The Forgotten Clan

04 [ Grocery Errands ]

The drive to the supermarket was uneventful, the hum of her car the only sound as she navigated the dark streets. She barely even noticed the route she was taking, her mind preoccupied with thoughts of her friend Quaszi. She had barely reached the supermarket when her phone rang, pulling her out of her thoughts.

Speaking of the devil.

"Hello?" Amica answered, the tiredness in her voice almost palpable.

"Amii!! I need a back-up here! You know, there's a hot alpha who came here, and he's so good at f—"

Amica groaned and pulled over to the side of the road, knowing exactly what was coming next. "Quaszi, I swear, you're impossible." She placed her phone in the car's stand as she began driving again, her eyes rolling at the absurdity of it all.

"I almost want to get pregnant but he was using a condom! So KJ! I can provide for the baby, you know!"

"For once, Quaszi, please be a decent woman at your age." Amica muttered under her breath, already anticipating the pout she knew was coming. It was an almost reflexive response at this point.

“Oh, please! You’re such a killjoy.”

“What do you want?”

“I need to stay at your place.”

“No.”

“I’m in heat, you asshole! I can’t just f**k random guys! They might get me pregnant!”

Amica rolled her eyes.

"For 31 years old, you sure don't act your age," She shot back with a hint of sarcasm.

"GAH! What do you mean 31?! I’m 21! You ass! It’s twenty-one! Two and one!" Quaszi retorted, her voice rising in exaggerated indignation.

Amica couldn’t help but roll her eyes, though she knew deep down that Quaszi wasn’t as carefree as she tried to appear. The dangers of being an omega, especially during a heat cycle, were real. And despite Quaszi’s bravado, Amica knew her friend had to be careful.

"Sure… and you can just barge into my house. I’ll go to the drug store to buy suppressant for you. Just rest." Amica offered, the words leaving her mouth before she fully processed them. Her mind was already moving onto the logistics—getting to the drug store and making sure Quaszi didn't cause a scene.

"Thanks, Amii! You're a lifesaver!" Quaszi’s voice practically dripped with relief.

After the call ended, Amica resumed her journey to the supermarket, her thoughts swirling. She needed to get home, get some rest, and get back to work tomorrow—there wasn’t much time for anything else.

When she arrived at the store, she quickly went about her shopping, making sure to grab everything on her list. It wasn’t until she was heading down the aisle that she saw a familiar face. A sigh of relief left her lips as she spotted Mr. Fenrir's older brother, Carious Daniel Fenrir. The two of them were often worlds apart in personality, but there was something comforting about seeing him now, especially after the tiring day she’d had.

"Hello, Amica." His voice was as calm as ever, and she returned the greeting with a bow of respect.

"Good evening, Mr. Carious."

"How is my brother?" His tone was direct, and there was something almost… concerning about it. As though he was really asking, and not just making polite conversation.

Amica considered her answer for a moment, then shrugged nonchalantly.

"I wish that I should've taken seriously the rock, paper, scissors game that I conducted with Yeuro before," she answered honestly. She could see the corners of his mouth twitch in response.

"Unfortunate for you then."

For a moment, they just stood there, a quiet understanding passing between them. Amica knew that Carious wasn’t one for small talk, and she didn’t mind that at all. In fact, it made him one of the few people she didn’t feel the need to perform for.

But just as she was about to leave, Carious spoke again, his voice almost like a whisper, though his words carried weight.

"Be careful, Amica," he said, his gaze intense.

She froze, her heart skipping a beat. The sudden shift in his demeanor caught her off guard, and she wondered if he knew something she didn’t. But before she could say anything, he turned and left the aisle, his presence fading into the background.

Amica stood there for a moment after Mr. Carious had walked away, the words "Be careful, Amica," still echoing in her mind. She blinked and shook her head, trying to focus on the task at hand. But before she could leave the aisle, she heard his calm voice once more.

"I didn't mean to make you feel uneasy," Carious said, his tone more relaxed now, as he reappeared beside her. He had paused just a few steps away, clearly not intending to make the situation more awkward.

Amica looked up at him, blinking in surprise. "I wasn't uneasy," she replied, her voice smooth. "Just thinking."

"I see," Carious said, his gaze softening. "Still, it's hard not to notice how much you're on edge tonight. You seem... a little distracted."

Amica chuckled softly, shaking her head. "Maybe I am. It's just one of those days." She gestured vaguely at her cart. "Groceries, errands, work. You know how it goes."

He smiled slightly, the corners of his lips lifting, but not in a way that broke his typically composed expression. "I understand. It's easy to get caught up in everything."

Amica smiled back, feeling a rare moment of ease in his company. It wasn’t often that she had these small exchanges with him—most of their conversations were brief and to the point, but this felt... different.

"I guess that's why I like the quiet," Amica added, her words carrying a hint of sincerity. "It helps me clear my head. It's nice when things slow down for a moment."

"I agree," Carious responded, his voice low and steady. "The quiet is necessary. Sometimes it's the only way to really hear your thoughts."

There was a brief pause before he continued, his voice a touch more casual than before. "Are you heading home after this?"

"Yeah, Quaszi's waiting for me," Amica replied, raising an eyebrow. "She’s in one of her... less sensible moods."

Carious raised an eyebrow, his expression never fully changing. "I hope you know what you're getting into. She’s a handful."

Amica chuckled, the corners of her lips lifting slightly. "I think I’ve gotten used to it by now."

Carious’s eyes twinkled with something faintly amused, though his expression stayed calm. "I admire your patience."

Amica shrugged lightly, feeling a strange comfort in his words. "Sometimes it’s the only thing I can do."

After a short silence, Carious glanced down at his watch, a subtle gesture that told her he had other things to do.

"Well, I won’t keep you any longer. I’m sure you have a lot to get done," he said.

Amica smiled and nodded, feeling an odd warmth from the conversation, though it was hard to pinpoint exactly why.

"Thanks for the... talk," she said, her voice light, though sincere. "It was nice to hear something quiet for once."

Carious gave a small nod, his usual serious demeanor softening just a little. "Anytime, Amica. Take care of yourself."