Chapter 47
The sun finally emerged, but the light was weak, the snow-covered landscape occasionally glinting under its pale rays.
Shi Nuo looked up at the sky, shielding his eyes with his hand, then lowered his gaze.
More clouds drifted in, obscuring the sun, their thick layers allowing only slivers of sunlight to penetrate.
The sun hadn’t even been out for two hours before it disappeared completely.
Shi Nuo rubbed his eyes, still waiting by the door.
Long Xu had cleared the snow in front of the house, creating a wide path about two hundred meters long.
He walked back and forth along the path, occasionally kicking at the snow, then, feeling restless, scooped up a handful, packed it into a snowball, and threw it as far as he could.
Hugh had gone hunting and would bring back fresh meat.
He hadn’t summoned Long Xu today. The wind picked up, swirling the snow around him, and he squinted, the temperature control device on his wrist emitting a constant stream of warm air, protecting him from the cold.
He made several snowballs and, with no one else around, started a competition with himself, seeing how far he could throw them.
Even without doing any real work, he was slightly out of breath after a while.
Soon after the wind picked up, it began to snow again.
Shi Nuo had grown accustomed to this constant snowfall, the ever-deepening layer of snow a stark reminder of winter’s long reach.
Four months had seemed like a short time, but now, experiencing winter firsthand, he understood its true length.
Fortunately, it was already the second month.
The thick winter clothes restricted his movements, and feeling himself starting to sweat, he stopped his pointless competition and went back inside.
He felt uncomfortable, his body warm and damp beneath the heavy layers, so he went to the bedroom to change.
He dried himself with a towel before putting on clean clothes.
He pulled on his pajama pants. The fabric was soft and smooth, thick and warm, the waistband elastic and comfortable.
He suddenly paused, his hand stilling, and looked down at his stomach. It was slightly rounded.
Had he gained weight?
He patted his belly. It did seem…larger. Fortunately, the waistband was elastic. His other pants might have felt tight.
The wind howled outside, the sound intimidating. How could he have gained weight in such a harsh environment?
He pulled on his pajama top.
Remembering his recent increased consumption of meat, he dismissed the thought. Animals stored fat for the winter. Perhaps his body was simply adjusting to the environment, storing fat to help him survive the cold.
He had always been slim, his weight stable, never having to worry about gaining weight before.
Before, he would have been concerned.
But not now. There was no one here to judge his appearance. As for Hugh…
It was just a little bit of weight, only noticeable without clothes. The Alpha probably wouldn’t care.
And if he did, Shi Nuo frowned slightly, he could just eat less, and the extra weight would gradually disappear.
Perhaps Hugh hadn’t even noticed.
Hearing the sound of running in the distance, he hurried outside.
As expected, Hugh was back.
The snow fell relentlessly, the white plain stretching endlessly, and the giant white wolf, carrying its prey, ran towards him, its movements powerful and graceful, its speed astonishing.
Like a gust of wind, a white flame, its powerful body a blur of motion.
The majestic beast, its deep blue eyes narrowed slightly, its expression cold yet undeniably handsome, captivated Shi Nuo for a moment.
As the wolf reached him, the strong gust of wind ruffled his hair and clothes, almost making him stumble backwards.
His gaze shifted to the wolf’s prey, a large, plump, unknown animal, already dead, and he swallowed, unable to contain his excitement.
Fresh meat!
The white wolf dropped its prey and, without hesitation, began to expertly butcher it, its claws and fangs tearing through the skin and flesh, separating the hide, meat, and bones.
Shi Nuo brought out buckets and basins, which he had washed earlier, and placed them beside the wolf, waiting for it to finish and select the best parts for them.
Hugh Elvis went hunting every three days.
He brought back meat not only for Shi Nuo but also for himself, sometimes eating it raw, following his beastly instincts, sometimes cooking it with Shi Nuo.
After the white wolf had selected the best cuts of meat and the bones, Shi Nuo happily carried a heavy bucket back to the house.
The remaining carcass was incinerated in a burst of white flames.
Apart from the hide, which was left on the snow-covered ground, everything was reduced to ashes, the strong smell of blood gradually dissipating in the cold wind.
A flash of white light, and Hugh Elvis emerged, a white animal skin around his waist. He walked barefoot across the snow, carrying a basin and a bucket, and followed Shi Nuo into the kitchen.
Sizzle—
Shi Nuo briefly seared the large meat patties on all sides. Hugh preferred his meat rare, and his own two smaller, fully cooked patties were already done, steaming hot on a plate.
He garnished the plates with sliced fruit and blanched green vegetables, and the simple meal was quickly ready.
At the dining table, Shi Nuo eagerly cut into his meat patty, the aroma of the meat and the flavorful sauce making his mouth water. He took a few bites with his knife and fork, then, finding them cumbersome, switched to chopsticks.
He was surprised that he hadn’t grown tired of meat after almost two weeks of eating it almost every meal.
As for the price he had to pay…
Lost in the enjoyment of the tender, juicy meat, he dismissed the thought of dieting.
They had been intimate many times; one more night wouldn’t make a difference.
And for some reason, Hugh had been surprisingly restrained recently, not making any further advances after their…pre-meal activities.
Although those activities themselves were sometimes a bit…much.
Shi Nuo blushed, remembering them. He suspected Hugh had learned those techniques from the adult comics.
He didn’t dare look at them himself and could only endure them in silence.
He pushed those thoughts aside and focused on his meal, savoring each bite.
Beside him, the tall, muscular, shirtless Alpha seemed distracted, glancing at Shi Nuo from time to time.
This wasn’t the first time he had noticed this. From the moment he brought back the prey, Shi Nuo’s attention had been completely fixated on the meat, and now, at the table, his focus was solely on eating.
He rarely disturbed Shi Nuo during meals, but that didn’t mean he liked this feeling, this sense that the meat was more important to the Omega than his mate.
His frustration growing, Hugh Elvis’s movements slowed, his jaw tightening, a sense of annoyance building within him, and he accidentally bent his knife and fork, his grip too tight.
Shi Nuo, looking up, saw the deformed utensils.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, puzzled, trying to recall if he had done anything to offend the Alpha.
And since his tearful outburst, he had been receiving fresh meat every day and hadn’t thrown any more tantrums.
Hugh Elvis looked down, his expression carefully neutral. “Nothing. I just…used too much force. These are flimsy.”
He straightened the bent utensils and, his emotions concealed, calmly resumed cutting his meat.
Shi Nuo looked at the Alpha’s large, strong hands, then tentatively gripped his own knife handle. It was solid.
Not the type of soft metal that would bend easily.
The difference in their strength, the Alpha’s muscular physique so close, made him quietly withdraw his hand and resume his meal.
The movie ended with a romantic scene of the protagonist’s long hair billowing in the sea breeze, accompanied by soft, sentimental music.
Hugh Elvis turned off the holographic projector and stood up.
In the bedroom, Shi Nuo lay on his side, his cheeks flushed with sleep.
The nutritious food had improved his complexion.
As the Alpha approached the bed, Shi Nuo opened his eyes, his expression still slightly dazed from sleep.
He sat up, leaning against the headboard.
Hugh, his mind still on the movie’s plot, suddenly asked, “How are we doing?”
Shi Nuo, still sleepy, looked up at him blankly, then, realizing what Hugh had asked, his expression shifted to surprise.
Doing?
But the Alpha was waiting for an answer, and Shi Nuo, flustered, stammered, “Why are you asking?”
Hugh Elvis looked at him intently. “Our relationship. As Alpha and Omega mates.”
Shi Nuo understood what he meant and, seeing that a reply was expected, hesitated, then said cautiously, “I think…it could be better.”
The man standing by the bed froze, his hopes dashed.
Shi Nuo’s breath hitched. He hadn’t wanted to say that, but Hugh was perceptive, and he had been caught in his lies before. He didn’t want to repeat that embarrassing experience, so he had chosen honesty.
An awkward silence filled the room.
Hugh Elvis, reeling from the Omega’s words, tried to compose himself. Hearing Shi Nuo say their relationship wasn’t good, that their bond wasn’t strong, was a blow to his pride.
He had thought their connection was deep, their mutual fidelity and dependence a sign of a strong and lasting bond.
His Alpha pride, his inherent sense of superiority, crumbled, and he could only maintain a semblance of composure, his face carefully blank, his posture rigid, trying to appear unaffected.
He forced a casual tone, his voice indifferent. “It’s alright. We can start dating now. That should improve things.”
D-dating?
The word seemed absurd, and Shi Nuo stared at him, wide-eyed, as if he had suggested something impossible, like him fighting a group of Alphas and winning.
It was strange and ridiculous.
He finally found his voice, stammering, “D-dating?”
“Yes,” Hugh Elvis nodded, trying to appear nonchalant. “They mentioned it in the movie. I remember now. Most people, after reaching adulthood, or even before, start dating someone they like.”
He glanced at Shi Nuo, then quickly looked away, his gaze fixed on the snow-covered landscape outside the window. “We’re married, but we skipped the dating part. It’s not too late to start now. It’s…perfect, actually.”
Shi Nuo suddenly felt like he was dreaming.
He must still be asleep. He closed his eyes.
