Older Brother - Chapter 24

37.

Bai You sincerely believed that all Alphas should be forced to wear muzzles, and not just during their rut.

Alphas simply loved biting far too much.

The Alpha’s pheromones flooded into him from his gland in a relentless stream. Bai You was pinned firmly, his vision completely blocked.

The marking process felt agonizingly long. His ears rang, his head throbbed with a heavy daze, and his waist felt continuously weak. If not for the person behind him supporting his middle, he would have collapsed to the ground long ago. He could only let out muffled, low whimpers from between the large fingers clamped over his mouth.

In the distance, the outdoor garden was alive with beautiful music and the clinking of glasses, but this corner was deathly silent, making the sound of his trembling, ragged gasps all the more distinct.

A layer of hot sweat coated Bai You’s snow-white neck. The orchid scent contained within that sweat seemed to please the person behind him; they pressed their nose against his gland and took a deep, lingering breath.

Only after the scent of the “unclean” Tang Xu had been thoroughly driven away did the man release the hand covering Bai You’s mouth. His fingertips brushed against the soft lips he had failed to kiss under the rose trellis earlier. He deliberately lowered his voice, his tone malicious: “Does your Alpha know you’ve been marked by someone else?”

If his hands weren’t also pinned, Bai You would have slapped him across the face by now.

He forced his chaotic breathing to settle, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. He tilted his head, his profile outlined by the moonlight into a graceful, icy arc. “Of course he doesn’t know.”

The unexpected response caused the person behind him to fall silent for a moment.

Bai You seized the chance to pull his hand free and turn around. The silk collar was still tied over his eyes, and he didn’t pull it off. Instead, he reached out and fumbled until he found the Alpha’s Adam’s apple. He felt the structure beneath his fingertips tense up before bobbing heavily twice.

Acting as if he hadn’t noticed, he followed the Alpha’s sharp jawline upward, feeling his way across the face tracing the jaw, the lips, and the bridge of the high nose. As his soft fingertips brushed past, scorching breath fanned over his skin. The Alpha opened his mouth and nipped at his restless finger.

Bai You didn’t pull back. His voice was cold. “You seem to be quite good-looking.”

The man in front of him let out a low “hmm,” his tone rising with interest, seemingly curious about what he would say next.

“Since my Alpha doesn’t know anyway,” Bai You said with a trace of inexplicable malice, his crimson lips curling slightly, “I allow you to have an affair with me.”

His jaw was suddenly gripped and tilted up with force. A brutal kiss descended like a rainstorm.

The collar covering his eyes slipped down. Bai You’s moist lashes trembled as he opened his eyes and met the Alpha’s deep, dark pupils.

Fu Yu did not release his hold. He half-squinted, though his tone remained sweet and smiling: “And who exactly does my brother want to have an affair with?”

Bai You raised a hand to wipe his lips, which were red and wet from the rough kiss. He said flatly, “Anyone but you.”

Even though he was the culprit and knew Bai You was saying it just to spite him, the deep-seated, paranoid possessiveness of an Alpha toward their Omega still made Fu Yu’s expression darken with extreme displeasure.

Bai You couldn’t be bothered with the neurotic Alpha. Now that he was marked, he didn’t need the collar anymore. Guessing that Fu Yu had finished his bout of madness, he leisurely stuffed the silk ribbon—now carrying his pheromones into Fu Yu’s pocket. “Can you move now?”

Fu Yu didn’t let him go. Instead, he pressed firmly against Bai You’s waist and laughed into his ear. “There’s no time like the present. Brother, let’s have our affair right here.”

Being pressed so close, Bai You immediately realized something was wrong. His face changed instantly. “You”

A certain dark desire swelled in Fu Yu’s heart. He watched with satisfaction as the last of Bai You’s composure vanished, and he lightly toyed with an eyebrow.

After a long silence, Bai You closed his eyes, suppressing his rage at the humiliation. He spoke coldly: “Even if I am just a toy you can give away on a whim, I am still your foster brother in name. If we are discovered in a place like this, it won’t be good for your reputation or your career, Colonel.”

Fu Yu paused for a moment, then shrugged and released him. He sighed. “I told you, I was just speaking casually…”

Before getting entangled with Bai You, he had never had contact with an Omega. He truly hadn’t expected an Omega’s grudges to run this deep.

Surprisingly, Fu Yu didn’t feel annoyed.

He simply let go of Bai You’s waist—though he didn’t release his wrist and pulled him down to sit on a nearby bench, crossing one leg to hide certain physiological changes.

Bai You had no choice but to sit with him. After a long silence, he asked with slight impatience, “Is there something else?”

Fu Yu rested his arm on the back of the bench, propping his chin on his hand to look at him. “Darling, you lit this fire and won’t help me put it out. The least you can do is sit here while I calm down.”

He then muttered under his breath, “I helped you through your heat, yet you won’t help me back.”

Bai You’s expression was sour. “You’re the one who goes into heat at random.”

Such was the nature of a high compatibility rate; whether it was lust or emotion, one was easily swayed. It was like a swamp that pulled you in deeper and deeper, making escape nearly impossible.

Fu Yu didn’t explain. He shifted his posture and suddenly asked the question he had been meaning to ask: “Brother, why did you pretend to be an Alpha? Disguise agents are very damaging to the body.”

Bai You sat perfectly straight, his tone serene: “I’m tired of living.”

“…” Fu Yu asked sincerely, “Brother, with a temper like that, are you sure you’re okay being the ‘client’ in our relationship?”

Bai You’s lips twitched, but he remained silent.

Fu Yu stared at him a while longer. “Do you know Madam Singh?”

Bai You gave a noncommittal hum.

Fu Yu paused, then said, “Regardless of what you two are up to, don’t get too involved with her.”

At this, Bai You finally looked up at him. “Why?”

“Singh is a control freak.” Fu Yu propped up his cheek, his crossed leg swinging lazily. For a rare moment, he showed the playful charm of a young man his age. He glanced at the distant balcony, his eyes narrowing. “For the sake of his political reputation, he doesn’t show it, but he actually hates anyone getting too close to his wife. He views it as someone coveting his property. Whether it’s an Alpha, Beta or Omega—if you look at the history, you’ll find that Madam Singh has no close friends. People who get too close to her never end up well.”

Bai You froze, his brow slowly furrowing. “Why doesn’t she run?”

“She hasn’t noticed,” Fu Yu said. “Their compatibility is very high. Singh’s pheromones have influenced her.”

Bai You’s expression gradually turned grim.

It was true. Not just Madam Singh, but he himself had a tracker around his ankle.

The only difference was that Madam Singh was controlled by her Alpha’s pheromones becoming depressed simply because her husband couldn’t make it to a party—while he was controlled by a device that could explode and take his life at any moment. He and Fu Yu had such a high compatibility that the longer they were together, the greater the influence became.

If this continued, one day he too would be unconsciously manipulated, following his mother’s path to become a bird in an Alpha’s cage.

Realizing what he had said, Fu Yu caught a glimpse of Bai You’s face. His relaxed posture stiffened for a few seconds. He quietly uncrossed his legs and moved past the topic as if nothing had happened. “Anyway, just don’t get too close to her… Brother, I’m guessing all those troubles Chen’s Jewelry has been having lately were your doing, right?”

He smiled and reached out to drape an arm over Bai You’s shoulder, leaning in. “How wicked… do you need me to help add more fuel to the fire?”

Bai You stared at him for a long moment, then silently pushed back, widening the distance that had accidentally narrowed between them. He brushed Fu Yu’s hand away in a defensive gesture. “I don’t need it.”

“Fine, fine. Then what do you actually want for your birthday?” Fu Yu already regretted speaking too much, but he kept the smile on his face. “An Alpha shouldn’t fail in this department.”

Bai You pursed his lips for a moment before saying slowly, “I want to go to the Fifth Galaxy.”

That was his grandmother’s homeland.

His grandmother had been his grandfather’s second wife, hailing from a remote galaxy, and she had only given birth to his mother.

In the eyes of the residents of the First Galaxy’s Central Star, those living outside the core were “low-class,” and the distant Fifth Galaxy was described as having no redeeming qualities whatsoever.

The furthest Bai You had ever traveled was the Second Galaxy—the maximum range Congressman Bai had permitted. His mother had visited the Fifth Galaxy as a child to see relatives. In her distant memories, that place represented the freedom she had failed to achieve. When she was gravely ill, she had expressed regret that she couldn’t be buried there.

In a few days, it would be the anniversary of her death.

Bai You’s tone was flat. “I’m wearing a tracking ankle monitor. If I try to run, you can press the detonation button at any time.”

He was lying. Once he reached the Fifth Galaxy, he would find a black-market clinic and have someone chop off his ankle just to get the monitor off.

Fu Yu was surprised. He had only mentioned the “detonation” as a threat; he didn’t need a brain to know he would never actually blow it up. “What are you thinking, Brother? How could I ever bring myself to do that?”

He laughed as he spoke, reaching out to pull Bai You into a casual embrace as he usually did. But catching the quiet, downcast look in Bai You’s eyes, he felt an inexplicable sense that now wasn’t the time. His fingers curled, and he forced himself to restrain the urge to touch the Omega.

Truthfully, Fu Yu didn’t want Bai You to leave the estate. Much like Singh’s desire to control his wife, he wanted to lock Bai You in his own room.

But after a moment, he licked his canine tooth and gave an answer. “Fine. We can leave tomorrow.”

Bai You hadn’t expected it to be so easy. His eyes brightened slightly, and he looked at Fu Yu, finally giving him a satisfied, genuine smile.

He decided he could overlook the fact that Fu Yu had confiscated his fake ID.

The next morning.

Bai You—who hadn’t even woken up yet and was still in his pajamas with messy hair—found himself being half-dragged, half-carried onto a military warship. He snapped out of his daze and slowly turned to look at Fu Yu, his eyes filled with malice.

Fu Yu was perfectly dressed. He offered a suave smile. “What a coincidence. The patrol fleet is heading to the Fifth Galaxy for a tour. We can bring ‘family’ along for the ride.”

Support Older Brother