Being on his best behavior at the Military for so many days was the absolute limit of his patience.
The Omegaâs body was suddenly pulled into the Alphaâs embrace.
While Aaron Xavier wasnât as tall as Chase Shaw, he was by no means short. As he held Zoe Pierce from behind, he had to bend down only slightly for his lips to reach the side of her ear.
Once the door was closed, Zoe Pierce grew bolder.
She let Aaron Xavier hold her from behind.
She pressed against Aaron Xavierâs chest, her long hair rubbing against it a few times. "Iâm all yours for the next few days."
Aaron Xavier was thoroughly captivated.
He almost instantly forgot the hardship of his long wait, beaming as he asked, "So, what about my reward?"
Zoe Pierce immediately rolled her eyes.
She gave Aaron Xavier a push, broke free from his embrace, and walked away, saying, "Play games with me."
Even after recovering her memories, playing games was a rare pastime for Zoe Pierce.
She didnât love gaming as much as she did when she had amnesia, but with her schedule packed with classes and physical training, her free time was constantly shrinking. Now, she cherished any opportunity to play.
Aaron Xavier chuckled, following behind Zoe Pierce and asking again, "What about my reward?"
Zoe Pierce irritably pushed him again. A blush crept across her cheeks as she glared at him and said, "Weâll see about that tonight."
Having gotten his answer, Aaron Xavier immediately zipped his lips.
Zoe Pierce took out the collection of games he had given her before; she had brought them all with her when she moved.
Her fingers began to calibrate the equipment.
"Has Justin Lewis said anything yet?" they chatted idly, sitting on the rug.
Aaron Xavier grunted. "But heâs been keeping a low profile lately."
The investigation ultimately petered out within the month.
But the Military now has its eyes on that group of Beta council members.
"For the next few months, at least, it should be difficult for them to make any moves." The Military was watching them like a hawk, desperate to get key evidence from this group of Betas.
Zoe Pierce handed the calibrated gaming headset to Aaron Xavier and picked up another for herself. Suddenly, she asked, "What if one day the Military starts watching us?"
She felt a faint wave of anxiety. She was now realizing that changing pheromones every three months wasnât such a good thing.
A single check-up from the Military could expose the secret of these three-month intervals.
During their last few physicals, no one had paid any attention to her pheromones.
âIf anyone looked closely, theyâd know. On Harvestfall, it was Nathan Lockwood. On Planet E-987, it was Chase Shaw. And Aaron Xavierâs connection to me was already exposed back on Planet B36.â
âAnd now itâs Aaron Xavierâs turn again.â
âNo matter how I rack my brain, I canât think of an explanation.â
Aaron Xavier looked at Zoe Pierce, his lips tightening. "Are you saying you donât want to be marked anymore?"
His voice was a little plaintive.
Zoe Pierce had already finished calibrating the gaming headset with practiced ease, but she only held it in her hands instead of putting it on.
"I donât have any better ideas yet," Zoe Pierce sighed softly.
Her gaze lifted to meet Aaron Xavierâs. "Besides, we havenât been caught yet, have we?"
âThey were walking a tightrope.â
âWhile they werenât breaking any laws, they were definitely violating social norms.â
Aaron Xavier moved closer and said in a low voice, "As long as we reach a high enough position, it wonât matter even if weâre discovered."
He no longer used that plaintive tone, but spoke with a calm, steady voice.
Zoe Pierce turned to face him.
Aaron Xavier met her eyes. "My father is the perfect example."
He suddenly reached out and pulled Zoe Pierce into his arms, setting aside the headset she had given him.
"Zoe Pierce, things arenât as bad as you think."
Saying this, Aaron Xavier sounded so mature it was almost unlike him.
"Do you really think they havenât noticed anything?"
"A beautiful and capable Omega, and four equally top-tier Alphas."
"All so young... how could there not be sparks?"
"Everyone knows we treat you differently," Aaron Xavier said, holding her a little tighter. "But they just think weâre still young, and besides, we know how to be discreet."
âThey handled their relationship with her discreetly.â
"We are the rising stars of the Federation, a symbol of friendship between the Federation and the Empire, and the future successors of the Military."
Aaron Xavier saw the look in Zoe Pierceâs eyes and chuckled. "Why are you looking at me like that? You donât think Iâm the type to say these things, do you?"
âI donât know about other things, but if youâre talking about making trouble, that I know about.â
For a moment, Zoe Pierce didnât know what to say.
âShe had known about Aaron Xavierâs family background for a long time, but to have it used as a source of comfort in this way was still a bit...â
"A lot of people are hypocrites. Itâs not that most people donât know whatâs going on; they just pretend they donât, because thereâs no need to rock the boat."
Aaron Xavier said quietly, "Right now, no one is going to burn their bridges with us over something like this."
He nuzzled his nose against Zoe Pierceâs neck again. "Besides, weâre dating one at a time. Perfectly normal."
âWhat twisted logic.â
âDating in a three-month rotation... how was that in any way normal?â
"Donât worry. If any problems come up, weâll be by your side immediately. Whoeverâs pheromones youâre carrying at the time will be your boyfriend."
Aaron Xavier even did the math for Zoe Pierce. "Weâre only twenty-two now. Ten years is all we need, Zoe."
"Given the current situation with the Xenobeast Tides, it might not even take ten years."
"Weâll rise high enough. These arenât fundamental issues." He finally couldnât resist pulling Zoe Pierce around to face him in an embrace.
His tone softened. "Still worried?"
"If you really donât want to be marked, thatâs okay too." His forehead rested against hers.
âHis mix of tough talk and tenderness left Zoe speechless.â
She took the initiative, leaning in and ending the conversation with a light kiss.
âIt was just a sudden worry that popped into my head because I was thinking about Justin Lewis being watched.â
After the light kiss, she pushed herself back a few steps, picked up her headset, and put it on. "Alright, I get it. Letâs play."
Her movements were so fluid that they cut off Aaron Xavierâs desire to deepen the kiss.
âUnless he took that headset right off her.â
A smile tugged at the corner of Aaron Xavierâs mouth as he put on his own gaming headset. "Alright, what are we playing?"
A patch of woodland appeared in their vision. Zoe Pierce said, "Farming."
Aaron Xavier: !!!??
Apparently, a pristine forest had also appeared in his line of sight.
Zoe Pierce had already changed into the tattered clothes provided by the game. Her sleeves and pant legs were rolled up, and she was holding an axe.
"Todayâs goal: chop down trees, plant crops."
Aaron Xavierâs expression was complicated. He looked down and saw that upon entering the game, the system had also assigned him a set of tattered clothes.
"Weâre not fighting Xenobeasts?"
Zoe Pierce shot him a glance. "Havenât you killed enough of them during the Xenobeast Tides?"
In the past, this was the kind of game Zoe Pierce always played. âI canât be fighting Xenobeasts in a game, too. Thatâs not playing; thatâs just more work.â
She pulled Aaron Xavier down to sit on the grass. Behind them was a giant tree so wide it would take more than ten people with outstretched arms to encircle it. She pointed to an empty plot of land in front of them. "Weâll build our home here, and weâll farm over there."
"Aaron Xavier, we fight Xenobeasts so we can have a life like this, right?"