Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 289: Chapter 290 - In heat?

Inside the house next door, Yunfeng’s nose twitched. He had been lying down beside muchen, eyes half-shut, trying to ignore the heat slowly creeping under his skin. But now, something was different.

A new scent had begun to spread into the air.

It wasn’t Muchen’s soft, mellow rose pheromone—no, this was something stronger. Richer. Sweet like burnt caramel, but also wild, sharp, and heavy. It didn’t belong to an Alpha or Beta. It wasn’t even something Yunfeng could categorize easily. But it was undeniably intense.

Too intense.

His eyes opened fully. Either his senses were returning faster than expected... or Jai was getting worse.

He turned to Muchen, who was flipping through the notebook they’d been using to communicate with Grandpa Kailun.

”Muchen,” Yunfeng said quietly. ”Can you go check on Jai? He’s been gone too long.”

Muchen immediately put the notebook down and got up without asking any questions. He slipped outside into the cool air. The moment he stepped out and turned toward Shao’s house, he spotted Jai.

The other boy was sitting slumped on the ground right outside the closed door, his knees pulled in, arms limp at his sides. His cheeks were flushed a deep pink, his gaze fixed on the door in front of him like it was the only thing keeping him from collapsing completely.

”Jai?” Muchen called out cautiously, approaching him.

As he stepped closer, a loud, primal growl erupted from inside the room. The sound was guttural, almost animalistic. Then came the scratching—claws dragging down wood, fierce and unrelenting.

Jai didn’t even flinch.

He simply blinked and slowly turned to Muchen, like waking from a dream. His pupils looked a little dilated, sweat beading on his temple.

”He... he’s calm when I’m next to him,” he said softly, rubbing the back of his neck.

Muchen crouched down quickly, concern written all over his face. ”Come on. Let’s get back. It’s getting dark—it’s not safe out here.”

Jai’s eyes widened with reluctance. ”It’s okay... I don’t feel unsafe. I’ll stay.”

”Jai,” Muchen said firmly this time. ”Let’s go.”

Jai looked back at the door one more time, as if it hurt to leave, then finally gave a tiny nod and began to push himself up.

But the moment he straightened his legs, his knees buckled.

His body wobbled, balance gone, and he stumbled forward. Before he hit the ground, Muchen darted forward and caught him firmly by the waist.

”Whoa—careful! What’s wrong? Are you hurt anywhere?” Muchen asked, checking him quickly.

Jai’s face burned bright red. His body trembled faintly in Muchen’s arms.

”I... I feel strange,” he whispered, voice barely audible. ”I think I need to talk to Yunfeng... right now.”

”Okay... I’ll take you to him,” Muchen whispered, concern etched across his face as he wrapped an arm around Jai’s trembling shoulders.

Jai leaned into him without a word, his legs barely cooperating. Together, they began the slow walk back to the main house. But as they stepped away from Shao’s door, loud growls erupted again—more intense, more agonized. The sharp scratching at the wood grew frantic, desperate.

Jai winced, turning his head back toward the sound.

”He’s hurting himself...” he said, voice cracking. ”Maybe... maybe I should just stay there—”

”No,” Muchen said immediately, his grip tightening. ”Your body’s too hot. You’re sick. I think... I think something’s wrong with you too.”

Jai didn’t resist as Muchen pulled him inside. The moment they entered Yunfeng’s room, Muchen carefully guided Jai to sit on the edge of the bed.

”Yunfeng, something’s wrong with him,” Muchen said quickly. ”His body’s too hot, and he can barely stand. Do—”

He stopped mid-sentence.

Yunfeng was crouched near the far side of the room, one hand covering his nose, the other gripping the edge of the blanket. His whole body was trembling slightly, his face flushed and his breathing ragged. It looked like he was trying not to throw up.

”Yunfeng?” Muchen called cautiously.

”I-it’s nothing,” Yunfeng managed to say hoarsely, his voice muffled through the pillow he suddenly shoved over his face. ”I just feel sick from the food earlier... that’s all...”

But Muchen could tell he was lying.

”Take Jai to a separate room,” Yunfeng said quickly, voice strained. ”Stay with him. Lock it from the inside. Don’t let anyone in. Also... take food and water with you.”

Muchen’s frown deepened. ”Why? Is he okay? What’s happening to him?”

”I think...” Yunfeng paused, taking a deep breath through clenched teeth. ”I think he’s also like Shao. His body’s entering a heat cycle.”

Muchen’s eyes widened in disbelief, but he didn’t waste another second. He nodded tightly and pulled Jai up again, this time with more urgency.

Jai was still dazed, swaying a little as they moved. ”I don’t... understand,” he murmured softly, but Muchen didn’t answer.

He led him to a small, unused room down the hall—once Grandpa Kailun’s temporary quarters—and quickly moved the old man’s belongings outside. Then he helped Jai inside, shut the door, and bolted it securely from within. He grabbed nearby furniture and barricaded the windows too, just in case.

The air in the room felt heavy.

Muchen went straight to the bed and pulled out the emergency bag hidden beneath it. He quickly checked through it—cans, dried rations, bottled water. Enough to last them two or three days if they rationed properly.

He glanced over at Jai, who was standing in the middle of the room, his eyes distant and uncertain, face flushed.

Jai looked around slowly, still swaying slightly on his feet, then sat down on the bed with a soft thump.

”What... what did he mean I’m like Shao?” Jai whispered, his voice trembling. ”Am I also in rut? Am I... going to be in pain too?”

His hands clutched the edge of the mattress. His legs shifted uncomfortably as if his body was betraying him and he couldn’t stop it. His lips were trembling now, eyes glossy like he was trying not to cry.

Muchen stared at him helplessly, mouth slightly open. ”I... I don’t have a clue what’ll happen to you,” he admitted, honest and afraid. ”But... I’ll just keep you company, okay?”

Jai gave a tiny nod, biting his lower lip to keep it from quivering.

Muchen gently helped him lie down, pulling the blanket over his shaking body. He didn’t say anything else—he just walked to the sofa by the window and sat down, staring out through the cracks in the barricaded wood.