Transparent liquid dripped from Zhan Pingchuan’s long fingers. For the first time, he felt his hands were too rough; the area he explored was like a smooth, delicate soft candy, trying to escape the rough touch with its warmth and elasticity.
The water on Lance’s body had mostly evaporated, but soon more beads of sweat broke out.
This was the first time he’d experienced the full force of going without suppressants.
He was like a traveller lost in the desert, clinging desperately to the only oasis. He was so thirsty, he wanted to survive, to immerse himself completely in the sweet spring and never leave.
Reason had completely left him; even he felt strange at how much he was ruled by emotion.
He no longer had the energy to hide the nature of the White Pharaoh.
Lance’s eyes were hazy as he pressed firmly on the Alpha’s gland, leaving overlapping fingerprints on the small patch behind the neck. Gentian pheromones poured out even more intensely.
The two scents clashed, filling the air with a heat that was neither bitter nor sweet, just scalding.
Zhan Pingchuan naturally felt the pain, but he endured it, gazing at Lance with deep, dark eyes. Even as sweat dripped from his eyelids to his cheeks, he never stopped giving Lance his attention.
Lance slid his fingers down to Zhan Pingchuan’s Adam’s apple, caressing it lovingly: “I like you when you’re devoted. I’ll spoil you too, from now on.”
His Alpha was like a little wolf cub from the western plateau, born in August, fierce and decisive in the wild, but before him still just a puppy barely grown, whimpering to make him laugh and exposing his softest belly for petting.
Though his actions were a little hasty and clumsy, Lance could forgive it. No one could dislike a loyal, devoted little wolf.
In the future, he would be the White Pharaoh’s only little wolf.
Zhan Pingchuan let out a low laugh, surprised by this side of the usually composed Lance.
He traced a damp finger down Lance’s cheek, watching a glistening thread break in the air, and asked, “How will you spoil me?”
Lance narrowed his eyes, looking down at the Alpha before him. A sudden emptiness made him cling even tighter.
“I’ll indulge you, protect you, give you everything you want.”
Zhan Pingchuan lifted his head and sealed Lance’s lips, his tongue boldly sweeping through Lance’s mouth. Then, amid Lance’s wet, panting breaths, he said in a low, rough voice: “I only want you.”
Lance hadn’t recovered from the wild, possessive kiss when he was suddenly swept into the water by what had been a gentle spring. Waves crashed, urgent and turbulent, the surface boiling with huge ripples.
He choked on the water unexpectedly, swallowing more than he could handle. The water seemed charged with electricity, numbing his nerves so he couldn’t struggle free. His belly swelled unconsciously, he drifted further from the shore, until he was completely drowned in the stormy waves.
In the endless desert, the silent, vast wilderness, he was lost.
He didn’t know how much time had passed before the sun finally set and the water calmed.
Lance was buoyed to shore, lying on dry, soft sand as his consciousness slowly returned.
He had never felt such deep satisfaction before—it overwhelmed fatigue, soreness, and numbness, becoming the dominant feeling in his body.
He reached out to touch the two earrings on Zhan Pingchuan’s ear, like a lazy little animal playing with a toy placed before him.
Zhan Pingchuan held him, turning him over so he lay on top.
“Good boy, does it hurt?”
Lance blinked, then pressed his cheek to Zhan Pingchuan’s chest and said lazily, “Hmph.”
Zhan Pingchuan teased him: “Where does it hurt? How does it hurt? Inside or out? Tell me, and I’ll help you rub it.”
Lance, hearing this, bared his sharp little teeth in annoyance and bit down on Zhan Pingchuan’s collarbone, leaving a row of teeth marks.
“…What do you think?”
Zhan Pingchuan stroked the red-brown hair draped down Lance’s back, fluffing up the little fox’s fur.
“Teacher Lan, how would I know if you don’t teach me? Was it the spot I kept using just now?”
“…,” Lance bit down hard again on the same spot as before.
A little wolf cub who’s full stops behaving—always pushing his luck.
This time, Zhan Pingchuan couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.
But he let Lance finish biting before looking at the small bruised patch.
Zhan Pingchuan pinched Lance’s cheek, scolding with a smile, “Baby, are you marking me?”
Hearing that, Lance suddenly remembered something, and immediately shook off Zhan Pingchuan’s hand, turning his head away.
Just now, he hadn’t been marked—little idiot had neglected his gland.
“Angry?” Zhan Pingchuan, as if reading his mind, touched the spot where the sweet scent had just lingered. “Looks like this spot still isn’t filled with my pheromones, the star magnolia scent hasn’t all been drawn out.”
Lance was dissatisfied.
Little idiot, greedy puppy, in need of a lesson.
Zhan Pingchuan was amused by his lack of biological knowledge. He pinched Lance’s chin, forcing him to look at him.
“Baby, do you know you didn’t take your suppressant?”
Lance glared at him.
Zhan Pingchuan touched the spot he’d just used. “You think that’s the end? For you, heat has only just begun. You feel sore now, but soon this spot will have to bear even more. So, if I marked you every time, do you want me to bite your gland to shreds?”
Lance was confused.
The science books he’d read only said that heat was a natural phenomenon for every Omega, that you could get through it with suppressants or with an Alpha’s company.
But they never explained in detail: if you didn’t take suppressants, how many times did you have to go through it, what an Omega would endure…
Useless science books.
No wonder his sister’s little lovers always called crying, complaining about pain here or there.
And Lan Wendao’s sex education for him was lacking.
No, not just lacking—nonexistent.
If he hadn’t read books, he’d still think he was a mutated watermelon.
Zhan Pingchuan was overflowing with affection—what to do with such a pure-hearted wife?
He reached out and pinched Lance’s pale cheek. “I won’t let you be a wild little fox. Last time, I’ll mark you properly here.”
After lying together for a while, as their strength gradually returned, Lance indeed found his body heating up again.
Unable to help himself, he exposed his gland and pulled Zhan Pingchuan’s hand over. “If you’re not going to bite, at least… touch it.”
Zhan Pingchuan obediently pinched the thin skin at the gland, rubbing it gently, and sure enough, Lance let out a low moan.
After that, another long round of passion ensued.
They stayed in the dorm for a long time without going out, finished off all their snacks, washed the sheets and themselves several times, the sun rose and set, and the overflowing pheromone scent finally faded.
The last time, Lance proactively exposed his gland, leaning close to Zhan Pingchuan’s lips.
Feeling the fevered, delicate skin trembling under his lips, Zhan Pingchuan finally couldn’t resist, pursed his lips around the gland and sucked hard, drawing in all the star magnolia fragrance.
Zhan Pingchuan held Lance’s jaw in one hand, giving him no escape, making him surrender his gland completely.
His possessiveness and need for control peaked at that moment. Gentian pheromones surged to his teeth, and his tongue licked the gland, as if soothing the spot about to bear the sting.
Lance tensed, clutching his own red hair tightly, his heart pounding wildly—he knew what was coming next.
His breath was ragged, sweat beading on his chin. “…Zhan Pingchuan, you won’t be by my side during the holidays.”
A last shred of reason remained—this holiday would last a month and a half, and they’d be interning at different guilds. So he couldn’t be permanently marked; without an Alpha’s comfort, he’d be miserable, angry, maybe even lose control.
Sweat streamed down Zhan Pingchuan’s temples, his dark eyes burning with desire.
His teeth pressed against the centre of Lance’s gland as he rasped with a laugh, “That sounded nice—maybe I’ll think about it.”
Lance’s eyes filled with tears, Zhan Pingchuan’s hand at his jaw controlling his pulse.
He’d never shown such a passive, vulnerable side to anyone.
The White Pharaoh closed his eyes, lips parting slightly, tongue touching his upper teeth.
“…Husband, mark me gently.”
The teeth pierced the gland, blocking the blood that wanted to well out, forcibly injecting gentian pheromones into the gland’s core. That patch of skin quickly turned red, as if burned, leaving the Alpha’s mark.
This mark wasn’t just on the surface, but very deep, almost a permanent mark.
Lance trembled, star magnolia pheromones yielding to gentian, letting them tangle and merge at the core.
Just before passing out, Lance saw, in the chaos of his Spirit Realm system, the Outer God brush aside the darkness with bone-white wings, revealing a blurry figure.
He didn’t press Lance with fear and emptiness, but watched quietly, seeming a little satisfied, yet still harshly uttering his usual phrase—
“Vos estis nimis infirma…” (You are too weak.)
This vessel was far too fragile—after just three days, it was already on its last legs.
And his opponent still seemed to have energy.
Lance glared coldly back, wishing he could punch the being back into slumber.
Stupid thing, watching to its heart’s content and still calling him weak.
Lance finally closed his eyes, shutting the voyeur’s passage.
But, Lance thought vaguely, he hadn’t taken the chance to peek at Zhan Pingchuan’s Spirit Realm system.
Little idiot’s S-rank Spirit Realm system must be much more magnificent, not so dark and boundless as his own.
Maybe next time, they could meet in Zhan Pingchuan’s Spirit Realm system. He’d caress his consciousness, entwine their spirits, and bring him joy deep in the soul.
“Baby, open up.” Zhan Pingchuan propped Lance up, bringing water to his lips.
Lance had lost so much fluid over these three days, so Zhan Pingchuan fed him sports drinks to help maintain osmotic balance.
Lance drank it unconsciously, not even opening his eyes.
Once he’d finished, Zhan Pingchuan carried him to the bathroom.
Lance let him do as he pleased, not even bothering to move a finger.
Zhan Pingchuan washed away all the stickiness, dried him carefully with a towel, and carried him back to bed.
Lance rolled into the covers and fell into a deep sleep.
From this angle, Zhan Pingchuan could still see the bitten gland, stamped with his mark.
He stroked Lance’s back through the covers, and with his other hand, sent Adrian a message on his phone—
[Uncle, my wife Lance has applied for an internship at Ghost Eye Guild, remember to approve his CV.]
Adrian—
[.]
[Also, his family is poor, but he’s delicate and frail, just a pure, innocent, obedient, and cute little fox—please look after him, don’t let him suffer.]
Adrian—
[Mn.]
[Uncle, going undercover at High Tower is thrilling and dangerous. If I’m not careful, I could be beaten to death by the rival guild, so you mustn’t let me have any worries.]
Adrian—
[Got it.]
[Is there any chance he could sleep in my bed? My place is temperature and humidity controlled, he’s from Harbor Tan, I’m afraid Desert City’s too dry for him.]
Adrian—
[…]
[Hey no, that might expose us. Better give him more internship salary so he can rent whatever he likes. How about 100,000 a month?]
[Sorry, your message failed to send]
Zhan Pingchuan stared at the big red exclamation mark that popped up, incredulously trying to call back.
[The number you have dialled cannot be connected, please check if the phone number is correct]
Zhan Pingchuan: “…”
Well, maybe it wasn’t being blocked—perhaps Adrian’s phone had malfunctioned.
Zhan Pingchuan cleared the message traces, put his phone aside to charge, tidied up the room once more, then held Lance as he fell asleep.
Three days of exhaustion hit him all at once, and he quickly drifted off.
The next day, Lance was first to wake.
He opened his eyes and took about five minutes to fully come round. His heat had safely passed, but recalling the madness of these three days still left him shaken.
He turned his head to find Zhan Pingchuan sleeping soundly.
After yesterday’s marking, he’d been unconscious, yet now the room was completely tidied, even the towels and sheets hung up to dry.
His heart softened as his fingers gently traced Zhan Pingchuan’s brows, eyes, and nose bridge.
Zhan Pingchuan still didn’t wake, breathing steadily and deeply.
Lance’s fingers explored under the covers, finding the spot that had been thoroughly used for three days now lying quiet and docile.
His little wolf cub was exhausted.
Lance lovingly kissed the corner of Zhan Pingchuan’s lips and tucked him in properly.
Then Lance carefully got out of bed, enduring the weakness in his legs as he walked to the balcony.
He casually threw on one of Zhan Pingchuan’s jackets—it was rather large, covered in studs, the fabric rough against his skin, but it carried much of Zhan Pingchuan’s scent.
He gazed through the window at the sleeping Zhan Pingchuan and called Dream Witch.
He was responsible for the Black Lantern Society, whilst Dream Witch usually appeared on behalf of Lan Wendao for High Tower Guild matters.
Dream Witch answered the phone with amusement: “Oh, Mad Clown tried contacting you several times with no answer. My only little brother, what have you been up to these past few days?”
Lance casually brushed away dust in the sunlight, avoiding the question entirely: “Sister, my boyfriend Zhan Pingchuan has solid abilities but isn’t fussy about details. He wants to intern at High Tower Guild—give him top salary behind Dad’s back so he won’t be too poor to date me.”
“Tsk, you’re going to intern at Ghost Eye Guild—why not bring your little Alpha along?” Dream Witch asked curiously.
Naturally he’d like to bring him, but…
“It’s better he doesn’t come. I need to investigate Yan Qili’s whereabouts—I’m afraid he’d become suspicious, and I worry about implicating him.”
Dream Witch dropped her joking tone: “Be careful. Ghost Eye Guild is like a dragon’s den. Dad’s tricked them so many times—if they find out who you are, they’ll tear you apart.”
Lance chuckled softly: “I know. Chu Fu is perceptive as fire, Zhan Qinghe unfathomably deep. I won’t let my guard down.”
##
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Sam Williams On TYMIMA Chapter 152
Wah it’s time to meet the parents incognito 🥸
Hey its the scene from the synopsis! I was wondering is lukas an omega?. Its getting exciting!