Chapter 2 Estrus
1205 Words
When I woke up in the morning, the rain had subsided. I rubbed my eyes and walked out of the bedroom to see Richard in the kitchen, holding a spatula.
He turned around, trotted over, and placed a gentle kiss on my hair before rushing back to the stove. "Go wash up. Breakfast will be ready soon."
I couldn't help but follow him into the kitchen, wrapping my arms around his waist and pressing my cheek against his back to listen to his heartbeat. Richard chuckled and scratched my nose. "Clingy." I closed my eyes, thinking: So what if I'm head over heels?
After breakfast, Richard's expression turned hesitant.
"What's wrong, Richard?"
"It's nothing, it's just... there's a new research project. I need to go to the Lower City to do some research. It will be for a long time, and I'll be very busy." He gently stroked my hair, his gaze filled with affection. "What should we do? I'm going to miss you so much, David."
Hearing Lower City, my face paled. "Can you... not go?"
Richard shook his head resolutely.
"then... then focus on your work. I..." I clenched my clothes, closing my eyes as if determined. "I... I'll come to see you on the weekends, okay?"
A childlike joy spread across Richard's face as he pulled me into a hug. "David, I love you so much."
*****
"David, over here!" On Friday night, Richard waved to me from afar. The dilapidated train station in the Lower City remained the same, dust mingling with the scent of various Alphas, making me slightly dizzy. The Lower City had no morals; no Alpha would restrain themselves from an Omega.
Richard took my backpack as I held onto his arm, my fingertips trembling slightly. The only thing in the Lower City that could be considered basic infrastructure was a light rail line. The train car was particularly crowded. I squeezed next to Richard by the door, only to be separated by a group of people boarding. I was pushed by the crowd to the middle of the car, unable to see Richard's face even on tiptoe. He must be worried sick.
"Excuse me, coming through... Mmm..." A hand covered my mouth, another reaching under my shirt. "Don't scream, or I'll strip you right here!"
I couldn't turn around, but I felt my zipper being pulled down. Several hands reached for my lower back, my pants precariously hanging from my hips. The exposed skin shivered from the air conditioning, only to be met with a searing heat. The Alpha pheromone suppression made it difficult to stand. More hands lifted me, tears welling up in my eyes from the humiliation that washed over me.
'Richard, where are you?' I wondered.
"What a fair-skinned Upper City boy!"
"We're in for a treat today!"
The lewd comments and chaotic pheromones gradually drowned me...
By the door, the Alpha, filled with anticipation for his Omega, suppressed his limited anger and anxiety. He raised his phone, his expression calm, while inside, he was about to explode with excitement...
The train came to a stop. After a moment's pause, people poured out of the car like a tide. Without support, I collapsed onto the floor, feeling like a pool of water tainted with filthy pheromones.
"David..."
Wiping away the tears blurring my vision, I saw Richard kneeling at the door, his hands clutching his head in distress. His tailored suit was stained with dust and mud. He crawled toward me on all fours, pulling me into his arms. "I'm sorry, David. I'm so sorry..."
At this point, what else was there to misunderstand? Although Richard was an Alpha, how could he, alone and outnumbered, withstand the pheromone suppression from so many Alphas? I reached out to touch his cheek, leaning against him with exhaustion. "It's not your fault. Let's just go home, okay?"
Richard's usual gentle voice was laced with guilt. "Okay."
Little did I know, this was just an advance payment of pity.
*****
In the damp room, I buried myself in the crook of Richard's neck, greedily inhaling the red wine scent emanating from his gland. "Richard, why... why haven't you marked me?"
"David, I really want to, but we don't need a child yet." Richard released more soothing pheromones. "We're both still young, and you still have your career to focus on, right, David?"
I was immersed in the intoxicating scent of red wine, nodding unconsciously. My Richard, he loved me so much.
*****
On Saturday, I clung to Richard like a pendant all day. He was a very restrained person, especially in bed. Even when his rut coincided with my heat, he was never out of control. He was always calm and perfect, like a specimen.
"David, you haven't eaten anything all day. The food here in the Lower City isn't good. I have to go buy some myself. Can you let go of me for a bit?"
I shook my head and hugged him tighter.
"But David," Richard pried my fingers off one by one, gazing into my eyes. "It pains me to see you not eating. I'll be back soon, okay?"
The moment Richard disappeared out the door, I mustered all my strength and rushed over, grabbing his clothes, my teeth chattering. "Richard, I... I'll go with you. Don't leave me..."
"Okay." Richard's eyes were full of indulgence, but deep down, there was something I couldn't understand.
The heart of the Lower City was the Blackwater District, the most prosperous area in the entire Lower City, also known as the "City that Never Sleeps" both in the Lower and Upper Cities. The bustling streets were no less lively than the commercial district of the Upper City.
"This looks pretty good." I couldn't help but loosen my grip on Richard's arm, curiously observing the shops and food stalls lining the streets, their aromas wafting through the air. I whispered, "Richard, this food seems pretty normal?"
"Have you heard of Cloudie?" Richard chuckled softly, leaning closer. "It's a common seasoning used in these street stalls."
I froze.
Cloudie, a pheromone activator rampant in the Lower City, could quickly trigger an Alpha's rut and an Omega's heat. I instinctively held Richard tighter as he led me into a seemingly upscale shopping mall.
The air conditioning in the mall was blasting, but there was still a strange smell in the air. The restaurant looked decent. Richard ordered two plates of beef pasta and two mango juices. But halfway through the meal, he suddenly frowned.
"What's wrong, Richard?" Remembering the rumors about Cloudie, I put down my fork nervously.
"It's nothing. I need to use the restroom. I'll be right back."
But half an hour passed, and his phone went straight to voicemail. I paid the bill and walked toward the restroom the waiter pointed to.
The moment I pushed open the door to the Alpha restroom, the pungent aroma of red wine hit me. A familiar heat surged through my spine, and my knees buckled, sending me crumbling onto the cold tile floor.
"Richard..."
There was no answer. The door behind me slammed shut with a bang. In my blurry vision, the wall opposite the restroom cracked with a deafening crash.
- Writer
