Chapter Text
The journey into the mountains was a subdued one. Even though Nicole and the others knew little about the group, it was obvious that the loss of two Omegas had hit them hard. The fact that they were returning with little to show for the hunting expedition was an additional dark cloud that hung over them.
Nicole had approached Eliza before they had left, partly to thank her but also to beg her to keep her silence about Nicole, even though she didn’t know what she truly was. Eliza’s response had been stony, ‘No one would choose to live as a Null – but you do. I don’t care why and I won’t speak of it. But if the reason you do ever threatens my people, I’ll kill you,’
Nicole had nodded, ‘I will never give you cause for concern – I swear it,’
The Beta had studied her with cold eyes, grunted and then prepared the hunting party to leave.
Eliza had led them from the front, keeping her distance from the main party. Jeremey tried to reassure Dolls and Waverly that, as a leader, she tended to keep herself distant from everyone but it got worse when she lost members of her pack. Only Wynonna seemed to be able to get anywhere near her, perhaps because of her connection to Willa. The three of them would often walk or ride side by side, the sisters talking and the blonde Beta only joining in if asked a direct question, and even then, her answers were perfunctory.
The rest of the hunting party quickly got used to having the newcomers around. It was hard not to like Waverly or Wynonna and so most of the pack followed their lead when it came to Rachel and Billy, and, as the days journeying passed, most of them seemed to forget they were Nulls at all. Dolls was appreciated as a fierce fighter and hunter and so was respectfully accepted. Nicole kept to the back where she felt most comfortable. Her and Waverly didn’t hide their relationship but they kept things subtle, giving their new comrades time to get used to the idea of an Omega being with a Null – even one as strong and accomplished as Nicole clearly was.
And so they became ingratiated into the group with Waverly, Rachel and Billy continuing to help the wounded while Nicole and Dolls hunted what they could. For the two hunters it was valuable time spent learning about the terrain and developing hunting strategies to match their fleet-footed prey. Their skills moved on from traps and bows, to spears and nets, both relishing the challenge. For Waverly the lower half of the mountains on which they travelled were not the barren wastelands she had imagined – but rather rich with flora and fauna. She quickly found plants with similar growth and properties to the ones she knew from the woodland region. Her natural instincts for finding and applying the attributes of vegetation to healing had never been more tested or put to better use.
And so, despite an unspoken concern that resentment and hostility still might await them at their journey’s end, the group relished the opportunities that the journey brought.
***
They had expected to reach the main camp that day since Jeremy had excitedly declared the previous night that this would be their last night away from the rest of the pack. But Nicole and the others didn’t realise they had reached their destination until figures started to appear from hidden crevices and bolt holes. Soon they were surrounded by over fifty people of various ages. Their attention, at first, centred on welcoming Eliza and the others who had led them through the narrow canyon that had widened into an open area of natural and man-made shelters. That attention quickly turned on the newcomers and an unsettled quiet fell over them as each tried to pick out the individual scents, trying to ascertain their positions.
‘Nulls, Eliza?’ someone shouted, ‘Two Betas are worth having, an Omega is at least pack but three fucking Null mouths to feed?’
Eliza squared her shoulders and turned to the older man who had shouted, ‘They will be treated with respect,’
The man was a Beta, a little older and taller than Eliza. He snorted with derision, stepping closer, ‘I will not respect a slave!’
Her hand shot out and grabbed him by the front of his tunic, hauling him towards her so she could snarl, ‘Under the Mountain Alpha we would all be slaves! We came here to be free from him and the Church’s rules,’
The man nodded, eyes dancing, ‘Of course, of course … but Nulls?’
She pushed him away, ‘I have granted them a place in our pack and a place for those on the way,’
Murmurs of disapproval rippled through those crowded around and Nicole edged closer to Waverly, hand going to the hilt of her sword. She knew how quickly disapproval and prejudice could turn to violence.
Eliza glanced at her and then addressed her pack, ‘If you disagree with my decision, step forward and challenge me! I am the leader of this pack! Fight me for my place!’
The murmurs stopped. No one stepped forward.
Satisfied, her demeanour relaxed a little and so did the others around her. Not for the first time, Nicole was taken by how much she was like an Alpha and she couldn’t help but admire the way she carried herself. Nicole watched her as she took a deep breath, eyes searching the crowd.
Jeremy moved to the newcomers, glancing at Eliza as she approached a group, her shoulders sagging. ‘That’s Lilly’s sisters and Sarah’s mate and brothers,’
‘The Omegas that were lost?’ Dolls sighed.
Jeremy nodded as they watched them hear the news, then, turning from their grief, he led them further into the camp.
The camp was impressive. Shelters had been erected for living space and for cooking or storage. They had made good use of the natural rock formations and caves with perhaps a hundred people, ages raging from the elderly to babies carried at their mother’s backs. Children ran around the camp, chasing each other with wooden swords.
‘They started with just thirty,’ Jeremy smiled as he led them to the central fire, ‘That was over twenty cycles ago,’
Dolls was surprised, ‘I didn’t realise. The Mountain Alpha has only spoken of you in the last five cycles,’
Jeremy nodded, ‘They began as a free-pack from the Wetland region who ran here when the Alpha and the Church hunted them down,’
Dolls automatically looked to the East where the Mountain region bordered the Wetlands.
‘Some fugitives from the Mountain Region found them a few cycles later. They were good hunters and fighters and so were happily taken in. They were careful and slowly liberated their friends and families from under the Alpha’s rule. Word spread and those that could, came to find them,’ Jeremy explained, ‘The Alpha knew nothing about it – who would miss a few Betas or Omegas from small, insignificant villages? Those that stayed behind never heard from those that left so they were assumed dead. It was perfect,’ He sighed and shook his head, ‘But about six cycles past, a Beta by the name of Ewan took over the pack and started to lead raiding parties on the supply trains heading for the Alpha’s castle. We went from free pack to rebels over night,’ Jeremy sighed angrily, ‘It brought all kinds of shit down on us that we’d been avoiding for cycles … but Ewan didn’t care. All he cared about was making the Alpha pay – even if we were the ones who would end up paying the most,’
‘So, what happened?’ Dolls queried as a wineskin was passed around the fire.
Jeremy glanced over his shoulder, ‘Another Beta challenged him for leadership …’ he lowered his voice, ‘… Eliza’s mate,’ He took the wineskin and took several large gulps before continuing, ‘Charlie beat him fair and square but as soon as he turned his back, Ewan grabbed his dropped sword and …’ the Omega shook his head, ‘Ewan kept the leadership and claimed Eliza as his own as well …’
Nicole cursed under her breath, eyes flashing with anger.
‘She won’t talk about what happened but it was bad. Eventually she had enough and slit Ewan’s throat while he was sleeping,’
‘And you took her as your leader?’ Dolls growled, stunned.
‘Why not?’ Nicole demanded.
Waverly rested her hand on her leg, ‘Despite what happened, it’s not the way it’s done …’
Nicole turned to her but Jeremy spoke before she could, ‘Eliza didn’t become the leader immediately. Ewan’s second took over and continued the raids. But then Eliza challenged and beat him, that’s when she took over the pack … that was two cycles ago and we haven’t been on any raids since,’
‘But the Alpha is still hunting you?’ Wynonna sighed.
Jeremy nodded, ‘He knows we’re out here somewhere and he won’t rest until he’s wiped us out,’ he looked from Dolls to Nicole, ‘That’s why Eliza has agreed to take you all in – we need you,’
Nicole found her eyes drifting across the camp and finding Eliza. Her heart suddenly grew heavy with sympathy but she forced it aside – sympathy was not something either of them had ever desired. She glanced sideways at Waverly and remembered what Eliza had said about those that mated for life and felt a surge of guilt that she had ever even considered leaving her Omega.
***
Days flew past in a blur for Waverly as those who had not had access to a healer in so many cycles quickly sought her out. But the pack was fair and she dealt with the most serious injuries or illness first and then gradually moved onto less critical ailments. Rachel and Billy became invaluable and by the first full moon in the camp, they were able to treat some of the pack members independently.
Within the first few days, Dolls and Nicole had built a shelter for their small pack on the edge of the camp, deciding it was the best way for the existing pack to get used to having them there. In between hunts, the pair built additional shelters for each of the three pairs, keeping that first shelter as a communal space but one that was quickly adopted as a place for the healers to mix tonics and poultices and store supplies.
Dolls was quickly accepted as Eliza’s second and started to share some of the burden of leadership. He organised the other Betas in the camp into a guard of sorts and they started to train Omegas, who were willing, how to fight and hunt. As the next full moon approached, they started to look out for John-Henry and the others that had escaped that night.
As things calmed down for Waverly, she started to notice that Nicole still kept her distance from Eliza’s pack and, when Dolls was busy with the other Betas, she would often go hunting alone. Waverly knew that it would take more than a couple of lunar cycles to overcome the prejudice and abuse she had suffered her whole life but she still worried that her Alpha didn’t feel at home here as she did. And Waverly did feel at home. She was able to use her talents openly and without fear of retribution. She was liked and respected. She had a place and a pack. She felt safe and she was happy. But none of that mattered if Nicole didn’t feel the same. Waverly wanted her Alpha to feel safe and they would not stop until they found somewhere that could happen. She would willingly sacrifice the life she had built for herself here because there was no life, no future unless Nicole felt safe, bringing with it everything the Alpha could give her. And so Waverly resigned herself to a choice that really was no choice at all, but an inevitable decision.
She kept her thoughts and plans to herself as she trained Rachel and Billy as hard as she could without them getting suspicious that she was preparing them to be the sole healers in the camp. She still had several lunar cycles to make them ready, after all, she wouldn’t be going anywhere until she had helped Wynonna’s pups into the world. And the more swollen the Beta’s belly became, the more excited they became of the pups being born into safety and freedom. But with each passing day she felt a heaviness growing in her heart because the time was approaching when she would ask her Alpha to take her away from here so they could search for somewhere to finally call home, together.
*
Waverly stood to the side, arms crossed over her breast as she watched Rachel prepare the most useful of their healing poultices. She nodded at the way the young Null’s fingers worked deftly and efficiently, calm yet swift. A skill in itself – after all such a poultice could save a life by stopping bleeding as well as easing pain and shock, but only if applied with haste.
A scent lifted her chin and then the corners of her mouth. She stepped close to Rachel, fingers pressing gently over her shoulder, ‘Perfect,’ she told her and loved the proud smiled that lit the young girl’s features.
‘Really?’ she asked.
Nicole stepped into the shelter, ‘If she says it, she means it – don’t you know that by now?’
Rachel stood and turned, enveloping Waverly in a swift hug before heading for the entrance. Nicole was also given a hug and then the young Null headed out to find Billy and no doubt show off her work.
Alone now, the two met in the centre, eyes drinking in the sight of each other as if they hadn’t seen each other in cycles, rather than the two nights that Nicole had been away hunting.
‘I was hoping you’d make it back before the moon became full,’ Waverly told her, lifting on her toes to kiss her. It had become a habit Waverly had been keen for Nicole to embrace – because of their height difference, Nicole needed to stoop or bend to kiss her, something that had started to bother the Omega. It had taken some convincing but eventually Nicole had relented and followed Waverly’s desire to not have her Alpha bow to her.
Nicole slipped strong arms around her, lifting her off her feet and kissing her with a passion that made her head swim as her moon-heightened musk washed over them. Nicole was still taking the scent-suppressor and it was still working – but just as Waverly had always been able to scent Nicole when no one else could, now that they were mated, she could scent her musk even more strongly despite the suppressant.
‘I missed you,’ Waverly told her, just as she always did, sowing the seed for the day she would ask Nicole to leave with her. As much as she dreaded leaving the camp, she longed for the day when Nicole would stay with her and not feel the need to be alone.
‘I missed you too,’ Nicole told her softly and set her back down, hand sliding down until they’re fingers linked together. She pulled gently, ‘Come and enjoy the moon with me?’
‘Always,’ Waverly smiled.
They headed out and towards the edge of the camp and then along a route that was new.
‘Where are we going?’ Waverly asked but Nicole just smiled and led her to a winding path that curved up the side of the mountain. The moon cast enough light for them to follow the path safely until they reached a narrow ledge and a small opening behind it. Waverly was reminded of their night in the woods beneath Morrighan’s moon. ‘No shelter this time?’ she asked with a laugh.
Nicole waved at the floor where a small fur had been laid out and a blanket waited for them. Nicole sat on the fur and pulled Waverly down until she was sitting between her thighs and they were staring out at the mountainous expanse and the clear, starlit sky.
Waverly tried to relax but found it hard when her thoughts kept returning to how well Rachel had prepared the poultice and the knowledge that the young woman was quickly becoming an accomplished healer in her own right. And that meant there would be nothing to keep them here once Wynonna had her pups.
She felt Nicole shift slightly and take a deep breath. Her voice was deeper than usual, the voice of an Alpha as she asked, ‘Tell me what’s wrong,’
Waverly felt the voice pour through her, ‘Nothing’s wrong,’ she replied quickly, slightly high-pitched.
Nicole’s fingers gently moved the neck of her blouse and she blew across her skin and the mark in the shape of a shield. ‘Tell me … what’s … bothering … you …’ she said between breaths, ‘… please,’
Waverly shuddered and closed her eyes, ‘You’re not happy here …’
Nicole sat back, not responding but the effect of her voice lingered.
‘… so, when Wynonna has had her pups, we’ll leave. We’ll find somewhere you can be happy … where you can feel safe,’
‘Are you happy here?’ she asked.
‘Yes … very happy,’ she cursed under her breath at the truth that had spilled from her. She turned to face Nicole, ‘But it doesn’t matter if you’re not,’
Nicole slowly climbed to her feet and held her hand out, ‘Let’s go to bed,’
Waverly exhaled softly, frustrated that Nicole didn’t want to talk anymore but maybe she needed time to think. She took her hand and let herself be pulled to her feet. She went to move back along the ledge but Nicole stopped her, pulling her into the small opening that was deeper than she had realised. The smell of a small fire made her edge further in, eyes widening at the way the cave bent around to the right and disappeared into shadows that moved with an orange flickering light. Nicole squeezed her hand to reassure her and then led her around. The tunnel bent further until it ended in a cave, the entrance partly obscured by a simple screen of stretched canvas. Nicole moved the screen so they could get around and then put it back in place as Waverly studied the small cave beyond. It was lit by a fire beneath a natural channel in the rock that drew the smoke away. Opposite the fire was bed of furs and blankets within a frame of sturdy branches.
‘Nicole …’ Waverly breathed.
The redhead turned, taking the smaller woman’s hands, ‘I’m not comfortable out there,’ she sighed, ‘there are too many people … too many chances for someone to see and ask why I’m … different,’ Waverly squeezed her hands and Nicole stared down at them as she continued, ‘And I wanted somewhere I could be … me … where I could be true to who I am … and true to you,’ Nicole looked up as she felt something wet hit her hand. She bit her lip as she watched Waverly’s tears slowly roll down her cheeks, ‘You’re happy here,’
‘I am … but …’
Nicole leant forward, cutting off any further words.
Waverly let herself drown in the kiss but suddenly pulled back, eyes flashing, ‘No!’ she gasped, ‘You promised me! No more sacrifice!’
Nicole gave a small smile, ‘And what would you be sacrificing if we left?’
‘I … I …’ she shook her head, ‘… that’s different,’
‘How?’ Nicole laughed.
‘It just is,’
The Alpha chuckled, shaking her head, ‘No more sacrifice … no more hurt, okay?’ She took Waverly’s mouth again and let her musk silence any further argument.
‘No … fair …’ Waverly mumbled against her lips but succumbed anyway.
The kiss was endless and wonderful, full of love and promise.
Eventually, Waverly pulled back slightly to ask between kisses, ‘So … when were you …. going to … tell me?’
‘Tell you … what?’
Waverly’s hand slipped between them and pressed against Nicole’s groin, making her groan and instantly start to harden.
‘I felt the change,’ Waverly whispered.
Nicole pulled back slightly, eyes dancing with delight and then they kissed again as Nicole guided her backwards, trembling hands pulling at clothing as they went. Nicole stood naked as Waverly sat on the edge of the simple bed, eyes smiling as she looked up at her Alpha. Slim fingers lifted her semi-hard cock and stroked gently, making her gasp. Nicole closed her eyes, head tipping backwards as Waverly’s attentions brought her fully erect, her helmet bobbing against her stomach as she breathed heavily.
Her eyes snapped open as she felt Waverly’s hair brush over her skin and then warm, soft lips were closing over the head of her cock and slowly sliding down, chasing the fingers that stroked down her shaft. ‘Oh … Waves …’ she groaned, shuddering. It was the first time Waverly had taken her in her mouth and the feel of it was beyond imagining. Waverly’s free hand slid up her side and round to cup her breast, thumb and forefinger teasing a hard nipple. Waverly slipped her lips as far as she could comfortably go, tongue flicking along the soft, hot skin. The taste of her was divine – rich and sweet. It was the taste of her scent and so familiar that it made her heart flutter with intense and sheer love. She slid her lips back, flicked her tongue across the tip and smiled at the saltiness there before sliding her mouth down again, a little further this time. Nicole gasped, hands sliding through Waverly’s hair.
An eternity of pleasurable, wet strokes had Nicole’s blood pumping like fire through her veins and she knew she was getting close. ‘Waverly …’ she half gasped, ‘… please, baby … you need to stop …’
Waverly’s eyes flicked up and Nicole watched as the disappointment in them was chased away by the desire she must have seen in Nicole’s eyes. She slipped her mouth free, a devilish grin lifting her lips as she gripped her shaft firmly and dragged her hand down it. ‘Is my big, bad Alpha about to come undone under the attentions of a little Omega?’
Nicole closed her eyes as Waverly’s fist neared her root and then started to drag back up again. A bead of precum swelled out from her tip, licked quickly away by an eager, hot tongue. Nicole growled dangerously, sexily and slowly lowered to her knees. Her hand slipped around the back of Waverly’s neck and pulled her in to kiss her passionately as she guided her backwards. Hot kisses traced searing lines down Waverly’s chest and stomach until she settled with groaning delight between her thighs.
‘Oh …’ Waverly gasped, ‘… you ... you don’t need … to … to … ahhhh!’’
Nicole’s fingers parted soft, plump lips before darting her tongue into her, relishing her taste and the feel of her heat. She pulled back, flicked the tip of her tongue at the hooded nub above and then licked down and around her entrance. Waverly’s hips bucked and swayed. Her words were forgotten as she chased the pleasure Nicole’s mouth promised her. Gods – she wanted to feel Nicole’s beautiful cock in her – but the feel of her lips and tongue was just too good to stop.
‘Yes! Oh, Gods! Yes!’ Waverly cried, feeling her pleasure cresting.
Suddenly Nicole’s mouth was gone from her core but there was no time to mourn its loss because within moments the head of her cock was sliding easily into her. Waverly’s body arched towards her, urging her inside and keening with delight and the feel of her stretching her and stroking at her inner walls. Nicole’s thrusts started slow and deliberate but quickly built to smooth, deep and powerful plunges. They gasped and moaned together. Sought the pleasure that was there’s to hunt. The sounds of them filled the cave, the echoes of their pleasure driving them on.
They felt it at the same time.
It started as a familiar heat around the root of her penis, which Waverly felt with each thrust. It quickly became more. Nicole groaned as the ring of heated, swollen flesh nudged against Waverly’s core. For Waverly the feel of something pressing against her sensitive lips made her throw her hand over her mouth to stifle every cry.
A powerful shudder ran through Nicole and she stopped moving, her cock buried as deep as the swelling would allow. She held herself on powerful arms, staring down at Waverly.
‘You have your … knot …’ Waverly gasped happily and then as Nicole nodded, ‘You … feel safe …’
‘I do …’ Nicole sighed, glistening eyes smiling.
Waverly slowly lifted her legs to wrap them around the back of Nicole’s thighs, ‘It’s okay – I want this …’
Nicole gave a stifled sob and kissed her Omega, pouring love into her as she pushed down. They both cried out as Nicole pushed past the resistance and Waverly opened to her completely for the first time. She moved carefully, settling her knot and feeling them lock together. They stared at each other, eyes wide. A deep rumble echoed from Nicole’s chest and Waverly instantly tilted her head back and to the side, exposing her throat. Nicole hesitated but she could sense her Omega’s need and she dropped onto her, lips and teeth finding her neck as she started to make shallow thrusts. She pinched her skin between her teeth, sucked hard, tasted her scent and drank it in. Waverly’s cry was impossible to completely muffle as her climax surged – more powerful than anything she had ever felt before. Her scent exploded around them and Nicole reared back, lips pulled back in a snarl. Her own musk dropped over them like a hot blanket. The feel of Waverly’s climax was hot and wet around her cock and her knot seemed to swell even more. She growled, trembled and then spasmed as she exploded deep within her Omega. The blood roared in her ears and lights danced in front of her eyes. She had a sudden sense of connection, of belonging- more powerful than she could have ever imagined. Her world twisted and spun and nothing existed but the Alpha and her Omega. All of the past, all of the pain, it dissolved and melted away. Nothing existed but this perfect moment. For the first time in her life, Nicole felt her true self.
From the other side of the screen, blue eyes narrowed as she watched the pair carefully roll over until Waverly was resting on top. Sweat glistening bodies relaxed and then the sound of soft, contended breathing replaced the echoing sounds of their coupling.
She stepped back, whispering to herself, ‘Well now, isn’t that just … very interesting,’