Chapter 55
Shi Nuo woke up from his nap feeling hot, the oppressive weight of the Alpha’s pheromones pinning him to the bed, the warm body beside him a source of intense heat, the sound of Hugh’s heavy breathing, almost animalistic, in his ear.
Hot breath brushed against his ear, trailing down his neck, exploring his skin like a predator staking its claim.
Worried about the baby, Shi Nuo didn’t dare move, afraid of angering Hugh.
Alphas in rut were easily angered, their possessiveness and clinginess amplified, their minds closer to that of a beast, and provoking them was dangerous.
The consequences could be severe.
The Alpha’s pheromones surged like waves, their intensity growing, filling the small bedroom.
Shi Nuo’s body, heightened by his pregnancy, was incredibly sensitive, and he instinctively pressed his legs together, his physiological response a mixture of involuntary arousal and a primal fear for his unborn child.
“Hugh?” he whispered, his voice trembling, trying to appeal to the Alpha’s reason.
The moment he spoke, he was flipped over, landing on his stomach, his vulnerable neck exposed.
His scent gland was bitten, hard, and he arched his back, trying to escape the Alpha’s hold.
Like a wild animal claiming its mate, the white-haired man forced him onto his knees, his teeth still clamped on his neck, his body pinning Shi Nuo down.
Shi Nuo cried out in fear, his scent gland involuntarily releasing a flood of pheromones, his body trembling. “Hugh, stop! There’s a baby! We can’t!”
Beep—
The terminal on the bedside table suddenly beeped, and Hugh Elvis’s eyes instantly cleared.
He frowned, his lips pressed into a thin line, the jolt from the device breaking through the haze of his rut.
“I know,” he said, his voice low and strained, the words both a reassurance to Shi Nuo and a warning to Long Xu.
His voice stopped Shi Nuo’s struggles. Tears, unnoticed until now, streamed down his face, his eyes wet.
“Don’t be afraid. I just wanted to mark you,” Hugh said, his voice strangely…vulnerable, his chest pressed against Shi Nuo’s back as he held him close.
“I thought you were losing control again,” Shi Nuo mumbled, his voice muffled by the Alpha’s embrace.
“No,” Hugh Elvis defended himself. “I’ve fully absorbed the beast heart’s energy. I was just…eager.”
Shi Nuo’s scent was different, sweeter than usual, and even in his clouded state, his beast instincts told him there was a cub growing inside the Omega.
The heightened emotions of his rut had amplified his frustration at not being able to fully mate with his Omega, and he had acted impulsively, marking Shi Nuo roughly.
The weight on his back lifted, and Shi Nuo sat up, wiping his tears. “Are you feeling better now?”
“No, but I can control it,” Hugh Elvis replied, getting out of bed and retrieving a box from the closet.
He had bought thirty doses of Alpha suppressants on Therlun Star, specifically for his rut.
Unlike normal Alphas, his rut, after his prolonged hibernation, had only recently normalized to an annual cycle, but with Shi Nuo pregnant, he hadn’t known when it would arrive and had wanted to be prepared.
He injected himself, the light red liquid disappearing into his arm.
Hugh took a deep breath, his rapid heartbeat slowing. He turned to Shi Nuo, his blue eyes intense, his gaze fixed on the Omega.
Shi Nuo, nervous under his scrutiny, lowered his eyes, not daring to move.
Knowing the Alpha needed comfort, he released his pheromones, the sweet scent of tea olive blossoms filling the air.
Hugh Elvis returned to the bed and pulled Shi Nuo into his arms, nuzzling his face against his neck, inhaling his scent.
Physical intimacy could soothe a rutting Alpha, and Shi Nuo understood this. During his own heat cycle, he had also craved Hugh’s touch.
Their discarded pajamas lay scattered on the floor, the bedroom filled with the mingled fragrance of tea olive blossoms and the cold scent of ice lotuses.
Three days didn’t seem like a long time for a rut, but for Shi Nuo, it felt like an eternity. Hugh, his energy seemingly boundless, hadn’t slept at all, his constant attentions keeping Shi Nuo awake, even when he was exhausted.
The Alpha had held him constantly, not letting him even walk.
So, ruts did make Alphas clingy.
The bedroom was filled with Hugh’s scent, his pheromones and the lingering musk of their intimacy.
Fortunately, the Alpha’s reason hadn’t completely deserted him. Two doses of suppressants a day had prevented him from going too far.
Shi Nuo sat on the sofa in the living room, his legs curled up, staring out the window, lost in thought.
The sun was out today, and although the temperature hadn’t risen much, the sunlight improved his mood.
He reached for his glass of water on the table and frowned slightly.
The memory of the Alpha’s touch, the almost brutal intensity of his rut, his skin raw and sore, made him shiver. Hugh’s behavior had been almost animalistic.
He finished his water, his gaze returning to the sunlight outside, trying to push those embarrassing thoughts away.
He had grown accustomed to the endless expanse of snow and ice, the thick layer seemingly permanent.
Then, one day, the temperature rose, remaining consistently higher for several days, and Shi Nuo suddenly realized spring had arrived.
The snow melted rapidly, almost overnight.
Water was everywhere, the already wide river overflowing its banks, its current swift and strong, the roar of the water audible even from a distance.
Unlike the smooth, dry concrete around the house, the ground was muddy, impossible to walk on without getting his shoes covered in mud.
After venturing out twice, Shi Nuo decided to stay inside, eagerly awaiting warmer weather, when the snow would melt completely, and the ground would dry, allowing him to explore again.
He checked on the progress every day, his spirits lifting at the sight of the first green shoots emerging from the thawing ground, swaying gently in the wind.
Spring arrived almost overnight, the ground quickly covered in a layer of vibrant green.
The long-awaited spring was a welcome sight, full of life and promise.
Shi Nuo explored the area around the house every day. He found the first wildflower blooming in the grass, saw insects jumping and flitting, and even the birds had returned, chirping and singing in the trees.
It was another sunny day, and the silent, imposing mecha stood guard in the distance.
Shi Nuo walked on a patch of neatly trimmed grass, the ground soft and springy beneath his feet.
Long Xu had trimmed the grass. The wild grass was too tall and dense, a haven for insects, so it had cleared an area around the house, about a thousand meters in radius, and installed sonic insect repellents, creating a safe space for Shi Nuo to walk.
It had even transplanted some wildflowers, some of which had thrived, others struggling to survive.
Feeling slightly bored, he picked a yellow wildflower and was twirling it between his fingers when a flash of white caught his eye, and he turned, a smile instinctively touching his lips.
The white wolf, carrying its prey, was returning, its movements swift and powerful, like a gust of wind.
It reached him in the blink of an eye.
The giant wolf dropped its prey and gently nudged the small Omega’s belly with its nose.
Shi Nuo’s five-month pregnancy was now clearly visible, the gentle curve of his belly undeniable.
The wolf shrunk to its smaller size, its powerful white tail wagging, the tip brushing against Shi Nuo’s face, then lowered its head, sniffing his belly, reassured by the strong life force of the cub within.
Hugh, whether in human or beast form, checked on him like this every day, and Shi Nuo had grown accustomed to it. He looked at the wolf’s prey, an animal he had never seen before, its yellow fur and cow-like head making him curious.
“Is this one tasty?” he asked.
The white wolf, slightly distracted, its nose still nuzzling Shi Nuo’s belly, replied absently, “Yes. The meat near the spine is good. The bones are good for making broth, very nourishing.”
The Omega’s sweet pheromones were even more alluring now than when he was newly pregnant, like a ripe, honey-sweet fruit.
“Let’s have meat patty soup today,” Shi Nuo said happily.
“Okay,” the white wolf picked up its prey and carried it to the edge of the trimmed grass to butcher it.
Evening.
After dinner, Shi Nuo walked outside, the sky filled with colorful clouds, the sunset a breathtaking spectacle.
The soft, rose-purple hues were mesmerizing, nature’s artistry always captivating.
A gentle breeze blew, and the white-haired man walked beside him, their fingers intertwined.
Hugh Elvis also looked towards the western sky, then after a moment, said, “I’m going out tomorrow to buy supplies. You said you wanted fresh vegetables. I’ll buy some automated equipment and build a greenhouse. Then we can have fresh vegetables anytime.”
Shi Nuo’s eyes widened in surprise, then he smiled. “Really?”
Hugh considered this, then added, “Automated livestock farming equipment is also easy to set up, but even with ventilation, there will be a smell.”
“But if we raise them ourselves, with proper feed and pest control, the meat will be cleaner. And more convenient.”
His sense of smell was incredibly acute, and when hunting, he was always selective, avoiding any animal that was sick or injured, choosing only healthy prey.
Cleanliness was a secondary concern. The main reason was that if he had to leave, Shi Nuo, unable to hunt for himself, would have access to fresh meat and vegetables.
Shi Nuo was tempted. He thought for a moment, then said, “This place is so big. Any smell would quickly dissipate. It wouldn’t be a problem.”
“Okay,” Hugh Elvis agreed.
With his pregnancy progressing, long journeys through space weren’t ideal. The changes in pressure and environment could be harmful. Shi Nuo didn’t ask to go with him this time.
After the sun set, darkness quickly descended.
The lights in the house came on. After showering, Shi Nuo had intended to go to bed early, but Hugh followed him into the bedroom.
“Checkup,” the man’s husky voice, muffled by the blankets as he pulled Shi Nuo close, made Shi Nuo’s heart skip a beat.
He bit his lip, his legs parting involuntarily, his breath hitching as he felt the Alpha’s hot breath on his sensitive skin, his cheeks flushed.
It was better than those times when Hugh used his wolf form for these “checkups.”
And they truly were checkups. A beastman’s senses were acute, and he could sense the life force of his cub, even within the womb.
Hugh was cautious, checking on the baby’s development every day, which was reassuring.
But these checkups always led to…other activities.
Unlike during Hugh’s last rut, he was five months pregnant now, and they could…
The temperature in the room had risen at some point, and the blankets slid to the floor.
The beautiful, pregnant Omega’s body moved rhythmically, his head tilted back, his expression hazy, the sweet scent of his pheromones emanating from his scent gland, intoxicatingly alluring.
Behind him, the strong Alpha, his arms straining, the veins bulging, finally lost his control.
The ripe, honey-sweet fruit, its skin taut and yielding, burst with sweet juice.
