Rohan
The fever that had been building in him for two days was worse than ever, making it hard to even think clearly. Rohan limped on, knowing that he’d already given the alphas more than enough time to carry Briar into Bloody Fang territory. He cursed himself for being so weak and injured. Now he’d have to figure out a way to steal Briar back from the entire Bloody Fang, and time was running out for their pup.
The sound of the river broke through the trees. He must be close to Bloody Fang territory now. He’d have to be careful to avoid being detected. His best bet would be to sneak into the Bloody Fang and rescue Briar before they ever realized he was there. It was risky, but there was no alternative. Rohan stopped to roll in the mud, hoping it would help cloak his scent. He was sure Briar must have known what types of plants were used to create scent maskers, and could have found some if he’d been there. Rohan held in a sigh of loss and longing, but didn’t let himself give in to nostalgia. He would get his omega back.
He padded down the river bank, sticking to the trees and bushes as he scented the air. It was impossible to pick out Briar’s scent with so many shifters mingling together in the Bloody Fang’s village, but Rohan was sure he was there. He had to be. The wolves that had carried Briar off had smelled distinctly of the Bloody Fang. Rohan only hoped his omega hadn’t been taken to an auction already. How would he ever find Briar if he’d been sold off to another pack? He thought of his mate’s tender eyes and knew he would spend the rest of his life searching for him if he had to.
Across the river, he spotted the crude buildings that made up the Bloody Fang’s village. His heart thudded against his chest, and he knew with certainty that his omega was somewhere in there. He could feel it in their bond that Briar was close by. He hid himself in the brush as he watched shifters in both wolf and human form milling through the dirt streets of the village. It was unlikely he’d catch sight of Briar, but he could gather some information while he recovered his strength.
His sore muscles appreciated the rest after days of traveling almost non-stop, and before long, he felt his eyes growing heavy.
***
Briar smiled at him from his bed, exhausted, but overjoyed. Rohan stared with disbelief at the baby in his arms. How had he and his mate created something this perfect? He kissed the smiling cheeks and lay down next to his mate and child.
Somehow, their bond seemed to have grown even stronger. He could practically feel his omega’s emotions glowing from him. Rohan kissed Briar’s forehead and stroked their babe’s hair, knowing that the rest of their life would be filled with so much joy.
***
Rohan’s eyes snapped open. Curse the moon, he couldn’t let himself doze off again. Every dream was filled with images of his smiling omega, and part of him just wanted to escape into the fantasy, but he couldn’t do that until he’d made it a reality. He had to give that beautiful future to Briar and their child.
He jerked his head up as a familiar scent flooded his senses—Briar! He leapt out from the brush, watching across the river intently for any sign of his omega.
And there he was.
Rohan’s breath caught as he watched Briar stumble through the crowd with a thick metal collar around his neck. A growl rose in his throat at the thought of someone branding his omega like that. Then Rohan realized that Briar was leading another omega through the crowd. From the shape and scent, it must have been Peregwin. He was hunched over, exhaling moaning breaths. Was he going into labor? That could be the distraction Rohan needed to sneak Briar out of there.
He dashed forward, plunging into the frigid river. Despite the difficult swim, he felt re-energized on the other side. Just glimpsing his omega was enough to push him on.
He thanked the moon that Briar had looked healthy. They’d only been apart for a few days, so there shouldn’t be any lasting damage to their pup.
Rohan stalked through the bushes, sniffing the air, trying to pick up any hint of Briar’s scent as he’d lost sight of him. He must have gone into one of the huts, but which one? Rohan clung to the shadows of the trees and buildings as he searched the village for Briar, hoping desperately that no one picked up the scent of a rogue alpha. Thankfully, most of the alphas and omegas bustling through the streets looked too distracted to notice him, even if he’d been right in front of their noses.
Where are you little one?
He wished he could get right in the street so he could pick up Briar’s scent in the dirt, but he didn’t want to risk getting caught before he’d even found Briar. Then he detected it, faint, but it was enough to give him a direction to go in. When Briar’s scent led him toward a hut with herbs drying on a wooden rack outside, he knew immediately that it was a healer’s hut and Briar must be inside with Peregwin.
He crept toward the building, hearing groans of pain explode from behind the thin walls. He shuddered to think of what omegas had to deal with in childbirth. They really were much braver than alphas.
Then he heard Briar’s voice, murmuring soft words of encouragement. “You’re so strong. You can do this.”
Rohan’s heart swelled with pride at how kind and nurturing his omega was, but it was followed by a wave of concern. Who would be there for Briar when he brought their pup into the world? Delivering a baby often involved surgical intervention. Would Rohan even know what to do to help him when they were all alone in the mountains?
He shoved that thought down. He couldn’t worry about that now. His first mission was to get Briar away safely.
The crowd in the streets was thinning as the sun rose, and pack members tucked themselves away their huts for their afternoon meal and rest. If the coast became clear, he may be able to sneak into the healer’s hut and whisk Briar away, but how could he get across the river with that collar around his neck? It looked so heavy, Rohan wasn’t even sure how fast he could run.
Rohan held in a growl at how impossible the whole situation was. He couldn’t give up hope. He thought back to the beautiful dream he’d woken from. He would make that dream come true.
Perhaps he could help Briar to swim across the river… or… maybe they could find a fallen tree to build a bridge from. They would have to be fast though, someone was sure to notice him soon.
As he was formulating a plan, an ear splitting cry rang through his ears—a baby’s first wail.
He heard Briar’s voice again from within the hut. “He’s so beautiful.”
As much as Rohan wanted to let them enjoy this moment, he had to act now. He shifted into human form and dashed out into the street to tear open the door of the healer’s hut. He’d only just pulled it open when he felt a sharp stab below his hairline, followed by an instant rush of dizziness. He pawed at the spot on his neck, trying to claw out whatever had embedded itself there, and found that it was a small dart.
He stared at the thing, his head swimming. What was happening?
“Wolfsbane dart.” A voice behind him chuckled. Rohan turned to see the Bloody Fang pack master, Klaw, holding a small tube in one hand and three more darts in the other. He raised the tube to his lips and blew into it, sending another dart stabbing into Rohan’s neck.
“Just got this from my chief crafter. Didn’t think I’d get an opportunity to use it on my way to see my newborn pup.”
The wail of the new baby still echoed in Rohan’s ears as the world began to spin around him.
The pack master laughed again. “Don’t worry, it shouldn’t kill you. I have a lot of questions for you before I let you die.”
Rohan wasn’t listening. He had to get to Briar. He grabbed for the door handle, missing and falling against the door instead. His body was so heavy. He pushed up from the dirt, struggling to raise himself.
Klaw pressed a foot to Rohan’s back pushing him back down into the mud. “Oh no, you’re coming with me. You have a lot of explaining to do about what you were doing at that omega auction, and why you’re gathering omegas for the rogue army.”
The reminder of his past made Rohan even more sick than the poison coursing through his veins. He rolled over onto his stomach, grabbing at Klaw’s legs, even though he could barely lift his head and he was seeing double.
“You’ve got the wrong idea about me,” he snarled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“Oh really?” Klaw kicked him in the face, sending him sprawling back into the dirt. “Because another rogue we caught confessed to everything: the rogue army, the plans to attack, the omegas they’ve been stealing from auctions. The only thing I don’t understand is what the rogue army wants omegas for.” An ugly grin spread across his face. “But I have a feeling I can get you to tell me all about it.”
Rohan wanted to growl that he had nothing to do with the rogue army, that he had no idea what the pack master was talking about, but he knew all too well, and just then, the door to the hut opened and Briar was standing there, face full of alarm.
“Rohan!” He gasped, instantly lunging at Klaw.
The pack master grabbed Briar by the arms, easily restraining him. “Ah, this is the omega you planned on delivering to the rogue army, isn’t it?”
“What’s he talking about?” Briar stared at Rohan in confusion.
“Too bad for them you failed miserably.” He ran a hand over Briar’s jaw. “This one would drive any alpha to fight to the death.”
“What’s the rogue army?” Briar was trembling now. Rohan wanted to tear Klaw to pieces for putting his hands on Briar.
“The rogue army is a band of exiles who think they can take over pack territory.” Klaw teased a lock of Briar’s hair between his fingers. “But the army needed some ahem motivation to follow their leader into battle.”
“Is that true?” Briar’s voice was barely a whisper. “Is that why you were at the auction?”
Rohan’s stomach churned and he doubled forward. The sunshine was fading as darkness swallowed his vision. He wished on the moon that he could tell Briar this was all lies.
“Were you going to hand me over to the army as… as some kind of pet?” Briar choked.
“No!” Rohan cut in. “Briar, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine. There’s no way I would ever let another alpha put his hands on you.” He could barely see now, but the fear and uncertainty in Briar’s voice cut him to his core.
“Then why didn’t you tell me the truth?”
He’d broken his omega’s trust.
He reached forward, wanting to take Briar in his arms, reassure him, tell him he’d never hurt him. But instead, he just collapsed in the mud, body shaking and spasming from the poisoned darts.