Eician dithered 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 Eician didn’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, Eician found himself less affected by their presence.
Dahlia was easy to get used to: she was young, respectful, and a girl.
The alpha that had abused Eician had been an older male. Both Dyllen and Urkane were the oldest alphas in the group and being male, they should have triggered Eician the most. Yet now, he found himself cringing at Brite’s loud, boisterous voice calling out from across the hall.
Urkane was 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
“There you are! Are you okay?” Skyecried and Eicianjumped as he was pulled roughly from his thoughts.The omega engulfed him in a hug, squeezing him tighter than he would have thought possible. Skyebrought up his hand and a familiar silverglow overtook it as he frowned down at him, obviously checking him over in his worry.“You’re freezing!” the raven haired omega exclaimed as he dropped his hand and pulled Eicianto his feet. “That blanket isn’t thick enough to be outside in, come inside and I’ll put some tea on. You didn’t sleep, did you? What about eat?Here, let me grab you a snack before breakfast.”Skyedashed about the clinic as Eiciantook his usual seat on the other side of the long table that made up Skye’s main workspace.Linusappeared in his lose sleep pants, hair tousled from sleep and his bare chest showing off th
Dyllennodded and slowly they set out in silence.Eicianled them into the sparse forest, stepping carefully through the dewy undergrowth until they were surrounded by the tall trees.There was something calming about nature, the melodic call of the birds and the soft rustle of leavesastheir only companions.“I’m sorry,” Dyllenfinally said, and Eicianglanced at him but the alpha wasn’t looking at him as he approached the pebbled banks of the river.He stopped at the edge of the water and stared out into the clear depths.Eicianjoined him, momentarily distracted by the flash of silver scales in the river. Small fish darted about the rocks and plants he could see lining the riverbed and it almost seemed as though they were playing.“I shouldn’t have taken my frustration at Kadenceout on you,” Dyllen continued after a moment. “I didn’
“You taste like mint,” Eiciansaid with a small giggle of sudden elation.Happiness buzzed through him like a drug and he finally thought that maybe his future was looking bright.“That’s better than what it could have been,” Dyllenmuttered dryly. He moved away, making no move to kiss Eicianagain and the omega pouted.“Is that okay? I’m not sure what’s okay for you and what makes you tense.Although you stopped stuttering a while back.”“That’s because I’m comfortable around you, as long as nothing else flusters me,” Eicianreplied as he leaned close, trying to chase Dyllenfor another kiss. “And it’s fine, more than fine even. The alpha was never…affectionate with me. Just don’t grab me or pull me.”“Shit, so when I pulled you onto my lap?” Dyllenasked, looking alarme