Instead of being stuck in the playground that afternoon, the Omegas and the two new kids were not in sight. The playing Gammas and Betas didn't care about their absence and found it refreshing not to see them around. They were sticking to their own playing areas, barely giving up on what they had.
As for the absent kids, they were crowding at a spot in the open space in the garden. It was because Megan let them in on a secret: her uncle promised them toys, and these toys had just arrived. That was why, after lunch, Megan had the other kids come with her to where the toys were waiting.
Julian was only prepared to teach Adrian and Megan how to ride a bike, but he ended up letting Adrian and Megan demonstrate in front of the kids. Those kids didn't have bikes and other things, so they were so excited to see some. It didn't help that some of these bikes were not even for Adrian's size as if Nicholai was aware of what was going to happen.
"Okay! We go on three! One, two—three!" Megan laughed out as she tried to use her small bike with training wheels to race with the other kids. Since they were still figuring out how to actually ride the bike lent to them, she was taking quite a lead. "Wheeeee!"
"I think I got it!" Mabel controlled the bike quite perfectly, even if he would wobble a lot. He was the oldest among them, and he only had a few months to play with these little ones. For now, he was racing with Megan around their little garden course.
"Go! Go! Go, Mabel!" The other kids cheered for the boy, only because he was still stopping from time to time because of too much wobbling.
Despite the fun race, Adrian was not even interested in the bikes. He was cheering for Megan and anyone who would try, but he didn't find any joy in playing with those. What he really wanted… was something else. It did seem that Julian was aware of that.
An arm of the male Beta wrapped around the shoulders of the little Alpha. Julian chuckled as he got Adrian to look at him, while he watched over the race. "Adrian, you're too young to focus on combat. You're just five years old in growth. You need to be playing games at this age, even if you're an Alpha."
"…but I like it more… I don't want to play. I want to fight." Adrian turned to the kids. "I'm happy to watch them, but I don't think I want to do what they are doing."
"Tch, I don't really understand those who were born Alpha. I have a feeling that Nick is also like that when he's little." Julian got up from kneeling down. "I'll see what I can do. The training grounds for children are supervised by Millicent instead. If we can get approval from Nick, maybe I can get you in?"
"Approval from… Uncle." Adrian blinked and looked down at the grass. When he watched the blades move, he was reminded of the claws that struck at them the day they were all attacked. If only he was strong enough, their daddy wouldn't have to be scared for them.
The kid then looked up and pulled on Julian's shirt. "Julian, if I beat Coen, do you think he'll let me train? He said I shouldn't fight that guy…"
Julian only smiled at the insistence of the boy. "You shouldn't fight if you're not confident in winning. If you lose to Coen, that would spell big trouble for you and for Nick, so he told you off. How about this…? Let's get you to master two of those toys he got you. The rollerblades will help you train your agility and balance, while the bicycle can enhance your leg power.
"Don't tell anyone… but I'll train you a little through those toys." Julian winked at the boy, who shot wide eyes at him. "Do we have a deal?"
…
The night had fallen on the coastal city, and Darius was barely dragging his legs around just to walk back to his room. Even with Nicholai dealing with the impossible tasks, he still had to move around to coordinate matters between the groups. Moreover, he was also the one placing the orders in shops outside and inside the city. He surely underestimated Millicent's job from before…
When he got to his room, he just lay down on the bed with a plop. Sancho entered the room as well and tidied up before standing next to the bed.
"Second Master, dinner will be served in another hour. Would you like to sleep before changing into a fresher set of clothes, or would you change first?" Sancho just received word from the kitchen staff as if the Omegas were all trained to use their mind links rather efficiently. After all, they were not made for combat, so the domestics were their mastery.
"Prepare a change of clothes for me. I'll get up in ten minutes." Darius rolled to his side. "Gosh, I haven't even seen my kids since lunch. Will they hate me for neglecting them now?"
"I doubt it, Second Master. Megan and Adrian are playing with the Omega children in the garden. The bikes had arrived, and they were practicing with those." Sancho had checked up on the kids earlier before joining his second master again.
Darius didn't answer anymore. Sancho figured that he had fallen asleep already. As instructed, he moved to prepare a change of clothes for his second master. However, by then, knocks came on the door. When Sancho opened it, he only smiled at the Omega maid that had come to deliver new bedsheets and pillowcases for the spares.
They quietly worked inside the room, but the maid couldn't help but look at the sleeping pack mother. She pursed her lips first before asking Sancho, "Are you okay with serving him? I mean, he's not even Master's mate. He's just… he just came here with those kids Master said were his niece and nephews. Pack mother? He's not even capable of giving birth to a rightful successor…"
"Please don't say that. First Master values Second Master truly. If he hears you say that, he will punish you." Sancho still had a smile on. "It's easy to be swayed by the rest of Second Master's former packmates, but please know him personally first before speaking against him. He's a powerful Alpha that has a heart of gold. Else, he would be despising working with us…"
Sancho's eyes dimmed. "You have only served First Master and Sir Julian. If you only know how harsh Alphas can get toward Omegas, you will start appreciating Second Master more."
The maid shrugged. "Well, maybe it has something to do with him being born to an Omega mother? I heard a rumor that he's not a real Alpha…"
At this, Sancho paused his hand. He then turned to the maid with a strange smile. "He's an Alpha born to an Omega mother, yes… but have you seen how he trashed our soldiers? If you haven't, I can sign you up for a beating from him. I think First Master will agree with me."
"I didn't mean to go that far, Sancho…"