Briar took a deep breath as he picked up Rohan’s scent, then heard footsteps coming toward him. Rohan appeared in a pool of light cast by a torch made from a branch with dried grass tied to it.
Briar sucked in a gasp as the torchlight illuminated the cavern revealing thousands of crystals growing from the walls. The light glinted off them, creating a sparkling glow more beautiful than anything Briar had ever seen.
“I might not have your crafting skills, but I do know one trick,” Rohan said, tossing a bundle of branches and dried leaves in the middle of the cave floor and setting to work lighting it with the torch. “And it’ll be enough to cook this.” He lay a freshly killed rabbit by the fire he was trying to light, making Briar’s stomach rumble. It’d been almost a day since he’d had a decent meal, and he could already tell pregnancy was making him more hungry than usual.
Another pang of guilt hit him. He knew he should tell Rohan. His alpha would want to take care of his pregnant mate… but what more could he do that he wasn’t doing already? Telling Rohan would only add more stress to his mind, maybe even making it harder for him to recover his full strength. Even in the soft firelight, Briar could tell Rohan hadn’t rested enough from the battle. His posture was stooped and his face looked hollow from lack of food.
“Maybe we should rest here for a day,” Briar suggested. “I don’t think either of us can keep running as hard as we have been, and you need to recover your strength if we run into another alpha.”
Rohan nodded. “That might be a good idea.”
Briar exhaled a sigh of relief. He hadn’t realized how much he’d needed a rest too. The pains in his abdomen had subsided—a sign that the pup had embedded itself within his belly and was now beginning to grow inside him—but a new exhaustion was hitting him as he began to provide for a new life. He pressed his hand to his stomach, finding it hard to resist a small smile. Despite the danger, the stress, the anxiety, he loved their baby already, and he couldn’t wait to tell Rohan so he could share in that joy.
“What are you so happy about?” Rohan looked up from his task of cooking the rabbit over the open flame.
“What do you think?” Briar shook his head. “I haven’t eaten in ages and that looks delicious.”
***
After they’d eaten, they lay out on the grass mat. Briar had gathered some more grass and moss while Rohan was cooking to create a somewhat comfortable bed, and the fire went a long way to making the dank cave a cozy resting place.
Briar’s anxiety felt somewhat soothed now that his hunger wasn’t gnawing at him. They’d made passionate love after their meal and now he cuddled into Rohan’s side and they watched the smoke trail up from the fire and drift slowly to the cave entrance by the small breeze blowing through the cavern.
“I can’t wait to have a safe, peaceful life with you,” Rohan murmured into Briar’s hair.
“Me either.” He grinned at the thought, putting a hand to his belly and wishing again that he could tell Rohan about their pup. It wasn’t time yet. They may be cozy and safe for now, but soon the stress of escape would catch up to them again and he couldn’t add to his alpha worries.
“Does it make you sad to think about what you lost when your pack was attacked?” Rohan ran a hand down Briar’s cheek. “I mean, do you wish you could go back?”
Briar shook his head. “The attack was the worst day of my life, and I wish it never happened, but I would never choose that life over a life with you. I know that fate chose for me to be with you.” But crushing sadness weighed down on him as he remembered the night of the auction. “I only wish the other omegas in my pack had better fates.”
Rohan hugged Briar tighter to him. “I know what it’s like to feel that survivor’s guilt. I felt the same way about the omegas when my pack was attacked.”
Briar sucked in a gasp. “I didn’t know.”
Rohan nodded. “When I was just a small pup my pack was attacked and absorbed into the Woodpine pack. I was adopted in by a childless couple and raised to be a fighter, but the omegas from my pack were treated even worse than the Woodpine omegas. I couldn’t stand seeing members from my pack—some of them my friends and family—being treated that way.” Rohan sighed. “I developed a lot of bitterness towards pack dynamics at an early age. Maybe that had something to do with why I lashed out and killed my pack master to defend the omega. Maybe deep down, I wanted to be exiled.”
“Was that why you saved me from the auction?” Briar asked.
Rohan hesitated and looked away. It was a long time before he spoke. “I don’t want you to get the wrong idea about me. I mean… I just don’t want you to be disappointed when you find out I’m not as good and honorable as you think I am.”
Briar stared into Rohan’s eyes. “Are you saying that you came to the auction for the same reasons that all the other alphas?”
“No. I’m not exactly saying that.” Rohan ran a hand through his hair. “What I’m saying is I’m a much better man because I met you. The moment I laid eyes on you, I knew I had to protect you.”
There was something dark brooding behind Rohan’s eyes, and Briar knew that there was more to Rohan’s story than he’d first realized. His alpha was hiding something from him.
“Is there something you need to tell me?” Briar asked.
“Desperately,” Rohan admitted. “But you’ll understand when we’re safe and living your happy life why I chose to wait to tell you.”
Briar chewed his lip. He wanted to press Rohan further, but how could he justify demanding to know Rohan’s secret when he was keeping one of his own? Something twisted in his gut, and he thought at first that it was just guilt, but it soon intensified into nausea that made him nearly double over. Could there have been something wrong with the rabbit Rohan had cooked?
No, of course not. He remembered how omegas from his pack had suffered nausea when they became pregnant. In the worst cases, it had left them bed bound, unable to even move lest they upset their churning stomachs.
Dread pooled in him, mixing with the nausea to make him completely and thoroughly sick. How did he think he could get away without telling Rohan about his pregnancy? The symptoms would be impossible to hide. Even if Rohan didn’t guess the cause of Briar’s sickness and exhaustion, he would worry about the omegas condition. Besides, an omega needed his alpha to care for them when they were with child. He’d been so stupid for trying to hide this.
He had to tell Rohan that he was carrying his child. He took deep breaths. He could do this. The alpha’s eyes looked into his, full of concern.
“What’s wrong?” He asked. “Did I upset you? I swear I’ll explain everything once we reach the mountains.”
Briar just shook his head. “It’s not that.” He wasn’t even thinking about what Rohan had said anymore.
“What?” The worry on Rohan’s face deepened. “What is it?”
He closed his eyes, not wanting to see the look of horror that would wash over the alpha’s face. Briar had meant for his voice to be strong, but it practically squeaked out of him as he said, “I’m pregnant.”
Rohan
Pregnant?
The word rang through Rohan’s head, but he couldn’t comprehend it. How could his omega be pregnant? How could he have let this happen?
“Are you sure?” he choked out.
Briar nodded, worry etched on his features. Rohan knew his reaction was causing his omega stress, and he struggled to get his emotions under control, but failed miserably. Anxiety coursed through his veins. Briar would be in so much more danger if he was with child. Only a few days after conception, he’d begin to suffer intense pregnancy symptoms, including exhaustion and nausea. There was no way they would be able to reach the mountains before Briar’s condition deteriorated, and it would only take longer once the symptoms set in.
And now they had the safety of their child to consider as well.
Not to mention, they would have to find the time and energy to keep mating regularly to keep
the pup healthy. Not that Rohan minded that, but it would be hard to keep running from the packs at the pace they were going and ensure they provided adequate care to their developing young one. A pregnant omega could go a few days without mating, but after a week, the unborn pup’s health would begin to suffer, and in a month, the omegas body would stop nourishing the child.
Not that it would take a month to get to the mountains. At least, it wasn’t supposed to take that long, but how could he be certain at all anymore?
Rohan stood and began pacing the cavern. His plans were falling to pieces and he was struggling to protect his omega, let alone their child.
“Will you say something?” Briar whispered, legs tucked up to his chest. He looked so small and vulnerable. It killed Rohan that he couldn’t just tell Briar that everything would be okay. He didn’t know what would happen. What to do. He’d never felt so useless as an alpha.
He sat back down next to Briar. For now, at least, he could sooth his omega’s fears.
“Hey, don’t worry. I’ll take care of you no matter what happens—both of you.” He pressed a hand to Briar’s belly, imagining how soon it would be large with his child. Happiness swelled in him at the thought, momentarily overwhelming all his fear and anxiety. He would see them through this. They had such a beautiful future growing inside his omega. He wouldn’t let uncertainty cloud over how wonderful this news was. In three months, he would be cradling his child in his arms, his strong, kind omega by his side.
He just needed to get them to safety first.
“We should get moving,” he said. “Now.”
Briar looked like he was going to say something, maybe protest, but instead, he just clamped his mouth shut and bolted from the cave. Rohan ran after him, only to fall back, to give him some privacy when he heard the sound of retching. Sympathy washed through him at the thought of Briar’s suffering. Pregnancy was hard on an omega at the best of times and Briar hadn’t had enough food or rest in days. Not to mention all the stress he was going through. Rohan held in a sigh. His omega was in no condition to keep moving. All he could do right now was ease Briar’s worries while he helped him regain his strength.
When the omega returned looking pale and groggy, Rohan took him in his arms and guided him back to the bed. “I’ll get you some more water,” he said, picking up the jug Briar had woven out of cleverly arranged broad leaves. It still amazed him how talented his omega was.
“Didn’t you say we need to keep moving?” Briar asked, raising himself up from the bed.
Rohan shook his head. “We’ve lost the packs for now. We should have a few days to rest. It might even be better to keep our heads down for now in case they’re out there hunting for us.”
It was only partly true. He wasn’t sure if this was the safest option, but he knew that Briar couldn’t keep running without putting himself and the baby at risk. They would rest for a few days, even though the thought of delaying their escape filled him with anxiety.
He kissed Briar on the forehead before heading out into the evening sunset to gather water from the nearby stream. He walked carefully through the woods, looking for any sign that the packs were close, and felt relief when he couldn’t pick up any scent or spot any tracks. They were safe. For now.
There was a bush of deep purple berries next to the flowing water where he filled the jug and Rohan wished Briar had been with him to tell him whether they were safe to eat or not. Rohan was an accomplished hunter, but he had none of Briar’s impressive plant knowledge. He put a hand to his wounded side, marveling at how quickly it was healing thanks to the omega’s medicine. He’d have to ask Briar to teach him how to forage plants. An alpha could survive off meat alone, but an omega, especially a pregnant omega, needed diverse foods to stay healthy.
Rohan carried the water carefully back to the cave, feeling just a bit overwhelmed by the task of caring for a pregnant omega all on his own. It normally took the help of an entire pack to bring a pup into the world and care for it. Truthfully, Rohan knew very little about pregnancy and childbirth, and desperately hoped he would be able to provide the care his omega needed.
At the very least, he would be able to provide more than enough love.
He reached their cozy little bedroom to find Briar asleep. He set the water down carefully next to the makeshift bed for Briar when he woke up and lay down next to him, but immediately felt restless. There was so much to do to care for his mate and unborn child. He sat up, looking around the cave. If they were going to stay for a few days, it wouldn’t hurt to make the place more comfortable. Briar would need lots of rest to get his strength up, the least Rohan could do was make his bed more comfortable. He’d seen Briar gathering grasses and moss to make the bed up, and he figured he could manage that, even if he didn’t know have the omega’s advanced knowledge of plants. Grass was grass, right?
He rose quietly and snuck out of the cavern, heading for a clearing he’d noted earlier that sprouted long, lush grass intermixed with purple flowers. It would have been easier if he’d had a knife, but he set to work ripping out the grass by hand, frowning when it came out with clumps of dirt stuck to the roots. That certainly hadn’t happened when Briar gathered it.
Well, a beginner couldn’t expect perfection and Rohan shook the dirt off before continuing to rip out more clumps of grass, keeping his ears open for any sound of the pursuing alphas. He could just see the entrance of the cavern from where he was, so he knew Briar would sleep safely.
He’d gathered a good armful of grass when he started to feel an itch spread over his arms. He frowned, checking to see that there were no bugs crawling in the would-be bedding. No, it must have been sweat from exertion causing the itch. He began carrying the grass back to the cavern, but dropped it as he reached the entrance. His skin felt like it was on fire.
“Curse the moon!” He growled, groping at his arms and chest, trying desperately to scratch away the agonizing itch.
“What are you doing?” Briar appeared at the entrance, stifling a giggle. “Is this some kind of dance you picked up as a wandering rogue?”
“No!” Rohan failed to see the situation as funny, no matter how cute his omega looked with a sleepy grin on his face. “My skin feels like I have fire ants crawling under it.”
Briar frowned, looking at the clump of grass Rohan had dropped. “Where did you get this?”
“Over in that clearing.” Rohan stopped itching to point.
“Rohan, this is wolfsbane,” he said, stooping to pluck out one of the purple flowers. “I’d think a rogue would understand at least a little of wildlife.”
“I understand how to hunt. That’s all I ever needed.”
“You’re just lucky you didn’t eat any of it, or you’d be sick to your stomach.” Briar tsked, shaking his head.
“Why would I eat a flower?” Rohan growled, trying not to be cranky despite his discomfort.
Briar laughed. “Wait here and try not to scratch yourself to pieces.”
Briar disappeared back into the cave and Rohan sat in agony, biting his nails to try to keep from scratching at the burning itch. How could he blunder even this small task?
When Briar reappeared, he carried the vessel of water and some spongy moss. A deep sigh rose from Rohan’s chest when Briar began pouring water on the moss and blotting it on Rohan’s inflamed skin, slowly easing the discomfort, replacing it with soothing relief.
“What were you even doing?” Briar asked, still clearly finding this all amusing.
“I wanted to get more grass for your bed so you would be more comfortable.”
“You thought I would be more comfortable sleeping in a nest of wolfsbane?” Briar stifled another giggle.
“I didn’t know it was wolfsbane.” Rohan growled grumpily.
This time, Briar let out a full laugh, grinning up at Rohan. He would have been cross at being laughed at if the omega wasn’t so damned cute when he did it.
“That was very sweet of you.” Briar’s grin widened, bl
ue eyes glowing with adoration.
Rohan’s heart thudded against his chest and the words came to his lips before he could even think about them. “I love you.”
Briar dropped the moss he’d been blotting Rohan’s skin with, his lips falling open as he stared at Rohan. Finally, he said with breathless amazement, “I love you too.”
Rohan pulled briar into him, kissing him deeply. A moan rumbled from his chest. He would never get enough of this. They fell together on the ground, bodies becoming slick with sweat as their limbs tangled together. Rohan had never felt so much passion or tenderness in his life. He held his omega tight to his chest as he fucked him slowly from behind, savoring every moan that fell from Briar’s perfect lips. How could he be so lucky to have this beautiful creature all to himself?
When the moon rose, he was still groaning into the crook of Briar’s neck, sliding in and out of his tight heat. The omega shuddered and gasped every time Rohan thrust into him, taking every inch of his length. Rohan loved the way Briar’s tight little ass squeezed him when his muscles tensed with pleasure. He would have loved to fuck him all night, but when his climax finally hit him, he clutched his omega, growling out over and over, “I love you, I love you, I love you…”
He could never say those words enough. They echoed in his mind as he released himself into his omega’s begging body until it overflowed with the alpha’s seed. He slid his hands down Briar’s trembling chest, loving the way he owned his omega in these moments. Briar belonged to him. He’d never let anyone take his omega from him. He would protect Briar and his unborn pup no matter what he had to do.
“I’m afraid you might have exhausted me to death,” Briar laughed, sitting up.
“And it’s probably too dark to gather more grass for your bed.” Rohan frowned, realizing he’d completely failed at the task he’d set himself to.
“If you’re by my side, I’ll be comfortable enough.” Briar snuggled into Rohan’s arms, his slim body feeling so perfect.
Auctioned Omega Page 6
