Chapter Text
She approached the door cautiously, there was soft candlelight spilling out from the crack under the door and the muffled sounds of the occupant inside.
Anna swallowed nervously, attempting to steel herself enough to knock, knowing that once she did her fate was sealed, but she had no other choice. If she didn't she’d be scolded and sent right back to stand in front of the same foreboding door. The village needed this adventurer's help—and she was part of the payment. There were no other unwed Omegas of age besides her, and the thought of someone even younger than her being sent into the den of a dangerous Alpha sickened her.
Her resolve hardened, she took a single deep breath and knocked with purpose on the door, much harder than she meant to. Internally she grimaced at the loud, forceful knock she’d made, it was unbecoming of an Omega, and certainly didn't set the intended tone. She was supposed to be coyly and demurely knocking on this Alphas door, before offering to warm her bed tonight… and every other night of her stay.
The noise from inside cut off suddenly then she heard quiet, careful steps approach the door, pausing before it swung open suddenly. There before her was the grizzled Alpha she’d seen speaking with the village chief. She was still dressed in same clothes as when she arrived; worn, heavy soled boots and loose fitting heavy fabric pants, but she had lost her armor and gambeson and now only wore a loose tunic that exposed knotted muscular arms, crisscrossed with a network of scars in various stages of fading and healing. She had short cropped, dirty blond hair, a sharp defined jaw and a stern expression as she scowled down at her.
Words failed her as she stood there withering under an intense gaze. The Alpha waited in silence for an answer, but when none was forthcoming she finally spoke.
“What do you want?”
Her voice was rough and her tone curt, but it wasn't as harsh or gravelly as Anna had been expecting, rather it was almost smooth—if you ignored the way she practically growled out the words.
“I- I’ve… I’m meant to… I’ve come to…”
She couldn’t say it, the words stuck in her throat, this Alpha didn’t revolt her, but the idea of… of being… vulnerable for the first time with a stranger terrified her.
“Warm my bed?”
She raised an eyebrow, the only crack in her stern expression. Anna’s heart dropped. She’d hoped if the adventurer was surprised by her offer, she would be less inclined to take her up on it—or at the very least be gentle about it. But the casual disinterest made her anxious, as though Anna was just the latest in a long line of offerings.
She nodded.
Despite feeling resigned to her fate, she still couldn’t bring herself to voice it aloud.
“I have no need for bed warming,” she grunted, then her piece said she began to close the door.
Anna stared in disbelief, before shaking herself from her stupor just in time to stop the door from closing completely.
“Please wait!”
A brief flash of irritation passed over the Alphas features, before she smoothed her expression back into the same placid, stern look.
“It-it gets very cold at night… Omegas, we-I, our body heat… it would keep you warm.”
The Alpha sighed, before opening the door wide, gesturing her inside. She entered on hurried, unsteady legs, head down, embarrassment already coloring her face. Why had she said that, to have to throw out some desperate excuse when she didn’t want to be here in the first place was…mortifying.
The Alpha closed the door behind her. Silence grew between them and Anna could feel eyes roving over her body—studying her.
“You’re a little young to be in this line of work.”
Anna whirled around to face her which she immediately regretted, her eyes trapped by her gaze as she spluttered.
“I’m not—this isn’t—I don’t know what you—anyway this—I’m not a-a…”
“Prostitute.” The Alpha finished for her.
She nodded glumly.
“So this is part of the “payment” for accepting the villages request.”
Anna fidgeted in place, uncomfortable, feeling exposed under what felt like an interrogation.
“And you’ll be punished if you leave.”
She nodded again, sheepishly, was the ploy really so obvious or was it just that easy to read her.
The Alpha sighed again, “Fine. You take the bed, I’ll sleep on the floor.”
Now Anna just felt guilty, she was supposed to be part of the payment but all she accomplished so far was being a nuisance. This adventurer had stepped up to protect their village, and here she was robbing her of her bed.
As she laid down in the thin straw bed, sneaking occasional glances at the Alpha setting up her bed roll on the floor, an idea came to her.
“I would be fine to share the bed… I was being truthful about the cold nights… and I don’t want to make you sleep on the floor.”
The idea of sharing a bed with an Alpha and a stranger made her nervous, but she could spare some discomfort for the adventurer who was protecting their town. She was already sleeping in her room either way, and if she’d wanted to do something to her she’d have done it already.
The Alpha eyed her suspiciously, “if you don’t have my scent, it will be suspicious.”
Anna froze, that hadn’t even occurred to her, but yet again this Alpha, this adventurer, was particularly insightful. It was also a very convenient excuse to convince the Alpha to help her assuage her guilt.
“Yes…” she averted her eyes demurely, hoping she still appeared the same terrified girl she’d already taken pity on, because as time went on she felt less and less afraid. The Adventurer didn’t seem particularly happy at the situation, but none of that felt directed at Anna. The adventurer’s demeanor was cool and matter of fact, and while she wasn’t exactly reassuring, she was calm, decisive, and made decisions in favor of Anna’s comfort without hesitation.
A flicker of suspicion crossed her face as Anna watched her from the corner of her eye. There was a long pause as the Alpha studied her, before she exhaled sharply from her nose, and turned to pack away her bedroll once again.
‘I suppose that’s a yes…’ Anna thought.
When she was done she approached the bed slowly, stopping a couple feet away, posture relaxed and open.
“I’ll sleep facing the wall.” Her gaze bored into Anna, holding her own with intensity. She hadn’t phrased it as a question, but as she stood there waiting, it was clear she was waiting for a response.
This Alpha was very strangely respectful, but the way she treated her was more akin to a wild animal. Anna wasn’t sure whether to be grateful or insulted.
“Yes Alpha.” There was the smallest twitch, a twisting down of her lips, so quick Anna felt she could have simply imagined it.
When no response came she began scooting over to make room, so the much larger Alpha could fit in the small bed. Only when she’d stopped moving did the Alpha begin to gingerly climb over her, taking great pains to avoid touching her as she did so. Just as she’d said, she settled herself facing the wall, nearly pressing herself against it.
It was rather ridiculous, a huge Alpha squeezing herself into less than a third of the bed to give an Omega interloper plenty of space—it only made her feel more guilty. They were also failing at the not-at-all-made-up goal of covering Anna in the Alphas scent as proof of their… her… that Anna spent the night.
She turned towards her, attempting to gather her words to broach the topic gently.
“Alpha,” the slightest tensing in the line of her shoulders indicated she’d heard her, “perhaps it would be… better if we slept… closer together…?”
When no response or movement was forthcoming Anna pressed on.
“Just… if… if I’m meant to… have your… your scent on me… should we not… wouldn’t it be…” she could feel the blush rising on her cheeks, she’d come here terrified of the night she was about to spend ‘servicing’ some unknown Alpha, and now she was begging to be held. If her mother could see her now she’d be rolling in her grave.
Thankfully the Alpha elected to take pity on her. With a grunt she turned over, moving more towards her and opening her arms in invitation. Anna carefully crawled over and hesitantly laid down facing away in the cavern of the Alpha’s arms. Once she was settled, the Alpha lowered her arm so it draped lightly over, caging her in close but with plenty of wiggle room. She laid there awkwardly, watching the lone candle lighting the room flicker absently with the draft from the window.
The candle.
They’d forgotten to put it out, if it was left all night it’d burn through all the tallow, or start a fire! The Alpha was still behind her, breathing even, had she already fallen asleep? If she got up to put it out would she wake her? Should she try to ask her what to do, she’d always been taught it was best to defer to an Alpha when she wasn’t sure.
Anna decided to check first to see if she was asleep, she had enough room to turn behind her to check. Carefully she shuffled she had enough room to twist around to look at the Alpha’s face, and found a pair of unblinking brown eyes staring back at her.
She couldn’t stop the surprised yelp that escaped her as she jolted back slightly, heart stuttering in her chest. She was now turned fully around to face the Alpha, her back pressed against her arm after her brief panicked scramble. The Alpha merely raised an eyebrow in question, still unmoving and face unchanged.
“Th-the candle.” She managed to stutter out.
The Alpha gave a grunt of what she assumed was assent, before curling her arm inward pulling Anna back against her chest and turning her around in one smooth motion. Then she flicked the fingers of her other hand and a miniature gust snuffed out the candle, plunging them into pitch darkness.
Wind magic.
It was the first time she’d ever seen magic, so she was struck with more than a little awe at such casual use of it. It wasn’t uncommon for adventurers to know a few minor spells, even if it wasn’t their focus, but adventurers weren’t common either in a small rural village like this. She had so many questions buzzing on the tip of her tongue, but she kept her jaw clenched tight. It was late, and she’d already been enough of a bother, the adventurer was probably tired and she would need plenty of rest for tomorrow. Had she grown so bold, was she so naive that she thought this Alpha’s patience was limitless? She had been kind and deferential so far, but that could easily change. If she decided Anna was too annoying to put up with? If she decided that Anna needed to repay her for the inconvenience…?
She shuddered at the thought.
No, better to make herself small and unobtrusive, just a soft, sweet smelling thing warming her bed—without the usual double meaning. She needed to focus on sleeping herself and putting this night behind her.
Easier said than done.
In the dark and the quiet, she was far too aware of the warm body brushing against her, the hot breath tickling the top of her head, the strong, steady heart beat thumping against her back, and the thick Alpha scent swirling all around her. She'd never been this close to an Alpha—not for this long. It pulled her mind towards thoughts and desires she’d never experienced before.
Her first heat had only been a few months ago, and she’d spent several days in constant, sticky discomfort, her whole body sensitive and hot, with an aching need for… something. The way she felt now was similar, but not so intense—the heat pooling in her stomach absent the anxious discomfort. What was not absent was the desire, now far more concrete and specific, and involving the Alpha sleeping next to her.
Her hands holding her, touching her; her lips on her neck, her lips, kissing her sweetly and gently; her scent enveloping her, surrounding her, protecting her, just as she was now, but… more—more than just an act of pity but one of intention, of possession. Her face felt flushed and hot, these were not appropriate thoughts for an unmarked Omega to be having, not to mention she was treating this Alpha she’d just met like a knight in shining armor just because she had been a little kind to her.
But she couldn't help the way she felt.
She'd never had thoughts like this about an Alpha before, she was hardly to blame for getting carried away, and having said Alpha draped over her and soaking her in her scent was certainly not helping.
Ah! That must be it. She'd been told an Alpha's scent could entice Omegas into impropriety. These feelings were just a reaction to their proximity, nothing more. In the morning they would part ways, and once she had washed she'd be free of these confusing desires; all she needed now was sleep
It was very comfortable and cozy to have an Alpha wrapped around her and an arm to rest her head upon. She breathed in deeply the scent of the woman who had been kind to her, and it filled her head with a pleasant sleepy haze. The breathing of her bedmate had long since fallen into a slow, steady rhythm, and she let it guide her own as she settled in and closed her eyes. She felt safe and warm, not only from body pressed against her back, but from the small flickering flame of hope in her chest that refused to go out.
Anna woke slowly and drowsily as soft morning light filtered in through the window. Her eyes cracked open ever so slightly, as the wisps of an already forgotten dream dissolved before her, and an unfamiliar room materialized in it’s place. There was a small worn table with a mismatched leg whose chair seemed to be in a similar condition. The candle on top was half melted and seemed to be missing its wick. Leaning against the opposite wall was a large rugged leather pack; next to it was an unadorned sword in a simple leather scabbard.
This was not her room.
That was easy enough to tell, and it should have alarmed her, but panic felt immaterial and airy, slipping through her fingers as she reached for it. She was comfortable and warm, and the bed smelled so nice. It reminded her of warm milk and sitting by the hearth, cozy and safe and familiar. Rather than fleeing in panic she'd much prefer to snuggle in against her pillow under the blankets and fall back to sleep.
Then something stirred behind and beneath her, making her eyes snap open, allowing the stark daylight to finally clear away the fog clouding her mind.
Table, chair, candle, pack, bedroll, sword, Adventurer, Alpha, arm.
It all came back to her in a rush. She was in the Alpha Adventurers bed, she was not laying on a pillow but her arm, and it was so comfortable and warm and smelled nice because she had a big sleepy Alpha wrapped around her.
'Smelled nice?'
Ugh, she was right back where she'd started, taken in by nice words and the smell of an Alpha that wasn't hers. She just needed to extricate herself from the situation and then she could squash any foolish flights of girlish fancy and forget all about this night.
But as she tentatively began to try and slip away, a large, heavy arm curled around her, pulling her flush against the Alpha it belonged to before she’d even made it half way out of her grasp.
Anna sighed—it seemed she was trapped like a child's stuffed toy until the adventure woke up. She could wake her up early, but she was already feeling embarrassed and awkward enough as it was without adding guilt into the mix.
But before she could resign herself to the fate of sleeping in late, she felt hot breath on her neck and a nose nuzzling against her scent gland. Anna stiffened as the Alpha behind her began pulling in indulgent lungfuls of her scent, and something much stiffer than herself poked at her behind.
Was she awake? Was the temptation of an Omega in her bed as she woke full of energy too much to resist?
No, likely not.
While the Adventurer seemed a woman of very few words, her… initiating an intimate encounter without even a grunt of acknowledgement seemed unlikely.
Rather, she reminded Anna of a drowsy bear snuffling after the scent of food, as she dug her nose under the collar of her dress. As one arm tightened around her waist, the other slowly snaked underneath her wrapping around her chest; like two giant tree roots—immovable and sturdy, slowly winding their way around her and pulling tight. The embrace was constricting but not crushing, she felt cradled, if slightly squished, as though she were something fragile and precious. Once Anna was snugly set against her, she began mouthing gently at her neck, nibbling ever so slightly as she passed back and forth, tasting her.
This was getting dangerous.
Alone, restrained by an aroused Alpha who had her mouth over her scent glad. There was no more fraught situation to be in for an unmarked Omega—or any Omega for that matter—but she struggled to summon that feeling of fear. The nibbling and nuzzling tickled, and Anna couldn't help but giggle as the Alpha ran her mouth up and down her neck in lazy uneven patterns.
The attention felt good, like she was being spoiled, like she was finally, for once, the center of attention. She knew it was a childish, selfish feeling, but she rarely had the time or luxury for those, and it had all been, relatively, innocent so far. Despite the body part making itself known very insistently, the adventurer had done nothing with it, only pressing it against her as a consequence of holding her so close. In fact her entire body was still except for the mouth and nose still infatuated with her neck.
But even if she had… Anna couldn't say she would dislike it.
There was a tingling warmth that had spread throughout her body, her face felt hot and flushed, and all her attention was centered on where the Alpha was still mouthing over her neck. She was starting to feel restless, a persistent itch sat low in her stomach and on the tips of her fingers, one that compelled her to do… something, but she didn't know what. She had been trying to avoid waking the Alpha, but… she didn't remember why. If she woke her she could help her, she would know what she need, she could give her that 'more' that she was aching for. She had been staying still so far, maybe if she tried to—
Anna yelped, the moment she attempted to move and wriggle in the Alpha's embrace she’d let out a low, rumbling growl. It wasn't a reprimand, more of a reminder, the kind she sometimes heard Alphas using to assert themselves.
It sent a shiver down to her toes nonetheless.
She'd had her mouth still on her neck when she'd done it, and that reverberation had ignited that tingling feeling under her skin. Maybe this was that something she was looking for, all she needed to was make a show of trying to wiggle free.
As she made a pointless struggle to escape, the Alpha growled again in response, but this time more huffing annoyance at being disturbed. She tightened her grip slightly, making sure Anna was secure, and then slowly began leaning into her, pushing her down onto her front. It seemed instinct reigned in her unconscious state, and she was looking to keep the tasty Omega she'd found secure underneath her.
As the Alpha's weight settled on top of her, Anna let out an involuntary whimper that surprised even her, and suddenly the Adventurer froze. She stayed where she was, pinning her to the bed, but her whole body was tensed, completely unmoving. Slowly she removed her mouth from Anna's neck, pulling her head back while the rest of her remained still.
Had she done something wrong? What changed? Anna turned her head to look at the Alpha above her and found two wide brown eyes staring back at her.
'Oh. She's awake.'
The Adventurer's normally stoic expression was marred by emotion as confusion, fear, and shame flitted and shifted across it, warring for control. Anna felt a pang of guilt as she watched the Adventurer struggling to comprehend the situation she was in. Was this her fault? Should she have rejected her advances? She hadn't considered the Alpha might not want her, but looking at her now it seemed the very idea horrified her.
After a tense few moments she seemed to finally collect her wits and scrambled back off the bed. Anna sat up, watching her anxiously as she retreated to the center of the room, facing away. A fraught silence stretched between them, punctured only by the adventurer's heaving breathes.
Should she say something? What could she say? As she studied the taut line of the Alpha's posture and slowly recognized the erratic, panicked quality of her breathing, a sick, sticky weight settled in her stomach. She'd taken the Alpha's instinctual response to an Omega as an expression of desire, of want, of choice, and she'd ended up hurting her. Her skin itched with the urge—the need, to sooth, to placate, to settle and comfort her upset Alpha, but even stronger was the instinctive fear that came from being faced with an agitated, and potentially dangerous, Alpha.
So she stayed cowering on the bed, even as she desperately wanted to fix what she'd done, tumbling through guilt, shame, hurt, and fear. Until after what felt like an eternity—but was likely only seconds—the Alpha straightened, her muscles pulled taut, frozen for one breathless moment, before she fled the room with heavy, hurried steps. Her foot falls echoing down the hall slowly faded until Anna was left alone with silence and the faint morning sounds of the village waking outside.