t escape it. In the midst of this despair, he heard someone calling his name. He tried to focus his vision, wanting to see who was speaking.

Then the voice came again, intermittently.

“Youze, your estrus has started.” The voice was so gentle, like cool water on a hot summer day, easing his burning body. “Ah Hao has gone to get inhibitors. Just hang in there a little longer.”

Lu Youze’s mind was in turmoil. He vaguely heard words like “estrus,” and he realized this was his first experience with Omega’s estrus period. But it felt nothing like the book descriptions. Why did it hurt so much without any pleasure?

Gu Xuanze’s voice grew more urgent, his patience stretched thin. His hand, once holding Lu Youze’s, loosened. “Youze, I’ll wait outside. Don’t worry, Ah Hao will be back with inhibitors soon.”

When the hand was removed, Lu Youze felt the last bit of relief vanish. He started to panic and grabbed Gu Xuanze’s hand again, not wanting him to leave.

“I feel terrible.” His eyes were full of tears. The large man, over six feet tall, now seemed fragile, as though a touch could shatter him. He forcefully placed Gu Xuanze’s hand on his face. “Help me, please.”

Who could resist such a plea from someone they loved?

Gu Xuanze admitted that when their eyes met, seeing the helplessness and pain in Lu Youze’s gaze, he faltered. His expression softened, and he made a decision in his heart.

“Youze.” Gu Xuanze became more proactive. He cupped Lu Youze’s face in his hands, his forehead touching his, speaking softly in his ear like lovers. “Can you trust me? I’m not taking advantage of you, I just want to make you feel better. Don’t worry, this is just a temporary mark. It will fade once it’s over.”

By the end of his words, Gu Xuanze’s lips were almost touching Lu Youze’s ear.

Lu Youze didn’t push him away, seemingly accepting the gesture. He pulled him closer.

Gu Xuanze felt a bitter sweetness. His gaze grew more tender. If only Lu Youze could be this kind to him when he was fully conscious. He pulled back just a little, and Lu Youze let out a dissatisfied grunt.

The next moment, Gu Xuanze lifted Lu Youze’s head to expose his smooth neck and bit down on the gland, injecting his pheromones into his bloodstream. The steady flow of pheromones made Gu Xuanze feel as though he were filled with warmth, reluctant to let go, wanting to keep possessing.

For an Alpha, marking the Omega they loved was a difficult trial. The satisfaction of the act could lead them to lose control, but he knew that once he lost control, it would be irreversible. He could never endure that cold gaze again. If he stopped just short, he would have an excuse, a reason to explain, keeping everything under control.

In the end, love conquered desire, and reason controlled instinct.

He reluctantly left the scent he had longed for, gently laying Lu Youze back on the bed. The emotions of an Omega freshly marked were still unstable, but his consciousness slowly began to return.

When Gu Xuanze’s pheromones flowed into his bloodstream, the feeling was indescribably subtle. Lu Youze couldn’t put it into words, but undeniably, the intense heat that had tortured him faded away.