Auctioned Omega

by Kellan Larkin

He stared at the thing, his head swimming. What was happening?

  “Wolfsbane dart.” A voice behind him chuckled. Rohan turned to see the Bloody Fang pack master, Klaw, holding a small tube in one hand and three more darts in the other. He raised the tube to his lips and blew into it, sending another dart stabbing into Rohan’s neck.

  “Just got this from my chief crafter. Didn’t think I’d get an opportunity to use it on my way to see my newborn pup.”

  The wail of the new baby still echoed in Rohan’s ears as the world began to spin around him.

  The pack master laughed again. “Don’t worry, it shouldn’t kill you. I have a lot of questions for you before I let you die.”

  Rohan wasn’t listening. He had to get to Briar. He grabbed for the door handle, missing and falling against the door instead. His body was so heavy. He pushed up from the dirt, struggling to raise himself.

  Klaw pressed a foot to Rohan’s back pushing him back down into the mud. “Oh no, you’re coming with me. You have a lot of explaining to do about what you were doing at that omega auction, and why you’re gathering omegas for the rogue army.”

  The reminder of his past made Rohan even more sick than the poison coursing through his veins. He rolled over onto his stomach, grabbing at Klaw’s legs, even though he could barely lift his head and he was seeing double.

  “You’ve got the wrong idea about me,” he snarled. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

  “Oh really?” Klaw kicked him in the face, sending him sprawling back into the dirt. “Because another rogue we caught confessed to everything: the rogue army, the plans to attack, the omegas they’ve been stealing from auctions. The only thing I don’t understand is what the rogue army wants omegas for.” An ugly grin spread across his face. “But I have a feeling I can get you to tell me all about it.”

  Rohan wanted to growl that he had nothing to do with the rogue army, that he had no idea what the pack master was talking about, but he knew all too well, and just then, the door to the hut opened and Briar was standing there, face full of alarm.

  “Rohan!” He gasped, instantly lunging at Klaw.

  The pack master grabbed Briar by the arms, easily restraining him. “Ah, this is the omega you planned on delivering to the rogue army, isn’t it?”

  “What’s he talking about?” Briar stared at Rohan in confusion.

  “Too bad for them you failed miserably.” He ran a hand over Briar’s jaw. “This one would drive any alpha to fight to the death.”

  “What’s the rogue army?” Briar was trembling now. Rohan wanted to tear Klaw to pieces for putting his hands on Briar.

  “The rogue army is a band of exiles who think they can take over pack territory.” Klaw teased a lock of Briar’s hair between his fingers. “But the army needed some ahem motivation to follow their leader into battle.”

  “Is that true?” Briar’s voice was barely a whisper. “Is that why you were at the auction?”

  Rohan’s stomach churned and he doubled forward. The sunshine was fading as darkness swallowed his vision. He wished on the moon that he could tell Briar this was all lies.

  “Were you going to hand me over to the army as… as some kind of pet?” Briar choked.

  “No!” Rohan cut in. “Briar, from the moment I saw you, I knew you were mine. There’s no way I would ever let another alpha put his hands on you.” He could barely see now, but the fear and uncertainty in Briar’s voice cut him to his core.

  “Then why didn’t you tell me the truth?”

  He’d broken his omega’s trust.

  He reached forward, wanting to take Briar in his arms, reassure him, tell him he’d never hurt him. But instead, he just collapsed in the mud, body shaking and spasming from the poisoned darts.

  Briar

  Hot tears streamed down Briar’s face as he stared at his lover’s limp body. Rohan’s chest was still moving, proving that he was still alive, barely, as two men grabbed him under the arms and dragged him away. Briar wrestled against Klaw’s hold, unable to stand the sight of anyone touching Rohan. Even though…. Even though…

  He couldn’t even bring himself to think of it.

  How deep had the alpha’s deception gone?

  Klaw finally released Briar and he immediately collapsed into the dirt, his legs too weak to stand. Was all Rohan’s kindness—all his love—just a trick to make Briar more compliant on the journey to deliver him to the rogue army? Briar pressed a hand to his stomach. And what of their child? He squeezed his eyes shut to stop the tears from flowing, but it did little to help. Had their whole future been a lie? What if Rohan had given Briar up as soon as they’d reached the rogue army and allowed their pup to die?

  How was Briar supposed to trust him about anything?

  His body shook with each trembling breath and his heart felt like it had been cracked open. He wrapped his hands around the crystal necklace hanging against his chest. The time they’d spent together had been the most beautiful moments of Briar’s life. How could it have all been a lie?

  He watched the alphas drag Rohan’s unconscious body toward the hut that he himself had been held prisoner in just that morning. Now they were both captive and their child was in more danger than ever. The unavoidable truth struck him that he had to trust Rohan. If he didn’t get back to his mate soon, his body would stop producing the hormones it needed to keep their pup healthy. If they didn’t both get free, their child didn’t stand a chance. He couldn’t process all the emotions swirling within him. Couldn’t even begin.

  He rose shakily, knowing that he had to distract himself before he became overwhelmed and went into emotional shock. He couldn’t formulate a plan with his mind reeling out of control. He pushed back into the healer's hut to help care for Peregwin, but stopped in his tracks when he saw Klaw leaning over Peregwin, a deep scowl on his face.

  “You begged me to let you keep this pup and you give me an omega as a son?” He snarled down at Peregwin who was still lying exhausted in the healer’s bed.

  Peregwin didn’t respond. He just stared down at the babe in his arms with a look of dejection on his face. Briar’s heart broke all over again. Peregwin had been so overjoyed to have this baby and he was utterly perfect.

  Briar wanted to grab the alpha by the shoulders and growl into his face, scream out how perfect his child was and how brave and strong his omega had been to bring him into the world. But Briar wasn’t an alpha. He wasn’t strong. He couldn’t challenge any of the awfulness around him.

  “Should have sold you off at the auction.” Klaw spat on the wood floor, turned and pushed past Briar to get out the door. From the corner of his eyes, Briar noted a key shining on a cord around Klaw’s neck. Was that they key to unlock the collars that the omegas wore? He bit the side of his cheek to keep a growl from coming out. He wished he could snatch that from Klaw’s neck and unlock all the chains that kept the omegas bound to this horrible place.

  He took a deep, bracing breath, knowing that he had to keep calm. He moved to Peregwin’s bedside, and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

  “I knew he would react that way if the pup was an omega,” Peregwin said without looking up.

  “He’s so perfect.” Briar said, touching the baby on his cheek.

  “Isn’t he?” Peregwin beamed, seemingly unphased by his alpha’s outburst. Peregwin really was strong. So much stronger than Klaw would ever realize.

  Briar tried to shut his mind down as he helped the healer clean the stitched incision that had been made in Peregwin’’s abdomen to help get the baby out. He couldn’t let himself think of Rohan. Not now. He might break if he let his thoughts wander to his alphas betrayal. After Peregwin was resting comfortably, the healer showed Briar how to mix a concoction of boiled herbs that would help nourish the baby until he was big enough to chew his own food.

  Peregwin still slept as Briar fed the baby, wrapping a strip of cloth around his finger and dipping it in the boiled herb water to let the baby suckle on it. His h
eart filled with so much joy and sadness as he looked down at the baby sucking gently on his finger. What would happen to his own child? He didn’t see how he could trust Rohan anymore, but what choice did he have? If he didn’t get back to his alpha soon… he wouldn’t let himself think of a world where he’d never hold his child on his arms.

  He felt a small flutter of movement in his belly, as if his baby wanted to reassure him. A sad smile spread across his face and he whispered, “I know. We’ll be okay.”

  ***

  With Rohan now a captive in the storage hut, Briar was moved to Peregwin’s hut, which was guarded by an alpha at all times. He helped to care for Peregwin and the baby, but within a few short days, both omegas were told to return to work preserving meat for the pack. After all, someone had to fuel the killing machine that was the Bloody Fang.

  Briar frowned as he rolled a strip of meat in salt. Nourishing the Bloody Fang’s fighting alphas made him part of their destruction. Briar hated to think of the misery he was helping to spread.

  “Something wrong?” Paregwin asked, looking up from the baby tied to his chest in a woven sling.

  Briar shook his head. There was no reason to bother Peregwin with his thoughts.

  “Are you worried about your alpha?” Peregwin put a hand to Briar’s shoulder.

  He hadn’t told Peregwin about Rohan’s betrayal. He could barely bring himself to think of it. He felt as though speaking it aloud would make it true, and he still didn’t understand how it could be. How could someone as good and kind as Rohan be involved in trafficking omegas for a violent army? How could everything they’d shared been a lie?

  Briar stroked his necklace. The bond they shared was real. He still felt it with every breath. He and Rohan were connected deep within their souls.

  And yet he hadn’t denied any of Klaw’s accusations.

  A wave of nausea washed through Briar, and he told himself not to think of Rohan. The stress wasn’t good for their child, and it wasn’t like he had a choice but to trust his alpha. He and Rohan had to get free to save the health of their pup. There was no other option.

  Peregwin set to work stringing up the meat on cords of woven grass, a look of deep concentration on his face. “I’ve been thinking about a plan to help both of you,” he said finally. “I’ve heard Klaw is preparing another attack soon. With all the fighting alphas out of the village, you may have an easier time of escape.”

  “How soon do they plan on attacking?” Briar put a hand to his belly, knowing how urgent it was that they escape soon.

  Peregwin shook his head. “I’ve only caught pieces of conversations, but I think they want to set upon the Flatlands pack two moons from now.”

  Two moons. Briar added up the days in his head. By then, it would have been close to a week since he and Rohan had been together. His body should be able to keep producing the hormones their baby needed for at least that long. But if they didn’t escape by then?

  Briar took three deep breaths. He wouldn’t let himself think that way.

  He stroked the crystal necklace around his neck, desperately hoping that everything he’d felt for Rohan hadn’t been a lie. What would he do if Rohan still planned on giving him to the rogue army? He couldn’t wonder about that now, though. His first mission was to save their child. Then he could worry about saving himself.

  He looked up as the door opened and Klaw trudged in with a scowl on his face.

  “Did you finish up with those two stags?” he growled.

  Peregwin nodded. “I’m just salting the second one now.”

  “So you haven’t finished yet,” he snapped back. “We need that meat ready to go within two moons. The pack has a lot of ground to cover. And you have a pre-war feast to prepare. The hunters are dropping off some fresh kills this evening so finish up with this.” He kicked at the table leg, sending everything rocking.

  Peregwin pretended to not be bothered by Klaw, but Briar could see his hands tremble as he worked faster. “Yes, I’ll have that ready.”

  “You’d better. I’m done with you disappointing me.” Klaw turned out the door without giving one look to his newborn pup. Briar seethed with anger. No omega deserved to live in this horrible place.

  As he watched Klaw walk out the door, Birar eyed the key hanging against Klaw’s chest. Then something next to the key caught his eye. His blood turned cold. It was Rohan’s necklace. The one Briar had made for him. What was it doing around the pack leader’s neck? His heart sank at the thought of what that might mean. Had he hurt Rohan? Killed him? Brair’s heart pounded against his chest. What was the point of escaping if his entire future was gone?

  He squeezed his eyes shut and said a quick prayer to the moon that his mate was safe, and that they and their child would survive this.

  “So it sounds like I was right.” Peregwin pressed his lips together. “We’ll have to make a plan for your escape when the alphas are out for the attack. If you don’t make it out before then, they’ll send you to the auction with the other omegas they capture.”

  Briar nodded, but his stomach was sick. He thought of all those omegas lined up, waiting for their horrible fate. He looked at the baby sleeping soundly in Peregwin’s arms. What kind of future did the innocent child have in this world? What kind of future did any of them have?

  Briar’s jaw clenched. He had to stop thinking about things he couldn’t change. He had to focus on his escape.

  But he couldn’t stop worrying about everything on his mind. Briar’s stomach churned as he thought of all the uncertainty facing him. Would their child be okay after they’d been separated for so long? Would he and Rohan be able to escape? Would he be able to trust his alpha now that he knew the truth?

  “Curse the moon, I’m out of cord.” Peregwin frowned, and Briar could see the deep worry creases press into his forehead. He rarely showed it, but it was clear Peregwin felt the pressure of performing his tasks and caring for his newborn pup, not to mention recovering from giving birth.

  “I’ll gather more grass for the cord,” Briar said quickly. “I’m sure a guard will escort me if I tell him how angry Klaw will be if we don’t get this done in time. You stay here and try to relax until I’m back.”

  Peregwin nodded with a small smile. “Thank you.”

  Briar shook his head. “No, thank you. For everything you’ve done for me.”

  He threw some tanned hides onto the ground, and, ignoring the other omega’s protests that he should keep working, helped lower Peregwin into a comfortable position before heating up some herb water to feed to the little baby. He took a minute to watch the baby suckle and coo happily in Peregwin’s arms. The sweet little thing had inherited Peregwin’s cheerfulness.

  Briar tried not to feel sad at how Klaw had reacted when he’d found out his son was an omega. It was customary for alphas to choose a name for their child, but it was clear that Klaw couldn’t care less about his beautiful little boy. He certainly wasn’t going to spend a second thinking of a name for him.

  “What about Ollas?” Briar asked. “I mean, as a name for the baby.”

  “Ollas,” Peregwin repeated. “Where have I heard that name before?”

  “It’s the name of a yellow flower that blooms in the spring.” He touched the baby’s smiling cheeks. “It reminds me of this happy little one.”

  Peregwin grinned down at his child. “Do you like that name?”

  The baby cooed back, grasping Peregwin’s finger with his own tiny hand.

  “Ollas,” Peregwin murmured with love in his voice, eyes drooping sleepily. “It’s perfect.”

  Ollas yawned, cuddling closer to Peregwin’s chest. Briar smiled and pulled a hide over the two of them as they drifted off to sleep. Hopefully Peregwin would get some much needed rest while Briar was gathering more grass to wind cord from. He rose and padded softly out of the hut, closing the wooden door as silently as he could.

  “Where are you going?” a guard barked, using his height to loom over Briar, as if the om
ega would let himself be intimidated.

  “We need more grass for cord to hang the meat. You can escort me to gather it, or you can explain to Klaw why we weren’t able to prepare the meat rations for the attack.”

  The threat seemed to do the trick. The alpha grumbled something under his breath before grabbing Briar by one of the dangling weights on his collar and dragging him through the street toward the large open fields surrounding the village.

  The very last building at the edge of the village was the storage hut that Briar knew too all well. Was Rohan still locked up in there? Briar scented the air, his senses filling with the familiar smell of his alpha. Despite everything, his heart glowed with comfort. Rohan was still alive. For now. But what did the Bloody Fang plan to do with him?

  Rohan

  The taste of blood still clung to his mouth and there was nothing to rinse it with. Every battered bruise on Rohan’s body stung as he lifted his head. How long had he been unconscious for? He remembered being shot with the poisoned dart and then questioned—no, more like tortured. He’d refused to tell Klaw anything about the rogue army. Not because he wanted to protect the other rogues, but because he knew Klaw would kill him as soon as there was no more information to get from him. He couldn’t let that happen. Not when he still had to save his omega and unborn child.

  Another wave of pain crashed through him when he remembered Briar’s face when he’d found out the truth. Curse the moon, this was why Rohan hadn’t planned to tell him until they were safe in the mountains. How was Briar supposed to trust him now? Rohan only hoped that their love was enough to help Briar see that Rohan would never hurt him. He touched his hand to the necklace Briar had given him, only to find his neck was bare.

  A deep, sad loss seeped into his bones. He thought of how hard his sweet little omega had worked to craft the beautiful gift. He’d planned to treasure it forever, but now he’d allowed it to become lost.