Chapter 5 – ‘Alpha Predators’
Title: 顶级掠食者 (Alpha Predator)
Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists ：沈岱 (Shen Dai -MC), 瞿末予 (Qu Moyu -ML)
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Shen Dai said solemnly, “Alright, I’ll follow your plan.”
Qu Moyu nodded with satisfaction and asked, “Have you eaten yet?”
“Not yet.”
“You can go have dinner. You can let Uncle Heng know your food preferences.”
“Thank you, Mr. Qu.”
Qu Moyu stood up. A subtle, elusive scent wafted into Shen Dai’s nostrils—calm, dry, slightly astringent. It was laced with a rich woody fragrance that conveyed a sense of steadfastness, unique to Qu Moyu’s ebony wood pheromone. It harmonised perfectly with his own aura, bringing back profound memories for Shen Dai.
Three years ago, he had been drugged by a senior competing with him for a spot in the talent program. Induced into estrus, the inhibitor he carried was rendered ineffective. He had struggled in the laboratory, nearly losing control of his reason, desperate for any Alpha who could quell the primal urges raging within him. Shen Dai’s pheromones were short-lived. Unlike typical Omegas who went into heat four times a year for about seven days each time, he experienced it only once or twice a year, for three or four days at most. His natural scent was quite faint. Wearing a pheromone barrier sticker on the back of his neck often made him pass as a Beta. However, during his heats, his pheromone concentration skyrocketed, much stronger than an average Omega. The inhibitor dosage he required during these episodes exceeded the norm. When he had been drugged, it hit him with such intensity that he could hardly control himself.
At the time, he had felt utterly doomed—experiencing this in a public place, in his workplace, threatening to ruin his future, reputation, dignity, and everything he held dear. The fragrant scent of the short-lived flowers had permeated the entire research institute, pushing several Alphas to the brink of losing control. If not for the intervention of many Beta colleagues who formed a barrier, they might have rushed in. It was then that Qu Moyu, who was inspecting the research institute, arrived on the scene. The 21-year-old heir had just returned from studying at a prestigious foreign university and officially joined the company to hone his skills. As an S-class Alpha, he had received rigorous pheromone control training since childhood, making him the only one capable of resisting the allure of an Omega in estrus.
When Qu Moyu approached him, Shen Dai had been trembling with fear and longing for physical contact. He had clung to Qu Moyu while his body was in turmoil. Qu Moyu had steadied him and whispered soothing words that he couldn’t quite comprehend in his ear. Though confused, the sound had been like a calming mountain stream, easing his anxiety. Then, he had inhaled the powerful, calming, and dignified scent of ebony wood pheromone, which had instantly cleared his mind and purified his soul. It was like a beacon in the midst of chaos, guiding him with its lofty light. Shen Dai had willingly released his own pheromones, drawn to Qu Moyu’s aura. He could sense the epiphyllum and ebony pheromones entwining in the air, a dance of strength and softness. He had swayed, hesitated, and wavered, but eventually found his footing and subdued his desires with his own pheromones. Later, he had felt a tingling sensation at the back of his neck as Qu Moyu marked him temporarily to calm his confusion. Subsequently, the security department, specialised in handling emergencies, had administered a sedative.
Without experiencing the depths of despair, Shen Dai couldn’t comprehend the profound attachment he had developed for the person who had saved him. Though Qu Moyu had only given him a temporary mark, it had left an indelible imprint on his heart. He had considered it a fleeting encounter, burying his emotions and admiring Qu Moyu from a distance.
Unfortunately, fate had brought them together once more, entangling them in a relationship that was ambiguous to Shen Dai but transactional in Qu Moyu’s eyes. Shen Dai had never wanted to get too close. He didn’t dare to. He remained as someone who looked up to Qu Moyu from afar. However, he couldn’t control the ripples of his heart drawing him closer. He feared he couldn’t control these unwarranted fantasies and expectations.
Qu Moyu remained unaware of the turmoil within his legal wife standing beside him. He simply said, “Tonight, someone will take your measurements and create a few sets of formal clothing. My father’s birthday party is approaching, and you’ll accompany me.”
“…”
Shen Dai returned to the research institute, packed some clothes and daily essentials from his dormitory, and headed to Qu Moyu’s home. He didn’t need to bring much. Qu Moyu’s place seemed to have everything. Glancing around his small dormitory, which was smaller than most people’s bathrooms, he found solace in its familiarity. In contrast, Qu Moyu’s home filled him with unease.
After work, the Qu family’s driver arrived to pick him up. Uncle Heng accompanied him to a private club for custom-made suits.
As Uncle Heng discussed the tailoring details with the tailor, Shen Dai expressed his preferences for fabrics and materials. Being on the thinner side, he favoured woollen materials to lend him a sense of stability.
Uncle Heng cast a surprised glance at Shen Dai. Shen Dai understood the look, but he remained composed. He rarely allowed people he didn’t care about to affect his emotions and understood Uncle Heng’s astonishment. He had grown up in an artistic and romantic family atmosphere, enjoying good-quality food and clothing, despite not being wealthy or noble. Recent financial difficulties had led to more casual attire. Moreover, as he matured, he found himself increasingly averse to the world of art and sophistication he had been exposed to as a child. He had chosen engineering without hesitation. It was not because he disliked his early upbringing. But it was because he had witnessed how his father, initially naive and pampered in their family, had transformed into a selfish and foolish person.
In Shen Dai’s eyes, his grandparents’ parenting philosophy had encouraged beauty, love, and romance, but lacked responsibility and pragmatism, ultimately turning his father into a selfish and misguided individual. Shen Dai’s father had initially fallen in love with a wealthy young master, only to discover that the man was a scoundrel who abandoned him. Faced with that abandonment, he had resorted to giving birth to Shen Dai as a way to win the man back. Later, he believed he had found true love in a con artist, betraying his family and squandering their assets on the swindler. Compared to You Xinghai, who had witnessed both sides of life, Shen Dai held a hundred times more contempt and resentment toward his Omega father.
Glancing at himself in the mirror, Shen Dai frowned, spotting a few traits reminiscent of his Omega father’s appearance.
Over the next few days, Shen Dai commuted to work using taxis and the subway. Although it was more troublesome than before, he no longer needed to clock in. His schedule allowed for some flexibility. He considered whether to purchase an affordable means of transportation.
On Saturday night, he donned the newly received suit and sat in the living room. He waited patiently until Uncle Heng informed him it was time to leave. He then boarded the extended version of the Phantom waiting outside.
Qu Moyu sat in the car, engrossed in reading documents. Dressed in a well-fitted suit and leather shoes, his tall and robust figure was perfectly showcased by the high-quality fabric and tailoring. His skin exuded a smooth, radiant glow, and his facial features—brow, nose, and jaw—were sharply defined. They created a striking, almost artistic profile. His hair, meticulously styled, added to the overall elegance, making him appear like a refined work of art.
The partition separating the rear compartment from the front was lowered, creating a luxurious, spacious, and private space akin to his mobile office.
This space was suffused with the scent of Qu Moyu’s ebony pheromone.
Shen Dai sat silently and greeted him, “Hello, Mr. Qu.”
Qu Moyu raised his head. Their eyes locked briefly. He remarked, “The suit suits you well.”
“Yes.”
The car started moving. For most of the journey, Qu Moyu remained engrossed in his documents while Shen Dai observed the passing scenery—using his phone would have been impolite in front of the boss.
Eventually, Qu Moyu set aside his documents and adjusted his posture.
Shen Dai noticed this and turned slightly to face him.
“Tonight, when we arrive at my family’s home, it will be our first official meeting. Don’t be nervous. Answer any questions the elders pose, but keep it brief. Don’t initiate conversations unnecessarily—just be polite and smile.”
“Alright.”
“I have a cousin,” Qu Moyu continued, pausing briefly. “He may ask you many questions, or even try to make things difficult for you. Try to avoid him if you can. In any case, we must not reveal the true nature of our ‘contractual relationship’ to them. The family’s patriarch doesn’t want to witness any conflicts.”
Shen Dai nodded in acknowledgment. But he didn’t fully comprehend the situation at first.
Qu Moyu sensed his confusion and explained calmly, “You’ve probably heard that having an S-class Alpha in a family is considered extremely fortunate, haven’t you? However, having two is a disaster. My cousin is the second S-class Alpha in our family. And he’s the one who marked my fiancee.”
With these words, Shen Dai suddenly grasped the situation.
The relationship between two S-class Alphas within a family can be likened to two tigers occupying the same territory—untenable.
Alphas, by nature, are competitive and possessive. They are driven by the urge to dominate and crave power. S-class Alphas, with their unmatched pheromones, are the kings of the human hierarchy. They typically possess exceptional physical attributes, intelligence, and the formidable ability to suppress pheromones. These Alphas, known as ‘Alpha Predators’, rule various fields, accumulating wealth, and resources. The presence of two S-class Alphas in a family ensures a lifelong rivalry, as they vie for dominance until one emerges victorious.
Shen Dai felt a shiver down his spine at the thought.
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Next Update: 2022.04.07
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*Proofread by 2023.09.03* I will proofread other chapters when I’m free.*
