Chapter Text
It was late in the afternoon, and Xie Lian found himself meditating outside in the palace’s garden, taking advantage of the nice weather and peaceful atmosphere. It had been a tiring day, and Xie Lian was ready to go to bed, but he knew better than to go to bed with swarming thoughts.
Lately, Xie Lian’s father had been more demanding and had kept Xie Lian away from his regular lessons and martial arts training in order to prepare him to fill his role as King. For years, the kingdom of Xianle had made it a tradition to crown the firstborn alpha son as King soon after they presented.
Though Xie Lian had yet to present, it was common knowledge that he would do so as an alpha. Not only was his physique and personality that of an alpha, but it had been predicted that way since before he was born by five of the best psychics. Because of that, his parents decided not to have any more kids. His presentation was only a matter of time.
Xie Lian had only been meditating for a few minutes when he felt a sharp, full-body pain, completely breaking his concentration and causing him to double over. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was so intense it took Xie Lian a full minute to recover. He decided to ignore it and continue with his meditation, but something was disrupting his focus. It was a faint, nagging feeling, like a voice in the back of his mind telling him something was wrong. Very wrong.
The longer he tried to ignore the feeling, the more intense it became. He couldn't shake the feeling that he needed to act, and quickly.
Before he could understand what he was doing, he was on his feet and dashing towards the stables. He quickly mounted his white horse and rode off into the woods near the palace. It wasn’t unusual for Xie Lian to go out on rides alone, so no one questioned his sudden outing.
Xie Lian didn’t know exactly where he was going, but he knew he was headed in the right direction.
It became increasingly harder to continue riding on horseback as the forest became denser and denser the further he traveled, so he dismounted and continued on foot. He ran as fast as he could, hoping that he wasn’t too late. Whatever that meant.
Just as suddenly as he had left his meditation, he stopped. Though the sun hadn’t set completely, the dense forest made it hard for any of the remaining light to get through. Looking around, Xie Lian couldn’t find what he was looking for, and his anxiety grew.
At that moment, he wished he had already presented, knowing that he would be able to detect pheromones much easier.
The growing sense of dread was swarming him at this point, and he felt his throat beginning to close up. He didn’t know what was going on or what he was looking for, only that he didn’t have much time left.
Wiping away tears of frustration, he decided that he wouldn’t be able to help if he didn’t calm down, so he focused on regaining control of his emotions.
The forest was quiet, except for the occasional gust of wind that swayed the canopy. Xie Lian listened for what felt like ages until finally, he heard a choked inhale. And again, he was running. Only a few feet away from where he stood, he found what he had been looking for.
An injured boy lay on the ground, face up and bleeding out. The little pheromones Xie Lian was able to perceive were quickly becoming muted. He had long black hair, his bangs sticking to half of his face with blood. The top he wore was soaking in his own blood, making it almost impossible to see where it was coming from.
Xie Lian quickly kneeled next to him, his heart racing with fear and concern. Xie Lian checked the boy’s pulse and was relieved to find that the boy was still alive, though his breathing was very labored. Xie Lian knew he needed to get the boy help, and fast, but he needed to make sure that in doing so, he wouldn’t worsen his state.
Reaching into his inner robe, Xie Lian pulled out a knife and quickly cut off the boy's shirt. To his relief, the wound wasn’t located in any vital organs, but it was deep. If the boy continued to lose blood, the injury would become fatal.
Trying to not disturb the stranger’s injury much, Xie Lian balled up the boy’s top layer and used it to apply pressure on the wound. At the same time, he took off his own outer robe, ripping it in order to wrap it around the boy's torso to keep the other piece of cloth in place and apply pressure on the wound.
Xie Lian estimated they were about the same age, and although the boy was clearly taller than Xie Lian, he was much leaner and light. As gently as possible, Xie Lian picked him up and began to make his way to his horse. Though not the most comfortable ride for an injured person, they didn’t have much time.
Xie Lian silently thanked his guoshi for making his training so challenging, because otherwise, he doubts he would have the strength to get himself and the boy onto the horse. Still, it was a struggle, and Xie Lian flinched when he heard a pained grunt from the boy.
“Shhh. Don’t worry. You are going to be just fine,” Xie Lian whispered, looking down at the boy's face, which was hidden by the shadows and his hair. Though Xie Lian couldn’t see the boy’s face, the boy could see him. The boy had managed to slightly open his eyes to see whose arms he was in.
As they approached the palace’s gates, Xie Lian took what remained of his outer robe and used it to cover the boy. Maybe, if the boy wasn’t in such a critical state, he wouldn’t have bothered concealing him and allowed the guards to determine if he was a threat, but they didn’t have time for questions.
Thankfully, the sun had completely set, and the torches were too dim to illuminate them, so Xie Lian was able to enter without a problem. Xie Lian didn’t even bother taking his horse back to the stable, knowing that when the palace servants found her, they would assume she had escaped again.
Xie Lian knew that security in the worker’s wings was low, and given the time of day, most palace workers were in their quarters, making it the best place to sneak through.
It had only been seven minutes since he found the boy, and Xie Lian was relieved to find he was still alive when they made it to the palace’s doctor.
“Yushi Huang?” He called out into the empty room. His voice sounded choked and uneven, making him realize he was very much still in a state of anguish. “Yushi Huang, I need your help,” he pleaded, his voice growing in desperation.
“Oh, Your Highness, what’s the matter?” She finally answered, coming out of the side room. “Set him down on the bed,” she demanded as soon as she realized Xie Lian was carrying an injured teen.
“Please save him,” Xie Lian begged, his voice now fully coming out in between choked sobs.
“I will do my best. It’s better if you go rest, Your Highness. Leave him to my care,” the doctor said reassuringly. She moved about the office, gathering medication and other tools, and setting them on a table next to the bed the boy lay on.
“I don’t think I could sleep, even if I wanted to,” Xie Lian whispered, more to himself. He took the bed across from the injured boy, pulling up his knees to his chest like he did when he was a little boy, wrapping his arms around himself and letting his chin rest on his knees.
He had managed to hold himself together long enough to get the boy to Yushi Huang, but now that he had to wait, the anxiety and grief that he was feeling earlier began to take over. Xie Lian was usually very good at controlling his emotions, and although he was a very empathetic person, he had grown up being taught how to detach himself from those emotions.
“Your Highness, the boy lost too much blood,” Yushi Huang suddenly spoke after many minutes of silent work. “I have stitched him up, but there isn’t much I can do. No amount of waiting will replenish his blood supply,” she finished, her voice just above a whisper.
“No, you don’t understand. He can’t- He can’t- There has to be something you are able to do. Anything! Please, Yushi Huang, I can’t let him… go.”
Xie Lian knew what too much blood loss meant, and it wasn’t anything good. He had known it was too late when he saw all the blood covering the boy, but Xie Lian couldn’t just accept that. And after having successfully brought the boy to Yushi Huang, he wasn’t about to let him go. Why? He wasn’t too sure.
“There is a way, but I’ve never performed the procedure before. It’s really only a theory. I believe it is possible to do blood transfusions, but I have no idea what side effects that would have on either of the participants. The donor’s blood would also have to be compatible with that of the patient. Your Highness, I’m sorry, but even if I could do it, we don’t have enough time to go find a donor,” the doctor explained.
“Yushi Huang is smart—the best doctor in Xianle. I know you have done extensive research on this, and it’s not just a theory. Please let me donate,” Xie Lian really couldn’t understand why the boy mattered so much. Sure, he had always cared about his people, but this felt different.
“Your Highness, you are the crown prince of Xianle,” she began before being interrupted by Xie Lian.
“That doesn’t matter,”
“I will need to check for compatibility,”
“We are,” Xie Lian responded, not sure why he was so certain about it.
The doctor knew that the compatibility test would take too long, so not having much choice, she decided to trust Xie Lian’s intuition. After all, she had never seen the teen in such a state, and although worrisome, she found it intriguing. And before she could second guess herself, she began the procedure.
Xie Lian remained awake for the whole process, his eyes glued to the boy in the bed next to his. He knew he wouldn’t wake up soon even if the blood transfusion worked, but he still hoped.
“Your Highness, if I may ask, who is this young man?”
“Someone very special to me,” Xie Lian said, surprising the doctor and himself. He didn’t even know the other, so how could he say such a thing? “Yushi Huang, promise you won’t tell my parents about him for now,” he finally asked.
Xie Lian wasn’t allowed to talk to strangers, much less bring them to the palace.
“You have my word, but you must promise to let me do a checkup on both of you and no training for at least a week. I need to make sure there are no side effects.”
Xie Lian hesitated. It sounded reasonable, but the King's demands from him had been constant.
“I will inform the royal couple that you are ill and are not allowed visitors. I will also have the servants deliver twice your food serving; to aid in your recovery, of course,” the doctor proposed as if reading Xie Lian’s mind.
“I really appreciate your help,” Xie Lian said, bowing.
“No need for that, Your Highness.”
“I know I shouldn’t move him, but I can’t let anyone find out.”
“I understand. It’s best you get going then. At this hour, the only ones roaming the halls are the royal guards. I will visit both of you tomorrow afternoon. Don’t hesitate to call me if anything is needed.
The royals’ bedrooms were very private places. The only ones allowed to enter were family members and selected royal servants. Still, within those rooms, existed another room. The extra room served as an omega’s heat/nesting quarters or an alpha’s rut quarters. Those rooms were completely private, and the only other person allowed in was the person’s mate. Still, it was the perfect room to hide someone in. It was completely sound and pheromone-proof, with only one door and no windows.
Once inside Xie Lian’s main room, he allowed himself to relax. Before entering the side room, the boy still in his hands, Xie Lian slipped off his shoes. The boy would only be adding to Xie Lian’s growing list of secrets.
The floor of Xie Lian’s side room was covered in many layers of blankets and clothing, all a white or creme color. He made his way to the center of the room, where he finally set down the boy, who had yet to awaken. It had been a very hard and emotional day for Xie Lian, and his nest was the only place he wanted to be at that moment.
Xie Lian had known he would present as an omega for some months now. He wasn’t very tall, to begin with, and his face had always remained soft—classic omega traits. Xie Lian believes they have gone unnoticed because of his body build. He has been a martial artist since he can remember, and his body reflected that. What people didn't know was how hard it had been maintaining that physique in recent years. Xie Lian had spent many hours looking at himself in the mirror, admiring his waist and curves.
Xie Lian had a commanding personality and showed characteristics of a great leader. It wasn’t that omegas weren’t capable of showing said characteristics, but society had never allowed it. Early on, Xie Lian realized that his emotions didn’t present the way and alpha’s did. He hardly got angry, but he did cry a lot. His father had yelled at him about it when he was younger, and he was now good at controlling those emotions. He was also not territorial, but when he realized he wouldn’t become an alpha, but an omega instead, he began pretending he was. He no longer allowed his servant, Mu Qing, to wake him up and dress him in the mornings. He did however let him do his hair since he was so horrible at it, but only when requested by himself. From then on, his main door remained locked.
What solidified his suspicion was the night he began building his first nest. It had been a very stressful day of shadowing his father, and he had gotten yelled at multiple times. He didn’t know how, but he had managed to keep calm, but that night, in the safety of his room, he broke down. He instinctively began gathering some of his clothes, pillows, and blankets and began making a nest in the side room.
Xie Lian wasn’t upset about the fact he wouldn’t become an alpha. On the contrary, he felt being an omega was very fitting. Still, he knew that in order to stay safe, it was better to continue pretending to be an alpha.
Xie Lian stood above the boy for a few seconds, contemplating what he should do next. The teenager was in a state of undress, Yushi Huang having removed his blood-drenched clothes. She had cleared up the areas she was working on, but the boy was still covered in dried blood.
Xie Lian lit some candles before he made his way to the main bedroom and gathered many towels and clean inner robes before bringing them back to his nest. He made one last round, taking longer as he heated up some water.
Xie Lian kneeled beside the boy and gently lifted his head, extending a towel under it. He took a smaller towel and gently dabbed and wiped some of the blood off his face and neck. The right side of his face was still covered, except this time because of some bandages.
His sunken cheeks, strong jawline, high cheekbones, and straight eyebrows were Xie Lian’s definition of attractiveness. Despite the fact he had lost a lot of blood, his face was starting to regain some color, but his skin still had a naturally pale hue.
Xie Lian traced the lines of the teen’s face with his fingertips, taking in every detail. His nose was the slightest bit crooked, a small imperfection that only made him more appealing. Despite his state, the boy radiated strength and resilience. As Xie Lian’s thumb traced the boy’s jawline, he unconsciously rubbed his wrist against the boy’s neck.
Taken aback by the fact he had scented the boy, Xie Lian dropped his hand in horror. Xie Lian knew the boy was probably an alpha, that much was visible, but when he began to pay attention, he realized the boy also smelled like one. His pheromones were no longer muted like it had been earlier in the forest. Xie Lian also realized he was able to smell his scent undertones. Usually, younger pups can only perceive their family’s pheromones. As they near their presentation day, they become more aware of the scent and pheromones of others. To this point, Xie Lian had only been able to detect pheromones, but now, he had suddenly been able to detect the components of the stranger’s scent. He smelled like cedarwood.
When he finally managed to compose himself, Xie Lian moved to the boy’s hair. He took a different wet towel and rung the water over it, hoping to loosen up the dried blood, and with a dry towel, he gently patted the hair clean. He didn’t want to accidentally pull on the boy’s hair, so he decided not to brush it.
The boy's torso was the worst. The blood from his face had dripped onto his shoulder and down his chest, and the deep wound had only made it worse. Careful not to agitate the wound, Xie Lian continued to clean the boy with a warm wet towel. By the time he was done cleaning the blood off the best he could without flipping the other boy over, he had gone through at least six towels.
Xie Lian had wanted to dress the boy, but he now saw that wouldn’t be the smartest idea. So instead, Xie Lian took the lightest of his blanket and covered the boy with it before disposing of the leftover water and soiled towels.
After cleaning himself off, Xie Lian made his way back to the side room, ready to finally sleep, but he froze, realizing he had been planning to sleep in the same room as the boy. Still, he couldn’t fathom the idea of sleeping in his bed that night. Not only did it not feel right, but he also needed the comfort and safety of his nest, so he gave in.
As he was about to blow out the candles, he remembered that if the boy woke up, a pitch-dark room would probably frighten him, so he left them lit. Finally, he settled to the side, wrapping himself in a mountain of blankets. Usually, he took the center of his nest, but he wasn’t about to disturb the other teenager. Even though he was exhausted, he remained awake for many more minutes, thinking about the fact he had scented a boy that didn’t even know him.
Xie Lian was woken up by distant heavy knocks. It seemed that the person on the other side had been doing so for a while, given their insistence. Xie Lian really wanted to stay in bed, but knew that if Mu Qing didn’t receive an answer, he would likely call for the doctor, or worse, his mother.
Xie Lian made sure to close the side room’s door behind him, and because he isn’t supposed to be using said room yet, he fixed his bed to make it seem like he had slept there.
“You should keep your door open when you’re sick. That way, we can make sure you haven’t died,” Mu Qing grumbled as soon as Xie Lian opened his door. And before Xie Lian had answered, Mu Qing was already entering his room, food tray in his hand.
“Mu Qing!” Xie Lian pretended to be annoyed.
“Just leaving your food and med-” Mu Qing said, before abruptly stopping. He set the food tray on Xie Lian’s nightstand before turning around and making his way to Xie Lian. “You smell,” he said, as he sniffed his friend.
“But I bathed last night,” Xie Lian defended. Giving up his alpha act.
“Pheromones,” Mu Qing simply stated.
Xie Lian stood in shock. Pheromones . Was Xie Lian presenting?! That meant everyone would realize he was an omega and not an alpha. He wasn’t ready yet!
“Yushi Huang said you weren’t feeling well, but I didn’t think she meant you were going into rut.”
“Rut?”
“You didn’t realize? You have cedarwood undertones,” Mu Qing pointed out.
Cedarwood.
It was only then that Xie Lian remembered what had happened last night. The boy in his side room. Scent alone wasn’t enough to determine someone's second gender, especially not in the first year, but earthy scents were typical of alphas, while flowery or sweet scents were typical of omegas.
“I didn’t realize. It must be the sickness blurring my senses. Well, you better go now. Umm… your pheromones are beginning to bother me,” Xie Lian quickly said, dismissing the alpha. Thankfully, Mu Qing seemed to understand and walked out of the room, Xie Lian quickly locking the door behind him.
He hated having to pretend in front of his friend, but he told himself it was better this way. If Mu Qing or anyone knew he was an omega, they would probably seclude him, and everything he had worked so hard for would be gone.
Xie Lian smelled of cedarwood. So much so that his friend thought the scent was coming from him.
Just like Yushi Huang said, the tray of food had two portions, though one would probably be left untouched given the other boy was still in a deep sleep. As Mu Qing had been about to point out, there was also some medication and a little jar of ointment on the tray.
Quietly, Xie Lian made his way back to his nest. Now that he had been outside for a few minutes, he understood why he smelled like cedarwood. The room was completely saturated with the scent and pheromones of the other boy. Xie Lian would expect that the fact his nest smelled of another person, and not himself, would distress him, but really, it did the complete opposite.
Xie Lian knew it could get hot in the room, so he decided he would leave the door open for now, just to get some ventilation. If Mu Qing thought the cedarwood scent was coming from him, then maybe anyone who came into his room would think the same.
He made his way to the boy and kneeled next to him, just like he had the night before. He was still unconscious, but it looked more like he was asleep now, rather than fighting for his life. Xie Lian took the blanket he had draped over the boy the night before and threw it to the side. His wound was looking about the same as it had yesterday, and he couldn’t say much about half of his face.
Xie Lian opened the jar of ointment and gently applied some around the wound area. He wasn’t too sure what its purpose was, but if Yushi Huang had sent it, it had a purpose. He did his best to apply it gently, but he must have done a poor job because the next thing he knew, the boy had woken up.
It started with a groan, and then some slight shifting before the boy tried sitting up. Without thinking much about the consequences, Xie Lian pushed him back down, leaving both his hands on the boy's shoulders to keep him there.
“Don’t,” Xie Lian whispered, all his other words leaving him as he stared into the boy’s eye.
The boy stared straight back at him for what felt like ages before his gaze began to roam. First, he looked at Xie Lian’s hair, brown and long, shielding one side of his view like a curtain. And then, at his delicate hands, gripping onto his naked shoulders. Xie Lian wore a white robe with gold detailing, so his arms and body were hidden, except for his prominent clavicle. Finally, the boy’s eyes landed back on his face, this time looking at the rest of Xie Lian’s facial features. It was the same face the boy remembered before losing consciousness. At the time, he thought he had been staring at an angel’s face.
“Please stay down for now, or let me get you some pillows. I found you bleeding out in the forest last night. You almost died. So please, just be careful,” Xie Lian said before getting up and walking out of the room to get the food tray. Really, he did it as an excuse. It isn’t every day that a handsome boy stares at you like you are the most precious thing he had ever seen.
The boy was already looking at him when he came in, though he had remained laying as he had been asked. Feeling his gaze on him, Xie Lian’s cheeks began to turn a shade of pink. He silently made his way back to the boy’s side, setting the tray down, before he grabbed some of the pillows he had used the night before.
“I’m going to lift you up and put some pillows against your back, that way you can sit up,” Xie Lian informed him.
Xie Lian lifted the boy into an upright position, being careful not to strain his injury, and sliding the pillows under him. As Xie Lian worked, he became more and more conscious of the fact the boy had yet to say a word.
“I apologize I can’t put you in a comfortable bed. No one knows you are here, except for my doctor, so I have to keep you hidden,” Xie Lian’s voice was barely a whisper.
Maybe he was scared, Xie Lian thought. Trying to reason as to why the other boy hadn’t spoken yet. Or maybe he couldn’t talk at all.
“Are you in any pain?” Xie Lian decided to ask.
“No,” the boy finally responded, his voice rough from going unused.
“That’s good, I should probably change your bandage now that you are awake,” Xie Lian said, relieved that so far, everything was going alright.
But as soon as his hands reached to untie the bandage around the other teen’s face, his hand was caught and the boy began emitting distressing signals.
“I apologize, but I promise I’ll be quick,” Xie Lian said, hoping to soothe the other, but his scent only got more bitter.
Like the night before, Xie Lian caressed the boy’s face before unconsciously beginning to scent him, rubbing his wrist against the boy’s neck in a soothing motion. Xie Lian only realized what he had been doing when the boy began leaning into his touch, and Xie Lian froze. He debated removing his hand and apologizing, but the blissful, calm look the other teen had on his face stopped him. Xie Lian used the fact the boy had his eye closed to stare at him. They remained that way for a minute before the boy finally spoke up.
“Don’t remove it,” he said as he opened his eye, taking Xie Lian’s hand into his own and moving them to his lap. He kept his gaze on their hands, not daring to meet Xie Lian’s eyes. “I can do it on my own. Just don’t look,” he said, the last part barely audible.
“Why?”
“It’s unsightly.”
“It’s not.”
A flash of terror crossed the boy’s face, and his grip on Xie Lian’s hand tightened.
“Did you see it?” He asked, his voice short of breath.
“I haven’t,” Xie Lian said, and the boy exhaled in relief. “Umm… I have something to tell you,” Xie Lian added, reaching his other hand to set it over the boy’s, now both holding on to each other. “Doctor Yushi Huang said you lost your right eye.”
When Xie Lian finally raised his gaze to look at the boy’s reaction, he didn’t expect to see a closed-mouth smile.
“It’s probably for the best,” he said.
Xie Lian didn’t really know what that meant, and for now, he would leave it a mystery.
“What’s your name?” Xie Lian finally asked.
There was a pause before the boy responded, “San Lang. What about you?”
“Xie Lian. It’s nice finally being able to put a name to your face,” Xie Lian absentmindedly commented, causing San Lang’s cheeks to blush.
“Your name is perfect,” San Lang said, and now both teens were a blushing mess.
Xie Lian suddenly remembered the food and medication and shyly slipped his hands away to place the tray in San Lang’s lap. The action had probably broken San Lang’s bubble because he was suddenly reaching for a blanket, but before he grabbed it, he froze.
“Can I use it?” he asked, almost shyly.
“Of course, no need to ask.”
“This is your nest. Of course I have to ask,” San Lang stated matter-of-factly. He grabbed the blanket and extended it over his legs.
“Oh,” Right . A nest. An omega’s nest. “I wouldn’t call it that,” Xie Lian said. He set the tray on San Lang's lap and took his own bowl. He was glad they had brought them soup, otherwise, the food would have gone cold by now.
“Then, what would you call it?”
“My safe space…” Xie Lian knew it was a nest, he hadn’t shied away from calling it that, but knowing that San Lang also viewed it that way made him embarrassed.
“A nest,” San Lang confirmed.
“I haven’t even presented yet,” Xie Lian argued back, though his tone was not very argumentative.
“Then, you must be getting very close because you smell like maple syrup,” San Lang teased. Xie Lian was glad that he was fine enough to joke around at least.
“Do you like it?” As soon as the question had left Xie Lian's mouth, he regretted it. His mouth had moved before he could even process it. That had definitely not been what Xie Lian had wanted to ask. Why did he even ask that ?
“I do,” San Lang answered.
Even though they had only met an hour ago, both teenagers were already a mess. Neither had planned to say those two things out loud, but before they knew it, they had. They went silent for a few minutes, deciding their bowls of soup were more interesting. Xie Lian did speak up, but only to tell San Lang to take the pills on the tray.
After both finished, Xie Lian took the tray back to his main room, placing it where it had been left by Mu Qing earlier. He checked his appearance in the mirror, noticing how he had not done his hair that morning and how there were many stray strands sticking up everywhere. He also noticed how the robes he was wearing were too proper for a sick day; he had grabbed the first thing he touched that morning, in a rush to open the door.
He felt ridiculous, but San Lang had already seen him in that state. Still, he decided to change into something more comfortable, some simple white robes. And as he was about to do his hair, he remembered how horrible he was at it. The last time he had tried, his hair had ended up in a bigger mess, knots everywhere, and he had even managed to get the comb stuck somewhere. His hands would have to be enough this time.
When he deemed himself proper enough, he returned to his nest. San Lang was fully resting on the pillows now, and he was looking around the room.
Xie Lian’s nest wasn’t made with guests in mind, so having an alpha he found attractive inspecting it, made him nervous.
“Is it too much?” Xie Lian asked.
“It’s perfect,” San Lang stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. Making Xie Lian’s cheeks heat up for the thousandth time that day. “To my understanding, I’m in your nest because you don’t have another choice. Does it bother you?” He asked, his voice taking a more self-conscious tone.
“You actually make me feel safer. It feels like you were missing. I know it’s weird to say that, and I don’t really understand what is going on, but your presence just makes sense,” Xie Lian answered.
“Oh…”
Xie Lian rearranged the pillows, only leaving one in order to allow San Lang to rest. He looked fine, but just a few hours ago, he had been so close to dying that even his body stopped producing pheromones.
“You should rest,” Xie Lian suggested once San Lang was comfortable. Xie Lian laid next to him, their faces a foot away. He had only gotten a few hours of sleep and was beginning to get tired.
“Will you stay?”
“Of course,”
Xie Lian took one of San Lang’s hands and held it between his own in reassurance. This time, when Xie Lian attempted to scent him, there was no surprise. They gazed into each other’s eyes until they both fell asleep.
San Lang woke up first. He had no way of knowing what time it was, but he didn’t really care. Xie Lian was still holding his hand, though now he had it tucked in the crook of his neck. He contemplated scenting him, like Xie Lian had done to him earlier, but decided against it in the end. He didn’t understand what situation Xie Lian was in and didn’t want to complicate things. Xie Lian had probably intended to soothe him earlier with his scenting, but he had ended up marking San Lang as his own in the process, though it only stuck for an hour.
Omegas and alphas went through very similar heats and ruts their first year, as they were more like a transitioning period. A teen in their first transitioning year needed a lot of affection and reassurance during the pre-heat and rut periods, which happened once a month for at least a week. They were still debilitating, as they consumed a lot of energy, but not in the same way a real heat or rut was.
The boy made no effort to move, not wanting to disturb Xie Lian or his wound, and continued to stare at the boy next to him, wondering why he was so different. Xie Lian was definitely from a wealthy family. He could tell because no commoner family had special rooms for nesting or wore such nice robes. Though San Lang hated the rich the most, he found himself relieved that Xie Lian had all the necessities an omega would need during their first year of presentation.
He found it strange how he hadn’t been confused when he woke up in a strange place, naked, or the fact he hadn’t shown aggression towards Xie Lian, a complete stranger. He was smart, so putting together the fact Xie Lian had saved his life wasn’t hard, but knowing himself, he knew that wasn’t enough to calm him in a normal situation. But somehow, seeing Xie Lian had actually put him in a sedated state, pliant and calm.
He had never been in anyone's nest before. He couldn’t even say he had seen one before today. Maybe his mother’s, but he had no memory of it. Because of his upbringing, he had many difficulties understanding the pack mentality and didn’t understand why people talked about nests like they were such a big deal, but he felt like he understood now.
Xie Lian’s nest was completely filled with comfortable and soft things, not a single gap of flooring peeking through. The room still smelled of honey and milk—the scent of a pup who had yet to present. But since the time San Lang had first woken up, he noticed how the scent had been changing, Xie Lian’s maple syrup scent growing stronger and his own infusing itself to the soft materials.
He had been lost in thought until he heard distant knocking, bringing him back to the present. At first, they had been light, but grew insistent when no one answered.
He really didn’t want to wake up Xie Lian, but he didn’t really have a choice. He shifted the hand Xie Lian was holding, and gently began poking at his round cheeks, using this as an excuse to do so. Xie Lian had probably been in the process of waking up because it only took three probes to get him up.
“I’ll be back,” he mumbled, squeezing San Lang’s hand one last time before letting go. He still must have been in a very sleepy state because he stumbled twice before getting to the door.
Only a minute had passed when Xie Lian was back in the nest.
“Mu Qing brought food, and Yushi Huang is here to see you,” Xie Lian said, though he looked conflicted.
“What’s wrong?” San Lang finally asked.
Xie Lian didn’t answer right away, seemingly debating if he should or shouldn’t answer. “This is going to sound dumb, but I don’t want her in here. I know she has to see you. She’s the doctor, after all, but I just can’t,” he finally responded, his voice wavering at times.
San Lang could smell how stressed and anxious this was making Xie Lian, and immediately decided seeing a doctor wasn’t important.
“It’s not dumb. It’s your nest. It’s normal not to want anyone in it,” San Lang said, though he wasn’t sure where he was getting that knowledge from. Still, he knew that he also didn’t want anyone else in there, and could only imagine how distressing this was to an omega. “I just won’t be seeing her today,” he added.
His suggestion only made Xie Lian more distressed, and his scent became more bitter. San Lang didn’t really have much experience using his pheromones, only ever keeping them as muted as possible, but being very careful, he released calming ones, hoping they would ease Xie Lian a bit. Slowly, Xie Lian’s scent returned to normal.
“You have to see her though… I know it isn’t ideal, but do you mind if I carry you?” He finally suggested. He wasn’t really asking San Lang for persimmon, as it was more of a warning.
“That isn't necessary,” San Lang responded.
“It’s really fine; I did it yesterday. I’m just worried I’ll mess up your stitches.”
San Lang could only look away in embarrassment, as Xie Lian contemplated the easiest way to go about it. Before San Lang could protest, he was being effortlessly carried. Xie Lian had been careful with the blanket, and it remained over San Lang. In his arms, San Lang felt weightless, only making his cheeks grow warmer.
“It doesn’t hurt, does it?”
“No.”
Entering Xie Lian’s bedroom, San Lang quickly picked out Xie Lian’s old honey and milk scent. The room was brightly lit, the afternoon sun peeking through his windows. If San Lang had thought Xie Lian’s nesting materials had looked expensive, he wasn’t ready to see the decor in his bedroom.
Xie Lian’s bed was in the center of the room. Its frame and towering headboard were made of dark wood with golden detailing engraved into it, with tall, ornate posts that reached up towards the high, vaulted ceiling. His bedding was very different from the materials he had seen in the nest. The colors were vibrant shades of gold and red, with the occasional shade of white.
Xie Lian carried him across the spacious room, and gently set San Lang on the bed, making sure the blanket he had taken from his nest still covered him. It was only when the women spoke that San Lang noticed her.
“Already awake? That’s impressive given the serious state he was in last night. I’m glad he recovered this quickly,” the woman said, almost to herself. “My name is Yushi Huang, and I’ll be the doctor taking care of you while you recover,” she said, directing her introduction at San Lang.
“Nice meeting you,” San Lang said, his voice sounding formal. It hadn’t been his injuries that had changed his mind, he still didn’t like people.
“I’m going to look at the wound in your lower abdomen first, and then I’m going to take a look at your eye,” she informed.
Xie Lian noticed San Lang’s nervousness, distress peeking out into his scent. Without saying a word, Xie Lian joined him on the bed, taking the side that would not interfere with Yushi Huang’s work, and held his hand. Though his body was itching to scent him, Yushi Huang was in the room, and he didn't want to risk her finding out. She had probably deduced the cedarwood scent belonged to San Lang and not him.
Xie Lian realized he was seeing San Lang under good lighting for the first time when he notices a crescent moon-shaped scar on his right bicep. That had probably been one of the many scars Xie Lian had felt while wiping the blood off him the night before. The scar was odd though. Too perfect to be accidental. Very purposefully, a crescent moon.
“Everything is looking surprisingly well, and the wound doesn’t look infected. I do still recommend applying the ointment and continuing to take the medication provided. The wound still runs the risk of reopening, so try moving less,” Yushi Huang said after many minutes of silent inspection. “I’ll unwrap your head now and take a look.”
Xie Lian felt how San Lang’s body tensed at the warning. He knew San Lang was uncomfortable with him seeing what was behind the bandage, so he would respect that. He closed his eyes and cuddled his face into the side of San Lang’s arm. He listened as the doctor unwrapped the bandage, and then wrapped it again minutes later.
“Your body is healing quickly, so your recovery won’t take as long as I thought it would. That being said, it will take about two months before you can go back to simple tasks.”
“I appreciate it,” San Lang answered.
“I’m just doing my job,” she responded before turning her attention to Xie Lian. “After you left last night, I decided to test for blood compatibility, just to make sure there wouldn’t be any complications, and just like you said, you were compatible. While doing the test, I did find out something else, and I think it would be important we discuss it.”
“What is it?” Xie Lian asked.
“It’s about you, Your Highness,”
Xie Lian felt San Lang momentarily freeze next to him, before going pliant again. That’s when he remembered he had forgotten to inform him about that.
“That’s fine, you can tell me,” Xie Lian said, hoping that his transparency expressed how he hadn’t meant to hide anything from San Lang.
“While I was doing the tests, I noticed something abnormal. This will most likely come to you as a shock due to your upbringing, but you will be presenting as an omega, not an alpha like it had been predicted.”
This time, it was San Lang who held Xie Lian’s hand tightly. It had been obvious that Xie Lian knew about being an omega, but for some reason, the information had caused him to freeze.
“Will you be telling my dad?” Xie Lian finally asked in a soft voice.
So that was it. Xie Lian's dad.
“As a doctor, it is my responsibility to be confidential with my patient’s personal information. Mu Qing thinks you have presented as an alpha and are currently going through your first pre-rut. I’m assuming it is due to his scent and pheromones,” Yushi Huang said as she pointed toward San Lang with her gaze. “I know this will bring a lot of change, and I won’t force you to tell others, but it can’t be hidden for long.”
“I understand,” Xie Lian said, his voice distant.
“Take care, if you have any questions or concerns, come find me,” she told Xie Lian, giving him a reassuring smile. “I’ll come by next week to check up on you unless there is a problem,” she said, turning to San Lang.
With one last bow, she left Xie Lian’s room.
Both teens laid silently in bed, Xie Lian holding onto San Lang’s hand in a death grip.
“Let’s go back,” San Lang finally said. He had the urge to scent Xie Lian and knew it would be better to do it in a safe space.
“The food will get cold,” Xie Lian whispered back.
“Let’s eat then, and then we’ll go back,”
“Alright,”
The meal was again some type of soup, though more filling than the last. They didn’t talk much as they ate, but remained holding on to each other’s hands.
When they finished, Xie Lian picked him up, and walked back to the nest, closing the door behind them. Most candles were burnt out, and the few remaining flickered. Instead of setting San Lang in the same place he had been sleeping in, he set him off to the side.
Silently, Xie Lian moved about the nest, moving stuff around, and replacing some blankets and pillows with others. Before finally joining San Lang, he replaced the burnt-out candles with new ones. Xie Lian had planned to clean up a bit while the doctor looked over San Land, but in the end, he had found it hard to leave San Lang’s side while there was someone else in the room.
Xie Lian laid next to San Lang, much closer than he had in the morning, and only then did he allow himself to express how he was feeling. He had wanted to be careful in his room, not wanting to leave his maple syrup scent there, so he had done his best to keep his pheromones and scent hidden. He found that doing so only put more stress on himself, and he felt like he was about to explode.
San Lang was quick to notice the distressing scent Xie Lian had begun emitting and quickly extended his hand, offering it to Xie Lian. Xie Lian quickly took it, and as he had unconsciously done before, he cradled it against the crook of his neck. Only seconds later, he began to cry, small sobs escaping him.
San Lang felt useless at that moment, not being able to move in a way he could cradle Xie Lian or show him comfort, so finally, he allowed himself to ask the question.
“Can I scent you?”
“Please,” Xie Lian answered immediately in a defeated voice.
San Lang had many questions, but he was aware that the topic could be sensitive for Xie Lian. He hadn’t mentioned the fact he was royalty, or that everyone was expecting him to present as an alpha, and given his reaction, there must have been a reason.
San Lang began rubbing his wrist against Xie Lian’s neck, making sure to go over his scent gland in order for it to be more effective. When he was done, he whipped away Xie Lian’s tears, though it was no use since they just kept on coming. He took a hold of Xie Lian’s hand again, rubbing their wrists together so he could scent him that way too.
“I will listen,” San Lang spoke up, giving Xie Lian the opportunity to let everything out. And he did.
“I’ve known I would present as an omega for a few months now, but what that meant didn’t hit until now. I was actually pretty happy when I realized. I don’t know, I guess it just made so much more sense to me. The thing is, I’m next in line for the crown, but for that, I would have to be an alpha. Everyone thinks I’ll present as one. They are counting on me being one. Especially my father. I thought, maybe, I could finally make him proud by fulfilling my duties as the Crowned Prince. I think… I think I’m scared of what his reaction is going to be,” Xie Lian said, his voice wavering throughout his explanation and his tears not ceasing. He had unconsciously curled closer to San Lang, hiding his face in his neck.
Having Xie Lian so close, and in that state, San Lang couldn’t help letting go of Xie Lian's hand to bury it in his hair, cradling the back of his head. He gently shifted Xie Lian’s head and ever so lightly kissed the crown of his head.
“Whatever happens, I’m going to be here for you.”