Rohan

His little omega lay panting on all fours in a sweaty mess. His release coated his thighs and stomach. Rohan had lost count of how many times he’d brought Briar over the edge, but it seemed he would never be satisfied. He could see why an omegas first heat was so prized among alphas. He loved watching the slope of Briar’s back arch as he gave in to release. Loved the way he panted for more, even when he was exhausted to the point of collapse. Rohan was aching to ram his cock into that begging little hole, but he knew he couldn’t risk getting Briar pregnant while they were still in so much danger.

He only hoped he hadn’t already filled the omegas fertile womb by mating him the night before he went into heat.

He’d hate himself if he brought his pup into this danger, not to mention put Briar in a vulnerable condition. They couldn't stay down in this cellar forever. They’d have to make a run for it before they were discovered, and an omega in his first weeks of pregnancy was extremely vulnerable.

Briar collapsed beside him, clearly worn out, but his eyes said he still craved more. Rohan groaned. The omega really was testing his resistance. Seeing Briar in such a state of sexual need made Rohan want to fuck him until he was so sore he couldn’t even walk.

He gripped his own cock, stroking to ease some of the tension, but he knew even climax wouldn’t bring him any satisfaction as long as there was an aroused omega panting next to him. He wouldn’t be satisfied until his cock was buried in that needy heat.

“Let me pleasure you,” Briar cooed in his ear, sending a whole new wave of desire crashing into him.

Rohan shook his head. “You need to try to get some rest.”

Briar nodded, seemingly eager to obey any order. He might’ve been feisty, but there’s nothing more satisfying to an omega than being commanded by his alpha.

Rohan kissed Briar’s head. His alpha.

Briar wasn’t the type of omega to take an order from just any alpha. Rohan knew that Briar felt the bond between them too. It was clear that Briar trusted Rohan by the way he let his body relax against the alpha’s completely unguarded. Rohan hadn’t thought he’d ever have an omega to call his own. Even when he’d belonged to a pack, he’d cringed at the thought of owning and treating an omega the way alphas in his pack treated the poor creatures. But what he shared with Briar was nothing like that. He felt ownership over Briar, yes, but it was a completely protective ownership. Something swelled in his chest. He’d do anything for his omega. No matter what it took, he’d get them to safety.

He shot up as the trapdoor opened above. He was prepared to fight, but it was only Peregwin who emerged.

“I brought you some food,” he said, carrying a plate of bread and meat carefully down the ladder and setting it on the floor.

“Thanks.” Rohan grabbed at the meat eagerly, gulping it down with a jug of water from the tray.

“Poor thing.” Peregwin shook his head as he looked down at Briar passed out, covered only by a blanket. “I can’t imagine what I’d do if my pack were attacked and I ended up at an auction.” He hesitated a moment, then asked. “Why did you save him? Surely you knew a rogue alpha would be in trouble coming into pack territory for an auction. It doesn’t seem like you traveled all this way just for a sexual thrill.”

Rohan set the jug of water down heavily. He glanced at Briar. He couldn’t say the real reason he’d come to the auction. Not when he was just starting to earn Briar’s trust. It would all come out later, but for now, he had to continue to nurture the bond between them.

He looked back to Peregwin, and said half the truth. “Because I think the way alphas treat omegas is disgusting.”

Peregwin cocked his head curiously, as if it seemed impossible that an alpha could ever speak this way. A growl rose in Rohan’s throat. He hated the culture he’d been raised in.

“Look, you might think your alpha is kind to you, but you’re just as enslaved as the omegas tied up for auction—what I’m saying is, if you want to come with us when we leave—”

Peregwin held up a hand, rubbing his round belly. “I can’t leave my alpha without putting my pup at risk.”

Rohan nodded. That was part of the reason omegas were so vulnerable to their alphas. In addition to their smaller size, a pregnant omega depended on being mated regularly by the alpha who impregnated him, otherwise he risked miscarrying. And of course sick alphas used the omega’s nurturing nature to manipulate them, holding the health of their child hostage unless the omega did exactly as the alpha wanted.

Though part of him doubted that Peregwin was staying just for his unborn pup. Something told Rohan that the omega couldn’t see just how toxic his culture was. He didn’t have the energy to try to explain or argue it. Instead, he just said, “I wish you were bringing your child into a better world.”

Beside him, Briar began to stir, sitting up and rubbing his eyes.

“Feeling any better?” Peregwin asked.

Briar nodded wearily. “The fever’s gone.”

“Good. Eat something. Going through heat is exhausting. The two of you can stay as long as you need to.”

Rohan shook his head. “I know we’re putting you in danger if we’re found in your home.”

Peregwin’s lips set into a thin line. “Don’t worry about me.”

The omega’s courage was unbelievable. But of course omegas had to be brave in the world they lived in. He realized just how cowardly the alphas were in comparison, binding together and using their power to hurt and manipulate the tender creatures.

“Where are you two running to?” Peregwin asked.

Briar looked at Rohan, as if wondering the same question. They’d been so pressured to get away that he still hadn’t told him where they were going.

“We should be safe if we can get away from pack territory and up the mountains.”

Peregwin shuddered. “You would live in the mountains? Alone?”

Rohan didn’t blame him for thinking it was inconceivable to live without a pack. Hell, he’d thought that way before he’d been exiled. “I’d rather be alone than live in this awful world,” he spat. “Where an alpha would sell his omega just to avoid caring for his own child.”

Peregwin’s lips pressed tight. Clearly Rohan had given him something to think about.

“I’ll leave you,” he said. “Knock on the door if you need anything.”

He climbed the ladder clumsily with his pregnant belly. When he’d closed the door, Rohan turned to Briar.

“Has your heat really passed?”

Briar nodded. “I think so.”

“Good.” He kissed him on the head.

“Thank you,” Briar said, leaning into him. “For helping me through it.”

“I think you know I’d do anything for you.” Rohan stroked down the gentle curve of Briar’s back, growling possessively. “You’re mine.”

Briar gasped, as if he didn’t believe what he’d just hard, so Rohan repeated it.

“You’re mine.”

“Can I ask you something?” Briar said hesitantly, as if he didn’t really want to know the answer to what he was about to ask. Rohan’s heart sped up in his chest, because there was so much of his past that could push Briar away just as their bond was growing. He simply nodded.

Briar’s soft blue eyes bored into him as he asked, “Why were you exiled?”

Rohan flinched, but answered honestly. “I killed my pack master.”

Briar sucked in a breath.

“I was second in command in my old pack. One night my pack master was beating an omega. I thought he was going to beat him to death...” He sighed. “I didn’t mean to kill the pack master when I fought him off, but I guess maybe I thought he deserved to die.”

He clenched his teeth. To his surprise, Briar nuzzled closer to him.

“I don’t believe you’d ever hurt someone unless you had to. I’ve never met anyone as kind as you.”

Rohan swallowed, hoping that would be the end of the questions for now. He couldn’t tell Briar what had brought him to the omega auction. Not until they were in the mountains and Briar could be sure he could trust Rohan completely.

“Rest now.” He kissed Briar’s head. “I’m going to scout things out, see if there’s a spot we can slip through the Bloody Fang’s territorial defenses.”

Briar nodded, laying his head back down on the makeshift bed. Rohan smiled. Once he’d broken through Briar’s feisty defenses, he was all too eager to be obedient.

Rohan only hoped he would never lose that trust.