Chapter Text
"Teamwork and discipline are the hearts of battle," Yuan Shao had called the lords into session. "General Bao Xin's younger brother ignored orders and advanced without authorization. He himself was killed, and we lost many men. And now Sun Jian has been beaten... It seems luck isn't on our side. What is our next step to be?"
"It's because they didn't send us..."
"Shush, Yide!"
Yuan Shao looked mildly annoyed. "Who's speaking behind Gongsun Zan?"
Gongsun Zan and the three men standing behind him bowed. One man stepped forward. "That is my good friend Liu Bei, magistrate at Pingyuan. We were fellow students and like brothers even then."
Recognition finally hit Cao Cao. "Isn't he the one who helped defeat the Yellow Turban?"
Gongsun Zan confirmed it's true, and Liu bei started introducing himself and his two friends. Knowing Liu Bei was related to the emperor, Yuan Shao invited him to sit.
Cao Cao observed them closely for the first time. Liu Bei had a pretty face and a humble attitude. Zhang Fei was bold and confident. And Guan Yu... unlike the other two betas, he was an alpha. He stood tall. His cheeks were ruddy, and below them a long and beautiful beard, and he had his own charm in the quiet demeanor. Their eyes met across the tent. Guan Yu must have also recognized Cao Cao as an omega.
The thing was, alphas and omegas got rarer the longer the war persisted. Many were employed and killed in battle, especially alphas, since betas encouraged their alpha children to go to war. Some of their kind would wear a cape in such a way to cover the scent glands at the back of their neck, like Cao Cao. Some would wear larger wrist guards with a tighter knot to also protect the smaller scent glands at the wrists, like Guan Yu. Both of these also signaled them to each other.
"... Yes, we need to defeat the enemy to restore morale to our troops," Yuan Shao's voice drifted back in.
"Right," Cao Cao broke out of his reverie. "We have to defeat Hua Xiong as quickly as possible."
"Urgent news!" A messenger entered the Coalition tent. "Hua Xiong has brought his armored cavalry to our camp's entrance. He also displays Sun Jian's headdress as a mockery!"
A few generals had offered to fight Hua Xiong and had been killed. Yuan Shao's top generals Yan Liang and Wen Chou weren't here, so Yuan Shao didn't know who else to send.
That's when Guan Yu stepped forward, promising to bring them Hua Xiong's head despite the whole assembly panicking at the situation. Cao Cao's opinion of him quickly went up.
But as soon as "mounted archer under Xuande" left his mouth, Yuan Shu started belittling him. "Is this an insult? A mere archer, not even a commander? The enemies would laugh at us. Stop speaking nonsense and get lost!"
"Keep your temper in check," Cao Cao tsked, subtly releasing calming pheromones. Even though alphas and omegas tended to stick to their own kind, Cao Cao will keep this nasty alpha out of his goodwill. "Yunchang has promised, and I have good faith he will deliver. If he fails, there is plenty of time to condemn him later. Besides, he does not look like an ordinary soldier, does he? The enemy wouldn't know."
"If I fail, my head is yours," Guan Yu added.
Yuan Shu still looked upset but much calmer. He allowed Guan Yu to go but grumbled, "Is this how you secure a heat mate, Cao Cao? Shameless."
Only their kind would have heard that from afar, and Yuan Shao, who was a beta but sat close enough to hear his insult, wasn't in the habit of going against his own brother.
Cao Cao tsked again but didn't argue. He had a more important thing to do, which was preparing warm wine for Guan Yu before his duel. "Yunchang, have a sip before you go out."
Guan Yu regarded the cup in Cao Cao's hand and bowed. "Please save it for me. I will have it after I return victorious." He walked off.
Guan Yu was out for only a short time. Soon, he came back with Hua Xiong's head.
Cao Cao wasn't normally one to be a fool in public, but Guan Yu was glorious. And Cao Cao couldn't help himself. He couldn't. How could he? As he handed the still warm cup of alcohol over and their hands brushed, Cao Cao purred.
All alphas and omegas in the tent twitched, namely Yuan Shu who pulled a disgusted face. Sun Jian had a look of surprise. Guan Yu kept his reaction quite well, only seeming more tense. He took the warm wine and drank it slowly. Cao Cao followed it down his throat with his eyes.
Returning the cup to him, Guan Yu then bowed at him and returned to Liu Bei's side. The whole tent was silent.
"Ah, haha, my friend appreciates Lord Cao's trust," Liu Bei spoke up. It was obvious he was clueless of alphas' and omegas' ways, but even a beta would know something was going on if they're not a fool.
"Oh yes, trust," Yuan Shu sneered. "That is what you call it?"
"I don't know what you meant, but Yunchang had killed Hua Xiong! Isn't it time to attack Dong Zhou now?" Apparently, Zhang Fei was a fool.
Yuan Shu was enraged by them for flaunting their powers. Cao Cao preferred to avoid attention in this Coalition but found himself having to step in once more, "We must reward the meritorious without regard to status."
Yuan Shu's unpleasantness was directed at him once more. "Since you are so impressed, I announce my withdrawal."
Cao Cao sighed. "Are we going to jeopardize our cause for such a minor disagreement?"
After the meeting adjourned, Cao Cao quietly sent meat and wine to console and reassure the three men.
Yuan Shao heard of this and found him shortly. "You're quite daring, to stake interest in another's soldier in front of all the lords. And now you showed them favors."
Yuan Shao must have thought Cao Cao had a hidden motive. Really, Cao Cao was just swept away by the moment.
The lack of a reply clued Yuan Shao in. "Hah? Have you really fallen for him, that Guan Yu?"
Cao Cao hummed. It's pointless to explain his feelings to Yuan Shao. Alphas and omegas were naturally drawn to each other, and it was more true in this unrest. "It would be nice to exchange a few pleasantries with him soon."
Yuan Shao laughed and patted Cao Cao on the back.