Auctioned Omega

by Kellan Larkin

  Rohan pounced on the roots, devouring them hungrily. Even though they tasted like dirt, he thanked the moon for this life saving gift.

  After consuming the entire root, Rohan felt his strength returning to him. He continued pawing at the earth, freeing more and more roots, feeling himself recover a little more of his power with each one. Once again, his omega’s cleverness might save their lives.

  Rohan returned to his task, feeling himself restored. More than just the nutrients now coursing through him, the roots had given him hope. Within a short time, he’d reached the bottom of the wall and began tunneling up on the other side, only stopping when his claws became tangled with grass roots that told him he was almost at the surface. Excitement coursed through him at being so close to freedom. The wolf in him just wanted to break out and run, but his human side told him to trust in his omega’s plan and wait for the alphas to set out for their attack.

  He shimmied backward out of the tunnel and used some of the blood roots to build a cover for the hole which he laid some dirt over to hide it incase his guards came to check on him. He couldn’t risk getting into a fight with them, which could draw too much attention and ruin the escape plan. He patted the dirt down and lay over top of it.

  And now he would wait, and trust in Briar.

  Briar

  Briar tried to hide how much his hands shook as he dished the steaming hot meat onto wooden trays, ready to be served to the horde of hungry alphas gathered in the pack master’s hall. Omegas crowded around the prep stations to help carry the food, and it only made Briar more nervous. He chewed his lip, wondering if it had been a good idea to keep his plans a secret from the rest of the omegas. He’d kept the plot between just Peregwin and himself as he feared that a frightened omega might betray them to the pack master, but what if one of the starved omegas tried to sneak a bite of food and got a dose of the wolfsbane? Briar didn’t want to leave anyone behind on their escape, but he didn’t see how an omega could keep up if they were lost in a delirium and hurling their guts up.

  On top of that, an omega was likely to react differently to the dosage than an alpha. What might leave an alpha dizzy for a few days could cause serious harm to an omega’s body. Briar would have to watch the servers carefully. With the pack constantly expanding, food was short in the Bloody Fang, and the omegas always got the smallest rations. The poor servers must have been salivating at the sight of all this fresh meat.

  Curse the moon! He glanced across the room to see a stick thin omega about to reach out and pick at a roasted duck. Then a jolt ran down his spine as he realized he knew the other omega.

  “Edrik!” He exclaimed, rushing across the room to pull his old friend into his arms. “I never thought I’d see you again after the attack!”

  The other omega looked just as shocked as he embraced Briar with boney arms. Briar’s heart ached as he felt each of Edrik’s ribs through his tattered clothes. Whatever alpha had won Edrick at the auction was as cruel as they came.

  “What are you doing here?” Edrik gaped at Briar when they parted from their embrace.

  Briar shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now.”

  “I’m so sorry you ended up with the Bloody Fang.” Edrik’s joyful expression turned to sadness. “There are some days I wished I’d died in the attack rather than be here.”

  Briar pressed his lips together, his heart breaking. Inside his belly, his pup gave a small kick, as if he could feel Briar’s sadness.

  “I won’t let them hurt you every again,” Briar whispered close to Edrik’s ear. “Tonight, we’re getting free.”

  Edrik’s eyes widened. “How—”

  “Don’t wonder at how.” Briar said quickly. “Just don’t say anything—and don’t eat the food, no matter how hungry you are.”

  Edrik nodded, and for a moment, Briar saw a glimpse of the old friend he’d grown up play fighting and sharing secrets with. He glanced at Edrik’s thin, hunched frame, remembering how he was always the strongest of their group, and the fastest to fill his basket when the older omegas would take them into the woods for foraging lessons. What had the Bloody Fang done to Edrik to steal so much of his vitality?

  Briar clenched his jaw, grabbing a tray heaped with steaming hot meat, calling out “We’re ready to serve.”

  His heart pounded against his chest as he led a dozen omegas out of the smokehouse towards the pack master’s hall. The damp air buzzed with energy. With every inhale, Briar could practically feel the excitement of the alphas who planned to feast their appetites before indulging their other carnal desire for bloodshed.

  Of course, if Briar had his way, that bloodshed would never happen.

  He took a deep breath as he pushed aside the woven curtain and entered the pack master’s hall. Dozens of hungry eyes met his. The handles of the wooden tray felt slippery in his sweaty palms. His heart picked up a crazed beat as he approached the table and he prayed that the alphas wouldn’t smell his fear.

  The pack master was always served first. Rain drummed against the roof of the hall as Briar approached Klaw’s enormous chair. Klaw's eyes followed Briar’s every step, a permanent snarl etched into his face. He still wore Rohan’s necklace, and Briar burned with anger at the sight of the crystal hanging against Klaw’s bare chest. He thought of the time he and Rohan had spent in the caverns together, getting to know one another and looking forward to their future, and how desperate he’d been to show his love for Rohan. Despite not being completely honest with Briar, there was no way his alpha was like these monsters… right?

  Even in his human form, Klaw looked savage and wolf-like. Briar’s mind went back to the night his pack was attacked. It had been a stormy night like this one when he’d first been confronted by Klaw’s cruel eyes. Those cruel brown orbs would be forever associated with the sound of Briar’s friends and family crying out for mercy.

  Briar met Klaw’s hard gaze as he set the meat in front of the pack master.

  Klaw licked his lips, grabbing at the largest slab of venison. Briar fought to keep his breathing even as the pack master inhaled the aroma of the cooked meat and growled appreciatively. Around them, the rest of the alphas were salivating in their seats around the table, barely holding back their whimpers as they waited for the pack master to start eating so they could devour the food piled in front of them.

  What would the crowd of alphas do if they discovered that Briar had tried to poison them? His eyes darted around the room, looking for an escape route just in case, but there was no way he’d make it through the pack to reach the door. He pressed a protective hand to his growing belly, saying another prayer as Klaw finally took a bite of the meat.

  Across the room, he saw Peregwin exhale a sigh of relief as the rest of the pack dove into the food, pushing and shoving one another to fill their faces as fast as they could. The din of the alphas drowned out the rain drumming against the roof, and the only thing that could be heard above their feasting was the growing rumble of thunder in the distance.

  Briar watched the alphas intently as he refilled their glasses of fermented fruit juice, praying that the wolfsbane would do it’s work. What if he didn’t get the dosage right? The plan had to work. He wouldn’t leave the rest of the omegas behind in this hell.

  A crackle of thunder exploded through the room and Briar’s pup kicked inside his belly.

  “It’s okay,” he murmured, gently rubbing the swelling bump. He took a deep breath, knowing he had to be strong for his child.

  Across the room, there was a sudden crash, followed by a scraping of stools against the wood floor as an alpha fell over in his chair and slumped against the man next to him, knocking them both to the ground.

  “Bloody moon, what’s the matter with you?” one of the alphas shouted at the fallen man, but the sound of retching interrupted him.

  Alphas were bolting from the table, pushing omegas out of the way on their rush to get out of the door before they threw up all over the food. Some just continued scarfing down
meat, grabbing the portions from the abandoned plates. Briar pressed himself against the wall to avoid being mowed down by an alpha shoving for the door screaming, “My skin is on fire!”

  Clueless omegas stared in horror as, one after another, the entire pack of alphas succumbed to the wolfsbane. The room was a chaos of noise and panic with bodies dropping to the floor in convulsions. In one corner of the hall, three wolves slashed and snarled angrily at one another as the delirium took over, making them hallucinate things that weren’t there. Many alphas simply lay limp on the floor or slumped with their faces in their plates.

  This was the moment—Briar leapt onto the table, preparing to declare to the frightened omegas that they were about to flee. But before he could open his mouth, he saw Peregwin, cowering away from an advancing Klaw, doing his best to shield the baby slung across his chest.

  “You spoiled the meat, you rotten little whore,” Klaw snarled, jaws snapping as he cornered Peregwin against the wall. “I oughta kill you and that ugly little pup of yours.”

  Baby Ollas let out a wailing cry as Klaw began to shift, but the pack master couldn’t lay a hand on Peregwin or the baby before Briar leapt from the table, shifting mid-jump, and latching onto Klaw’s neck. The larger wolf shrieked with pain, bucking and twisting to escape Briar’s fangs. Briar held on tight, tasting blood as a deep, angry growl rose up from his chest. He would never let an alpha hurt someone he cared about again.

  Deep pain radiated from his ribs as Klaw raked his claws down Briar’s chest. He gasped, feeling his hold on Klaw loosen. No, he couldn’t lose this fight. Couldn’t let his pup come to harm. Another sharp blow from Klaw’s powerful paws and Briar was sent flying into the wall. His head thudded against the wood. He moved into a crouch to protect his belly, heart pounding as Klaw paced toward him snarling. There was a wobble in Klaw’s slow step, but clearly the wolfsbane had affected him less than it had the rest of the alphas. He was still more than able to win a fight against an omega.

  Briar dashed for the door, only for Klaw to leap upon him, crushing him to the floor. A whimper burst from Briar’s lips as Klaw’s fangs bit into the back of his neck again and again, scrambling to flip Briar onto his back so he could bite at his throat.

  “I’m going to make your chewed up hide into a fur coat.” Klaw barked with laughter. “And force your alpha to wear it.”

  Briar screamed out with pain as Klaw twisted his front leg, nearly breaking it as he forced Briar onto his back. Briar instinctively wanted to curl up to protect his belly and the child within it, but Klaw pressed down on him, his rank breath hot against Briar’s neck as he barked another laugh. His fangs gleamed as he opened his mouth wide, preparing to bite into Briar’s soft skin and end his life and the life of the pup growing inside of him. Briar kicked out, still fighting Klaw’s hold with everything he had. He had to save his child, the beautiful life that he and his mate had created.

  Sharp claws glistened above Briar’s head, and he squeezed his eyes shut, bracing himself for the blow that would end his life. But it never came. Instead, there was a flurry of movement, a yelp, and a familiar scent that hit Briar with a rush of warmth.

  “Rohan!”

  Part Three—Rescued Omega

  Rohan

  Klaw whimpered beneath Rohan, begging for his life. But the savage animal inside Rohan couldn’t even hear the moaned words coming from the pack master’s mouth. Klaw had hurt Rohan’s omega. Had threatened his child. He’d never draw another breath.

  With a flash of Rohan’s fangs, Klaw’s pleading became silent, his body going limp. Never again would Klaw lead the Bloody Fang to attack an innocent pack. His hands would never harm another omega.

  He glanced down to Klaw’s bare chest and his eyes widened, seeing the necklace Briar had made him. A growl rose in his throat. To think Klaw had been wearing a symbol of his mate’s love—but after Rohan’s betrayal, was he any more deserving of it? Rohan shifted back into human form and ripped his stolen necklace from Klaw’s neck.

  Turning, he saw Briar, and instantly wanted to rush to him, but the omega was on the table, delivering what appeared to be urgent information to the room of terrified omegas.

  “... They’ll be incapacitated for a week, so gather your children, pack whatever you can carry and meet me by the river at sunrise.”

  The omegas stared at one another, clearly unsure of what to make of this. Finally, an older omega spoke out. “How can we just leave? You say the alphas can’t survive without us, but how is a group of omegas supposed to last on their own?”

  A dozen others in the room nodded in agreement and Rohan saw Briar’s expression falter. The murmurs in the room grew louder, with omegas shaking their heads. Was Briar really trying to convince every omega in the pack to join him in his escape?

  Another omega looked like he was going to shout something at Briar, but Peregwin leapt up onto the table, and called out, “Listen!”

  The entire room went silent as the normally perky omega took on an passionate expression.

  “Look around you.” Peregwin swept his arms out to gesture at the alphas lying unconscious throughout the room. “Look what we’re able to accomplish. Briar single handedly defeated the Bloody Fang army.”

  The room went silent as those words sank in.

  “He has a plan,” Peregwin continued. “A plan to ensure that no omega is ever treated this way again—a plan to ensure that your children, and their children, will never know what it’s like to be beaten at the hands of an alpha, or bought and sold like meat.” He stroked baby Ollas’s head. “We all deserve so much better than the life we’ve been given and tonight is the night to take what’s ours!” He finished with a growl that turned into a howl as he held up the key he’d torn from Klaw’s neck. The room was silent as he inserted the key into his collar and unlocked it, letting it fall to the floor with a clatter. He handed the key to Briar who did the same.

  “I’ll join you.” Another omega pushed toward the front of the room, reaching out for the key. “I never want to see a collar put around my children’s necks.”

  The atmosphere in the room changed as more and more stepped forward to claim their freedom. The room was filled with the sound of metal clattering to the floor, and then somewhere within the crowd, a howl erupted. The cry was picked up by several others in the room, and soon, the entire night air was filled with the haunting call for freedom.

  Rohan’s heart swelled with pride as he realized what Briar had done. Omegas dashed from the hall to gather their children and possessions, prepared to take the freedom they deserved. Rohan gazed at the room full of unconscious alphas. How had Briar accomplished this? He’d known his mate was clever, but this seemed like pure sorcery.

  Every alpha he’d encountered on his dash from his prison to the pack master’s hall had been either unconscious, delirious or vomiting their guts up. Whatever Briar had done, it left Rohan in awe of his mate.

  With the room clearing out, he approached Briar hesitantly. Briar’s eyes met his. So much needed to be said between them, and Rohan had no idea where to start, so he simply held his hand out, offering Briar the crystal necklace that had once been meant to express love and affection.

  “I don’t deserve this,” Rohan said.

  Briar’s eyes widened, and he took the necklace from Rohan. He just gazed at it in his hands for before murmuring, “I want to forgive you.”

  “I understand if you can’t.” Rohan’s heart thudded against his chest.

  Briar was silent for a long time before he tucked the necklace into his pocket. Finally, he said, “Come on. We have work to do.”

  ***

  The river swelled from the rain and Rohan’s clothes were damp by the time he and Briar finished laying down planks to form a bridge so that small pups could cross the river. It was only a few hours to sunrise. Soon, the area would be teaming with omegas and their children prepared to flee. Rohan eyed their makeshift bridge with concern, hoping it would hold. He looked to Briar,
knowing that he was thinking the same thing. Briar caught his glance and looked away, turning to take a seat on a fallen log.

  They’d barely spoken since they’d left the pack master’s hall. There was so much Rohan wanted to say to his mate as they waited in the moonlight, but he could hardly even hear himself over the pounding water, let alone communicate everything that had been aching in his heart for the days that he’d been separated from Briar.

  He could tell by Briar’s bulging belly that their pup was still growing strong, but he knew, and Briar knew, that they would have to be intimate together soon to make sure Briar’s body continued to support their child. His instinct had him wanting to grab his mate, push him into the wet grass and fuck him so hard he wouldn’t be able to walk straight for weeks. Being separated from Briar had left him starving for his omega’s body, but he couldn’t push Briar into something he didn’t want. Clearly he wasn’t ready to give his heart back to Rohan—if he ever would be.

  If Rohan had been honest about his involvement with the Rogue army, would it have lessened his betrayal? He cursed himself for thinking of what could have been, but it was hard not to be filled with doubts and regrets when his mate was sitting next to him, refusing to even speak. He just wished he could peer into Briar’s head and see what he was thinking, feel his pain so that Rohan would know how to make it better.

  Finally, Briar wiped the rain from his face, and said, “I know our pup needs you.” He looked away. “But this doesn’t mean I’m ready to trust you again.”

  Rohan opened his mouth to say something when Briar’s lips pressed against his. Shock exploded from every cell in Rohan’s body. For one moment, he allowed himself to believe that things were about to return to how they were, but of course, Briar was only doing this for their pup. A deep longing swelled in Rohan’s chest as he kissed Briar back, slipping his tongue into the omega’s sweet mouth. If this was the only time he got to hold his mate again, he would make the most of it.