The pride of any alpha was to have as many omegas as possible. In doing so, it would extend their legacy, making them immortal. The more children they had bearing their name, the more alphas in which came from these children for generations to come.
Unfortunately for Yuri, he was an omega. A captured, and bonded omega.
Stripped of all his worldly goods and freedom, he was locked away till he could ' submit ' to his new alpha.
Yuri would never submit.
That is how he found himself running, naked and cold in the middle of the night. Away from the village, away from the manor. Away from that alpha.
His neck was bleeding still where he had been bonded, everything in his body begging him to turn back and present to his alpha- but his mind was stronger. Lust rolled through his body, but his mind was screaming to RUN! RUN! RUN!
His feet torn up from the forest floor, blood streaming down his face from low branches, he did not know how much longer he could run. It couldn't be much longer till they realized he was missing, his alpha realized his omega was gone.
Another surge of adrenaline, and he ran harder. Where too? Home? Home was too far away. His family losing rights to him, all due to his second gender. He had spent three weeks locked in wagons and boats to be delivered to this foreign land, and a cruel alpha.
Tripping over a branch, Yuri sobbed out as his body hit the forest floor. He was not sure how long he had been running, or even for how long. All he knew was his body could not take much more. His neck throbbed where teeth marks were still fresh, his bottom sticky from fluids he did not want to think about.
The moonlight barely shone through the tree branches, but he could hear someone coming. Scrambling, he hid in the brush, willing his heart to stop slamming in his chest.
It was a horse and wagon. It did not look to be chasing anyone, but he had to be safe, be sure.
"I can smell you from here," a man said.
Yuri cursed internally. Omegas were only allowed to bathe once a month at the manor- their alpha enjoying their scent the stronger it got. It had been over two weeks since his last bath.
"Fine, stay hidden, but trust me… I smelled you long before," the man said, slapping the reins on his horse and starting to move.
"Wait!" Yuri called out.
"Ah, he does speak," the man said.
"I… I need help," Yuri said.
"You need a bath," the man said, then looked him over, "And a few more meals."
"Please?" Yuri asked.
The man sighed and looked back down at him. Yuri knew this was a long shot, but what other option did he have? The man jumped down from his seat on the wagon and moved to the back. Lowering the back, Yuri watched as he went through wooden crates stacked up.
"Should I even bother asking?" the man asked, only for Yuri to shake his head. "We need to mask your scent, and hide you."
"Hide me?"
"Yes, there are two checkpoints as I leave this area, they will inspect my goods before letting me out," the man said, not looking Yuri's way. "Where are you headed?"
"I fear my land is too far to get too," Yuri said.
"But you made it here?"
"Not by my choice."
The man cocked an eyebrow at him, then looked him over more. As he stepped close, Yuri was ready to take off running again, but there was something in his eyes that held Yuri were he stood. Long fingers reached out, inspecting his neck.
"You've bonded," he stated.
"Not by choice."
"You'll get ill."
"Don't fucking care!"
The man gave him another questioning look, then took a rag and the bladder of water on his hip. Wetting it, he carefully approached Yuri, pressing the rag to his neck. "Can't have you bleeding if you are found… Your hair will be trouble too."
"My… my hair?" Yuri asked.
"Golden hair is not known in these parts," the man stated. "Only the manor Lord has fair hair, even his harem is all dark haired."
He continued to clean up Yuri's neck as Yuri hissed out- it stung like hell, but he had to trust this stranger in hopes he could get away, and not be another 'breeder'.
"How much trouble is this going to cause me?" the man asked. "Tell me you are not from the manor."
Yuri looked down, "I cannot."
"Shit," the man said. "Yet my moral compass will not allow me to leave you as so."
He handed Yuri the bladder of water as he went back to his wagon, going through another crate where he pulled out a dress and scarf. "Put this on, and cover your hair."
"A… this is a ladies garment!" Yuri exclaimed.
"And you will be my lady as we go through checkpoints."
Yuri did not even ask where the dress came from, though it seem to almost fit him perfectly. The man came around, using a leather thong to tie his hair back, then covered his head with the scarf.
"What is your name?" the man asked.
"Yuri."
"I am Otabek Altin, though I not sure if it is a pleasure or not to meet you," and with that, he moved back to the wagon, grabbing a bag and opening it and smelling deeply. "This should do." When he approached Yuri again, he smiled with just one side of his mouth, almost a smirk, "You may call me Otabek."
"Lord Otabek," Yuri breathed out.
"No, none of that titling shit, just Otabek," he said, then pulled the front of Yuri's dress, shoving dried herbs and flowers in it.
"The hell?" Yuri said.
"Will help cover the boldness of your smell, til you can properly bathe."
"What the hell are these?" Yuri asked.
"Rosemary and Lavender," Otabek said.
Yuri wanted to question this man's logic, but there was no time. They needed to get moving. His stomach growled loud enough for them both to hear. Reaching into his tunic, Otabek pulled out some bread and handed him. "Eat this and let's get moving. Best to do at night when the guards are more concerned over their tankards of ale than they are of pretty little bonded omegas."
Taking the bread, Yuri climbed up the seat next to Otabek on the wagon as they settled in. Slapping the reins, the wagon slowly started to move. The sky was bright with stars, and the trail through the woods was dark. Yuri chewed at the bread, and accepted the small jug of sweet wine from Otabek.
"We will be out of the woods in an hour, then the first checkpoint," Otabek said.
"Why do you travel at night?" Yuri asked.
"Don't feel like paying for lodging and hate being in town," Otabek said.
"Oh," Yuri said, chewing more bread, "How far away is your place?"
"A day's ride," Otabek said.
Yuri nodded. He had not plan what to do once they got back to Otabek's place, but he just knew he had to get as far from the manor as he could.
The first checkpoint and Yuri's stomach was in knots. As soon as they cleared the forest, the moon was bright and their small lantern hanging from the wagon not needed. Shifting on the wooden bench, he was thankful for his body being covered, and the warmth of the garments. He did not know how Otabek had acquired them, but that was not what weighed his mind.
"Allow me to talk," Otabek said, "stay as quiet as possible."
There was a large gate up ahead, and four men on small stools around a fire. Upon approaching, one man stood up and swayed a bit. Yuri had hoped they were into their ale as Otabek had suggested.
"Halt!" the man slurred out. "What business do you have at this hour?"
"Excuse me, good sir," Otabek said, "I am just headed home."
"At such late hour?" the man asked.
"You know I travel at night," Otabek said.
"Altin?" the man asked.
"Who else would be out in the moonlight?" Otabek said.
"Ah, fuck! If I had known was you…" the man said, stumbling and laughing, "I would not have been so formal."
"It is acceptable as this is your command," Otabek said, "Now, allow passage?"
The man walked over, squinting. "Oh? Who ya got here?"
"Baggage," Otabek said.
"A small tiny parcel, eh?" the man laughed out. "Hey guys! Check this out! Altin has someone with them!"
At that, the other men slowly rose, leaning on each other and came over. Yuri kept his head down, allowing the scarf to conceal his face.
"Well my my, looks like our Altin is growing up!" another man said, coming over to the side Yuri was. "Oh and she smells very nice."
"I'll kindly ask to please not-" Otabek was cut off as a hand reached out to Yuri's skirts. A deep growl from his throat and the man snatched his hand away.
The men started laughing, one raising a large jug to his lips, spilling more ale down his tunic than into his mouth.
"Surprised you did not keep this little doll in town for the night," a man said.
"I plan to bed properly," Otabek said.
Yuri could not help put ball his fist into his skirts. He was not property! He was a living breathing human! A small growl formed in his throat as they sat there. The men finally waved them on and Yuri felt the wagon lurch forward.
Once they passed the gate, Yuri turned to face where Otabek sat. "The fuck was that all about?"
Otabek turned to face him, "That was about your life. A simple thank you will suffice."
Yuri gasp and turned his head away. It had not occurred to him that maybe this man was just being nice- he had not known nice in the past few months he had been to this land. Swallowing his pride, his fist gathered the materials of the skirts he wore. "Thank you," he mumbled.
What he got in reply was a grunt from Otabek next to him as he slapped the reigns on the horse.
It was quiet as they rode on, the night sky above them, the trail bumpy and Yuri had a knot in his stomach he could not identify. Was it that he might taste freedom? Was this man truly going to assist him? What was it?
"We should be at my home by lunch," Otabek announced, his voice quiet. A nod of his head and Yuri sat back, exhaustion taking his body over. Leaning back on the wooden wall of the wagon behind him, Yuri allowed his eyes to close as they continued their travels.