Entangled in each other's embrace, Sean couldn't stop smiling. He was so happy. Even if this wasn't how he dreamed his first time would be. He decided that it was better because it was real. Still knotted in him, Mark lightly snored against his shoulder. They'd been having sex on and off for hours and it was taking a toll on Mark. Sean couldn't control his heat, nor could he predict how long it would continue for. As tired as he was, he was just too excited to settle down and nap between his flaring lust. He just couldn't nap. He didn't want to miss a single moment with Mark. If the Pack exiled him, he wanted to remember this moment in vivid detail. If the Pack let him stay but refused to allow him to mate with anyone ever again... he wanted this to be the only memory of sex that he wanted. Stroking Mark's arm that was draped over his side, Sean was careful not to wake him. He wanted this to last for as long as possible.

Yet, at the back of his mind, he knew this couldn't last. Mark needed to get home. To save his Pack from the Southern wolves, to inform them what had happened with the Apex. It was too dangerous for an Omega like himself to be out here. As strong as Mark appeared to be... he could be overwhelmed. He needed to get him home... even if it meant losing him to... her. Sniffling a little, he glanced at the sealed snowy entrance and exhaled heavily. The minute his heat was over... he'd have to help Mark get home. Mark had been nice enough to save him and was pretending beautifully to be his mate to get him through his heat. He owed him. While staring at the entrance, Mark licked his throat, causing Sean to shiver from how it tickled. His warm breath puffing over his throat when Mark asked him in a deep groggy voice. "Are you alright? Got something in your nose?" Chuckling, Sean rubbed his nose and mumbled out the lie. "Ya. Bit of dirt got up there."

Rising onto his elbow, Mark rested his chin sleepily on Sean's shoulder, when he mused out with a smirk. "Liar. Was I too rough this last time?" Shaking his head, Sean reluctantly admitted. "No. I just... I'm so happy. I don't this to end." Mark opened his sleepy eyes to meet his, causing Sean to quickly look away and rush out. "I know... I know. Don't say it." Mark's voice was warm sounding when he stated. "I wasn't going to say anything." Rolling his eyes, Sean mumbled over his shoulder. "You didn't have to. I could see it in your eyes." Sean's breath caught in his throat when Mark kissed the base of his neck so affectionately. It sapped the pain away and made him feel warm and fuzzy. He liked how affectionate Mark was getting after sex. He was cuddling more and kissing his shoulders more. Once or twice his teeth even grazed his shoulders... but still he didn't bite him. Against his neck, Mark mumbled out. "I'm sorry."

Shrugging, Sean sighed out. "Don't be. I know you are trying. I can't help it, Mark. I got my heat smelling your scent. Your true scent. My mother said... that's how our kind used to pick their mates. With your lack of smell... It just makes sense to me. This is how I was meant to find you." Mark playfully nipped at his ear, before his deep rumbly voice answered into it. "I'm not going to argue this with you anymore. I have no proof to say you're right or wrong. Right now. I just want to get you home." Feeling a little distressed, Sean asked him. "Do you think the other Omega's will be alright? It doesn't feel right that we left them behind..." Mark brushed his lips over his temple, before confidently answering. "They will be fine. The young Apex will take his father's place and find a mate from among them. Then they will be sent home. It's us that will be in hot water..." Sean glanced back at Mark, allowing him to finish off. "Our scent is all over the bedroom... They have my name. They know by your collar that you will be..."

Mark stopped cold, his eyes dropping to look at the collar still around Sean's neck. Sean's hand went to his collar, feeling suddenly anxious. Mark glanced at the entrance, telling him uneasily. "The storm must have disrupted the signal. Or else..." Sean swallowed, asking nervously. "What will we do?" Mark returned his attention to the collar, examining it with his fingers, when he said. "I broke mine off without too much effort. I could try to break yours but... It might hurt you." Sean whimpered, but Mark looked lost in thought. Shifting to coax Sean on all fours, Mark winced as his knot forced him to stay pressed against his hips. However, bracing over Sean, Mark told him seriously. "I'm gonna try something... Just stay still." Sean took shaky breaths, listening to Mark grunt and start to snarl behind him. Suddenly, Mark wrapped an arm around Sean's chest and brought his lips close to his neck. Sean gasped, his body preparing to be claimed with a bite, but instead Mark's teeth clasped the leather of the collar.

Mark started to growl as his teeth chewed on the collar with mild aggression. His sharp canine teeth flashed in Sean's peripheral vision as he worked. Lifting a hand to lay it over Mark's arm that hugged him close, he relaxed beneath him. Mark tugged very lightly on the collar as he tried to pull it free with worried whimpers that made Sean blush. When the collar began to hang awkwardly, Mark lifted his hand from holding Sean to grab the front of the collar. Keeping his hold on it, Mark pulled back with his teeth and Sean began to yelp in pain. The collar was shocking him! It didn't want him to remove it! Mark didn't stop. Instead, he began tugging harder until it finally snapped free. Tossing the collar away, Mark rose off him, asking a little panicked. "Sean? Are you ok?" Sean whimpered, laying down on his stomach to rub his neck. His neck felt like it had been stung. It felt numb in places and was burning in other places. His ears were even ringing from the sharp zapping sound the collar had made to help scare him from pulling it free.

There was no way that he could have pulled it free on his own. It scared him too badly and hurt too badly. Whimpering a bit more, he uttered out. "Why do the collars do that? Why would they... Why didn't yours...?" Still over him, Mark answered gently. "It did. That is why I didn't want to muscle it off like I did with mine. But... the shocks weren't that bad for me... part of my training was getting tased... I... I'm used to it. I chewed it down as far as I could go... Anymore and I would have lost my sense of taste too." Sean could only manage a smile but couldn't bring himself to giggle. He was still too shaken up. Carefully laying over his back, Mark brought his lips to Sean's neck and gently licked the thick red line that had burned itself over his pale skin there. Sean winced from the contact at first, but the more Mark licked his neck... the better he felt. Closing his eyes, he enjoyed the way Mark licked his throat so comfortingly. The tenderness of it, finally lulling Sean to sleep.

Waking up to a cold shiver, Sean opened his eyes to see the sunny light coming in through the open entrance of their den. Jerking upright, he looked for Mark, but he was gone and so was the collar. Fixing his clothes, Sean shivered as he stepped out of the warm den. The storm was over, and the woods were covered in a thick heavy snow that came up to Sean's knees. The sun sparkled off the snow and bathed everything in warm light. Rubbing his arms to keep them warm, he sniffed the air. Mark's scent was still strong in the area. He couldn't have been gone all that long. Just as he was turning around to look behind the den, Mark jumped down and scared him into sitting in the snow. Clearing his throat, Mark whimpered out. "Sorry. I didn't see you there. I was just burying the collar." Slowly getting up, Sean chattered out. "That's... smart. Fuck... I'm cold already." Mark stepped closer, allowing Sean to press against his warm body. He had certainly been digging. He could smell the fresh dirt on him and his sweat. He found he rather liked it. It wasn't as awful as the sweat he'd gotten whiffs of from other Alphas and Betas.

Wrapping an arm around him, Mark asked hopefully. "Can you sniff out a town? Someplace we can... get supplies to keep going? Maybe a car?" Reluctantly, pulling away. Sean sniffed the air. Getting nothing, he wondered around the area, until he caught the smell of donuts. Taking deep sniffs of freshly brewed coffee and warm pastries, he excitedly told Mark. "This way! I smell domestic food!" Mark raised an eyebrow, then chuckled out. "Domestic meaning...? Not wild animals, I take it?" Sean sniffed the air to keep the scent, moving quickly through the snow as he shot back. "Not unless they learned to make coffee and donuts! Oh, I'm so hungry! Hurry up!" Rolling his eyes, Mark followed him but stayed more alert. In an hour or two, they stumbled onto a snowy dirt road that led into a small town. The place was bustling with humans, which made Sean nervous. He'd never encountered humans. The Packs usually stuck to their lands and didn't interact with them. Those that did were... well, like Mark. Alphas or Pack leaders to keep the peace.

Walking up beside him, Mark wrapped an arm around his shoulders and whispered. "Stay close. Don't show them your teeth or flash your eyes and they won't know." Sean nodded, staying close to Mark. A few humans shot them surprised looks at how they were dressed. Compared to how they were bundled up, the humans must have seen them as crazy people. Leading Sean into a small clothing shop, Mark patted his back and told him. "Pick out something warm. I'm gonna talk to them about getting a car." Sean started to nod but grabbed Mark's arm as he said in a worried whisper. "But Mark... How will we pay?" Leaning into his shoulder, Mark answered with a wicked grin. "I have a credit card that I can use for emergencies. Relax. Go get some clothes." Shivering, Sean wondered off. As he pulled warm clothes, boots, gloves, and hats out, he listened to Mark talk to the human woman behind the wooden counter.

After a moment, she told Mark. "I'm sorry. We've got nothing like that in town. We're too small of a community for car rentals. The store down the way has some outdoor gear though. Fishing and camping stuff is very big here." Thanking her, Mark joined him to get some warm clothes. Paying for them, they slipped into the dressing rooms to change. Where Sean asked over the divider between them. "What did you tell her happened to us?" Chuckling, Mark answered simply. "That our car broke down in the storm on our way from visiting family." Sean nodded to himself. That sounded decent enough. Stepping out, Mark told him coolly. "We can hike up to the next town. Maybe they'll have something we can use." Biting his lip, Sean asked softly. "We could try calling home. Have someone drive out to get us?" Mark nodded but told him honestly. "She said the storm knocked down the phone lines here. So, we'll try in the next town. Wanna eat next?"

Nodding excitedly, Sean hopped out of the dressing room, answering loudly. "YES! I wanna find that coffee and donut place!" Chuckling, Mark gestured for him to follow his nose. The sheep wool lined boots, and jacket was much better resistance to the cold. Behind him, Mark greeted the humans that greeted him. He looked so... comfortable around humans. Slipping into the donut place, Mark bought two boxes with a dozen donuts each. They were both hungry and while the sugar wasn't exactly a meal, it gave them enough energy to shop for some camping gear and rations for later. Finally sitting down to eat dinner which consisted of hearty soup and warm bread. Mark pulled out a small bag and slipped it to him. Taking it, Sean peeked inside excitedly before going pale. Across from him, Mark told him seriously. "They had some stuff in the outdoor center for... our kind. Scent Covers to disguise your omega scent from strays. And... Some other stuff. There is a pill bottle in there that you should take one now."

Removing the bottle, he read the label and felt sick. It was a bottle of pills to prevent pregnancy. A kind of morning after pill for their kind. He wanted to be mad about it, but instead... his hand shook as he fished one out to take. While Mark whispered to him. "If you don't get pregnant... I can pull some strings to make it so that we never... that you never lost your..." Giving Mark a nod, he took the pill grimly, but said with a tiny forced smile. "Thank you for looking out for me, Mark."  To Be Continued...