Vor shook his head. His mask slipped, showing he was clearly in pain.
“Don’t,” Snow snapped. Concern for Vor took control, overriding his need for a few seconds. “Go if you must. I have the godemiche. I’ll survive without you.”
Vor closed his eyes, trembling. “I don’t want… to leave you… alone.”
“I’ll manage. I’ve done so for years without you. Please… don’t endure this pain for me.” Snow whimpered. “Go… before I can’t let you go.”
Vor growled low in his throat. The sound of it set something off within Snow, sparking his need into flame within. Snow stifled a moan, turning his head from Vor when all he wanted was to lean closer and surrender to his mate.
When Vor leapt from the bed, Snow silenced a sob. Vor pulled on his braies and boots, his broad back to Snow. As his alpha rounded the bed towards the door, Snow searched the table beside the bed, reaching for the godemiche they’d made him.Before he could capture it, he was hauled out of bed and tossed over Vor’s shoulder.
“What’re you doing?” Snow demanded.
Vor didn’t answer. He growled, unlocking the door. The rumble from the growl vibrated through Snow, causing another moan. Slick dripped from him, more with every jostle and step Vor made. On their path to wherever Vor was taking him, Snow noticed the cottage was empty.
The front door was opened. Vor leaned over. Snow thought it was to let him down, but that wasn’t the case. He rose again and exited the cottage, the warm early spring sun cast down over them. It warmed his bare bottom and back.
“Vor?” Snow forced out as he writhed against his alpha’s shoulder. “What are you doing?”
“Breeding you,” Vor growled, striding across the meadow.
He stopped within a copse of trees near the cottage. Snow was lowered to his bare feet, toes touching soft moss. His back was shoved against the trunk of a wide beech tree, the bark scratching his back. A glint of light hit him before Vor swung his silver axe into the tree beside them. He swung a few more times before lodging it there then lifting and pinning Snow against the trunk.
After fumbling with the ties of his braies, Vor freed his cock and rammed it into Snow’s slick, gaping hole. He clung to Vor, wrapping his arms around his alpha’s neck and holding tight as he was pounded into.
Without stopping, Vor snatched the axe handle and made several more rough chops into the trunk of the neighboringbeech. Snow shuddered against his alpha, overjoyed Vor had come up with something that satisfied their heat and rut—and hopefully the curse.
The sweet smells of the meadow finally blooming with early spring flowers filled his nose, along with the verdant aroma of the grass and leaves. Vor’s musky, alpha scent, his sweet slick, and the aftermath of their earlier fucking blended with those. It was a heady mixture that threatened to make his head spin.
At some point, the instinct took over and he barely remembered what came next besides the animal grunting, sweat-coated bodies, and untold pleasure. He woke, out of breath and gasping, cradled in Vor’s arms. He writhed before hissing, forgetting that they were likely bound. Vor’s knot indeed kept them locked together.
“That was… interesting,” Snow said between inhales.
Vor chuckled. “I tried to hold back, but the pain was driving me mad. I hope this is okay?”
Snow caressed his alpha’s cheek. “Of course it is.”
They spent the rest of the day at the edge of the meadow, fucking and Vor chopping, one done well and the other poorly. When the sun lowered behind the trees, Vor lifted him and carried him back into the cottage, only stopping to snag ale, water, and some bread. After Vor had wiped both their bodies down and they’d both had a few bites to eat, they rested.
Until they roused again for the next wave. And on it went for three days, until they could barely move from exhaustion.
On the last evening, when they were both spent, Snow drifted off and awoke in a warm tub. He glanced up at Vor who trailed his fingertips absently over Snow’s thigh.
“The last thing I remember was passing out in the meadow. I’m sorry you had to carry me inside. You’re more exhausted than I am.”
“Nay,” Vor said. “You have it much worse than I. And it is my role to tend to you. To protect you.”
Snow lifted Vor’s hand to his lips and kissed the fingers that had shown him nothing but pleasure and adoration. “Thank you for that protection. I’ve never felt more loved than I do with you, Vor.”
Vor met his stare. “Because I love you, Snow White.”
Snow fought a sob. “And I, you, my alpha.”
Chapter Twelve
Snow slept for an entire day after his heat, cuddled in Vor’s bed. None of the alphas complained that he’d wasted a day. Shen and Hwa brought him stew, bread, and ale, and after ensuring he was safe and unharmed, left him to sleep. The next day, Snow forced himself from bed. There was too much around the cottage that needed to be done for him to laze about.
Exhaustion left Snow barely able to think straight, let alone complete his chores, but he did as well as he could. Near the midday meal, a knock came upon the door. Who could it be so far in the wood? When he opened it, a wrinkled old man smiled up at him. The elder omega hefted a basket of bright, red apples.
