Eician almost couldn’t believe he was alive.
When the huge alpha had picked him up with effortless ease to put him on his horse, he honestly thought he was done for.
He had travelled for weeks to get there and survived unmolested, only to get kidnapped on the final stretch of his journey. His terror at the towering alpha had stopped his brain in its tracks, freezing his entire body and robbing it of its most basic fight-or-flight instincts.
But here he was, untouched barring a thick arm around his waist and a leather-padded chest at his back to be dumped down in front of a rustic-looking wooden building.
A few people watched them curiously, but none approached as the huge alpha who called himself ‘Dyllen’ pushed him roughly inside when he didn’t move on his own.
“Cherub,” Dyllen called as they entered a long room filled with drying herbs hanging from the ceiling and ceramic pots lining woo
“Oh! But I only just finished my own training,” Skyereplied in surprise and disappointment flooded through Eician.Did he travel for weeks only to be turned away?“I didn’t mean you couldn’t be,” the other omega clarified at his crestfallen expression. “I’m just surprised. I knew they would send someone eventually, but I didn’t realizeit would be so soon.Ecrinis such a long way from Aldea, most choose to stay closer to home.Especially anAldeannative.”Eicianworried at his lip as he decided how to reply.He had chosen Skyepurely because he was based so far away but saying that would raise questions he didn’t want to answer right now.The Kingdom of Heralsat like a triangle between Aldeaand Ecrinwith each country sharing a border. The capital of Ilaridge, where he was originally told that Skyere
Dyllenswore under his breath as he struggled to get the fence post in the right position.His mug of tea sat empty on the post beside him, and he relished in the physical work. The tension in his body eased as he focused on the task at hand.Yashhad wandered past earlier, pausing as though surprised to see him slowly erecting the picket fence around Skye’s huge garden but he had moved on quickly after a nod of recognition.Dyllendidn’t even bother to wipe the snarl from his face, the others were used to him enough to know it meant he wanted to be left alone.He swore profusely as his attention slipped for the briefest of moments and his balanced wooden stake shifted to the side. It was far easier to do this with two people but then, he wasn’t here to help as much as he was to work off steam without biting off someone’s head.He had been planning on hunting Urkanedown for a good wrestling
Skyecame bouncing into the room with a cup in hand just as Eiciansat down at the table, unsure what to do with himself while he waited.The other omega beamed at him, and Eiciangave him a tentative smile, unsure how to react to such a look.“Is everything okay?”“Hmm?”Was he making more tea?The thought made him a little anxious, he enjoyed it but the memories the warmthof the tea brought back were less wanted.“T-the alpha? The one outside?”“Oh! Dyllen! Yeah, he’s fine, he’s just sulking. He looks and acts all tough and callous but he’s got a real soft underbelly. I think he misunderstood something and got upset thinking he was being cast aside. That, and he sure acts like a grumpy old man sometimes.”“Oh, I-I see,” Eicianreplied faintly, trying to equate the huge, rough looking alpha with som
Fear gripped him as boots thudded on the wood sounding out the unknown man’s sudden approach.Memories of pain and terror clawed to the surface even as he tried to force them down.Gentle hands gripped his face, shaking him from the almost waking nightmare and kind silvereyes swum into focus in front of him.“Hey, it’s okay. Breathe. Deep breath, come on.”Eiciantook huge gulps of air as Skyegently guided him and slowly,he calmed.Finally settled, he glanced over at the alpha staring at them in curiosity and a hint of alarm. His clean-shaven face was handsome compared to the earlier alpha’s rough, but still handsomelook, but they were about the same height, although this alpha was leaner, muscles more compact. Still, the blond alpha was huge, sporting the kind of muscled athleticism that said he regularly used the sword resting at his hip.Even though he was calm
Dyllenlooked up from sorting out the wooden fence posts to see Linusstanding with the six teenagers from that morning.They looked cleaner now; the dirt washed away and fresh, too large clothing adorning their frames. It only highlighted how poor shape they were all in.He held back a sigh as he looked them over properly, gazelingering for a moment on the only girl among them. She was an alpha while the rest were betas.Female alphas were as common as male omegas- which was to say rare- and he wasn’t sure what to expect from her most of all.“We’ve rearranged the sleeping arrangements in the barracks, you will all be right at the back. You’ll see when you go in there. There aren't enough beds just yet, you’ve only got six allocated, but we are working on putting bunks in. Should be sorted in a few weeks,” Linussaid, staring at him, hard.There was a warning in his gaze and Dy
Eicianwas shaking by the time they made it inside and he collapsed into his seat at the table, setting his forehead against the cool wood.While he had been thankful for Dyllenstanding up for him and explaining his situation to the others so they understood, the alpha had been terrifying.It had taken him all his willpower not to bolt inside at the cold power in the alpha’s voice.Skyepetted his hair, and he looked up at the omega smiling kindly down at him.“You did a lot better than I thought you would. This morning you couldn’t even speak in front of Dyllen!”“I think I’m just t-too tired to be so tense,” Eicianreplied tiredly. He felt exhausted suddenly, the stress of the day catching up with him.“Maybe you should have a nap before dinner, you’ve had a big day.”Eiciannodded but made no move to get up. He felt completely
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 Skyewas 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 Skyecheerfully reminded him that they used a particular herb only yesterday, but Eicianhonestly 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. Dahliadidn’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