Alpha

The success of the first phase of treatment was like a shot of adrenaline, injecting the almost exhausted will of the two people.

But Dr. Anderson's reminder remains calm and objective: "This is just rebuilding the foundation.

His pheromone system is still as fragile as a newborn baby and requires continuous, precise regulation and consolidation. The second stage is adaptive training and reinforcement.

This meant the treatment was far from over; it had simply taken a different form. Shao Wei had been moved from complete isolation to visitation, but he still needed to undergo pheromone adaptation training in a specific, isolated environment for the majority of the time. Si Qi, on the other hand, had moved from being a mere pheromone provider to a more direct participant and companion.

The new ward is more like a fully equipped suite, but the air filtration system and pheromone concentration monitors are everywhere, reminding us that this is still a battlefield.

Shao Wei's body remained weak, the long treatment draining him of energy. But he was noticeably more awake, and the light in his eyes was gradually gathering. Si Qi stayed with him almost constantly, having moved his office completely to the outer room of the ward, where he could constantly see what was going on inside through the large glass wall.

Adaptive training is not easy.

Medical staff will simulate various environmental pressures to test the stability of Shao Wei's new pheromones.

Sometimes he needed to concentrate on resisting the simulated Alpha pheromone pressure, and sometimes he needed to try to release a steady cedar scent in a weak state.

Failure is common. Once the monitor alarm sounds, training will stop immediately. Shao Wei is often tortured by the severe headaches and backlash that follow, making him sweat profusely.

Whenever this happened, Si Qi would immediately drop everything, walk to the glass wall, and place his palm against it. He couldn't just go in and disrupt the training, but he would whisper to the people inside through the built-in communication system.

"Look at me, Shao Wei, and take a deep breath."

"You can do this. Your pheromones are strong. I can feel them."

"Tell me if you feel uncomfortable, I'm here."

His voice came through the speakers, steady and resolute. Sometimes Shao Wei would lift his head with difficulty, gazing at Si Qi through the glass. Sweat soaked his forehead, his eyes filled with pain, yet also with a hint of stubbornness that refused to give in. He would try to regulate his breathing, following Si Qi's guidance, attempting to regain control of his restless energy.

After several times, Dr. Anderson discovered an interesting phenomenon: when Siqi was present and provided voice guidance, Shaowei's pheromone stabilization success rate was much higher than when he was training alone.

"The bond created by the marking is deeper than we imagined," the doctor said to Siqi. "Perhaps, you can try to enter the training room and provide close guidance. But you must strictly control it. Your pheromones cannot interfere excessively and can only serve as an 'anchor'."

This is what I have been looking forward to.

When he first entered the training room, Si Qi tried his best to contain his pheromones, leaving only a faint scent, like the edge of a forest after rain. He stood a few steps away from Shao Wei, not approaching.

"Just like before, Shao Wei." Si Qi looked at him, "Feel your own aura and guide it. It is a part of you and you can control it."

Shao Wei closed his eyes, frowning, trying to sense the new, familiar yet unfamiliar power within him. The simulated pressure in the training room began to increase, his breathing became rapid, sweat formed on his forehead, and the cedar breath that had just stabilized began to become disordered again.

Si Qi didn't release more pheromones. He just took a small step forward, his voice low and soothing: "Don't fight it, accept it. Accept it as you accept me."

These words were like a key, inexplicably unlocking a certain connection. Shao Wei's tense body relaxed slightly. He no longer tried to suppress it, but instead tried to understand and guide the power. The chaotic aura gradually subsided. Though still weak, it became smooth and steady.

The data on the monitor stabilized.

Shao Wei slowly opened his eyes and looked at Si Qi. There was a hint of fatigue in his eyes, but also a glimmer of success.

Si Qi gave him an encouraging smile and resisted the urge to hug him: "Well done."

Day after day of training, tedious and painful, also yielded subtle, delightful progress. Shao Wei's strength slowly recovered, and his control over the new pheromones gradually strengthened. A new kind of tacit understanding developed between them; without words, a glance, a subtle gesture, they could understand each other's needs and needs.

One afternoon, after training, Shao Wei was unusually in good spirits. The setting sun streamed through the window, casting a warm golden hue over the room. Si Qi wheeled him to the windowside seating area and placed a thin blanket over his lap.

"How are you feeling today?" Si Qi sat beside him, peeling an apple. His movements were already quite skilled.

"Not bad." Shao Wei looked at the lush greenery in the garden outside the window, was silent for a moment, and suddenly said, "Siqi."

"Um?"

"If... I mean if, after the treatment, my pheromone levels can't return to their previous levels, or even... are much weaker than an average Alpha," Shao Wei's voice was calm, as if he was discussing someone else's affairs. "What would you think?"

Si Qi paused in peeling the apple. He put down the knife and apple, turned around, and faced Shao Wei with an expression more serious than ever before.

"Shao Wei, listen to me." He looked into his eyes. "I love you, not your pheromone levels, not your abilities, not even your health. It's you as a person, your calmness, your tenacity, everything you've silently done for me, your gentleness hidden beneath your sharpness, and even your stubbornness and occasional harshness."

He held Shao Wei's hand. There were still faint blue marks on the blood vessels of his hand due to the frequent blood draws and infusions recently.

"No matter what you become, a powerful Alpha or a partner who needs my protection, to me, you are Shao Wei. I will only be thankful that I still have the chance to be by your side, rather than lose you." He paused, his tone even tinged with self-mockery. "Besides, maybe that's better. You won't be able to push me away so easily anymore, and I'll just have to keep you by my side and watch over you every day."

Shao Wei stared at him, stunned. The sunset light fell on his deep eyes, like molten gold. He could tell every word Si Qi spoke came from the heart. The long-standing concerns about value, matching, and being a burden seemed to melt away at this moment, gently melted by Si Qi's straightforward and passionate words.

He shook Si Qi's hand back with a light hand, but with great firmness.

"Yeah." He responded, lowering his eyelashes to hide the emotions surging in his eyes, and whispered, "The apples are starting to oxidize."

Si Qi smiled, picked up the apple again, carefully cut it into small pieces, and fed it to Shao Wei.

The days flowed through a tangle of hope and torment. The old acquaintance of Dr. Anderson, introduced by Siqi's father, did provide considerable assistance, shortening some of the cumbersome procedures and providing information on more medical resources. Although Siqi didn't proactively contact his father, he kept this silent support in mind.

However, just as the second phase of treatment was nearing its end and everyone was breathing a sigh of relief, an unexpected crisis quietly arrived.

Late one night, Si Qi was dozing on the sofa in the outer room when he was suddenly awakened by the piercing alarm in the ward. He rushed in to see Shao Wei huddled in bed in agony, his body trembling violently. The curve on the monitor representing his pheromone levels was jumping wildly, almost to the point of breaking the limit! His body temperature was rising rapidly!

"Shao Wei!" Si Qi rushed to the bedside, wanting to hug him, but was forced to take a step back by the extremely unstable and aggressive pheromones emanating from Shao Wei! This was not the familiar, gentle cedar, but a violent, almost destructive aura!

"What's going on?!" Si Qi yelled at the medical staff who rushed over after hearing the news.

"Pheromone backlash! This could be a delayed onset of a latent rejection reaction from previous treatment! Or it could be an overreaction of the immune system!" The doctor said hurriedly as he quickly examined him. "Deep sedation and forced stabilization are essential! Mr. Si, please step out! Your pheromones might be irritating him!"

"No!" Si Qi's eyes were red as he stared at Shao Wei, who was struggling in pain on the bed. "He needs me!"

"He is unconscious now, and his pheromones will attack indiscriminately! Including you!" The nurse tried to pull him out.

At that moment, the semi-conscious Shao Wei seemed to hear Si Qi's voice. He raised his head with difficulty, his eyes bloodshot from the intense heat and pain. He looked in Si Qi's direction, his lips moving as if he wanted to say something, but only a broken, extremely painful whimper came out. The sound was filled with instinctive helplessness and... a faint trace of dependence on Si Qi.

It was this sound that completely shattered Siqi's sanity.

He suddenly broke free from the nurse, desperately rushed to the bedside, and forcibly released his powerful pheromones. This time, it was no longer a gentle soothing, but an aura of absolute suppression and dominance, like a huge wave suddenly rising in a storm, brazenly meeting the violent cedar!

Two powerful Alpha pheromones collided violently in the air! The invisible force made the surrounding medical staff feel a suffocating pressure!

"Mr. S!" Dr. Anderson also rushed over and stopped him sternly, "It's too dangerous! You'll cause a more serious conflict!"

Si Qi seemed not to hear. He leaned over, ignoring the stinging sensation brought by Shao Wei's pheromones. He held his trembling shoulders with both hands, rested his forehead against his burning forehead, stared intently at his dilated pupils, and gave an unquestionable command in a hoarse voice:

"Shao Wei! Look at me! It's me! Si Qi!"

"Take back your pheromones! Control them! You can do this!"

"Trust me! Follow me! Breathe!"

His pheromones coiled around it aggressively, not in an attacking motion, but in a strong, protective attempt to steer the runaway horse back on track. This was an extremely risky move; a head-on clash of pheromones between two Alphas could easily lead to mutual destruction.

Shao Wei struggled even harder under his forced suppression, growling like a trapped beast from his throat.

Everyone thought things were getting out of control.

Suddenly, Shao Wei's struggles paused. His bloodshot eyes stared at Si Qi, who was so close to him. Seeing the unflinching determination and the deep fear and pain in his eyes, his violent aura froze for a moment.

Si Qi caught this slight gap, and the power of the pheromone slowed down slightly. It was no longer pure suppression, but was mixed with more guidance and pleading: "Shao Wei... come back... come back for me..."

Shao Wei's body trembled violently, and the violent cedar scent receded like a tide, and the value on the monitor plummeted! He suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, his body limp, and he completely lost consciousness.

"Shao Wei!" Si Qi hugged him in horror.

"Quick! Sedative! Life support!" Dr. Anderson immediately directed the rescue with an extremely solemn expression.

Si Qi was forcibly pulled away. He watched the medical staff surrounding Shao Wei and the glaring blood at the corner of his pale mouth. He felt as if he had been immersed in an ice cellar, his whole body freezing cold. Had he just done something wrong? Had he harmed him?

The rescue lasted all night.

Si Qi stood outside the glass wall like a statue, staring inside without blinking, his nails digging deep into his palms, leaving blood marks without him realizing it.

At dawn, Dr. Anderson came out tiredly.

"How is he?" Si Qi's voice was as dry as sandpaper.

"It's stable for now." The doctor looked at Siqi with a complicated expression. "Your actions just now were very risky and almost caused a disaster."

Si Qi's face turned pale as paper in an instant.

"But," the doctor said, changing the subject with a hint of disbelief, "it's possible that, by some strange coincidence... it accelerated the process. After the ultimate conflict, there was actually an ultimate fusion. At the final moment, his body completely accepted your pheromones and... it seems to have triggered a rare symbiotic balance. The specific data still needs detailed analysis, but... the most dangerous moment may really have passed."

Si Qi stood there in a daze, unable to react for a moment due to the overwhelming shock of joy and sorrow. His legs gave way, and he nearly fell to his knees, quickly holding onto the wall.

When he was allowed to enter the ward again, Shao Wei was still in a coma, his face was transparently pale, but his breathing was steady. Although the data on the monitor was weak, it was stable within a safe range.

Si Qi walked cautiously to the bedside, as if afraid of disturbing something. He reached out his hand and tremblingly and lightly touched Shao Wei's cheek, confirming that the warm body temperature was real.

Then, he slowly lowered his head and buried his face in the pillow beside Shao Wei's neck, greedily breathing in the cedar scent that had become peaceful and even faintly blended with his own breath.

His nerves, tense all night, finally relaxed, a wave of fear and relief washing over him. His shoulders trembled uncontrollably.

A slightly cool hand was gently placed on his head. The movement was a little weak, but it carried a clear sense of comfort.

Si Qi suddenly looked up and met Shao Wei's eyes, which had opened at some point. Those eyes were still tired, but clear and calm.

"...Why are you crying?" Shao Wei's voice was so weak that it was almost inaudible, but his tone carried a faint, familiar sense of helplessness.

Si Qi only then realized that his face was cold and wet. He grabbed Shao Wei's hand and pressed it against his face, crying and laughing: "...Asshole...you scared me to death..."

Shao Wei's fingers moved lightly on his face, wiping away the tear marks.

"Yeah." He closed his eyes and whispered, "...I won't do that next time."

Outside the window, the sky brightened completely, and a new day began. After experiencing the deepest darkness and the most intense collision, the light of hope seemed to truly penetrate the haze, shining down warmly and firmly.