Yes, My Alpha: Mother of an Empire

Chapter 86

It felt like a hollow victory for Ophelia seeing Darius like this. Maybe she had been too hard on him... Too vigilant towards the warning signs... He was going through his first real heat in two years. Of course, he'd be testy and possessive-- but...

Ophelia thought back to Darius dragging her by her collar to the front. A sting burned in her chest, she didn't want to admit it. She didn't like thinking about it, especially after the fact when she had reacted so calmly... But he had embarrassed her.

Ophelia stood there watching Darius fidget, his eyes went to her things and then back to her. He didn't like sleeping alone... Ophelia knew this and frankly, she didn't like sleeping without him either. As Ophelia got to know Darius more and more sleeping next to each other and eating with each other seemed more important to him than anything else.  Out of everything Darius insisted on in their relationship, those things he wanted to happen more than anything else.

Did she do the right thing by setting her stuff away from his things? Was that too much? She was trying to establish boundaries-- have a better foundation for them. But... Ophelia felt deeply guilty and conflicted.

Darius wasn't a child, and he shouldn't be punished. But every time she had fought previously with... Him. They never slept in the same bed, that's how arguing worked right? You separated so you could cool off.

But this just seemed to make Darius anxious, especially in an already vulnerable state of mind...

"Philly." Darius spoke carefully, "I'd like for us to sleep next to each other." His voice was quiet, he looked like he felt he was pushing his luck. "Please." He added after a moment. Ophelia took a long breath moving towards Darius, she carefully lifted him up in her arms.

There was only a brief pause before Darius wrapped his arms and legs around her.

She heard a breath of relief come from him, his grip tightened on her as if he was silently fearful that Ophelia would push him away. "I'm sorry." Ophelia apologized, but she was unsure if she should apologize. Darius didn't respond, his face buried itself into the side of her neck. Ophelia patted his back softly, she decided to ignore the lack of response. "I shouldn't have tried to punish you." She added after a moment, "I won't do that again." She promised.

Darius was quiet for a while, "So..." His voice was soft in her ear, "You won't sleep separately from me if you're mad?" He questioned, "Yeah. It's too important to you and you're not a child." Ophelia replied, a soft noise came from Darius. Ophelia wasn't sure what it was, but she did feel hot tears hit her neck and shoulder. "Thanks for being reasonable Philly," Darius mumbled.

"I'm trying to be." Ophelia held Darius tightly, "I don't know if I'm doing a good job." She confessed feeling a bit overwhelmed with everything that happened. "I'm sorry I'm crazy." Darius apologized again, "You're not crazy." Ophelia denied, "Two years of no heats is just messing with you." She took a shaking breath. Ophelia shifted making her way over to Darius's bedroll and flopping down, she had planned to just cuddle with Darius for a bit to make up but--.

As soon as she sat down Darius pulled away getting up off of her and making his way back over to her things. "You don't..." Ophelia started to say, but she fell silent seeing Darius's tear-stained face. "I want to," Darius mumbled. Ophelia sat there as Darius carried her things over and started setting her bedroll up and laying out her clothes.

Ophelia sat there watching him wondering if somehow, this was Darius proving to himself and Ophelia that he was a good omega. Ophelia couldn't help but wonder if seeing Jaquet who looked like and behaved like a typical omega man made him insecure. Ophelia knew Darius was different than most omegas, he was trying to become an emperor which was to be expected. He was pushy, opinionated, manipulative, and possessive.

But Ophelia didn't mind all of that, she didn't want him to be like other omegas. She liked how he was, even if he was a little scheming snake sometimes, it was kind of fun to catch him in the act. He also genuinely did try to do things right by her, Ophelia wanted to do the same. She wanted to be good to Darius. She heard a few sniffles come from Darius as he made her bed, it was clear Darius was probably mentally berating himself for everything.

Ophelia searched her mind thinking of something that would get Darius out of his head. She thought over the events of today and then remembered something. "You know." She spoke up, Darius lifted his head wiping his eyes and looking at her, "There's something I've been meaning to ask about something I noticed earlier today." She shifted moving from Darius's bedroll over to hers in front of Darius. "What?" he asked softly, Darius looked away as if expecting another lecture from Ophelia but, she reached out tilting his face to look back at her.

"I noticed you changed your speech." She said softly, "When did that happen?" She asked, Darius shifted a bit taking a shaky breath. "I just... Didn't like the older one." He mumbled looking away from Ophelia and back at her. Ophelia softened her expression and she saw a look of realization appear in Darius's eyes. "You don't have to smooth things over." He mumbled, "I messed up." He added. Ophelia frowned, "I don't enjoy upsetting you." She confessed, "I don't like doing that to you either." Darius took a deep breath, "But I've yelled at you a lot, I pushed you around, I humiliated you..." Hot tears trickled down his cheeks, "You said it yourself, I treated you like a dog."

"I hate this..." Darius sobbed sitting there as Ophelia held his face, "I hate being like this." He whimpered, more tears spilled from Darius's eyes and Ophelia pulled him into her arms as he cried. "I thought I'd be able to control myself more but... I've been a fucking asshole to you!" Darius sobbed, Ophelia shifted pulling Darius back from their seated positions and into her lap as he sobbed.

Ophelia rubbed his back as Darius sobbed, after a few minutes he seemed to calm down, his eyes were red, his eyelids puffy, and even his nose was stained red from how but he cried. Ophelia grabbed a spare cloth and wiped Darius's face as he pulled away from her.

"I'm sorry." Darius apologized again as Ophelia did this. "Don't apologize, we've already had the discussion we needed to have Dari," Ophelia reassured him softly. "Everything is okay now." She added looking at Darius knowing that he kept apologizing because he felt insecure now. Just as she did, she wanted things to go back to being sweet and gentle between them. She didn't like fighting, she didn't like talking about that man or even remotely comparing Darius to him.

But all medicine that was good for you was bitter. Ophelia supposed to herself, deciding to swallow and sit with those bitter feelings. They would pass, Ophelia knew this deep down, these unsure feelings would pass. Ophelia had no plans of leaving Darius's side now that she knew he would not treat her so poorly.  And while-- yes it was unpleasant to see Darius upset, it was reassuring that he didn't want to leave her either.

"I'm not going to leave," Ophelia reassured Darius, the omega man seemed to relax completely hearing this. "Promise?" he asked, "I promise." Ophelia agreed, Darius sniffled a bit and stared at Ophelia. "What?" She asked, "Please change, you smell like that little bitch Jaquet." Darius demanded with tears still trickling down his face. Ophelia stared at Darius before letting out a puff a breathy laugh came from her. "Alright." She agreed gently pushing Darius off of her.

The omega man slid off of her lap and Ophelia got up grabbing the clothes Darius had set out. Without much fanfare, she took a few steps away from the betting and began to change. She felt Darius's eyes on her and glanced over her shoulder as she slipped on her tunic. He sat there quietly watching her holding her pillow.

He was cute like that. Ophelia couldn't help but think.

Ophelia continued changing and then took down her hair and headed back over to the bedrolls settling down beside Darius. She reached into her bag pulling out her brush to straighten her hair out.

Ophelia glanced over at Darius who sat next to her quietly, "Hey." She spoke, and Darius let out a soft hum in response. "Do you mind helping me?" Ophelia questioned holding the brush out to Darius. He looked over at her for a moment and then at the brush, "It does look like a mess." Darius remarked setting Ophelia's pillow to the side, he took the brush in hand. 

Ophelia expected Darius to get up and move closer but instead, Darius patted his lap. "Lay down." He requested, Ophelia shifted moving closer and doing just that. She rested her head in Darius's lap and he silently began brushing her hair. "Thanks." Ophelia offered, "It's not a problem." Darius mumbled in response.

The expression on Darius's face slowly became more relaxed as he brushed Ophelia's hair. She smiled knowing that Darius had always liked playing with it. "Do you like curly hair Dari?" She questioned, "Yes, my mother's hair was curly." Darius responded, "Though her curls were looser than yours." Darius spoke before letting out a breath, "Or at least that's what I've been told and saw in her portraits." He added after a moment.

Ophelia glanced up, "Did she pass when you were young?" She questioned understanding quickly what Darius was implying. "She passed after giving birth to me," Darius replied looking down at Ophelia. "Father said it was from complications while giving birth." Darius shifted, "Sit up, you're laying on some of your hair." Darius gently directed. Ophelia did as he requested of him going so far as to hold her hair's length in her hand before laying down the opposite way.

"So is Duval's aunt your mother then?" Ophelia questioned, Darius let out a chuckle smoothing her hair out along the rest of his lap. "So you noticed? Most people can't tell we're related." Darius questioned looking amused, whatever heightened emotions that had boiled over in both of them earlier simmered down now. "He has purple eyes, though his are darker. I saw the light reflect off of them during the vote." Ophelia explained.

Darius seemed unsurprised by the observation, "Purple eyes come from my mother's side so I'm not surprised that he has that trait too." He replied beginning to brush her hair more. The conversation seemed to die down by that point. Darius's breathing was soft and Ophelia closed her eyes enjoying the feeling of Darius brushing her hair.

"Don't fall asleep." Darius's tone was gentle, Ophelia opened one eye, "I was just resting my eyes." She replied in a teasing tone, "Bullshit. I know you like your hair played with." Darius called her out, Ophelia grinned upon hearing this. "I don't like just anyone touching it." She spoke, "But it's okay if you do it." She added a smile formed on Darius's lips hearing this.

Ophelia sat up deciding that was enough, otherwise she would fall asleep with Darius doing that. As Darius handed her the brush she remembered then the walnut oil she had bought. "I got you a present by the way." She spoke, Darius seemed interested hearing this. Ophelia turned placing her brush into her bag and then pulled out the bottle of oil.

"Walnut oil?" Darius asked taking the bottle from her, "Yeah, I thought it would be good for your hair." Ophelia added, Darius pursed his lips, "I don't really care about it growing though." He remarked. Ophelia shifted moving close to him, "Then we'll cut it," She told him pushing some hair from his face. She leaned over kissing the corner of his eye, Darius seemed to like the attention.

"It's just for you to use when we're bathing," Ophelia spoke as Darius sat the bottle aside just above his pillow. "When we're bathing?" Darius questioned giving Ophelia a slight smile. "Well last time I went off without you, you didn't seem too happy with me." Ophelia teased, "I do like to see you naked." Darius replied with a growing grin on his lips. "You're not so bad yourself Dari." Ophelia returned the favor with a smirk. She reached over grabbing her pillow before lying down.

Darius sat there for a moment looking down at Ophelia, "Philly." He spoke, Ophelia had just started to close her eyes when she opened them back up. "Hmm?" She answered, Darius bit his lip and looked away looking flustered. "Do you..." He took a breath, "Do you still want to impress me?" He asked softly. "Do you still think..." He trailed off.

"I'll always want to impress you," Ophelia spoke up reaching up and tugging on Darius's arm. "Really?" Darius questioned, "Yes." Ophelia tugged on his sleeve again, Darius got her signal and turned laying down next to her. Ophelia frowned seeing him on his bedroll, "Why are you so far away for?" She asked, "Come here." Ophelia held her arms open, Darius's eyes widened for a moment before they softened, and quickly he moved over into Ophelia's arms.

The two of them quickly fell asleep soon after that.