They got to the city at dusk and went straight to the inn they had left that morning. They stepped in and noticed the inn was filled with more people than before.
"Is there an occasion?" Ranulf asked the innkeeper, a gruff man in his late thirties, who was barking orders at his staff while occasionally glancing at a group of men in the corner next to the window.
"Isn't that what you're here for?" The man scowled.
"We would like to take back our room."
"Not available."
"..."
"All the rooms here are booked." A burst of laughter erupted from a table. Jaden glanced over at the table to see a young woman who was just staring intently at the floor.
They were about to leave when the innkeeper made a weird statement.
"The most expensive room upstairs is actually available." Why did he say there was no room available before? He probably believes we cannot afford it.
They turned to the innkeeper behind the counter and watched him behave like he hadn't just said something.
"How expensive is it?" Ranulf asked.
"Ten silver coins," the innkeeper stated.
"That expensive?" Ranulf frowned at the absurd price. It was obvious it was inflated due to the arrival of guests. There was definitely going to be a scarcity of rooms in the city.
"Well..."
"Hey, Innkeeper, we'll get an upgrade!" Ranulf was cut off by the group of alphas and an omega who were sitting by the window.
"Why didn't you tell us there was a better room?" They were already at the counter.
One of them threw a coin on the counter, which the innkeeper snatched before it stopped spinning.
A gold coin is equivalent to ten silver coins, but a gold coin signifies power of any kind, spent by nobles and officials.
One of the alphas, who had a bigger nose but was taller than the rest, was presumably the leader. His eyes were on no one else but Jaden, staring unblinkingly and deliberately while ignoring Ranulf, an alpha who was standing there. He had a stupid smile on his face, not even feeling ashamed at all.
The bastard was releasing pheromones to oppress, knowing clearly Jaden is an omega.
Ranulf stepped forward a little to show his presence since this alpha dared to cause trouble. This was the first time in a while where an alpha still tried to make some stupid move on Jaden after Ranulf and Jaden became buddies. Their relationship had grown from acquaintances with benefits to buddies that do and go everywhere together.
The air in the inn thinned, and the voices quieted down. But now was not a time to fight, as Ranulf was injured. Jaden placed a hand on Ranulf's shoulder.
"Then it seems the room these customers will be leaving will be available. We'll take that one," Ranulf said while staring dead in the eyes at the leader of the group who was grinning foolishly.
"The ointment," Jaden voiced out with a loud whisper as everyone turned to him. "We..., we need an ointment for his wound."
The innkeeper gave a look to one of his staff who ran out quickly and came back with a small ceramic container. Ranulf paid for the room, and they both left the room full of stares.
The room wasn't much quieter than the inn below. There were still hums coming from below the floorboards.
Ranulf dropped their stuff and tossed the ointment to Jaden without ceremony; the treatment was overdue. And with maddening lack of self-awareness, he tugged his shirt over his head and let it fall to the ground, dropping onto the bed with his back facing Jaden. The warm light was absorbed by his broad shoulders and skin.
Jaden's breath hitched. The wound was worse than he had imagined. It was definitely hurting. Jaden dipped his fingers in the ointment and gently dabbed it over the sharp line on Ranulf's back. Ranulf flinched a little, his campfire scent intensifying.
When Jaden was done, Ranulf fell to the bed. Jaden wanted to argue, but within moments, Ranulf's tense shoulders relaxed into a very deep sleep. The consequences of the event of this afternoon had caught up to him.
Jaden washed his hands and went to his own bed and watched Ranulf's back rise and fall for a long time.
The last time he saw him like this, he was dead from the last two wounds. Ranulf was supposed to die, and Jaden was supposed to follow the same path he took in the past, but he didn't because Ranulf was now alive and well, though injured. All this made him remember what Member Z had said softly, "I'll send you back.".
So he really did come back, did they also come back?.