“I’ll go,” she replied firmly. “I won’t let Jodhar keep me from doing what needs to be done.”
A slight nod acknowledged her resolve. “Take care. Some fights aren’t worth fighting in public. If there’s trouble, return to the wagon.”
“I’ll be quick. I’ll fetch water first, then head out after breakfast.”
His gaze lingered before he nodded and walked back toward the camp. Kaelen, however, stepped in front of her, blocking her path with a slight frown.
“You’re not going alone.”
She adjusted her grip on the bucket and exhaled. “It’s just the market.”
He folded his arms across his chest. “You’ve seen Jodhar and his men—charming lot. What if they follow you?”
She’d thought about it, about the way Jodhar’s eyes had lingered, the way his smirk had curled with unspoken threats. She wasn’t ignorant of the danger. But if she let herself hesitate—if she kept waiting for the right moment to feel safe—she’d never move.
If she didn’t take back some part of her agency now—when?
“I won’t be reckless. I just need to know I can do this on my own.”
Concern flickered across Kaelen’s face—a tangible worry that she’d drive herself too hard before admitting she needed help. Reiya couldsee it in the way his mouth tightened, the way he was already gearing up to argue.
“Let her,” Alarik said, stepping in before the words could leave his brother’s mouth. His voice was steady, certain. “People need to test their strength.”
He flicked a glance toward the distant mercenaries, his meaning clear. “And if it eases your mind, we’ll keep Jodhar busy. He won’t get within an arm’s length of the market.”
Kaelen rolled his shoulders, a restless shift, as if trying to shrug off tension he didn’t want her to see.
Finally, he exhaled. “Fine. But if something feels strange or suspicious, come back, or I’ll go in and look for you.”
She nodded. “Agreed.”
He didn’t look satisfied—she could see how hard it was for him to yield—but he stepped aside, tension still taut through his shoulders.
Reiya turned toward the well, lifting the bucket in her hand.
And though their footsteps didn’t follow, she knew their eyes would.
Chapter Twenty-Five
REIYANA
The air was thick with the scent of spiced citrus and roasting meat, the tang of fresh-cut herbs mingling with the smoke curling from clay ovens. Voices rose and fell around her—merchants haggling, coins clinking, the rhythmic chatter of a world that never stood still.
Leather strips, sesame oil, and black vinegar. Su Lian’s list lingered at the back of her mind as she wove through the stalls, eyes sharp.
At a leather stall, she ran her hand over a stack of strips, testing their thickness. Satisfied, she moved on, the rhythm of haggling and exchanging coins grounding her. The sharp scent of cooking sauces tugged her closer, and she bartered for a jar of vinegar at a spice stall, satisfaction settling as the vendor finally relented.
With each step, something stirred—freedom, light and exhilarating. Every exchange, every decision was hers alone.
The Beta woman selling sesame oil pulled her into easy conversation—which sweetshops sold the best flaky pastries, the easiest ways to press for oil. Simple things. Uncomplicated things. It felt normal. A reminder she could exist here, not as a runaway, not as a hidden Omega, but as someone who simply belonged.
Yet, even as she moved through the market with ease, the weight ofgazes lingered—Alphas looking around from the edges of the crowd, their presence palpable.
Reiya wrapped her shawl tighter, lifting her chin. Being among a throng like this, it was easier to hide herself. Those Alphas could only guess, but that was all.
Being an Omega wasn’t a crime—just an inconvenience.
She would not let it define her.
