“I was drugged and you knew it.” He continued, his tone lower now, though one could still hear the underlying fury. “I was in heat. I was confused. I was saying and doing things I normally never would. You knew all these and yet... yet,” He took a deep breath as he tried to stop his tears from flowing out. He felt so pathetic. He was a General. A Warlord of the Celestial Kingdom but here he was, about to cry because he was marked.
Even though the person who marked him was his Alpha, it still didn’t make him feel any better.
Sheng Fei’s heart broke watching his own Omega regretting their first time together. He thought that things were finally good between them. Especially since he exposed the Emperor’s true nature and they fought against the Emperor together but he was gravely mistaken. Hua Ren didn’t appear to be even a bit okay with what had transpired.
And even though he was devastated about it, he couldn’t bear to see Hua Ren like that so he stepped closer, only stopping when he was right in front of Hua Ren.
“I’m sorry that things happened the way they did, Hua Ren.” He said, his voice deep and gentle. “But I will not apologise for going through with it.”
Hua Ren’s eyes snapped up in disbelief. “What?”
“I am not sorry for what I did.” Sheng Fei said and before he could utter another word, a sharp crack echoed through the quiet lake. Hua Ren’s palm collided with Sheng Fei’s cheek in a loud, jarring slap, making Sheng Fei’s face whip to the side.
“You bastard,” Hua Ren gritted. “How can you say that? You take advantage of me, you mark me, and then you say you’re not sorry?”
“No, I’m not.” Sheng Fei insisted, turning his head, his golden eyes blazing with a mix of fury and determination. He knew it wasn’t what Hua Ren wanted to hear but he couldn’t lie about his feelings and he had to make him see the truth whether he liked it or not.
“And I never will because it is something I’ve wished for ever since I accepted you as my mate. If given the chance to start over, I would do it all again. I do not regret it. I do not regret making you mine. I only regret that you weren’t fully conscious of our actions and your words. I only wish that I got your permission without the influence of those drugs or your heat but we both know that that wasn’t my fault.”
Hua Ren stared at him, stunned.
“Also, I did mark you,” he said, carefully. “But I believe I didn’t take advantage of you. If anything, you seduced me. If any other Alpha can resist your advances, I can’t. Because I’m the one destined for you. I’m your mate. I don’t know how much willpower you think I have, but when it comes to you... it doesn’t exist.” His voice softened. “These past nights proved that. Besides, I never said I wasn’t going to take responsibility for my actions. You’re my omega. My mate. I will stay by your side no matter what and even if you’re with child—”
The words barely left his mouth when Hua Ren staggered back like he’d been punched.
“W-What did you say?” he choked, going deathly pale.
His hand moved automatically—shakily—to his stomach, pressing flat against the sheet still wrapped tightly around him. His entire body stiffened, breath hitching in his throat as his mind went blank.
That shouldn’t happen. He suddenly couldn’t hear anything anymore. Sheng Fei’s voice became a muffled drone in the distance, drowned out by the roaring panic in his ears.
He wasn’t ready for this. He didn’t want this. He never wanted marriage or the things that came with it. Especially a child. What would he even do? Where would he start?
“Hua Ren?” Sheng Fei called, stepping closer. “Calm down please. I never said you’re pregnant. I only meant that—”
“Don’t touch me!” Hua Ren snapped, eyes wide as he slapped Sheng Fei’s hands away. He couldn’t stay there. He couldn’t stand there and look at Sheng Fei after what he had just heard. A child?
“No, no I can’t stay here. I have to go.”
He made an attempt to leave but Sheng Fei quickly caught his wrist. “Wait—please. The Emperor’s men are looking for us. There are wanted posters with our faces on them. If you go out there, you won’t be safe—”
“Stay the fuck away from me!” he screamed, yanking his arm free. Who cared about the Emperor’s men? He gave Sheng Fei a scorching glare. “I’ll take my chances.”
Then he turned and stormed off.
Sheng Fei stood there for a while, fingers still curled where Hua Ren had slipped from his grasp. Fuck. He had really messed up.
Why did he have to go and mention having a child? For a person who was freaking out because he was marked, he should have known that children would be a more sensitive topic.
He sighed, slumping unto the grass.
Were relationships supposed to be this difficult?
The door slammed behind Hua Ren with a thunderous bang, rattling the hinges. His chest heaved with every breath, his vision blurred by fury and panic. He wanted scream or destroy something. How could Sheng Fei do this to him? He hadn’t even thought of it.
They had been mating for days. What if he was truly pregnant? He used to think that as a defective omega, he was immune to everything that had to do with mating since he couldn’t even perceive basic pheromones but ever since Sheng Fei walked into his life, everything went upside down.
Sheng Fei was like a tornado, violently twirling everything in his life and leaving him completely confused and disoriented.
He wanted to cry. Why? Why him?
His eyes fell on the bags Sheng Fei had left near the entrance and with a snarl, he stalked over and tore them open, revealing different kinds of food and fruits. His stomach growled at the sight but he ignored it. He would rather eat his own finger than eat what Sheng Fei had bought.
Inside one of the bags were carefully folded robes. He yanked them out, inspecting them with tight, trembling fingers. Two new sets—one a soft, powdery blue, the other a gentle lilac. He stilled for a moment, eyes narrowing, his lips curling in a bitter scoff.
Sheng Fei claimed to take responsibility but he didn’t even know that he liked to wear pure white. Stupid Alpha.