Chapter 26
The white wolf either sliced open the fruits with its claws or simply crushed them under its paw. With its strength, this task was effortless. Shi Nuo only needed to pick up the opened fruits and scoop out the white fluff, placing it in the buckets.
Working together was much faster. The tree was large and bore a lot of fruit. After filling two buckets with the compacted fluff, they had only harvested about a third of the fruit.
There were several broken branches on the ground, but that didn’t matter. As long as the main trunk and roots weren’t damaged, new fruit-bearing branches would grow in the spring.
The two buckets, tightly packed, were much heavier than before. Shi Nuo carried one in each hand, walked to the white wolf’s side, and waited for it to lower its body so he could climb on.
Seeing him struggle, the white wolf frowned slightly, said, “Wait,” and disappeared into the forest.
Shi Nuo was a bit confused but obediently waited, rubbing his sore hands as he watched the direction where Hugh Elvis had gone.
Soon, the white wolf returned, carrying a vine in its mouth.
The dark green vine was about two fingers thick, with no leaves or branches, looking like a smooth rope.
As it approached, Shi Nuo saw burn marks on the vine. The leaves and branches must have been incinerated. Puzzled, he asked, “What is that?”
He immediately regretted the question. It was obviously a vine.
But Hugh understood what he meant. It dropped the vine at Shi Nuo’s feet and said, “Use it to tie the buckets. One on each side. Then put them on my back.”
Shi Nuo hesitated, then did as he was told, using the ends of the vine to securely tie the handles of the buckets.
The vine was strong and sturdy. After tying several knots, he placed the vine across the white wolf’s broad back as it lowered its body, the two buckets hanging on either side.
With his hands free, Shi Nuo climbed onto the wolf’s back and, as it began to run, he held on tight, his arms and legs wrapped around the wolf’s body.
Before, when carrying the full buckets back, he had to hold one in each hand, making it difficult to maintain his balance when the wolf leaped or changed direction. This was much easier.
Knowing Shi Nuo wanted to gather as much as possible, Hugh Elvis ran faster, shortening the travel time. Whether on the plains or in the forest, it moved with effortless grace.
On their third trip, they had harvested all the ripe fruit from the tree, the ground beneath it littered with empty shells.
Shi Nuo wiped his sweat. The midday sun was strong, and even in the shade of the forest, continuous work made him feel hot.
“Cluck—”
A sound came from a nearby bush, different from the clear chirping of birds, more muffled.
The forest was full of small animals, but they were only here to gather fruit, and Hugh Elvis hadn’t released his intimidating pheromones, simply accompanying Shi Nuo. With him here, there was no danger.
He had seen many animals today, but this unusual sound made him turn his head, curious.
The bush rustled, and a chicken’s head, adorned with a few fallen leaves, emerged, its body seemingly still hidden on the other side. The stretched-out neck looked comical.
The wild chicken had a distinctive tuft of bright green feathers on its head.
Realizing it was indeed a wild chicken, Shi Nuo stared, mesmerized. He still had a lot of honey. He imagined a golden-brown, honey-roasted chicken, crispy on the outside, tender on the inside, cooked on a spit over a fire.
“Crack!”
The sharp sound of the white wolf’s paw crushing a dark brown fruit startled the colorful wild chicken, which quickly withdrew its head, leaving only the shaking bush.
Shi Nuo watched as his vision of honey-roasted chicken vanished, a look of disappointment in his eyes.
Seeing him staring blankly, not noticing that he had opened several more fruits, the white wolf, slightly annoyed, turned to follow his gaze. “What are you looking at?”
“Roasted chicken,” Shi Nuo mumbled wistfully, then, embarrassed by his own words, quickly added, “I mean, there was a wild chicken over there just now.”
The forest was full of small creatures like rabbits and chickens. They were too small for the white wolf, which only hunted them occasionally for a change of pace. It didn’t particularly like feathered prey; the feathers flew everywhere when it tore them apart, and there wasn’t much meat.
It had heard the sound earlier but hadn’t paid attention to it. It hadn’t realized Shi Nuo wanted to eat it.
The white wolf’s ears twitched. Judging by the sound, the wild chicken was fast, but it didn’t hesitate, turning and giving chase, its agile form like a white blur.
The strong gust of wind as the wolf ran past lifted Shi Nuo’s hair and clothes, making him stumble. He took half a step forward to steady himself.
Less than five minutes later, the white wolf returned, carrying a plump, colorful wild chicken in its mouth.
The chicken, its eyes wide open, was dead, likely from fright.
“Mr. Elvis, you…” Shi Nuo was so happy he didn’t know what to say. He squatted down in front of the chicken’s carcass, poked its round belly, and looked up at the white wolf, his eyes shining with uncontainable joy.
The white wolf, unable to resist, nudged him with its head, licking his cheeks and the corners of his lips.
By the river, a fire crackled, sending sparks into the air.
The chicken, brushed with honey, was skewered on a clean branch, roasting over a white flame. Hugh Elvis, holding one end of the branch, turned the chicken over.
Shi Nuo sat next to Hugh, slightly behind him, on the small stool he had brought.
Several bowls and plates were placed on a white rock behind him. One bowl contained golden honey, and he had brought spoons, chopsticks, and a knife, but no brush. Hugh had washed his hands and used them to apply the honey to the chicken.
The white-haired man sat on a rock in front of the fire, turning the chicken, his expression calm, his movements meticulous.
The heat from the fire made Shi Nuo shift back slightly.
Colorful feathers littered the ground and the shallow water nearby. After removing the chicken’s head and tail and gutting it, Hugh had tossed the innards into the river, where a swarm of fish, large and small, blue and black, had devoured them, churning the water.
After roasting the chicken for a while, Hugh picked up the bowl of honey and brushed it onto the meat.
The bowl contained not only honey but also a mixture of seasonings, forming a thick glaze.
Since Shi Nuo was eager to eat it, and they didn’t know how long to marinate chicken, they had decided to roast it fresh.
The sticky honey and seasonings on his hands were uncomfortable, so Hugh stuck the branch into a forked stick, went to the river to wash his hands, and turned to see Shi Nuo sitting in his place, carefully watching the fire and turning the chicken.
From the moment they returned, through the process of preparing and roasting the chicken, Shi Nuo’s joy had been evident. Now, as he turned the chicken himself, a smile played at the corners of his eyes.
“Happy?” a deep voice asked from above.
Shi Nuo looked up, trying to appear composed, but he couldn’t suppress his smile. “Yes,” he replied, his eyes shining.
A large hand ruffled his hair. His eyes bright, he continued, “I’ve had honey-roasted chicken before. It was delicious. This honey is so fragrant; the chicken should be just as good.”
His bright, beautiful smile was dazzling.
His eyes shone as he spoke, his voice soft and sweet, his demeanor obedient.
Hugh Elvis paused, his Adam’s apple moving slightly.
So adorable.
He lowered his gaze, suppressing his sudden urge to kiss the Omega, his thoughts scattering. He realized, somewhat inappropriately, that Shi Nuo, in terms of both personality and appearance, wasn’t his usual type.
Although he had been young before the age of nine, he had possessed an objective sense of aesthetics. He had seen many beautiful men and women and had grown accustomed to them.
The moment he saw Shi Nuo, he knew the Omega was different from the mate he had envisioned.
It was then that he had realized the meaning of the word “mate.” He had followed Shi Nuo, watching him gather vegetables and return to the house, then sat alone in the shade of a tree, thinking.
That was the first time he had imagined his ideal partner.
Long legs, a slender waist, full of energy, skin not necessarily pale, a healthy honey-colored tan would be fine, brave and strong, with a vibrant, wild spirit, both spicy and sweet.
And most importantly, mutually faithful.
Shi Nuo, however, was too timid, his physique too weak. He lacked the strength and resilience to survive in the wild.
But he was here now, and if he couldn’t even protect a single Omega, he would be no better than a useless waste.
Shi Nuo wasn’t a top-tier Omega, his pheromones common.
But they were incredibly compatible. Their pheromones mingled without any conflict. Shi Nuo was a healthy Omega, fully mature, his body always ready for conception when they were intimate. They would have children, probably more than one.
Shi Nuo wasn’t strikingly beautiful at first glance.
But…
Hugh Elvis frowned. He was usually rational and clear-headed, but this objective assessment was undeniable.
But beauty was irrelevant. They were the only two here.
His brow smoothed, and he stopped ruffling Shi Nuo’s hair, his voice gentle, “Let me do that.”
Shi Nuo, his attention completely focused on the roasting chicken, oblivious to the Alpha’s thoughts, stood up and sat down beside him, waiting expectantly.
Gradually, the rich aroma of roasting meat, mingled with the sweet fragrance of honey, filled the air, tempting nearby creatures, their noses twitching as they searched for the source of the delicious smell.
Hugh Elvis poked the chicken with the tip of the knife. “It’s not cooked through yet,” he said.
“Mm,” Shi Nuo swallowed, waiting patiently. He turned slightly and reached for two of the small, green, tomato-like fruits from a nearby bowl, their refreshing taste a welcome contrast to the richness of the meat.
Hugh turned the chicken and, seeing Shi Nuo eating, couldn’t resist leaning over and kissing him.
The light kisses, soft and brief, landed on his lips and cheeks. Shi Nuo, distracted, kept his eyes on the roasting chicken, relieved that it wasn’t burning.
Hugh frowned, pulled back slightly, his expression displeased.
Shi Nuo, his eyes wide and apologetic, knew he had been inattentive. He was excited about the roasted chicken, especially since the Alpha had caught it for him. He leaned closer and gently kissed Hugh’s lips, a gesture of appeasement.
The Omega’s sweet, proactive kiss dispelled the Alpha’s displeasure. The man turning the chicken maintained his aloof demeanor, but his pheromones surged around them, unseen.
A vision of icy lotuses bloomed, their cold, translucent petals glistening with dew, the droplets falling and shattering, forming a misty haze.
