I want a divorce.

Gu Zeyu’s brothers arrived. All twelve of them lined up imposingly, which was an impressive sight. The military allowed family visits, especially since Third Brother from the Senate had procured a visitation document bearing the Imperial President’s official seal – a true display of wealth and power.

Gu Zeyu was called away from feeding pigs in the mess hall. Lu Yunian, looking gloomy, hoisted him over his shoulder and carried him to the reception room. Gu Zeyu didn’t understand why Lu Yunian was angry. Last night, he’d liked this bad-tempered Omega for giving him a gift. Today, seeing Lu Yunian’s dark expression and rough handling, he took back that affection.

At the door, Lu Yunian set the little Alpha down. Noticing Gu Zeyu’s puffed cheeks and angry look, he asked in surprise, “How do you change moods faster than flipping pages? Weren’t you happy feeding pigs just now?”

Gu Zeyu jabbed Lu Yunian’s firm chest repeatedly with his finger, only feeling satisfied after over a hundred pokes. “How is you carrying me any different from Squad Leader Elephant hauling a sack of pig feed?”

Lu Yunian actually considered the comparison before answering honestly, “You’re a bit lighter than pig feed.”

Their bickering carried into the room. The reception room door flew open, and the eldest brother motioned for Lu Yunian to follow him to the side. The doctor, Sixth Brother, rushed to put a blood pressure cuff on Gu Zeyu and gave him a quick once-over.

“Xiao Yu, remember what Sixth Brother told you? Last night, did you two…” Sixth Brother finished his examination and discreetly flashed an OK sign behind his back. The other eleven brothers simultaneously exhaled in relief, then turned to give Lu Yunian complex looks.

“What instructions?” Gu Zeyu, still fuming from the unfinished argument, saw an opportunity to complain with his twelve brothers backing him. He pointed at Lu Yunian and declared, “He bullied me!”

The twelve inhaled sharply. The eldest pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Xiao Yu, you’re an Alpha, you know.”

Gu Zeyu didn’t grasp his meaning, but seeing Lu Yunian’s iron-grey face – clearly more upset than himself – suddenly put him in a great mood. He sidled up to Lu Yunian, hugging his arm affectionately. “Never mind. I’m your Alpha, so I shouldn’t hold grudges. I won’t tell them how you bullied me. It’ll be our secret.”

While Gu Zeyu was referring to being treated like pig feed, everyone else heard a very different story. The twelve Gu brothers exchanged glances, their expressions showing disappointment in their little brother’s weakness.

Writer Eighth Brother approached Gu Zeyu with pen and paper. Avoiding the others’ eyes, he coughed lightly and said, “Tell me the details. How did he bully you? When, where, what length, what positions? I’m working on an Omega-Alpha love story and need some material.”

Gu Zeyu was about to spill everything when Lu Yunian clamped a large hand over his mouth. The eldest brother, a judge, glared at Eighth Brother, making him sheepishly pocket his writing materials.

“Was it necessary to come en masse like this?” Lu Yunian’s aura filled the room. A mere raised eyebrow conveyed his imperial general’s authority as he slowly surveyed the group. His irritation eased somewhat by Gu Zeyu clinging to him. “You all witnessed our wedding. When an Alpha and Omega marry, isn’t it natural, reasonable, and legal for certain things to happen? For all your power and influence across twelve domains, can you dictate who’s on top in a couple’s bedroom?”

“You used fame, power, and wealth to force me to marry Gu Zeyu. Did you expect me to keep him as an untouchable ornament? Never mind that my heat needs an Alpha’s soothing pheromones – even normally, what law forbids married Alphas and Omegas from bonding?” Lu Yunian’s deep, magnetic voice made every word painful to hear. Even the eldest brother was cowed by his intimidating presence, momentarily at a loss for a rebuttal.

“If you truly cherish Gu Zeyu so much, you should have kept him under your wings forever instead of sending him out and then worrying he might get bullied.” As soon as Lu Yunian finished speaking, he realized something was wrong. The arms that had been tightly hugging him had let go.

Gu Zeyu retreated to his eldest brother’s side, standing before all his brothers to face Lu Yunian. His gaze held no fear. “Apologize.”

Lu Yunian didn’t catch what he said and furrowed his brow.

“Apologize! Apologize to my brothers!” Gu Zeyu gritted out. “How dare you yell at them? You married into our family. They’re your elders. How can you speak to them in that tone?”

Everyone gasped. Writer Eighth Brother, who was closest to Gu Zeyu, stepped forward and tugged his sleeve, whispering, “Aren’t you afraid he’ll hit you?”

Gu Zeyu jutted out his chin stubbornly, though his legs shook. He lowered his head to tell Eighth Brother, “There are twelve of you. Can’t you restrain one person?”

Seeing Lu Yunian’s face darken and veins pop on his forehead in anger, Eighth Brother trembled, “Even all thirteen of us together can’t beat him.”

Lu Yunian snorted coldly, looking at the little Alpha kneeling on weak legs. The air filled with faint milk-scented pheromones in futile resistance. He released just a touch of Omega pheromones, enough to silence all the Alphas present.

“Asking me to apologize? Keep dreaming.” Lu Yunian strode out, leaving these foolish Alphas behind in the reception room.

Once he left, Gu Zeyu burst into tears. His twelve brothers gathered around to console him as he cried and shouted, “I want a divorce! Right now! Who’d want such a stinky Omega anyway? Bring the civil affairs bureau here – I want a divorce this instant!”