Tofa, shifting from one foot to the other as his heart fluttered without abandon, raised his gaze to meet his Alpha's. Through long, ebony lashes, he greeted him, an air of endearing bashfulness encapsulating his entire being.

"Um... welcome back, Kerr," he stammered, his soft voice betraying a sweet trace of nervousness.

"Hello, Tofa," Kerr bowed gracefully toward his fated, a temperate smile gracing the large man's lips. Even an Alpha as formidable as he couldn't help but feel a flutter of excitement whenever he was around his mate, his Tofa. However, despite his own raging instincts which demanded he take the small Omega into his arms and hoard him against his chest for all eternity, Kerr cherished their connection too much to rush their journey, fearing any discomfort his brash actions might bring his mate. "You look..." Kerr's words melted into a soft whisper, his words trailing off into the great yonder as his hazel eyes brimmed with affection, tracing along the length of his mate's petite frame. 

In truth, the Alpha knew deep down that no string of words could adequately capture the sheer captivating essence that his beloved Omega exuded. Thus, he found himself daftly entranced with a sentence forever unfinished, gazing adoringly, content to linger in this enchanting state of suspended bliss for an eternity yet to come.

It was then that Vali – the ever-perceptive cupid – sensed the charmingly delicate tension enveloping the two souls and made moves to intervene. With an enchanting smile, the Omega reluctantly peeled the front of his body from that of his Alpha's warm embrace, instead offering Tofa and Kerr refuge from their sweetly awkward encounter.

"Kerr. My Einar." he voiced tenderly as Einar's strong arm enveloped Vali's waist, refusing to let go after a full day of separation. "How were the preparations?" he inquired, attempting to mask the tremor of fear that cowered just beneath his confident tone.

It was only then that Kerr reluctantly diverted his intense, hazel gaze from his cherished Omega and fixed it upon Vali, instead. 

"Einar staked out the shed in which Guiscard safeguards his weapons. And half of the bond – those we hope will not falter in their efforts to assist us – have been made privy to tomorrow's plan." he whispered, deep voice lowered to an enchanting hush, as if fearing Guiscard or any of the Beta's lurking accomplices might emerge from the haystacks and condemn them to death at once. Neither Alpha dared underestimate the lengths their tyrannical master would go to maintain his stranglehold on power. "We have done all that we can. Now, we yield the outcome of our destiny to the hands of Odin, may he choose to shine great fortune upon us."

Vali's throat tightened as he nodded, absorbing Kerr's hasty rundown of their frantic efforts to secure additional allies and chart out places of interest. As he did so, he had an inkling that the Alpha was holding back a trove of crucial details in his retelling of their attempts at recruitment. Yet, Vali's deepest instincts urged him to tread cautiously, acknowledging that venturing deeper into the complexities of the Alpha's chosen methods of securing their master's downfall may not bode well for his own mental well-being.

As the eve of their week's long raiding expedition loomed, casting a somber shadow over Kerr, Einar, and the entirety of their brethren within the Berserkr bond, an urgent need to ensure the protection of their mate's welfare gripped the Alphas. And, as fear of discovery tightened its grip around their throats like a poised sword ready to strike with merciless intent, Einar was left with no option than to acquiesce to Kerr's proposal, joining forces in his quest to obliterate Guiscard's existence from the very face of this scorned earth.

Both Alphas knew that their plans possessed a very high potential of failure, and that there were many who – whether due to coercion, fear, or a true, sinister devotion – remained dedicated to Guiscard's neverending goals of greed and slaughter. But yet and still, the Alphas swore an allegiance to fight for the freedom of their cherished Omegas until their final exhale escaped pallid lips, until the last drop of blood was shed from their veins, until the frail tendrils of hope slipped from their grasp and their souls embarked a pilgrimage to the hallowed gates of Valhalla.

For fate was fickle, and the price they may have to pay for their defiance was steep. 

"Well, with the sunrise comes a new day, and this next one is bound to be eventful," Vali chirped, forcing a smile across his lips as he tip-toed around the truth of what horrors tomorrow had the potential to bring. "We should retire for the night to ensure we all get enough rest, don't you think?"

"That we should." Einar rumbled, only releasing Vali so that he could utilize the hand that wasn't holding the burlap sack to light tonight's torch. Within a few moments, the entirety of the first floor of the barn was set aglow in a radiant blaze, shadows dancing amidst gentle hues of amber and gold. "I assume Tofa will stay with us tonight?" The Alpha inquired, blue eyes glistening in the flickering torchlight as he shifted them to Vali's small friend.

To everyone's astonishment, Tofa shook his head immediately, his long, black tresses shifting around his heart-shaped face. "No. I will return to the cellars tonight."

"What?!" Vali's gasp was audible, and he abruptly tore himself from his mate, making his way to Tofa instead in only a few, quick steps. When he reached his friend – his hands braced on either side of Tofa's arms – the taller Omega's eyes were wide with shock. "Why would you ever return to such a wretched place? Please stay here with us tonight, where there are warm, soft furs for you to sleep under."

A small smile graced Tofa's lips at the generous offer, but the Omega had obviously already made up his mind. "I'll be fine for one more night out there," he whispered, gazing up at his friend with a loving gentleness to his azure eyes, "For, if this is to be yer last night with yer mate..." he paused, as if not wanting to even consider the notion, "I wish for ya' to enjoy it together. Alone."

"Tofa, you don't–"

"Val, it's okay," Tofa reassured his friend before he could object yet again, "I've spent many a night in much worse places." He joked, although judging by the tightening of Vali's grip on his arms and the teariness that overtook his mismatched eyes, the taller Omega didn't find his quip very humorous. "Kerr will bring me back to ya' the moment the sun meets the horizon. We'll be together when our Alphas..." 

He didn't finish his sentence. He didn't have to. They all knew what was to occur at dawn.

Vali's lip quivered, overwhelmed by his friend's generous offering. "Promise," he whispered, a fear like no other gripping him at the idea of losing his best friend for the second time. "Promise me you'll come back."

Tofa's smile was wide and so damn gorgeous that somewhere in the background, Kerr had to stabilize himself with a large hand against one of the barn wallboards just to withstand its beauty. "I promise."

Time seemed to move in slow motion as Tofa leaned up to press a kiss to Vali's cheek, giving him one last, tiny smile before making his way over to Kerr, who stood in waiting for his Omega. It took everything not to run after Tofa as he walked over to Kerr, whispering something to his Alpha. Kerr nodded, and they both disappeared out of the front door of the barn and into the darkness of the chilled night.

It was only when one of Einar's calloused, yet gentle thumbs wiped a tear from his cheek that Vali realized that he was crying.

"My Vali," The Alpha cooed, the center of his brow creased with worry as he cupped Vali's cheek. "Kerr will keep him safe. Of that, I hold no doubts." He reassured, desperate to see his fated in better spirits. The need to see his Omega content was always a necessity, but on the eve of such a momentous occasion, that instinctual desire was eons more powerful. Fortunately, tonight he had just the thing to offer his poor, weeping love.

"I know," Vali husked as he squeezed his eyes shut, breathing deeply in an attempt to keep the tears at bay. He leaned into his Alpha's touch, savoring the intensified pheromones that poured from the gland by his wrist, allowing the delicious scent of protection to calm him. "I trust you," He whispered then, opening his eyes again to peer up at the towering man who held the other half of his soul. "With all that I am."

Einar sucked in a sharp breath at his Omega's declaration, pride swelling within his chest as his inner Alpha went wild with euphoria.

No matter the somber state of their precarious circumstances, his Omega trusted him to keep him safe, protected, and – most of all – cherished. 

No other praise in all of existence could rival its magnificence.

"I have brought you gifts," Einar finally revealed, speaking of the coarse burlap sack that he had abandoned at the foot of the loft ladder upon realizing that his fated required his attention and care. "Although I lack silver and gold, and my offerings may be meager, I assure you, I have exerted every ounce of my being to acquire–" The Alpha began to explain himself as his cheeks reddened with shame, yearning for Vali to understand that his inability to bestow his beloved Omega with the opulent luxuries he so deserved was not intended as an insult. However, before he could conclude his plea and express his remorse for his impoverished state, Einar found his words stifled by a slender finger that pressed gently against his lips.

Vali's expression softened, a smile curving upon his lips, a welcome sight compared to the tears that resided there only a few moments prior. Slowly, he withdrew his finger from Einar's lips, opting instead for a gentle caress along his Alpha's sharp, lightly stubbled jawline.

"There is no need for apologies, my Alpha," Vali whispered, his voice a melodious balm that soothed its way across Einar's racing heart. "Your presence alone is the most precious gift that I could desire." He reassured. After all, Vali had never sought material wealth, nor had he coveted extravagant possessions. On the contrary, his heart's happiness resided solely in the presence of those that he held dear, in loving relationships that surpassed anything that earthy riches could ever seek to provide.

Einar's eyelids fluttered as he breathed in all that was his precious Omega, a man that he would never believe he deserved, not in this life nor the next. But by some divine intervention, perhaps by the benevolence of the great Odin himself, he had been bestowed this extraordinary blessing – a treasure that the Alpha would forever hold with the highest of gratitude. And maybe, if he just prayed hard enough, Odin would allow Einar to keep him.

Consumed by a surge of emotion, Einar's heartache only intensified, his longing for Vali's embrace growing to insatiable heights, a voracious hunger that festered deep in his gut. He ached for the sensation of his Omega's tender caress against his scarred skin, tormented by the bitter knowledge that tomorrow may cruelly snatch him away from this word.

"My Einar," Vali trembled in his Alpha's hold, as if he could feel Einar's stormy emotions as his own. "Take me to our loft."

Einar nodded, a barely audible "yes" slipping past his lips, the word burdened by the weight of a heart that dreaded the morning's arrival. For, with each passing moment, as the dawn drew nearer, so did the inescapable reality that he would soon be bidding farewell to his beloved Omega, perhaps forever.

Next chappie's gonna be spicyyy!! 😏🌶

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