chapter 3: Ryan

When I wake the next morning I find the bed to be empty. Confusion fills me. Perhaps last night was a strange dream? I offer. I lay in the large bed, trying to convince myself that it was true, but I could smell food and hear someone moving around. I groan as I slowly stretch and get out of the bed. I take a breath, bracing myself for whatever was happening outside that door. I turn the handle and the scent of food grows heavy. I follow it to my small kitchen to find the omega dancing around preparing a meal. I had no idea what he was making, but he was certainly eye-catching doing it. His movements were fluid as he stepped between the different parts of the kitchen. He begins shutting parts of the stone stove off and plating the food within silently. He spins and trips over himself when he sees me standing in the doorway, just barely managing to not spill the plate piled with food. His pale cheeks flare red and he steps back.

"M-my apologies, sir, I didn't see you there." He bows low to me. "Good morning, how was your rest?"

"Fine," I grunt as I move past his frozen figure to inspect the food. There were several items splayed around the kitchen. Spices, herbs, and dishes filling the counter space. I shake my head unhappily at the mess. He'd better clean it up. The small omega presses past me and finishes plating his meal. He then turns and presents the full plate to me.

"Please, eat up, you'll need your strength for the journey!" The look of excitement stalls me from grabbing the food. He was absolutely adorable. My heart stutters and I quickly grab the plate.

"Thanks," I growled. I plop into a seat and begin eating. I expect the omega to sit beside me with his own plate, but instead I can hear the clutter of things being moved. I turn to find the omega putting things away. Spices and such back in their cabinets and dishes stacked to wash. There was a single plate sitting on the counter with a bit of food that the omega ignored.

"Aren't you going to eat?"

"Not until the kitchen is clean,"

"The food will get cold," he shrugs and continues cleaning. I shake my head and don't bother to press the issue.

"If you're still hungry, feel free to take from that other plate," my jaw drops.

"That's yours," I bark, making him flinch and nearly drop a dish.

"M-mine? No, it will be mine after you've had your fill," I growl at the idea, my alpha instincts revolting at the idea of the omega putting his needs on hold for me. I don't speak, instead I eat. Soon enough, the kitchen is clean and I can feel the omega waiting.

"This plate will be enough for me, now eat," I ordered.

"Are you sure, sir?"

"Yes. God damn, just eat!" I roar. The omega bows his head and grabs the plate. He sits down tentatively and slowly begins to eat. I watch with narrowed eyes. A few bites in and he pushes the plate away.

"I'm full," he declares.

"No, you're not. Finish your plate, you'll need all the energy you can get. I don't like to take many detours when I travel," he gulps and stares at the plate nervously. I finish my own plate and wash the dish quickly.

"That plate had better be finished when I return or I will force-feed you," I threaten as I stomp from the kitchen back to the bedroom to pack. I dump the dirty clothes and blankets from my last journey on top of the dirty sheet to be washed when I am finished with this endeavor. I pack light, only the essentials so I wouldn't have to worry about unnecessary weight dragging me down. I return to the kitchen to grab some food for the road. When I look at the omega, he is still staring blankly at the food. His eyes were shining with unshed tears. I drop my bag and grab the plate. He looks up at me with fear. I scoop up a bit of the food and offer it to him. He meekly parts his lips and allows me to shovel food inside. I don't stop until the plate is cleared. He was sobbing by the time I moved to wash the plate.

"Pull yourself together and go pack your things,"

"I have nothing, I'm ready to leave when you are,"

The words strike me as odd. As an omega of the palace, he should've been sent with something. Even just a small bag of clothes. Maybe that's why he still wore the dingy clothes with holes in them?

"Then take some of my clothes that fit you, I refuse to travel with you if you can not change," I grunt as I push travel food into my bag.

"Yes sir, thank you," I can hear him sniffle as he disappears from the kitchen. Over an hour later the omega was re-entering the kitchen with a small bag packed with clothes.

"Ready?" he nods. "Then let's go," I sling the bag over my hip, fasten my sword to my left hip and my gun to my right. When both weapons are secure, I leave the cabin. The omega follows silently, his steps hesitant.

"It should take approximately six days and five nights to arrive at the palace. So I need you to stay close and keep up with me. I don't want to take any longer with this issue,"

"Yes, sir. I will do my best to stay out of your way and make this journey as smooth as possible," I nod and continue down the path to town. I needed to inform a few people that I was leaving so my horse would be well maintained while I was gone. The omega lingers outside of each house like a ghost, fearful of those who resided inside. I scoff and run through the basics with each person quickly, there was no reason to waste time with pleasantries. When finally everything is secured, I pull the omega back onto the path and we venture into the woods. We walk in silence, the sun beating down on our flesh and the wind ruffling our hair. I stop us a few times to rehydrate and eat. Each time, the omega takes only a few bites of food and a sip or two of water, aggravating me slightly. If he passed out on our journey I would be extremely angry. The first night I discovered the omega did not pack a blanket, so I was stuck sharing mine. The omega was extremely clingy in sleep. He would fist his hands in my shirt and tuck his head under my chin and press his cold nose against my scent gland. In a way, having the small omega clinging to me so desperately was nice. It made me feel needed in the most instinctual of ways. The worst part was when he would wake up screaming, tears dragging down his cheeks and dripping onto me. It hurt my heart to know something was troubling him so deeply. I wanted to comfort him. I do not know how to do this. Instead, I sit silently and watch as the omega works through his panic. On the fourth night, I decided perhaps I should ask about the man's issues. I couldn't send him back to the king like this with no explanation. If he was doing this when he returned, the king may believe I harmed him and that would only cause problems for everyone involved. I growl softly and pull the omega close to my chest. He is breathing heavily and his head is moving back and forth, searching the darkness for something.

"Calm down, I'm here. I won't let anything harm you," I whisper. He smelt terrible, clearly distressed. I squeeze the omega tight and he gasps. Very slowly, his body relaxes against mine, molding into me.

"I'm sorry, sir," he whispers back, his head falling to my shoulder. I sigh softly and press a gentle kiss to the omegas temple and his scent abates. I watch as the omegas lashes flutter and close. His breath slowly evens out and he goes lax against me, completely calm. I huff and gently lay us both down. I would question him later, for now, he could sleep.