bound by instinct

chapter 3

The grand banquet hall of the Tian Dou Empire was a display of opulence. Silken drapes hung from the tall windows, casting soft shadows that danced with the flickering candlelight. After the initial warm welcome, the air now felt thick with expectation and undercurrents of politics. As the festivities faded into muted conversations and polite laughter, Chen Xin stood rigidly at the side, a silent guardian watching over Ning Fengzhi.

The evening had not gone as smoothly as he had hoped. Gu Rong, typically a source of strength and lightheartedness, had been concerned but perplexed by Chen Xin's cold demeanor. After the diplomatic discussions, Gu Rong had tried to pull him out of his shell, but Chen Xin only pushed him away with sharp words that stung more than he intended.

"Must you brood like that? You look like you're waiting for a storm to hit," Gu Rong had teased lightly, but Chen Xin had snapped back, "I'm not in the mood for your nonsense, Gu Rong."

you're really going to ignore me all night? You're not that important, you know," Gu Rong teased, trying are youto break through Chen Xin's wall.
Chen Xin shot him a sharp glance, his silver eyes glinting with irritation. "And you're not that clever. Focus on your duties, Gu Rong," he snapped, the bite of his words echoing through the emptying hall.

Now, as the banquet came to a close, Chen Xin felt the familiar pang of frustration mixed with something deeper—a suffocating pressure building within him. He had spent the night masking his scent with his soul power, but the effort was wearing him down, each pulse of heat a reminder of the fragility he fought to conceal.

Gu Rong frowned, a mixture of confusion and concern flashing across his features. "What's eating you? You're acting like you've got a stick up your—"
"Enough!" Chen Xin's voice was like ice, cutting through the warmth of the evening. He turned sharply, striding away, leaving Gu Rong to watch him go, worry etched on his brow.
Once inside his room, Chen Xin closed the door and leaned against it, allowing a breath to escape. The familiar darkness closed in, and with it came memories that threatened to drown him.

In the stillness, flashes of his past assaulted him: the feeling of vulnerability, the scent of an Alpha that had once overpowered him, the helplessness as he'd been cornered during a heat that he couldn't control. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing those memories away, but they lingered, sharp and painful.

He had vowed never to let anyone touch him like that again. It was a promise etched deep into his soul, and yet here he was, teetering on the edge of another heat he had spent so long suppressing. The ache in his belly intensified, twisting with every heartbeat, and Chen Xin felt the icy grip of panic.

You're an Omega, Chen Xin. You should be grateful for the attention."

The words echoed in his mind, taunting him with memories he couldn't escape. He had been young, naive, and vulnerable—an unwelcome target during a heat that had spiraled out of control. He had sworn never to let anyone close again, but here he was, caught in a cycle he could not break.

The night wore on, and sleep eluded him. With every hour that passed, his heat grew worse, the familiar sensation of desire mingling with pain. Chen Xin squeezed his eyes shut, willing himself to find the calm he always exuded. But control was slipping away, like sand through his fingers.

The morning arrived too soon, casting pale light through the thin curtains. Chen Xin lay awake, tangled in the sheets, drenched in sweat. The heat was raging now, a primal fire he had never dared to confront. He could still feel the remnants of his suppressed pheromones swirling around him, a desperate attempt to mask his condition.
He dressed swiftly, the fabric of his robes feeling heavy and confining. As he joined Ning Fengzhi and the others for the follow-up meetings with the sect leaders, he was keenly aware of his scent—heavy, lingering, despite his efforts to suppress it.