Briar
Briar woke to frightened whimpering. He rubbed his eyes groggily, taking in the scene playing out in the red light of the sunrise. Was he dreaming?
No, he realized with shocked horror. What he was seeing was really happening. Rohan was in his wolf form, growling as a wall of alphas approached their camp.
One large black alpha seemed to be leading the advance. He stopped just feet from Rohan, his fangs gleaming. “Well, well, well. We asked you to bring back one omega, but looks like you’ve outdone yourself.”
“These aren’t for you.” Rohan growled back. “I want nothing to do with your plans anymore.”
The black alpha let out an ugly bark. “You think we’ll let you just leave our territory with all these delectable omegas?”
Yelps and howls of agreement rose from the rest of the army. Briar’s hair stood on end. The red glow of the sunrise made the group look even more menacing as they drew closer to the pack of terrified omegas. Rohan took a step toward the black alpha.
“I said you’re not touching these omegas.”
Was he planning on trying to fight the entire army? Briar tried to count the wolves pressing in toward them, but there were too many to even count. Rohan didn’t stand a chance.
Suddenly, all the hopes and dreams Briar had for the future seemed to melt away. They had been so close to freedom. So close. If they were taken by the rogue army, they would be enslaved by the same mentalities they had just escaped from. His child would would grow up in a world of violence and ugliness—if he got to grow up at all.
And Rohan… Briar knew he would die trying to defend their little pack. He squeezed his eyes shut. He couldn’t let this happen.
Briar stood, wincing with discomfort as his large belly put pressure on his sore feet. He pushed forward until he was next to Rohan. Dozens of eyes burned into him as he stood there in front of the group of snarling wolves, but he wouldn’t let himself be afraid.
“Don’t you wonder how all these omegas escaped from the Bloody Fang?” Briar shouted loudly so that everyone heard him. He paused to give the alphas time to think and question the fact, and he could see uncertainty take over their posture.
“We didn’t just escape the bloody fang,” Briar finally said. “We left them broken and in shambles, and if you get in our way—we’ll do the same to you.”
“Are you trying to convince me that you defeated the entire Bloody Fang army?” The black alpha barked a laugh. “And just how did you manage that?”
“Take one step closer and you’ll find out.” Briar’s voice was hard and unmoved.
Growls rose up from the alphas, but no one moved forward. Briar stood strong with his shoulders back, head high, showing the army that he had no fear of them, despite the fact that he was just an omega facing an army of alphas. He had too much to fight for to back down.
The black alpha took a step forward, them seemed to change his mind and stepped back. He cocked his head and stared into Briar. “So you’re telling me that the Bloody Fang’s entire army is in shambles right now?”
Briar nodded. “The last I saw of them, they were sick, vomiting and unconscious. They have no omegas to provide healing or prepare food. Their leader is dead. They’re falling to pieces.”
The black alpha turned his head to address his army. “Well, boys, looks like our opportunity has presented itself. What a you say we finish them off and finally take some pack territory?”
A howl of agreement went up from the alphas, punctuated by hungry snapping and snarling. The black alpha looked back to Briar, his dark eyes assessing him. “I don’t know how an omega came by so much ferocity.” He looked up and down Briar’s frame. “But clearly we underestimated your kind.”
The alpha took one more look at him before letting out a long howl and bounding into the trees, followed by a stampede of wolves all headed for the Bloody Fang. Briar exhaled a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding, and leaned into Rohan who had shifted next to him.
“I can’t believe how brave you are,” Rohan said, wrapping his arms around Briar.
“I can’t believe that actually worked.” He let out a laugh.
“You actually struck terror in the hearts of an army of alphas.”
Briar’s own heart was still pounding in his chest, but it was as much exhilaration as anything. His entire life, he’d been made to feel powerless, but what Rohan had said was true. Briar had defeated everyone who stood in his way. There was nothing that could prevent him from claiming the life he wanted.
Just as he thought that, his abdomen contracted sharply. He gripped his stomach, holding in a groan.
“Are you okay?” Rohan asked, his voice suddenly panicked.
Briar nodded, but his head began to swim. Pain tore through him and black dots appeared in his vision. Rohan’s arms surrounded him, the alphas strong scent helping to ease his pain by relaxing his tense muscles. His stomach contracted again, agony overwhelming him until he felt himself losing consciousness from the pain, but he pressed his cheek to Rohan’s chest and listened to his heartbeat, knowing he would be okay as long as he was in his alpha’s arms.
***
“... the baby won’t wait. We need to get him out soon or there’s a risk of internal ruptures…”
Briar was too tired to even open his eyes and could barely take in the voices around him. He was vaguely aware that he was being carried. He heard a groaning noise, and it took him a moment to realize that it was coming from his own mouth.
With an enormous effort, he moved his hands to his stomach, but couldn’t feel any movement.
“Is the baby okay?” he croaked out.
A warm hand stroked his forehead and Rohan’s voice answered back. “He’s fine. You’ll both be fine.”
***
Briar’s body felt leaden when he opened his eyes again. Rohan was by his side, pressing a cool cloth to his burning forehead. Briar recognized the familiar scent of tinctures and the worried clucking of the healer. What was happening? Was he sick? How long had he been sleeping for? He tried to ask all these questions, but couldn’t seem to make his tongue move. Panic seared through him.
“It’s okay.” Rohan kissed his face. “It’s just a temporary paralysis for the surgery.”
Surgery?
Everything below his eyes seemed to be frozen. The only thing he could feel was his heart pounding in his chest. His mind swam with a hundred terrified questions. Was his baby okay? He couldn’t even open his mouth to ask. He felt so helpless and frightened.
He could feel himself losing consciousness again. He had to fight it. He couldn’t stand losing even more control.
“Just relax.” Rohan bathed Briar’s sweat soaked face with the damp cloth. “I won’t let anything happen to you.”
***
A sharp wail broke through the darkness surrounding Briar. Where was his child? Briar tried to reach out, but he couldn’t even open his eyes. Was he dreaming?
The crying wouldn’t stop. Each sharp shriek tore through him until he felt tears welling in his own eyes. That was his baby. He knew it. Danas was in pain, and there was nothing Briar could do for him. He couldn’t even move.
The sound of his child’s suffering drown out the pain in Briar’s own body. What was happening? One moment his baby had been cradled safely in his belly, and now he was somewhere crying and Briar couldn’t even move to help him.
Tears streamed hot against his cheeks. He’d never felt so much agony in his life.
“Hey, it’s okay.” A tender finger brushed his tears from his cheeks. “He’s completely healthy.”
Something small and warm pressed against Briar’s chest and the screaming cries came to a sudden stop. His heart swelled with joy. He still couldn’t move or open his eyes, but he instinctively recognized the scent of his baby. Tears continued to fall down his face, but they were tears of joy as he felt the sweet little bundle squirm against his chest.
***
Sunshine fell against Briar’s face. For the first time in what felt like eternity, he woke up without pain. He sat up quickly, remembering the wailing cry and the warmth of his baby. Had that ben a dream? Briar wasn’t even sure where he was. For a moment, he thought he was back in the caverns with Rohan. A rock cave surrounded him, but when he clambered up from the grass bed to lookout the opening in the cave, he was staring down a mountainside.
What was happening?
“Hey, look who’s finally awake.”
Briar turned to see Rohan smiling and holding the most beautiful child Briar had ever laid eyes on.
“We missed you,” Rohan said.
“Is that—” Briar’s throat became tight with emotion.
Rohan nodded. “It’s our son.”
Briar’s eyes felt hot with tears once more as Rohan placed little Danas in his arms. The baby stared up at him with crystal blue eyes that Briar could already tell were full of love and kindness.
“He’s perfect,” he murmured.
“Of course he is.” Rohan wrapped his arms around Briar, pressing his face into his neck. “You made him.”
“I can’t believe I’m really holding him,” Briar said.
“About time.” Rohan laughed. “I’ve been taking care of him for three days while you did nothing but snore. I had to carry both of you up the mountain.”
“Three days?” Briar stared in amazement.
“You were so weak.” Rohan’s voice shook with emotion. “The healer had to keep you sedated so you could rebuild your strength.”
“Thank you for staying by my side.” Briar pressed his cheek against Rohan’s.
“Did you ever think I’d let you go through this alone?”
Briar shook his head. “Never.”