Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
As the sun hung low in the sky, panic filled Snow’s heart.
He raced with the fresh pail of water, both arms feeling numb from his labors throughout the day.
By the time he returned inside the cottage, smoke poured from the cauldron and the iron pan with the flat breads that weren’t quite flat yet not quite raised either.
All of it was a mess. Tears shone in his eyes as he added water to the cauldron to stop the burning.
Reaching for the iron pan, he forgot the thick pad of cloth and singed the side of his finger.
Snow let out a scream and yanked his hand away, shoving his finger between his lips to cool it. The door swung open, and he turned, his tears falling the instant he saw their incredulous faces.
“I… wanted to… make you… dinner,” Snow said through his sobs. “I’m sorry.”
The alphas looked at one another before rushing closer. Shen, Hwa, and Owan hugged him and assured him all was well. Greer, Klaus, and Lazlo carried the smoking cauldron out the front door and took the haze along with it. Vor watched from the doorway, a hint of a smile on his lips.
“Do you think this is funny?” Snow asked.
“Nay,” Vor said he walked closer.
The three other alphas pulled back, giving Vor space.
Vor caressed Snow’s face. “I think it was sweet of you to try.”
“But I ruined everything,” Snow said, thoroughly ashamed. “I’ve wasted perfectly good food and made an enormous mess.” He eyed the table full of chaos. “I’ll clean it all up. I promise.”
“You tried,” Vor said, wiping the tears from Snow’s cheeks.
Greer reappeared. “The pot’s gonna need a good, long scrubbing. Lazlo is handling that. Klaus and I have our bows. We’ll go fetch us a few rabbits.”
“Why not use the rabbits in the cellar?” Owan asked.
“He used them in his… whatever that was,” Greer said. “We won’t have any until tomorrow. I’m tired of fish. We’ve had it six days straight. The wood is ripe with rabbit this time of the year. They’ve been underfoot all week.”
“I’m so sorry,” Snow said to the alphas circling him. “I was trying to give you all more time to enjoy your evening—and now I’ve just made it harder.”
“It’s okay, little prince,” Greer replied with a soft smile. “We’ll manage. Yer heart was in the right place, it was.”
“I should help Lazlo,” Snow said, pulling away from Vor.
Vor grasped his wrist, eyeing his hand. “You’re burned.”
“Just a little,” Snow whispered. “It’ll be okay.”
Vor scooped him up and carried him outside. He stalked to a nearby stream and plunged Snow’s hand below the surface.
“It’s freezing!”
“Exactly!” Vor replied, smiling broadly. “You need to stop the burn from damaging more of this beautiful, delicate skin of yours.”
Snow curled up closer to Vor, shivering in the evening air. “I thought cooking would be easy. The servants in the castle make it appear so… and there was a book giving instructions. You had everything I needed in that root cellar of yours. I can’t believe the tragedy I’ve caused.”
“Have you ever cooked anything before?” Vor asked without judgement lacing his tone.
“No,” Snow muttered, giving a slow shake of his head. “I haven’t.”
“And you expected to be able to feed eight hungry men without experience cooking?”
“I was a fool,” Snow whispered, pressing his face into Vor’s chest.
“Nay. Not a fool. As Shen said last night of Lazlo, you lack experience. That doesn’t mean you can’t learn to cook. We shall be your teachers in something other than fucking. Every man should be able to cook a meal or two to warm his belly. Between the six of us who can cook edible food, that is.”
Snow smiled up at Vor. “Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Vor replied before stealing a kiss. “Just promise me to ignore any lessons Lazlo offers pertaining to the culinary arts.”
Snow chuckled. “I promise.”
The alphas were true to their word. Hardly three hours had passed before they feasted on roasted rabbit, parsnips, carrots, and leeks—along with some of Owan’s fresh, warm bannock, which Snow had watched the preparation of closely.
After dinner, he showed the men how much he appreciated them, starting with Vor.
He knelt before his mate, a mischievous smile on his lips.
After drawing Vor’s cock from his braies, he suckled it like he had the evening before and bared his ass for the rest to see his creamy slick leaking from his bottom.
It took little time for the other alphas—all but Lazlo and Klaus, of course—to shed him of his borrowed shirt and use his body, fucking him one after the other until Vor carried him to bed to take the final bit for himself.
After, Snow curled up beside Vor, his body was satiated and sore, but beyond pleased before drifting off to sleep.
The following evening, he did better. By the time the sun hung low in the sky, he set water to boil in one of the cauldrons for them to wash up with.
The morning dishes were clean, as was the cottage.
He had ingredients out and ready for his first cooking lesson with Shen.
They made something Shen called curry even though he was upset they had to use milk cream instead of the milk of a coconut, whatever that was.
Even without the mystery ingredient, their curry was the most delicious thing Snow had ever tasted, and the bread called naan might’ve been even better.
It was hard to show his appreciation to the alphas with his belly so full, but he managed. The few nights after were much the same.
Each day, he cleaned and prepared all he could for their return home.
Once they arrived and cleaned up, he’d help one or two of the men start the evening meal.
While supper simmered or baked, Owan or Shen taught him to make simple quick breads, often as they rubbed their hard cocks against his bottom, much to his chagrin, as it made it near impossible to listen or learn.
He never wanted to repeat his first chaotic attempt and experience that shame ever again.
Supper was spent eating their amazing dishes while sharing laughter and ribald tales of their exploits. After their bellies were full and the hall cleaned up, his five lovers would adore his body and leave him pleasantly exhausted. He always slept beside Vor, safe, warm, and well-loved.
After nearly half the fortnight had passed, Snow’s curiosity got the better of him. Before he and Vor drifted off to sleep, he asked, “Will Klaus and Lazlo never join us?”
“Klaus doesn’t like to share. He gets a bit jealous when we touch Lazlo, which is difficult given how much Lazlo loves to share his body with us all.”
“You’ve all fucked Lazlo?” Snow asked, wide-eyed.
“How else do you think he gets out of his chores?” Vor grinned. “He gives one hell of a blowjob. Best one here by far.”
“Better than mine?”
Vor scoffed. “I meant best of all the alphas. Yours is obviously better than Lazlo’s.”
Snow as unconvinced. “Lazlo is an alpha—and he willingly surrenders to all the alphas in the cottage?”
“He does,” Vor said, narrowing his eyes. He examined Snow’s face, his brow furrowing. “That surrender didn’t seem to bother you when I found you down on your knees watching he and Klaus a few nights ago.”
“It doesn’t bother me… but is it not forbidden for alphas to lie with alphas?
His willingness and obvious enjoyment of it shocks me somewhat.
All of the alphas I know are very—aggressive, I suppose.
Lazlo is soft and sometimes acts more like an omega than an alpha.
If you all find a way to escape, he might struggle to find sure footing. ”
“Perhaps it’s best he doesn’t escape here, then.”
Snow gasped. “He deserves freedom.”
“And maybe he has more of that here than outside this place,” Vor said.
“Because you’re right. Lazlo will struggle to exist as he is in the world outside this accursed place.
Here, he is free from judgement. Free from expectations of others.
He can live as he wants and surrender to whomever he wishes. Here… he is safe.”
From Vor’s tone, Snow feared he’d struck a nerve. “I only meant…” he paused, at a loss for words. “I don’t know what I meant. I didn’t mean to sound as if I passed judgement. All of your freedom has been on my mind, and I guess I’ve worried for what that means for him.”
“He will find a way. Men like him often do,” Vor murmured.
Snow lay silent a few heartbeats, his mind spinning with questions and thoughts. “If all of you have lain with Lazlo, that means you have, too?”
“Most of us have been here a long time. Occasionally, needs arise. Our hand can offer some relief, but sometimes it just isn’t enough.
We need physical contact. Touch.” Vor paused a moment, a heaviness surrounding them.
“We’ve never had an omega amongst us besides the wizard—and we’re not touching him.
Sometimes we quench our lusts with one another because it’s all we have. ”
Snow took a moment to digest that.
“Does that trouble you? That I’ve lain with another alpha from time to time?” Vor asked.
Heat spread through Snow, unexpectedly excited by the idea of Vor laying with another big, strong alpha. He wanted to witness it… and maybe he would before they escaped the cottage. “It doesn’t bother me. Not at all.”
Vor lifted his chin and examined his face. Finally, his lips quirked into a smile before he laid his head back.
“The church claims it’s forbidden, but I’ve never understood how two people loving one another hurt anyone else.
Never has one of the priests explained why it was wrong in a way that made sense to me.
Just because the Book says it, we’re supposed to take that as law without question?
I need to know why. Why do we refute this and call it wrong?
” Snow sighed. “But I’m always made to feel badly for asking for more.
That only my blind faith is acceptable.”
Vor smiled at him. “Questioning the rules of our society is incredibly brave, my love. Blind faith is the thing we shouldn’t want.
In order to evolve, we need to question everything.
As scientists and scholars expose new truths, our understanding of the natural world grows.
Our faith should evolve with us, not hold us back.
That evolution might mean that certain texts in the book might no longer fit us.
” Vor scoffed. “Or need to change to fit where we are now. Not where we were eons ago.”
“And you believe the texts about alphas together should change?”
“I do,” Vor replied.
“I do, too,” Snow said. “I’ve heard whispers about alphas around the castle. It’s always said with disdain, as if it was the worst of crimes two men could commit. I asked my father once, but he spoke in circles and I felt even more confused when our conversation was over.”
Vor brushed his hand through Snow’s curls.
“There are many alphas who find pleasure in another alpha and they’ve existed since the dawn of time.
One of my alpha brothers is like Lazlo and I adored him.
He was the best of all my brothers.” Vor searched Snow’s face in the moonlight.
“He was everything an alpha should strive to be, but because he was different, my father forced him into the church, to serve as a priest. It wasn’t right.
He should’ve been allowed to live as he wanted. ”
“Maybe one day alphas like that can live without fear and be who they are.”
“If it was no longer against our laws, would you have alphas in your bed?”
“Regardless of your laws, alphas have been in my bed. There are no kings in this cottage, and I refuse to feel shame for who I bed.”
“Do you prefer alphas?” Snow asked quietly.
Vor shrugged. “I have no preference. It’s whoever is close enough when I’m needy.”
“Is that all I am?” Snow asked. “Something you can get your hands on in a moment of need?”
Vor dragged him closer, caressing his face as he stared down. He said naught, but the light in his silver eyes spoke volumes. Still, Snow wished to hear the words. To know he was more than merely a plaything to slake Vor’s lusts.
As the seconds passed with only silence, Snow struggled to breathe. He loved the intimacy they shared but he also felt the bond forged. If Vor didn’t feel the same? He wasn’t sure he could survive it.
“Vor? Please…”
“Can you not feel it?” Vor said, his voice deep and coarse like the palm holding the side of Snow’s head.
“I…” Snow frowned. “I think I’m more than that for you, but I’m no mind reader. Can’t you speak plainly and answer my question?”
Vor pressed a gentle kiss to his forehead. “Ask me again.”
Snow drew in a shaky breath, attempting to still his raw nerves. “Am I… simply fulfilling your need, to be discarded when you’re done with me?”
Vor’s gaze sought his out and held it captive. “Nay.”
Snow held his breath, expecting more, but it didn’t come. “Nay? That’s all you’ll reply?”
Vor chuckled. “You’re special, Snow, and you know that. Every man in this cottage knows that. They’d all give their right hand to be in my place, with you in their bed, those adoring blue eyes looking up at them the way you gaze upon me.”
Snow turned his head to hide the smile he fought. Vor wouldn’t allow him to hide. He gathered Snow’s chin and turned his focus back where it belonged.
“Will you want another alpha now? Now that you have me?” Snow asked, looking up through his lashes.
“I might occasionally enjoy sinking my cock into an alpha—but only if my omega desires seeing it.”
Snow smiled up at him. “Your omega just might enjoy seeing that. Very much, in fact.”
Vor chuckled. “Then perhaps I should provide you with some entertainment sometime soon.” He stole a kiss. “As long as you don’t turn into a jealous Klaus while I’m fucking another man.”
“You’ve allowed me to enjoy all the alphas here. How could I say no to you wanting to enjoy the same?”
Vor stole another kiss. “I’ll do as you ask, Snow. We can be as free with our bodies and needs as you will us to be. If ever anything crosses a line, all you need do is tell me and we’ll stop.”
Us. Snow smiled at that.
He also warmed at the power Vor offered him.
“We should both have a say in that, don’t you think?” Snow asked.
Vor grinned. “I’m in agreement.”
Snow cuddled close to Vor. “Equal in our pleasures and decisions. I like the sound of that.”