The inn buzzed with warmth and too much life, the air thick with the smell of freshly made beans cake and pap. Loud clatter and whispers mingled with the sound of boots dragging on the floor.
The window shutters were open. Light spilled in and painted everyone in a thin gold that did not reach the corners.
Ranulf took a table by the wall, where they could see the door and the stairs. His shoulder brushed Jaden as they sat.
Jaden dipped his spoon, the pap had a thick skin. It slid warm down his throat. He found himself grateful for the noise after the silence that had stretched between him and Ranulf. He could almost pretend nothing happened, but thank goodness, Ranulf didn't ask questions.
Ranulf sat across from him, methodically working through his meal. His eyes remained fixed on his bowl, jaw still tight with whatever storm was brewing behind his expression concealed face.
At the next table, a man leaned close to his companion, voice carrying over the din. "My cousin's boy is sitting for the Academy this year. If he passes, our whole family's name will shine. Hah!" Laughter rattled between them, muffled by mugs clinking.
Ranulf's hand paused mid lift, spoon hovering just above his bowl. His eyes flickered up, not at Jaden, but towards the men. The academy. A shadow of quiet curiosity
"The food is good" Jaden moaned, trying to fill the void between them.
"Mm" Ranulf's spoon scraped against the ceramic. They hadn't eaten since yesterday's afternoon.
"Apparently, the academy's admission process is starting, which is why everyone's in town." he said staring at the next table, Jaden had also peeped at.
Jaden watched Ranulf's reactions very carefully, "I heard the admissions are conducted, once every two years", Ranulf's attention sharpened slightly.
"That's selective" Before Jaden could respond, movements from across the inn draw their attention.
The group from yesterday, looking now at the way they dressed, Jaden realized they might be here for the academy. They occupied a corner table. The female omega who tagged along with them stood in front of one of them, her thin frame trembling slightly.
"Come here" The alpha tapped his lap. While the leader had a male omega on his lap.
The female omega's face went blank as she stepped forward, settling herself on the alpha's lap, who looked like an underling to the leader.
The casual cruelty of it, the female omega and the leader were the only two without scent, meaning they were mated.
A mated alpha letting others handle his omega while he himself fondled another, made bile rise to Jaden's throat.
"It's a game to them" Ranulf muttered, dragging Jaden away from the scene. "Showing power by degrading what's theirs".
Jaden watched the omega accept another round of degradation, and something in his chest tightened.
"General Marcus at the military border camp" jerking Jaden's ears towards the conversation of the other people.
"Really!!? I thought he was married to a female alpha? How did he collapsed from the death of his mate" Ranulf and Jaden's face turned to stare fully at the people conversing.
"He cheated obviously" The first speaker scorned loudly.
Jaden's vision narrowed as more people joined to condemn the supposed omega who made Marcus cheat on his wife.
"Betrayed his wife for that creature" an old man who also listened, chimed in.
Ranulf at this point was fuming and almost stood up to pick a fight but noticed Jaden couldn't breathe.
Ranulf was beside Jaden in an instant, steady hands on his shoulders. "Easy" Ranulf murmured with a low pitch that only Jaden could hear. "Breathe".
But jaden just couldn't breathe. The room felt like it was closing in around him. The warmth from the inn was quickly replaced by chilling air which suffocated him.
"I need air" he managed to mutter.
Ranulf guided him towards the door, leaving coins on the table. Behind them the gossips renewed with fervor, voices eager to dissect the fall of a respected general and the worthless omega who had caused his downfall.
As they stepped into the streets, Jaden could finally feel better again, Jaden caught a glimpse of the abused omega through the window.
She was still there, still silent, still accepting whatever cruelty was served to her. Because in the world, an omega is helpless and doomed if they earned no love from their alpha. If she dared make her alpha dissatisfied, he could sever the bond and that would be the end.
The same had happened to Jaden and he knows the feeling of being discarded and having your powers be granted to you only if you have an alpha.
The tears kept streaming down Jaden's face. A tremor shot through his body as sobs rose from him.