Secrets of the Blossom

Chapter 3

The afternoon sun is streaming through the curtains when Jin Xiao Bao opens his eyes. At first, he can't figure out where he is. This isn't his room at his home or any inn he has ever stayed in. It's certainly not the brothel he and his friends always visit with its plush décor and gossamer scarves hanging from the ceiling.

He tries to remember what happened yesterday. Had he been sick?

A voice echoes in his mind, "Jin Xiao Bao, you are not dying, you are in heat." He knows that the voice had been Huai En. He feels a burning pain at the back of his neck, and he lets his fingers explore the area. He prods the wound he finds there with a wince; it feels like it is just starting to scab over. He can tell from the feeling that it's teeth marks, which means it's a mating bite. So, it's true, he really is an omega.

The memories all come flooding back, in that instant. Xiao Bao, who thought he was well past feeling any shame when it comes to such things, blushes thinking of all the things he and the alpha had done together. He glances down and sees his body is covered in bruises and love bites.

He jumps and pulls the covers up to his neck when the door opens. He's hoping it's Huai En and they can figure this thing out together. However, it's a young maid servant with an arm full of clothes.

"Young master," she greets him. "You are awake. His highness, Prince Shen, said for me to bring you clothes, and said to give you his regrets that yours were ruined in yesterday's mishap." She gives him an expressionless look, but there is a small twinkle in her eyes that tells Xiao Bao everything he needs to know. The servants know what happened here last night, and if they know the people of the town know. Everything to do with the Jin money gang is ripe for gossip in the area. "My master said to inquire if you would like something to eat?"

"Where is Huai En?" Xiao Bao asks.

"He left this morning, it's not this servant's place to know where he has gone to." The woman says.

"Will he be back?" He really wants to talk to the alpha.

The servant smiles and shrugs. "My master said that if you don't want for anything, to tell you your servants are on the way to take you home."

Xiao Bao starts to protest at this, then he realizes it wouldn't help. He obviously isn't going to get any more information from this servant. He should probably go home, then try to figure out how to find Huai En. His parents have people in their employ that can help investigate the alpha. Besides, he is sure his parents are worried about him. Although it's not unusual for Xiao Bao to stay out at night, he had been obviously sick yesterday and had left without a word to anyone.

When the servant leaves, he quickly throws the blankets off and gets dressed. There is a mirror in one corner, and he is relieved to see his clothes cover most of the marks. The mating bite is easily covered by his hair. There isn't much he can do about the love bites on his neck without his make-up, but they aren't that noticeable. Plus, it wouldn't be the first time he had come home with visible love bites.

By the time his servants arrive, he is presentable enough. In fact, he looks better than they do with their bruised faces.

"Who did this to you?" Xiao Bao asks, then gives an inward sigh, it must have been his father. He feels guilty that the servants got punished because of him.

Sensing his guilt, Zhao Cai says, "We deserved it. We didn't stop young master from leaving when he wasn't well, and we didn't make sure that young master was taking his medicine. Because of that now everyone knows..." He stops as if he thinks he said too much.

Xiao Bao knows what Zhao Cai had been about to say. What else could everyone know? That he is an omega of course. Xiao Bao shrugs, he hasn't come to terms with that fact yet himself, and he has a lot of questions for his parents. His main concern right now is finding Huai En and making sure he is safe. The rest seems unimportant at the moment.