The Crimson Empire revered Alphas.Feared Omegas.And destroyed the rare ones.
A rare Omega could topple the court.
Yu Zhen stands in the cold ceremonial hall, his wrists bound by silver chains as palace physicians whisper:
"His scent— impossible.""That sweetness… it's a century-marked Omega.""Inform the Emperor immediately—"
He keeps his eyes down, pretending to be weak, fragile, harmless.
He is none of those things.
But the System whispers:
[Do not reveal anything. Rare Omegas are either controlled or killed.]
The heavy doors slam open.
Bootsteps echo.
Slow.Cold.Domineering.
The air pressure shifts — instinct, dangerous instinct — forcing every physician to bow with trembling knees.
Yu Zhen looks up.
And the world tips.
Lian Xuan.
Not a god now.Not yet.
But a man with the aura of a predator carved from night itself.
Tall, sharp-eyed, dressed in black imperial military robes, radiating a cold, destructive dominance that makes Yu Zhen's breath catch.
He stops in front of Yu Zhen, expression unreadable.
The hall is silent.
Then—a faint brush of scent hits him.
And Lian Xuan's control fractures.
Only for a heartbeat.
Possessive, violent, overwhelming instinct surges through his eyes before he forces it back down, voice low, dangerously steady:
"Untie him. Now."
"General Lian— the Emperor commanded—"
Lian Xuan's glance is a blade.
The chains fall away instantly.
He steps closer, too close, a single breath apart. Yu Zhen's pulse stutters as Lian Xuan's hand lifts—hesitates—then grips his chin with an assertive firmness, forcing him to look up.
"Who allowed them to touch you?"
Heat coils in Yu Zhen's stomach — not explicit, but deep, instinctual, dangerous attraction.
"I… no one," Yu Zhen answers softly.
A lie.
Lian Xuan leans in, voice dropping to a growl meant only for him:
"Don't lie to me."
Something ancient stirs between them.A connection older than flesh.
Yu Zhen swallows. "You don't even know me."
Lian Xuan's gaze darkens.
"Then why," he whispers, "do I feel like I've been searching for you across lifetimes?"
Yu Zhen freezes.
The System flares:
[Scent Resonance Activated]
[Bond Instincts Awakening]
[Lian Xuan Affection: +3]
Lian Xuan releases his chin, but his fingers trail against the skin a second too long.
Possessive.
Claiming.
Dangerous.
Then—
"From this moment," he murmurs, turning sharply to the physicians,"anyone who touches him without my order—dies."
The hall erupts into terrified kneeling.
Yu Zhen's heart pounds.
A dark, dominant protector.
A lost god drawn by fate.
A forbidden love rekindling.
And this is only the beginning.