Hua Chen

A cold winter wind whistled against the walls of an abandoned wooden house on the very edge of the northern border, carrying the scent of ozone, wet pine needles, and bitter frost throughout the room. Outside, a blizzard raged so fiercely that it was impossible to see a step away, but inside, despite the storm, a subtle, comforting warmth reigned.
Xie Lian sat on an old bed by the stove, tightly wrapped in a fur-lined cloak. His fingers still trembled from the terror he'd endured and the frantic rush through the blizzard, but his body gradually relaxed, lulled by the rich, soothing scent of maple and blood-red wood—a familiar alpha scent that filled every corner of this shelter. The crown prince stroked his still-flat stomach beneath layers of thick clothing. A new life flickered within him—his and Hua Chen's child, for whose sake they had abandoned the luxury of the palace, broken their political marriage with the prince of a neighboring state, and defied the will of the rulers.
The door was bolted, and General Hua Chen, throwing his snow-covered cloak from his broad shoulders, was at his side in two steps. The Emperor's loyal confidant, whose sword the enemies of the Five Kingdoms feared, now looked at the prince with boundless tenderness and hidden anxiety. He knelt before Xie Lian, carefully covering his frozen hands with his own—warm and trusting.
"Your Highness... Gege, are you cold?" Hua Chen asked quietly, gently squeezing his fingers and exhaling warm air. "The pursuit was delayed by the snowstorm. We're safe here, at least until morning."
Xie Lian shook his head, leaning forward and pressing his forehead against his alpha's, absorbing his strength.
"I'm fine, San Lang. As long as you're near, I'm not cold," the prince whispered, feeling his own omega nature respond sweetly to his beloved's closeness. "But what will we do when the snowstorm subsides?"
Hua Chen gently moved one hand to Xie Lian's stomach, carefully covering the place where their shared secret had been born, and determination flashed in his dark gaze.