[风情 | FengQing]: You Are Giving Me Christmas In Mid-Summer [TGCF ABO Universe]

★Part 26: Hold Your Own (Treasure)

- It's... it's a vicious circle.  –  Mu Qing now whispered, looking quite pale. – It... it feeds itself.

The Omega nodded darkly. Hua Cheng choked on his laughter and pouted now, a little upset that no one picked up on his joke. Everybody actually looked quite solemn.

Of course, he only cared about one. He looked at his Alpha – Xie Lian seemed rather thoughtful than upset, and once again Hua Cheng wished he had been born different, so that he could possess a finer nose, to be able to discern nuances in his lover's moods.

His eyes now slid to the right  –  Feng Xin was holding the bartender so tight that the boy was almost disappearing in the bearish embrace. Mu Qing looked like a ball of clothes, his face hidden in the broad-shouldered Alpha's chest.

Feng Xin's father cast a glance at his phone and hummed.

- I will have to be going soon. But I am glad we talked. It was important.

Feng Xin nodded grimly.

- Thank for coming in today, Dad. I will call you... soon.

He blushed a little. There was just a single day remaining now, till his Omega's heat.

The older man rose from his seat slowly, his hands on his hips now, and casting one last look around the table.

- Remember: an Alpha craves an Omega. An Omega needs an Alpha. This is how the world works.   –  he mumbled now.  -  An Alpha and an Omega keep each other at bay, in balance. Neither can be alone, he will be off-balance. Two Alphas living together would end up bloody. Two Omegas living together would end up in a hysterical disaster. And...

He now looked critically at Hua Cheng, and for the first time today Feng Xin was somewhat grateful that the stupid Beta had chosen today of all days to be wasted on stupid whiskey. Because information today seemed to travel a little bit slower, and getting through, into that thick Beta skull, took some time.

Yet Hua Cheng now looked around, confused, and mumbled:

- What... what's that mean? GeGe? What... does it mean?

- Please, finish.  –  Xie Lian prompted his friend's father to continue.  –  Go on, please.

The Omega suddenly looked really tired. Somehow... older.  The Prince noticed that the sun outside disappeared, maybe hidden behind a cloud, but the room seemed darker, as if the evening had come. The world suddenly looked tighter  in Xie Lian's eyes.

- I have never known of an Alpha and a Beta partnering, living together. – the Omega mumbled, looking down, at his hands that were squeezing his phone now, like two strange, pale immobile birds. – It is... unnatural.  A Beta and an Omega... maybe.  As friends – sure. But... Alphas and Betas... they do not mix. They are natural enemies. Rivals.  Even in nature, in packs. Betas are either helpers, or... they aim to kill the Alpha and... and become Alpha.

He now looked up, straight into Xie Lian's amber eyes.

- You two will be throwing each other off balance, hormonally. If it hasn't started already – it will soon. It's nature. Your nature dictates that you two should be... uh...

- Hating each other.

Hua Cheng finished his sentence for him, and, strangely, he wasn't looking at Xie Lian. His eyes were squinting at... Feng Xin.

Feng Xin was blushing, which was probably the most curious thing of them all.

The Prince said nothing, but his hand slid smoothly, and he got to glide it over Hua Cheng's waist, which caused a small whimper, as the Alpha pulled the Beta possessively to be closer to his body, even though Hua Cheng was the taller of the two. The gesture meant reassurance, beyond doubt.

The Omega squinted his eyes at them, doubtful, and also – mildly curious on the inside, thrilled to know how this unnatural mating experiment right here would turn out in the end.

Yet, decorum observed, he smiled faintly, and spoke shortly:

- I'll take my leave! Take good care, children!

Feng Xin stirred to get up and see his papa off, but the Omega quickly yipped at him, seeing the way Mu Qing was clinging to his body:

- No need, pup! Just... keep in mind that rain is coming. That's the forecast!

The bouncer frowned now, but did not comment.

- Also, be giving your mother a call from time to time! Byeee!

- Ughhh.  –  Feng Xin groaned, but watched his father's short and slim figure disappear through the door.

A heavy silence fell, and it was quite ridiculous that the tune that came up on the playlist was some cheerful-sounding cold jazz.

Hua Cheng was starting to feel more dizzy than normal. Xie Lian's arm around him was crushing him, pressing him to himself, but he would never protest, not for the life of him, not even if new bruises appeared.

Mu Qing was breathing heavily into his husband's clothes, the scent was calming, and he really wanted to be home right now, so that he could cry. His heart was so heavy.

The Alpha, on the other hand, looked more resolute now. Today, Feng Xin had gotten clarity on the issue, and he was grateful. Now, he was ready to tackle that issue. And not in his usual, brute way, as an Alpha would, but rather... his plan was to tackle it as if he was dating... a girl.

Romantic, pink, cheesy stuff.

Rom-com movies.

UGH.

Yet, he startled everyone, as he said out loud:

- Dianxia, me and the pup will be off for about 10 days next month. No objections. Not debatable.

Mu Qing flinched and now removed himself from his warm nesting place, and looked up, baffled more than the rest.

- Umm... - Xie Lian raised an eye-brow now. – It's not gonna be A-Qing's next heat, I'm sure, so...

- Not debatable.  –  the bouncer repeated, growling.

- Alpha? – Mu Qing peeped weakly, sounding sleepy, or drugged.

Feng Xin looked down at him, looking as serious as death. And then he simply stated:

- All will be fine, my Omega.

Mu Qing's eyes widened terribly.

He murmured:

- I trust you, Alpha.

Hua Cheng bit his lips. He was never going to admit it, but he envied those two fools a little too much  right now.