Chapter 58: A+A (VI)

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Chapter 58: A+A (VI)

If Shang Ke had known that one meal would turn Rhine into an overenergetic beast in heat, he absolutely would not have fed him a single bite!

Could an Alpha mark another Alpha the same way an Alpha marked an Omega? As far as Shang Ke knew, no. Even if an Alpha were somehow marked, they could erase the mark through their own strength.

So what exactly was Rhine trying to do now? Had he eaten so much that he had nothing better to do? Or was he testing Shang Ke’s strength? But this method of testing was far too “creative.” It was practically flirting! (Rhine: I really am flirting…)

And this one bout of “flirting” had dragged an entire group into it. The Omega pheromones outside surged like waves of desire, stimulating Shang Ke almost beyond endurance. If Rhine’s pheromones had not been suppressing him, he probably would have bolted outside like a runaway horse in search of his own sexual bliss!

Judging from Rhine’s condition, he had clearly been affected too, his arousal unmistakable. But could he please stop pressing it against Shang Ke’s waist?! If this guy were his man, Shang Ke wouldn’t care whether he was the one doing the pushing or the one getting pushed down—but Rhine wasn’t!

Shang Ke struggled to calm the desire churning through his body. Gathering his strength, he suddenly spun around and swept an arm toward Rhine.

Rhine stepped back half a pace and caught Shang Ke by the wrist, bringing them face-to-face. Crystal droplets of sweat flew from the damp strands over Shang Ke’s forehead. His dark eyes were sharp and blazing with fighting spirit, yet his flushed cheeks and vivid lips resembled a snow plum blooming in full glory, tempting someone to pluck it.

Rhine’s gaze darkened. He tightened his grip and pulled Shang Ke toward him. Instead of retreating, Shang Ke moved forward, bent his elbow, and used the momentum to strike Rhine in the chest. Rhine turned sideways, giving Shang Ke the opening he needed to break free.

Surprise flashed across Rhine’s face before he attacked again.

Shang Ke dodged nimbly and fought through evasive maneuvers. The two battled from the kitchen into the living room, force exploding between them while their pheromones churned through the air. Everyone nearby suffered miserably from the fallout and cursed one after another: What the fuck kind of demons are fighting over there?!

Relying on his skillful footwork and techniques, Shang Ke managed to fight Rhine to a standstill despite his weakened physical condition.

Rhine’s muscles were taut with power. Although his face revealed little emotion, his burning gaze seemed ready to pierce straight through Shang Ke.

Shang Ke stepped onto the sofa and prepared to leap away, but Rhine suddenly struck with explosive speed, chopping the joint of his leg with the edge of his hand. Shang Ke cried out in pain and fell onto the sofa, only to be immediately pinned beneath him.

Shang Ke’s chest rose and fell with his rapid breathing, his eyes shining with exceptional brilliance from the intense fight.

Rhine stared down at the man beneath him, undisguised desire burning in his eyes. With every muscle drawn tight, he looked intensely dangerous, like a beast poised to spring. Powerful pheromones once again flooded over Shang Ke and invaded his senses, as though trying to seize control of everything he was. The impact swept through both their bodies like surges of electricity.

Shang Ke gritted his teeth and, beneath the crushing pressure, forced out a sentence with difficulty. “Brigadier General, you win.”

Rhine’s eyes flickered. His pheromones moved like invisible tendrils, sliding along Shang Ke’s legs and pressing deeper into his senses. His intentions could hardly have been more obvious.

A tingling sensation ran up Shang Ke’s spine, and alarm immediately flared within him. “Rhine, what are you trying to do?”

“Your skills are very good—far better than I expected. But,” Rhine said in a low voice, “you’re still not my match.”

“So?”

“The strong have absolute control over the weak. You cannot refuse me.” Possessiveness filled Rhine’s eyes, as though Shang Ke were already his.

“What do you mean?”

“It means…” Rhine’s fingers traced Shang Ke’s neck. “I’m strong enough to mark you.” This man’s scent was simply too enticing. Rhine was finding it increasingly difficult to stop himself.

“Mark an Alpha?” Every hair on Shang Ke’s body practically stood on end. “Are you kidding me?”

“Want to find out?”

“No!” Shang Ke rejected him without hesitation. “I already have someone I like. Please show some mercy, Brigadier General.”

“That Omega?” Rhine said coolly. “You’d better forget him as soon as possible. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee I’ll remain this much of a gentleman.”

A gentleman? You have the nerve to call yourself that?!

How had Shang Ke failed to notice before that this guy was nothing more than a hooligan in uniform?

“Let go of me.” Shang Ke struggled forcefully.

This time, Rhine complied readily and moved off him.

Shang Ke immediately got to his feet and retreated to the side. “It’s getting late. Brigadier General, please leave.”

Rhine straightened his clothes and headed toward the door. Before leaving, he turned back to Shang Ke. “My original estimate of one year was too conservative. I underestimated your strength. Six months from now, you’ll receive my transfer order.”

Shang Ke said nothing. Internally, he was already considering whether he should switch locations entirely and grind out his mission somewhere else.

“You won’t have the option to refuse.” Rhine seemed to see straight through him. “Unless you become stronger than me.”

“I will become stronger!” Shang Ke declared firmly.

“Then I’ll look forward to it.” Rhine intended to claim this man with overwhelming strength when Shang Ke was at his strongest.

Having finally found someone he genuinely wanted to conquer, Rhine was in an excellent mood. As for Shang Ke being an Alpha, that was no obstacle whatsoever in his eyes.

Even after Rhine left, his scent still saturated the room, leaving Shang Ke deeply irritated. People in this world seemed to consider it perfectly natural for the strong to control the weak. This was especially true of powerful Alphas in positions of authority, who possessed an almost unshakable right to take the initiative.

Shang Ke was grateful that he was an Alpha. Otherwise, resisting biological instinct alone would consume enormous amounts of energy. At least as he was now, he still had room to fight back.

No. I have to find him as soon as possible, or my chastity may actually be in danger. If Shang Ke truly could not find him, then he would simply focus on completing the mission. After ten years, he could return to the System Space and search for him again in another world.

Over the following months, Shang Ke did not see Rhine again. Ryan, on the other hand, visited frequently, constantly checking on Shang Ke and taking attentive care of him. Nearly everyone who knew them had begun treating the two as a couple.

Shang Ke tactfully rejected him, but Ryan continued exactly as before. After several attempts, Shang Ke simply stopped bothering.

He kept mostly to himself and spent the majority of each day training. His studies included not only practical combat, but also military preparedness, operating-system principles, repair techniques, and the control and application of pheromones.

He spent the rest of his free time searching the network for information. He investigated every person the System had mentioned, but still failed to find the man he was looking for—until he dug up information on his former “love rival,” Zeka, and finally saw a glimmer of hope.

Zeka had a mole on his palm.

Unfortunately, it was on his left hand.

Thanks to his outstanding grades, Zeka had been recruited into Rhine’s unit ahead of graduation. Shang Ke immediately became depressed again. He had never expected Zeka to be serving under Rhine too. It looked like he really would have to accept that bastard’s transfer order.

Six months later, the low-profile Shang Ke—whose physical condition had recovered to only about sixty percent—once again became the center of public attention.

Rhine’s 45th Legion was known as the strongest military unit in the Empire. Everyone qualified to enter was among the elite of the elite. As the greatest hero of the Battle of Via City, Shang Ke’s recruitment should ordinarily have seemed perfectly reasonable.

However, someone leaked the news that Shang Ke had suffered devastating injuries and that his combat ability had fallen drastically, immediately provoking widespread controversy.

No one denied Filmore’s accomplishments, but the 45th Legion had always selected personnel strictly according to ability. If someone lacked sufficient strength, even the son of a marshal could not get in. Filmore’s academy record was public knowledge: not poor enough to prevent graduation, but certainly nothing exceptional. Only his battlefield performance had truly stood out. Now that everyone knew his strength had plummeted, did he still deserve a place in the 45th Legion?

Soon, someone publicly released Shang Ke’s hospital medical report, and the outside world finally learned that his injuries had been severe enough that he might be forced into early retirement. Even with persistent rehabilitation, doctors had predicted that he might recover only around sixty percent of his former physical ability. For a powerful Alpha, that was undoubtedly an enormous blow. No wonder a man who should have been riding high on fame had rejected every invitation and remained so low-profile.

Many people sympathized with him, but even more questioned the transfer order.

On the day Shang Ke reported to the 45th Legion, he was greeted by a sea of skeptical looks.

Shang Ke showed no trace of discomfort. Standing ramrod straight, he announced his name and rank in a strong, resonant voice. Whatever anyone thought of his strength, that confidence and bearing alone earned a fair amount of appreciation.

Rhine did not make him demonstrate his strength. Instead, he assigned Shang Ke directly to the Special Operations Reserve Unit. Members of the special-operations unit either possessed outstanding combat ability or specialized skills. Even its reserve members were talents selected from one in a hundred.

No one dared challenge Rhine’s decision directly, but they were far less courteous toward Shang Ke himself.

The 45th Legion was currently in a rest and reorganization period, temporarily remaining in the capital for routine training, with one day off each week. They would not deploy to the southeastern frontier for another two months. As a result, the soldiers were bored out of their minds and eagerly rubbing their hands together, preparing to teach Shang Ke a lesson.

Shang Ke paid no attention to them whatsoever. His focus was entirely on Zeka, who had also joined the Special Operations Reserve Unit.

Their first formal meeting took place on the day Shang Ke reported in. The person assigned to escort him to his dormitory was none other than Zeka.

Zeka had blond hair and naturally flirtatious eyes. Rather than a soldier, he looked more like an artist. His pheromones were reminiscent of a tranquil lake covered in blooming water lilies.

Shang Ke had discovered that although he was an Alpha, he did not naturally reject the pheromones of other Alphas. Unlike an Omega’s instinctive biological allure, Shang Ke’s own pheromones seemed unusually tolerant and compatible.

“Filmore, you’ve changed quite a bit.” Zeka leaned against the doorway with a smile, watching Shang Ke unpack his belongings.

“You haven’t changed at all.” He was just as flashy and flirtatious as in his photos online. Who knew how many troublesome admirers he had accumulated? Shang Ke felt somewhat depressed. If this really was his man, disciplining him might prove difficult.

“I heard you’ve gotten pretty close to Ryan lately?”

Shang Ke gave him a sidelong glance. “That’s right. He treats me very well.”

That one glance made Zeka’s heart stir. He unconsciously moved several steps closer, his eyes narrowing. Yes, Filmore’s scent really had changed. The former sharpness and murkiness were gone, replaced by something gentle and fresh with a faint sweetness. If Zeka had not known for certain that Filmore was an Alpha, he might almost have suspected he was an Omega.

“Oh? Have you slept together?” Zeka asked casually.

“None of your business!” Shang Ke snapped.

“Heh, don’t get angry.” Zeka smiled as though soothing a kitten. “I’m just curious. He’s been circling around you constantly lately, and you can actually resist him? There isn’t something wrong with your body, is there?”

As he spoke, his gaze pointedly dropped toward Shang Ke’s lower body.

Shang Ke planted one foot on the bed frame, crossed his arms, and raised his chin at Zeka. “Whether there’s a problem or not, wouldn’t you know if you let me try?” If this guy really was his man, Shang Ke would make sure to settle accounts with him later.

Zeka clearly had not expected that answer. He froze for a moment, then asked with growing interest, “You want to sleep with me?”

His gaze swept over Shang Ke from head to toe. There was no denying that he was a beautiful man, and his body carried an unusually sweet scent. As a fellow Alpha, his physique, strength, and endurance were all excellent. Sleeping with someone like this sounded unexpectedly challenging.

Zeka was becoming genuinely interested.

“Then… want to try?” Zeka braced one hand against the bed frame and leaned toward Shang Ke’s neck to inhale his scent, releasing his own pheromones at the same time. Aside from reproductive issues, the main reason Alpha-Alpha relationships were so rare was the natural mutual rejection between their pheromones.

But Shang Ke was an exception. From the moment he became Filmore, his scent had changed. Not only was it attractive to Omegas and Betas, it was also compatible with Alphas.

You said “try,” and you’re actually doing it immediately?! Do you have any shame at all?

Shang Ke sensed Zeka’s pheromones beginning to invade his space and was just about to push back when he caught sight of the mole in Zeka’s left palm. His movement involuntarily paused.

That brief hesitation gave Zeka an opening. Shang Ke endured the strange sensations and allowed him closer, carefully feeling out his scent. He did not dislike it, but something was definitely missing. At least this confirmed one thing: an Alpha’s pheromones did not put Shang Ke into heat.

Zeka had just begun savoring how pleasant Shang Ke’s pheromones were and was about to press further when an even more powerful pheromone presence swept in, flooded Shang Ke’s senses, and forcibly expelled Zeka’s.

Zeka involuntarily staggered back a step. Pain stabbed through his head, leaving him dizzy and nauseated.

The stronger the pheromones, the more violent the rejection between Alphas.

“Second Lieutenant Zeka, for disrespecting a superior officer, your leave is canceled for three weeks.” Rhine’s icy voice came from the doorway.

Zeka and Shang Ke immediately saluted him.

Under Rhine’s blade-sharp stare, Zeka finally remembered that Filmore was now a First Lieutenant, outranking him. What he had just done could indeed be classified as disrespect toward a superior officer.

Zeka gave Shang Ke one regretful look, then left the dormitory without protest.

The door slammed shut with a bang as Rhine stepped farther into the dormitory.

Shang Ke’s heart gave an uneasy thump. For some reason, he suddenly had a very bad feeling.

Alphas were intensely possessive and absolutely refused to tolerate others coveting what they considered theirs. Shang Ke had already attracted one Omega, and now an Alpha had appeared too. Was a Beta going to show up next?

Rhine decided it was time to make Shang Ke understand exactly who his man was—and who intended to take the lead from now on.

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