Chapter Five
There was something odd about the shifter who brought the food and it took only a few moments to work it out. Omega. After that first time, he came every day. It was always when the sun was up, and he was always on foot, walking through the trees. Sometimes, if the wind was blowing right, he’d catch the omega’s scent before he saw him. Other times, it was the soft footfalls that caught his attention.
Each time he came, he had food and water. And he gave it to Beast. At first, Beast had growled to keep him at a distance, and he didn’t touch the food until the omega was long gone. But each time, the omega stayed a little longer. Talking. He liked to talk. At first, Beast had thought it a trick. People who used words were tricksters. As time passed, he started to enjoy the sound of the other man’s voice. It was almost soothing, never too loud, never grating. He didn’t know what the omega talked about, but he wasn’t sure it mattered. What mattered was that he came. What mattered was that he brought food. First, meat. Then later, bread, too. The day after, he’d rolled several round things down the path toward him. It was much later that Beast realized what they were, biting through the skin to the juicy, sweet fruit below.
The omega began to stay so long that sometimes Beast’s hunger got the better of him and he chowed down, keeping the omega in his sights while he ate. He couldn’t be too careful, couldn’t let his guard down. He didn’t understand why the omega came, but he knew not to underestimate him. He was being fed for a reason. They wanted him strong. They wanted him to fight. The only question was who.
The sun was at its highest when the omega’s scent floated down on the breeze. Beast sat with his back to the wall of the house, his body loose and ready for action. Today might be the day the omega didn’t come alone.
But he was alone. And, in his arms, he carried something. It wasn’t the food, which he always had in a bag on his back. This was something else, something he carried with difficulty as he made his way down the small hill to the path that led to Beast’s door. The omega was talking again, but Beast only had eyes for what he carried. More food? Something else?
He shifted forward to a crouch but didn’t move away from the house. They’d come to an agreement of sorts. The omega never came to him, and he never went to the omega. Not that he’d get far. The chain around his ankle would see to that.
The omega paused at his usual spot, setting down what he carried and taking his bag off. Beast watched in anticipation as the bag was opened, wondering what there was to be eaten today. Maybe more fruit. He liked the fruit. Hunger and thirst quenched as one.
There was meat, bread, and… yes, more fruit. A bottle of water, too. Beast leaned up in anticipation, waiting for the omega to throw the food to him. But he didn’t, instead setting it down on top of his bag.
Beast growled, making his displeasure known. The omega was talking again. Gesturing from the food to what lay in front of him before looking at Beast expectantly. He stared back in incomprehension. The omega frowned and spoke again, repeating the gestures. Beast stared back impassively, hoping they’d get to the food soon.
With a groan, the omega knelt up, shaking his head. His hands went to his waist, grasping his shirt before he pulled it off over his head. This was… different.
Beast leaned forward, scenting, and watching as the omega reached for the basin in front of him and stuck his hand inside. He pulled out something, something yellow and squishy, spoke carefully, then dragged the yellow thing down along his chest. The omega’s skin glistened, droplets of water clinging to it and slowly making their way down to his stomach. The omega dipped the yellow thing back in the water and repeated the motion, dragging it along his chest again. Then he gestured to Beast and to the basin.
“Now you.”
The omega started to push the basin forward along the path, coming closer and closer. Beast tensed as they neared, ready to fight if he had to. But, after one final push, the omega scrambled backward up the path to the food. Beast watched, hopeful it meant he’d get to eat soon. He met the omega’s gaze, but the other shifter simply pointed toward the basin. “This.” And to the food. “Then this.”
Beast didn’t like the change. It was always omega and food. Not basin. Not yellow thing. Food.
Growling, he got up from his crouch and stalked forward, peering into the basin suspiciously. He sniffed but couldn’t scent anything. The basin held water, but it was warm, not like the cool water the omega brought him in the bottle.
He looked to the omega again, finding the other man nodding and pointing again to the basin and back to the food.
“That’s right. Wash first, then food.”
Beast felt a surge of anger filling him. He growled loudly and flipped the basin over, stalking back to his spot by the door.
When he looked up again, the omega was still crouched by the food. He looked from the basin to Beast and back before his shoulders fell. Then he gathered up the food and water. Beast expected him to walk away but he didn’t, he walked forward. The meat was first, tossed neatly to him. Beast caught it easily and shoved it through the door to eat later. The bread was next. Followed by the bottle of water. Having learned by now, Beast sat it upright, stopping it from spilling all over the ground. He waited then, seeing the fruit the omega held in his hands. He liked it. Wanted it. But the omega shook his head.
“Next time. Basin. Then fruit.” He set the fruit down on top of his bag and sat down.
He started to talk again, but Beast growled under his breath and turned his back, ignoring him. The omega’s voice didn’t waver, as soft as ever. It cut through Beast’s anger enough for him to glance a few times over his shoulder, assuring himself the omega was still there, still where he always sat. The fruit still lay on the bag next to him, the basin still turned on its side.
Beast thought and thought some more. Then got up, stalking back over to the basin. The omega tensed, watching him with careful eyes but still talking all the while. Beast righted the basin, a trickle of water left at the bottom. He picked up the yellow thing where it had fallen in the ground, then he mimicked the omega, dragging it across his chest before putting it into the basin, into the little water that remained. Then he lifted it again and dragged it across his chest a second time before tossing it back into the basin and giving the omega a look. He walked back to the house and sat down with his back to the wall again.
The omega met his eyes, nodding, and saying something. A second later, the first fruit sailed through the air, followed by the second, and the third. He caught all three easily, biting into one and munching happily as the omega smiled over at him. Beast would have smiled back, but he didn’t know how.