ALPHA UNIVERSE #6: CRAVING YOU

CHAPTER 18

Danielle felt like she had been splashed with ice-cold water the moment reality hit her. She had estimated that her pre-heat would start next week, but clearly, the schedule had been thrown off due to all the overwhelming events of the past few days. The stress had taken a toll on her body, pushing her omega instincts into vulnerability earlier than expected.

Jaewook being annoying, the alarming incident with Sho—each moment had stacked on top of the other, chipping away at her stability. She had been so caught up in the chaos that she failed to notice the telltale signs of her cycle creeping up on her. There had been hints, of course—small flashes of discomfort, irritability, and an increased sensitivity to scent. But she had dismissed them, attributing her mood swings to sheer frustration rather than the onset of her heat.

Now, the realization slammed into her with full force.

And she was with Mark. Oh god.

Panic threatened to consume her as she stood frozen in place. She could sense the shift in the air—the way Mark's body stiffened beside her, the slight change in his breathing. He was an alpha, after all. Even if he didn't say a word, she knew he had caught on.

But unlike her, Mark quickly contained himself, his expression schooled into neutrality. A fleeting moment of panic flickered in his eyes before he regained control, his usual composed demeanor slipping back into place like a second skin.

Danielle didn't wait to analyze the situation further.

Grabbing her phone with trembling hands, she called Chenle. Her voice was urgent, barely above a whisper, as she explained what had happened. She didn't give him time to respond properly before hanging up and dashing out of the room, leaving behind a bewildered Mark.

She ran.

Hailing a taxi, she rushed straight home.

The next day, Mark swallowed his lingering worries and shifted his focus to his responsibilities as student council president.

He had called a meeting to address the increasingly irresponsible behavior among the students—specifically, the rampant disregard for boundaries during cycles. It was becoming an issue that could no longer be ignored. Too many incidents had already occurred, some of them dangerously close to spiraling out of control.

Mark's stance was firm as he laid out his points.

Effective immediately, the sanctions for violating boundaries during cycles would be intensified. Previously, students only received verbal warnings. Now, however, Mark was pushing for stricter repercussions. Any student found disregarding these rules—especially alphas—would be sent directly to the guidance counselor and placed under observation.

He knew that mere words would never be enough.

As an alpha himself, Mark understood the unspoken truth: alphas only learned the hard way. They were raised with a sense of dominance, conditioned to believe that their strength placed them above others. The only way to break that mindset was through authority stronger than theirs. If their pride was stepped on by someone with a higher position, they would have no choice but to comply.

After the meeting, Mark wasted no time. He scheduled a discussion with the university president, laying out his arguments with conviction. He didn't just state his opinions—he provided real-life examples, using past incidents as proof that change was necessary.