Chapter Twenty-Nine

Kiandra

Often when I awoke from my heats, I would find myself feeling exhausted, sticky, and somewhat disoriented. Initially, my recollection of events would be hazy, but the memories would gradually resurface, and they weren't always pleasant. However, this time was different. I felt a comforting warmth all around me, securely enveloped in the strong arms of an Alpha. Despite the lingering stickiness, there was no confusion. I felt safe and content, soothed by the deep purring that filled the air, prompting me to seek the source by nuzzling my face against a broad chest.

"You've returned to me, my little Omega, haven't you?" a dark, velvety voice purred into my ear.

His voice sent shivers through my entire body, and I could feel myself grow wet once more. It had never happened so swiftly before, but I was engulfed in his potent Alpha scent, and his voice invoked memories of his commanding presence growling at me while he claimed me with fierce passion.

I sensed him inhaling deeply, savoring my scent, which elicited an appreciative sound from his lips. In no time, I found myself on my back, with Cartan positioned between my legs. I willingly spread myself for him, craving his closeness. As he entered me, I gasped at the sensation of him filling every inch of me, setting a frenetic pace that had me crying out while clinging to his powerful form.

We climaxed together swiftly, his knot locking us together, and while I was left thoroughly satisfied, I continued to bury my face in the crook of his neck, my hands tracing his form. Every inch I touched confirmed his strength, and I hummed in delight.

"You drive me to madness, little Omega," he whispered, his voice husky with desire. "I almost forgot to feed you."

I smiled, unfazed by his oversight. I had never felt this invigorated after a heat before. In the past, we had always been isolated when our heats approached, as the mere presence of an Omega in heat could drive any nearby males into a frenzy, making them willing to fight to the death for a chance to mate with me or my sisters. While it had kept us safe, it also left me with a lingering emptiness. Only now did I realize what I had truly needed, and I yearned for more.

Wrapping my legs around my Alpha, I elicited a low growl from Cartan as our connection deepened. I began teasing his skin with my teeth, sensing him trembling beneath my touch. Yet, as I became more aware of my surroundings, a strange sensation crept over me. I pulled back, my Alpha's heightened senses detecting my unease. He lifted his head, though his smile remained reassuring rather than concerned. Nonetheless, I knew something was amiss, something that felt different, though I couldn't quite pinpoint it.

"I feel strange, Cartan," I whispered, casting my gaze around our dimly lit nest, with the only source of light emanating from the entrance.

Cartan's purring grew louder, comforting me, but I couldn't shake the sensation of something being wrong. His hand glided down my body, coming to rest on my stomach, and when our unborn child sensed their father's powerful purring too, they stirred within me. I gasped, looking up at Cartan, who smiled at me with genuine affection, a look that surprised me. He had never regarded me in such a way, as if I were the most precious thing in existence.

"Am I pregnant?" I inquired.

Cartan nodded, leaning down to kiss me passionately. His tongue melded with mine, and as his knot receded, he began mating with me at a slower, more tender pace. It was then that I noticed our bond seemed to have grown stronger. He had marked me!

"You're safe, little Omega," he whispered soothingly. "I won't let anything harm either of you."

His words filled me with a delightful sense of security, and as an orgasm rippled through me, he continued to fuck me until he found his release as well, refraining from knotting me. The sensation of emptiness lingered, but Cartan assured me he needed to fetch us some food.

Left alone in our nest, I realized how reliant I had become on him. In his absence, a sense of unease washed over me, and I wrapped myself in the layers of fur that now carried his powerful scent. Completely surrounded, I felt calmer, as if he were still present, protecting me from all sides.

I listened to his approach, yet I remained still, cocooned in the warmth of the furs. His deep chuckle resonated through the room as he noticed how tightly I had wrapped myself up. A hand slipped beneath the furs, finding my calf and gently tugging. I hissed softly, reluctant to move from my comfortable spot. My body felt wonderfully used, but any sudden movements caused discomfort. I preferred to stay in the nest, but Cartan was insistent. He pulled me out and lifted me into his arms. I instinctively wrapped my legs around his waist, and his lips met mine, coaxing me to relax against him.

"Let's get you cleaned up," he murmured against my lips. He carried me to the adjacent room where a large tub awaited, already filled with warm water. I hummed in delight as the warmth eased the tension in my shoulders. Cartan's skilled hands moved over my body, washing away the remnants of our passionate encounter, and I leaned into his touch. With him so close, I could take my time to truly observe him, paying attention to the small details. A faint scar by his eyebrow, another along the left side of his jaw, and three long ones on his shoulder, as if someone had tried to rip his arm away. My fingers traced the marks as he scrubbed something fragrant into my hair, filling the air with a pleasant floral scent.

"How did you get this?" I whispered, referring to his scars.

"A panther," he replied.

"When?"

"When I was just a kid."

"How did you survive it?"

Cartan shrugged, as though surviving such an attack was a simple feat. However, his response piqued my curiosity, especially considering what Tyros's mate had told me. I realized how little I truly knew about my Alpha, so I leaned toward him, resting against his chest. A smile played on his lips as I snuggled closer.

"Tell me something about you," I urged. But his smile faded, and I sensed tension in his body beneath my touch.

"What do you want to know?" he asked, his voice strained.

"Everything."

His eyes widened, and I offered a reassuring smile before scooping up some water and letting it trickle down his sculpted form.

"Now that we have fully marked each other and created something," I continued, "shouldn't I get to know my Alpha?"

Cartan relaxed and turned me so that my back was pressed against his front. His purring reverberated through me as his hand rested on my stomach, and I gasped at the strange sensation that radiated from the tiny presence within me in response to its father.

"My story isn't important," he whispered in my ear.

I turned to look at him, puzzled by his words.

"Of course it is," I insisted. "Every story is."

He shook his head, his thumb gently stroking the extra protective layer on my stomach. "My future is important. My presence. My Omega and child. Nothing more."

His words left me feeling perplexed. I cherished stories and history, and I was eager to know his past. However, it seemed Cartan was fiercely protective of his own. Nonetheless, I was determined to uncover the truth.

"The other Alphas," I began cautiously, sensing his tension returning, "did … you kill them?"

I was aware of the power an Omega's heat held, but I couldn't recall the details.

"You don't remember?" he asked.

"I only remember you talking, arguing about my sisters and the others being dissatisfied because you hadn't given them the Omegas you promised," I explained.

"Yes, they were quite dissatisfied, but they are not dead."

"No?"

"Kylos helped, and I managed to get you out of there before anything terrible happened. Nevertheless, there was quite the commotion in the camp, but they found alternative outlets for their pent-up aggression."

"The pleasure tents?" I inquired, catching the hint of a chuckle in his voice.

"That, or they turned to physical combat. Surprisingly, Tyros informed me that no deaths occurred."

A shiver ran down my spine, the thought of Alphas succumbing to madness during an Omega's heat making me uneasy.

"It was a mistake to take you there," Cartan sighed. "I knew your heat was imminent. I shouldn't have risked it."

"They demanded my presence. I don't believe you had much of a choice. Couldn't they have forced me to go?" I pondered.

Cartan's growl rumbled through the air, but the sound didn't incite fear. It brought me comfort and I couldn't help but smile.

"No one lays a finger on you," he snarled. His hand splayed protectively over my stomach, extending his vow to the tiny presence growing within me.

"I was merely posing a question," I teased, and he nuzzled closer to my neck, inhaling my scent. "The most important thing is that no one was harmed, but yes, next time we should probably stay in the tent."

His purring resumed, this time louder, and I could feel his cock pressing against my lower back. It sent a warm shiver through me, and I subtly moved against him, teasing his hard length.

"I like the way you speak of a ‘next time'," he groaned, his pleasure evident.

"Won't you be there?" I joked, but Cartan swiftly grasped my throat, exerting gentle pressure as he turned me to face him.

"There will be no one else there but me," he growled, his tone shifting.

I smiled up at him, elated by the knowledge that only he would be with me. I pressed up to kiss him, and Cartan seized me, turning me around before impaling me on his hard shaft. A gasp escaped me as I leaned my head back in ecstasy.

"You need no one but me," he declared.

"Oh, Gods," I whimpered. He compelled me to move fast up and down on him, the impending orgasm building with intensity.

"I am your Alpha. Say it," he ordered.

I nodded fervently as pleasure surged through me.

"Say it!"

"Yes, you! You're my Alpha!" I screamed as the climax washed over me, my toes curling in ecstasy. He continued thrusting into me from below, his movements driving me wild, until he locked us together and found release as well.