Chapter 45
After looking through Shi Nuo’s childhood photos, Hugh Elvis, feeling a sense of satisfaction, transferred them to his terminal.
He didn’t have an optical brain. His had been destroyed years ago, during his first berserk episode, when the white flames erupted from his body. He hadn’t used one since.
Long Xu’s terminal had similar functions to an optical brain, even more advanced than ordinary models, and storing Shi Nuo’s pictures there was safer.
Shi Nuo saw him transfer the files but didn’t dare stop him. He wasn’t as resistant this time, having seen Hugh’s childhood pictures as well.
The image of the small white wolf chasing butterflies came to mind, and he wanted to save a copy for himself, but he didn’t know how to ask. Saving an Alpha’s picture seemed strange.
He suppressed the urge.
The snow was falling more heavily now, the wind picking up, the temperature dropping. Seeing that the transfer was complete, Shi Nuo closed his optical brain, turned to remove the holographic visors, and started walking back inside.
He was suddenly pulled into an embrace.
Hugh had activated the terminal’s camera, recording a short video and snapping a few pictures.
Amidst the falling snow, the tall, handsome, white-haired man held the slightly startled Omega in his arms. As Shi Nuo struggled a bit, surprised by the sudden embrace, Hugh’s gaze, no longer on the camera, fell on the Omega in his arms.
Shi Nuo didn’t understand until he saw the camera recording, the video and pictures displayed on a virtual screen.
He froze.
This was their first picture together.
Hugh Elvis pursed his lips, his nervousness masked by his usual indifferent expression. He released Shi Nuo and, his face carefully blank, checked the pictures.
Their embrace was undeniably intimate, and even though Shi Nuo looked surprised, he was still beautiful.
They looked good together.
Hugh Elvis felt a surge of satisfaction. He liked the short video and the pictures. He looked up at Shi Nuo. “Do you want them?”
Shi Nuo, still slightly dazed, nodded instinctively. “Yes.”
A faint smile touched the Alpha’s lips, his eyes softening slightly as he transferred the files to Shi Nuo’s optical brain.
A notification sound, and Shi Nuo opened his optical brain, checking the pictures.
They were a series of continuous shots. In one, he was looking at the camera, his expression bewildered. He didn’t think it was a good picture, but since Hugh had taken it, he didn’t dare delete it.
As for Hugh, he was holding him with one arm, his head slightly lowered, his eyes downcast, a shadow falling across his face, his profile handsome, even tender.
Shi Nuo paused, staring at the picture.
Perhaps it was the angle, or the lighting, but Hugh’s expression seemed soft and unguarded, almost like a smile.
He looked at the picture again. The smile was barely perceptible, likely just a trick of the light or the angle of the shot.
A strange silence fell between them as they looked at the pictures.
Finally, Hugh Elvis broke the silence. The wind howled as he took Shi Nuo’s hand and led him back inside, the metal door closing slowly behind them.
As the night deepened, Shi Nuo sat on the Alpha’s lap, his lips caught between his teeth, his breath coming in ragged gasps, his body arching and falling, until he finally collapsed against Hugh’s chest, exhausted.
His vision blurred, the world spinning, the Alpha’s firm chest a comforting warmth against his face.
Shi Nuo had known this was coming. He could only gasp for breath, the memory of the nuts, the crabs, the fresh fish, and the price he had paid for them echoing in his mind.
The cold of winter amplified his emotional vulnerability.
Life settled back into a familiar routine, filled with kisses, embraces, movies, TV shows, books, and comics.
The novelty of the entertainment had worn off, and the world seemed to shrink, just the two of them, completely alone.
The endless expanse of snow and ice, the harsh winter, amplified his sense of isolation.
The next day, Shi Nuo woke up late and, seeing a plate of roasted crabs on the table, ate them silently.
He had waited until morning to clean himself, his body still sore, the lingering discomfort a constant reminder of last night’s encounter.
Hugh Elvis had woken up early, thawed the frozen crabs, and roasted them, using his white flames. Yesterday, he had accidentally charred them slightly, the flames too intense, but today, he had been more careful.
But Shi Nuo ate quietly, his head down, his usual joy absent.
Hugh couldn’t understand. He had thought Shi Nuo enjoyed the roasted crabs. The atmosphere had been good yesterday while they were looking at the pictures, and he had been happy, unable to resist.
Their pheromones had mingled perfectly, their bodies in sync, everything had been…ideal.
Unable to understand Shi Nuo’s sudden shift in mood, the white-haired Alpha felt a surge of frustration.
The second month of winter arrived, the landscape unchanged, the snow falling relentlessly.
Shi Nuo, wearing thermal gloves, held two empty buckets and waited as Long Xu dug in the snow, quickly retrieving the snow mushrooms and placing them at his feet.
Shi Nuo squatted down and gathered the mushrooms.
The snow mushrooms were in season, but according to Hugh, they would only be available for the first two months of winter. During the colder, harsher months of deep winter, they would be difficult to find.
The snow fell silently, the sky overcast.
Shi Nuo had grown accustomed to this. With Long Xu here, even if the snowfall intensified, he had shelter.
The mecha was much more efficient at finding snow mushrooms. Long Xu, tall and imposing, could see much further than he could. He could only dig through the snow, checking the plants beneath, while Long Xu could scan a five-hundred-meter radius instantly.
His feet sinking deep into the snow, his movements hampered, Shi Nuo cleared a small area and waited for Long Xu to bring him the mushrooms.
His gloves were waterproof and insulated, perfect for digging in the snow. He clapped his hands together, dislodging the snowflakes clinging to them.
Apart from the sound of Long Xu digging, the world was silent.
Hugh had gone hunting. Shi Nuo didn’t know where.
The wind swirled the snowflakes around him, and he looked up at the gray sky.
Few people chose to live on uninhabited planets, perhaps a short vacation for a change of pace, a temporary escape from society.
But living here permanently, with no other human contact, no social interaction, felt more like imprisonment.
He looked at Long Xu, digging for mushrooms.
The mecha could leave, but where would it go?
Shi Nuo paused, a sudden realization dawning on him. Apart from this planet, he had nowhere else to go.
The Shi family was driven by profit, and he barely knew the Elvis family. His and Hugh’s current situation was no different from being abandoned by both families.
The vastness of space, countless habitable planets…he was married to Hugh now, permanently bonded, and the Alpha had no intention of leaving this place.
He couldn’t leave.
It seemed he was destined to live here with Hugh.
A sudden gust of wind interrupted his thoughts, and he turned his head.
His gaze met that of a wild beast. The white wolf, carrying something in its mouth, stared at him intently, its cold, aloof demeanor evident even in its beast form.
He remembered the pictures he had seen.
The Elvis family’s wealth and extravagance were evident in Hugh’s childhood photos. He had always been the center of attention, even as a child, his expression calm and composed, as if everything he had was his birthright, his inherent aloofness a mark of his privileged upbringing.
Shi Nuo pursed his lips, a sense of dejection washing over him.
He had imagined married life differently, not this cold…exchange.
The white blur in the distance rapidly approached, the large, powerful white wolf running towards him, its usually controlled tail wagging slightly, its ears twitching.
It ran swiftly, as if unable to wait, its usual aloofness abandoned.
Shi Nuo watched as the white shape ran towards him, his eyes fixed on the wolf against the backdrop of snow and ice.
He knew the white wolf’s speed. This wasn’t its usual swiftness.
He knew it was an illusion, but he didn’t break the spell, simply watching.
The white wolf reached him, a piece of meat, the most tender and flavorful part of its prey, held gently in its mouth, a gift for Shi Nuo.
A gust of cold wind brought Shi Nuo back to his senses.
The white wolf was so close that its massive body loomed over him, the soft fur around its neck brushing against his face and body, a warm, comforting presence.
It placed the meat on a clean patch of untouched snow and, half-circling Shi Nuo with its body, wanted to lick him but then hesitated, smelling the lingering scent of blood on its fur.
It had hurried back before cleaning itself after its meal.
Shi Nuo looked at the fresh meat on the ground. Standing so close to the white wolf, he could smell the blood, but strangely, he wasn’t repulsed.
The warm, furry body moved back slightly, and as he was about to pick up the meat and place it in his empty bucket, the white wolf’s fluffy tail brushed against his cheek, a surprisingly gentle touch, almost like a caress.
Shi Nuo was slightly embarrassed by his own fanciful thoughts.
“This is the best part. Take it back and fry it,” the white wolf said, retracting its tail, its voice, although attempting to sound casual, carrying a note of pride and perhaps even a hint of…eagerness to please.
“Okay, thank you,” Shi Nuo replied politely, bending down and carefully placing the heavy piece of meat in his bucket, which barely contained it.
The wagging tail stilled, and the white wolf opened its mouth, wanting to ask Shi Nuo why he seemed unhappy, especially now that he had meat.
But he had made him cry the last time he asked.
He was gradually learning that even between mates, there should be a certain respect for privacy.
So, he held back the question, his own confusion growing.
Long Xu, having gathered another pile of snow mushrooms, approached and placed them at Shi Nuo’s feet.
The white wolf, remaining in its beast form, circled Shi Nuo protectively as he squatted down to gather the mushrooms, like a guardian of its treasure.
After filling a bucket with snow mushrooms, Shi Nuo stored Long Xu, stepped onto the white wolf’s outstretched tail, and climbed onto its back.
His movements were practiced, the white wolf’s offering of its tail also a familiar gesture.
It had initially lowered its body for him to climb on, but then it discovered that lifting him with its tail was more convenient.
They hadn’t been outside for long, but by the time they returned and started preparing lunch, Shi Nuo was already feeling hungry.
He glanced at the time: almost one o’clock. No wonder.
The fragrant meat patties, cooked to perfection, drizzled with a rich sauce, and served with tender, fresh mushrooms, were a delicious meal. He ate three, even more than his usual portion.
He was full, even slightly overstuffed, and too restless to sit still, so he paced around the living room while watching a movie.
The warmth of the house, the comfort of a good meal, dispelled his earlier melancholy and loneliness.
All he could think was, this meat is so good.
