Without a doubt in the world [19 days]

Chapter Five

"What the actual fuck, He Tian?"

There's an ache in the back of his head where he was hit in the head with a textbook. An angry Jian Yi stands above him, a look of clear disapproval on his face. Before he could even say a word, another hit was aimed at his shoulder. Yeah, he deserved that. And the other one as well. Hell, if Jian Yi decided to bring Zhan Zhengxi along and told him about the events a few nights prior, he wouldn't be alive anymore. As much as the other Alpha can be calm as a stone, he definitely wouldn't hold back.

He Tian had noticed that in the past, Zhan Zhengxi would be as protective over Guanshan as he was over Jian Yi, a sort of habit he had developed over the years of their friendship. He had also learned a long time ago that there was something more between them. From light touches against their hands to catching them making out in a study room.

"Is that why you were all grumpy Alpha this whole week? Even your whole fanbase has ended up avoiding you," Jian Yi asked, sitting down across from He Tian, finally putting the heavy textbook down. There's certainly going to be a bruise on the top of his head.

"He asked me to mark him. Shit dude, what was I supposed to do? I can't bond with someone just like that. Even you two aren't bonded yet."

"But you can't just leave an Omega in the middle of a heat. Especially if you're already half-way to fucking. Jesus man, didn't you already entertain an Omega during a heat once?" It's the truth. Last summer, while away on family business, he decided to spend a week rolling around in the sheets with a blond. No one will ever know that the man looked a little too much like the redhead.

He Tian spent the last week kicking himself in the back. There were a million other ways he could have handled the situation. Maybe if he were to bite hard right next to the bonding mark, it would have been enough to convince him. Or maybe if he were to just stay with him and cradled him in his arms. God, he is an idiot.

"He's going to be back at school today. What are you going to say to him?" Jian Yi asks, not even waiting for He Tian to reply at this point. Maybe if he were to hit him again, some kind of answer could have come out of his mouth. He already feels like a child being reprimanded for a petty crime, so he might as well get a slap on the wrist. with an axe. Hard.

"I don't fucking know," He Tian buries his face in his hands, "someone just shoot me please." He feels like a coward. With everything going on in his life, he wishes that there was at least some sort of stability. Next year he's supposed to go to university, but would he even be able to stay in China with the family business going haywire in the last couple of years? His father has started to pressure him to start thinking about taking He Cheng's role and to find a mate so the next heir to the family fortune would be secure. In the past few years, He Cheng has moved up in the syndicate, taking up a more important part; he has unceremoniously announced to everyone that there's no way he has time to even think about starting a family.

"Sheesh, the school's big brave Alpha is at a loss for words. Now, not to say you're somewhat screwed, but you're definitely not winning this one."

"Do you crave death that badly?"

"Sometimes on Sundays."

He Tian sighs and his head hits the desk. Speaking with Jian Yi, who has a fucking perfect relationship, about matters like these was very clearly pointless. Maybe he should have at least sent Guanshan one message during the duration of his heat. Yet here he is. He is a big coward, and no amount of texting will fix that now. He should have stuck it out and acted like a proper Alpha. There's no doubt in the back of his mind that he failed Guanshan in the most vulnerable moment possible.

Speak of the devil.

He feels Guanshan's presence behind him faster than he actually hears him walk into the classroom. He Tian turns around to see the redhead standing behind him, clearly pale and much skinnier than before, but the same pissed-off expression that is so common to see on his face is back. The Omega is wearing a yellow turtleneck, and there's a small bandage on the top of his hand. He no longer smells like the fresh strawberries with a hint of mint, but now just as he used to for the last 3 years. An Alpha. It's so disgusting to his nose that he wishes he could just throw Guanshan into a shower and wash it off.