Luckily Iyasu didn’t see Roland for most of the day, he spent most of his time helping to clean the many rooms on the second floor. Oliver still popped up once or twice and scanned the room like he was some kind of overseer. Iyasu couldn’t stand the other omega’s presence but he chose to try his best to ignore it. He didn’t even know why Oliver was there, he only did a select amount of duties and clearly lived in the eastern quarters. He just seemed to like the power trip, especially when it came to Iyasu. 

Before he knew it the sun was setting and he was due to the dining room. Iyasu could feel the sweat on his neck when he thought about it. He wasn’t ready to see Roland again, he was able to distract himself from last night but now he had no choice but to confront it.

He could feel his body shake as he walked down that long hallway and entered the beautifully decorated living room. It was tasteful but lavish all at once, the heavy dark blue curtains accented the glass chandelier and shiny silverware that filled the long table sitting in the center of the room. Iyasu could see Sandra and Oliver standing at the opposite end of the room looking stiff and serious as they awaited orders. 

When his eyes glanced across the head of the table they landed on Roland’s tall form. His eyes locked with Roland in a moment of fear, his body froze against his will as his heart beat violently in his chest. Roland’s face was stoic before his lips tilted in a hint of a smile, he looked satisfied by Iyasu’s reaction. It made Iyasu angry but not enough to keep their eyes locked, he cursed the fact that the fear took over but every time he looked into Roland’s ice blue eyes he could feel hands on his body that made his skin crawl. 

He quickly moved to stand close to Sandra in the left corner of the room, his limbs still trembling slightly. She brushed her hand against his discreetly in an attempt to calm him but he couldn’t stop his body from feeling that deep-seated fear. Even Roland’s smoky scent was conjuring images of how he was violated that night. 

“Gin, sit next to me.” said a familiar light voice from the other side of the table. Iyasu paused, for a minute it didn’t register that he was being referred to but then it clicked that the omega of the house was calling him. Iyasu’s omega instincts begged him not to leave Sandra’s comforting presence but he slowly obeyed the order anyway. He stood next to him with an unsure expression until the other omega yanked him down by his arm, forcing Iyasu to kneel at his feet. He sat there with his hands balled in tight fists on his thighs looking at the ground. The humiliation made him want to lash out and be swallowed whole by the ground all at once, he could never get used to this. 

When he finally peered up at Roland the alpha was sending the blonde haired omega a displeased look. Iyasu glanced at the other omega to see him challenging that gaze with his own. 

“What’s wrong honey?” The omega tilted his head as he spoke to Roland. 

Roland looked down at Iyasu, studying his nervous expression before looking back at his mate. 

“Nothing my dear Finn, I just didn’t think you were at all interested in my new purchase.” Roland leaned forward and rested his chin on linked fingers, the golden leaves on his black vest glistened in the candle light. 

“I just don’t think he should be grouped with the other slaves.” Finn replied as he pet Iyasu’s head. “He should be closely watched until he’s properly broken.” he continued as he dug his nails into Iyasu’s scalp. Iyasu fought the strong urge to pull away as he clenched his teeth.

“You’ve always had problems with trusting others.” Roland said around a smirk. 

“You’ve always been too arrogant to be cautious of anything.” Finn replied in a sharp tone. “I always thought that was one of your worst traits.” Finn said sipping from a glass that was already full of wine. 

“And yet you chose to mate with me anyway despite my so-called flaws.” Roland’s tone was teasing making Finn’s face redden with ire.

"I wouldn't call it a choice." Finn scoffed in reply. Iyasu felt like he was in the middle of a conversation he wasn’t supposed to hear, he wished they would just dismiss him already if they didn’t need anything from him.  

Thankfully a group of servants came out to begin serving dinner along with Sandra and Oliver, a whole baked chicken was already sliced and ready to serve with a side of roasted potatoes, biscuits, and asparagus. Roland and Finn shifted to small talk as their plates were served, the whole conversation felt completely cold for people who were supposed to be mates. 

Finally Sandra poured gravy over the slices of chicken on Roland’s plate and moved to do the same with Finn’s but he smacked her hand away almost spilling it on the floor.

“What is this? I’m not eating that rubbish. Did you even cook it all the way? Look how thick it is.” Finn said gesturing towards Roland’s plate. 

Sandra had a panicked look on her face as she looked at Roland’s plate and back at the gravy boat. 

“Sorry Mistress Finn, I’ll make sure to check the food better before it leaves the kitchen next time.” It was strange to hear such a confident woman’s voice shake with panic. Iyasu saw the gravy as she poured it, he knew for sure it was perfectly smooth. Roland did too by his lack of complaint but he didn’t seem to care enough to speak up, he just let Finn rip into Sandra. It made Iyasu’s jaw tighten in anger.

Suddenly Finn snatched the gravy boat still full of steaming gravy and splashed the whole thing on Sandra’s face making her scream. Iyasu’s head snapped up to see her back into a wall as she covered her face and sobbed from the gravy that was burning her face.

“Sandra!” He acted before he could stop himself, he tried to get up and help her but was yanked back by his dreads. Sandra finally opened her reddened eyes to see Finn forcing Iyasu to kneel on the ground by his hair. She looked like she wanted to say something as tears ran down her face but Roland spoke first.

“You need to calm down dear, are you nearing your heat?” Roland’s words were casual yet had a venomous and mocking undertone that made Finn frown. “They’ll resent you if you have petty outbursts like that, is that what you want?” Roland continued, taking a bite of his chicken. 

“Someone needs to be the alpha in this house.” Finn scoffed, he let go of Iyasu’s hair letting the dreads fall onto his face. Iyasu kept his eyes down on the floor but jumped when he heard Roland call his slave name.

“Gin, come here.” Roland’s eyes never left Finn’s even when he said it. The room was tense as the sour scent of an angry alpha spread across the room. Iyasu stiffened for a second, not sure if he should get up without Finn’s permission, he didn’t want to admit that another part of him was frightened by the idea of being near Roland.

“Gin.” Roland’s voice had a threatening edge that made Iyasu finally shift to get up but he was stopped when Finn pinned one of his hands to the floor with his foot. Iyasu gasped in pain and couldn’t hold back a whimper when Finn’s heel dug into his hand. 

“Your insolence is beginning to irritate me. Why must you ruin dinner with your petty mood swings? What’s your problem?” Roland said as he continued to stare down his husband. Finn looked appalled for a second before his face morphed into anger.

“ My problem? Why must you bring this filthy thing into our home? It’s not even fit to work the fields let alone serve us in our private quarters.” Finn’s voice rose as he spoke making Oliver and Sandra both flinch from where they stood. Oliver looked like he wanted to disappear while Sandra clenched her dress in her hands, she bit her lip harshly and looked away. 

Roland let out a snide laugh. “Your irrationality knows no bounds! Are you that delicate of a person that being near a fertile omega sends you into hysterics?” 

A flash of hurt could be seen in Finn’s eyes at that statement but instead of arguing further he stood up abruptly sending his husband a furious look before storming off. Oliver and another slave followed him out the room but most remained with troubled looks on their faces. 

Roland sighed with a tired look on his face. “He certainly knows how to ruin a perfectly good dinner.” Roland downed the rest of his wine before his eyes shifted to Iyasu who was currently cradling his hand and trying to make himself smaller.

“Gin you will come to my office after you finish the rest of your duties.” Roland said as he began to eat his much colder food. Iyasu hunched his shoulders nervously when he heard Roland’s order. 

“Yes master.” He whispered the words that struggled to leave his tightening throat. He didn’t think he could take another night trapped in Roland’s office.