Simon and his mother had barely departed when Ewan decided to settle down beneath the sprawling canopy of a nearby ancient tree for a brief respite. He intended to wait there in the shade while his diligent squad of Slimes finished tilling the final few square meters of the soil. However, the tranquility of the fields was once again shattered by the heavy, rhythmic thud of approaching footsteps and a booming, all-too-familiar voice that Ewan had certainly not been hoping to hear again.
"There he is! Buck, look at him! Didn't I tell you this boy is incredibly handsome? And he possesses a Talent to boot!"
It was the middle-aged woman from earlier, the very same one who had scurried off claiming she would fetch her son to assist Ewan. She had returned, her demeanor exuding an eagerness that far surpassed her initial, already overbearing enthusiasm upon their first meeting. Her face, a topographical map of sagging wrinkles, seemed to jiggle and vibrate with every hurried step she took toward him. Marching alongside her was a burly, coarse-looking young man with a shifty expression that betrayed a distinct lack of enthusiasm.
Judging by the way she addressed him, this hulk of a man was undoubtedly her son, Buck.
Ewan hastily scrambled to his feet, vigorously brushing the dust and dried grass from his clothes. His eyebrows knitted together in a tight, displeased frown. He could sense a wave of energy emanating from this woman, and it was far from benevolent. In fact, it felt even more grating and repulsive than their first encounter. Unlike the pristine, clear aura surrounding Simon, this woman's energy was a murky, chaotic cocktail of impurities that made one's skin crawl comfortably.
"Ma'am, why have you returned?" Ewan asked, maintaining a thin veil of politeness despite his discomfort.
"Oh my, look at this child! Didn't I tell you earlier? I went to fetch my son to come over and give you a hand." The middle-aged woman laughed, a hollow, ingratiating sound, before shoving the young man forward by his shoulder: "Here, look, this is my son, Buck. Look at those broad shoulders, he's got strength to spare. He's one of the best farmhands in the entire village, I tell you. He's here to help you water the crops and till the land. With him working, these two plots will be finished in the blink of an eye. You just sit back and relax; let him handle all the heavy lifting."
It was blatantly obvious that the man had been dragged here against his will, looking for all the world like he had been coerced by his mother into coming. However, the moment his eyes landed on Ewan, his entire demeanor shifted dramatically. Buck stared at Ewan with a hungry, predatory gaze that he didn't even possess the decency to conceal.
It wasn't that Lunaris Vale was completely void of Omegas, but compared to the population of Alphas and Betas, they were a distinct rarity. Furthermore, it was uncommon to find an Omega of any significant beauty remaining in these parts. Anyone with even a modicum of good looks would usually migrate to The Heights of Lunaris Vale, move to Silverton Town, or relocate to neighboring villages to seek better fortunes. The Hollows of Lunaris Vale was, for all intents and purposes, the most destitute and forsaken corner of this entire planet.
There were a few decent-looking individuals left in the village, of course. Take Gigi Cole, for instance, she was a Beta, but her beauty was overshadowed by her reputation for being notoriously shrewish and sharp-tongued. Simon was also undeniably beautiful, and an Omega to boot, but his brother was as ferocious as a tiger, effectively scaring off any would-be suitors.
And now, suddenly, a new Omega had appeared in the village, one with no family, no connections to lean on. It was a truly rare occurrence. So what if Asher Ryder had been the one to rescue him? There was no official bond or commitment between the two of them yet. Although Buck was admittedly somewhat terrified of Asher...
But...
Buck looked at the young man standing before him. In his estimation, compared to the meager offerings of beauty in the village, no one could hold a candle to this newcomer. His skin was as white and flawless as fine porcelain. Even the smudges of dirt could not obscure the delicate, exquisite features of his face. The man stared fixedly at Ewan, practically salivating on the spot, his lust apparent.
"I appreciate the offer, ma'am, but as I've already mentioned, I really do not need assistance." Ewan pointed towards his field, which was nearly fully tilled: "My side is almost finished. My little helpers are incredibly productive, so there is no need to trouble your son."
Only then did the middle-aged woman actually cast a glance at the fields behind him. When she had arrived earlier and seen Ewan resting by the road, she had assumed he was simply unaccustomed to manual labor, a delicate flower who had given up after a few minutes of work. She never imagined that those strange little monsters he had summoned would be so effective.
As the realization hit her, the greed in her eyes spilled over, impossible to contain. The woman stepped closer, attempting to seize Ewan's hand, but he deftly side-stepped her grasp. Undeterred, she abandoned all subtlety and spoke her mind plainly.
"Well... even if the farm work is done, he can help with other things! Look at you, a lone Omega, a stranger in a strange land. You're frail, soft-limbed. Staying alone in Asher Ryder's house is nothing short of inviting scandal upon yourself. An Omega living in an Alpha's house like that? People will talk until their heads rot. Why don't you come over to my place instead? My house has no Alphas. Although my Buck here is a Beta, he is hardworking and capable. Whatever you need, just let him lend a hand, and you two can get to know each other. If you find him suitable, I'll stand as the matchmaker and make it official for you!"
The more she spoke, the more naked and shameless her intentions became, to the point where Ewan felt a wave of nausea rising within him. Part of it stemmed from the rejection of his own soul, but another part was clearly a visceral reaction ingrained in the very muscle memory of this body he now inhabited.