Chapter 2

*I Hate You*
Bai Shuzhou’s gaze turned with those six eyes.
Against the light—the short blade plunged without hesitation—twisted hard—dust and blood smell in the air.
Cape deflected. The mass thudded down—no scream—one strike.
Skin to skin—hearts drumming—then the girl’s arms shaking.
After Bai Shuzhou spoke, Zhu Yu looked up like a rabbit from a burrow—saw the corpse.
Crimson eyes still round—clouded like cheap beads—staring at Zhu Yu to the end.
Zhu Yu blank—wrong feeling. It had smiled strangely—now a dead camera. Something seemed to watch through them.
But dead was dead.
A few breaths—she turned to Bai Shuzhou’s leg. “It’s over. I have the suppressant. First floor has a kit—we go down.”
A abandoned post—the original had made a secret base. Zhu Yu carried Bai Shuzhou to the monitor room bed—ran back—locked doors—confirmed the bug was dead.
Hands together—swallowed nausea—last time she bowed this sincere was to the wealth god.
“Don’t blame me—you struck first. Self-defense. Your fault, not mine.”
“Rest in peace.”
Knife fell—the eyes finally looked away. Long breath.
……
Medical box in hand—bed empty.
Pause—followed the scent—skirt caught in a cabinet door.
She had hidden in a hurry—blood drops on the floor. Boots stopped—click like mockery before disaster—the hem trembling.
—Found you.
Heart jolted.
Horror-movie opening.
The proud princess—crawling into a dark narrow cabinet—thin wood could not hide low sobs.
She did not trust her.
In the silence—each felt the other’s look.
Weightless gaze became a mountain in the corner.
Ice in mouth—words clear: “Your Highness—I won’t hurt you.”
Slowly opened the door—uneven light on damp silver hair—if tears were pearls, the floor would shine.
Soft: “Look—suppressant and kit. Pain will stop soon.”
“I’ll carry you out? Too dark inside—for an injection.”
She lifted curled Bai Shuzhou.
Silver hair wet on collarbone. Skin white—the mole vivid. Cold lifted eyes—gem-blue, sharp.
Behind her only a field bed and screens—like a garden—roses and vines—warm lamp on her profile—oil painting.
Zhu Yu held ice—temperature still climbing—black mask over mouth—could not block Omega charm—heart louder.
She looked down—could not meet her eyes.
“I’ll inject suppressant first—then treat the wound.”
Bai Shuzhou still watched.
Sleeves rolled—lean strong arm—coat and cape off—white shirt only.
Fabric could not stop close splash—joints raw in peripheral vision.
Zhu Yu’s scent had changed—clearer—mint cool in dizzying rose—breath slowed without meaning to.
Needle neared the gland.
Memory—the girl falling from light—afraid—eyes closed—still held her tight.
Ribs sore still.
Zhu Yu lied best.
This too—act?
What did she want now?
Left hand locked right wrist—stop shaking.
Bai Shuzhou suddenly struggled—swung—the injector spun—almost stabbed Zhu Yu’s arm.
“Liar—that’s not suppressant—!” Red eyes—shrinking back.
Of course Zhu Yu had no good heart—only cruelty to the end—how could she hope?
Blank—picked up dusty tube—original’s stash—no certification label.
Corner lifted—real name: veterinary anesthetic.
Fake suppressant—hope then throw it out—for sport?
Hands stopped—vision dark—risked her life for this—if the original were dead, she died of stupidity.
Ice melting—Bai Shuzhou’s skin cold as porcelain—beads on fever air—with tears.
Rut Alpha and Omega both needed comfort—or mental disorder.
Bai Shuzhou hypersensitive—every drop of sweat—skirt crushed—face up—hoarse: “Give me—”
Zhu Yu fumbled—the only tube forward.
Bai Shuzhou gritted: “Your pheromones.”
Command masking hate—body soft—neck pulsing—blue eyes empty of want—Zhu Yu only a tool.
Cannot die here. Cannot lose control. Cannot—
Tears blurred world—cold on her neck—opened eyes—Zhu Yu pressed ice to her burning gland.
Humiliation—sharp: “Zhu Yu—you—!”
Ice to her own palm—“Uncomfortable? Sorry—I thought it would help.”
Vines grew wild—waist—arms.
Beep beep—alarm.
Screens flared—craft approaching.
Bai Shuzhou’s eyes lit—escort!—she tried to rise—Zhu Yu blocked the view.
“Your servant arrives late—”
No speaker—voice shouted anyway—wilderness echo.
Thick Alpha scents—base surrounded.
They jumped down—eyes on cameras—killing intent.
Zhu Yu was D-rank—outside, every scent strong. Gray wolf at the door—gun spinning—sneer:
“Zhu Yu—open up. Hand over the princess. We know you’re inside.”
Imperials could beast-shift—human or animal—or lose control—or master both.
Gray wolf was the last—symbol of power. Kick—door boom—walls shook.
Grand words—Zhu Yu’s skin crawled. No insignia—formation not regular army.
She hid Bai Shuzhou—draped coat.
“Mm? Sweet—princess pheromones?”
“Wow—Her Highness in rut?”
Tone turned—greedy, raw.
“Heh—little Zhu Yu’s scent isn’t even strong……”
“D-rank trash—fit for a princess? Can’t even mark her—don’t embarrass yourself.”
“Let us help.”
Laughter.
Luxury clothes—confidence—wrong on this wasteland.
Zhu Yu knew the leader—scalp tight—nobles with treason in heart—should not be here.
In the novel they pretended friendship with the scumbag—insulted royalty—debt later on Zhu Yu’s head.
Honorifics on lips—prey in their minds.
Outside—muddy aggressive scents—peacocks strutting—no care what rut did to an Omega.
In rose madness—strong Alphas crushed the door—lens-distorted faces—greed worse than bugs.
Sneer: “Zhu Yu—still hoarding her? Selfish.”
“You always bragged how she tastes—share with us—now stingy?”
“Name a price—we won’t make it hard—”
Zhu Yu: Who asked you to decide??!
Behind her—the frail figure trembled.
Bai Shuzhou gripped the tube—eyes dead. So Zhu Yu meant to trick her—when she passed out—what would they do?
Imperial princess. Her wife!
Zhu Yu gritted—scent faint—night-breeze cool—wrapped Bai Shuzhou—cut outside greed.
“Don’t bully Her Highness!”
“I’ll report the general and His Majesty!” Bluff.
Silence—gray wolf cold: “Ha—playing noble. Who do you think you are.”
Chill—mask tighter—judgment fast: “We go—basement has a ship—we’ll be fine.”
An old military craft the original had modified.
Voice floating—afraid of heights—could not fly—manual license at best—memory incomplete—could not stop.
“Don’t be afraid—I’ll get you home—garrison south—General Yzelia—medical suppressants—”
“Contact restored—everything fixed!”
Words dense—pressing heat—shirt soaked.
Outside impatient—alarm scream.
Concrete thin under assault—Zhu Yu strapped Bai Shuzhou in—quiet, obedient—dry tear tracks—heart ached.
Only helmet on—silver hair tucked—old machine tough, throttle heavy.
No time for fear—memory start—roar—skylight—last chance—full thrust!
Pain at her neck.
Red mole trembling—silver needle at her throat—blood bead.
“I hate you.” Ground to gravel.
“Sorry—” swallow hard—“then hate me.”
She caught Bai Shuzhou’s wrist—pulled her into her arms—hand on the stick—as the door blew—pushed.