Briar
Their group had been moving for a little under two weeks and there was still no sign of pursuit from the Bloody Fang. The going was slow with so many small children accompanying them, but they were only a few days away from being outside pack territory. Briar’s heart grew lighter each day, even as his body grew heavier with their developing child. Each day brought new exhaustion and soreness, but he had so much to look forward to.
The group was resting by a river bed. Rohan pulled Briar close to him so he could massage his sore shoulders as he usually did after a day’s run. Briar let out a purr of contentment as he leaned into Rohan’s chest. It felt so right to have his skin pressed against his mates. Despite everything, Briar could feel his trust in Rohan healing more and more each day. It was so clear by Rohan’s actions that he would never let Briar come to harm. Rohan’s past—who he’d been before he’d met Briar—none of that changed who he was now. He was Briar’s mate, the father of his child, and the only alpha he wanted to spend his life with.
Rohan’s hands slid down Briar’s chest to stroke the swell of his belly. It still amazed him how quickly he was growing. He wasn’t quite two-thirds of the way through his pregnancy, but already his abdomen had grown large and cumbersome.
“I’m so big.” He laughed. “I feel like a house.”
“You’re so sexy,” Rohan groaned, nipping Briar’s ear. “I love watching your body grow.”
“I’m glad at least someone is enjoying it.” Briar shook his head, smiling. The dappled sunlight filtering through the trees gave a soft glow to the moment, and he exhaled a sigh of contentment. “Have you thought of any names?”
Rohan nodded. “I want to name our pup something that represents the new start we’re all receiving.”
Briar smiled at that thought. “What about Danas? It means new moon.”
“I think that’s perfect.” Rohan pressed his hands against Briar’s belly and nosed the back of his neck. “You know I’d do anything for you, right?”
“Anything?”
“Anything.”
Briar laughed. “Then get me something to eat. I’m starving.”
“You’re always starving.” Rohan laughed too. “I swear you eat more than an alpha these days.”
“It’s hard work being this sexy.” Briar gave him a saucy look.
“Well, then I’d better feed you to help you keep it up.”
Rohan gave Briar a quick kiss before rising and disappearing into the trees to find some fresh food. Briar’s stomach grumbled hungrily, and he could feel the baby inside of him kicking vigorously.
“I know, I know.” He laughed. “Daddy’s going to get us dinner.”
While he waited for Rohan’s return, he helped Peregwin feed his own little pup. Edrik joined them, cooing over baby Ollas and asking to hold him at every opportunity. In the short time since they’d escaped, Edrik seemed to have gained his old self back. Even though they were running constantly, all the omegas had put on weight thanks to the fresh food they gathered as they moved. Some of these omegas had lived their whole lives on nothing but dried meat, and had never had a complete diet. Briar enjoyed showing them how to forage for ripe berries and edible roots. The small children especially enjoyed digging up plants, even the alpha pups. Briar smiled at the thought of raising a generation of alphas that didn’t have the toxic prejudices that had enslaved their parents.
Briar was dozing comfortably in and out of sleep in the shade of a large oak tree when Rohan returned with several pups trailing him.
“I found some helpers.” He chuckled, plopping down next to Briar and laying out an array of berries and vegetables. The pups descended on the food too, laughing and shoving one another as they ate greedily.
“Hey, save some for me,” Briar said, ruffling the hair on one one of their little heads.
“You should eat quickly,” Rohan said. “We need to keep moving.”
Briar’s mood became serious. “Did you pick up a scent?”
Rohan shook his head. “No, but I’d like to be careful as we get closer to the edge of pack territory.”
“I thought we’d be safer once we got away from the packs.”
Rohan shifted, rubbing the back of his neck.
“Is there something you’re not telling me?” Briar asked.
“Not exactly.” Rohan exhaled a sigh. “I just worry about running into the rogue army. I have no idea what to expect if we do, but it would be best if we could avoid them.”
Briar pressed his lips together. “We beat one army already. We can defeat another.”
Rohan kissed Briar deeply, and murmured against his lips. “I’ll never stop wondering at how brave you are.”
The new moon was rising when they set out again. They kept a brisk pace, but with small children traveling with them, it was slow enough to allow for chatter. Every day, there seemed to be more excitement in their group as omegas realized what their freedom would mean. They would be free to choose their own futures, and raise their children without fear of violence or fighting. Briar knew it would be a long time before they completely broke free from the mentalities that had entrapped them in their old world, but his heart soared at the thought that his child would grow up never knowing the hatred and prejudice that he’d been exposed to.
When they finally lay down to rest for the day, he cuddled close to Rohan. He was so grateful that their child would have such a compassionate alpha role model. They made love in the dewy grass under the light of the rising sun, then fell asleep in one another’s arms with Briar dreaming of the new life they would have together.