Chapter 54
The assembled and disinfected baby crib stood beside the bookshelf in the living room, filled with sterilized toys: a fluffy, flying bird and several colorful, swimming fish.
The birthing assistance device was set up on the other side of the room, plugged in and ready to be used.
The other prenatal checkup devices were in the basement, carefully calibrated and tested by Long Xu. Shi Nuo had already undergone a full-body scan.
They had passed by several hospitals on Therlun Star but hadn’t gone in. Their identities were fake, and they didn’t want to leave too much of a trace.
The scan results were normal, and Shi Nuo breathed a sigh of relief.
He had been almost two months pregnant without even realizing it. The reality of it hadn’t fully sunk in until he saw the baby items in the living room, Long Xu’s constant monitoring, and Hugh’s bustling activity in the kitchen. He suddenly felt a surge of anxiety.
Since returning, Hugh Elvis had been busy, no longer spending his days idly cuddling with Shi Nuo. He was studying recipes, his initial clumsiness masked by a determined focus, his movements surprisingly confident as he wielded the spatula, his expression serious, like a seasoned chef.
The living room had also been transformed.
The makeshift table made from crates was gone, replaced by a new, sleek, intelligent table from Therlun Star. Several elegant vases and flowerpots held colorful flowers, also from Therlun, their pollen deemed non-toxic and harmless by Long Xu.
The old, worn sofa had been moved to the basement, and a new set of comfortable furniture now graced the living room, the changes subtle yet transforming the space, making it feel more welcoming.
Shi Nuo sat on the sofa, reading a book on pregnancy.
The sweet aroma of baking drifted from the kitchen, and he instinctively closed the book and followed the scent.
Hugh Elvis, wearing an apron, emerged from the kitchen, carrying a tray of golden-brown honey cakes.
Hearing Shi Nuo’s approach, he turned, a hint of pride in his eyes. “These turned out alright.”
His first attempt at making cakes yesterday had been a disaster, either burnt or flat and dense.
The warm, sweet fragrance of the cakes made Shi Nuo’s mouth water, and he couldn’t help but say, “They look beautiful.”
There were ten small, round cakes, perfectly golden brown and fluffy, their appearance flawless.
Hugh Elvis handed him one, and Shi Nuo, taking it eagerly, blew on it gently, then took a bite. The cake was soft, delicate, and sweet. His eyes lit up. “Delicious!”
“Try it,” he urged, quickly finishing the cake.
Hugh placed the tray on the counter and took a bite. It was indeed good. He had finally mastered dessert-making.
Seeing Shi Nuo’s enthusiastic enjoyment, he smiled faintly and asked, “Stewed chicken and a cold dish for dinner?”
“Mm, sounds good,” Shi Nuo, his mouth full of cake, could only nod vigorously, his reply muffled.
The chicken, a variety considered beneficial for pregnant Omegas, had been freshly slaughtered and purchased on Therlun Star. They had bought ten.
Hugh turned and retrieved one from the refrigerator, thinking that with Shi Nuo’s current insatiable craving for meat, ten chickens would probably only last them two weeks.
He was a picky eater and didn’t like leftovers, and now that he was the chef, he naturally wouldn’t serve Shi Nuo the same dish twice.
And Shi Nuo hadn’t been fond of frozen meat recently, preferring fresh meat. He was only eating these chickens because they were a novelty, a treat from another planet.
He opened a video on how to stew chicken and watched it intently.
Shi Nuo, standing beside him, glanced at the screen, his attention mostly on the cakes. He picked up another one and said suddenly, “You’re quite a natural at cooking.”
The white-haired man turned to look at him, one eyebrow raised, a playful smile on his lips.
Shi Nuo paused, feeling a sudden surge of embarrassment, thinking he had said something wrong. “What?”
Hugh chuckled softly, leaned down, and kissed the corner of Shi Nuo’s lips. “Nothing. I was just thinking the same thing. You read my mind.”
His laughter was deep and melodious, and Shi Nuo, his ears burning, couldn’t meet his gaze, quickly taking another bite of the cake.
As he reached for a fourth cake, his hand was stopped.
Hugh Elvis looked at him, a hint of amusement in his eyes. “That’s enough. You can have another one in half an hour.”
“Fine,” Shi Nuo reluctantly withdrew his hand.
The temperature dropped even further in the third month of winter, the sun rarely seen, the sky perpetually overcast, the world a landscape of ice and snow.
Fortunately, the house was warm, and they had plenty of food.
Shi Nuo occasionally felt a sense of melancholy due to the oppressive weather, but Hugh reassured him that it would only last for about a month, the end of winter soon transitioning to early spring.
While Shi Nuo spent his days reading, watching movies, and playing with the baby toys, Hugh, in addition to learning to cook, also read extensively, studying prenatal care, nutrition, and even…intimacy during pregnancy.
Unlike Betas, who weren’t affected by pheromones, Omegas needed a constant supply of their Alpha’s pheromones throughout their pregnancy.
In the bedroom, a sharp sting in his neck as his scent gland was bitten made Shi Nuo shiver.
His scent gland had become more sensitive during his pregnancy, and he lowered his head, waiting for the marking to be complete, his eyes watering, the corners reddened.
Hugh Elvis licked the Omega’s scent gland, encouraging the mingling of their pheromones.
The bite wasn’t deep. The skin around an Omega’s scent gland had fewer pain receptors and healed quickly. Within ten minutes, the puncture wound would close, leaving only a faint mark.
Even before the pregnancy, the temporary markings had been frequent, and now, with Hugh marking him once or twice a day, Shi Nuo had never experienced pheromone deprivation.
The Alpha’s kisses and licks trailed from his neck to his cheek.
Shi Nuo’s eyes fluttered closed, his body relaxing as he willingly surrendered to the Alpha’s touch.
The temperature in the room rose.
A soft moan escaped his lips, and Hugh Elvis withdrew his fingers.
Shi Nuo lay on his side, his cheeks flushed, his mind slowly clearing, and he instinctively curled up, trying to create some distance.
Hugh went to the bathroom to wash his hands. He returned to find Shi Nuo huddled on the far side of the bed and sat down, leaning against the headboard, picking up a book on prenatal massage techniques.
Shi Nuo, his breathing returning to normal, the sweet scent of tea olive blossoms filling the air, even stronger than the Alpha’s cold lotus fragrance, relaxed slightly.
His pheromones, amplified by his pregnancy hormones, despite his usually low pheromone levels, were unusually potent.
They were both silent, the atmosphere calm and comfortable.
Suddenly, Shi Nuo asked, “Did you ever go to school?”
Hugh’s gaze shifted from the book. “I visited a school once, when I was young. But I never attended formal classes. I had private tutors until I was nine.”
This wasn’t unusual, even among some minor noble families.
The Elvis family’s tutors must have been exceptional.
Shi Nuo turned over, lying on his back, staring at the ceiling, his expression worried. “There are online education programs now, but…we’re the only two people here. After the baby is born, we can’t keep it completely isolated from others.”
Hugh had been homeschooled, but he had still interacted with many people: the Elvis family, the household staff, and even numerous robots.
Their child couldn’t grow up on a primitive planet, surrounded only by wild animals. If it was a beastman, its instincts might become too dominant, making it difficult to integrate into society later.
Hugh closed the book and placed it on the bedside table. “I’ve thought about this. If we leave, finding a place to live wouldn’t be a problem. But if the Elvis family finds out, it could be…complicated.”
“Especially Yarlin. He’s only the second son. If they discover I’ve fully recovered, those who oppose him will try to reinstate me.”
“And my father…” he paused, his expression unchanged. “He wouldn’t allow me to leave with you and the child. His priority is the family’s reputation and its interests.”
“Even if we manage to stay hidden for twenty or thirty years, when the child grows up, it could still face pressure from the Elvis family.”
Living in hiding wasn’t his style, especially not with Shi Nuo and their child.
“Then what should we do?” Shi Nuo’s worry intensified.
He knew Hugh didn’t want to return to the Elvis family, and they couldn’t go back to the Shi family either. His parents were also driven by profit and would undoubtedly try to exploit Hugh’s former status within the Elvis family for their own gain.
Here, the child would be safe, free to grow and develop without the pressures of society, but the world was vast and complex, and their child couldn’t live in isolation forever. It needed to learn how to navigate the dangers of the outside world.
“Don’t worry,” the white-haired man’s expression was indifferent, his tone dismissive. “The simplest solution is for me to return and reclaim my position as heir. That would ensure the child’s safety and education.”
“But you don’t like it there,” Shi Nuo whispered.
“I merely dislike it,” Hugh looked at him reassuringly. “There’s no rush. We can decide after the baby is born and a little older.”
“Okay,” Shi Nuo trusted him implicitly. The Alpha’s words always had a calming effect.
The warm glow of the bedroom lights spilled out into the night, a stark contrast to the cold, harsh landscape outside, the wind howling, the snow falling relentlessly.
Despite the ample supply of infant formula and nutrient supplements, the tightness in his chest persisted. Physiological changes were unpredictable.
Early morning.
Shi Nuo woke up with a frown, the aching tightness in his chest making him restless. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position.
A warm hand gently massaged his chest, the touch familiar and soothing.
“They’re developing?” Hugh Elvis opened his eyes, surprised by the change in Shi Nuo’s body.
Shi Nuo, already irritable, the physical changes adding to his discomfort, didn’t reply and pretended to be asleep.
Male Omegas’ lactation ability wasn’t as pronounced as female Omegas’, and the changes were usually subtle. Shi Nuo’s chest had only grown slightly larger, the curve of his breasts more defined, though still barely noticeable under his clothes. But Hugh, having been massaging him regularly, was attuned to even the slightest changes.
A kiss on his lips made Shi Nuo’s ears and cheeks burn, despite his pretense of sleeping.
The Alpha’s skillful touch, his hands and lips exploring beneath the blankets, eased the tightness and aching, and Shi Nuo, his discomfort gone, his mood improving, relaxed in the Alpha’s embrace.
The long, harsh third month of winter finally ended, the heavy clouds parting, the warm, bright sun breathing new life into the frozen landscape.
At three months, his pregnancy was still barely noticeable, and the tightness in his chest had lessened, no longer causing him discomfort when he woke up.
Long Xu constantly monitored his condition, diligently recording his diet, sleep patterns, activity levels, and even his mood.
Then, unnoticed, Hugh’s rut arrived.
