XiCheng: The Last Lotus [AU- OMEGAVERSE]

12

"I know.." he whispered, clutching tightly onto Huan-ge's robes, as a soft smile bloomed on his face. "I love you too..."

Ah shit. Jiang Cheng knew something was wrong. From all the wide-eyed stares and hungry looks, he should've known that something bad had happened. He should've known not to leave his dorms when he had woke up that morning with a weird pang in his chest and a flush on his face. He should've just stayed in his room and kept to himself when he woke up feeling like complete, absolute shit.

But he didn't.

And now he was fucking paying for it.

All the noses turned up in the air, sniffing as they took in the smell of sweet lotus flower and spice. All the round eyes, widening as they narrowed in on the omega in heat. All the hormones surging forward as their alphas ran rampant. All the awkward stares and rosy blushes that dotted their cheeks. All the furrowed brows and scowling faces that appeared on the faces of the Lan Sect elders. All the scoldings and shooing motions of Lan Qiren as his uncle desperately tried to get Jiang Cheng away from the hungry alphas.

All the dark hatred and possessiveness that sparked to life on Lan Xichen's face when the whole ordeal had been explained to him.

Jiang Cheng shuddered. The look on Lan Xichen's face had been terrifying indeed. It had been all alpha, a cold glare of pure ice. He looked nothing like the sweet and kind Huan-ge that Jiang Cheng knew and loved. Instead, he had been the furious Zewu Jun, ready to strike at a moment's notice. He had been all business, truly worthy of his future place as sect leader. He had been ready to kill, the dark look in his eyes saying more than words ever will.

Even now, that look sent shivers down Jiang Cheng's spine. It was both terrifying and endearing. 

It was terrifying to know that there was this primal side of Xichen- this threatening and dark side to him that he had suppressed for so long. But it was also endearing. To know that Jiang Cheng was the one that made him snap- made this perfect jade finally break, his mask cracking as his control slipped.

"Xichen," he murmured, rushing forward to soothe his mate. "Shhh Huan-ge, it's ok, I'm here."

Lan Xichen didn't move, his face frozen with a dangerous glint in his eye. It took Jiang Cheng's soft coaxing ten full minutes before Xichen had left, a worried look on his face as he glanced back at Jiang Cheng. 

Jiang Cheng gave an exasperated huff. His Huan- ge was going a little overboard, wasn't he? After all, it was Jiang Cheng's own fault that he was in this situation, to begin with. If he wasn't such a stupid fool, then maybe he wouldn't have wandered out in the middle of Cloud Recesses alone in his heat. And maybe then, he wouldn't have riled up all the alphas and sparked Lan Xichen's possessive streak.

Oh well. Jiang Cheng was never known for his brains. That was Wei Wuxian.

But speaking of Wei Wuxian... Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. That fucking fool. Wei Wuxian was an even bigger idiot than he was. His dimwit of a brother had thought it fit to tease Lan Xichen, provoking the already wound up beast. Wei Wuxian had slung an arm around Jiang Cheng, casually commenting about the sweet smell of flowers. He was- of course, bluffing. Wei Wuxian couldn't smell shit. He was a beta, after all. But goddammit that fucker. He really thought it would be hilarious to poke fun at Xichen. The alpha had froze, the look in his eyes murderous. He had been ready to bite Wei Wuxian's head off- and if Jiang Cheng hadn't stopped him with a soft hand on his shoulder- then he damn well would have.

Jiang Cheng scoffed, serves him right. That little shit. Always stirring up trouble.

"Jiang Cheng," a voice called, breaking Jiang Cheng out of his stupor. He startled, whirling around to see Lan Qiren's tired face. "Oh! Uncle!" he cried, dipping low for a quick bow. "What's wrong uncle?"