The Only Ultimate Alpha in the Universe - Chapter 22

The next day.

The morning light filtered through the gaps in the curtains, casting a faint white glow across the mahogany floorboards.

Landis was awakened by his biological clock. In his daze, he felt his body and mental sea immersed in an exceptionally comfortable state. Even the bed he slept in every day felt remarkably soft, making him want to sink further into it rather than get up.

When he raised his hand, he brushed against an arm draped over his shoulder. Landis turned his head, and a young, handsome sleeping face immediately met his eyes. Xiao Sa was in a deep slumber, his breathing long and steady, completely still.

Landis scrutinized his face. The youth’s features were softly relaxed; thick, long eyelashes cast two faint shadows beneath his eyes. Below his prominent bridge, thin lips were slightly parted, and his messy hair curled stubbornly as if he were in the middle of a beautiful dream.

A flash of the previous night crossed Landis’s mind—the image of Xiao Sa pinning him down with a sharp, fierce gaze. Yet now, in his sleep, he appeared exceptionally docile and quiet, fitting Landis’s initial impression much better.

The memories of their wedding night slowly returned. Landis frowned. It seemed they hadn’t actually fulfilled the physical duties expected of newlyweds. He had fully intended to carry out his responsibilities as a husband and cherish his new partner, so how had he fallen into a heavy sleep just because Xiao Sa bit his neck?

He shifted slightly and noticed a dull ache at the back of his neck. When he touched it with his fingers, a slight sting accompanied an itchy sensation. He didn’t need a mirror to know the skin there must be red and swollen.

Last night, unlike the time on the warship, he had been perfectly lucid. The moment Xiao Sa bit his neck, the shudder of sensation and that frantic feeling had stimulated his nerves so deeply that he couldn’t forget it even if he wanted to.

And that rich fragrance…

It was as if he had experienced a bizarre dream filled with indescribable charm and pleasure. Upon waking, his body felt a sense of emptiness, as if something he craved remained unfulfilled.

Landis rubbed his brow. The expected migraine did not arrive. He hadn’t used an inhibitor for two days, yet the mental disorder symptoms he usually felt upon waking were nowhere to be found.

But he and Xiao Sa clearly hadn’t achieved a “Deep Union.”

He looked deeply at the partner beside him. Could it be that intimate contact between 100% compatible partners produced special mental reactions even without the final step? Or perhaps Xiao Sa wasn’t entirely a “C-grade disabled person”? He wondered if the combat notes he had gifted the youth had been of any use.

Still, he hadn’t expected Xiao Sa to have a fetish for biting necks in bed. He was like a starving puppy that didn’t know how to eat properly.

The corners of Landis’s mouth twitched imperceptibly. He couldn’t help but lean closer to catch the scent on the youth, unsure if it was perfume or a natural body fragrance. This lingering, rich scent enveloped him, making him feel inexplicably safe and comfortable.

Landis suddenly realized his waking posture was strange. He had accidentally slept in the crook of Xiao Sa’s arm all night; it was likely numb by now.

Collecting his emotions, Landis propped himself up and gently moved the other’s hand, tucking it under the covers. He then reached out to wrap an arm around Xiao Sa’s shoulder, letting the youth’s head rest against his chest.

With Landis’s disciplined routine, he should have been up, washed, and at the training field for a morning workout. His logic dictated he leave, yet his body was submerged in this tranquil, intoxicating aura, unwilling to leave his new spouse.

Is this what it feels like to have a family?

No wonder his adjutant, Carlo, was always nagging him to go on blind dates.

Little did he know, this was the result of being marked twice by the same Alpha with high-concentration pheromones entering his bloodstream.

For AO couples on Xiao Sa’s home planet, attraction always began with pheromones. The marked party would naturally develop a psychological dependency and physiological craving for the Alpha, while the Alpha would develop possessiveness and a protective instinct. It was an instinct carved into their genes that defied all logic.

Disturbed by the movement, Xiao Sa slowly woke from his deep sleep.

As an Alpha, he should have been sensitive to external stimuli, but having just marked his new spouse yesterday, his entire being was surrounded by their blended pheromones. He felt incredibly peaceful, with a sense of security that was through the roof.

The only issue was that his partner’s scent was far too faint. If he didn’t have a sharp nose, he would have barely smelled it. To catch more of it, Xiao Sa subconsciously leaned forward, pressing his cheek tightly against a patch of firm, flexible skin. It was neither too soft nor too hard, warm and reliable.

This pillow is high quality…

In his half-awake state, a slight curve touched the corners of Xiao Sa’s mouth. He squeezed the “big pillow” in his arms and rubbed his face against it.

Landis, who had just finished a mental struggle to overcome the comfort and get out of bed: “…”

Looking at Xiao Sa’s cheek pressed flat against his chest, Landis silently lay back down.

Fine, another three minutes…

Ten minutes later.

Landis displeasedly silenced a chirping video call request on his optical brain.

Xiao Sa, resting on his chest, frowned slightly. His eyes twitched under his lids, and perhaps to avoid the light, he turned his head and buried his entire face into the “pillow.” His warm breath acted like a small heater, warming Landis’s chest and sending a continuous wave of tingling sensations through him.

Landis tried to move as gently as possible to place Xiao Sa’s head back on the pillow. He tucked the youth in and got up to check the communication.

Xiao Sa, now trapped in the warmth, felt sweltering. He kicked his legs out from under the quilt, but Landis tucked them back in. After repeating this once or twice, he was finally woken up by the heat.

Xiao Sa blinked slowly. Upon opening his eyes, he saw the silhouette of a tall man dressing against the backlight. A white shirt was buttoned all the way to the collar, covering the chest Xiao Sa had just been rubbing against. Black tactical trousers encased two straight, long legs, with gold trim extending from the waist into polished black military boots.

Landis fastened his cufflinks and looked at him, his voice deep. “Did I wake you?”

Xiao Sa instantly snapped to alertness and sat up. His brain began to work at high speed. It’s the second morning of the marriage. At this time, what should a perfect Alpha do?

He frantically searched his meager knowledge of AO marriages, finally scraping a few fragments from a knowledge blind spot.

He asked tentatively, “Do you feel uncomfortable anywhere? Or do you feel like you’re missing something?”

Generally, after being marked, a little “O” should crave the Alpha’s pheromones even more, right? Although Landis wasn’t an Omega, based on how his pheromones were induced last night, there had to be commonalities. They usually focused on the marker’s every move, needing constant companionship. In severe cases, they might exhibit low moods, insecurity, or even anxiety.

Landis froze, his ice-blue eyes watching him warmly. “I don’t feel uncomfortable.”

His mental sea was calm—one might even say refreshed. No wonder everyone envied a 100% match marriage; Hainuo’s matching mechanism was indeed flawless.

“However,” Landis frowned slightly, “I apologize for falling asleep last night. I haven’t…”

He hadn’t fulfilled his duty as a husband yet.

Xiao Sa’s expression said I knew it. He knew Landis wanted to “inhale” him but was too embarrassed to ask. But it didn’t matter; he was a magnanimous Alpha.

He briskly threw off the quilt and sat on the edge of the bed with his back straight. He pointed to his own neck and tilted his head slightly, looking up at the man. “Here, go ahead.”

I’ll let you have a sniff. Just one, okay?

Landis raised an eyebrow in surprise. Is my new spouse… inviting a kiss?

He had previously thought Xiao Sa was just a tragic, frail, and simple-hearted youth who easily triggered one’s protective instincts. Now, he found him unexpectedly cute.

Landis gazed deeply at him for a moment before slowly leaning down. He tilted his head and pressed a light kiss onto Xiao Sa’s cheek, his palm reaching out to ruffle the youth’s messy hair.

“Good morning kiss.”

A hot breath brushed against Xiao Sa’s face, and then the contact was gone.

Xiao Sa, who had been blindsided by the kiss: “?”

He had prepared himself to be thoroughly “inhaled,” and that was it? This guy wasn’t like this when he was touching his neck in the bathroom yesterday.

Tsk, fickle Starry Sea men.

Completely unaware that he was being silently criticized, Landis finished washing up in the bathroom. When he emerged, his fine blonde hair was combed back and styled with gel, every strand handled meticulously. His military uniform was pristine without a single wrinkle, the standing collar completely concealing his swollen neck. He looked as steady and stoic as ever—disciplined, ascetic, and back to the cold Admiral Xiao Sa had first met.

“I have a military meeting to handle. You can have breakfast in the dining room or I can have someone bring it up. If I don’t have time to accompany you today, feel free to explore the estate.”

“If you want to go shopping, have the butler arrange bodyguards to escort you. Your optical brain ID is linked to my account; buy whatever you like.”

As he spoke, his optical brain began to beep incessantly again. Landis frowned, answered with a quick “Coming now,” nodded to Xiao Sa, and strode out of the bedroom.

The door clicked shut, and the room fell silent once more.

Xiao Sa sat alone on the edge of the bed, arms crossed as he rubbed his chin. His brow slowly arched. Something felt very wrong.

He remembered the AO marital life described in TV dramas: usually, the Alpha was busy outside earning money and providing for the family, while the little “O” was responsible for being beautiful and raising children at home.

How did it end up reversed for me?

Xiao Sa felt as if he had been struck by a bolt from the blue.

Wasn’t this the legendary “living off a woman”—or in this case, a man? No, anything but that!

He felt his dignity as an Alpha being severely challenged. Xiao Sa had always maintained a clear self-perception: it was only natural for him to have “Big Alpha” tendencies, but it was absolutely unacceptable for someone else to treat him that way.

He immediately got out of bed and rushed to the bathroom for a “combat shower.” When he went to the walk-in closet to pick out clothes, he found the entire wall of wardrobes filled with the same monotonous black-and-white military-style suits Landis favored. The custom-made sets for him were in the exact same style.

Xiao Sa fell into a renewed silence. He realized he had never seen Landis wear any colors other than these two—well, except for when he was naked.

He touched the earring on his left ear, and Hainuo’s projection appeared instantly. It folded its arms and leaned in close to Xiao Sa, peering left and right with a vivid, mischievous smile. The chatterbox, suppressed all night, finally opened its mouth and began prattling incessantly:

[Xiao Sa, how was the wedding night? The partner I arranged for you is great, right? Highest priority match in every aspect! Was it hot and lingering? Glued together? Inseparable? How does that old poem go? “I strip the General of his battle robe, and from then on, the King skips the morning court session…”]

Xiao Sa lowered his brow and shot him a squinted glare, his right fist clenching. “…No.”

Hainuo froze. [Then what was it?]

The corner of Xiao Sa’s mouth twitched into a cold, joyless smile. “It was the blessing of a ‘soft meal.’ If I give it to you, do you want it?”

Hainuo whispered under his breath, [I couldn’t eat it even if I wanted to.]

Xiao Sa ignored him and changed into a white shirt, heading to the dining room. Once he was full, he needed to plan some real work for himself.

Butler Peron led him to the morning room. The large dining hall where he had his first dinner was used for formal Wenser family gatherings; now that Landis was away, no one used it. An attendant pushed a breakfast cart over, serving the dishes Landis had arranged one by one:

A pan-seared chicken breast and thick-egg sandwich, a quinoa green salad with tomatoes, shrimp hash browns, and a bowl of vegetable and bitter melon soup.

Xiao Sa stared at the cartoon-shaped hash browns and the salad arranged into a smiley face, rendered speechless. Is this really not a nutritional breakfast for a toddler? And why is it bitter melon soup again?

Xiao Sa glanced at the butler standing nearby and was about to covertly dispose of the “evidence” of the bitter melon soup when several people entered the room.

It was Alanton, the cousin he had met at the family dinner, along with a few other juniors of the same generation. They carried several tablets and, seeing Xiao Sa by the window, exchanged glances before walking straight toward him.

“Lord Xiao Sa,” Alanton greeted him with a polite, measured tone.

Xiao Sa raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”

Alanton placed the tablets on the table and opened the projection screens. Instantly, dense business flow data reports filled Xiao Sa’s vision—all regarding the operation of the industries under the Wenser family name. Specifically, these were the assets Landis had shared ownership of in the marriage agreement.

“My apologies for interrupting your meal, but since you and the Master are officially married, these reports require your review as soon as possible. Also, several new proposals and contracts need your signature.”

“If you have any objections to these projects, you need to raise them quickly. Otherwise, we cannot bear the losses caused by delays in progress.”

The more humble Alanton’s outward posture became, the more disdain he felt in his heart.

Regarding this “spouse” who had appeared out of nowhere, they had already pried all the details out of the Admiral’s guards. They knew about the ship crash, the pirate kidnapping, being rescued by the Master, and the “private interrogation” for an entire night. They knew the room was a mess when the guards entered and that the Master’s clothes were disheveled. They also knew the Master had to go find him again among the gangs of a lower-class planet.

Heh, Alanton thought. These tricks of playing hard to get and working both sides might fool a workaholic Master who has never been in love, but they won’t fool us playboys who have been raised in the thick of it.

Otherwise, how could a C-grade disabled person stay in a gang nest for so long and remain unharmed? To be fair, with Xiao Sa’s extraordinary looks, there were plenty of people who would like “that type.” If not for his explosive luck in being a 100% match, how could a nobody with no background “marry” into this house?

Since the Master had signed the financial agreement, they had to obey on the surface. However, they expected this guy to be completely illiterate regarding professional financial statements. As a mental invalid who had to spend his energy clearing the Master’s pollution, he wouldn’t have the stamina to study such complex business operations.

By dumping all the tedious work on him at once, the guy would surely be overwhelmed and back off. He should just stay a pretty vase and a “blood bag” for the Master and not touch power he didn’t belong to.

Calculating his moves, Alanton looked at Xiao Sa with increasing respect, as if he were truly waiting for the other to take charge.

Xiao Sa blinked slowly. He looked at the detailed reports, then at the “sincere” Alanton. His gaze gradually filled with warmth and a touch of “kindness.”

I didn’t expect the Wenser family to be so honest.

Based on his knowledge of noble families, the people in power usually hated an outsider stepping in to take a piece of the pie. They would usually use every means to delay or hide information. But Alanton was different—what an honest, straightforward young man!

Xiao Sa had just been complaining to Hainuo about being forced to “eat soft rice,” which hurt his dignity as a Big Alpha. He was just wondering what real work he could do to help Landis and fulfill his duties as a husband. And here it was—someone had brought “hard rice” straight to his mouth.

Thinking of this, Xiao Sa’s gaze toward Alanton became increasingly motherly. Although the fellow seemed to have a lot of room for improvement in terms of IQ and business acumen—having managed the business for years only to have to consult a newcomer like himself—it was okay. Since he had asked so sincerely, Xiao Sa would help him.

Xiao Sa took the tablets as a matter of course, skimming through them with incredible speed. He then summoned Hainuo to record the data and perform a full analysis, while also pulling up several years of previous industry data that Alanton hadn’t provided.

“I see. Leave them with me. I’ll review them after I finish breakfast.”

Seeing Xiao Sa pretending to read the reports, Alanton sneered inwardly. Let’s see how long you can keep up the act.

He feigned difficulty and said, “These industries have always been managed by my father and uncles. If there is anything you don’t understand, please ask. If it’s too much, we can handle it on your behalf…”

Xiao Sa swallowed a piece of hash brown and looked up at him. Feeling moved by the gesture, he decided to reward him with a bowl of nutrient-rich vegetable and bitter melon soup.

He pushed the soup he hated toward Alanton, offering a kind, elder-like smile. “Thank you for your kindness. Here, you should drink this.”

Staring at the undulating green ripples of the bitter melon soup, Alanton was first dazed, and then his face flushed with heat. This guy… why is he giving me his unwanted food again?!

Who wants to eat his scraps?! Am I some kind of kitchen waste bin?

Just as Alanton was about to lose his temper, he caught a glimpse of a large black lion out of the corner of his eye. It was walking toward them with a majestic, feline gait. His expression changed instantly. Swallowing his rage, he pretended to be deeply moved as he took the bowl and drained it in several gulps.

So bitter!

Xiao Sa must be doing this on purpose. What deep schemes! What a strong sense of petty revenge!

Alanton was depressed to the extreme. He was just about to tuck tail and leave when he saw Xiao Sa’s eyes light up at the sight of the black lion. Xiao Sa beckoned to it. Then, he unceremoniously pulled the Master’s S-grade mental entity into his arms, rubbing and kneading it without restraint. He didn’t even spare the tail, stroking it from the base to the tip.

Alanton’s jaw nearly hit the floor. Stroking a mental entity was such an intimate act—how was this any different from having a public affair with the Master? How could this person be so shameless?

It was simply a violation of public morals!

Meanwhile, in the fourth-floor conference hall of the main building.

Landis sat at the head of the rectangular table in his crisp uniform. To his left was Adjutant Carlo, and the other seats were filled with holographic projections of high-ranking military officers. Halfway through the meeting, Landis sat perfectly upright, listening to his subordinates’ reports with a serious and focused expression.

Carlo peeked at his workaholic superior, mentally complaining about how he hadn’t even taken a proper honeymoon and had started working on the second day of his marriage.

Soon, the reports concluded. It was Landis’s turn to speak, but Carlo realized the Admiral was actually dazed!

“Sir? Admiral?” he whispered as a reminder.

A thin layer of sweat had broken out on Landis’s forehead. His hand, resting on his knee, had unconsciously gripped the fabric of his trousers. His chest was rising and falling noticeably faster. Out of sight of the others, the muscles in his thighs beneath his trousers were slightly tensed.

Landis’s Adam’s apple bobbed slightly. He grabbed his water glass and took a sip of iced tea, but it did nothing to soothe his parched throat. After a long moment, he let out a shallow breath and stood up. His voice was hoarse, his expression frigid.

“Continue without me. I need to use the restroom.”

He left Carlo and the other subordinates staring at one another in confusion.

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