ALPHA UNIVERSE #6: CRAVING YOU

CHAPTER 21

The exams were finally over.

The timing was perfect—Danielle's heat had completely subsided two weeks before the exams, giving her ample time to study. Well, for both of them to study.

When Mark drove her home after the last test, they both knew they never wanted to be apart for long. The longing stares, the way their fingers brushed and lingered, and the way their inner animals stirred in protest whenever they separated—it was all too telling.

The days they spent together were relentless yet intoxicatingly perfect. Mark was a beast in bed, taking her apart with reckless abandon, only to be the gentlest lover once their breaths evened out. Their bodies had grown so attuned to each other that the need for skin-to-skin contact became an unshakable craving.

Publicly and privately, things remained normal—at least on the surface. Their friends only assumed they had been absent due to their cycles, oblivious to the reality that they had spent those days wrapped around each other, losing track of time.

With exams out of the way, their extended group of friends decided to celebrate with a night out. A chill drink, they said.

But they all knew it wouldn't be chill.

"Tell one of us if you guys are getting wasted or heading home early, alright?" Giselle reminded them as they slid into a booth.

"I think I'll join some body shots later," Jaemin announced, wiggling his brows playfully.

Jisung snorted. "I'll just stay here."

"I'll be everywhere. Just let us know if you need some alpha security, alright?" Jeno added, eyes flickering toward the omegas at the table.

"We'll definitely have fun," Haechan grinned.

"He meant we'll keep an eye on you in case anything happens," Renjun cut in, clamping a hand over Haechan's mouth before he could say anything reckless.

"Interesting," Chenle mused, a small smirk playing on his lips.

Danielle, seated beside him, gave him a curious glance. "What is?"

Chenle chuckled, leaning in to whisper, "Right, you weren't there. I've got my radar on Jeno and Renjun."

Her eyes widened. "Did something happen while I was MIA?"

"Not sure," he teased, "but it's very possible."

Their giggles drew Mark's attention. He wasn't engaging much in conversation, simply skimming over the menu, already forming a mental list of what to order. But his eyes—sharp and focused—immediately sought Danielle's, as if he could feel her slipping from his awareness for even a second.

The bar was buzzing, thick with energy and the mingling scents of different packs. Mark's heightened senses picked up a faint, lustful scent in the air—someone was here purely for a hookup. He frowned slightly. Not that it was unusual, but in this world, hormonal impulses were a given.

"We decided on cocktails first," Renjun spoke up on behalf of the omegas. "We want to last through the night."

Jeno nodded. "Sounds good. But I'll order whiskey and beer in advance. Might as well hit it hard first," he said, nudging the other alphas.