When an Alpha is Marked by One of His Own Kind

Chapter 33

A dull thud sounded out through the livestream.
[That scared the hell out of me.]

[You got hit, didn't ya, Dog Lu? Your time is up.]

[If I remember correctly, Dog Lu has the sort of mic that sits close to his mouth. What kind of action would be so loud in a mic that's right next to his mouth? Everyone, let's put our heads together and think.]

[Dog Lu! Are you or are you not bullying Wolfy while we can't see?!]

[Wolf Cub, don't be scared! Turn on the camera and let us take a look! We'll avenge you!]

Shen Qiao had already realized that he might have been too rough just then. He lifted a hand and pressed a thumb to the corner of his own mouth, then turned and glanced at the bullet comments streaming across the screen. He cast the monitor a disinterested frown, and he didn't say a word.

Lu Zhe, after speaking, also took note of the inflammatory netizen comments in the chat. He lifted a hand and ran his fingers over his lips a few times before letting out a light laugh.

"Couldn't I have bumped my mic while taking a drink of water?" he reasoned. "I urge you all to calm down a little. What if your nonsense gets Qiaoqiao's streaming room banned? I'll be memorizing each and every one of your IDs and banning you from my fan groups one by one if that happens.

"Alright, alright. Stop guessing now. Hurry up and get some sleep. All your fantasies will come true in your dreams."

Nearly as soon as his words fell, Lu Zhe quit out of the stream and took off his headset. He swiftly turned off his computer and got up to return to the dorms with Shen Qiao, walking shoulder-to-shoulder.

Neither of them spoke along the way, but there was an inexplicable sense of comfort flowing between them.

In the dead of night, many deeply buried secrets and feelings began to rise. Seeds that had been sown many years ago started to bud and flower, emitting a fragrant scent that was deeply reminiscent of the past.

The light, cool scent of mint drifted through the air, like a leafy vine tentatively searching for something. It was quickly blanketed by the thicker scent of snow-capped cedarwood trees. The refreshing scent of snow seemed to descend in sheets, filling the air and earth.

Shen Qiao glanced over out of the corner of his eye-

He detected another wave of Lu Zhe's pheromones rising through the air. If Lu Zhe hadn't been willfully controlling his pheromones as of late, Shen Qiao might even have forgotten how similar they were to the man himself. His pheromones were just like him-strong and all-consuming, powerful enough to pressure a person into feeling as though there were no escape.

Shen Qiao's body reacted more quickly than his rationality. His pulse began to quicken. His blood thrummed in his veins, causing even his temples to jump and twitch. His lungs seemed to stop working. The intense, stifling sensation of choking coursed through him. It felt as though all the bones in his four limbs lost their strength.

It was as terrifying as being pulled under a riptide.

Shen Qiao subconsciously slowed his breathing. The conditioned response of fear wracked his body, but he didn't want to run and hide.

Unlike all the times before now, he took the initiative to meet Lu Zhe's pheromones with his own. Although he didn't force out a stronger wave than any previous time, it was enough to make sweat bead at the sides of his brow.

Truth be told, the pain now wasn't nearly as bad as it once had been. It was just that the instincts a body had developed were hard to correct. Shen Qiao had never been the type to sweat easily, but in that air-conditioned hallway in the middle of the night, his short-sleeved shirt grew damp enough to stick to his skin.