Chapter 28: Drained
“…Oh no.”
Alarm bells rang in Jiang Zhaosheng’s mind. The pheromones exploding from Samuel were like a surging tidal wave; even though he wasn’t an Omega, he could clearly feel the fury contained within them.
The loss of vision amplified his other senses. Jiang Zhaosheng felt someone grab a handful of his hair.
Samuel’s arm clamped around his shoulder like an iron vice. His breath fanned against Jiang Zhaosheng’s ear as he asked with a twisted tone:
“Which one? Zhaozhao, youâd better give me a list… tell me their names.”
Meeting force with force was by no means a wise move. Jiang Zhaosheng quickly suppressed the panic in his heart, his brain working at high speed.
Samuelâs jealousy and possessiveness had been completely ignited; there had to be an outlet for it…
Suddenly, he relaxed his tensed body, even leaning back slightly into Samuel’s arms. This gesture, bordering on dependency, caused the enraged Alpha to freeze.
“…Do you really have to know?” Jiang Zhaoshengâs voice softened slightly. “Once you know, then what? Will you go and kill him? Will you let the Esposito family stir up a storm just for this?”
He couldn’t tell the truth. It wasn’t that he was worried about the safety of Shang Yan or the mysterious man in the secret room, but rather that they still had unused value. They couldn’t easily become sacrifices to Samuelâs jealousy.
Samuel didn’t speak, but his arm tightened around Jiang Zhaosheng a bit more, silently expressing a forceful “so what?”
Jiang Zhaosheng sighed softly, as if he had made a certain decision. He raised his free hand and rested it on Samuel’s shoulder.
“Samuel,” he looked toward the man’s blurred silhouette through the gauze, “thereâs no point in obsessing over that now. The fragrance is still there… Iâm uncomfortable.”
He paused, feeling Samuelâs breathing grow noticeably heavy. He applied light pressure, pushing against the shoulder to make Samuel lower his head, and said in a calm tone:
“Instead of interrogating me about an insignificant person… are you willing to help me solve this problem now?”
Samuel was stunned. The violent emotions in his heart were replaced by an unbelievable ecstasy.
He almost suspected he was having auditory hallucinations due to excessive longing. Jiang Zhaosheng… was actually taking the initiative to seek his help? On such a private and vulnerable matter?
However, before this joy could fully spread, Jiang Zhaoshengâs next move stripped him of all ability to think.
Jiang Zhaosheng whispered a soft “donât move.” Then, he tilted his head up and accurately followed the source of the most intense and primal scent of Samuelâs pheromonesâthe Alpha gland at the back of the neckâand bit down hard!
“Ugh!”
It wasn’t an affectionate mark, but a predatory, primal gnawing, driven by a desperate need for more.
Sharp teeth pierced the skin, bringing a tearing pain, and the pheromones surged out even more uncontrollably.
The rich, powerful Alpha pheromones, carrying the saltiness of the sea breeze and the scorching heat of the sun, instantly wrapped around him airtight.
For the current Jiang Zhaosheng, Alpha pheromones were undoubtedly the most effective medicine to soothe his restlessness and fill his emptiness. He knew how to “solve” his problemâstimulating a powerful Alpha’s gland to force the release of high-concentration pheromones was the fastest way.
But he very, very rarely did this.
The side effects of this method were too lethalâhe would temporarily develop a strong physiological dependency and obsession with the Alpha’s pheromones. That state of losing his reason, wanting only to be drowned in the other person’s scent, and becoming clingy and fragile, had left him with a significant shadow. It made him more wary and resistant than the heat itself.
The emptiness and dryness brought by the pseudo-heat were incredibly soothed and suppressed under the impact of Samuelâs intense pheromones.
Jiang Zhaosheng let out a faint sound of pleasure that he didn’t even notice himself. The arm that had been against the other’s shoulder now tightened around Samuel’s neck.
Unconsciously, he used his soft lips to rub against the bitten, bleeding skin, trying to draw out more of the reassuring scent.
As for Samuel…
After the sharp pain came an indescribable, almost trembling sense of satisfaction.
He had been bitten. Bitten by Jiang Zhaosheng.
It wasn’t a mark, yet it made him more crazed than any marking could. To be roughly gnawed on by Zhaozhaoâhis arm tightened around Jiang Zhaosheng’s supple waist, feeling the previously tense and resisting body turn incredibly soft.
His body temperature gradually rose. Warm breath fanned shallowly against the side of his neck, carrying a delicate, bud-like fragrance that made Samuel think of the tip of a cat’s nose nudging him to act spoiled.
Samuel realized, as if by instinct, that this version of Jiang Zhaoshengâwho had thrown himself into his arms and shown a rare state of dependencyâperhaps had no interest in him as a person.
Jiang Zhaosheng didn’t care that he was Samuel Esposito, didn’t care about his surging love or his towering rage… he simply needed his pheromones to solve a problem, like using a handy tool.
Compared to that unknown fellow hidden under the table or in the secret room, which of them was truly superior?
For others, this kind of objectified and extremely terrible experience would be a nightmare. Yet, it weirdly satisfied the twisted delusion deep within Samuelâs heartâthe craving to be needed and used by Jiang Zhaosheng. He bore the pain with relish, feeling the person in his arms become docile and dependent. A massive sense of pleasure swept over him.
Jiang Zhaosheng was starting to feel a bit of regret.
He could feel his consciousness becoming blurred; a light, airy excitement was replacing his previous calmness.
The good news was that he could still find the mental energy to complain about himselfâwhat was this? Does one bite of an Alpha turn you into a “love brain”? His mind was filled with nothing but “I want to smell more” and “be drowned in this scent.”
This damn, uncontrollable reaction.
“Samuel…” Jiang Zhaosheng held the man’s head, his fingers unconsciously running through the thick blonde hair. Despite the gauze, he seemed to possess vision as he gazed “deeply” at him, his voice sweet as melting honey, “…I like your scent.”
He had almost forgotten that this Italian man’s pheromones also smelled of the sea breeze.
It was just that, compared to the person in his memory, it was more… aggressive.
For an Alpha to release high-concentration pheromones so frequently and in such large quantities outside of their rut was extremely mentally taxing.
Jiang Zhaosheng had inhaled too much of the dense pheromones. His defensive line of reason was collapsing bit by bit, and a flush of excitement uncontrollably stained his cheeks and the side of his neck.
Faint traces of blood from Samuelâs gland still clung to his lips, having dried slightly. That blood was rich with concentrated pheromones. Jiang Zhaosheng stuck out the tip of his tongue, instinctively chasing that alluring taste, lightly licking his lips. The glistening moisture coated his already full and soft lips.
He seemed unaware of how captivating he looked right nowâeyes covered, cheeks flushed, lips moist and stained with blood. He looked like a pure and innocent saint participating in a sacrifice, unconsciously inviting others to desecrate him.
He also didn’t know why Samuel was as still as a statue.
Jiang Zhaosheng tasted the flavor he liked and narrowed his eyes happily beneath the gauze. He smoothed the man’s blonde hair over and over, treating him like a large dog. Occasionally, his fingertips would scratch the man’s tensed jaw, and a low, satisfied hum vibrated in his throat.
Like a Siren’s voice tempting a sailor… flames rose from his limbs and bones, almost burning away Samuel’s last shred of reason.
He endured until the veins on his temples bulged and his pulse throbbed. Only then did he reach out with extreme restraint and grab Jiang Zhaoshengâs hand, which had been causing havoc in his hair and on his jaw, his thumb rubbing against the other’s slender wrist.
The Alpha slowly lowered his head, burying his face in the crook of the neck. He greedily inhaled the unique scentâa mix of his own pheromones and the other’s sweet fragranceâand let out a deep, raspy sigh of contentment.
“…Zhaozhao.”
The “which one” question was no longer important for nowâno, it wasn’t important at all anymore.
What mattered was that at this moment, he was the one being needed. He was the one being bitten, drawn from, and “used.”
Jiang Zhaoshengâs hand was held by him, while his other hand felt the bulging veins on the back of Samuelâs hand. With an innocent and ignorant “pity,” he asked:
“Is it very uncomfortable?”
Samuel shook his head vigorously in the warm hollow of his neck, strivingâalmost without reservationâto release even more of his pheromones, soaking this rarely docile person even deeper in his own scent.
Uncomfortable?
No.
This was simply the… ultimate bliss he had dreamed of.
…
The young attendant, Luigi, held his breath. He cautiously carried a tray containing new pajamas and iced towels, quietly entering his master’s private suite.
As he pushed open the door, he was instantly hit by Alpha pheromones so intense they were suffocating. It was Samuelâs scentâpowerful as the waves in a storm.
Luigi was secretly alarmed: Has the Boss entered his rut? Why isn’t he using suppressors? Is there someone else in the room?
He didn’t dare to look around haphazardly. His gaze was about to drop humbly to the carpet, but the scene before him inevitably entered his vision, making his heart skip a beatâ
Mr. Samuel was standing with his back to the door. His tall frame swayed imperceptibly, yet he remained standing firmly, holding someone in his arms.
It was that black-haired, mysterious gentleman whom the master called “Zhaozhao.”
The gentleman’s body wasn’t merely slender; under the silk robe, one could see smooth, beautiful lines covered by a layer of well-proportioned, lean muscle. Held in Mr. Samuelâs arms now, they appeared to fit together with startling perfection.
“Zhaozhao” was wearing a deep blue silk robe that was currently somewhat disheveled. A thin sash hung loosely around his waist, as if it might fall apart at any moment. The hem of the robe was spread open, revealing two long, straight legs. As Mr. Samuel walked, the man’s white ankles and a section of his calves overlapped languidly.
The East Asian man’s long black hair was like fine silk, draped over Mr. Samuelâs arm and his own back, with a few strands sticking to his sweat-dampened temples and cheeks.
A clean white gauze covered his eyes, obscuring his brow and eyes, leaving only his jade-carved bridge of the nose and pointed chin exposed. He looked fragile enough to make one’s heart tremble.
Mr. Samuel carefully placed the person in his arms onto the large ebony desk in the center of the room.
The cold touch of the tabletop seemed to make the gentleman shiver slightly, his toes curling inward. He sat obediently, his long legs maintaining their crossed position, forming a hazy and alluring curve under the cover of the robe.
Luigi saw Mr. Samuel take a deep breath, seemingly forcing down his physical exhaustion and some even more surging emotion. Then, this masterâwho in his memory was always calm, composed, and even somewhat playfulâactually knelt down slowly on one knee in front of the desk. His posture was almost humble.
He reached out and, with great care, bit by bit, peeled away the white gauze covering the gentleman’s eyes.
Moonlight poured through the massive floor-to-ceiling windows like liquid silver, spilling onto the desk and softly illuminating the gentleman’s face.
The moment the gauze was completely removed, Luigi almost forgot to breathe.
What kind of eyes were those?
Because they hadn’t seen light in a long time, they were slightly squinted. Long eyelashes fluttered like butterfly wings, and the pupils were still misty with a layer of physiological moisture, blurred and damp. But quickly, that layer of mist dissipated, revealing the true color beneathâ
They were like deep forest lakes under the moonlight, an indescribable and exotic shade between blue and green. They were clear and cold, yet stained with a hint of blurred languor due to the current situation. Just by quietly lowering his gaze, he could snatch one’s soul away.
Samuel seemed bewitched by those eyes. He couldn’t help but lean down, gently kissing the other’s exposed, slightly bent kneecap.
It was a kiss ofčŁć (submission) and longing, a plea for love.
In the next second, a fair and slender hand reached out.
The gentleman used his index finger to lightly lift Samuelâs chin, pulling him away from that near-sacrificial kiss and forcing him to meet his blue-green eyes.
He lowered his head slightly, his long hair sliding over his shoulders like a waterfall, resembling a meticulously painted oil portrait in the moonlight.
Looking at the Alpha gazing up at him, his voice was deep and elegant, carrying the tone of a command, as if he were a natural-born master:
“âLook at me.”
Luigi’s heart pounded wildly. He slammed his head down, not daring to look for another second. The silver tray in his hand clinked against the floor, startling him.
Fortunately, no one in the room looked at him. Luigi, his legs almost turning to jelly, stumbled and retreated quietly, closing the door softly.
Inside that door was a world he could neither understand nor reach.
The only thing he was certain of was that the black-haired, green-eyed gentleman was too bewitchingly beautifulâeven for his noble master, Samuel… he would find it difficult to claim him as his own.
[Authorâs Note: Alphas can start lining up to wait for Zhaozhao to flip their name plaques now. [Pity]]
[The Opener: What about me?]
[Beta Lin Xuan: What about me?]
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