5

Next morning.

Shen Rui knew something was wrong the moment he woke up.

His sheets were damp with sweat, his skin tingled like fire ants were crawling all over him, and his throat was dry no matter how much water he gulped down.

“System,” he croaked, clutching the blanket, “am I… sick?”

> “Ding! Congratulations, Host! You’ve officially unlocked your Omega starter pack—your first heat cycle.”

Shen Rui shot upright. “WHAT?!”

> “Oh relax. It’s just biology. Every Omega has heats. Totally natural. Totally sexy.”

“SEXY?!” Shen Rui’s voice cracked. “I’m dying! I feel like a furnace someone left on ‘high’!”

“Exactly. That’s the point.”

Shen Rui collapsed back on the bed, groaning. This was supposed to be impossible! He was a straight university student not too long ago—he’d never signed up for this!

By noon, Shen Rui had forced himself to the office. He couldn’t show weakness in front of Gu Yan. He was the CEO. He was in control. He was—

“CEO Shen,” Gu Yan greeted as he entered. His voice was smooth, calm.

Unfortunately, Shen Rui’s body reacted violently.

The moment the Alpha’s scent brushed the air—woodsy, sharp, steady—Shen Rui’s Omega instincts flared like fireworks. His knees weakened, his breath shortened, and his entire face went red.

He immediately slapped a mask of coldness on. “Wh-what are you looking at? Work.”

Gu Yan’s gaze lingered on him a moment too long. “…Are you feverish?”

Shen Rui nearly jumped. “N-no! I’m perfectly fine! Totally healthy! None of your business!”

But his hands were trembling as he fumbled with the papers, and his scent—sweet, faint, honey-like—began to leak out.

Gu Yan’s eyes darkened almost imperceptibly.

By late afternoon, Shen Rui couldn’t take it anymore. His whole body burned, and sitting still felt like torture. Every brush of Gu Yan’s presence made his Omega instincts scream closer.

“System!” Shen Rui hissed inwardly, hunched over his desk. “This is dangerous! He’s going to notice!”

>“Oh, he’s already noticed.”

“What—?!”

A shadow fell across his desk. Shen Rui looked up and nearly choked.

Gu Yan was standing close—too close—studying him with narrowed eyes. “CEO Shen. Your scent…”

Shen Rui’s blood ran cold. “M-my scent? No, it’s fine! Totally normal! Stop sniffing me!”

Gu Yan didn’t step back. His Alpha pheromones seeped into the air, subtle but firm, pressing against Shen Rui’s weakened control. “You’re in pre-heat, aren’t you?”

Shen Rui slammed both hands on the desk. “I—WHAT?! No! That’s—that’s slander!”

Gu Yan’s lips curved ever so slightly. “Slander, hm?” His voice lowered. “You should be careful. scent draws predators.

Shen Rui’s ears burned. “Are you calling yourself a predator?!”

Gu Yan didn’t answer. His silence was worse. His gaze was sharp, steady, unreadable—and it pinned Shen Rui in place like shackles.

By the time evening rolled around, Shen Rui could barely stand. His legs were wobbly, his shirt clung to his back, and his head spun with every breath.

He staggered toward the elevator, determined to escape before Gu Yan said or did anything more terrifying.

But just as the doors slid shut, a hand shot out and stopped them.

Gu Yan stepped inside.

The tiny elevator filled with his Alpha scent instantly. Woodsy, deep, suffocating.

Shen Rui’s vision swam. His Omega instincts roared like thunder. His knees buckled—

And Gu Yan caught him, one arm firm around his waist.

“CEO Shen,” the Alpha murmured against his ear, voice dark velvet, “you should stop pretending you’re fine.”

Shen Rui’s entire body trembled. His face burned. His heart hammered so loud he swore Gu Yan could hear it.

And for the first time, he couldn’t find a single word to argue back.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***