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Brielle

The next morning, Fawn rested on my chest, her soft arms, shapely hips, and full breasts boxing me in firmly on our bed of wildflowers and fresh spring grass.

I breathed in her earthy scent and sighed—she smelled like a warm summer breeze, the crispness of freshly plucked apples, and a hint of honey so sweet it melted on my tongue as if it were real, sweeter than her juices now dry and crusted on my lips.

I couldn’t even bring myself to find it gross, satisfied that I had sated Fawn’s need so thoroughly she passed out.

She just smelled of everything good and from the soil.

She was so pure and sweet and truthful.

She deserved the world.

My omega didn’t deserve the treachery in my heart.

She didn’t deserve to be harmed for my gain.

I don’t deserve her.

The thought struck me like a bolt of lightning on a clear summer day, dragging me abruptly away from the sweetness of our solitude, the world hazy from our post-mating bliss.

I knew what I had to do.

I knew it with a certainty that stole my breath away.

It physically hurt to think of parting with Fawn.

I couldn’t begin to imagine how much and how long my soul would ache when I could no longer hold my omega.

But to save her, I had to first save myself.

She startled, and I smoothed the wrinkles from her forehead.

“Bri …” she murmured, a smile overtaking her sleepy features before she drifted off again, “I love?—”

I silenced her with a kiss, dragging her up the length of my body.

She shuddered, my grip on her arms tightening as my omega moaned into my mouth, nudging my thigh with her slick lower lips.

I held back tears as I pulled away, kissing her forehead, her horns perfectly curved to frame my face as if I were made to rest there, because I was meant to rest there and be with my omega forever.

But I couldn’t, so I wouldn’t listen to those words coming from her lips.

One day, she’d bury my pathetic mortal life away.

No matter how long it took, I knew that another would eventually replace me.

An immortal couldn’t have one fated mate after all; they lived too many lifetimes unless they mated a fellow god.

Fawana, however, would be my one and only omega until I died.

She would always be mine in my heart.

My greatest mistake.

Lying her on the ground, I stood and watched her for a while.

Stretched out and laid bare, she seemed too beautiful now.

The otherworldliness settled into my bones as I etched her memory into my mind, reminding me that I was a mortal and that our encounter was fleeting.

She may only love me because I opened her eyes to an alpha’s desire for the first time.

She would recover, especially if I succeeded last night in seeding her.

We’d been at it for hours.

I had to hope a rut and heat would be enough to create a new life.

I held onto this lie with all my might.

It didn’t take long for me to reach the cottage, ransacking every corner of our cozy home to remove every trace of my existence in the enchanted realm of Wolveria Forest.

Then, I tore myself away from this reality, pushing it aside as if it were a distant dream, and ran towards civilization.

Back to my homeland.

To my band of brothers and sisters.

To stop the man who meant to slaughter my blissfully unaware goddess bride.

I couldn’t sacrifice her.

I could not live with myself if I did.

So I took her place instead.