by Zoey Ellis
The general continued to ride out to wherever she had traveled during the day, take her on the ground, and then carry her back to his house. He didn’t care who happened to witness them or where she was. At first, she wondered how he knew where she had traveled, but it became obvious that he had messengers all over Ariyon who told him where she was. They were clever keeping out of her view, but that was the only way he could know.
As she became familiar with the Ariyon territory, she started to make his evening claiming of her more challenging; hiding in barns, swimming in lakes, or tearing across fields on horseback. But it didn’t slow down the general. He was almost belligerent in his intentions to have her wherever she was at the end of each day, and she reveled in it.
A specific spot on his neck where his scent was most potent began to entice her whenever they were at their most primal, but she knew if she let herself explore that, she would be trapped with him.
One evening, the general didn’t arrive. Ria paced nervously by her horse, looking out for the Alpha, but when he didn’t arrive by the time the sun had set worry burned in her gut. Nothing could have happened to him, surely. He was a general with the protection of many warriors. She was just being silly. Still, the relief that pounded through her when she heard his horse approach was palpable.
“You’re late!” she couldn’t help but snap as he dismounted. “Where have you been?”
The corner of the Alpha’s mouth quirked up as he lifted her into his arms. “You were waiting for me.”
Ria was about to firmly protest, but then she saw something in his expression she hadn’t seen for a long time—that hard wariness. “You had a rough day,” she said, peering into his eyes. “What happened?”
The general stilled, his smile fading from his mouth. “Nothing for you to worry about.”
“Is my brother all right?” The general had been speaking to her brother frequently; he’d said that he would visit soon.
“Your brother is fine.”
“What about…” She thought about all the people who she’d met across Ariyon. “What about all the farmers and merchants and their families? Are they all right?”
“There’s nothing for you to worry about, Ria.”
Ria threaded her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss into his jaw, savoring his scent and allowing it to soothe and calm the worry that she experienced. The general’s hands slipped under her tunic, and he groaned when he found how wet she was.
“I admit it,” she whispered in his ear. “I was waiting for you.”
Unbuckling himself, the general didn’t even bother to lower them to the ground. He impaled her on his length, grabbing her ass to work her up and down and round on his cock while he stood, until a blistering orgasm seized her.
The next day, as Ria was trying to decide where she should go, she realized that although she had traveled across all of Ariyon for over three months, there was one place she hadn’t visited. She saddled up her horse, and rode to the mountains.
She was surprised to see the general’s horse at the entrance. It was the first time she had traveled to his location, and she wondered where he usually was during the day. She assumed that he spent most of his time at his base, training new warriors, and overseeing the trading between territories, but she’d never asked him. Based on when they first met, she knew he’d also dealt with the mountain people too.
The guard at the entrance greeted her but didn’t stop her from entering.
As she trudged down the valley, she wondered why she hadn’t visited the mountains before. Maybe she had unconsciously pushed it aside, avoiding the fact that the mountains had been her home. But it couldn’t be home without the people she had been there with. She didn’t remember her mother or father, and her brother was no longer in the territory. She couldn’t also ignore the mountain people there didn’t accepted her. They’d tolerated her for the short time she had questions, but they wanted to be left alone to their own way of life, which she appreciated.
In the mountain town, they were preparing for a tour to arrive, so they could trade goods. It was busy and bustling, at least busier than usual, and she bumped into the man who’d helped her when she’d last visited.
“You’re back,” the old man said, his face stretched in surprise. “Does the general know you’re here?”
Ris shook her head. “Where is he?”
The man waved his hand, an irritated expression creeping over his features. “He is talking to some of the people deeper into the mountains, in one of the other towns. He’s been here every day lately, getting in the way.”
Ria thought for a moment, recalling the general’s demeanor the night before. “Is something wrong?”
The man shook his head. “Nothing more than usual,” he remarked. “Just the Lox trying to interfere with things that have nothing to do with them. At least before, he barely entered the mountains. Now, he’s here all the time harassing us all in one way or another.”
Ria frowned. The general never once mentioned that. “Where is he?”
The man gave her a wary look, pursing his thin lips pointedly. “The last time I helped you, the general arrived here infuriated. I thought he was going to attack me.”
Ria almost laughed but held it in. “I apologize for that, elder. But I assure you nothing will happen this time.”
The man made a disgruntled noise at the back of his throat but pointed to the location of the town the general had been seen in for the last few months.
Ria followed his directions, marveling at all the things that she hadn’t taken the time to notice about the mountains before; grazing herds, orchards, and the laughter of children playing nearby. She came upon the town the man had mentioned and asked about the general. The people, although even more suspicious and reserved than the initial town closest to the entrance, pointed to where he was.
As she approached, she was shocked to find him outside one of the houses, bare-chested and chopping wood.
She stopped in her tracks, wondering what was happening. Was he not working in his capacity as a general anymore? She approached slowly, confusion forcing her forward.
“General,” she said as he swung the axe down.
The general straightened, surprised. “Ria. What are you doing here?”
Ria found it difficult to answer. Although she saw the man’s body every day, underneath her, on top of her, around her, seeing his muscles bulge and contract as he swung an axe was something else. “I… just wanted to see the mountains today.” She inched forward. “What are you doing?”
A faint smile graced the general’s mouth. “You spoiled the surprise.”
Ria stared at him blankly. “What surprise?”
He lifted a hand, gesturing toward the house. “We are moving here.”
“We are?” That certainly was a surprise. “And the mountain people are all right with that?”
“No, of course not,” he growled. “But I don’t care.”
Ria lifted her shoulders. “We don’t have to move here. We can stay where we are in the mainland.” In the back of her mind, it occurred to her that leaving Ariyon would also be easier if she wasn’t in the mountains. But she wasn’t sure that was a genuine concern anymore.
The general tilted his head toward the house. “Go and look inside.”
Ria shot him a strange look and headed toward the house. It was larger in comparison to some of the others in the mountains�
�most of them were cottages, but this had an upper floor. She explored the large living room and fireplace on the ground floor, then the small kitchen. Upstairs, a master bedroom took over most of the space, and two smaller bedrooms were tucked away on one side. Everything had been simply decorated, more homely than the general’s house in the mainland, but still simple. It was nice.
As she walked around the house, a strange feeling grew in her stomach until it erupted as she looked around one of the bedrooms. She recognized this place. She’d been in this room before.
When she exited the room, the general stood out in the passage, filling it with his bulk. He stared at her with a knowing look.
“This was where I lived?” she asked, her voice hoarse.
He nodded. “You, your mother and father, and your brother.”
“How did you find this place?
“Your brother and some of the people here.”
“And they just let you have it?” That seemed unlikely.
“Not exactly,” he said ruefully. “I told them I wouldn’t have their secret portal destroyed, as long as I monitor it, of course, and they let me buy this property.” He glanced around the house. “I’ve been getting it restored.”
“Is that why you were angry yesterday?”
The general tensed a little. “The mountain people enjoy making things difficult. I wasn’t angry, just tired of them.”
Thea nodded, a lump forming on her throat as she looked around again. This had been her home once. After a long moment, she glanced back at the general. “And you want to live here?”
The general lifted her up into his arms. “I think you would be happier here than in my house.”
“But I thought you didn’t like the mountains?”
“Yes,” the general admitted. “But I love you.”
A rush of pleasure spread through Ria’s body so quickly that she was giddy. “You do?”
The general turned, taking her into the master bedroom. “I was looking forward to a life with you for a long time, Ria, even before I met you. I am determined to have it.” He lay her down on the bed, stroking his fingers through her hair as she stared up at him. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that you are from the mountains, the source of my frustration for the last two years.”
Ria couldn’t help but smile. “We mountain people are all difficult, General. You should have learned that by now.”
He smiled, and it was breathtaking. “It’s Thorec.”
“Thorec,” she whispered, suddenly shy.
He began to unbutton her tunic, and Ria watched him, a strange feeling coming over her that what was happening was unusual for them. He was not chasing her, they were not outside, and they were not in his bed at his home.
He ran his large fingers over her skin, squeezing all the pudgy parts of her she knew he took pleasure in.
“You will carry my children, Ria,” he said solemnly. “It is time.”
Ria squeezed her eyes shut. “I cannot promise that to you, Thorec,” she whispered. “I still don’t know how I can be yours when I don’t know who I am.”
Thorec pressed a firm kiss on her neck, sending goosebumps racing down her arms. “You are the Omega who owns this Alpha, little Ria. Accept that that is enough.”
Her eyes opened, and their eyes locked as she examined his gaze, seeing only adoration and desire in them. She’d been more comfortable here with him than any other time in her life. Could she really ever leave him now? Lifting her head, she flicked her tongue across his lips, whimpering as his tongue darted out to graze hers, then dipped her head to the sweet spot at his neck and dug her teeth in, claiming him as her own.
* * *
Epilogue
THOREC
Ria was beautiful pregnant.
She glowed with a radiance he’d never seen before, and Thorec found he was unable to stop looking at her. He also struggled to spend his days too far away from her, returning to the mountains numerous times a day when he was out in the Ariyon mainland. It wasn’t that he worried about her safety. In fact, the bond that hummed deep in his chest told him that she was content and happy. He just wanted to be with her and their child.
He hadn’t been sure how she would feel being in the mountains. Although she grew up there, it didn’t mean she wouldn’t feel trapped, considering how much she’d traveled in mainland Ariyon. That was the main thing he’d learned about Ria when he brought her home from Ashens. She liked to wander, but it didn’t have to be far. She still spent her days traveling the valleys, visiting mainland Ariyon, and had even shown an interest in helping some of the tours of the mountains.
Thorec was happy for her to do all of that as long as she was on his cock when he was finished for the day. It was harder to be publicly adventurous in the mountains. Thorec didn’t particularly care who saw him fucking his woman, but Ria was mortified at the idea of the mountain people catching them. Still, she made him work for it in their home and when they visited the mainland. And that made it all worth it.
Surprisingly, the mountain people got used to him being among them quicker than he thought. He suspected they tolerated him as much as he endured them, but they seemed to enjoy Ria’s company and her interest and respect for their traditions. Knowing she had once been one of them also helped, but Ria admitted she didn’t yet feel like one of them.
Of course, the treaty between the mountain people and the Lox had to be revised significantly once he moved there, but he had more leverage now. Not only did he now know about their illegal portal, but he also knew that much of the privacy they claimed they wanted to maintain, wasn’t something that existed before the Lox came into power. So he negotiated that both he and Ria, and anyone they authorized could enter the mountains whenever they choose, as long as they respected mountain culture and customs.
As such, Ria’s brother regularly visited, which pleased her. He could only visit when he wasn’t on tasks for the Lox, but Ria was understanding. She’d been more nervous about what he would think of them living in their parents’ house, but soon after he arrived, he was sharing stories of what he remembered about the house and town, and their relationship was building steadily.
When Ria became too heavy to traipse up and down the valleys, Thorec finished his days early so he could carry her up to the higher grounds and look over the nearby mountain towns.
“Don’t you think it’s beautiful up here?” Ria sighed one afternoon, snuggled into Thorec’s lap.
He brushed his lips over the scar of the claiming bite he had given her after she bit him, creating the soul-bond between them. “Yes.”
She glanced at him. “You’re not looking at the mountains, Thorec.”
His mouth twisted into a smile. “I am looking at the most beautiful thing in the mountains, Ria.”
“I can’t believe you don’t see the beauty from up here,” she said, wrinkling her nose. “Everyone else can see it.”
“I told you I do see it.”
Ria sighed in annoyance, shifting in his lap. “Did I tell you, Hal thinks it will be a boy? He said he is certain.”
Thorec made a gruff noise in the back of his throat. “Hal should spend more time focusing on his crops,” he growled. “The man is a busybody and provides no value to the mountain people at all. I wish I had known that before.”
Ria grinned. “He’s a complainer,” she admitted. “But he has the best intentions.”
“As long as you call him Elder.”
; “That is a sign of respect here,” Ria pointed out. “And I would say his value is keeping the Lox on their toes. He’s the most effective at keeping outsiders out.”
Thorec hummed in agreement, pressing his nose into her hair to scent her. “True, but he is wrong. We are having a girl.”
Ria glanced up at him. “How can you be sure?”
“I just know, Ria.”
They sat quietly for a little while, Ria enjoying the sight, sounds, scents of the mountains, Thorec enjoying her. He had the life he’d always wanted with his Omega now, and he planned to fully experience every moment of it. The most shocking and profoundly satisfying moment with Ria, apart from when she claimed him, was when she first entered her Haze. He’d heard so much about the Omega Haze, but the thrilling experience of seeing his Omega with golden eyes, so eager to breed, and praising everything about him, sparked a rut he hadn’t been able to control. He’d been worried that the energy of the mountains would disrupt their breeding states; after all, neither of them went into one during their time in the mainland, but living in the middle of the mountains seemed to encourage it. Ria went into her Haze almost immediately after they moved.
“I have a challenge for you,” she said after a moment, a mischievous smile on her face.
Thorec narrowed his gaze. “That sounds highly appealing.”
“It is.” Her hands went to his pants. “You’re not allowed to touch me or move.”
Thorec groaned, his cock already half-hard by the time she pulled it out. “This isn’t a challenge, it’s torture,” he said, roughly as she stroked him.
“Are you saying you can’t win this one?” Ria asked, mock surprise on her face. “Will General Thorec be defeated?”
Thorec growled at the taunt, then dug his fingers into the ground as she worked her hands up and down his length, squeezing and twisting at the tip the way he liked. When she pulled the neckline of her dress down, allowing her breasts to bounce out, he almost grabbed them.