Pregnant During An Apocalypse [BL]

Chapter 276: Chapter 276 - Rushed decision

Jai finally started to calm down, though his breath still hitched every now and then. His fists had stopped hitting, but he didn’t let go of Shao. His tear-streaked face tilted upward, brows knitting in confusion.

”...What... what anesthesia?” he whispered, voice small and disbelieving.

Shao looked at him with a tired expression. He gently pried Jai’s arms away from his waist and stepped back, giving them both a little breathing room. Jai let him go, but reluctantly—his hands curled at his sides like they didn’t know what else to do.

”I wanted Qiu Yue to knock me out,” Shao said simply, his voice low and matter-of-fact. ”Maybe if I’m unconscious... this rut will pass on its own. Peacefully. Without anyone getting hurt.”

He rubbed at the back of his neck, eyes flickering toward Yunfeng. ”But Yunfeng said it’s not a good way.”

Jai blinked slowly, trying to process that.

He turned toward his best friend, still sniffling slightly. ”Is that true?” he asked, his voice uncertain.

Yunfeng shifted on his feet, his mouth pulled into a small, serious frown.

”Technically... no one’s ever used anesthesia to get through a rut,” Yunfeng admitted, scratching at his temple. ”So I’m not sure how effective it would be. Or safe.”

Jai looked at him, then at Shao, then back at Yunfeng again. He pouted slightly, still emotional but no longer furious. The edge of his anger had dulled into something vulnerable and uncertain.

He reached out and gently grabbed the front of Shao’s shirt again, tugging it like a child trying to keep someone from leaving. Shao instinctively pulled away, but Jai tugged harder, refusing to let go.

He glared up at him, frowning. ”Don’t pull away from me like that,” he mumbled.

Shao didn’t respond, but he stopped moving.

Jai looked back at Yunfeng again, brow furrowed. ”You’re an alpha too, right?” he asked. ”What did you do during your rut?”

Yunfeng stiffened. His ears turned red instantly.

Jai squinted at him.

”...Why are you making that face?” he asked slowly. Then his eyes narrowed. ”You... you didn’t... mate... did you?”

Yunfeng’s face turned an even deeper shade of red.

Jai’s head whipped around toward Muchen.

The other man’s face was just as flushed. His neck, ears, even the tips of his fingers had gone pink.

Jai gawked.

”Aaahh... ahh...” He pointed between the two of them, eyes wide. ”I see... I see what’s going on here...”

He awkwardly rubbed the back of his head, cheeks pinking a little from secondhand embarrassment. ”Well, shit...”

Jai’s face flushed a deep red. He let go of Shao’s shirt like it had burned him, fingers trembling slightly. ”I-I’ll let you guys talk...” he stammered, already turning toward the door in a flustered hurry.

”Wait!” Yunfeng called after him.

Jai froze mid-step.

Yunfeng spoke again, quieter now. ”Jai, we all need to talk. Now.”

Jai hesitated for a moment before slowly shuffling back. His shoulders were hunched up, and he avoided looking at anyone—especially not Yunfeng. He made his way to the bed and sat down stiffly next to his best friend, hands clenched in his lap.

”Umm...” he mumbled, still bright red.

Yunfeng turned his head toward him, his gaze eerily unfocused yet piercing. Those blind blue-green eyes, framed by stark white lashes, looked about a foot to the left of Jai’s face—but the intensity was still there. With his pale hair and lifeless eyes, Yunfeng looked almost inhuman, like someone from another realm. Someone who saw too much.

Jai didn’t say anything. He kept his eyes locked on the floor.

”Jai,” Yunfeng began carefully, ”I know you really want to help Shao with his rut.”

Jai’s ears turned even redder.

”Ahem... but I don’t think you should do it right now.”

Jai blinked and looked up, shocked. ”Why not? You said he’ll be in pain!”

Yunfeng nodded slowly. ”Yes, he will. But if you go into... this mating business... without knowing anything, you’ll be the one in trouble.”

Jai opened his mouth to argue, but Yunfeng kept going, his voice calm but firm.

”You and him—you haven’t even been in a stable relationship. You’ve barely just admitted feelings for each other. You need to take some time. Date. Understand what you’re getting into.”

Jai scowled, clearly feeling defensive now. ”Why? It’s just sex! I can do it!” he insisted, crossing his arms over his chest.

Yunfeng slowly turned his head toward him again, this time looking directly—eerily—into his face.

”No, Jai,” he said bluntly. ”It’s not just sex.”

Jai frowned, confused.

Yunfeng didn’t flinch. ”Because if you mate with him during his rut... you’ll get pregnant.”

The room went dead silent.

Jai’s jaw dropped. He gaped at his friend, his blush deepening into a shade that rivaled a ripe tomato. ”W-What?!”

Yunfeng nodded solemnly. ”That’s how it works. If an omega mates with an alpha during a rut, there’s a high chance of pregnancy. Especially if the omega is receptive and unprotected. You’re not on any suppressants, are you?”

Jai just stared at him, speechless.

Yunfeng sighed. ”You didn’t even know, did you?”

”I—no—I mean—what the fuck!!” Jai’s voice cracked slightly. ”Nobody told me this shit!!”

Shao shifted uncomfortably behind them, still keeping his distance. Muchen, who had been silently watching this unfold, glanced away with a guilty look on his face.

Yunfeng rubbed his temples. ”Exactly why I said you need to slow down. You’re not ready. I mean how do you think Muchen got pregnant in the first place. I was unprepared for this. I didn’t expect a drunken night to leave him with a child.”

”oh—” Jai looked back and forth between them, hands flailing a little. ”I didn’t even know that was a thing! I thought... I just thought...” He looked down at his lap again, suddenly feeling incredibly small.

His voice dropped to a whisper. ”...I just wanted to help him...”

Yunfeng reached out and gently patted his shoulder. ”I know you do. But helping him doesn’t mean sacrificing yourself blindly. Shao’s not asking for that. You both deserve more than a rushed decision made during a crisis.”

Jai didn’t say anything. He just sat there, eyes glossy, hands clenched into his pants, trying to process the whirlwind of things he didn’t know he needed to know.