The next few days were a blur of meeting new people, learning his way around the tiny settlement, and discovering what was required of him as part of his training.
Eician wasn’t sure what was worse: trying to take in all the names and faces of the people here or trying to remember what Skye was telling him about the herbs and medicines he used.
The other omega was quick to reassure him that he didn’t expect him to remember much straight away but he would keep explaining what he was doing so it would eventually stick with him.
It wasn’t particularly reassuring when Skye cheerfully reminded him that they used a particular herb only yesterday, but Eician honestly didn’t remember.
The alpha presence in the village didn’t help matters. There were four alpha males from the Silvermist Company, one old alpha farmer, two newcomers, and the female alpha. Dahlia didn’t set him off as much as
“Whyhavewe gotta do this?” Kadencemoaned as he hung back by the stable door.The beta had continued to be outspoken with his criticisms and complaints over their first few days together and Dyllenwas losing what little patience he had.Again.He seemed to lose it every day where the beta was concerned.None of the other kids had such an issue with the work but Kadenceseemed to be rubbing off on the others as Saamalso balkedat the sight of the manure-filled stable floors.Dahlia, the one Dyllenthought he’d have the most trouble with, was oddly meek for an alpha. It seemed like she was fighting her very nature and it left her open to the others.Kadenceneeded to be taken down a few pegs but not just by Dyllen.The dynamics of their little group were slowly setting, and he didn’t approve of Kadencebecoming something of a leader with his atti
Dyllenleft the mess hall after dropping off his kids with Urkaneand Yashto help with dinner preparations.He hoped that having six helpers would make up for the fact that each of them would be slow as shit as peeling and cutting vegetables. It was the first time they were helping prepare meals for the band and the amount of food required was quite impressive with their thirteen additions.More importantly, he was hoping Yashwould rub off on Kadence. The beta was levelheaded and approachable-things that Kadenceneeded that Dyllendidn’t have.He shivered as the breeze picked up, ruffling his fresh clothing. The stream they had washed the smell of horses and manure off with had been freezing and the chill hadn’t yet left his bones.He must be getting old; it had been a few hours since their bath. The free afternoon had been a muchneeded rest disguised as a reward.Already t
Eiciandithered in the kitchen, putting off going out into the noisy hall where everyone was eating.Even some beta families joined in the mess hall meals and there were too many people that Eiciandidn’t know for him to be comfortable. And more importantly, there were six alphas out there, seven if you included Dahlia.Although…after spending the last few hours in the company of Dyllen, Dahlia, and Urkane, Eicianfound himself less affected by their presence.Dahliawas easy to get used to: she was young, respectful, and a girl.The alpha that had abused Eicianhad been an older male. Both Dyllenand Urkanewere the oldest alphas in the group and being male, they should have triggered Eicianthe most. Yet now, he found himself cringing at Brite’s loud, boisterous voice calling out from across the hall.Urkanewas steady and calm. His deep voice had been almost soot
“So he can talk! I was beginning to think you were mute,” Britesaid with a grin and Eicianlocked up at the suddenness of his appearance. “It’s good to see you here with us for dinner, you should join us more often!”It almost pained Eicianto be so ill at ease in Brite’s presence. It was clear that the alpha was generally friendly and outgoing, but he didn’t know how to react to such enthusiasm.“Oi, you’re too loud. Fuck off back to your own table,” Dyllencut in abruptly. He scowled at Briteand Eiciannoted the way it was different to his usual face.He tucked away the information for later; hopefully, it would make it easier to judge the alpha’s mood.“I’m just saying hello,” Britereplied with a mock pout. “I don’t see Cherub here tonight. Is he okay?”Eicianopened his mouth to answer on
The room was dark and most of the occupants still slept, barring one or two early risers who moved about quietly.Dyllenwould usually be asleep still but the discomfort of the wooden floorboards after monthsofsleeping in a bed had kept his sleep short. Pulling on his day clothes, Dyllenlooked around at his still slumbering kids before deciding to leave them be.He didn’t feel like dealing with any grumpy teens in his curiously content mood. They could get up when the rest of the band did or risk missing breakfast.The mess hall was empty when he arrived, the fires from the previous night nothing but ash, leaving the room to take on the early morning chill.Noise came from the kitchen but Dyllenignored it in favour of collecting wood from the large covered stack outside the building. Not much point starting both fires when the morning chill would burn off soon enough but he would appreciate one of them goin
They had discovered a wild strawberry patch near where Lejendwas building his cabin away from the main compound area and they had covered it to protect it from the birds.While Dyllenenjoyed the sweet autumn fruits, he knew from experience that omegas all generally had a sweet tooth. If Eicianwas anything like Skyewas with honeycomb, he would rather the omega enjoy the fruit instead.From the corner of his eye, he watched as Eicianstopped, spoon venturing back to the bowl for another helping, and blinked at his own bowl.After a long moment, the still halfasleep omega turned to Dyllenand positively beamed at him.Dyllenfroze in surprise at the look of pure bliss on the omega’s face as he popped one of the extra strawberries into his own mouth.It took a great effort of will to ignore the happy noises Eician made as he ate but Dyllenwas aware that hisownheart had pic
If Eicianreally couldn’t have kids, then he’d probably felt like a useless omega at some point or another.Wasn’t bearing children the entire point of being an omega?They were the ultimate parents.Not that Dyllencared one bit- hell, he was fucking terrified of babies. As far as he was concerned,that didn’t change his interest.But that’s not what Eicianwould have heard.No, he heard an alpha he seemed to like calling him useless.No wonder the omega had fucking bolted.He had hit a sore point of the omega’s past as surely as Kadencehad hit a point of Dahlia’s.Dyllenhad already put together Dahlia’s quiet personality together along with the unusual choice of name for an alpha girl and worked out that her parents were hoping for an omega.“Looks like Pafucked up his chances for a mate. Getting kind of old for se
Eiciansighed as he watched the sun rise over the trees surrounding their village.While the forest had been cut back a great deal, the trees were still close and they loomed tall and ominous in the dawn light. He hadn’t slept at all and exhaustion weighed heavily on him.After a night left alone to his thoughts, he knew he had overreacted to Dyllen’s words.When the alpha had spoken, all Eiciancould comprehend was the meaning that had followed him throughout his teens and into his adult life.It was like all the voices, all the pain from the past had overlapped with the present.What was the point of being an omega when he couldn’t even bear children? Wasn’t that the entire purpose of being an omega?Growing up so sickly he had little to do with children his age and the couple that adopted him were getting on in years, their own children all grown and starting their own families.As mu