In Heat, He Guards Outside My Door - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

That minute was probably the most humiliating moment of my life.

I am someone who has lived by self-control until today; even during the most grueling year of training, I never shed a single tear in front of others.

But the second my Heat was forcibly pried open, that self-control felt like it was made of paper. I had to bite the tip of my tongue just to keep myself from throwing myself at Zhou Qi’an.

He grabbed my wrist and yanked me behind him, his other hand efficiently knocking unconscious a team member who was lunging forward. He barked out orders at a rapid-fire pace: “Meng Chen, take the rest and seal the east gate. Inject Class A sedatives.

All Alphas, stay ten meters away from Li Anhe. If anyone gets closer, I’ll deal with them personally.”

The other end of the headset went silent for a moment.

It wasn’t because the order was harsh, but because he had called me by my name.

Not “Position Two,” “Medic,” or “Beta Recruit,” but Li Anhe.

It was as if he had known exactly who he needed to protect all along.

I looked up at him, my vision blurring.

Zhou Qi’an strapped his own respiratory filtration mask onto my face. His knuckles brushed against the back of my ear-a brief touch that nearly made my entire body go limp.

He clearly noticed. His hand paused for half a second, his eyes darkening even further.

“Stand steady,” he said.

My voice was hoarse. “You knew all along?”

“Get out first.”

“Zhou Qi’an, did you know all along!”

I rarely lost control like this. But as my body burned alongside my fury, it only made me want to seize an answer even more.

But he didn’t reply. Instead, he simply picked me up in a bridal carry.

The posture filled me with both shame and resentment. I instinctively struggled, but the muscles in his arms tightened as he leaned in and whispered, “Move again, and I’ll have to knock you out.”

I truly didn’t dare move after that.

He carried me as he charged all the way out.

Security from the Research Station poured out from the end of the corridor, a web of gunfire crisscrossing toward us. Zhou Qi’an held his gun with one hand, his muzzle as steady as if it were welded to his bones, landing headshots with almost every round.

When someone lunged toward me, he kicked them over. The killing intent radiating from him was heavy enough to make my blood run cold.

Meng Chen and his men had sealed the gates, and several Alphas who had gone into a frenzy were being temporarily restrained.

Their eyes were filled with the bloodshot haze of losing control, yet not a single one could get within half a step of me.

Because Zhou Qi’an stood there.

Like a wall that could bleed.

By the time we evacuated to the surface, I was nearly delirious from the fever.

The transport ship’s hatch slid shut. Just as the medical officer tried to step forward, Zhou Qi’an said coldly, “Everyone out.”

“Colonel, her wounds need to be treated.”

“I said, everyone out.”

The pressure radiating from him at that moment was so intense it felt inhuman. The medical officer froze and could only retreat.

After the hatch closed, I was placed on a medical bed. My entire body was shaking, and the rims of my eyes were flushed red.

My Gland felt like it was about to split open. My Suppression Patch was soaked with sweat and couldn’t hold out at all.

Zhou Qi’an stood by the bed, looking down at me as if he were looking at a bomb that had already detonated.

“You lied to me.”

He finally spoke.

It wasn’t an interrogation, nor was it explosive rage; it was a raspy tone pressed down to the absolute limit.

My heart sank. I thought the next sentence would be “Deal with her according to military law,” “Send her to the Omega Containment Center,” or “Report this to the Military Department immediately.”

I had already prepared myself for the worst-case scenario.

At worst, I’d lose my uniform. At worst, I’d be locked in one of those windowless sanatoriums, managed by drugs and charts for the rest of my life, subjected to periodic matching evaluations like livestock.

I gripped the bedsheets tightly, my knuckles turning white. “I can explain.”

“The physical exam report was forged.”

“Yes.”

“You also tampered with the recruitment screening.”

“Yes.”

“Do you have any idea what would have happened to the whole team today if it weren’t for me?”

My nose stung, but I still forced myself to look at him. “I know. That’s why I haven’t made a single mistake all these years.”

He looked at me, his Adam’s apple bobbing slowly. Suddenly, he leaned down, bringing his face extremely close to mine.

I thought he was going to tear open the back of my neck. My body instinctively tensed, and I even stopped breathing.

But in the next second, he merely rested his forehead against mine, his voice low and hoarse.

“Li Anhe.”

“Since you’ve lied, then lie for a lifetime.”