"Two reasons," the Beta from the rafters replies. "One, Walker kidnapped you before Bucky was able to pay the bride price to your family for you and solidify things between y'all. I mean, he still did it after you went missing--"
"He paid half," Steve interjects, and Clint waves him off with a "Doesn't really matter, anyway, except your sister? Big mad that your pack didn't go after Walker directly. Not that they would've survived that kinda thing, but yeah. Angry. And she's made some promises with local traders that if we could get you out of there, she'd help us dry Walker's camp out. Limit his access to resources. It'll make fighting Walker a whole lot easier if his lieutenants are hungry, you know?"
Natasha rolls her eyes a little. "You're here because you're not Walker's fuck toy, no matter what he might've said to the contrary. And Bucky wants to see you, but it's... a bit complicated, for him, right now. And your sister said that the last time she saw you? You smelled bad. Unhappy. Poisoned, maybe. And so we stepped in. To give you a few more options."
She gestures at Steve, who glances Sam's way and then looks at Clint. "C'mon, let's give him some space."
The two other men leave, though the Beta is clearly close by if his scent is anything to go by. Natasha gestures towards the now empty seat across from her. "Your real question is what happens next, right? You get to make some choices." Her smile seems to indicate that she understands just how wild of a prospect that is at this point. For an Omega. For Sam.
"You can stay with us. As a guest. Honored. None of the other alphas will touch you, you have my word. But you can stay, and see Bucky, if that's what you wanna do, but we have to talk about it first. Or, you can opt to not do that at all... we'll find some folks to help you out, get you away from here, make sure to tell your sister how to reach you when you're out of the region where Walker can't reach you.
Her word means very little to Sam. He's spent months mated to Walker at this point - months in which his mate used him and lent him out generously to his most trusted pack alphas. Sam's saving grace that he was considered a bit of a prize - not quite 'common' enough to be open season for every alpha in the pack.
He keeps his face impassive, but stays calm. He's learned a long time ago that rage or sorrow don't get him anywhere. Besides... whether he believes her or not is besides the point anyway. She presents him with a dangerous opportunity either way, and the way Sam sees it there are three options here.
He can take her offer and have her pack make him disappear. Allow him to walk away from his alpha and find a new life elsewhere.
He can go back to Walker, to the life he's gotten used to for months.
Or he can go to Bucky. Bucky, who over he past few months has gone feral according to everyone Sam's overheard talking about the man. Bucky, who hurt an omega when he went into a rut, and is rumored to not have come out of it.
Sam remembers lying under Walker, listening to his alpha rant about how strong and good he is compared to such rabble, how he can amass omegas for proper use while Bucky is too feral to even claim one.
Thinks he might mourn him one day, when he has the capacity to think of anything but survival from one day to the next. Wonders if Bucky mourns him, too - or if he believed then and believes now that Sam eloped with Bucky's competition for his hand. Wonders if the choices force on him broke Bucky's heart for all the wrong reasons.
Does it matter?
"I'll see him. Bucky. You can take me. And I don't care how your pack runs things. You don't have to sweet talk me into it."
Perhaps it's worse. Sam doesn't imagine it will be better. But if he tries to go it alone, he knows Walker will find him sooner or later. And perhaps seeing Bucky is just accepting another world of hurt. But if there's any chance for Sam, it lies there - he knows that much through the haze of his infected mating bite. He doesn't think he'll survive under Walker for much longer. Doesn't think leaving is safe for him. So there's only one path - and how could it be worse than what he's already endured? At least if Bucky is feral, then he won't cloak his cruetly in kindness. Small blessings.
Natasha gives Sam a long look, as if debating whether or not he is in any state to have made that particular decision; but the offer was made, and she is not about to renege on it just because Sam smells like he may be slowly dying. If anything, that is all the more reason to respect any wishes he has on the matter.
So she nods and rises from her chair. "Come on."
Toward the center of the compound, which turns out to be a series of connected buildings with tunnels and other covered passageways between them, there's a large set of rooms. The smell of alpha rut is particularly strong here, and Natasha can't help the nose wrinkle that occurs as she approaches the threshold. She knocks on the door. There's a quiet growl and a sniff from the other side.
"C'me in."
Natasha opens the door. "This is as far as I can go with you. Being around the rest of us is difficult for him now." She sounds genuinely regretful of that fact. "I hope this ends up being what you need, Sam." She moves as if to squeeze his shoulder and then thinks better of it, stepping aside to let him pass.
The room inside is dark, the windows covered with heavy fabrics. There is movement to Sam's left, and a low growl, before Bucky's snout appears and sniffs at his mating bite.
Another growl, then, and suddenly Sam is lifted off his feet. Held close to a large werewolf's torso and carried through the room and over to the bed. Bucky sets Sam down and then climbs onto the mattress after him, keeping Sam close, but only holding. Nothing else.
"He lied," comes the quiet growl after a moment of stillness. Of just laying like that, on his side, Sam pressed against his chest. "He stole you away and lied to everyone about it."
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templeofthought2022-12-03 01:06 pm
no subject
"He paid half," Steve interjects, and Clint waves him off with a "Doesn't really matter, anyway, except your sister? Big mad that your pack didn't go after Walker directly. Not that they would've survived that kinda thing, but yeah. Angry. And she's made some promises with local traders that if we could get you out of there, she'd help us dry Walker's camp out. Limit his access to resources. It'll make fighting Walker a whole lot easier if his lieutenants are hungry, you know?"
Natasha rolls her eyes a little. "You're here because you're not Walker's fuck toy, no matter what he might've said to the contrary. And Bucky wants to see you, but it's... a bit complicated, for him, right now. And your sister said that the last time she saw you? You smelled bad. Unhappy. Poisoned, maybe. And so we stepped in. To give you a few more options."
She gestures at Steve, who glances Sam's way and then looks at Clint. "C'mon, let's give him some space."
The two other men leave, though the Beta is clearly close by if his scent is anything to go by. Natasha gestures towards the now empty seat across from her. "Your real question is what happens next, right? You get to make some choices." Her smile seems to indicate that she understands just how wild of a prospect that is at this point. For an Omega. For Sam.
"You can stay with us. As a guest. Honored. None of the other alphas will touch you, you have my word. But you can stay, and see Bucky, if that's what you wanna do, but we have to talk about it first. Or, you can opt to not do that at all... we'll find some folks to help you out, get you away from here, make sure to tell your sister how to reach you when you're out of the region where Walker can't reach you.
no subject
He keeps his face impassive, but stays calm. He's learned a long time ago that rage or sorrow don't get him anywhere. Besides... whether he believes her or not is besides the point anyway. She presents him with a dangerous opportunity either way, and the way Sam sees it there are three options here.
He can take her offer and have her pack make him disappear. Allow him to walk away from his alpha and find a new life elsewhere.
He can go back to Walker, to the life he's gotten used to for months.
Or he can go to Bucky. Bucky, who over he past few months has gone feral according to everyone Sam's overheard talking about the man. Bucky, who hurt an omega when he went into a rut, and is rumored to not have come out of it.
Sam remembers lying under Walker, listening to his alpha rant about how strong and good he is compared to such rabble, how he can amass omegas for proper use while Bucky is too feral to even claim one.
Sam remembered mischievous blue eyes whenever their fingers brushed as gifts were exchanged. Practically risqué during their very proper courting process. He remembered a man who wanted to treat him right.
He remembers that man now, too.
Thinks he might mourn him one day, when he has the capacity to think of anything but survival from one day to the next. Wonders if Bucky mourns him, too - or if he believed then and believes now that Sam eloped with Bucky's competition for his hand. Wonders if the choices force on him broke Bucky's heart for all the wrong reasons.
Does it matter?
"I'll see him. Bucky. You can take me. And I don't care how your pack runs things. You don't have to sweet talk me into it."
Perhaps it's worse. Sam doesn't imagine it will be better. But if he tries to go it alone, he knows Walker will find him sooner or later. And perhaps seeing Bucky is just accepting another world of hurt. But if there's any chance for Sam, it lies there - he knows that much through the haze of his infected mating bite. He doesn't think he'll survive under Walker for much longer. Doesn't think leaving is safe for him. So there's only one path - and how could it be worse than what he's already endured? At least if Bucky is feral, then he won't cloak his cruetly in kindness. Small blessings.
"I want to see him."
no subject
So she nods and rises from her chair. "Come on."
Toward the center of the compound, which turns out to be a series of connected buildings with tunnels and other covered passageways between them, there's a large set of rooms. The smell of alpha rut is particularly strong here, and Natasha can't help the nose wrinkle that occurs as she approaches the threshold. She knocks on the door. There's a quiet growl and a sniff from the other side.
"C'me in."
Natasha opens the door. "This is as far as I can go with you. Being around the rest of us is difficult for him now." She sounds genuinely regretful of that fact. "I hope this ends up being what you need, Sam." She moves as if to squeeze his shoulder and then thinks better of it, stepping aside to let him pass.
The room inside is dark, the windows covered with heavy fabrics. There is movement to Sam's left, and a low growl, before Bucky's snout appears and sniffs at his mating bite.
Another growl, then, and suddenly Sam is lifted off his feet. Held close to a large werewolf's torso and carried through the room and over to the bed. Bucky sets Sam down and then climbs onto the mattress after him, keeping Sam close, but only holding. Nothing else.
"He lied," comes the quiet growl after a moment of stillness. Of just laying like that, on his side, Sam pressed against his chest. "He stole you away and lied to everyone about it."