Chapter Text
Barely a few days had passed since their souls and bodies had intertwined, and Gao Tu lived in a state of constant wonder. Wenlang was not the tyrannical Alpha that the rumors painted; he was, surprisingly, a reasonable man whose intensity had been transformed into a devotion bordering on the reverential. However, the cotton-candy bubble of the post-heat glow burst with the harshness of a phone call.
The voice of Gao Ming—heavy with his usual parasitic entitlement, demanding money to cover another of his endless gambling debts—was the trigger.
Wenlang listened to the conversation in silence, but his iris pheromones turned bitter, detecting his Omega’s distress. When Gao Tu hung up, his shoulders slumped under the weight of a responsibility that wasn't his to bear, the truth came to light. Gao Tu confessed everything: the promise made to his mother, the sacrifice of his own desires for the well-being of others, and the real reason the Alpha of Huayong had given him that luxurious apartment. Hearing how Gao Tu had neglected himself for years to prioritize people who only knew how to take without giving anything back, something in Wenlang’s instinct roared. It wasn't just anger; it was a possessive, protective heat burning in his chest. He could not stand for Gao Tu to be at the mercy of leeches.
"You will never hear from that animal again, Tu," Wenlang sentenced, cradling the Omega’s face in his large hands. "Come live with me. It’s not a suggestion. My home is yours, and my protection is absolute."
Gao Tu could not refuse. The bond at the nape of his neck throbbed at the thought of being away from his Alpha for more than a few hours; the idea of moving felt less like an imposition and more like returning to the home he never had.
However, living together brought a new kind of torture for Shen Wenlang.
Settling under the same roof had been a dream, but for Gao Tu, the reality of the office demanded a glass barrier. Although he had decided to stop hiding his nature and present himself to the world as the Omega he was, he insisted on keeping their bond behind closed doors. He didn't do it out of shame, but out of silent devotion: he didn't want Wenlang’s imposing aura and authority as CEO to be tarnished by hallway whispers. For Gao Tu, protecting his Alpha's image was his purest form of loyalty.
Now, at the office, Wenlang found himself in a state of constant irritability, even though his pheromones were strictly regulated. His Alpha was on edge, and the "professional distance" Gao Tu insisted on maintaining was driving him crazy. The Omega denied him even the subtlest brush of fingers or stolen kisses in the elevator, fearful of employee gossip.
"We’re working, A-Lang," Gao Tu would tell him with a shy smile, gently pulling away.
But how could they blame him? For Wenlang, watching Gao Tu work was a form of sweet masochism. He became captivated by his eyebrows, which furrowed with adorable seriousness when the printer took a second too long, or the way his eyelashes fluttered rhythmically while reading reports on the screen.
But the worst were his lips. Those lips that Gao Tu bit unconsciously when focused, leaving the skin pink, swollen, and dangerously provocative. Wenlang would clench his fists under the mahogany desk, feeling his own fangs pressing against his gums. His Alpha mind screamed at him to stand up, cross the space between them, and mark that territory in front of anyone who dared to look. He wanted to take that damnably cute Omega and remind him that, even if it was two in the afternoon in a corporate office with balance sheets to review, he was still irrevocably his. To make matters worse, Gao Tu took his own office rules very seriously. Not only did he maintain an exasperating professional distance, but even though he had stopped taking aggressive suppressors, he now used scent-blocking patches on his neck. The delicious scent of sage—the one Wenlang needed to breathe—was reduced to a barely perceptible echo.
"It’s for the company’s image, A-Lang," Gao Tu had reminded him that morning while applying the patch with agile fingers. "The CEO can't walk around with an assistant who smells like heat and flowers all day."
Wenlang could only grunt in response. That’s why, when he received the message from Hua Yong inviting them to his house that afternoon, he felt an almost violent sense of relief. In the privacy of his friend’s home, Gao Tu would take off the patch. He could smell him again. He could bury his nose in his neck without Human Resources having a word to say about it.
The atmosphere at Hua Yong’s house was unusually warm, though charged with a different vibration of power. They soon discovered the reason: the dinner was to celebrate an event that defied conventional biological laws. Sheng Shaoyou, the imposing S-Class Alpha, sat on the sofa with an expression wavering between disbelief and fierce satisfaction. Beside him, Hua Yong, with his eternal Enigma elegance, kept a possessive hand on the Alpha’s waist.
"We did it," Hua Yong announced with that cryptic smile that seemed to say he was always in control of destiny. "There’s a little peanut on the way." Wenlang was stunned. Seeing an S-Class Alpha—essentially an elite one—expecting a child from an Enigma was a visual reminder of Hua Yong’s power. Only an Enigma could bend the biology of an Alpha of that caliber so they could conceive.
"Shaoyou? You?" Wenlang couldn't help it, staring at his friend with wide eyes.
"Don't look at me like that, idiot," Shaoyou grunted, though his cheeks held a trace of a blush. "Hua Yong is an expert manipulator, you know that. But the little peanut is strong."
The evening passed between laughter and a new kind of tension. Watching Hua Yong care for Shaoyou with that mixture of arrogance and tenderness, Wenlang felt his own Alpha instincts stir. Gao Tu’s sage scent, finally free from the patch, enveloped him, making him feel strangely sensitive.
It was Shaoyou’s final comment that capped the night. As they said goodbye at the door, the S-Class Alpha stared at Gao Tu, then shifted his gaze toward the belly of Wenlang’s "little bunny."
"I hope my little peanut has a friend to play with soon," Shaoyou said with his signature brutal honesty. "Though, based on how you two smell... and considering Wenglang is an animal when it comes to marking territory, I doubt it will take long."
Gao Tu turned the color of a ripe cherry, looking down. But the comment hung in the cold night air.
It was only when they got into the car that reality hit them head-on. Wenlang sat with his hands on the wheel, without starting the engine, mentally reviewing every night since they joined. The nights of heat, the mornings they didn't make it to the office on time, the desperate encounters where instinct ruled over reason...
"A-Tu," Wenlang murmured, his voice vibrating with a new kind of urgency.
"Y-yes?" Gao Tu replied, his heart beating in his throat.
"Have we used a condom since the night we marked each other? Even once?"
Gao Tu opened his mouth to answer but closed it instantly. His mind raced through the moments of passion clouded by instinct and the constant knotting Wenlang sought. The count was quick: not once.
Wenlang looked at Gao Tu’s belly, and for the first time, his Alpha possessiveness transformed into sacred awe. If an S-Alpha could be impregnated by an Enigma, what were the chances for a fertile Omega who had stopped suppressors and lived with an Alpha who loved him with devotion?
Two weeks had passed since the dinner at Hua Yong’s, and Shaoyou’s words had remained etched in the air like a silent prophecy. Wenlang had become... impossible. His need for physical contact had escalated to almost suffocating levels, but Gao Tu, firm in his professionalism, continued to maintain the "no touching" rule within the company walls.
Until that morning.
The boardroom was full. The air conditioning hummed softly as the finance directors presented the quarterly charts. Gao Tu sat right to Wenglang’s right, tablet in hand, taking notes with impeccable precision.
However, to Wenlang, something was wrong. His Alpha senses were screaming. Gao Tu’s scent—usually a sweet, light sage—felt different: denser, warmer, with a metallic undertone that made his skin crawl.
"...and that is why we suggest cutting the logistics budget by five percent," the CFO concluded, oblivious to the rising tension.
Gao Tu cleared his throat to intervene, but no sound came out. Instead, his eyelashes fluttered violently and a sudden, almost translucent paleness covered his face. The smell of bitter coffee filling the room, which he usually didn't even notice, suddenly hit him like a physical slap.
He felt a violent heave in his stomach, a spasm he couldn't control.
"Gao Tu?" Wenlang interrupted the meeting, his voice a thunderclap of concern that made everyone present tense up.
Gao Tu clapped a hand over his mouth, closing his eyes tightly. His breathing became erratic and shallow. He tried to stand up to leave discreetly, but his legs—still weak from lack of sleep (and from nightly activities with a certain Alpha)—failed him. He stumbled, bracing his hands on the glass table as his body, in a public betrayal, curled inward.
A second later, the contents of his stomach spilled over the important documents on the boardroom table and onto a director's shoe. A collective gasp ran through the room.
"Gao Tu!" Wenlang roared, already on his feet. Without hesitation, he wrapped the Omega in his arms, shielding him from the looks of disgust and shock. Gao Tu’s scent intensified—a silent cry of vulnerability and change that Wenglang felt to the marrow of his bones.
"The meeting is over," Wenlang sentenced, his voice low and dangerous, heavy with a possessiveness that left no room for doubt. "Everyone out. Now."
Ignoring the chaos he left behind, Wenlang carried Gao Tu as if he were made of glass, his iris pheromones flooding the hallway like a warning.
"To the hospital. Now," he ordered his secretary, his face a mask of worry.
The trip to the hospital was a blur. Wenlang refused to let go of Gao Tu, even when the Omega, pale and embarrassed, asked to be put down. The ER felt like an eternity while Gao Tu was examined and Wenglang bit his nails, his Alpha in a state of protective frenzy.
Finally, a Beta doctor with a kind smile entered the waiting room where Wenlang held Gao Tu cradled in his lap.
"Mr. Gao, Mr. Shen," the doctor began with a soft laugh. "I have good news, though perhaps a bit unexpected."
Wenlang and Gao Tu exchanged an anxious look.
"Mr. Gao Tu, your nausea and discomfort are completely normal," the doctor said, reading the report. "You are pregnant. About five weeks, to be exact."
The world seemed to stop.
Gao Tu’s eyes widened, tears of wonder and overwhelming happiness appearing on his lashes. He looked at Wenlang, who, for the first time since they met, looked completely stunned. The strong Alpha stood there with wide eyes, his mouth slightly open, unable to articulate a word.
Wenlang’s hand, which had been clutching Gao Tu to his chest, moved tremblingly toward his Omega’s belly. He stroked the flat skin with a reverence Gao Tu had never seen.
"A... a pup?" Wenlang whispered, his voice barely a thread, but loaded with such raw emotion that Gao Tu felt a lump in his throat.
The doctor nodded. "Congratulations, future parents. It seems your high compatibility ensures a very healthy pup."
Gao Tu burst into tears—not of sadness, but of pure relief and joy. He clung to Wenlang, and the Alpha, overcome, finally embraced him with renewed strength, burying his face in his neck and letting out a deep purr—a guttural sound of triumph and protection.
A baby. Their baby.
The office, the rules, the appearances... everything vanished. All that remained was the beat of two hearts and a third, tiny but already powerfully present, sealing their destiny forever.
The return home was silent, but it wasn't an uncomfortable silence. It was the kind of stillness that precedes an irreversible change. Wenlang hadn't let go of Gao Tu’s hand for a single second, not even while driving, keeping their fingers intertwined over the gear shift as if he feared that by letting go, the news would vanish.
Entering the apartment, Wenlang didn't even let Gao Tu take off his shoes by himself. He guided him to the sofa, sat him down with almost exaggerated delicacy, and knelt before him.
"How do you feel? Still nauseous?" Wenlang asked, his voice a husky murmur, his golden eyes fixed on his Omega’s face.
"I’m fine, A-Lang," Gao Tu smiled, though his eyes were a bit red from crying at the hospital. "Just... a bit dazed. I still can't believe it."
Wenlang reached out, hesitating for a second before resting his hand on Gao Tu’s still-flat stomach, just beneath the fabric of his office shirt. His eyes closed as he felt the heat emanating from there. For an Alpha like him, whose life had been a constant battle for control, feeling that there was now a life growing thanks to their union was a religious experience.
"A pup," Wenglang repeated, and this time the word sounded like a promise. "My little bunny is going to have a pup."
Gao Tu leaned forward, resting his forehead against Wenlang’s. The Alpha’s iris scent enveloped him—now sweeter, more protective, almost suffocating in a delicious way.
"He’s going to be the most loved pup in the world," Gao Tu whispered. "But Wenglang... the office. Tomorrow everyone will know why... well, why what happened at the meeting happened."
"Let them know," Wenlang growled, leaving a tender kiss on the fabric covering Gao Tu’s belly. "I’m not hiding you anymore. Not you, and not our child. Tomorrow, I’m putting a more comfortable sofa in my office. You aren't leaving my side by a single millimeter for the next eight months."
Gao Tu let out a soft giggle. He knew his Alpha’s overprotectiveness was about to reach legendary levels, but for the first time, he didn't mind at all.
Monday morning, the HS building vibrated with an electric murmur. Rumors of what happened in the boardroom had spread like wildfire, but no one was prepared for what they would see that day. When the private elevator doors opened on the executive floor, Wenlang stepped out first, but not with his usual fast, predatory stride. He walked slowly, a hand possessively resting on the small of Gao Tu’s back, guiding him as if the marble floor were thin ice Gao Tu, for his part, tried to maintain his composure. He wore an impeccably tailored suit, but something was different: he no longer wore the scent-blocking patch. The sage aroma, now denser and sweeter from the pregnancy, filtered through the hallway, announcing their arrival long before they were seen.
"A-Lang, people are staring," Gao Tu whispered, his cheeks tinged a soft pink as he noticed his secretary and the assistants freezing at the sight of them.
"Let them stare," Wenlang grumbled, casting a warning glance at a group of analysts who dispersed instantly. "They need to learn who owns this place—and who owns my life."
Entering the President’s office, Gao Tu was left speechless.
His usual desk now was there, and the Wenlang’s large black leather sofa had been replaced by a much larger one made of incredibly soft pearl-gray velvet. There were cashmere blankets folded in a corner, a state-of-the-art air purifier, and a small table filled with fresh fruit, plum sweets, and various types of mineral water.
"What is this?" Gao Tu asked, blinking in surprise.
"Your new workstation," Wenlang declared with total seriousness, locking the door for privacy. "I’ve canceled all your tasks that involve carrying heavy files, going to the copy room, or standing for more than ten minutes."
"Wenlang! I’m your executive assistant, not an ornament," Gao Tu protested, though his heart skipped a beat at the gesture.
"Now you are my pregnant mate and the bearer of my pup. The assistant job is secondary." Wenlang took him by the shoulders and forced him to sit on the new sofa. He knelt between his legs and began removing his office shoes to put on wool slippers he had brought from home. "If you have to review reports, you’ll do them here, reclining, I hear that a pregnancy omegas have to sleep a lot and have sleep attacks , If you need anything, I will bring it."
Gao Tu sighed, surrendering to the Alpha’s stubbornness. Wenlang looked so anxious, his golden eyes scanning Gao Tu’s belly every five seconds, that it was impossible to stay mad. The day passed in a surreal manner. Wenlang handled multi-million dollar calls while pacing back and forth, but every time he passed the sofa, he reached out to stroke Gao Tu’s hair or brush his cheek, the climax came at noon. Wenlang interrupted an international video conference because he noticed Gao Tu had fallen asleep with a tablet on his chest.
"Silence," he told the directors on the screen, without explanation. "My Omega is sleeping. We will continue this via email."
He cut the connection without waiting for a response. He approached the sofa, carefully removed the tablet, and covered Gao Tu with the cashmere blanket. Then, he sat on the floor beside the sofa, resting his head near Gao Tu’s knees.
He closed his eyes and let out a low, constant purr—a sound only the most powerful Alphas could produce to stabilize the environment of their nest. In his sleep, Gao Tu sought Wenglang’s hand and squeezed it.
In that moment, the CEO of one of the country’s largest companies wasn't thinking about stocks, markets, or competition. He only thought about how lucky he was that his "medicine" had not only cured him but was blooming into the most beautiful life he could ever imagine.
The Visit: Hua Yong and Sheng Shaoyou
The door had barely closed when Hua Yong and Sheng Shaoyou entered. But this time, the atmosphere was different. There was no biting sarcasm or heavy comments.
Shaoyou was the first to approach. The imposing S-Class Alpha, who normally walked with an authority that intimidated anyone, knelt in front of Gao Tu with a softness that left Wenlang speechless. He placed a warm hand on the Omega's shoulder and looked at him with eyes shining with pure emotion.
"Little Gao Tu... you have no idea how happy it makes me to know I won't be alone in this."
Gao Tu felt tears welling up again. "Shaoyou... I was so scared in the meeting. It was so public..."
"Shhh," Shaoyou interrupted him, squeezing his hand affectionately. "It’s all right. It was nature reclaiming its place. Now my little peanut has a life-brother waiting for him."
Hua Yong, for his part, stood still for a moment, observing the scene. His mask of an impassive Enigma cracked slightly. He approached Wenlang and, instead of a heavy joke, placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed firmly—a gesture of deep brotherhood.
"You did it, Wenlang," Hua Yong said in a murmur only his friend could hear. "I told you he was your medicine, but this... this is the miracle that even I didn't dare promise you. You are at peace. Your wolf is at peace."
Wenlang nodded, his throat tight. "Thank you, Hua Yong. For everything."
Hua Yong then approached Gao Tu and, with unusual delicacy, left a small package on the table. "Mountain plum sweets," he explained in his enigmatic tone, but with a tender glint in his eyes. "They help with morning sickness better than any drug. And Gao Tu..." he leaned toward him slightly. "Welcome officially to the family. You are now the treasure of this circle, and woe to anyone who dares to stress you out—including Wenlang."
The evening transformed into something deeply intimate. The four of them sat on the rug, surrounded by cushions, talking in low voices about cribs, names, and fears. Shaoyou shared his own pregnancy symptoms with Gao Tu, creating an instant bond between the two, while the "fathers"—the Enigma and the Alpha—watched their partners with an adoration that filled every corner of the room.
Gao Tu closed his eyes, surrounded by the scent of his friends and the warmth of his Alpha. There was no longer any trace of the office embarrassment. In this little nest, there was only love, protection, and the promise that, from now on, every step of the way would be taken together.