逆转 (Reverse) – 莲鹤夫人
Chapter 8
The specialist softly knocked on the door. Pulling himself together, the omega unlocked it and stepped out to review the customized plan they had created.
“The more top-tier the alpha, the more volatile and unpredictable their rut tends to be.” the beta specialist explained in a soft, even tone, “In some ways, alphas and omegas are really quite the same.”
The omega nodded, “I understand.”
“Some like to build nests. Before their rut, some obsessively hoard food. Others develop a profound animosity against anyone apart from their mate. Basically, everyone has their own unique way of exhibiting their rut. In some situations, when a marriage collapses, an omega tries to fool their partner into signing the divorce papers during the rut…”
The omega’s pulse quickened. His lashes twitched slightly, but he maintained his composure and asked, “And then? Did they succeed?”
The beta paused. Rather than giving a direct answer, he changed the subject, “As you may be aware, the human brain is similar to a tree. Our decisions and goals are made up of many layers of branching paths. A highly skilled thinker can come up with a hundred different ideas in a split second. But a rut—this biological force that can’t be ignored—acts like a powerful clamp. Think about it. You’ve been in heat before. What were you thinking about then?”
Before, it would have been rude or even considered sexual harassment to ask an omega about their heat. But now, he didn’t have to worry about that anymore. He hesitated for a time before saying, “My partner.”
Partner. Having sex. Craving their protection and love. Yearning for a partner who can satisfy their insatiable hunger. Blood and flesh turned into a hot, sticky mess… No matter how level-headed or reasonable an omega was throughout the day, without medicine, they would turn into a beast ruled by instinct and pheromones the moment their heat came.
“Yes. Your partner.” the specialist remarked. “All of those many branches of thought are being forced into a single unit. There is only one word at the end of that branch: partner.”
“To sense only your partner. Every nerve exists exclusively to recognize the partner’s existence. Some people say that when they’re in heat, omegas—and now alphas, too—become as intelligent as toddlers. That’s not entirely true. Why? Because when they reach that point, everything else fades into the background. The only thing that matters—”
“—is their bonded mate.” the omega whispered.
“Correct,” the specialist responded politely. “So, that omega—”
“They failed.” the omega cut him off, “Their partner would have known what he was thinking and what he wanted to do.”
The beta smiled. After a brief pause, he continued, “In any case, that’s not today’s main topic. Here’s the plan. It would be great if you could also write down your husband’s reactions both before and after he goes into a rut. Please understand how demanding… and how curious we researchers have to be…”
“I understand, I really do.” the omega nodded, “I appreciate your effort.”
The beta breathed out a great sigh of relief, “Thank you for your patience and cooperation! After all, our database is completely blank for an alpha at your husband’s level. We can only get valuable samples… from you. Thank you, truly.”
After seeing the group take off, the omega sighed as he looked over the plan before turning and going back inside.
⋮
Remembering what had happened last time, the alpha was afraid to venture too far from his wife and stayed home to take care of business as his rut approached. That evening, the omega thought it was the right time and that he should go to the grocery store first, just in case they weren’t ready enough for the rut.
He was ready to put on his shoes and leave when the alpha, alerted after hearing the noise upstairs, laid down his pen and climbed up, “Where are you going?”
“Uh, sir?” The omega raised his eyes to meet the alpha’s gaze, feeling confused, and said, “I’m going to the grocery store to pick up a few things.”
With a heavy breath, the alpha clenched his hand around the handrail of the staircase. His rut could come at any second, and he was starting to feel agitated and anxious.
“I’ll go with you,” he announced. “Which grocery store?”
“What?”
“I said, us two. Together.” Even though the alpha’s expression was blank, he calmly asked again, “Do you understand?”
How would the omega respond? He got into the alpha’s car stiffly and set the navigation with the tip of his finger.
“Here,” he murmured, lowering his head down.
The grocery store he went to wasn’t fancy; it was just a big, normal retail store that was built two stories underground in a mall. The alpha seemed irritated, so he awkwardly stated, “They have a wide range of things and plenty of food. Nothing wrong with it.”
“Didn’t I give you money?” The alpha shot him a side-eye look and asked in a casual manner.
You did, the omega responded in his head. But what does it matter if I don’t use the money you give me?
Nothing.
When the omega got into the store, he went straight to the ready-to-eat section. They had mini sausages that were flavorful and just needed a fast reheat, toast that could be sealed in a bag and preserved for days, and sugar candies that were even better when frozen… There were also kits that were sold especially for ruts, but most of them were focused on high calories and sugar, which the omega didn’t really like.
He chose things one at a time and put them in the cart. Looking over his shoulder, he soon noticed that the alpha had also taken a cart and was loading it with a whole cured turkey leg!
Omega: “?!?!”
He rushed over, “Sir? What are you doing?”
The omega felt dizzy after just one look at the cart. Everything in it was massive chunks of meat, and it was heaped high.
“Hoarding stocks.” The alpha looked at the turkey leg’s ingredient label from above, and his voice became surprisingly serious, “We’ll need all of this.”
The omega was speechless, but he really wanted to say: What the hell are you doing? I could hit you in that pretty face of yours with a turkey leg!
“No,” the omega strained to explain, “we really don’t need this much—”
“We should pile it up in the bedroom.” The alpha’s good-looking face was calm and difficult to read, and he stared directly at him, speaking in a strong voice. “Fill it up.”
“……..” Fill your head—no, wait! Nesting instincts make top predators, like alphas, obsessively love to hoard food. His husband’s pheromones had been restless and agitated before, but now they smelled rather relaxed. Was he really upset just because he didn’t have enough food?
The omega got quiet. He could only let his husband stack up food he wouldn’t finish in six months at the door to the store. Then, he used the special lane and took everything home with a big smile on his face.
Great satisfaction, indeed.
The alpha didn’t make his partner lift a finger, nor was he concerned about grease from the package staining his luxurious trench coat. Because as soon as they got home, he got busy… building a nest.
⋮
Inside the omega’s tiny room, he stacked food on one side, piled towels and tissues around the bed, and was at the point of putting up a fake wall. His pheromones gently changed as he worked, becoming hotter, hungrier, and thicker.
The omega looked in shock, wanting to run away but too stunned to move. He was shaking when he took out the plan signed by the alpha’s own hand, looking like he was holding a royal pardon.
At this moment, his towering spouse sat on the edge of the narrow bed, his eyes glistening and moist, and his expression colored with subtle, obvious caution. He looked at the omega like that, his voice as soft as a hot spring, “Why are you standing there? Get in here.”
The alpha then asked again, sounding like he was about to cry, “Can… can I hug you?”
“Uhh…” the omega said as he firmly laid out the plan.
The alpha took a quick, disinterested glance at the paper before returning his gaze to him, his eyes bloodshot.
“I’m sorry, but… did you forget about this?”
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Translated and edited by janemoyu (12/31/25)
