Scout took the tube, entered the bathroom and took care of business. When he had washed up and exited, he placed it on a stainless-Warren tray indicated by Dr. Morris. The doctor nodded to acknowledge him while he finished typing something up on his computer. He printed it out. "Take this to the pharmacy. It's a prescription for some prenatal vitamins, better than the over-the-counter stuff."
Scout examined the paper. "But I only need them if I’m pregnant, right?"
"Yes." Dr. Morris smiled. "Mostly it's something for you to do so you don't sit there anxiously while I analyze your sample."
"Oh. Okay."
"Come back in about fifteen minutes,” he instructed.
"Alright." Scout stepped towards the door, then paused. "Um, where's the pharmacy?"
"You'll have to leave the palace," Dr. Morris said. "But it's right outside. There's a big sign so you can't miss it."
Scout fidgeted. He hoped he wouldn't run into Killian, since he was already blowing him off. But he didn't want to get his mate's hopes up if nothing came of it — Scout wanted to make sure he wasn't making a big deal out of nothing. Still, he felt almost criminal, skulking around and avoiding his lover. Maybe he should have just asked him to come...
Scout left the doctor's office and made his way out of the manor.Even though Scout had a tour of the upper ring, he was glad he was able to find the pharmacy without much trouble. As he approached with the prescription paper in his hand, he noticed a figure pacing around the cobblestone street. His brows furrowed. He recognized the young man — it was Kyle, one of the omegas that had been taken captive by Silvercreek.
"Kyle?" Scout asked, jogging up to the other omega.
Kyle glanced up with wide eyes. "Oh, Scout! I'm so glad to see you."
He threw his arms around his friend and hugged him. Scout was worried now; Kyle seemed like he was on the verge of tears.
"What's wrong?" he asked when they pulled away. "You look upset."
Kyle swallowed hard and fidgeted with his shirt sleeve anxiously. "Oh, Scout, I'm so worried. I — I've been waiting here since last night, and he said he would come back, but he didn't, and no one would listen to me when I asked for help because I'm just an omega from the breeding stock facility."
"Wait, wait, slow down," Scout said. He gripped Kyle's shoulders in an effort to calm him. "Who are you talking about?"
Kyle's light [what color? Light green? Light brown?] eyes flashed with grief. "Stark! He waited at the border for you and Prince Killian to return. He told me to go on ahead to the upper ring to stay with the rest of the royal guard, said he wanted to make sure you got back safely, and that he would come back when you did." His voice cracked now. "But — you're here, and he's not!"
He couldn't hold back a sharp cry this time before he covered his mouth, trying not to make a scene.
"Calm down," Scout said, putting his hands on the other omega's shoulders. He knew that if he was in the same situation, he definitely wouldn't have been able to stay calm, but he didn't want Kyle to work himself into a panic attack. "We'll find Stark, I promise."
Kyle sniffed and looked up with wet eyes. "Thank you," he said, wiping his tears away. "I'm sorry I freaked out."
"No worries," Scout said. "I understand." Then he lowered his voice. "You... you like Stark, don't you? As more than a friend?"
Kyle's bright eyes widened in surprise, then he slowly nodded. "Please don't tell anyone. I'm... I'm not ready for him to know yet."
Scout squeezed his shoulder to reassure him. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe with me." He turned and waved for Kyle to follow him. "Come on. Let's go tell the guard he's missing."
"Oh, um," Kyle began. He pointed at the paper in Scout's hand. "Didn't you have something to do?"
Scout remembered why he had come down to the street in the first place, flushed red, and stuffed the prescription in his back pocket. "It's nothing, don't worry about it. Finding Stark is much more important."
Secretly, Scout was glad to have a distraction from the whole pregnancy situation. He felt bad for making Dr. Morris wait longer than necessary, but it was a sacrifice he was willing to make for the greater good; Kyle, although still upset, had calmed down a great deal after Scout reassured him. But now Scout's bigger concern was Stark — he was one of the most loyal and trustworthy members of the royal guard. He would never go back on his word; if he told Kyle he would come back later, why did he not show up?
Leading a wide-eyed and anxious Kyle towards the nursery, Scout remembered that the other omega had likely never been in the palace before. Maybe he’d never even been to the upper ring at all. A wave of sympathy washed over Scout when he remembered what Kyle had said earlier — that he was "just a breeding stock omega." Scout tried not to shudder. That was no life for anyone. He added that to his mental list of things to take care of around the palace.
"Here," Scout said when they reached the nursery. The door was wide open now, and before Scout could even come in, Killian rushed over.
"Scout?" He noticed the other omega trembling at his side. "Kyle? What's going on?"
Scout waited for Kyle to explain, but he seemed too shaken up and intimidated by his surroundings to speak.
"It's Stark," Scout said gravely. "Kyle said he didn't return last night when he promised he would."
