Chapter Text
After dressing, Teddy offers to take Red Harvest back to the house to clean up. “Just to wash up and have breakfast. We don’t have to stay there.”
Red Harvest looks at him for a moment, “You stay there.”
“With Emma. I’ve lived there with her and Matthew for years.”
When the grief needles him, Red Harvest runs his hand over Teddy’s back. Teddy leans into him, gratefully. He doesn’t ask if Red Harvest has lost anyone too. He can smell old grief in the alpha’s scent.
He asks, “Do you have any pack waiting for you?”
Red Harvest shakes his head with his own old pain, his hand staying at Teddy’s back, “It is no longer my pack.”
Teddy steps closer in comfort. Red Harvest accepts it, wrapping his arm around Teddy to draw him in. Teddy makes a comforting sound and breathes with his alpha. Something niggles at his thoughts though and he can smell Red Harvest’s silent question at the omega’s trepidation.
But it has to be said, “I can’t leave Emma. She’s my pack, we’ve lost too much these past few weeks.”
Red Harvest nods, nuzzling Teddy’s temple in a way that causes Teddy’s eyes to shut, “She is your pack, of course.”
Teddy sags a little in relief. There’s no resentment or frustration in the alpha’s scent. There’s enough alphas already who disapprove, he’s so glad that Red Harvest isn’t one of them. Red Harvest runs his hand through Teddy’s hair, and Teddy can smell how much the alpha enjoys doing that. He’s glad, he’s always enjoyed an alpha playing with his hair.
“I’m not saying I won’t travel but I can’t leave permanently,” he says eventually. “I don’t mind sleeping outside.”
He senses Red Harvest mulling that over and brushing a kiss to Teddy’s forehead before tilting Teddy’s chin up so that they can look at each other. Then he rests his forehead against Teddy’s. It feels intimate, surprisingly so after what they’ve already done together. The way Red Harvest does it feels heavy with meaning though. Teddy wonders if it’s a special gesture among the alpha’s people, between couples there.
“She will accept this?” Red Harvest asks.
Teddy smiles at the question, at Red Harvest knowing that Emma’s opinion is important and smelling like it’s important to him to know too. He nods gently.
“She’s been telling me to talk to you about this for days now,” he reveals. “She’ll be smirking.”
Red Harvest lets out a breath like a laugh, Teddy beams at the sound. He’s made his alpha laugh. They walk together into Rose Creek, avoiding the main street on their way to the house. Red Harvest doesn’t suggest telling the others where they are, maybe he assumes they’ll look at the Cullen house first.
Teddy remembers to double-check that he still has his teas as they approach the building. He sees Red Harvest eye them with undisguised interest so Teddy offers,
“Do you have teas like this? For omegas? This one keeps back the heat, and this one prevents carrying a child.”
Red Harvest takes the packets and sniffs them carefully. He nods, he must have seen the omegas in the group drink them every morning on the way to Rose Creek. He hands them back to Teddy. Teddy sees the way his hand lingers on the tea for heat and blushes hard. Sharing a heat with Red Harvest is a wonderful thought.
His side brushes Red Harvest’s as he unlocks the front door and leads the way in. He knows Emma will be awake, even at this early hour. Sure enough she’s in the kitchen tying her hair up. A warm teasing smile breaks across her face as Teddy and Red Harvest enter the kitchen.
“Good morning.”
Teddy looks down only for a moment with a smile but nods as he looks up again, “You were right.”
Emma smiles and eyes Red Harvest for a moment before getting close to Teddy to hug him briefly but tightly. Teddy holds her just as tight. Red Harvest’s scent is not too surprised and he doesn’t smell disapproving. Teddy breathes all of that in.
“You are his pack,” Red Harvest tells Emma as the hug breaks.
He says it simply but Teddy can see Emma relaxes at the words. She needed to hear them. She smiles warmly at the alpha.
“I am, congratulations. Please, look after Teddy. He needs a lot of looking after.”
“Emma,” Teddy complains. “I’m not a pup.”
“That’s not what I meant, not all of it anyway.”
The look she exchanges with Red Harvest is knowing and Teddy relaxes too. This isn’t like him, Emma and Matthew but it is pack. Red Harvest and Emma might not be pack to each other yet but there’s acceptance and welcome between them and that makes Teddy want to purr.
“Can we scrub clean here?” he asks.
“I’ll fill a bucket,” Emma replies, before turning to Red Harvest. “You’re welcome to stay for breakfast, or to come here any time. If you want to store anything here, there’s more than enough room.”
Red Harvest appears to digest this and nods, “Thank you.”
Emma smiles, “You’re welcome.”
As she goes to fill the bucket from the well outside, Teddy goes to build up the hearth fire. Red Harvest watches them working together, Emma brushing a hand to Teddy’s waist as she passes him, until there’s warmed water and rags for their use. Emma excuses herself, saying she’ll expect them not to take too long seeing as it’ll be time for breakfast soon.
Red Harvest watches her leave, “She does not have to serve us.”
“Oh, she won’t. That isn’t what this is. Matthew never expected that either,” Teddy explains. “This is her territory and she knows how she wants things done. She’ll tell us what we need to do, if we don’t think of it ourselves.”
He pauses as he unbuttons his shirt. It sounds a lot like Emma being the pack leader, which she was alongside Matthew. It’s right that every pack should have a mated couple at its head.
Red Harvest watches him, “She leads.”
“Yeah, is that gonna be a problem? I don’t think she can trust for any alpha to do that so soon after Matthew…It’s gonna be a long while for either of us to want that.”
Teddy knows many alphas who’d find that a huge insult. But Red Harvest smells contemplative and not at all offended. He removes his vest and starts on his breeches.
“It is her pack,” he replies matter-of-fact, as though this could be normal for him.
Oh. Teddy would like to hear any stories buried behind that, he thinks Emma would too. He comes close to Red Harvest and tilts his head for a kiss which the alpha grants him, tugging Teddy close to his chest. The fireflies fly under his skin. Wow, he doesn’t think he’ll ever get used to that.
“Thank you,” he breathes against Red Harvest’s mouth.
The alpha’s mouth curls against his, but neither of them deepen the kiss. Emma is upstairs and there is more work to be done today. They scrub themselves clean and Teddy grabs some fresh clothes while Red Harvest redresses. Emma waits for him at the doorway, a smile playing with her lips.
“I really am happy for you, Teddy.”
Teddy smiles at her as he buttons up his fresh shirt, “I can’t believe it’s happening.”
“Well, it is, and you’re further ahead than Mr Faraday.”
Teddy laughs and shakes his head. Emma links arms with him as they head back into the kitchen where Red Harvest is dressed and waiting for them. He doesn’t comment on how physically affectionate the two omegas are together when away from everyone else, but Teddy can smell his contentment when he gazes at the two of them together. Teddy smiles to himself and keeps his knee pressed to Emma’s as he eats.
///
No one comments on what must be obvious in both Teddy and Red Harvest’s scents when they all meet up for more chores, though there’s some smirks. Mr Robicheaux offers congratulations when Teddy brings him water later.
“I see now the extent of your excellent taste.”
Teddy smiles and nods, his cheeks coloring, “Thank you, sir.”
“Finding that in the heat of all this, not everyone would do it. Mind you, not everyone is right for the heat of this moment.”
Mr Robicheaux’s eyes seem far away as he talks and there’s a slight tremor to his hands as he lifts a cup to his lips. Teddy can’t think what to say. It’s a jarring reminder of the times Mr Robicheaux got nightmares on the journey to Rose Creek and how Mr Rocks soothed him and how ragged Mr Robicheaux would appear when he woke. It’s a relief when he spies Mr Rocks then, approaching with concern in his scent. He nods as Teddy slips away.
Teddy is still surprised when Mr Robicheaux leaves that night. He’s not surprised by how devastated Mr Rocks is, drinking with the rawest look on his face. Red Harvest shakes his head and takes Teddy away, outside of town to the sand and the rocks where he’s most at home. It’s the hidden space that he and Teddy lay in before and there’s blankets there already.
“His heart is taken now,” the alpha murmurs.
Teddy moves to stand closer to Red Harvest, shivering a little at thinking of losing his alpha now like that, sudden and painful,“Do you think he’ll leave after his mate?”
Red Harvest shakes his head, “He can’t move yet, he is too broken. And he has said he’s made a promise here.”
Maybe Mr Rocks thought that his omega would come back. Teddy presses closer and Red Harvest bears him down into the blankets. The alpha smoothes Teddy’s hair from his face and kisses him slowly, like he’s building a memory. Teddy slides his hands over Red Harvest’s skin, trying to remember that too. Suddenly, he’s thinking about tomorrow and how it could part him and Red Harvest forever. It’s not something he’s been thinking about at all until now.
“Would you-?”
“I will not leave,” Red Harvest tells him, his eyes firm and intent on Teddy.
He takes hold of Teddy’s hand and lays it against his own throat, right on the pulse point. His gaze stays fixed on Teddy, Teddy can feel the hard pulse against his skin. He feels breathless and he doesn’t know why. He doesn’t know what this means.
Red Harvest explains, “I will be your mate, as unbroken as this runs.”
Oh. Teddy’s mouth is full of sand again. But he nods, his own heartbeat running at a canter. He knows this is formal, that it means something strong and solid to Red Harvest.
“I will be yours,” he says, sure of the sentiment but not sure he’s using the right words.
But Red Harvest nods and his scent is happy and wanting, and his eyes light up as he looms over Teddy and begins to unbutton his shirt. Teddy loses track of how many long they spend like this, needing to touch until they’re naked and pressed together. Teddy’s thighs are wet with slick and Red Harvest growls in appreciation, the sound shooting down Teddy’s spine and increasing his grip around the alpha’s back. Red Harvest growls again and noses Teddy’s neck but he doesn’t bite.
“When we are here again,” the alpha states.
Yes. Teddy nods, as much as he wants Red Harvest to claim him right now, he’s heard that claimings slow people’s thoughts for a spell, that it’s like drinking too much, like a heat in some ways. And that’s no state to try fighting in.
“When we’re here again,” he agrees.
Then it’s more skin-on-skin and scent surrounding them. Teddy is aware of Red Harvest pressing fingers into him and then, after their gazes meet for confirmation, his hard length presses into Teddy. Red Harvest isn’t rough, but every thrust is deep. Teddy feels full and at the center of Red Harvest’s attention. He can smell how much Red Harvest loves this, how pleased he is and how much he wants to do this. Teddy feels the fireflies burning.
He moans and cries out, unaware of any other sound. Pleasure is white-hot through him, as powerful as gunfire. He bares his neck and Red Harvest presses his hand there but then turns Teddy’s head to kiss him as he continues to thrust and grunt and shout, spending in Teddy. The pleasure in his scent is so strong, it could burn Teddy’s nostrils.
He realizes, as the haze clears, that the alpha is grasping the base of his own cock and oh, preventing the knot from forming. Teddy looks at him questioningly.
“You would burn,” Red Harvest explains, carefully pulling his length out and lying down beside his omega. “This would not help tomorrow.”
Red Harvest is denying himself to make sure Teddy can be at his best tomorrow. Teddy is touched, his heart squeezing. He nuzzles the alpha, kissing him as Red Harvest cleans them with the blankets, like he did last time. Teddy is going to try to remember to clean them all after tomorrow. Because ‘after tomorrow’ needs to exist.
“I want tomorrow,” he murmurs, tiredness from what he’s just done starting to fog him.
He wants Emma and Red Harvest to have tomorrow as well. Red Harvest curls an arm around Teddy, drawing him flush-close and nuzzling him. Their scents are amazing together. Teddy wants these nights together, he wants to work out what their days together will look like too. He wants to see the faces of those alphas circling Emma when they see Red Harvest with them. He wants to sleep.
///
Everything happens fast in the morning. There’s barely time to kiss and savor anything before they dress and go to the house to scrub clean. Emma is clearly expecting them, as she already has breakfast laid out and water heating. There’s worry tightening her mouth as she moves, fastening and unfastening her jacket.
Teddy hugs her tight before they leave, breathing her in and the faint traces of Matthew that are still clinging to her. She grips him just as tight.
“We’re doing this,” he manages.
She nods, “We’ve all gotta, for as long as we can.”
Right, Teddy hugs her again and makes himself let go and checks his gun. He hears Emma talk to Red Harvest, “You take care, Red Harvest. He’s just found you.”
“You as well.”
Emma doesn’t even try to hug him but she nods and smiles slightly in thanks. She grabs her shotgun and they go to follow Mr Chisolm’s plan. Mr Faraday is the surprise, smelling like Mr Vasquez and what the two of them obviously got up to together the previous night. But everyone’s focused on the army coming.
Everything canters now. Teddy has a moment to hug Red Harvest, to feel the alpha’s kiss on his neck by his scent gland. It doesn’t feel like goodbye, it feels like a promise. Then they kiss properly, pouring into the kiss what can only be love. Their foreheads press together after, Teddy breathes in as much as he can.
“Tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow.”
Red Harvest pulls back to look at him intently for a moment and then he’s gone. Teddy can only watch him until he’s hauled away to take up his position. It’s all gunfire after that, people falling and Mr Robicheaux returning. It’s a gatling gun that sounds like thunder and hell, and so many people fall to the ground. Teddy loses sight of everyone until he’s shot in the shoulder and can barely hold his gun. He’s horrified and terrified but Mr Horne appears and roars like an angry animal.
He protects Teddy, who is trying to stop the bleeding from his shoulder and get back to his feet. He needs to stand. Then Mr Denali is there, painted and deadly. Teddy grits his teeth and manages to hold his gun but Mr Denali is using his axes and he has hurt Mr Horne very badly.
Red Harvest saves them. He is fury and blood and he will not stop. Teddy watches with wide eyes, his want and relief bubbling at the edge of his pain and fear. Then something explodes, so loudly that the building shakes and Teddy fears that it’ll fall down around them. Mr Denali isn’t expecting it, and Red Harvest strikes in that moment of hesitation and kills him.
Teddy doesn’t know how long he lies there, relieved and hurting, his shoulder bleeding heavily. He knows that it ends when Red Harvest picks him up and talks with Mr Horne. He knows that he presses something against his wound and that it hurts as Red Harvest takes him to where the doctor is. He knows the air is rich with the smells of blood and smoke.
He doesn’t remember when he learns what happens to the others. He remembers seeing Mr Robicheaux and Mr Rocks being treated, and hearing Mr Faraday scream. Teddy doesn’t remember if his arm was treated before or after that. The bullet is removed and his arm bound. He is allowed to leave.
He holds onto Red Harvest and realizes, where is Emma? His grip tightens on Red Harvest’s arm and the alpha looks at him, concerned. His face is streaked with paint and blood.
“Emma,” Teddy manages.
Red Harvest looks around and then he is leading Teddy to the side of a building and there is Mr Chisolm and Emma, her face dripping with tears. She isn’t hurt, but she is dirty and her hands are trembling around her shotgun. She drops it when she sees Teddy.
“Teddy!”
She rushes to check on him, her hands skimming his bandage, then clasping his face before she hugs him, only hurting his shoulder a little. He feels her shaking. He clutches her as tight as he can, it’s more important than the pain. The relief he feels nearly fells his legs but Red Harvest has hold of him. Then Emma reaches for the alpha and clasps his hand tight. Red Harvest nods at her and holds tight to her hand too.
Mr Chisolm is the one who speaks, “Bogue is dead.”
Teddy feels more relief, he sways and both Red Harvest and Emma stay close. Bogue is dead, he’s dead. Rose Creek is safe.
“I…I’ve seen Mr Robicheaux and Mr Rocks, they’re being tended to,” Teddy tells the others. “They were hurt bad.”
“They fell from the bell tower,” Mr Chisolm replies. “They’re hurt bad and miraculous.”
He smells relieved too and Teddy remembers that Mr Chisolm and Mr Robicheaux are old friends. It wasn’t just Mr Rocks that Mr Robicheaux rode away from.
“I heard Mr Faraday,” Teddy adds quietly.
He can’t describe the sound but Mr Chisolm nods somberly, “He needs a miracle too.”
He manages a firm smile at them all though, “I’d say we’re all miraculous, all of us living through this.”
There’s a shout for him then and Mr Chisolm goes to answer it, moving pretty normally. He seems to have come out of it well. Teddy winces and Red Harvest touches his arm, avoiding the bandage.
“You should rest,” the alpha tells him.
Teddy looks around, at the wrecked buildings and at all the bodies. He’s trying not to look at any of them too closely, he’s not ready to discover who is now gone forever. Emma stays close, her arm around his waist, she’s looking around with a careful but brief glance. She’s probably thinking about all the work ahead and what she can do to help. It’s what they should all be doing.
“There’s so much to do,” Teddy murmurs.
“After you’ve rested,” Emma tells him firmly.
Red Harvest nods in agreement and Teddy smiles slightly, happy at the two most important people in his life being in such natural agreement. It feels like the healing he needs. He imagines Matthew’s smile too, and how he’d tease Teddy. Teddy blushes and leans towards Red Harvest who takes hold of his hand. There’s satisfaction, tiredness and pain in his scent, but there’s want too.
“After you’ve rested,” the alpha repeats, his eyes hot but firm.
Emma’s scent is amused but pleased for her packmate and Teddy drinks it all in, as the two of them lead him away home.