Nene stepped inside, the pulsing bass immediately vibrating through her skin.
The club was already alive, the early afternoon crowd more relaxed than the nighttime rush.
Betas filled the booths and bar seats, chatting easily, flirting with zero hesitation.
It was fast. Direct.
Exactly like her grandmother had said—no posturing, no unnecessary dominance struggles.
Nene exhaled sharply, scanning the room.
This was her club now.
Her business.
Her space.
She made her way toward the VIP lounge, nodding slightly at a few familiar faces.
Then settling into a private corner with a drink in hand.
She did exactly what her grandmother told her to do.
She watched.
Because as much as she hated to admit it…
This was actually fascinating.
Nene leaned back in her seat, sipping her drink as she watched the club floor.
The Beta crowd was fast-moving, fluid, instinct-driven.
They weren't like Alphas, who postured, calculated, and played long games of power struggles.
They weren't like Omegas, who had entirely different instincts dictating their social structures.
Betas?
They were blunt. Efficient.
A group at the bar was already pairing off, exchanging numbers, locking in weekend plans with zero hesitation.
Another couple had met barely ten minutes ago and was already halfway to leaving together.
It was easy.
Simple.
And completely foreign to her.
Nene's fingers tapped against the table absently.
Her instincts had never worked that way.
Everything in her life had been a struggle for control, dominance, or survival.
Nothing had ever been this clean.
Nene was mid-sip of her drink when the club doors swung open.
She barely had time to register the shift in atmosphere before a very familiar voice cut through the noise.
"No."
She sighed, rubbing her temple.
"No, no, no, no—"
Xu Tian marched straight toward her, looking half-panicked, half-resigned.
"No, you did not do this," he muttered, voice low but urgent.
Nene tilted her head, unimpressed.
"Do what?"
"Your husband will kill me!" Tian cut her off, exasperated. "Do you have any idea the kind of chaos you're creating?*"
Nene rolled her eyes.
"Calm down," she muttered, waving him off. "I'll be out in half an hour."
Tian looked like he wanted to throw something.
"That is not the—" He stopped mid-sentence, his gaze flicking to the table.
A large steaming bowl of rice had just been set in front of her.
Nene picked up her chopsticks calmly.
"See?" she said, taking a bite."I'm not touching anyone. I'm literally just eating lunch."
Tian stared at her.
Then at the bowl of rice.
Then back at her.
"You came here to eat?!"
Nene shrugged.
"Lunch at clubs is entertaining," she muttered. "And the food's good."
Tian dragged a hand down his face, muttering under his breath.
"I need a raise."
Nene ignored him, chewing slowly, her gaze drifting back to the floor.
Betas moved freely, laughing, drinking, pairing off with no hesitation.
No posturing.
No dominance struggles.
No political plays or survival instincts whispering at them constantly.
Nene ignored him, chewing slowly as her gaze drifted back to the floor.
Betas moved laughing, drinking, pairing off without hesitation.
She exhaled slowly, watching them.
"They look so free," she murmured.
Tian followed her gaze, silent for a moment.
Then—soft, knowing—
"That's because they are."
He didn't sit next to her.
He took the farthest possible seat.
Not because he feared her.
But because he knew her husband might kill anyone who sat too close.
Nene eyed him, still eating.
"You're acting like I bite."
Tian snorted.
"Not you. Your husband."
She rolled her eyes, shoving another bite into her mouth.
She could already tell—he was winding up for one of his lectures.
And sure enough—Tian glanced at the dance floor.
"They look free, don't they?"
Nene frowned, chewing.
"Yeah," she muttered. "They do."
Tian huffed.
"That's because free is for Betas."
She paused mid-bite.
He gave her a look.
"An Alpha's life is different," he said. "Once you mature, it won't just be instincts—it'll be structure, control, territory. It's never simple."
Nene huffed.
"Sounds awful."
Tian chuckled.
"Depends. Some Alphas love it. They crave the power plays."
He leaned back, thoughtful.
"I dated a female Alpha once," he added. "She was like that. Dominant, aggressive, played all the games."
Nene raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
He shrugged.
"She was exhausting. But I liked it. For a while."
Then he looked at her—direct, assessing.
"But you? You're not wired to be passive like me. Once your instincts settle, you're going to be dangerous."
Nene frowned.
Before she could argue—Tian sighed again, rubbing his temple.
"And speaking of dangerous…"
"What?"
"Do you know what your husband did the day after you bought this place?"
Nene blinked.
"…No?"
"He came here and grilled me," Tian said flatly. "Wanted to know how long we'd been friends, why we were close, what our history was. I had to show him videos of you at fourteen. Every dumb thing we ever filmed."
Nene's stomach sank.
Tian gave her a flat look.
"My current status is safe. But pending."
She dragged a hand down her face.
"…He's insane."
"Tell me something I don't know."
Tian leaned back, fingers drumming against the table.
"You need to start thinking about dominance in relationships," he said.
"Why?"
"Because for someone like him," Tian said, nodding toward the unseen presence of Alexander, "the fact that he even lets you walk around like this is already saying something."
Nene frowned.
"He doesn't let me do anything. I do what I want."
Tian snorted.
"Sure."
Nene narrowed her eyes.
Tian ignored her.
"You think you've seen bad pairings?" he said. "Let me tell you about the worst couple I've ever seen."
Nene raised her drink, suspiciously curious.
"A few years ago, this obsessed Alpha pair came here. Husband literally closed down the club—so his mate could dance alone."
She choked.
"You're joking."
"I wish. He had security kick out hundreds of people. Just for her."
"What did she do?"
"She thought it was romantic."
Nene blinked.
"…Was it?"
Tian tilted his head.
"Depends. If you're into that. If you're normal? Absolutely not."
She shook her head.
"Alphas are insane."
"And you married one of the worst."
Nene huffed, pushing her empty bowl away.
"Yeah, well. At least he hasn't closed down a club for me. Yet."
Their conversation stopped cold.
Because Tian's posture shifted.
Hard.
He'd felt it.
A new Alpha walked in.
The pressure changed instantly—subtle but heavy.
The Alpha scanned the club.
Saw them.
Locked eyes with her.
Then started walking.
Tian exhaled sharply, immediately going live.
A discreet stream—no lights, no sound—pinging straight to one person: Zhao Alexander.
Because this?
Was going to be a problem.
The Alpha stopped at their table, gaze flicking to Tian.
"Introduce me," he said smoothly.
Tian didn't blink.
"No."
"No?"
Tian exhaled.
"She's taken."
The Alpha's eyes moved to Nene.
Challenging.
Nene felt it rise in her blood.
He was posturing.
He thought dominance was volume.
Presence.
Expectation.
She moved.
One step.
Direct. Silent. Absolute.
Dominance poured off her like gravity.
The Alpha stiffened instantly, caught mid-breath.
"You need to disappear," she said, voice soft but slicing.
He blinked.
Hesitated.
"Before the new boss gets here."
Realization dawned.
His eyes widened slightly.
He backed up.
Didn't test her.
Just turned and left.
Tian exhaled like he'd been underwater.
"Damn," he muttered. "That was brutal."
Nene sipped her drink.
"If they don't learn fast, they don't survive long."
Tian chuckled.
"Your husband is rubbing off on you."
"Shut up."
Tian looked tired.
"That was a pack enforcer."
"And?"
"He might bring more."
Nene shrugged.
"Then they'll learn the same lesson."
Tian groaned.
"Why are you like this?"
She grinned.
"Natural talent."
He looked like he was re-evaluating all his life choices.
"Whatever. Not my problem."
Nene stretched, standing.
"Good. Because I have class."
Tian stared.
"You just caused a dominance incident with a pack enforcer—and your next thought is class?"
She adjusted her sleeves.
"It's part of my routine."
"You're insane."
"And yet, you still work for me."
He followed, still vaguely stressed.
"Do I need to report this?"
She paused.
"Only if he brings friends."
"Nene."
She glanced over her shoulder.
"What?"
"You do realize Alexander is already monitoring everything you do, right?"
She rolled her eyes.
"And yet, he hasn't stormed in." A pause. "So either he's not worried, or he already knows and doesn't care."
Tian gritted his teeth.
"Or he's waiting for me to tell him."
She grinned.
"Then do."
He stared.
"You are going to get me killed."
She patted his shoulder, smirking.
"Relax. If something happens, I'll handle it."
Tian groaned.