Al didn't remember the rest of the fight. He didn't remember cleaving through the hoards of attacking Telmarines to track carry Edmund to safety. It was as though he were remembering memories forged by his lion-self. Fleeting images interspersed with strong emotion. Anger. Terror. A need to protect. And the everpresent undercurrent of want.
The problem was, he'd realized what was happening to Edmund long before his king ever regained consciousness. The scent of an omega in heat was unmistakable, and when it was an omega he'd already begun to bond to, it was terrible. He couldn't deny the fierce need it kindled in his belly. His own body responded to Edmund's in a way he that went beyond the constraints his mind had built around their relationship. Edmund needed him, and Al was built, by biology and evolution, to fill his need like a perfectly cut puzzle piece.
He still had enough of himself to know why this couldn't happen. But he couldn't leave, either. Not even once he knew Edmund was safe, tucked into bed and far from the clutches of the beast that had bitten him. His own instinct wouldn't let him. There was an omega in need and that called to the Alpha in him, overriding everything else. Woven in was the fierce, protective anger. The idea of not only leaving Edmund in this state, but leaving him for another Alpha to find... Even considering it made Al want to tear heads off, all semblance of rationality fleeing from him.
He wasn't in rut. He still had enough understanding to recognize why he couldn't just crawl into bed with Edmund and give him what he needed. But he was stuck in limbo, unable to leave. He'd just have to see Edmund through his heat. The presence of an Alpha, even one who refused to knot him, would at least help soothe things. They'd stumble through the next few days (and please, gods, don't let it last longer than that!) and then regain the icy distance between them.
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timeasmymeasure
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Date: 2017-02-08 08:51 pm (UTC)The problem was, he'd realized what was happening to Edmund long before his king ever regained consciousness. The scent of an omega in heat was unmistakable, and when it was an omega he'd already begun to bond to, it was terrible. He couldn't deny the fierce need it kindled in his belly. His own body responded to Edmund's in a way he that went beyond the constraints his mind had built around their relationship. Edmund needed him, and Al was built, by biology and evolution, to fill his need like a perfectly cut puzzle piece.
He still had enough of himself to know why this couldn't happen. But he couldn't leave, either. Not even once he knew Edmund was safe, tucked into bed and far from the clutches of the beast that had bitten him. His own instinct wouldn't let him. There was an omega in need and that called to the Alpha in him, overriding everything else. Woven in was the fierce, protective anger. The idea of not only leaving Edmund in this state, but leaving him for another Alpha to find... Even considering it made Al want to tear heads off, all semblance of rationality fleeing from him.
He wasn't in rut. He still had enough understanding to recognize why he couldn't just crawl into bed with Edmund and give him what he needed. But he was stuck in limbo, unable to leave. He'd just have to see Edmund through his heat. The presence of an Alpha, even one who refused to knot him, would at least help soothe things. They'd stumble through the next few days (and please, gods, don't let it last longer than that!) and then regain the icy distance between them.