Chapter 14

Blaide

Slipping through the gates had been easier than he'd expected. If he'd been alone, he wouldn't have worried since they'd have been less likely to deny him, and even if they had, he could have scaled the wall. But having Liz with him would have made that harder.

Blaide breathed easier as they moved under the trees. Liz's grip on his arm loosened, but she didn't let go, the contact assuring him she wasn't falling behind. He kept to a slower pace than usual, but he was eager to get her to shelter. He didn't know how long it would take for the full force of her heat to hit, and they were hours from his den.

Thinking over the best route to take, he debated between heading through the village or cutting a straight line to his territory. The village was out of the way and would add hours to the trip, but they could stop there if needed.

He shook his head at himself, knowing he'd never be able to settle and care for her properly if they weren't in his den.

Turning his steps, he aimed straight for his home. Even saving time by not going through the village, it would be well into the morning before they reached safety at their current pace, yet he couldn't bring himself to push her any faster.

Liz remained silent, carefully taking sips from the bottle of water he'd given her once they were through the gates. It was full dark under the trees, yet she seemed to see as well as he did, looking around as they walked.

He jerked to a stop a few steps later when something touched his tail. When he looked over his shoulder, he saw she'd wrapped her favorite tail around his while she twirled the others in the air behind her. Liz followed his gaze and squeaked before reaching to tug her tail away.

"Sorry. I swear they have a mind of their own."

She wouldn't look up at him, but even in the darkness, he saw her cheeks flush a darker red. Grinning, he reached out to tip her face up to his.

"I don't mind. I was just startled since people rarely touch me, especially my tail."

Her eyes rounded, lips popping open.

"But it's so fluffy!"

A chuckle rolled through him even as his tail lifted at the praise. In truth, he'd allowed no one to handle his tail, but he already missed the feel of hers wrapped around it.

Unable to resist, he dropped a quick kiss to her forehead before turning and urging her to walk again. He wanted nothing more than to feel all of her against him, and the sooner he got her home, the sooner he could indulge his wish.

A few hours passed before he noticed her dragging her feet. Her head drooped, and her tails no longer played behind them, hanging almost to the ground as her energy waned. When she stumbled, he swooped down and lifted her into his arms.

"I-I'm sorry. You don't have to carry me. I'll keep up."

Though she tried to wiggle from his grasp, he could hear the exhaustion in her voice. He doubted she'd slept well the night before with her cycle beginning, and the brief nap she'd taken in his room wasn't enough to keep her going through the night. Her slight weight was nothing compared to the long marches he'd endured in the military with a pack three times heavier than her, and he knew she'd need the rest.

"It's okay. Let me carry you for a while. You can walk when you feel better."

Her body stiffened as if she still wanted to argue, but he increased the purr he'd been using to keep her comfortable. She finally relaxed into his hold, wrapping her arms around his neck and resting her head on his chest.

"Only for a little while."

Her sleepy murmur barely reached his ears. A few minutes later, he had to hold back a chuckle when soft snores rose from where she rested. Pride bloomed in his chest, giving his steps a boost as he increased his pace. It was crazy to think the little omega he'd just met trusted him enough to sleep in his arms, but there was something between them that neither of them could deny.

And she'd agreed to his terms.

He'd forced himself not to think about her acceptance and what it meant, but it was hard to ignore. His little Red was going to let him claim her. She would be his. Forever.

He grimaced as blood surged below his belt again. It was impossible to keep his desire under control around Liz, and it made walking painful.

Pulling his attention back to the surrounding jungle, he forced himself to focus on the ground ahead of him, being careful to take the smoothest path so Liz could sleep. It meant taking a winding trail through the trees instead of cutting straight through, but he didn't mind. Being able to move at his pace still cut down on the time it would take to get to his den.

The sun was sending its first morning rays through the leaves when Liz finally stirred. Her snores stopped with a cute hiccup before she raised her head and looked around. Her ears tickled his chin, and her gaze turned up to him when he huffed a laugh into her hair.

"How long was I asleep?"

He longed to soothe the crease between her brows and kiss her frown away, but with how much her scent had increased in the past few hours, he'd never stop if he laid his lips on her. Just the thought had him aching and reminded him how long he'd already been walking with a hard-on.

"Don't worry about it. You needed the rest."

Her frown deepened and her lips parted, but she gasped in pain instead of speaking. She released his neck and clutched at her belly as a whine rose from her throat. His chest clenched.

"Is it much farther?"

Her whispered question sent a spike to his heart. Even at the pace he'd kept as he carried her, it would be a few hours more, but he didn't want to tell her that.

"I can get us there faster if you climb onto my back."

It wouldn't be as comfortable for her, but then he'd be able to run.

"No, you've already carried me too long."

When she wiggled and pushed at his arm, Blaide reluctantly stopped and set her on her feet. A moment later, she doubled over with another gasp.

He waited until the worst of it passed before he reached out and took her chin, making her look up at him.

"At the pace I was going, it would be almost noon before we make it to my den. Can you walk faster than before?"

He knew the answer, but watched the same thoughts flick across her face before he continued.

"I can carry you and get us there faster than you can walk. If I run, we can be there in half that time."

Her eyes moved to the leaves above them. It was hard to tell where the light came from because of the thick canopy, but the color of it let her know it was still early morning.

"But won't you be too tired to…"

She trailed off and his erection kicked inside his pants, encouraged by the fact she was thinking of their mating. Smirking, he stepped closer and slid his hand into her dark hair.

"I'll be fine. I can rest while you build us a nest."

Liz's lips parted, her pupils expanding until they almost swallowed the green of her irises as she let out a low moan.

"It's the only way to get us there faster. I don't think you have the time to argue."

It was a moment before sense returned to her features. Wrinkling her nose, she let out a huff before giving him a curt nod.

Swinging his pack around to his chest, he adjusted the straps before crouching and turning his back to her. Her hands were hesitant as they crept around his neck, but he grabbed her wrists and pulled them tighter around him. She tried to wrap her legs around his waist but couldn't get her ankles to lock, so he held out the straps of the bag.

"Put your legs through here, then tuck your feet against my back."

She followed his instructions, the tops of her feet pressing against each side of his spine above his tail. He worried the straps would cut into the back of her knees and be painful, but it was the best solution he could come up with.

Slipping his fingers between her pants and the strap, he cushioned her legs as much as he could and rose to his feet. Her arms tightened and one hand slipped under the collar of his shirt, fingers tangling in the hair on his chest. She let out a small whimper as he hitched her higher, but he pushed his purr louder.

"I've got you. Just hang on and we'll be there soon."

Blaide took a few strides to test the way her weight rested on his back before breaking into a lope. He kept his grip on the straps to reduce the pressure on her legs and so she didn't have to hold all her weight on her arms. The trees blurred past as he followed his instincts home.

Whimpers of pain regularly came from over his shoulder, and the wetness soaking into the back of his shirt wasn't only his sweat. The delicious scent of slick teased him, driving him on as he recognized the outer perimeter of the land he'd claimed.

"Almost there. Just a little further."

A weak whine was all that met his words. He pushed himself harder. An omega's heat was extremely taxing on their body and forcing her to trek through the jungle at the start of it would sap her strength. He worried about dehydration as her body continued to prepare for his invasion, and it was a relief to approach the door of his den.

Stooping to let Liz off his back, a moment of worry struck him as he stared at his simple wooden door. It was sturdy and safe, but there was nothing attractive about it, and the inside of his home was much the same.

Suddenly self-conscious, he cleared his throat as he straightened and turned to look down at Liz. Sweat plastered bits of hair to her face, and her drenched clothing stuck to her small body. Her tails hung to the ground behind her as she clutched her belly, though she tried to give him a smile.

"Is this it?" she asked when he hesitated. Nodding, he sucked in a deep breath and shoved his feelings aside.

Turning to the door, he unlocked it and stepped aside to let Liz through first. The inside was dim without lights, but enough sun came through the windows for him to move around her and fumble the switch on. He rarely used the power from the little generator he'd stashed in the closet in the front room, but he had better things to tend to than candles or a fire.

Avoiding looking at Liz to see what she thought of his den, Blaide moved to the kitchen area and pulled out two cups to fill with water. He'd restricted his own drinking during the trip so Liz would have enough, but both water containers had been empty since he'd started his run. He was desperate for a drink and knew she would be too.

Coming back to her with the cup, he finally looked at her face, surprised to see a smile lighting it. Her gaze moved around his foyer, clearly delighted with what she saw.

"This is wonderful. It's…" She paused and Blaide's breath caught as he waited for her to find the word she wanted. "Cozy."

His breath left him on a sigh. That was the way he thought of his den as well, and he was glad to see the small space didn't bother her.

"I built it when I moved here."

Her lashes widened further before she gasped in pain and closed her eyes. The scent of fresh slick rose to entice his nose, and his erection returned full force. She didn't have time to stand around talking about his home. She needed nesting material and sustenance.

Pushing the glass into her hand, he waited until she lifted it to her lips before draining his and turning to open the door to his room. It wasn't much larger than the bed in the middle of it, but it was all he'd ever needed.

"The, uh, bed is in here. I can strip the sheets and—"

"No."

Liz grabbed his arm, slipped past him, and drew in a deep breath.

"It smells of you. Leave it."

She aimed her blown pupils up at him. Blaide fought the urge to tackle her onto the bed and cover her with his body. Gritting his teeth, he forced himself to back up.

"I'll get you more blankets, then."

Nodding, Liz turned back to his bed, moving toward it as he backed through the doorway. It was almost painful to pull his eyes away from her, but he knew if he didn't, she'd forever remember how her claiming nest wasn't perfect. On a visceral level, omegas needed to create a safe, comfortable space to accept their alpha, otherwise, they would struggle to find happiness in the union. Nests were a source of pride, and he'd be damned if he was going to deny her the satisfaction.

Refilling and drinking his glass, he then filled it again before pulling out enough dried meat for the two of them. He doubted she wanted to eat, but she needed the energy and so did he. Digging out the few baked treats he'd picked up at the market, he pulled his extra bedding from the closet before returning to the bedroom with the entire stack.

His Red was kneeling in the middle of the mattress, holding his pillow to her face and breathing in his scent with little huffs of delight. He almost dropped everything and pounced on her but held back by sheer force of will.

Liz startled when he cleared his throat, turning to stare up at him with pitch-black eyes. The moan she released had his own precum soaking into the front of his pants. He groaned in return before moving to deposit the extra blankets on the end of the bed.

"These are all I have. I hope it's enough."

He forced the words through clenched teeth, swearing to himself he'd order the softest pillows and blankets before her next heat came. Just thinking of tending her through another had him glowing with pride, knowing he was going to claim this omega and be there for the rest of her life.

Liz crawled to him once he'd freed his arms of the cloth, running her hands up his chest and making his ruff stand on end.

"It's perfect."

Her husky words sent another pulse of need through him, and he almost crushed the little cakes he'd brought for her. Remembering the tasks he still had to complete before he could have her, he stepped back and thrust his glass into her hand.

"Drink."