The Beta Wife Claimed by Competing Alphas - Chapter 13

Mu Yan’s consciousness was hazy; he had practically fainted. This bout of intimacy had brought him almost nothing but pain, exhaustion, and terror.

It hurt; it really, truly hurt. It felt as though he had been split down the middle. By the end, Mu Yan didn’t even have the strength left to cry.

A Beta doesn’t have glands like an Alpha or an Omega. When Lu Chong pressed him down and bit through the skin on the back of his neck, there was nothing romantic or lingering about it for Mu Yan. He didn’t even feel any obsessive love or possessiveness; all he felt was primal fear.

The neck is the most vulnerable part of a person. When lions or tigers hunt, that is exactly how they snap the necks of herbivores.

For a moment, he genuinely thought Lu Chong was going to kill him.

Lu Chong had said that his mother left because his father was unfaithful; he hated those who were disloyal to their feelings more than anything.

With his reaction just now, did Lu Chong truly believe he had betrayed him? Did he want to kill him?

But he didn’t.

When the Alpha pheromones were forcibly injected into him, Mu Yan’s mind went blank, and his entire body went stiff as if he were dead.

He had only ever heard that Betas couldn’t mark Omegas, nor could they be marked by Alphas, but he never knew that an Alpha could actually inject pheromones into one.

He didn’t know that being injected with pheromones would feel like being more dead than alive.

His body’s rejection response was trying to expel the Alpha pheromones at any cost.

It felt as though every part of his body was burning, being utterly shattered, and then reforged.

His heart felt like it was going to leap out of his throat, every beat thundering in his ears.

“Ah.”

Slower.

Slow down, please. Mu Yan pleaded silently, though it was unclear if he was begging Lu Chong or his own terrifyingly frantic heartbeat.

After an unknown amount of time, Lu Chong finally withdrew from his body.

Ignoring Mu Yan, who had nearly fainted, Lu Chong went to the bathroom to shower and then slammed the bedroom door shut.

Mu Yan knew he should get up, shower, and clean out what Lu Chong had left inside him. He couldn’t afford to get sick; even if he could apply to work remotely, he still had to help his brother move in a few days.

But his limbs had never felt as heavy as they did now. After the body’s rejection of the pheromones ended, the high fever showed no signs of receding, and his chest felt stiflingly tight.

He was soaked through, and the nighttime draft was cold; he was in immense distress. But forget getting up to shower, he didn’t even have the strength to curl his body up.

Tears flowed silently into the sofa.

How could Lu Chong treat him like this?

Even if he was in his rut, he shouldn’t.

He thought he knew Lu Chong well. He thought Lu Chong just had a bad temper and was young, and given the tragedy that happened in his family, a bit of a psychological gap was only natural.

Why did it turn out like this? When he first met Lu Chong, he clearly wasn’t like this.

Lu Chong lay in bed wearing dry pajamas. Although he hadn’t truly marked an Omega, by recklessly biting Mu Yan’s vestigial gland and injecting an excessive amount of pheromones, it felt as though he had completed a union between an Alpha and an Omega.

As for the price, that was for Mu Yan to bear.

As a top-tier Alpha, the influence of pheromones and the rut wasn’t nearly as great as he made it out to be; he had done it specifically to punish Mu Yan.

Covered in another man’s pheromones, and even bringing that man home.

If he hadn’t been there today, would Mu Yan have poured tea for that man? Would they have sat together on that narrow sofa that barely fit two people, where that man only had to pretend to be careless to touch his waist or arm?

It served Mu Yan right.

The bedroom curtains hadn’t been drawn yet. Mu Yan usually took care of these things. Lu Chong looked out the window at the starless, moonless sky, feeling an inexplicable sense of irritation.

Why hadn’t Mu Yan come in yet? He should be done showering by now.

The lesson had been taught. As long as he got into bed, huddled closer to him, and explained that he really had nothing to do with that roommate, Lu Chong would forgive him.

It had always been this way.

This time, he actually knew he had gone a bit too far, but because Mu Yan had always been so gentle and tolerant, he believed Mu Yan would eventually push the door open and soften toward him.

While showering, he had vaguely heard the sound of Mu Yan sobbing through the noise of the water.

Once he’s cried enough, he’ll come in on his own.

The cheap air conditioner blew persistently, making a whirring sound. After a while, it likely reached the set temperature and the whirring stopped.

Why hasn’t Mu Yan come in?

Is he throwing a tantrum? What right does he have to throw a tantrum?

The bed felt empty without the other person. Lu Chong wanted to open the door to check the situation, but he felt like that would be a sign of weakness.

He tossed and turned, unable to sleep. Every time he closed his eyes, he thought of Mu Yan trembling and crying. Finally, he fished out two sleeping pills he had been prescribed when he first started his business and went to sleep.

Mu Yan will come in on his own. If he wants to be stubborn, then I don’t need to wait.

When he woke up, it was 6:00 AM. The space beside him was empty.

Mu Yan hadn’t come in.

There wasn’t another bed in the rental. To prefer sleeping in the living room over coming in to make amends, he had truly spoiled him.

Lu Chong walked into the living room and saw Mu Yan curled up on half the sofa, covered only by a thin blanket. The blanket was too short, leaving his pale, thin ankles exposed.

Lu Chong turned him over. Mu Yan’s face was flushed with an unnatural feverish glow, and the stray hairs on his forehead were damp and sticky, as if he had been sweating repeatedly.

Mu Yan was oblivious to his movements, but his breathing was rapid. Startled, Lu Chong quickly picked him up and threw some clothes on him.

“Hurts.” Mu Yan woke up during the process. He weakly grabbed the culprit’s arm, though it was unclear if he was out of strength or if he was afraid of hurting Lu Chong even while seeking help. “Might have a fever. Bedroom cabinet has medicine.”

His heart beat heavily and fast. Aside from the drum-like thumping in his ears, he could hear almost nothing else. It felt like something heavy was pressing on his chest, making it impossible to breathe.

“Bedroom cabinet has medicine.” His survival instinct made Mu Yan repeat himself. “In the third cabinet on the left.”

“I’m taking you to the hospital,” Lu Chong replied curtly, carrying him in his arms.

Mu Yan didn’t seem to understand the words. He seemed afraid of being abandoned, and his grip on Lu Chong’s arm tightened slightly.

“Exposure to cold, sexual violence, and malignant injection of pheromones,” the doctor frowned, speaking bluntly. “Are you his partner? Did you ever attend a biology class? Injecting pheromones into a Beta, are you a dog? Did you just have to take that bite?”

Mu Yan lay in Lu Chong’s arms, fast asleep. The process for an ordinary person at a hospital, registering, queuing, waiting, was tedious and exhausting. A sick Mu Yan couldn’t have endured it.

All of this, combined with the doctor’s scolding, formed the entirety of why Lu Chong hated coming to these public hospitals. Suppressing his irritation, whether toward the doctor or the sleeping Mu Yan, he said, “I’m sorry. This was an accident. It won’t happen again.”

The doctor had no intention of interfering further in the patient’s relationship and said no more, simply scribbling out an order. “Go get an IV. I’ve ordered two bags. Remember to find a nurse to change them when they’re done.”

Lu Chong nodded, took the slip, and left with Mu Yan.

The hospital was crowded as always, the air filled with the smell of disinfectant. The IV ward was noisy, especially the sharp crying of children, which gave Lu Chong a headache.

Mu Yan leaned against him, as weak as a wounded little animal. An IV was taped to the back of his thin, white hand, his veins clearly visible.

Lu Chong was somewhat afraid to look at him, so he stared blankly at the IV drip bottle instead.

It took a long time for a single drop to fall. Lu Chong felt a sense of restlessness, wondering how long this would take.

The person in his arms moved slightly. Lu Chong felt him wake up, but he couldn’t bring himself to say the words of apology.

Mu Yan’s lips were pale. The unnatural flush on his face had faded slightly, only to be replaced by a sickly pallor.

Seeing him like this, Lu Chong felt terrible as well. It was all that damn He Fan’s fault. He clearly knew Lu Chong was in his rut and intentionally tried to drive a wedge between them, only to act innocent and understanding in front of Mu Yan afterward.

“Lu Chong.” Mu Yan’s voice was hoarse, every word seemingly forced out.

“I want some water.”

Lu Chong had bought water earlier. Since Mu Yan had the IV in his left hand, Lu Chong quickly unscrewed the cap and held it to Mu Yan’s lips.

“Are you hungry? I’ll go buy you breakfast. I noticed earlier they have steamed buns, porridge, egg pancakes, tofu pudding, and soup noodles. What do you want to eat?”

Mu Yan nodded with some effort. “Hungry, anything is fine.”

Lu Chong stood up, checked the IV bottle and needle, and went to buy porridge and buns. He fed Mu Yan the porridge first. The freshly steamed buns were piping hot, and Mu Yan regained a bit of appetite, taking a few bites. When Lu Chong asked if he wanted more, Mu Yan shook his head tiredly.

Lu Chong finished the remaining buns in a few bites, wiped Mu Yan’s mouth with a tissue, and carefully pulled him back into his arms.

The moment his arm naturally wrapped around him, Mu Yan’s body shuddered almost instinctively.

Even through the layers of clothing, Lu Chong clearly felt the tremor. He looked down at Mu Yan.

Mu Yan kept his head lowered; Lu Chong couldn’t see his expression.

“Yanyan, I.”

“Don’t be afraid of me. I didn’t mean to treat you like that yesterday. I was just upset seeing you so close to him, and I was in my rut.”

“It won’t happen again. I promise.”

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