Rohan
The air was clear of any scent as they ran through the night. Rohan didn’t dare to hope that the packs had let them go, but for now they weren’t being followed, that he could tell. He and Briar could put some good distance between themselves and the rest of the wolves.
He didn’t know how he’d done it, but somehow Briar had brought Rohan’s strength back up to the point where he could run, though he still wasn’t sure how he’d fare in a fight if they ran into another alpha. He almost felt joyful as they jaunted through the woods side by side. He loved feeling like he and his omega were a team.
Though he couldn’t help being bothered by the anxiety that kept creeping over Briar’s face. Was he fearful of the alphas catching up to them?
‘Don’t worry.’ He nuzzled up to Briar as they ran. ‘There’s no one following us for now.’
Briar nodded, but his features didn’t seem to relax at all.
‘I need to stop for a minute,’ he panted.
Rohan slowed, and Briar ducked off into the trees. It only took a minute for Rohan to realize that Briar was relieving himself. Ah, maybe that was why he was looking so stressed. Rohan snorted a small laugh.
But when Briar returned from the brush minutes later, he looked more distressed than ever. He must have been worrying that he’d caused them to lose precious time.
‘We’ll be okay.’ Rohan nipped his neck playfully. ‘There’s a system of caverns up ahead where we can rest when the sun comes up. We should be out of pack territory within a few days and then we’ll be safe to live the rest of our lives together.’
Briar nodded, but his shoulders remained stiff, and Rohan could sense the tense energy radiating off him as they ran.
‘What’s wrong?’
‘Nothing.’ Briar shook his head. ‘I just need to rest.’
Rohan nodded, picking up his own pace a little to match Briar’s, which seemed to have a renewed urgency. It must’ve been fear of the packs pushing him on and causing this anxiety. What else could it be?
He was sore by the time they reached the caverns. His body had recovered enough to keep moving, but he still felt the aches and pains of hundreds of tooth and claw marks. The wound in his side was angry and stinging from the sweat dripping into it and he just wanted to rest with his omega. He prayed to the moon that their sleep wouldn’t be disturbed.
He led the way deep into the twisting rock tunnels that had been carved into the limestone by glaciers thousands of years ago. Briar kept by his side, shivering slightly as they went deeper and deeper into the tunnels until even his wolf’s eyes couldn’t see through the darkness.
He shifted back into human form and pulled Briar into his arms. His omega had woven a small grass basket that he’d hung from his side as they ran, and he removed it, only to begin folding it out into a thin mat. It was amazing the craftwork omegas were capable. The mat wouldn’t provide much comfort, but it would keep them off the cold, wet cave floor. The caverns were no place to stay for long, but they would be safe here for now.
Briar opened up a smaller pouch made from broad leaves and began eating berries from it.
“You need to eat too,” Briar urged, pressing some berries into Rohan’s hand.
He tried to push the small morsel back. “I’ll hunt after we sleep.”
“You’ve worn yourself ragged.” Briar nuzzled his neck. “You’ll do no good protecting me if you kill yourself in the process.”
He finally accepted the berries reluctantly, wanting to give it all to his omega, but his growling stomach wouldn’t let him refuse. And besides, Briar was right. He needed to keep his strength up to protect them. Even a few small berries would help stave off his increasing hunger.
After he got some sleep, he would go out and hunt. They could stay in the caverns at least until they got their strength back. He winced as he lay down forgetting that his side was still badly wounded. Some rest would do both of them good.
Briar’s muscles were still tense and agitated when he lay down beside Rohan, pressing his body close for warmth.
“Are you frightened, little one?” Rohan asked with concern.
Briar shook his head. “I just have a lot on my mind.”
“You can tell me anything,” Rohan murmured, feeling a wash of guilt course through him because there were still secrets he was keeping from his omega, though he hoped Briar would one day understand why he’d kept his reason for being at the auction a secret.
Briar just shook his head. “I just want to sleep now. I… I have a lot to process.”
Rohan nodded, finding it hard to resist the waves of drowsiness and exhaustions pulling him away from consciousness. He wrapped his arms tighter around Briar, hoping that he could make his omega feel safe enough to have good dreams.