Auctioned Omega

by Kellan Larkin

  “Are you okay?” Rohan asked, nuzzling Briar’s neck.

  Briar nodded. “Just winded.”

  He put his hands to Briar’s growing belly, and felt their pup kick against his touch. Relief washed over him. Their child was a fighter, just like Briar.

  “Let’s keep moving,” Briar said with determination.

  An old omega wrinkled his brow as he looked up and down Briar’s soaked frame. “Are you su—”

  “I’m fine.” He cut off the omega mid-sentence, wiping his face. “Let’s shift and get moving.”

  Rohan stayed by Briar’s side as they ran through the wild woods, surrounded by other wolves. There was a change in his mate’s attitude toward him. Every now and then, Briar would glance at Rohan, and the love in his eyes couldn’t be more clear.

  Rohan caught one of these glances as they crossed a grassland dotted with pink and yellow flowers, and Briar looked away quickly. An amused happiness spread through Rohan. His omega was a terrible flirt.

  There was a connection between them again. Rohan wasn’t sure what had happened in that frozen river that had changed his omega’s feelings, but he could feel the glow radiating off his mate.

  When they finally stopped to rest and eat in the evening, Rohan’s heart was lighter than it had been in over a week. Omegas were setting up makeshift beds and feeding their pups in the dying sunlight, and Briar came up to Rohan, still naked from shifting, with a shy look on his face.

  “You’re going to have to stop looking at me like that,” Rohan said with an affectionate growl. “You look way too sexy when you play coy.”

  Briar’s bashfulness turned into a grin. “I thought I looked sexy all the time.”

  Rohan grabbed him by the waist and pulled him into his body.”

  Good moon that felt right, having his lover’s bare skin pressed up against him. Briar buried his face in the crook of Rohan’s neck and exhaled a soft sigh. Rohan didn’t dare ask Briar if he’d forgiven him. He would just take this moment for what it was.

  He ran his hands over Briar’s belly, feeling large his slim frame had grown. He was only a third of the way to delivery, and already he had a sweet bump swelling from his abdomen. He got that shy look again as Rohan caressed him lovingly.

  “It feels so strange,” Briar said. “To have a little life moving inside of me.”

  “You look so gorgeous.” Rohan gazed into Briar’s crystal blue eyes. “I couldn’t be more in love with you.”

  Briar bit his lip, looked down, then pressed his hands over Rohan’s on his belly. “I love what we created.”

  Rohan pulled Briar into his body and buried the omega’s face in his chest, his growing belly pressed against Rohan’s abdomen so that they could both feel the playful movements of their pup. As they drifted off to sleep, Rohan felt the slow rise and fall of Briar’s breathing, and the gentle kicks of their child.

  ***

  Rohan woke to the moonlight. His cock was stiff, pressing against Briar’s thighs. He let out a quiet groan as he rutted against his mate’s soft skin. He didn’t want to wake Briar, but the pressure of his arousal was torture.

  To his relief, Briar’s eyes slowly fluttered open and a smile spread across his face.

  “Is sex the only thing you think about?” he murmured, pressing against Rohan’s hard cock.

  “When you’re around? Yes.”

  Briar laughed softly and kissed Rohan tenderly on the lips. The whole world disappeared as he tasted his mates sweet mouth, listened to his gentle moans, and ran his hands over his soft skin. Just as things were about to go further, Briar pulled away.

  “There’s something I want to give to you.”

  Rohan held in his groan of disappointment as Briar moved to root through his running bag, pulling out something that glistened in the moonlight. Rohan immediately recognized the necklace, and his heart did a small leap as Briar pressed it into his hand.

  Rohan shook his head. “I still don’t deserve this.”

  “You know, when I was in the river, I was so terrified,” Briar said, putting his hand in Rohan’s. “But I knew, without a doubt, that you were going to save me.”

  Rohan’s chest thudded against his chest.

  “You’re my mate—and nothing will ever change that.”

  When Briar fastened the crystal around Rohan’s neck, happiness overflowed in him until it was almost painful how much love he felt. They came together again, their breaths synchronizing as they lost themselves in pure emotion. Briar’s moans filled the moonlit night as Rohan expressed with touch everything that he’d held back. All the need, all the love, every possessive feeling came out as he teased Briar to climax over and over. When he finally slid inside his mate’s tight heat, Briar was whimpering for him. Rohan held him tight to his chest as he thrust into him, slowly at first, but as he lost himself in pleasure, his rhythm became faster, harder.

  Briar moaned out each time Rohan slammed into his tight little ass. Each shudder of his mate’s body drove Rohan out of his mind with arousal. He loved how responsive Briar was to his touch, how he always seemed to crave more. Rohan hoped he would always be there to give it to him.

  Briar let out a choked moan, clearly trying to say something between Rohan’s hard thrusts, but his words came out choppy. The only thing Rohan caught was, “... love you.”

  He gripped Briar’s chest, feeling his necklace there as he lost himself, releasing wave after wave into his omega’s body. They just stayed like that, the sweat cooling on their skin. Neither wanted to move and break that feeling of connection.

  Rohan was still achingly hard, feeling like he could never get enough of his mate. He began sliding in and out again, loving how his release made Briar’s entrance so slick. He wrapped his arms around Briar and groaned into his ear, “I hope you like being pregnant—because I don’t know how I’ll ever get enough of this.”

  Briar

  Their group had been moving for a little under two weeks and there was still no sign of pursuit from the Bloody Fang. The going was slow with so many small children accompanying them, but they were only a few days away from being outside pack territory. Briar’s heart grew lighter each day, even as his body grew heavier with their developing child. Each day brought new exhaustion and soreness, but he had so much to look forward to.

  The group was resting by a river bed. Rohan pulled Briar close to him so he could massage his sore shoulders as he usually did after a day’s run. Briar let out a purr of contentment as he leaned into Rohan’s chest. It felt so right to have his skin pressed against his mates. Despite everything, Briar could feel his trust in Rohan healing more and more each day. It was so clear by Rohan’s actions that he would never let Briar come to harm. Rohan’s past—who he’d been before he’d met Briar—none of that changed who he was now. He was Briar’s mate, the father of his child, and the only alpha he wanted to spend his life with.

  Rohan’s hands slid down Briar’s chest to stroke the swell of his belly. It still amazed him how quickly he was growing. He wasn’t quite two-thirds of the way through his pregnancy, but already his abdomen had grown large and cumbersome.

  “I’m so big.” He laughed. “I feel like a house.”

  “You’re so sexy,” Rohan groaned, nipping Briar’s ear. “I love watching your body grow.”

  “I’m glad at least someone is enjoying it.” Briar shook his head, smiling. The dappled sunlight filtering through the trees gave a soft glow to the moment, and he exhaled a sigh of contentment. “Have you thought of any names?”

  Rohan nodded. “I want to name our pup something that represents the new start we’re all receiving.”

  Briar smiled at that thought. “What about Danas? It means new moon.”

  “I think that’s perfect.” Rohan pressed his hands against Briar’s belly and nosed the back of his neck. “You know I’d do anything for you, right?”

  “Anything?”

  “Anything.”

  Briar laughed. “Then get me som
ething to eat. I’m starving.”

  “You’re always starving.” Rohan laughed too. “I swear you eat more than an alpha these days.”

  “It’s hard work being this sexy.” Briar gave him a saucy look.

  “Well, then I’d better feed you to help you keep it up.”

  Rohan gave Briar a quick kiss before rising and disappearing into the trees to find some fresh food. Briar’s stomach grumbled hungrily, and he could feel the baby inside of him kicking vigorously.

  “I know, I know.” He laughed. “Daddy’s going to get us dinner.”

  While he waited for Rohan’s return, he helped Peregwin feed his own little pup. Edrik joined them, cooing over baby Ollas and asking to hold him at every opportunity. In the short time since they’d escaped, Edrik seemed to have gained his old self back. Even though they were running constantly, all the omegas had put on weight thanks to the fresh food they gathered as they moved. Some of these omegas had lived their whole lives on nothing but dried meat, and had never had a complete diet. Briar enjoyed showing them how to forage for ripe berries and edible roots. The small children especially enjoyed digging up plants, even the alpha pups. Briar smiled at the thought of raising a generation of alphas that didn’t have the toxic prejudices that had enslaved their parents.

  Briar was dozing comfortably in and out of sleep in the shade of a large oak tree when Rohan returned with several pups trailing him.

  “I found some helpers.” He chuckled, plopping down next to Briar and laying out an array of berries and vegetables. The pups descended on the food too, laughing and shoving one another as they ate greedily.

  “Hey, save some for me,” Briar said, ruffling the hair on one one of their little heads.

  “You should eat quickly,” Rohan said. “We need to keep moving.”

  Briar’s mood became serious. “Did you pick up a scent?”

  Rohan shook his head. “No, but I’d like to be careful as we get closer to the edge of pack territory.”

  “I thought we’d be safer once we got away from the packs.”

  Rohan shifted, rubbing the back of his neck.

  “Is there something you’re not telling me?” Briar asked.

  “Not exactly.” Rohan exhaled a sigh. “I just worry about running into the rogue army. I have no idea what to expect if we do, but it would be best if we could avoid them.”

  Briar pressed his lips together. “We beat one army already. We can defeat another.”

  Rohan kissed Briar deeply, and murmured against his lips. “I’ll never stop wondering at how brave you are.”

  The new moon was rising when they set out again. They kept a brisk pace, but with small children traveling with them, it was slow enough to allow for chatter. Every day, there seemed to be more excitement in their group as omegas realized what their freedom would mean. They would be free to choose their own futures, and raise their children without fear of violence or fighting. Briar knew it would be a long time before they completely broke free from the mentalities that had entrapped them in their old world, but his heart soared at the thought that his child would grow up never knowing the hatred and prejudice that he’d been exposed to.

  When they finally lay down to rest for the day, he cuddled close to Rohan. He was so grateful that their child would have such a compassionate alpha role model. They made love in the dewy grass under the light of the rising sun, then fell asleep in one another’s arms with Briar dreaming of the new life they would have together.

  Rohan

  The energy in the group was electric when the mountains came into view on the horizon, marking the end of pack territory. Rohan tried not to let his own concerns dampen the excitement. Before they got to the mountains, they would have to make a run through the desolate land controlled by the rogue army, and Rohan new they were looking for omegas.

  He was troubled by how long it had taken to get this far. What should have been a week's run had taken nearly three due to the small children they had with them. How long would it take them to get through the rogue army’s territory?

  “Something wrong?” Briar asked.

  Rohan shook his head. “Let’s just keep moving.”

  “We haven’t rested all day,” Briar protested. “There are small babies that need to be fed.”

  “Okay, okay.” Rohan held his breath to keep from exhaling a sigh. He really didn’t want to worry anyone, least of all Briar in his condition.

  Briar flopped down onto the grass, groaning with exhaustion. “My everything hurts.”

  Rohan laughed, setting to work rubbing Briar’s tired feet. While the omegas rested, he kept his senses alert. It might only be a matter of time before they ran into the rogue army, and then what? There was no way the rogues could snatch up all the omegas, but Rohan didn’t want anyone left behind. Suddenly, his responsibility of ensuring his mates safety had expanded to over four dozen omegas and their children. He would just have stay aware of their surroundings and keep the group moving.

  “Come on,” he said, urging Briar to his feet after just a short break. A groan went up from the rest of the group. Rohan knew everyone was tired, but the safety of his mate and child were his first priority.

  “We’ll be in the mountains soon,” he added. “Then we can rest for as long as everyone likes.”

  Briar let out one more tired groan before shifting into his wolf. Rohan felt bad for pushing his mate so hard when his body was already going through so much, but he would never forgive himself if any of their group fell into harm. Especially one of the children.

  The sound of running paws filled the air as they set off again. Rohan kept his nose pointed up, scenting the air for any sign of danger. A few times, they ran across the cold trail of an alpha and each time it sent chills up his spine. They were definitely in the path of the rogue army.

  He looked over to see if Briar picked up the scent, but it was so faint that it was hard to notice while running unless you were looking for it. Good. He didn’t want to add any emotional stress to the burden his pregnant omega was already bearing. If he was careful, they would reach the mountains, and no one would ever know what danger they had been in.

  Once they got to the mountains, there would be caverns and tunnels that they could establish homes in, high up enough that they could spot any danger coming from long away and prepare for it. The alphas might see a pack of omegas as an easy target, but they dangerously underestimated how skilled omegas were with technology. Rohan had no doubt that Briar could devise a dozen different traps to defend their new home.

  Rohan pushed their little pack harder than he had in days, keeping them running for hours. The omegas might have felt safe with the mountains in sight, but they were in more danger than ever. Briar puffed beside him, clearly working hard to urge himself on. A pang of guilt hit Rohan as he watched his mate suffer through the physical exertion.

  “Let’s stop for the day.” He nuzzled Briars neck.

  Briar shifted immediately, collapsing into the long grass with a grateful sigh. Rohan pressed close to him and kneaded his tense shoulders. “Are you okay?”

  Briar nodded, but a flash of pain crossed his face. “Just sore and tired.”

  “Are you sure?”

  Briar opened his mouth to say something, but it turned into a grimace, and he gripped his large belly. He sucked in a gulp of air and he said, “Maybe you should get the healer.”

  Alarm shocked up Rohan’s spine as Briar winced with pain again. Had he hurt his mate by making him exert himself too much?

  He dashed off to fetch the healer, finding him napping under a dead tree. Rohan shook the old man awake.

  “Hurry, it’s Briar. Something’s wrong.” He had to explain three times over to the groggy old man, and tried not to curse him for being so slow to wake.

  “I’m coming, I’m coming,” the omega muttered as he followed Rohan. It felt like it took ages to drag the doddering old thing to where Briar lay clutching his belly in the long grass. The healer frow
ned as he opened up the bag at his side and spread out a myriad of tools that Rohan couldn’t identify.

  “When was the last time you ate?” he asked, pressing two fingers to the pulse in Briar’s throat.

  “The last time we stopped,” Briar said, his voice tight with pain.

  “And water? How much have you drank today?”

  Briar responded to each of the healer’s questions, and the old man took out a carved wooden tube, pressing one end to Briar’s belly, and placing his ear at the other end. Rohan held his breath as the old man seemed to be listening to something inside Briar’s abdomen.

  “Baby's heartbeat is fine,” he said finally. “And you seem to be in fine health.”

  Rohan exhaled a sigh of relief.

  “Sometimes these pains are just your body preparing for the delivery.”

  Shock covered Briar’s features. “But It’s not even close to time for me to deliver! The baby shouldn’t come until the next full moon.”

  The healer frowned, packing his tools away. “Pups have minds of their own. Sometimes they decide to come a little early. We’ll have to watch for that. I can prepare a tincture to help keep him in there as long as possible.”

  “Will he be healthy if he comes early?” Rohan asked, trying to hide how worried he was.

  The healer pressed his lips together. “We’ve developed technology that can help increase his chance of survival.”

  chance of survival

  So there was a possibility their pup wouldn’t make it if he came early. Rohan wouldn’t let his panic show. Briar would be upset enough. He needed his alpha to stay strong for him.

  When the healer left them, Rohan lay next to Briar, placing his hands over the omega’s large belly, holding him tight. Inside, their child kicked vigorously, and Rohan felt a surge of comfort. Danas would be fine. He was a fighter.