"Halt!" a voice yelled out, jolting Yuri from his sleep. Snapping his eyes open, he saw the sun just barely breaking into the sky. The air was damp as Yuri tried to gather his groundings. He was on a wagon… with this guy- Otabek.

"Greetings," Otabek said to the man at another set of gates.

"Good morn," the man said, "what is the means of your travels?"

"Headed home," Otabek said.

"And the contents of your wagon?" the man asked.

"Goods from the village," Otabek said.

The man gave him a look, seeing Yuri sitting there in his dress, hair and face hidden.

"And that is?" the man asked.

"This is my mate," Otabek said, not crack or waiver in his voice.

"May I check the contents of your wagon?" the man asked.

"I do not see why this is necessary," Otabek said, "I have never been searched before."

"We are required to search all-"

"Altin?" another man said, approaching the wagon.

Otabek nodded his hello. "Greetings, Mr. Leroy."

"All is well?" Mr. Leroy asked.

"Apparently your man here would like to search my belongings," Otabek stated.

"Oh?" Mr. Leroy said, looking over to the man standing there. "Let them pass. Altin is a good family friend."

"Thank you," Otabek said.

"I see you have a friend with you," Mr. Leroy said.

"Ah yes, it has been some time since we last spoke," Otabek said, "this is my new mate."

"Oh really?" Mr. Leroy asked. "She doesn't show her face, does she?"

"Weary from our travels," Otabek said, "Looking to get home by lunch so we may rest."

"You always did make this trip rushed. Next time plan time to stop and have a meal with my family," Mr. Leroy said.

"Next season I shall," Otabek said.

They were able to pass through, and Yuri felt himself exhaling the air he did not know he was holding. How would he ever thank this man for getting out of that nightmare? When Yuri's mind traveled back to the last few months, a shiver ran from his toes to his roots of his hair. He never wanted back into that.

"You can rest more if you wish," Otabek said, "We still have a ways to travel."

He was scared if he closed his eyes, the terrors would come back to him. Being holed up in darkness for weeks on end, only allowed out to eat then locked back in. A wooden crate he was jousted around in as he was taken from his home. He was promised a better future, a better way of living. Not that what he has was bad- he had no choice.

He willed his body to stay awake. Sitting stiffly in the seat next to the man with a stern face. How in the daylight he could see a shadow kissing at his jaw, a hardness to his eyes- though he felt no fear with this man.

He had no way of knowing what his life was going to bring him. The journey to this land had been long, though it may have only seemed that way through his confinement.

A large hand reached out, patting at his arm. He must have seemed tense. When he turned to look upon Otabek, he saw him still facing forward, watching the horse as they traveled on.

Why would a stranger be so nice to him?


Through another forest their wagon went, Yuri had no clue of these lands. They were different from where he was from. So many trees and plants where ever he looked. The sounds were even different out here- not that he minded it. It was a new land, a new experience.

Hopefully one that would start over better.

"We are almost there," Otabek said as they cleared through the forest trail. Yuri could squint and see a small cabin off off in the distant. The closer he got he saw there was much more to the land. A wooden fence surrounded the place, large assortment of trees in the back, a few pens with animals in them. "I tend to live on my own… off my own resources," Otabek said as they got to the cabin.

It took them a few moments to unload, then Yuri started to lift the dress over his head. Otabek stood there with a blank expression on his face.

"What are you doing?" Otabek asked.

"I wanted to return this to you…" Yuri said, "I figured I could head on from here."

"Head on?"

"Well…" Yuri did not want to assume anything- that never got him anywhere.

"Yuri, there is a stream beyond the fruit trees," Otabek explained, "Please go bathe and return." Otabek then handed him a cloth, soap and a tunic. "You need to rest and eat."

"But-"

"-you will only do yourself harm leaving in your condition," Otabek said, "your heat is near, you are bonded and you are terribly undernourished."

"I don't wish to be a burden," Yuri said, taking the items though he stood his ground firm.

"No one wishes this," Otabek stated, "but in my good nature, I cannot allow you to go in this state." Otabek walked forward, put his hand on his shoulder. "You are safe with me, I promise."

Why would a stranger just take him in? Yuri nodded as he went through where Otabek told him the stream was. Sure enough, not far off, he could hear water running and saw tree lining the water's edge.

The water was warm, and Yuri could see the dirt and grime wash off his body. He looked tan till he stepped into the water, once all rinsed off, his skin almost glowed. Dipping his hair into the water, he washed it out, using the soap. He did not want to stay long, but he also wanted to thoroughly clean himself.

Once done, he slipped the tunic on which fell to his knees. As he walked back up to the cabin, he took in a moment to take in the place he was at. It was quiet. Just the sounds of the animals around him and nature itself.

The door in the back of the cabin he saw was open and peered in. It seemed to be the kitchen area. The cabin was small, a kitchen, then another room with two chairs and a bed.

"Oh that tunic is far too big for you," Otabek said as he came into the kitchen. "Let me find you a belt."

Yuri nodded, and just tried to look around. Books lined a wall, a desk with more books and papers. When Otabek appeared, he had a leather belt to wrap around Yuri's waist.

"We need to clean your neck better," Otabek said, "it looks like it was hastily done and sloppy at that."

"I… might have resisted a little," Yuri said.

"So just a one way bond… should make it easier. Come over to the desk, I have a salve."

Yuri sat as Otabek got a paste out, spreading it on his neck. Then he gathered up Yuri's long hair, tying it off with a ribbon.

"You are free to stay here as long as you need… or want," Otabek said, "though I would expect help with the chores."

Yuri nodded. He did not want a free pass, nor did he want handouts.

"I am sure they will be looking for you and eventually find their way here," Otabek said, "I figure your heat is a week away, and the search will land here in three days."

Yuri nodded. Of all the times for his heat to come. As Otabek wrapped cloth around his neck, his finger traced over letters on the book.

"Can you read?" Otabek asked.

Yuri shook his head. "It was never needed where I came from."

"Well, once you are settled in, I can teach you… I set you up a pallet over in the corner if you would like to rest some. I will give you a pass on chores for today, go lay down and I will get a meal made."

"Why… why are you doing this?" Yuri asked.

Otabek shrugged. "I couldn't leave you like you were. You seemed like you needed assistance."

"Well… but even… this."

"Do you want to go back into the forest as your heat nears?" Otabek asked him.

Yuri felt a blush on his face. "Is it that obvious?"

"Even bathed, your scent is still strong," Otabek stated, then walked slowly around Yuri. "You are also flushed and I am sure carrying a short fever. That bond is going to make it hard… if you even make it through."

Yuri had heard the tales- bonded omegas, newly bonded omegas at that- when their heat comes and their mate is not around. They can grow weary and sick. The clenching in his gut only grew tighter, it seemed he was damned either way he went at this.

"I am strong," Yuri mumbled.

"I doubt that not," Otabek said, "we will make sure you are comfortable and get food in you. There is also the issue with your hair."

"My hair?" Yuri asked, bringing his hands up to his hair.

"No one around here has golden hair as such," Otabek stated, lifting his hand to Yuri's hair. Maybe it was being in the closed cabin, but at the moment, he caught the scent that had been surrounding them lately- it was Otabek. "As much as I hate to say it, we need to darken your hair."

"Um… how?" Yuri asked.

"Leave that to me," Otabek said, "Let's eat and rest some, shall we?"