Lionel eyed Ophelia and then grinned, "You know Hart is coming too." He said leaning close, Ophelia raised her eyebrows, "What does that have to do with anything you crazy old bastard?" Ophelia asked exasperated. "Well," Lionel looked around and leaned in close, "Hart likes alphas." he whispered, "If you're into blonds then he's just as pretty as the commander," Lionel said leaning away. 

"I probably scare him, Lionel." Ophelia chuckled dryly, "Besides isn't he a noble? I think you're forgetting I'm a commoner." Ophelia added smoothing out her hair. "Bah! My Quentin is a baron! He didn't care that I didn't come from money!" Lionel exclaimed wagging his finger in front of her. "I'm telling you, if you turn on the charm just like you did with the commander then you'll have him chasing after you in no time!" Lionel cackled, and Ophelia rolled her eyes disinterested in trying to woo Hart. 

Tucking some hair behind her ear Ophelia chuckled finding the thought ridiculous. "He's not my type anyway." She confessed, and Lionel gave her a pitying look. "Anyway, when are we leaving?" Ophelia questioned, "in a couple of hours." Lionel replied, "I guess I should get packing then." Ophelia got up, as she got up the older alpha man left.

Before long Ophelia found herself on the road with a much smaller group. Maybell the donkey was pulling a small cart that was mostly empty save for the supplies they needed to get to the meeting destination to collect the supplies from the Hart Dukedom. 

Ophelia walked beside the cart as two other cadets sat on the cart together. One steering and the other keeping watch for any ambushes. Darius, Hart, and Lionel rode up front on their horses. A couple more cadets walked beside Ophelia as well. Together the party was made up of eight people in total. 

The march was quiet and Ophelia felt stares coming from the cadets nearby. Adjusting the rucksack that sat on her back. Ophelia looked over seeing the dirty looks that were shot her way. Raising an eyebrow Ophelia felt confused about why she was getting looks like that from the other cadets. It was only when she looked ahead she realized that the commander was looking at her rather openly from over his shoulder.

The glares intensified when Darius smiled at her.

They marched for most of the day, Ophelia ignored the intromittent fierce glares that came from the other cadets. Ophelia shot some dirty looks their way herself not caring why they were upset with her. It was late evening by the time they settled in for camp. The sun was setting over the nearby mountains and Ophelia took it upon herself to gather firewood.

At least that way she could have some time alone or if she was followed sort out whatever the hell those morons' problem was with her. Ophelia bent down to pick up a spare stick not feeling like chopping anything down. She heard a whistle and looked up, Darius sat in a tree branch above her grinning as he played with a stick in his hands twisting it and picking off leaves.

Ophelia cocked an eyebrow at him and the commander smiled playfully at her. "So do you miss being a woodsman that much Reeds?" He questioned, Ophelia, scoffed and looked away. "No. I'm hiding." She told him, "Now why would someone like you need to hide?" Darius questioned poking the back of her head with a stick. Ophelia felt her eye twitch as her lips twitched. What was he a little boy teasing his crush?

"Probably the same reason why someone like you would," Ophelia said turning around and grabbing the other end of the stick Darius was using. Darius grinned at her with a gleam in his eyes, "What are you going to do pull me down to your level?" Darius asked with a coy expression. "I might," Ophelia replied with a playful sneer. "I'd like to see you try," Darius spoke in a quiet tone, Ophelia was just about to pull Darius down into her arms but...

"KID!" Lionel's voice broke through the otherwise quiet woods. "Kid! Where'd you go?!" Lionel called, Ophelia looked at Darius and let go of the stick a furious expression appeared on the omega's face. "I swear to God I will kill that old man." Darius hissed through clenched teeth. Ophelia snorted turning to face Lionel as he approached. "What do you want old man?" Ophelia asked. Lionel scratched the back of his head and his eyes shot up into the tree that Darius was in. 

Ophelia kept calm assuming that Darius would know well enough to take off. Seeing that Lionel didn't respond Ophelia felt assured in knowing that Darius at the very least hid. Lionel rubbed the back of his head and glanced up above Ophelia, "You see the thing is... I forgot my tent." He spoke carefully as if under duress. 

Ophelia felt her lips twitch, that damn commander was still there, wasn't he? She couldn't help but think. Ophelia smiled stiffly, "You can use mine. I have a feeling I'll be on the first watch anyway." Ophelia spoke, "Thanks, kid..." Lionel looked away and then glanced back, "good luck." he added quickly. Ophelia closed her eyes letting out a long breath and setting the sticks she gathered down.

"Lionel may not be the brightest but he won't say anything," Darius spoke from behind Ophelia. The alpha woman sighed, "I'm not worried about that." She spoke looking back at Darius just as he jumped down from the tree. "Oh good, I was beginning to think you didn't enjoy our time together."  Darius grinned at her playing with the stick in his hands. "No, it was fun." Ophelia confessed, "I'm just surprised you'd come back for more commander." Ophelia teased grabbing the end of the stick just as Darius lightly swung it toward her. It was an obvious attempt not to strike her but a way to annoy her. Darius seemed to enjoy picking on her like a small boy and his crush.

"Well, when you made it that fun Reeds... It's hard to not want to play with you again." Darius replied with a greedy grin on his lips. He moved close clasping his hands over Ophelias and then discarding the stick on the ground. Before Ophelia realized it Darius's arms tightly wrapped around her. Without thinking Ophelia returned the hug feeling an anxiety she didn't realize she had faded.

A soft purr rumbled from Darius for a few moments before stopping, Ophelia felt him stiffen up as if he was forcing himself to stop. Vaguely Ophelia wondered just how far they'd have to get from the camp before Darius felt safe to let out his purrs again. It was such a sweet sound, Ophelia couldn't help but want to hear it. "Don't you think you should be focused more on the mission Commander?" Ophelia questioned stroking his hair, Darius huffed pulling his face from where he had buried it into her shoulder. 

"It's just a supply run with a bit of politics mixed in." He remarked with a displeased look. "Then why did you come?" Ophelia asked feeling confused, "Because Lewis said you'd come." Darius said in a quiet voice that Ophelia barely heard. She sighed shaking her head, "That old bastard's smarter than what he lets on." She mumbled to herself. "Why'd you come?" Darius asked her eying her, it was obvious that Darius wanted Ophelia to say she heard he was coming.

"Lewis was trying to set me up with Hart," Ophelia replied knowing it would anger Darius. A silent glare in response was all she got, Ophelia chuckled unable to help herself. "I see the appeal, it's fun to piss you off as much you do me." She confessed smirking at Darius. "Reeds..." he spoke in a warning tone. "He's not my type commander," Ophelia replied tucking some hair behind Darius's ear. 

"Then what is your type?" Darius questioned eying her, "Now commander, why would I give you chains just so you can capture me?" Ophelia replied with a grin on her lips. She tilted his chin up an smirked, "If you're trying to keep me, you'll have to work for it." She teased softly. Darius eyed her with a challenging look in his eyes. "You're assuming I want to keep you Reeds." He replied haughtily grasping the wrist of her hand that tilted his chin up. "Oh, I suppose that was too bold of me then." Ophelia said in a faux polite tone, "My apologies commander." 

Ophelia felt Darius's grip tighten as if he was fearful she'd try to move away. But she made no such moves, he didn't say anything and Ophelia decided it was best not to tease him. Smiling down at him Ophelia saw a complex expression appear on Darius's face. He looked away and despite his mostly stoic expression, Ophelia could tell he was embarrassed. So she leaned down and kissed his cheek. 

"Reeds?" Darius asked looking confused, "Just showing a bit of loyalty commander." Ophelia replied softly. His eyes softened when she said that, and he wrapped both arms around her again holding her tightly. Ophelia got the feeling that he'd jump right into her arms had his pride not gotten in the way. Of course that could be Ophelia's hope as well, because she wanted nothing more than to him up right then and there.

But she'd never admit to that, at least not out loud. 

In a way, she was just every bit as prideful as Darius was she supposed.