Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

He had barely gotten through the fight as soon as they arrived. His Omega was screaming at him, louder than it had been in years, possibly due to the recent rejection he had suffered only two years ago. His omega had decided that Geralt of all people was their mate despite how utterly ridiculous that is and despite all of the bright flashing signs telling him that this would only end in heartbreak. 

And it did. 

Standing on that mountain staring down at the man he had thought he meant more to that a simple tag along as he was shouted at and berated and set away. The two years following had contained two of the most painful heats that he had experienced since he lived in Lettenhove. 

He punished himself with abstinence and starvation, refusing to take another partner for any comfort or help. His omega didn’t need to do much to convince him he didn’t deserve it. Geralt's words replaying in his head were enough to keep him from anything reselmbing comfort.

Now as he clapped Lambert on the back, he was going to start taking the steps to reinserting himself into Geralt’s life. After all, it was the only thing he had left now. There was almost nowhere he wasn’t a wanted man in the south and with Nilfguard marching north, he needed to ensure his safety here. Make sure there was still at least one person in the world he could count on. 

“No.” The shorter witcher’s harsh tone cut through that fantasy before it was even realised. His steps faltered, no. No, of course not. That wasn’t the right way to go about it. He was no longer Jaskier the Bard or the Sandpiper. He was in a keep of strangers who didn’t know him or want to know him, he would act accordingly. He could be respectful when asked. 

Stupid fucking omega 

Unworthy of pack 

He didn’t let his face fall, taking scent suppressants was so easy now, it was second nature to keep them up all year round, he couldn’t afford to slip and risk offending the others in the keep. The mixed scents of Alphas, Betas, and Omegas filled his nose and he let himself sink into the background. Unedected and forgotten. Just as he had been for the past two years.

Geralt hadn’t said anything about his lack of scent yet but he couldn’t really blame the man. It had been a long journey and surrounded by so many unfamiliar scents, he doubted Geralt was even looking for his. But he was also not naive enough to count on that being the case for the rest of their time here. 

As much as he hated the idea of the other witchers scenting his utter despair and self-loathing, he would be asked about it either way. Maybe he could get Yennefer to enchant his scent to hide his chemo-signals. That might work. It would certainly ease his integration if the others thought that he was a neutral party. He didn’t want the misunderstanding to come up if they started to think that he wished them harm, or god forbid they judged his scent to be too clashing for the keep and sent him away again. He wasn't exaclty being dramatic when he thought he might not survive the second time.

“Jaskier, Yennefer, Go find a room before all the good ones are taken.” Geralt called across the hall from where he was dealing with Ciri. The hall had calmed down now. Most of the witchers had disappeared into the barracks or gone to the lab to patch up. Jaskier had done his fair share of the comforting and recovering, taking Yennefer into his arms after the particularly difficult fight. 

Yennefer quipped something back, 

“You mean I won’t be sharing your bed chamber.” She chirped with a cheerfully playful voice. It made Jaskier’s teeth ache and his omega shout in protest. 

Mate taking another 

Mate doesn’t want us 

Jaskier was about a second away from slamming his head into the wall to get the thing to shut up as he disappeared deeper into the keep. He would have to revisit the idea of talking to Yennefer, currently he needed to retreat for some privacy and try and get his primal under control. Telling it repeatedly that Geralt was not in-fact their mate, and had never been their mate, hadn’t seemed to work in the two years he had used that strategy. 

Maybe if he met another potential mate his Omega would finally move on. Even the thought of being with anyone else made his gut roll in discomfort. His Omega didn’t even need to say anything because they were both thinking it. Geralt was the only person who had ever made him feel safe, he wouldn’t find anyone else because there was no one else. 

The words of his father crept into the back of his mind as they so often did when he was at his lowest. ‘No one would want a loud omega.’ ‘omegas aren’t bard’s Jullian, once you’ve had an alpha pup you, you’ll understand, it’s where you belong.’ 'Perhaps she will be able to discipline some obedience into you too.’ He felt nauseous. Hand leaning on the wall as he climbed through the stone hallways. 

Lettenhove along with a few other places were considered highly traditional compared to the normal places. Not so much the town but more the lords and royals. Teaching their omegas though beatings to be subservient and supple while only alphas were allowed to rule. Betas, often left to wonder in between, judged if they were ‘good enough’ to be an alpha, or ‘unwanted enough’ to be an omega. 

Jaskier cursed his luck everyday that he wasn’t born as literally anyone else. Lettenhove didn’t even teach omega commands, believing that for an omega to command an alpha would be the same as bitching them. Something else they turned their noses up at, as if secondary gender was directly correlated to sexual preferences. 

Jaskier found himself slipping back into those old thoughts more often in the past two years, his weakened mental state allowing for his fathers lessons to slip through the cracks and punish him further. 

Having lived outside of Lettenhove since he was sixteen he knew most places viewed this as absolutely fucking absurd. Being so far out in the country they were often left to their own devices and many many jokes surrounded the several loose screws that would have had to go into making a place so completely backward. 

Of course every place had it’s average knothead alpha thinking the world owed him a submissive omega to abuse but in this day and age most people owned some sort of weapon or another. Jaskier has seen his fair share of creepy alphas who were ‘just trying to show you a good time’ get laid out or stabbed by an unamused omega. He himself carried a small blade for this same reason. 

Well, he did. He stopped wearing it on his person as much when he was traveling with Geralt but now that he was on his own again, it never left his side. 

The worst were the alphas who had been taught to just use their commands whenever, not knowing at all how Alpha commands were supposed to be used. It was obnoxious to hear ‘kneel’ or something to the like from an alpha who had clearly never never spent a heat looking after anyone. Then the whole tavern would turn to look at the offending alpha or sometimes beta and they would try and stumble into a graceful recovery when it didn’t work. 

  Jaskier found himself in one of the many barracks halls of the keep, wooden doors breaking up the worked stone with lances on the walls holding unlit torches. A window at the end of the hall allowed for a enough light to see in the day and knowing witchers, this amount of torches would be no feat to light. 

Nest 

His thoughts of witchers and their magic was broken by his omega keening needily. He rolled his eyes but looked for an unoccupied room anyway. He found one, closer to the end of the hall. He ignored how he didn’t smell any of the other witcher’s scents this way, there were at least a few other wings of rooms similar to this one closer to the main hall and he assumed that this would at least allow him to stay out of the way. 

Alone, 

Need pack 

Pack doesn’t want us 

No pack would want us. 

He opens the study wooden door to find a humble room, a single bed and chest along with a place to light a fire. There is a threadbare blanket and a hay pillow and nothing else. He supposes if this is where he is going to spend the rest of the winter he may as well get comfortable. 

Setting his bag down he feels the roll of nausea return for a moment. He groans at the feeling, letting his eyes drift shut as he tries to focus on something else. He doesn’t notice the lack of matches or flint in the room. This keep is made for witchers, the dry wood by the fire will do nothing for him. 

Once his dizzy spell passes Jaskier gets back up, determined to at least make himself useful while he’s here. 

Useful omegas get kept 

Get protected 

Mate wants a useful omega. 

That nearly knocks all of the wind from his sails. He’s not doing this for some twisted manipulation tactic to force Geralt to mate with him. That’s cruel to both of them. Geralt would never want him and Jaskier would know it was all fake. He feels his legs tingle over and steadies himself on the wall, suddenly feeling very tired. Like he’s just run a marathon. 

He shakes it off and heads back into the common area, this time in search of Yennefer. The faster he can cloak his scent the better his chances at appeasing the witchers. Not only does he have to convince them that he is not a threat to their peace, he as to do it while not reeking of heartbreak and self-loathing. 

His omega and him haven’t really been on the same page since the mountain, where it used to stand tall and proud, belting the most profound lyrics about love and hate and everything else, it now whimpers in the dark, only coming up to chastise him. 

Always the wrong decision 

Stupid omega 

He feels it’s hatred for him, for losing the one it chose as its mate. He knows that hatred comes from him but it’s easier to blame the primal side of him, it's what his father would have done. That's why they aren’t in sync anymore. The animosity makes them broken. Another part of him that is undesirable to any mate he may ever have. Just like the singing, and the lewd puns, just like the loud noises and constant stream of words. Just like his reckless behavior and unwanted stubbornness. 

The hall is empty now, no sign of any of the witchers or Yennefer. The rubble covers the ground, layers of dust built up from the broken stone and splintered wood is tossed around from the tables. 

All in all it could have been worse. It's still a liveable area and he assumes that with a little effort he it could be again. He hopes that they invite him to help with the clean up, it’s been so long since he had a sense for being useful. The Sandpiper filled that hole for him and somewhere he knows the system he built is still working, but that doesn’t keep the itch from his fingertips. 

But right now he was… looking for Yennefer? 

Food 

Eat 

Right right. He hears his stomach growl after the days on the path with little more than jerky to eat. He’s not exactly sure where the kitchen is but he should be able to find something there right. Despite the nausea he feels like he’s starving and his omega is urging him to keep moving toward the kitchen. 

Each step feels like he’s moving through shallow water but he does his best not to make a show of it. Even if there is no one around him he can’t help but feel watched. Judged. Maybe it’s his omega that's nitpicking his every movement. Whispering things about each action to make it better, to make him a better and more enticing omega. 

It makes him feel objectified and disgusting. Just like his father’s words. 

He finds an offshoot of the main hall that leds into a large kitchen. It resembled the lab he and Yennefer had been in during the fight but with less magical ingredients and filled with the more mundane. A large iron pot  hung in the center of the room over a cold fireplace. 

There were two other witchers here. One was sitting on one of the counters while the other stood off to the side of him. They seem to be talking, their scents invading the space heavily. A Beta and an Alpha. Neither of which Jaskier recognized. It seems that witchers don't know what suppressants are. But he supposes that if omegas are never in danger of assault by entitled alphas due to their status of witcher, they wouldn’t really need to hide. Only fools pick fights with witchers. 

Both men stop hat they were talking about to look at him, he doesn't pay much mind to them. Spotting a bowl of fresh fruit on the other side of the room. Immediately his mouth starts to water at the prospect of sweet fruit. 

Fuck what is wrong with him, his legs still feel heavy but the boost of adrenaline is nice to get him there. Jaskier bee lines for the bowl and picks out one of the apples to take back to his room and eat. Now with the food in his hands, the overwhelming urge to get back to his den takes hold. He has to stash this there. Its not safe to eat here, in front of strangers. 

“Hey! Bard. Can’t you wait till dinner.” One of the witchers calls out to him, his tone mocking and cruel. Jaskier fights the urge to whimper, swallowing his omega before it can embarrass them further. 

“Guess all that cowering took a lot out of him.” The other witcher laughs, speaking to the first. He feels a flare of rage overtaken by shame. 

“Not all of us seek the punishment of starvation. It’s just an apple.” Jaskier defends, already making his way for the door. He needs to get back to his den and eat, he’s absolutely sure these witchers can hear his stomach consuming itself. 

“That's how it starts, next thing you know he’ll be stealing meat.” Jaskier hears one of them hiss as he exits into the main call. 

Stealing? 

Not our food

don't deserve to be fed 

dont deserve to eat 

He hurries back to the small room with the apple clutched tightly to his chest. His omega is begging him to return it and apologize but his hunger is so great now. It’s even winning out against the nausea. 

Once back in his room he quickly shuts and locks the door. He doesn’t let go of the apple, he knows as soon as he puts it down his omega wont let him pick it back up. It feels warm in his hands as he’s been holding it to his chest. Now he just has to take a bite, just one. 

He sits on his bed and lets his hands fall into his lap. Just staring at it. 

It's ours. Geralt would be ok with us having this. He hates that that is where his mind goes, as if he needs his mates permission for anything. It’s ours, we need the sugar, we’re hungry. Please let me eat, he pleads with himself to comply. To let himself had this small thing but his omega is stubborn and his body doesn't listen to him.

His legs are nearly numb, and his arms feel the same. Even his eyelids are heavy. 

Just one bite, please. Just one, it’s ours. It’s ours. It’s ours. 

Bad omega 

Stealing from our hosts 

Jaskier nearly sobs, he can’t move it closer, his body won't let him. He doesn’t deserve it, didn't do anything to earn the food here. Why, why is it getting so bad all of a sudden? This is nothing like how his body was reacting to food yesterday. He even took Jerky from Geralt yesterday, playfully flaunting his prize in front of the other as he munched on it. 

Stole from mate! 

Undeserving omega 

Worthless omega 

Oh... That’s why... The heat and nausea roiling in his gut, the need for sugar and food. The sensitivity and the hyperactive primal. He’s in pre-heat... 

The panic sets in and he drops the apple in his rush to stand up. He needs to move, the longer he can stay moving the further he can push his heat back. He wasn’t prepared for this. He has nothing he needs for a heat. He doesn’t look back at his bed, pitiful supplies for a nest but it’s all he has. 

His breathing picks up as he paces the room. He can do this. He’s fucking Jaskier the bard, he can deal with an unplanned heat. He’s not useless enough to need help from the people barely tolerating his presence. 

He’ll have to lock himself away down here for the duration. But before that he needs to get Yennefer to mask his scent and he needs to gather more food and water. He’s going to have to steal again but it would be fine. He could deal with unhappy witchers once he wasn’t in heat. 

Maybe even the other omegas of the keep would understand. He cringed at the thought. Maybe witcher matting cycles are different, they all spend their cycles here right? So maybe the other omegas will be in heat at the same time as him. 

His omega yips at the idea of pack cuddles, it’s been so long since he’s spent his heat with anyone let alone a pack. That thought quickly turns sour as he remembers Lambert's words and the harsh accusations in the kitchen. No he is not part of the pack, he will be spending his heat alone. Again... its what he deserves. 

Which means he has to act fast. First yennefer. Then during the night he can sneak out into the kitchen and see what he can find for rations. He only needs five days worth of food. He can ration and it’s not like he’ll really be eating consistently anyway. When alone moments of lucidity will be few and far between so when he does come back up he’ll need to be smart about eating. 

He’ll survive this. 

Jaskier makes the last minute decision to take the apple and head towards the lab. The herbs he currently uses as suppressants have been working well enough but if he’s going into heat then he’ll need something stronger even if he remembers to take them. 

Jaskier’s heat had always been rough, it was by far his least favorite part about himself. From spending days locked in an empty room in lettenhove to finding any heat house he can find while on the path, then the two years he spent punishing himself for being abandoned. Heat has never once been about comfort or pack bonding or safety. It’s always been about survival. Curled around himself as the cramps made it too painful to move and hoping that the nausea lets up enough to allow him to eat soon. 

An utterly miserable time. He’s only glad that he’s never slipped once and let Geralt seen him in that truely pitiful state. He had of course never seen Geralt’s mate cycle either as it was, all witchers had theirs during winter but he hoped that the other man’s were much easier than his. He had heard many stories of omegas talking about how wonderful it is to spend their cycle with their pack and some deep seated resentment inside him festered at each remark. 

He was right to find Yennefer in the lab, rifling through her bag. She was sorting through her ingredients, restocking what she wanted to have on hand and putting away what she didn’t. Bottles and dried plants, mixes of liquids and a few other nicknacks and things. 

“Witch.” He starts with a playful tone. Seeing her lift her head with the same false disgust plastered over her face. The mocking play at banter had become comfortable by now, it was comforting to at least find someone here he could talk to. 

“Bard. Come to disrupt my very important business?” Sarcastically, as he put down the bottle in her hands to turn toward him. A subtle show that he had her full attention. 

“Was wondering if you could do me a favor, you can mask scents right? chemo-signals and all that?” Her brows furrowed for a moment and she looked him over with an analyzing glance. Jaskier knew she didn’t smell anything, his suppressants would even be able to keep his pre-heat scent locked away. It’s probably why it had taken so long for him to catch it. 

“Yeah… why?” 

“Thought you’d jump at the chance not to have to smell me and my amazing scent.” Jaskier teases, hoping she won't push past it. 

“It’s your prerogative, if that's what you want bard. Don’t say I didn’t do anything for you.” She shugs and picks through a couple of things left out on the desk to begin preparing for the spell. 

“My fair lady! I would never. I’ll even give you this for your troubles” He mocks offense and goes to sit down on the counter where there’s space, tossing the apple to Yennefer. She rolls her eyes at the playful tone and sets it down out of the way. It’s offensive in his peripheral vision and he can’t bring himself to look at it. The previous shame made a resurgence at that. 

Yennefer doesn’t ask any other questions and they don’t really conversate after that. She works mostly silently and Jaskier hums to himself even if it is making his headache worse. He knows exactly how to play the aloof bard. Be loud, be loud so that no one will want to ask questions or prompt you to talk more. Be loud so that they get sick of your voice before they can give you a chance to say anything real. 

It always works and this will only help him hide what's going on. At least until the heat is over and then he can go back to placating the keep of witchers so they don’t leave him behind. Maybe he could get them to like him, hopefully a little more than Geralt’s tolerance of him. It's a nice thought, many people had broken to his charms before. 

“I’ll be able to reverse it whenever so don’t worry about that. But I think it’s a smart idea. Keep full of stranger’s with supernatural senses. I can see why you’d want some privacy.” Jaskier laughs along with her. An excuse he hadn’t even thought about but was glad that's how she saw it. She was mostly right, privacy and not wanting the humiliation of every witcher knowing exactly how he was feeling. But it’s not as if he had ever been shy with his emotions, the strangers were fine, it was Geralt who he didn’t want to know how he was feeling. 

Just like his mouth his scent was also considered strong for an omega, unusually you could only really tell an omega’s scent when you got close to them. Jaskier’s went a bit further than that but still carried the sweeter notes that most omega’s shared. With alpha’s usually conversational distance was enough to get a good lock on their scent. Just another part of the show that was expected of a strong alpha, the same as a bluejay showing its color to a potential mate. Jaskier always found it a little silly but he could see the practicality in putting on a show. 

“Here, now sit still.” Yennefer pulled him from his thoughts as she came to stand in front of him. Jaskier watched her close her eyes and squint slightly. Like she was concentrating. 

Under her breath she whispered something in what Jaskier recognized as the language of the elves. He wasn’t quite fluent but he was getting very close. That was just conversations, spell casting was another matter entirely. He only caught a few of the words and not in any order that made sense. 

Not that he was really paying attention to it, he was just basking in the relief that washed over him at the new development. Just one less thing to worry about, it would also help mask the scent of his heat while he was locked in his room. The last thing he needed was one of the others smelling his pain from behind the door and barging in. He shuddered to think. All those witchers suddenly knowing how pitiful he really was. 

“Right well, that should be it then. Let me know when you want me to take it off.” She stepped away and Jaskier hopped down after her. He didn’t feel any different and he supposed that he didn’t smell any different, considering he was already on suppressants. He relaxed a little, even standing now was a little shaky and his scent glands were beginning to ache. His heat was rapidly approaching. 

He just had to stay busy until he could get enough food to last the next five days. Walking was getting harder, like every muscle was strained in the wrong way. He felt tired, likely due to his body preparing itself for heat. The most he wanted to do right now was go and lay down, maybe he’d just sleep through the week and not have to even experience the pain of heat. 

Jaskier sighed as he made his way back through the halls, maybe he would see Geralt? 

Mate! 

Have to see Mate! 

Have to tell him what we did! 

He’ll be angry with us. 

Jaskier continued at an unhurried pace as his omega’s tone turned from one of excitement back into one of anxiety and self inflicted shame. He wished it would stop doing that. It wasn’t exactly healthy for him to be this stressed, especially on the cusp of his heat. Not to mention already being in pre-heat was probably only making it worse. 

There were several witchers in the main room, including Geralt and Ciri. Jaskier felt himself light up at the image of them together. Then immediately crest falling as he remembered that he was not part of their pack. Despite the less than kind sneering the young wolf had given him, he had become strangely fond of her. 

Such a horrid upbringing and yet she had only become stronger as a result. Seeing the way Geralt looks at her, there must be something exceptional about her. 

“Jaskier.” Jaskier perked up at the call of his name. Geralt called to him, expecting him to come over. He looked between them and the open hall that led back to his room. Making one last decision before heading over to Geralt and Ciri. 

“Yes Geralt?” He tried not to sound as breathless as he felt, the nausea creeping over him again. Tomorrow it will start. The ache in his scent glands was telling enough. The tiredness was something else. He was running out of time. 

“Thank you for helping with the fight.” That took Jaskier off guard. He stood in front of the two, eyes slightly widened in surprise before he composed himself. 

Mate… appreciates us? 

Mate thinks we are helpful 

“Not that I was much help, not even exactly sure what the stone did. Honestly Geralt as if we wouldn’t have all died without you there.” He flaunted his hand, pushing the complement back onto Geralt. 

“Hm. Well, there’s still a lot of clean up to do. You’re alright then, Yennefer patched you up?” Geralt looked him over, similar to the way Yen had done. It nearly made him shiver. He needed to get back to his room before his stupid alpha best friend sent him into heat before he could gather the proper supplies. It was really pretty pathetic that even this scrap of care was enough to give him the sort of hope he used to have. 

“Not that he actually did anything.” Ciri hissed out and Jaskier looked back toward the door at the insult, missing Geralt’s glare. 

“No I wasn’t hurt Geralt, you’re sweet for asking.” An ugly resentful remark about how he was not the one killing the witchers was left unsaid. He couldn’t bring himself to hurt the pup like that. He really didn’t have the energy for a playful jab either, best to retreat. 

Nest 

Bring mate to nest 

Jaskier is decidedly not going to ‘bring mate to nest’. In fact he thinks that with this little push toward his heat, he shouldn’t return there until he had the food he needed to get through it. Jaskier thought back to the thin blanket and hay pillow and internally cringed, it was going to be rough but doable. It was always doable. 

“Anyway, I think I’m going to finish settling in? So much dust on my doblet doesn’t make for a good first impression… I’m glad you’re safe now Ciri.” He turns his attention entirely to the princess when he speaks. It seems to take her off guard with sincerity. He means it of course. Whatever harsh words resulting from his impending pain he may think of, he would never wish harm on the poor girl. 

Geralt hums in response to his dismissal and he turns to leave, watching as Geralt’s eyes fall from him back to Ciri to renguage their conversation. Jaskier makes his way back into the barracks halls but doesn’t go straight to his door. 

The sun is setting now and it seems people will be eating soon. That’s both a good thing, as it means he is closer to gathering what he needs, and a bad thing as there is no way he will be able to sit for an entire meal. 

He manages to stumble into an unoccupied room just as the exhaustion in his legs and arms becomes too much. He sits down on the cold stone floor as gracefully as he can and just manages not to groan with the soreness. Everything has started to ache now, he can feel his scent glands throb, his teeth grinding with the headache coming on. He does groan as his head starts to pound. 

He needs water, throat dry and itchy. When was the last time he ate anyway. 

Warm 

Too warm 

He needs to get back up. He can’t stop now. He has to keep moving or he will fall into his heat and he can’t do that yet. Not yet. 

The room only spins a little bit when he stands. Then it’s fine. The pain is still there and he feels like the light from the window, however subdued it is, might kill him. Just keep walking. Just keep walking. He opts for pacing back and forth across the room. Moving slowly as to not upset his head or gut further. 

Time passes slowly as he waits and he hears commotions down the hall though no one comes to the door. All the while he thinks about what he will gather and how fast he can get it. 

His own waterskin won't be enough but he doesn’t have a second and he’d rather not have to venture out to refill it. He’d have to find at least one more. Geralt wouldn’t miss his right? He shouldn’t need it now that they were in the keep. They’d be using tankards over the winter. Then the next issue is food, as much as he would like fruits he couldn’t take too much of that or someone was bound to notice. That was fine, rations would work just the same. As much as he was not looking forward to meals of bread and jerky for the next five days, this wasn’t about comfort. He just needed to get through it. 

Before much longer Jaskier peaks out of the room hes occupied. It was much darker now, only moonlight streaming through the window at the end of the hall. He sighed in relief, the waiting was always the worst part. Jaskier was always much too restless for waiting and whenever he wasn’t doing anything he often found himself trapped in his own head. 

He krept down the hall toward the kitchen. He saw where the witchers set down their supplies. That's where he needed to go first. 

Its empty when he gets there. One step closer. Everything feels too warm, too close. His head poounds so hard he cah feel his body shake with each beat of his heart. His fingers shake as he pulls out his handkerchief. 

Crossing the room to the kitchen proves to be much more difficult than previously assumed. He nearly falls over top of several of the broken tables and the uneven terrain stresses his already tired legs. 

Once in the kitchen, he spots the pile of water skins that most witchers had just left out on one of the tables. With his own at his hip he sifts through the pile until he fimds the one that smells like Geralt. His knees nearly buckle when he finds it, reilef and loning washing over him in an isntant. 

Mate! 

Mate is here! 

Will take care of us

Make the pain stop

Tears pricked in his eyes as his omega cried out. It might not know the truth now but it would. Those would be the hardest days. He looked down at the waterskin in his hands, silently deciding if it was worth it for the pain of being able to smell Geralt but knowing that he wasn’t there, to be able to quench his thurst.

No, he needed this and Geralt was more likely to forgive him right? Unless this was just another reason to leave him behind again. Geralt wasn’t that unreasonable right? It was only when he ruined the other’s life that he was left behind. Although maybe the stakes have changed now that it is already over. He was only here to complete a favor for him. Maybe he was expected to leave now and this would just be a reason to forcibly remove him. 

Was he even wanted here? Allowed here? Maybe they had all expected him to leave already and now he was spending his heat here. The shaking got worse, full body tremors as the throws of his heat dragged him down the self-hatred spiral he was trying to avoid. 

Food 

Get food 

Survive 

Yes, right. Food. food and water. He couldn’t think about this right now. He had to get food and water for the next week, then he could wallow as much as he liked. That was the point of heat anyway right? Pain and self punishment... 

He pulled out his own waterskin and walked over to one of the open water barrels in the kitchen. Dipping them both in to fill them and then securing them back to his hip. The unexpected weight was just one more strain on his overworking body. The fruit bowl caught his eye again. 

One 

Just take one 

His mind complied immediately, laying out his handkerchief and placing an apple there before going off to find Jerky and bread. 

In the end he made it back to his room with enough fruit, bread, and jerky to last him the week if he rationed appropriately. The pain had lessened now as he took the time to eat and drink before leaving the kitchen. He hadn’t wanted to cut into his rations for heat week and it was helping. 

Now he just needed to rest and then it would start. Dread filled him as he set everything down next to his bed. It was too cold but he was sweating, the fever starting to set in. 

“Good timing.” He whispered under his breath as he pulled the blanket over him. He had the foresight to take off his leather jacket, draping it over himself as well as the blanket. A deep seated pit in his stomach settled. He was unsafe here. There was nothing about this place that was for him, no warmth, no pack, no nest. He wasn’t safe here. 

Jaskier curled up on himself under the two layers and pulled the pillow into his lap. If he couldn’t be safe himself then he could feel like he was protecting something. He needed… 

Mate 

Unsafe 

Strangers 

Have to get back to nest 

His eyes watered again. It will be worse tomorrow. It always got worse the deeper in he got. 

Jaskier subconsciously reached over the edge of the bed toward the two waterskins, picking out the one that still smelled like Geralt and holding it to his chest. It was cold but the scent was comforting. It silenced his worried omega. He could mock protecting his mate, holding him close and keeping the harsh place away from him. 

His mind soothed at the thought. Settled slightly despite the pain he was already in. He could get through this. 

Jaskier allowed himself to relax around the waterskin enough to start to drift off. The exhaustion of the day finally wears through the worry about the unsafe environment. Eventually, shaking and scared, Jaskier passes out. Beginning the first of many very fitful rests for the next week spent in the witcher keep.

The next time Jaskier awoke it was to the terrible twisting pain in his gut. The cramps had started the cold leather waterskin pressed to his chest wasn’t helping either but no matter how much it made it worse the comforting smell of his mate was worth it. 

He felt hazy and tired, the room swam around him in fever, his legs were curled up and it was all he could do not to throw up at the nauseating movement. He whimpered into the pillow but it didn’t do much to hide the sound. 

Pack 

No pack

No nest 

Unsafe 

Run 

Hide 

Run 

Hide 

Jaskier curled up further, as tight as he could around the things in his lap. He could feel the sweat on his skin and the harsh, cold air that seemed to bite at it. Even under the two layers he felt too cold. His head pounded and his gut twisted uncomfortably between the pain of cramps. 

The whimpering continued as his omega begged him to find somewhere safer. Crying that this place was dangerous. Not exactly much he could do about it, he had to stay in here and even if he didn’t he didn’t trust that his legs wouldn’t just give out as soon as he tried to stand. 

Eventually, crying and whimpering through the pain, Jaskier passed back out for another fitful rest. Maybe when he woke up he would feel better or maybe be less lucid. He dreaded that thought. One thing he knew about heats, it could always get worse.

Another few hours passed with Jaskier turning in his bed, dipping his head to press his nose the tanned leather of the waterskin was about all the comfort that he could get as everything started to feel like too much all at once. He needed to press his back to something and face out, face toward the danger for when it came. 

He turned over and shoved himself in the corner of the bed, against the wall to look out into the room. Drifting between sleeping and wakefulness as he tried to focus on the shapes in the room. Hunger was taking over and he knew he needed to eat soon but any movement away from the wall would leave him open. His eyes fixed to the door, just waiting for an intruder, a stranger, someone who wished him harm. 

He didn’t move from that position for a long time, slipping in and out of sleep he would startle at any sound from outside. His heart racing a rabbit’s speed in his chest, his adrenaline having nowhere to go but loop inside him. Too weak to stand or fight to protect, he could do nothing but sit, terrified, locked away. 

Movement 

Strangers 

Hide 

Get back to nest 

Protect nest 

It made him want to scream. What nest! He had no nest, no den, no home or pack or family. The only man who had ever bothered to know him wanted nothing to do with him and he couldn’t even be that mad about it. He'd fucking dersereved it! Geralt had been right to send him away, he couldn't even blame the man! He would have too. His omega whines and whimpers and Jaskier can't tell if those noises are just in his head or if the scrachyness in his throat is there for a reason. 

He squeezed his eyes shut, bracing as pain lanced over him again. There was a window in his room, a slim slit of glass that let little light in but was enough to see by and tell the time by. More time passed as he faded in and out of sleep. He would need to eat soon but that could happen later. He was just so tired. 

It was night the next time consciousness came to him. The water skin pressed to his nose, his omega coaxing him into drinking. 

Mate 

Mate brought for us 

Provide for us 

Good mate 

A brief moment of reprieve as he let the bliss wash over him. The first time he felt cared for, he drank. He let a pleased rumble roll through his chest, everything too hazy to remember where the water actually came from. He pressed against the wall harder, seeking the comfort of being safe but finding only cold stone. He whimpered again and closed the waterskin. Clutching it tightly to his chest to hold on to the brief moment of comfort for as long as he could. 

Hunger raged now, after eating nothing for the first day he was certainly feeling it. Finally feeling hazy enough to ignore the pain he crawled to the edge of the bed and leaned over it to pick up the small bindle of food he had gathered. 

Keep up strength 

Survive 

He picked through it, finding peices of dried meat and tearing off part of the bread he found and taking small bites. He went slow, not wanting to indulge too quickly and just end up throwing it all back up. He always hated salty things during heat, his body calling for more sugar to keep up his energy but this was what he had. After finishing he retied the biddle and placed it back on the ground beside his bed. 

His eyes flicked to the door frequently, even when there was no noise on the other side. Then they landed on the chest at the end of the bed...

In a flurry of scrambling motion, Jaskier oriented himself on the bed to hang his legs over. His bare feet barely touched the ground before he recoiled at the cold stone. They still felt shaky but he could do this. 

Slowly, he put his weight on them. Stumbling a few times and clutching the bed for support. If he could move the chest in front of the door he could feel safer. 

Hide 

Mate not coming 

Mate gone 

Protect nest 

Don’t be useless 

That pushed him. He immediately righted himself, his legs aching and head pounding as the world spun for a moment. The fever had only worsened since the morning. He stumbled toward the chest. Similar sentiments from his omega continued to push him. 

He had to be better for his mate, so his mate wouldn’t leave him behind again. So he would be worth the effort to be kept around. 

The soft patter of tears hitting cold stone and the soft mutterings of his omega were the only sounds as he made to the empty room.

KEEP MOVING 

He lurched forward, crashing into the harsh edges of the thing. They bit into his skin while he righted himself again. He fixed himself behind it and started pushing. Every muscle in his arms screamed and strained. He needed more energy for this, it wasn’t going to work. 

KEEP MOVING YOU WORTHLESS OMEGA 

Another sob wracked through his already shaky form. It didn’t budge. The heavy wood and metal box was too much for him. He didn’t have the energy for this. He needed help. He needed his mate. 

If you can’t even do this then what are you good for 

His arms dropped from the chest, his knees hit the ground as it all became too much. Loud sobs rang out but no tears fell. He shut his eyes and let himself curl up seeking comfort in a familiar position. He didn’t move even when it didn’t come. 

He was positioned between the wall, the footboard or the bed, and the chest. Closed in on three slides, at least it felt a little bit better than the bed. With the door out of sight at least he couldn’t obsessively check it. Even then his omega seemed to get worse. 

He left us 

Mate is gone

Worthless omegas don’t get a nest 

Don't get food from their mate 

We are alone 

Its your fault

The night and day after passed much the same. Jaskier didn’t move from that spot, unable to find the motivation or any reason to return to the bed. Any comfort, even the smallest amount, wasn’t what he deserved. He deserved the cold stone floor and the screaming self-inflicted insults of his omega. 

He covered his mouth with his hand to muffle the sounds, occasionally closing his mouth and nose to stifle it. He knew he wasn’t being silent but he could hope that with how little witchers there were in this part of the keep he would be quiet enough. 

Geralt hadn’t seen Jaskier in days. Their last conversation seemed normal and he had let his bard settle in like asked but then he didn’t show up for dinner and Geralt hadn’t seen him since. 

His alpha yipped at him to find the bard that he could be in danger and that he needed Geralt by his side. Geralt huffed at each of these expressions. If Jaskier was avoiding him, he was well within his right to do that. 

And whose fault is that 

Geralt winced at that. 

He was sitting in the dining hall for the fourth night since he had seen Jaskier. He wanted to storm the little bard’s room and demand his attention but that would likely only lead to more distance. The room was lively even through his sulking. His whole mood had shifted once Jaskier hadn’t shown up for dinner, taking a sour tone as he missed his friend. 

Mate 

Miss our mate 

He huffed again, now annoyed at his alpha. Like Jaskier, he and his alpha had been at odds since the mountain. Each step away from the bard had cracked his primal further, leaving him angry and scared and blaming. That blame always fell to Geralt, it was his fault after all. An unfit alpha, can’t protect or provide or help. Couldn’t even listen to his omega when he suggested they leave. 

He should have left with Jaskier to the coast long before the dragon. Should have taken Jaksier and Ciri away from the war and Nilfgaard and left for the coast, for safety. Everyday since he regrets it, vowing that he would make it up to the bard in any way possible. That was the least he deserved. 

He stabbed angrily at the tough meat on his plate, he needed his bard here. To make him laugh and smile when no one else would. He turned to Yennefer, maybe she and Jaskier were talking. They seemed much closer than the last time he had seen them. 

“Yen. Have you seen Jaskier.” She finished chewing and looked up at him pensively, thinking back to their last interaction and realising how long ago that was. 

“Now that you mention it, not for a little while. I thought he was hanging out with you.” His gave him a knowing look and his chest tightened painfully. 

She knows what you did to your mate 

“He hasn’t been with me.” Her eyebrows furrowed in confusion when he responds. He turns his attention to the others to bring them into the conversation as well. 

“Has anyone seen the bard?” He growls out, anger taking over as the worry krept in. 

Eskel, Lambert, and Aiden are the closest and all shook their heads. There were a few grumbling nos from the other witchers as well but one actually spoke. 

“Yeah, we caught the little bastard taking food from the kitchen.” It came from a pair of witcher’s sitting closer to the end of the table. They sneered as they spoke in a way that made Geralt annoyed. 

Why would his mate steal food? 

“Well, what’d he take?” Yennefer piped up. Taking the break in conversation to further it. 

“Just an apple right?” The witcher who had spoken before turned to confirm with the other who gave a half hearted nod. 

“Just an apple. No idea why, it was like right before dinner.” He shrugged and Geralt felt Yennefer bristle beside him. He turned back to her and saw her face twist in confusion again. 

“He came to see me a few days ago, asked if I could mask his scent for him… He gave me an apple.” 

“Why would he want to hide his scent from us?” Geralt was getting more worried the more that was said. He needed to find the bard now. Would he even be able to with the scent masked. Geralt realized he didn’t even know where Jaskier had been staying or even if he had a room. Was he even in the keep anymore? 

Find him 

A vicious growl ripped through his throat as his alpha demanded he find their mate. 

“Can you undo it?” Yennefer also looked worried for her friend. 

“Y-yes. Of course. I didn’t even think. You can find him right?” Geralt didn’t look at her. 

Find mate 

Mate in danger 

Protect mate 

He stood abruptly and made his way toward the barrack's hall, Yennefer followed quickly behind him. The three other witchers around them gave a single glance before they followed as well. 

“Geralt. We’ll find him.” Eskel cut through his frantic swirling thoughts as they walked. When he didn’t stop Eskel grabbed him by the shoulders and forced him to face him. 

“You are acting feral, you are going to scare the man. We’ll find him.” His voice was calming, the grounding rumble of his packmate to remind him that he wasn’t alone and that his mate was safe in their hands. He gave a deep, deliberate breath and that seemed to satisfy his packmate. 

The search continued. Any vacant room was opened while Yennefer prepared to undo the masking spell once they found him. 

Where is mate 

Where is mate 

FIND HIM YOU PIECE OF SHIT ALPHA 

HE IS ALONE

IT'S YOUR FAULT 

Geralt ignored the huffing growl rising in his throat, and the anxious way his pace hurried. He’d stopped trying to correct his primal about the status of his and Jaskier’s relationship years ago. It had only made it hurt that much more when he had betrayed the bard. His alpha whimpered for days on end, painful clenching in his heart as he tried to focus on anything that wasn’t his spectacular failure. 

Deep in the keep, at one of the farthest rooms from the main hall they found him. 

Geralt heard him before he saw him. Soft whimpering and tearful cries through mumbling lips. His mate is distressed and alone, hiding away from them. He howled at that thought, the others, further down the hall snapping to attention as he tore into the room with a violence unseen. 

The sight nearly shattered what little was left of him now. His alpha was quiet for only a moment before it was driven over. 

Mate? 

Mate is sad 

Mate is distressed 

Why? 

Confusion and anger roiled under his skin at the sight. The room was a mess, as much as it could be. The blanket hung off the bed along with the red leather coat, a bindle of food rested half open on the ground. There was a water skin, his water skin, on the bed and a second one next to the bindle. 

What had his heart racing was his bard, curled in the corner, behind the chest, shaking and mumbling. He looked terrible. Long hair tousled from rough groping, tear tracks and puffy eyes and chattering lips. It was freezing in the room. He was curled up on himself, muttering. 

“Stupid omega. Worthless omega. No pack, no pack.” Horse whispers from a dry throat, it wobbles with tears as he struggles to breathe through the gasps of pain.

“Yen!” He called out for Yennefer to take down the spell before he did anything else. The others were gathered around now too, staring at the man on the ground with mixes of shock and horror. 

“On it.” In a wave the flood of scent filled the room, sending a few of the witcher’s reeling at its potency. Geralt’s mind flooded with despair, heat, omega, distress, heartbreak. He heard himself whimpering. This is not what his mate should smell like. 

Mate in heat 

Mate in heat alone 

“He- he was…” Geralt heard Aiden gasp behind him as he rushed into the room. His instincts completely took over. He kneeled next to Jaskier, cringing at the harsh flinch and scrambling away as his wild unfocused eyes searched for the perceived threat. 

“Danger, unsafe. Never safe. Never safe.” Jaskier whispered, curling up on himself even further and bracing like he was expecting pain. Geralt’s heart shattered in his chest and his primal clawed at him to let him comfort their mate.

“He’s gone into heat? Why the fuck didn’t he tell any of us?” Lambert’s annoyance and worry were clear in his voice. The omega in him is confused at such behavior. 

“Get the heat room ready, furs from my room and Yens. Bring his stuff too.” Geralt ordered before slowly closing in on Jaskier. He was deep in it, muttering self punishment from deep in a hurting headspace. Geralt felt himself slipping too, his primal slowly but surely making its way to the surface. 

“Jask… pack is here, here for you. Come to the den. Come to safety.” His primal rose with the words, filling his role as an alpha to provide for his mate. How couldn’t he have noticed? Why didn’t Jaskier tell him? While it was true that the man had never spent his heat with him, that didn’t mean that Geralt couldn’t help. 

He reached out toward the shaking bard, he continued to recoil but Geralt was consistent. He needed to pull the bard back out so they could get him to a heat room. His hand landed on the bard’s arm and clamped. Jaskier struggled for a moment but stilled, almost accepting his fate. He allowed himself to be pulled into Geralt’s arms, his nose forced against Geralt's scent glands as the alpha rumbled to him. 

Jaskier was limp in his arms until he managed to take in a struggling breath. Realization and recognition hitting them both all at once. There was no trace of the honeysuckle sweet smell of slick or the heady fog of arousal on Jaskier’s skin, in fact there was no trace of it at all in the room. Geralt knew then that for the entirety of the four days Jaskier had spent in heat, alone, he had been in pain. Suffering as his omega chastised him. He felt unsafe and unloved and sacred for days on end and no one had noticed. 

Then he started struggling, recognizing Geralt’s scent and reacting to it. 

“G-ger- alpha. Alpha, I’m sorry. I- sorry sorry sorry… I'm sorry alpha. Don’t leave, please- please don’t leave. I can be good. I’ll be a good omega for you.” Jaskier was getting lower, trying to make himself smaller and baring his neck to Geralt. He was supplicating himself to the other man. Geralt heard several of the others wince in disgust at the display. Geralt himself was reeling. Who had taught him to do this. Who had told him that this was what was expected. When had his strong and resiliant mate been reduced to this. His breath stopped in his chest. it was all too much for him. 

“J-jask. You’re safe now, we’re going to the nest.” Jaskier shook his head, clutching on to Geralt’s shirt now, as if to hold him there. Still trembling like a leaf, his lips were almost blue and his skin was cold. Geralt gathered him back up into a crushing embrace, immobilizing him in his arms to prevent anymore demeaning behavior. 

“I stole, alpha. Bad omegas don’t get nests. I- I'm sorry, I- I won’t steal again, please- don’t leave.” His breath was raspy and gasping as he spoke. Each word harsh in his mouth, likely from days spent muttering them to himself. 

“He’s talking about the food, likely taken from the kitchen. Geralt, there's just under half a week's worth of food here. This is not enough for a mating cycle and he hasn’t eaten much of it. Geralt he’s starving.” Yennefer’s voice sounded and Geralt responded with a growl, clutching Jaskier tighter. 

“I couldn’t- take it, take it back. I only ate a little I promise- …I promise. Alpha please-” Geralt could feel himself tipping over with each whimper of his bard. His chest tensed with each sound that came from his friend, the person who he was responsible for keeping content and happy so that he could share his light with the world. Now he lay utterly broken in Geralt’s arms, believing he deserved it. 

“Jaskier.” His alpha command rumbled up through his chest like a tidal wave, coursing over the other in a heatwave that dragged him to lucidity with a yanking force. The shaking continued but the whimpering attempts at supplication stopped as Jaskier blinked up at him. 

“G-geralt? Oh. Oh god.” He tried to pull away but Geralt didn’t let him. The longer he kept the omega trapped against his scent glands the more comfort he would start to feel. He would have the rest of the pack join if he didn’t think that would freak his mate out. 

“I- i never meant for you to see me like this. I’m sorry.” The apology forced another growl out of him and Jaskier winced. The act of aggression was putting him back under? His response to aggression from his perceived protector was supplication? 

Even his alpha was unnaturally silent, how could he possibly face the bard after this, after knowing that this was his fault. 

Your fault 

You mate hurts 

You hurt him 

He felt himself slipping. The need to protect and provide and hold clawing at his insides. His primal searching for a way to the surface to take over the care. They needed to go now, while Jaskier was at least a little lucid. Before Geralt went entirely into a state of caregiving. 

“I-it’s only one more day, I- I think. I… I’m not sure how long I’ve been here. I’m sorry.” He hated seeing his strong and confident mate like this. Usually so sure footed, now reduced to this. His failure as an alpha may have helped lead to this but there was absolutely more to it than that.

“I’m taking you to a heat room, Jask. To the nest. To our den.” It wasn’t a question, he knew Jaskier would resist, too deep into his spiral that he was already slipping back under. 

“No no no, worthless omega, burdening my alpha. I’m sorry alpha. I’m sorry.” Geralt stood without thinking, pulling Jaskier to his chest in a bridal carry and making his way toward where some of the other witchers had run off to prepare their heat room. Jaskier clutched at him now, trying to draw his knees up to his chest as the scent of pain washed over him. It covered him. No trace of the contentment or arousal that he was supposed to feel during this time. 

Scent him

Comfort mate 

Heal mate 

Mate hurting 

He hadn’t stopped the whine since he had found Jaskier. Once they got to the heat room he would go there to protect and reassure his mate providing comfort and pack scents and holding him until he came back. Then they would be having a very long and involved conversation about exactly what the hell he was thinking trying to do this on his own. And exactly how long he had gone through heats like this. It was clearly not his first time, considering the preparation he had done for it. 

Jaskier pleaded with him the whole way, begging him not to leave and apologizing repeatedly. Not once did the man look up to see where they were going or open his eyes. A constant bracing for the pain he expected to come. Geralt nudged his nose behind the bard’s ear again, giving a small lick to scent mark him, hoping to sooth his mate in some way. 

The room was prepared when they got there. A small room at the heart of the keep, one door and low ceilings, carpets and furs on the ground over hay and fur. It created a padded area that a nest could be built on without the restriction of a bed. A small bathing pale with soap and rags sat in the corner. Lambert was pouring freshwater into it as Eskel and a few others brought in handfuls of furs and knitted blankets, the softest pillows they had and clothing from Geralt and Yennefer’s rooms. 

Geralt took Jaskier to the furthest corner and sat down, there was already a corner made of pillows, Jaskier was clearly not in a space to be making a nest right now. Ignoring the fact that he apparently didn’t think he deserved one. Geralt felt himself growl again but that wasn’t helping so he stifled it into another sympathetic whimper. 

“Den, safe Jaskier. Nest with pack and friends and safe. I will keep you safe, Jaskier.” Geralt cooed, keeping his voice low and soft to his mate. Jaskier only seemed to cry harder, clutching at his shirt like a vice. Like he thought Geralt might step away at any moment. 

“No- no. not safe. Never safe. Mate gone. Left behind. Bad omega, useless omega left behind.” Geralt turned so Jaskier was crowed against the walls now, he sat so that Jaskier was firmly secured in his lap, getting himself to surround the bard as much as possible. He felt the others close in with their materials and start to form a makeshift nest around the two. The omegas of the pack directing. While water and food was placed just outside, within Geralt’s reach but not too close as to be an obstacle. 

He had to get Jaskier to eat and drink soon. He nuzzled at the man’s neck, ducking under his chin to sooth with small kisses and scent marking. Jaskier could hate him as much as he liked after, for now he had to make his friend feel ok. If not better, ok. 

“Jaskier, here.” He took his water skin and brought it up to the bard’s lips, holding his head so he could have to face it. 

“There- there good omega. Drinking so well. Taking what your alpha provides. Thank you- thank you Jaskier for allowing me to provide for you.” Jaskier’s tongue licked at the lip of the waterskin as he took in as much as he could. Before he was done Geralt took it away, letting the man breathe for a moment. Relaxed for the minute at the praise. 

“Th-thank you.” He gasped, his eyes now dried of tears but the shaking hadn’t stopped and he hadn’t let go. Geralt guessed that he likely wouldn’t for as long as he was spiraling. That was fine. They would worry about everything else once Jaskier was more lucid. 

“One more, one more for me.” He raised it back up and Jaskier drank greedily again. The dehydration was evident, Geralt guessed he hadn’t been drinking properly for any of the four days he spent like that. The thought made him nauseous, his primal crying out to comfort and protect it’s mate. 

“Good omega. So good for me. Good Jaskier. Thank you for drinking.” He cooed again as he nuzzled the other, after that the man just looked tired. His body finally relaxes slightly into the touch of the witcher. 

Jaskier had gone mostly silent now, no longer muttering those demeaning things. Just simpering and panting. Still there was no contentment on his skin, he was still scared but he did not say it. No longer begged or pleaded and that was almost worse. As if he believed Geralt to be unswayed by his words. It was another form of fawning, he didn’t feel safe or comforted and all Geralt could do was his best to fix that. 

As long as he didn’t get any worse during this heat then they should be fine. The next heat Geralt would make sure he was there, to comfort and protect. To keep his bard from getting to a place like this again. 

“Geralt?” Yennefer’s voice was soft and it didn’t seem to bother the bard. He seemed on the verge of passing out at the moment, sleepily nodding his head but waking himself to continue his hold on the witcher. 

“Shh sh, Jaskier, rest. Rest with me. Sleep, you deserve it. Being so good and drinking the water I provided. Rest.” He again licked lightly just behind the other’s ear, petting his back and neck as to thoroughly bathe him in his calmed and contented scent. 

“Yes Yen?” His tone was softer now and he didn’t take his eyes off the bard. This was too important to mess up again. His past failures would not be the reason Jaskier sank deeper now. 

“He could be hurt, and considering that shit show in his room, I have no doubt his cycle is messed up. I’ll have to examine him once this is over. I’ll talk to Vesemir about it but… Geralt, there is every likelihood we’ll have to induce an artificial heat to reset him. From what the others are telling me the scents are all messed up.” Genuine worry and devastation filled her voice. Geralt mimicked her sentiment. Another heat would be harsh and likely a lot more intense but he and the rest of the pack would be there this time, they would do it right this time. 

Mate can not suffer 

We won't let him 

He held Jaskier tighter as the bard finally slipped into unconsciousness. The stress, starvation and energy expenditure taking over. He was exhausted. Heavy eye bags and shaky breaths as his body worked in overdrive. Geralt laid him down and stretched over him, trapping the bard against the soft floor and his body. He needed Jaskier to feel safe and covered when he woke up. 

Many of the other witchers, alpha and omega, appreciated when their partners would do something similar when they were deep in it. The pressure and closeness provided comfort and safety. The skin to skin contact helped too but Geralt wasn’t going to leave Jaskier for even a movement, not even to do that. 

He curled around his friend in a protective and secure manner, letting his rumble vibrate deep into the other’s chest. Trying to tell him, even in his sleep, that he was safe, that he didn’t have to face the pain alone anymore. 

The others would be around with more food later, fruits and broths and honeyed bread. Geralt pushed his thumb into Jaskier’s hip where his arm trapped the smaller man, rubbing his scent over the other’s skin as much as he could manage. He also dragged one of Yennefer’s furs closer to wrap around the two of them. Rubbing the fur over Jaskier’s skin as well. The more familiar scents the better but Jaskier wasn’t familiar with many people. He sighed, pressing his nose to the back of Jaskier’s neck again. 

Pain 

Heartbreak 

Despair 

We did this to him 

His alpha whimpered and whined for their hurting mate. He would feed him when he woke up, Jaskier needed more food. Deserved to have the sweeter treats that omegas got when in heat at the keep. He wanted to be the one to provide those things for him. His piramal started to feel very territorial over the man in his arms, so clearly in need of help but and so strong to have lasted this long. 

Strong mate 

But too thin 

Needs to be fed 

Mate needs to be healthy to take care of the pup 

Yes, Jaskier was absolutely built. He was strong and that was good but he needed to keep up eating if he wanted to stay that way. Geralt would feed him if he had to, it was his job after all. To take care of the little bard under him. 

Jaskier was settling, his body was relaxed now that he was sleeping and he didn’t seem to be twitching as much. Geralt hoped that the scent bathing and pressure was helping with the rest. Hopefully he wasn’t dreaming of anything unpleasant. Geralt didn’t sleep, he closed his eyes to focus on comforting Jaskier but he didn’t sleep. If the bard woke up panicked he would need to be there to keep him from running or hurting himself. Even if he needed to command his lucidity then he would need to be awake for that. 

Jaskier woke around four hours later, deep in the night. Geralt had first started to notice him stirring when the man started squirming into his chest, reattaching his hold on the witcher's shirt as soon as he was aware. He whimpered at the bard’s need to hold on, still not believing that he would stay. There was no one else in the heat room now but he could hear two of the witcher’s outside standing guard. It was customary that this room, where witcher’s came to be their most vulnerable, was guarded at all times when they went through their various cycles. 

“Jask, pretty bard. I’m here.” He cooed, hoping to ease him out of his rest, clearly the man had needed it. 

“...alpha…” Jaskier mumbled, sleepily finding his morning voice. 

He’s talking to us. 

Mate wants us

Mate wants to share heat with us 

Comfort mate 

Provide for mate 

Water

Food 

Need to make him healthy again 

“I’m here, Jask. It's alright. Will you look at me? Can you do that for me?” Jaskier’s face was tucked under Geralt’s chin with the witcher nearly on top of him, trapping him against the nest. Geralt lifted his head to look at the bard but found his fists held fast in the witcher's shirt. 

“Don’t leave, please don’t leave.” His voice whispered and he made no move to look at Geralt. 

“I’m not, not leaving. Never leaving. I’m right here Jask. Come on, look at me.” He let his chest purr, vibrating comfort against his mate. Jaskier continued to hold on but did lift his head. 

His eyes were dry for the moment, his expression was one of awe or non-belief. He didn’t really understand that Geralt was here now, that he was helping him. It was clear from the twinge of pain that he was still hurting but with what Yennefer had said about his messed up cycle Geralt was hesitant to try to give him any herbs. The cramps would ease with more water and he suspected the headache would too. Scent marking would help bring the heat sickness down as well. 

“There you are. Precious omega, thank you, letting me look at you. Good job.” He heard Jaskier whimper at the words, not quite a noise of contentment or happiness but it was better than the pained or scared sounds he was making. 

“We’re going to eat now, you’re going to let me feed you.” Geralt made his tone firm but gentle. Jaskier was in an extremely fragile headspace right now and he needed to minimize his brashness. After spending so many mating cycles with his own pack, providing comfort and letting them comfort him, he knew how to handle this. 

When Eskel went into his first heat, he told no one, choosing to suffer alone rather than accept help from the pack. Geralt had been the one to pull him back from heat sickness. It had taken the whole pack to convince him that he was not a burden to them for taking up space in the nesting room.

 Geralt knew that this went deeper than simple insecurities. To go so far as to have Yen cloak his scent from them, it was honestly terrifying at how planned out this self inflicted isolation was. It scared him for the next one. They had never spent their cycles together and now he was terrified of leaving the bard alone for the next one. Jaskier had always requested they split up when he was close to his heat, meeting back up later in the month. He wondered how many times Jaskier had spent his mating cycle like this, alone and terrified in the corner of a random inn somewhere unfamiliar with no one to help him. 

His heart clenched painfully at the thought, the image of Jaskier curled up at the end of his bed popping back into his head unprompted. 

Geralt reached behind him to the tray of food and picked out one of the pears there. Jasker squirmed again at the movement, holding on tighter but not saying anything. He went to ask if Jaskier would feel more comfortable eating on his own but considering the man had literally not let go of him since he was found, he thought better of it. 

“Here, you deserve to eat sweet things.” Stated like a fact to leave no room for argument. Jaskier still looked like he didn’t believe him, his eyes flicking between Geralt and the fruit in his hand. 

“I- I Geralt. I stole it from you. I can’t…” He pushed his face back into Geralt’s chest in clear shame. Feeling like he had betrayed his mate in some way. 

“No.” Geralt growled in correction. 

“I stole it. I took it because you needed it. Little bard, I stole it for you.” Geralt let a pleased purr out when the shame washed out of Jaskier. It wasn’t exactly true but in taking the blame from Jaskier, it would be easier to calm him down and get him to eat. 

“Would you eat what I got for you?” He purred again, coaxing the other man into letting him take care of him. He was pleased when Jaskier gave a small, unsure nod. Geralt held the fruit up to his lips with one hand and used the other to hold his jaw upright properly. His gaze was passive, watching carefully to make sure nothing went wrong. 

“Thank you. Jaskier, my pretty bard.” He caught the slight chirp the other man let out, a pleased noise at the reassurance. Geralt let himself purr to encourage things like that. Jaskier bit into the pear, the crunch of it harsh after both their soothing voices but it didn’t stop him. 

Geralt let himself smile lightly as Jaskier watched him over the fruit. He was looking for a sign to stop, for something that he had done wrong and for a reason to apologize. Geralt would only give him reason to keep going. He let his scent fill with pride and contentment to tell the other how well he was doing and that there was nothing wrong here. 

Jaskie’s own scent was noticeably better, the panic and pain easing slightly and the distress dissipating since yesterday. It was an encouraging sign, one that made Geralt’s heart seize with affection for the man in front of him. 

Jaskier continued eating, looking to Geralt often for signs that he should stop. Any time Geralt thought he might he would purr and tell him to take more. It was clear he was very hungry and the more he got him to eat the better. He was glad that the fruit was dry, less messy to clean up. But he would admit that watching Jaskier lick the little juice the pear held off his lips was pleasing. He placed the cleaned core back onto the tray, away from the other food. He grabbed the waterskin again and held it up to Jaskier’s lips. The bard took it and drank again, accepting the care with little question now. 

He still hadn’t said much and Geralt didn’t expect him to. After nearly four days of non-stop pain he was clearly coming down from his heat now and with what he had suffered through Geralt expected Jaskier to spend most of his time sleeping and eating and then the rest would be scent marking and comforting. The lack of arousal was worrying for health related reasons but they would talk about that once Jaskier was more lucid. He suspected that even after his heat was over the bard wouldn’t want to leave the nest for a while.

 Vesemir rarely entered the room other than to scent items or provide care for particularly harsh mating cycles. Geralt suspected that any examination would be taking place in the nesting room. That was fine, once the wave of witcher's cycles started it would be a domino effect, the heady scents triggering the others. Usually this wasn’t an issue but with Jaskier like this, other people in the room might be an issue. Hopefully this would be over soon and if anyone did start, they could use the other nesting room for now. 

“Do you think you could drink some broth?” Jaskier still hadn’t let go of him as Geralt pulled the water skin back. Getting a good amount of liquid in him was good but he would need something more substantial. The broth wasn’t great but it was a good start. 

“Did- did you steal that too?” Geralt hummed before speaking, a small appreciation for hearing the bard’s voice. 

“No little bard. Yennefer left it for you.” He seemed to perk up at the name of is friend and then this look came over him. Realization and then panic. His hand still gripped Geralt’s shirt but he started pushing away. 

“Yen. you- she won’t like this. Your mate- she’s- she, Geralt- Alpha- she. You have to find her- you-” Tears pricked in his eyes again and Geralt let himself rumble and purr until Jaskier’s tears choked off his own words. He didn’t let Jaskier pull away, breaking skin to skin contact wasn’t an option. 

“Little bard, sh sh. You’re alright. Yennefer is not my mate. She knows where we are, that we are safe.” He cooed, pulling one of Yen’s furs over Jaskier’s chest to let her scent get to him. 

“She offered us her furs for your nest. She brought you food to help with your heat.” Jaskier seemed to relax at that, his eyes flicking back and forth between Geralt’s. 

“She’s- shes not? But she said-” Geralt held Jaskier closer to him, forcing his nose into Geralt’s neck to relax him. 

“She said what, little bard?” He purred in contentment at the content and felt Jaskier’s tensed muscles relax one by one. He had made no comment about being trapped or feeling unsafe since he had woken so Geralt continued to cage him against the wall of the nest. 

“She- she said… she was going to share you’re- you’re den. She was… I'm sorry, thank you for staying.” Fuck he was supplicating again. Geralt would never stop him from apologizing, at this point it was a method of self soothing during his fawning response and Geralt didn’t want Jaskier to start feeling shame whenever it would eventually slip out. 

“It’s alright. Jaskier, Yennefer is my pack, just like you. She is not my mate, we don’t share a den. You are the only one welcome in my den.” He stroked at the back of Jaskier’s head, playing with the bard’s hair in repetitive motions. He felt Jaskier shift closer, pressing his nose to Geralt scent glands, trying to drown in the scent. 

“Ok- ok. Y-you let me in your den?” Geralt purred at his bard’s more willingness to speak. Even if he could feel the scent drunk bard started to slip back into unconsciousness. He wanted to get more into him first before then but he could answer this question and then bring up drinking broth again.  

“Yes, you are always welcome in my den, I have nest materials for you there.” There was a happily trill form his bard that delighted him even if it was quietly stifled. He hoped that was an accident and not that Jaskier was purposefully stifling the sounds of his contentment. 

“You do?” 

“Yes little bard. My pretty omega, I bet you’d build the prettiest nests for us. Spending so much time making it look perfect.” He felt Jaskier kitten lick at his scent glands humming as the contentment and pride in Geralt’s scent filled his mouth. 

“i-I’ve um. I’ve not made a nest before…” He felt the bard’s whole body tense in his arms, as if admitting this simple thing would lead to more harm or harsh words. The only thing on Geralt’s mind was what. 

Mate… doesn’t nest? 

Hasn’t nested 

We will make a nest for our mate 

Our job to provide safety and comfort 

We will nest for our mate

More than anything he was desperate to know why he hadn’t nested before. Had his parents not taught him? Even if they hadn't, wasn't it an instinctual thing for him, the way that hoarding nesting material was instinctual for alphas and betas? Something else to talk about after all of this was over. There were so many questions and very little of it that Jaskier could answer like this. 

“I’ll make you the perfect nest for our den.” Geralt huffed out, a commitment making no room for compromise. 

“Ok Geralt. C-can I have uhm. Can I have the broth now?” His voice tapered off at the end, expecting not to be granted this. Geralt only purred and chuffed reassurance, continuing to stroke at Jaskier’s head and play with his hair. 

“Can you sit up for me little bard?” Jaskier held tighter and didn’t answer, seemingly already regretting his decision. 

“We’ll sit you in my lap so you can eat. I won’t let go at all alright? Then we will lay down again.” 

“Just like this?” He gave another small lick to Geralt’s neck. 

“Yes, pretty bard. I told you, I’m not moving.” He felt Jaskier nod and he began to move, pulling the bard up with him so that they were not sitting across from each other. With the space between them he could see the messed up hair and red face of his tapered off fever. Clearly the body heat and nest was helping, that was good. Jaskier’s hands still didn't leave his shirt, now they were nearly fully extended as Jaskier leaned over both of their crossed legs to try to get closer again. 

He looked torn between having his back to Geralt and keeping his hands on him. 

Mate thinks we will leave 

“Here, you stay like this and eat. You won't have to turn your back to me or let go.” Jaskier seemed to accept this decision. Geralt felt a small tug on his shirt as he reached over the nest wall to get the bowl of broth and a spoon. He grabbed the handkerchief that was there too, knowing Jaskier liked to eat cleanly. 

He placed the bowl in Jaskier’s lap, the bard took one hand off to hold his spoon but still didn’t let go. Geralt didn’t mind. This process was similar to the pear, Jaskier would eat and frequently check in with Geralt to see if he was doing something wrong. This was a learned behavior Geralt quickly realised. Jaskier was expecting punishment for eating even after Geralt had asked him to. It made keeping his anger in check difficult. Whatever worthless piece of shit that had spent Jaskier’s heat with him before this had done this to him. Conditioned him into a fetishised ideal of an omega that grated against his personality so harshly it could only come out when he was in his most vulnerable state. 

He alpha raged under his skin, thoughts about tearing apart the person who had done this. It was made easier by the sight of a beautiful man in front of him, actively letting himself be taken care of. It made his alpha preen and whine happily at the idea that he was serving such a wonderful omega. 

“Thank you, good omega, taking what your mate provides.” There was another low whimper from the bard the joy didn’t show on his face but his scent was lightening. Wildflowers and honey and almonds and cinnamon. Geralt would know it anywhere, could pick it out over the scent of busy towns and bloodied streets. 

Mate. 

Jaskier continued to eat in silence and Geralt continued to reassure him and thank him for eating. His hands rested on the bard’s legs, grounding him while they were apart from each other. 

The constant praise seemed to be helping. It was an unusual comfort, not something that he knew many others to enjoy during their heat as it could often come off as condescending but It seemed Jaskier took comfort in the reassurance that he was doing something right. After spending so much time spiralling, what he was muttering to himself when they found him, it was clear why this might be helping. It’s not as if it was a hardship for the witcher, as far as he had seen he had been far too limited with the compliments and reassurance with his bard. 

Jaskier managed to finish the entire bowl, Geralt let out another proud purr as the bard put the bowl back down in his lap. Geralt took it out of his hands along with the spoon and placed it by the pear core on the tray. When he turned back Jaskier was cleaning his mouth with the handkerchief. Once done, Geralt took that too and put it away. Then in fulfilment of his promise he laid back down and opened his arms for Jaskier to tuck into him. 

The bard did exactly that, clutching at the collar of Geralt’s shirt again and allowing the larger man to crush him under his weight. 

“Keep you safe under me. No one can touch you here little bard.” Jaskier gave another soft lick to Geralt’s scent gland and then he started to purr. A quiet rumble that was choppy from disuse. It made Geralt wonder if the bard had ever made such a noise. If this was how he had spent his heats… Geralt nuzzled closer, purring back with pride and contentment. Soft protective growls slipped from his throat and he felt Jaskier shiver in his hands as he drifted to sleep once again. 

Geralt continued his soothing routine, petting and marking his hair and neck. Holding the bard close as he kept him safe from any perceived threats. He let his hand drift the Jaskier’s stomach, feeling the hard muscle and unusual leanness that came from too little food. He hoped the broth and fruit were a good start to much healthier eating habits. Something primal in him was thrilled at the opportunity to keep his mate satisfied and healthy. Getting him the food he deserves and getting to enjoy taking care of him. He purred louder. His alpha sated in a way it hadn’t been for a long time.

After the mountain it had been a struggle to even agree on anything, snappy and irritated constantly, well more than usual. Nearly everything it did was impulsive and punishing. His ruts hadn’t been this bad since the trials. He spent most of them feeling cold and alone. Collecting nesting material but not able to bring himself to actually build one. Then his alpha would whine about the lack of a certain man in his den, how Jaskier needed to be there to comfort him. 

He is a little relieved that he won't have to go through that again and even more relieved to be able to take a similar burden from his bard. 

“My bard, I will keep you safe.” He nuzzled into Jaskier’s hair breathing in his scent, looking for the notes of contentment and safety over and over again. He would continue to do that until he found it. 

What mate should smell like 

Content 

Safe 

Warm 

Happy 

Sated 

Geralt let himself smile into Jaskier’s hair and take another deep breath. 

It was morning when Jaskier woke up the next time. Eskel had dropped by in the night to take away the tray and replace it with more water and a few more fruits. No one had any idea how long Jaskier’s heat would last and even after that Geralt was sure that they would be spending more than just his heat here. He could tell by the slight trickle of containment in his scent that Jaskier had started to finally feel safe and he wasn’t going to take that away just because his heat had ended. 

Eskel had let him know that two witchers had started their cycles and the other nesting room had been prepared. The rolling wave of witchers in their mating cycle was beginning, but he wasn’t worried. Jaskier was coming down from his and it would be a while before they would have need for a second nesting room. What did worry him were the numerous conversations they would have to have. At least they could do it in the safety of a nest. Once Jaskier felt more comfortable with a little space he would try to encourage the man to lean into his nesting instinct, if not then he would take over and ensure it was safe and comfortable for them. 

“Geralt…?” His voice was hoarse from crying and weak with stress but still there, still Jaskier’s. 

“Morning. How are you feeling?” He sounded more lucid but Geralt couldn’t be sure.

“I- oh… you saw all that huh?” Jaskier hadn’t pulled away and Geralt was counting that as a win. Shame and fear started to creep back into his scent and the last vestiges of his heat were tapering off with the morning light. 

“How are you feeling, Jaskier?” He wasn’t going to feed into the shame Jaskier was feeling. He kept his tone soft, letting his chest purr with warmth at his mate’s voice. 

“Better, uhm… better I think. St-still shaky but I think that’s more the dehydration than the… heat.” Geralt leaned behind him to grab the water skin and felt Jaskier suck in a breath, reaching out to hold tighter. Still believing that Geralt will leave him. 

“Would you drink some more water?” Geralt lifted his head and chest off of the man under him and uncorked the waterskin. 

“You- you don’t have to do this anymore. I- it’s over now…” Something of disappointment filled his voice as much as he tried to hide it. Geralt held the waterskin up to Jaskier’s mouth again and leaned down to nose at the back of his ear, purring directly against his ear now. 

“I’m not leaving, it’s not over yet, not if you’re still shaky. Even when it is, I'm not leaving.” He took a deep breath as Jaskier began to drink again. 

“I’ve made that mistake, little bard. I won’t make it again.” He growled protectively before taking the waterskin back once Jaskier was done. 

“You- I don’t understand. You wanted nothing to do with me for two years…” Geralt held him closer as he said the next part. The important part. Carding his hands through Jaskier’s hair and pressing his chest back down onto Jaskier. Again crowding him against the wall and floor. He was rewarded with a happy chirp as Jaskier tucked himself closer in response. 

“Jaskier. I was a terrible friend to you. You were the light of my life for so long the possibility of your absence terrified me. So I scared you away, I thought I was saving myself. Selfishly forcing you out of my life so that I wouldn’t have to experience the pain that would come with you leaving on your own.” Jaskier let him speak, focusing on the warm rumble of word though his chest and taking in every syllable as if it were the law itself. 

“I was wrong. Jaskier, my primal has been torn since that day..” He felt Jaskier seize up but he kept talking. 

“We are lost without you my little bard.” 

“...Geralt…” His voice was breathless, the pain was still there but it felt lessoned now, muted by the contact and the time spent together.

“M-my heats got worse a-afterward… I- my omega blamed me for it. We haven’t been in sync since. I mean my heats have never been great but it was nothing like the last two years, i-I think I know how you feel my friend.” 

“You shouldn’t. It is my fault, all of it, what I blamed you for and everything after. It’s my fault…” Geralt buried his nose back behind Jaskier’s ear, breathing in his scent now that the cramps had subsided and his panic had dissipated somewhat. 

“...Geralt… You um you called me your… mate? A few- well a bit ago.” Geralt chuffed, grinning against his ear and licking coyly. Jaskier shivered and tucked closer, gripping harder to the same place he had barely left alone since yesterday. 

“My… primal has been disconnected from me. Whining about you for years, when I found you I lost control a little bit. He- we were too worried about you to watch our wording.” The implication was clear. 

“But thats- what you call me… in your head at least.” Geralt smiled again, giving another small scenting lick. 

“Yes, It’s why we were so broken after we betrayed you. We will never do that again.” 

Yes!

Comfort mate!

Tell mate! 

Claim

Claim 

Claim 

“Geralt-” 

“I’m so sorry Jaskier…” Geralt hugged him tighter, winding his hands around the other man with a vice grip. He felt himself shake with the emotions pooling in his head, the need to make his mate understand how devastatingly sorry he was. He felt more than herd Jaskier sigh into him. Finally, Finally, contentment filtering into his scent. Another soft tapering purr gave a false start and then tapered off but it had happened. 

It was clear that giving positive subvocals was a new thing to him. Another thing that made Geralt’s heart clench. 

“I- I know you probably have a lot of accusatory questions, but um- I’m enjoying this and I don’t want it to end just yet. Can you…” 

“Go back to sleep Jask, I’ll be here when you wake and as long as you want me after that.” He felt the flat pink tongue flick out over his neck for just a second. Jaskier’s small claim to his skin makes his alpha whine and howl with delight. 

Geralt joined him in rest this time, comfortably cooing them both into a nice dreamless sleep. Just like a good alpha should. His own primal was absolutely preening at this. It was the first time he felt connected to the other in years, finally sated and comfortable rather than a battle for every decision. Instincts finally aligning correctly and allowing him to feel his role to his mate rather than having to ignore false starts. 

Like a breath of fresh air. 

Jaskier woke before Geralt this time. Finally feeling rested enough to wake on his own with some comfortability. The heated press of his mate against his chest, the soft wall of pillows at his back and under him made him feel completely cut off from the rest of the world. Protected and safe. Geralt had him completely boxed in, a stark contrast to his first days of heat. 

Mate 

Said we were mates

Wants our calm 

Wants us 

Keeping us safe

Feeding us

Nesting for us 

His primal ran wild, something akin to instincts clicking into place as he cuddled closer to the other man. His scent was warm and safe, familiar in a way that Jaskier hadn’t known in years. His cramps had ended sometime yesterday and his headache was lessening with the water and food Geralt had gotten for him. 

He tried not to think about the state they had found him in. He had been pretty out of it at the time but there were still those terrified witcher gold eyes staring down at him as large hands invaded his space. He had been so sure they brought pain with them, the strong scent of alpha making him shake with the expectation of hurt and unwanted touch. 

His omega had been so preoccupied with punishing him that he hadn’t even realised who it was, then he remembered the rough scratch of cotton in his fist for hours as his omega begged him not to let go. Sure that the moment he did Geralt would slip through his fingers like so many alphas he had spent his heat with before. Gone as soon as they had gotten their fill. 

After that things had gotten clearer, the whirlwind of pain became the soft cotton and yarn of the hastily made nest. Not that he could complain, having never made a proper nest in his life. 

His head was currently tucked under Geralt’s chin, his nose grazing against the other man’s collar bone while his hands fisted his shirt. Geralt’s rumbling purr was softer in his sleep but nothing less than comforting. Jaskier leaned in, letting his tongue lick out at the pale skin. He savored the salt and scents, doing it again and again. He laved at Geralt’s neck and collar with small kisses and licks. 

His omega was preening at this small claim. It felt right. He caught his throat trying to imitate the cooing purr that came so easily to his mate. It was harsh and rough but it got better the more he relaxed, let it come to him rather than trying to force himself. 

“...Jask…” The witcher’s voice was gravely with sleep as he woke to the soft tongue on his neck. Jaskier felt himself purr louder, it caught him by surprise. The startle shook him out of it, his purr tapering off into a grinding whimper and then nothing. He frowned, sighing as he realised that he really did not have this down yet. 

“Morning Geralt…” Geralt immediately picked up on his dejected tone. 

“Hm… what’s wrong little bard.” He didn’t move, thoroughly enjoying the small tongue bath his bard was giving him. Of course they would need to actually bathe him soon but that was less important than his comfort and safety. Besides, the fresh water was just on the other side of the room and it could wait. 

“I don’t think I've got this whole purring thing down just yet.” Geralt nuzzled into the other’s hair as comfort before speaking back. 

“It will come to you. Yennefer said that so much distress during your heat has likely messed with your cycle. I think it can be assumed that things like that are likely to happen. We’ll talk about it with her and Vesemir.” Jaskier whimpered at that, clearly there was more than he was saying. 

“I um- you wouldn’t be too upset if I told you this was… nothing new right?” Geralt immediately growled and held the bard closer. He had suspected it but hearing the way Jaskier told him. Like it was something to be ashamed of, like he was the one to blame for it. 

“I wouldn’t be upset with you.” He tried to relax again but his anger was a raging fury now. He wanted names and addresses. As soon as winter was over he knew exactly what kind of monsters he would be hunting and it would be a hunt. The type of person you would have to be in order to break someone as resilient as Jaskier… it made his blood boil, skin hot and prickled with the urge to drive his sword through thick flesh until there was nothing left but red viscera and the stench of unwanted remains. 

“I think it's probably time we have that long overdue conversation now… don’t you?” Geralt leaned in, giving another soft lick to Jaskiser’s ear and then his cheek and nose. Jaskier’s face scrunched wonderfully at the action and he chuckled softly. 

“Do you want to sit up for this? I still want you to eat more.” 

“Well to do that you’ll have to get off me, silly witcher.” Geralt huffed but continued purring as he pulled off, letting Jaskier sit up. He did notice that Jaskier’s hands, while dropping from his shirt, still rested on his leg. A physical reminder that Geralt was still here and not going anywhere. It was certainly no hardship for Geralt. His alpha was reveling in having the bard so physical with him after so long without his casual affections. 

“I’m not leaving Jaskier. I’ve told you. I’ll tell you again… until you believe me.” Jaksier’s hand clenched, tightening in the fabric of his pants. He looked like he was trying not to wince too hard at the words. Geralt realized how likely it was that those exact words had been said to him over and over again, now the only thing his bard could do in the face of them was try not to cry. 

“I want you to tell me everything.” The other looked like he might protest but Geralt cut him off. 

“Jaskier, everything. I know I don’t deserve your trust and I’m sorry I took the choice of who you would have wished to spend your heat with. But as your friend… As your mate . I need to know.” Jaskier’s eyes flicked to him with the word. Eyes shining with unspoken words and heartfelt sobs. Geralt let his hand fall over Jaskier’s, trapping it in a fist where it lay. Another silent reminder that he wasn’t going anywhere. 

“As if I would have wanted anyone else.” Was all the bard could manage. The words sounded harsh in his mouth. But Geralt was patient, he could wait for his word smith to find the right syllables and craft his tale however he liked. He knew the bard long enough to know when he was hiding things, a skill he knew no one else had managed. 

“C-can we eat before I bore you with my lackluster stories of unsatisfying heats?” Geralt squeezed his hand and reached back toward the fresh tray of food for his waterskin and another piece of fruit. Jaskier tenses when he sees it but says nothing this time. Clearly that initial reaction was not a one time thing. 

“Drink first.” That seemed to distract him enough to calm down marginally. In a familiar motion Geralt held the water skin up for him but Jaskier pulled away. 

“You know, I- I can do this myself. My hands are… free now.” Geralt frowned at this, his alpha whining that their mate wasn’t accepting their offering. So to correct this Geralt snatched Jaskier’s other hand, holding them both against this leg where the first had been. Jaskier looked startled but not scared by the action. 

“They’re busy.” He growled and held up the waterskin again. Jaskier rolled his eyes but began to drink. Lapping at the drips that fell. He took more in now that he was more lucid, Geralt smiled at the small attempt to prolong the next part. Eventually Geralt pulled it away, recorking it and setting it back down on the tray. 

He held an apple in his hands, keeping Jaskier’s hands still trapped. He was going to take every liberty that Jaskier allowed him. Providing, feeding, protecting, comforting. Geralt had never felt more full-hearted in his life. 

“You tense when offered fruit specifically.” Geralt observed allowed, it was one way to start the conversation and they both knew how he had reacted the first time he had offered it. 

“Yes well, you wanted to know everything, as you’ve said, so here is my long and very depressing tale. Honestly Geralt you should have just asked me to sing about it, at least then I’d enjoy it-” 

“Jaskier…” Geralt squeezed his hands again. His grip was not restricting, it was closer to resting on top of Jaskier’s hands than anything but the bard hadn’t moved them, relishing in the small connection and intimate nature of the touch. Tongue bathes aside, it was nice, sitting close in a nest made for them. Geralt’s attention on him and him alone, feeding and holding him after what would have been the worst heat he might have ever had. 

“Right yes fine… look a lot of what I am going to say is… unsavory at best. So you’re going to have to keep your murderous rage to a minimum…” 

“We should get Vesemir for this.” Immediately the panic set it. Geralt watched as Jaskier’s relaxed expression, even some of that confiance returning disappearing an instant. 

“No! No. Please. A-alpha…” What. Why is he using that tone? Geralt cringed at the use of his designation as a play to his ego. The fawning, the supplication, it made him want to return to curling himself around his mate and purring him into comfort. 

Mate thinks of us as a threat 

Mate thinks we will harm him 

“Jaskier… my pretty bard. Look at me.” He dropped his voice back into the coaxing soft tone. One to tell him that he was not making a decision, not leaving him in the dark or leaving him at all for that matter. Jaskier’s dropped eyes slowly met his, there was still something worried in them but he seemed to realise his own fawning. His own correction would be healthier than anything Geralt could say. 

“I won’t if you don’t want me to. But if what Yen says is right, I think it would be useful for them to hear it. Yen at least, if not Vesemir.” Jaskier relaxed when he heard that option. It made sense considering they were much closer than Jaskier and Geralt’s mentor. 

“O-ok. Yen can… listen in, if she must. A-and I’m sorry… for alphing you.” 

“I’m not embarrassed of my designation, It’s not the one I would have chosen but I’ve learned to live with it. I do take issue with you using it as a method of placing yourself below me as a way to … play to my ego. I don’t like that you think you need to manipulate me into listening to you.” He let his thumb drag over the back of Jaskier’s hand, providing his own form of supplication. Pleading with Jaskier to start respecting himself. 

“Yes I can see why that wouldn’t exactly work on you.” He laughed awkwardly and waited for Geralt to get up to move and get Yennefer. 

“Relax, pretty mate. I see you tenseing again.” Geralt leaned over Jaskier’s folded legs to nose behind his ear, putting the apple down to cup at the back of his head. 

“Y-you can’t exactly blame me… this is all very new.” Jaskier leaned into the touch, accepting any and all physical contact after such intense isolation. 

“I’m not leaving. I will call for Yen after you eat from right here. Protecting my mate from anything that would hurt him.” Geralt whispered in shushed tones, letting his purr seep into his voice. He enjoyed the slight shiver that crawled up Jaskier’s spine and the small whine he let out. 

“Fiiine, yes Geralt. I will relent to your apparent need to bully me into eating.” Before he could say another word Geralt held the apple up for him but didn’t move away from resting his head on Jaskier’s shoulder. Now shifting down to give small licks to his neck. 

“And I’ll keep doing it. It's my job.” He listened to the smallest happy trill he’d ever heard with rapt attention as Jaskier finally started eating. He let himself purr as he continued his ministrations to the other’s neck and shoulder. Pulling his shirt out of the way in order to access more skin. Jaskier’s purr was jerky and seemed to stop and start when he thought about it too hard, but now with his mind distracted with eating it was smoother. A small steadier rumble that rang out through his chest 

Geralt busied himself helping Jaskier contine that noise of delight, occasionally turning the apple so Jaskier could continue to eat. He whispered small things to him as encouragement. ‘Good mate’, ‘pretty bard’, ‘thank you for eating for me’. 

Once finished he set the core back on the table and let Jaskier dap his mouth with a wet handkerchief. 

“Guess it’s time then… although I’m not exactly sure what all you want me to explain. And I can’t imagine it will even make sense.” Jaskier was starting to panic now, already missing Geralt’s head on his shoulder as the other man leaned away to put the core down. 

“Jask, it doesn’t have to make sense. I’ll take care of asking the questions, you just have to answer them.” Jaskier sighed at his words, something of relief starting to creep over him. Geralt was reassuring but there was still some panic to the bard. 

“Ok. You can get Yen now. I think I’m ok to do that.” Geralt dragged kept his hand over Jaskier’s, it clearly pleased the other and he was going to do his best to make this the easiest it could be for the startled bard. 

“Bard.” Yen said with her false coldness as she stepped into the room. It was nice for Jaskier to be treated like an equal still, despite the frankly humiliating situation he was in. To which no one thought it was humiliating except for him. 

“Witch.” Jasier bit back, the same playfulness covered by a sarcastic eye roll. He didn’t know what he was expecting but he was glad that neither of them were really coddling him. Geralt had only been reassuring rather than condescending and Yennefer was as comfortingly consistent as she always was. 

“Where do you want me?” That did startle him. The nest was big enough for the three of them and it would be acceptable, even expected for him to welcome someone he saw as pack into it. But he didn’t want that. He wanted Yennefer to be a witness rather than an active participant. Some part of him called out to feel her scent of his skin as well but not in the way he wanted Geralt’s. 

“Come and sit by the edge here. I um- don’t think I can handle you in the nest just yet.” It was hard for him to accept another presence, even one in his pack, inside his nest without feeling on edge. Maybe in a nest he and Geralt had built it would be different but as of now, it was iffy. 

“Makes sense. Do you want me to scent mark you?” She asked so casually. It almost made his chest ache with how much he wished he could feel that casual about it. Give and recessive that comfort and claim so freely. 

“Yes, an-and thank you for the furs. I can imagine your bed is much colder without them.” He tried to joke as Yen ran her hand along the back of his neck and cupped his cheek. Her hand didn’t linger, and she sat down just outside the nest wall. 

“I had Lambert fetch me more.” She said with a shrug. They went quiet after that, Jaskier not wanting to prompt anything to do with his current situation and Yennefer not exactly knowing how. 

“Jask…” Geralt's voice brought him back, his thumb dragging over the back of the bard's hand to ground him. 

“We’ll start small. Tell me how you prepared for your heat this week.” A simple question but one with a purpose. Geralt already suspected that this was not the first time he had done something similar. This would also allow him to pick at certain things to unravel further. The issue was that doing this would probably cause agitation and he didn’t want this to become an interrogation. That's part of the reason why he wanted a third party, to help explain or cut in when he started to get too much. 

“Ok- well when I realized that I was in pre-heat I got Yen to hide my scent so that it wouldn’t irritate you all. I know how sensitive witcher’s can be about bad smells so I wasn’t going to subject you all to that.” He speaks with a scoff in his voice as if it was the only obvious course of action. Geralt feels Yennefer tense beside him, feeling the blame rest on her shoulders. They could have known much sooner if she hadn’t but that was over now. There was really no point in accusing her now. 

“Jaskier, you are aware that the witchers all go through their cycles during winter right?” Yennefer cut in. 

“Well yes, obviously I assumed. But isn’t that even more reason? I mean it’s sort of distracting to have someone else in heat nearby. I mean I saw how you all recoiled when Yen took off the cloaking spell.” 

“Jaskier, we recoiled because you were in distress. You reeked of fear and self-loathing and pain. No one wants to see you like that.” Geralt reasoned, his tone exasperated at the possibility that Jaskier could think his heat scent would be so bad that it would aggravate the other witchers? 

“Well… that's how I always smell. Heat is a distressing time, of course I was scared, it’s terrifying.” Geralt just stared at him. It was always like this. Every. Single. One. Of. His. heats. All of them. Pain and suffering and isolation with no end in sight. 

“You- All of… Jaskier… tell me that's not true. Tell me you know that isn’t normal.” Geralt was bordering on pleading now. He could see Yennefer doing the same. 

“It’s- well how else is it supposed to work. I mean I know Lettenhove is a little bit traditional but the cramps and everything make it pretty clear what mating cycles are supposed to feel like.” Yennefer gasped from beside them at the name. 

“What? Yen?” They both turn to her. 

“You’re from Lettenhove. That explains so much.” Her eyes darted back and forth, unseeing. Like she was calculating something in her head. 

“Lettenhove, what about it?” Geralt growled, disliking that there was information about his mate he wasn’t privy to. 

“Geralt, how do you- ugh. Your obviousness astounds me sometimes. Of course that’s how you see mating cycles. It also explains the behavior when you feel threatened.” Yen’s voice tapered off as more things clicked into place. Geralt was getting more irritated now. 

“Geralt, Lettenhove is known for its abuse and degradation of omegas. Most of them don’t live past their thirties, having been beaten to death in the street or starving because no one will hire them. They teach that type of thing there. The whole alphas over omegas thing. Its one of the last safe havens for unworthy alphas and overzealous betas to go and be protected. It is a breeding ground for that type of filth.” Geralt wrinkled his nose in disgust, noting that he would be going to lettenhove very soon in order to pay many of those people a visit. 

“Jaskier, is this what heats were like there too?” Yennefer turned her attention back to the bard. Jaskier shifted uncomfortably but began to answer, keeping his promise to answer honestly. 

“I mean sort of. It wasn’t usually as cold, I normally go into heat during the summer or spring. But it was similar. At the manor we had some of the best accommodations in Lettenhove, I was told. Fresh water and food was fed to me.” Jaskier trailed off and Geralt prompted further. 

“Fed to you? By who?” 

“Oh whoever was on staff that day. With my hands tied It would be a little difficult to do that myself.” Geralt had to physically concentrate on not crushing the little bard’s hands in his. The anger bubbled up like bile in his gut until his head felt heavy with it. His fingers urged him to snap and tear at the monsters he was leaning about. 

“...you were… tied?  Why? What purpose did that… serve.” Yennefer’s breathless shock told him it was likely she didn’t want to know the answer. He almost didn’t either. 

“Well- you know I’m a bit of a scamp, couldn’t have me ruining my virginity for my first heat. It’s also why I assumed they didn’t let anyone else in, fearing I might seduce them.” Geralt was shaking now, he could feel every muscle tense and intense. How could Jaskier just brush this off. Such a blatant violation of his will and body. To be tied up during an intensely fragile state and left alone until someone fed you while no doubt writhing in agony from heat sickness. It was no wonder omegas didn’t live very long there. That must be intensely unhealthy.

“H-how long did you stay in lettenhove?” Yennefer was leading the conversation more than he was and he was suddenly very grateful that there were more people than just him that Jaskier trusted. 

“I was there until I was sixteen I think. Vowed after that to never go back once I got out.” Jaskier seemed proud of that and Geralt couldn’t deny he was also exceedingly happy that the man had gotten out of there. He grasped onto how impressive it was that his mate had survived all of this and was still standing, trying to distract himself from the anger. 

“Good, don’t go back.” Jaskier smiled at that, fondness and a slight chirp in his throat. 

“That almost only happens in Lettenhove and other traditional places. What did you do when you got out? You said you’d never nested before, didn’t you use heat rooms?” Geralt asked urgently, that same feeling of dreading the answer washing over him. 

“Heat rooms? No absolutely not, I just told you how horribly that went, I wasn’t going to throw myself back in. I spent my heats alone after that. Sometimes I could convince someone to help me through it for the right price but… well…” He looked down at his lap again, shame evident on his face and in his scent. 

“What Jask. You really shouldn’t be ashamed here, I mean you should have seen my mating cycles when I was young. You really can’t beat that and what’s been done to you doesn’t count.” Yennefer reassured. It seems to be enough to comfort him for now. 

“It’s no secret that I am loud for an omega, not exactly the type of person you want to spend all day and night doting on. Not that I blame them, but usually the alpha or omega or beta I would convince would just take care of what they thought I was asking for.” Geralt felt a little sick. ‘For an omega’ what does that even mean? Omegas were supposed to be loud, they were supposed to be anything. That's how people work, there is no wrong way to have a second gender. 

“Jaskier, first of all. That's horrifying. All of that. Secondly, that's not how the world works. The whole world doesn’t operate in a demented knotheaded alpha’s power fantasy. There is no such thing as ‘for an omega’.” Jaskier laughed slightly at that. It’s like he didn’t even realise how deeply ingrained his father's projections onto him were. He stopped when the disgusted shiver ran up his spine. 

“I know, I’ve been trying to get over it but it’s a little difficult. I mean it’s the only thing I was taught as a child. Heats just seem to bring out the worst of it, especially after…” He trailed off but Geralt didn’t need him to answer. They both knew exactly how the mountain had destroyed them. It wasn’t worth saying again. 

“So what did you do for heat on your own? Forget about the assholes who didn’t help you, what do you do normally?” Yennefer pushed again. Geralt put one of his hands on Jaskier’s forearm now, the other still holding his hands in place. He pushed his thumb into the skin in comforting circles, trying to keep the other man grounded. 

“I’ll normally book a room for four days, stock up on food, water, and pain killers. Then just ride it out. Some are better than others, I get that classic heat hazy arousal sometimes but not unless I feel particularly safe. There’s never enough material for a nest and I don’t exactly have room to carry all of that bedding during my travels.” The picture was being painted clearer now. Jaskier had fallen into his usual routine of hiding himself away from the world, he might not even realise how strange that was to the other two. 

“So that's what I did here too. It was supposed to be fine, I had enough food for the heat but I think seeing Geralt again set off my primal something fierce. I was- you’ll laugh at this. I was trying to move the chest in front of the door to make it safer. When I couldn’t move it my omega freaked out and I was already in the thick of it. I don't think I moved for days. I was so scared.” Geralt couldn’t take it any more. He yanked Jaksier into his lap, scooping up the small bard and pressing his head into his neck. 

His own primal was whimpering and he could hear his vocal cords betray that. He wrapped his arms around the other man protectively as he nosed at his hair. His hands moved to mark the bard on any open skin he could find, trying to force a comforting purr through the devastation he felt at hearing those words. His mate should never feel that way, would never feel that way again. He wouldn’t allow it. He could hear Yennefer cooing beside them, her subvocals joining the two’s as they sat there for a moment. 

“Ok, maybe not as funny as I thought it would be.” Jaskier finally said, his face buried in Geralt’s chest now as he accepted the comfort. 

“No, not very funny. But you’re not going to like the next part either.” Yen ventured, starting to lean into the genuine health concerns they both had. Yennefer had no doubt been talking with Vesemir and Geralt was hopeful that any damage to the bard’s cycle could be fixed soon. He didn’t want his mate to spend the rest of his life dreading his heats and having to suffer through them.   

“Right, you said it’s not supposed to be like that.” 

“No pretty bard. But Yen thinks there is a way to help.” Geralt provided. His attention is still mostly on comforting his bard. 

“I don’t exactly care about bearing children. I know it's likely I’m completely infertile at this point so if that's the route you’re going, you can fuck off. I’m not interested in being some random person’s broodmare.” Jaskier huffed much to the continued disgust of the other two in the room. How could they have known Jaskier for so long and not know this is how he thought the second genders worked. 

“We want to lessen the pain you feel, the fear and anxiety that comes with your cycle. You think we give a shit about whether or not you can have children. We’re both sterile anyway.” Geralt growled, trying to force that view onto him. He was almost in disbelief that Jaskier had this view of himself. It made sense from where he came from but to view himself like this insane. 

“Oh, that would be great. The less pain the better, I mean I can take the suppressants as much as I like but they don’t really help with the pain. Uh- what would it involve...” He peaked up to speak to Yennefer. Still letting Geralt hold him, but now looking at the witch. 

“We’d clear your system and then immediately send you back into heat, this time with proper care and comfort. A proper heat, nesting instincts and everything. After that you might need another healing sleep but as long as you keep up taking proper care during your cycle you should be fine. It might take a couple of proper heats like that before they start to become more normal but it should work. I only wish we had caught it sooner.” Jaskier frowned when she mentioned they would need to put him back into heat again. 

“I would need to do a proper heat, whatever that means.” Geralt began to purr, finding it easier now that the talks of his mate in pain were mostly over. He made sure to put his throat to Jaskier’s shoulder to let him feel it better. 

“We will explain everything to you. It would be similar to this but the pack would be there too. You’ll have a chance to meet them beforehand too. Anything and everything you need I’ll be there to provide, I won’t even leave your side.” Jaskier chirped at this, his choppy purr coming back for a little before dissipating. His scent was more content now, even a little excited as he thought about a week spent with Geralt comforting him like yesterday. Until he thought about going through his heat again and that dread came back in droves… 

“This is what we are talking about. You dreading your mating cycle isn’t good for you, all of that stress feeds back into the horrific nature of it all. That's why we’ll destress you first. I’m not saying it won’t hurt at all, cramps are a natural part of it but it can hurt less. We’ve herbs for this and you won't have to worry about stress headaches or hunger pangs.” Yennefer’s words seemed to help him relax a bit more. 

“And this will help it be easier in future.” Geralt added, only to have Jaskier immediately tense up.  

“I think I’d better not, I don’t want to get used to this type of comfort and then that just make it worse when I don’t have it anymore.” Geralt growled again, debating claiming the man right there in order to convince him. A bite would be an undeniable proof of his devotion  

“Jaskier. My mate. My prettiest bard. I am not leaving you again.” After she was done rolling her eyes Yennefer spoke. 

“You know, mating bites are usually done during mating cycles.” Jaskier’s eyes snapped to her and then back to Geralt. Geralt purred louder at the idea of claiming his mate. Having Jaskier to himself for the rest of their lives. 

“...Geralt?” 

“It has been the only thing on my mind for a long time.” A new seriousness entering the witcher’s voice. It made the bard shiver. 

“...you can’t just say something like that.” Jaskier grumbled, trying to cover the purr that rose and fell in his throat. Geralt nosed further into Jaksier’s skin, trying to get more of that excited scent. 

“We could do the claiming ritual for your first proper heat. I’d be going into my mating cycle soon too, you’d be able to bite me back.” Geralt purred and chuffed at the idea, his primal was going absolutely feral, begging his mate to bite him over and over until the claim took. Even if he wasn’t in rut yet. 

“I can smell your arousal Geralt, save it for my first ‘proper’ heat. It's what's supposed to happen.” Geralt whined at this, apparently Jaskier was just getting everything wrong about how his own heat should be working. 

“There’s not really a supposed to when it comes to this and we’ll be taking it at your pace. I mean I always enjoy a good repeated knotting during my heat but you might only need to jack off once or twice. Although considering your apparently insatiable desires outside of mating, I expect your current lack of arousal is more due to the pain you were feeling.” Jaskier laughed at Yennefer’s callus mentions of her sex life, they had never exactly been sparse on the details with each other but it was funny to see Geralt turn his nose up in annoyance. 

“Right well, I’m sure it’ll be fine in that regard. It’s not my first time having sex in my heat. Should we um get to it then?” 

“No, not yet, Yen and Vesemir are still preparing to clear out your system so we’ve got some time to clear anything up with you and get you more relaxed than you are now. You won’t have to leave this room but you’ll probably want to bathe and something more comfortable to sleep in.” Geralt explained, his eyes flicking over to the water basin. 

“I- I would at least like to try to build a nest, a real one for us before that anyway.” Jaskier relented, a small admission that he hadn’t even realised he was holding. He tried very valiantly not to feel shame for it. 

“Yeah the other witchers formed it around us when we first brought you here. You were out for that part. Do you need any other furs?” 

“It wouldn’t hurt to have them, the others. The ones that found me at least. I can just leave them out if I don't want them. Otherwise this should be enough for just us. I mean there will be other people in here with us when I start again so I can't make it too big.” It's not like Jaskier had an issue with public nudity or sex. If there were other witchers partaking in the same in the other corners of the room then that would be fine, the community and comfort was actually something that he was looking forward to. Even having Yennefer in here was comforting and if he was going to be meeting and introducing himself into the pack it would be nice to have them around. 

“If it's only us , Eskel, Lambert and Aiden, it should be fine. There aren’t many more than that in the keep and the other room will be fine for the ones that want to spend their cycles in the nesting room.” 

“Want to spend their cycles here. So they don’t need to.” Jaskier asked, parroting the last of Geralt’s sentence. 

“Most do but not everyone. But they still take comfort in each other's company.” Geralt shut down his line of thinking immediately. It was clear being in the presence of pack was already helping and he wasn’t going to let Jaskier deprive himself of his very first good heat. 

“Fine, fine. I’ll stay here with your pack.” 

“Our pack.” Geralt corrected, much to Jaskier’s exasperation. 

“Fine, yes, our pack. Now I am very uncomfortable and I think I need to wash off after all this emotional vulnerability.“ 

Jaskier had asked to bathe himself but couldn’t exactly let Geralt leave yet. So an hour later Jaskier was freshly washed and changed into a cotton undershirt and pants rather than his usual dress shirt. Geralt had stood next to him the entire time, providing contact when Jaskier got too worried about washing it all off or helping him dress when his legs got a little too shaky. 

It was clear he was still coming down hard from his heat but it was almost over. His body would catch up with his mind soon enough and then they could start the process of helping in correcting the damage that years of painful heats had done. Geralt silently admired how strong his mate was. Intensely resilient to anything and everything. This only helped to prove what years on the path had shown. 

Now Geralt was sitting just outside of where they had nested along with the other witchers as they all scented various newly cleaned furs. Jaskier stood where the center of the nest had been, taking apart the old furs and handing them to Yen to clean. If he was going to have a nest it would be clean, at least going into his heat. 

“I don’t really feel anything for this. Am I supposed to?” The bard ventured, mostly directed at Yen and the other omega in the room. 

“You probably won't feel the urge to nest until your pre-heat sets in or at least until after we de-stress you.” Yen answers.

“I always keep a nest while I’m here. Heat or not, it’s nice to go back to after a long day.” Eskel’s answer was a little more along the lines of what Jaskier had expected. 

“I used to keep the materials but haven’t in the past two years.” Geralt referenced his disconnect to his alpha, using as an opportunity to lay out that there was really no way to do this. 

“Ok I think I’ll wait until pre-heat to do that. For now I’ll just… sort everything. You’re sure I’m not taking too many of these.” Jaskier held up the furs he was currently folding. 

“No bard. You have no idea how many of those we’ve got. It’s a little ridiculous.” Lambert commented, taking a seat as he took his own furs into another corner and began crafting his own. With the help of Aiden and Eskel as they all stepped into familiar nesting rolls. 

“You keep the furs from every hunt or something?” The bard quipped back. 

“Bassically, but that’s what you’ll get with wolves.” Aiden snarked, his tone light and playful. Jaskier noticed that the others would run their hands over each other, arms or neck, the small their backs or their shoulders. It was nice, the sort of comfortable affection Jaskier had only really shared with Geralt. He also noticed that Geralt didn’t really partake in this little ritual with the others, his focus solely on Jaskier as they both sorted through the furs and blankets and pillows. He held things when asked and handed them back when asked. 

The others would banter and play and Jaskier would jump in too. Geralt would huff and grumble and smile when Jaskier said something funny. Eventually Eskel was the first on to start including Jaskier into their little ritual. Coming over to him and resting a hand over his wrist. A small mark but one that makes Jaskier’s heart flutter with appreciation. He immediately turned to look at Geralt for reassurance. Geralt gives him a slight nod and a small smile and he returns the gesture 

“Thank you…” Was all he mumbled to Eskel’s nod before the two returned to their respective tasks. Jaskier now helping Yennefer and Geralt to clean the clothing, while the others began to gather material for their respective nests. They would often swap materials if they found them displeasing but no one was really constructing theirs yet. 

“Why aren’t you guys building your’s yet?” Jaskier couldn’t help but ask. 

“We usually do it together once the first of us goes into their pre-heat. Gives opportunity to change and rescent anything.” Eskel provides as he hands one of the furs he picked out to Lambert. 

“Also sort of triggers our pre-ruts or pre-heats so we can all go into it together. Makes everything easier.” The shorter witcher said with a shug, coming over to Jaskier holding one of his own knitted blankets.” 

“That makes sense. So you’re waiting for me then?” Jaskier pushed further, his hands plunging in and out of the cold water before wringing the pillowcase and handing it off to Yennefer to dry it. 

“Yes. Scent this.” Lambert held the piece out to the bard with a sincere expression. Jaskier hesitantly took it, staring at him with bewilderment. He hadn’t expected them to welcome his scent like this. He’d thought they were all just putting up with this for Geralt’s sake. 

“I- I but we-” 

“I swear to god if you say we aren’t pack…” Jaskier’s mouth clicked shut to cut himself off. 

“What our lovely friend is trying to say buttercup is that we have known you were Geralt’s mate since… What was it the third year you came back smelling like him?” His attention turned to Geralt at the end. Geralt looked up from the fur he was currently brushing out to respond. 

“You… can’t have been able to tell that from only three years.” He insisted. 

“You reeked of him, you barely even let us scent you like he does. Even back then.” Something warm settled in Jaskiers gut at Lambert’s words. He had always been handsy with the witcher but he hadn’t really meant it to be scent marking and it always stayed friendly. Eskel came over to him and handed him a fur in a similar way to what Lambert had done as they kept talking. 

“You also smelled of lust whenever you told us about the ‘annoying little bard who couldn’t seem to stay out of trouble.’” Aiden added, his voice mocking Geralt’s as he spoke. Geralt flushed immediately and Jaskier got a good kick out of that as he buried his face in the fur, rubbing it over the back of his neck and then handing it back. Before he left, Eskel put his own hand at the back of Jaksier’s neck for a moment before pulling away. 

“I did not smell of lust.” Geralt complained. 

“You did.” A chorus of whitcher’s voices rang out in the small room. Much to Jaskier’s humor. 

“Fine… I didn’t only smell of lust.” Geralt clarifies much to Lambert's insistent groaning and the others stifled laughs. Jaskier also laughs as Geralt turns to him after that. Wearing his stupid little grin that means he’s proud of himself. 

“Yes I’m sure there was the underlying smell of onions.” Jaskier quipped, enjoying the grumbling huff he got in return, much to the other’s amusement. 

The rest of the day passed like that, the witchers would exchange clothing and scent certain parts of the room or eachother. By the end Jaskier had been thoroughly scented by them all and had stacked up his own supply of nest building material for when heat hit. The other witchers would leave occasionally and bring back certain things. Clothing or comfort items. Several carved knot toys that seemed to be stashed out of sight soon enough. 

He of course knew they existed but had never used one, or even seen one for that matter. Lambert, being the least embarrassed of the others, had explained to him in great detail how he used them, Jaskier had asked. Some part of him was still trying to prove he wasn’t a prude. 

Jaskier could admit the prospect intrigued him. Geralt could even catch the faint scent of arousal as Lambert went into detail, but the bard couldn’t imagine using one of those during his heat. It seemed like it would only add to the discomfort he would already feel. Usually all he wanted to do was curl up and wait it out, that much movement would surly hurt no? 

“Jask, little bard.” Jaskier preened at the pet name from his mate. He always loved the tone Geralt took with him and no one else. It made his words feel private from the world. As if only he was meant to hear them. 

“You won’t be in any pain for most of your heat. You might not want to use something like this or even be touched but we won’t let you be in constant pain.” Geralt had cuddled up to him since the discussion had started, taking the bard into his lap as he had scented the arousal. He hadn’t wanted anyone else to be this close to his mate while Jaskier was clearly getting riled up. It also helped that the smell from his mate was so utterly encapsulating. He could sit here for ages, sending and marking the smaller man and never be satisfied.

“Right, yes I keep forgetting that part. Well, I’m afraid I'll have to believe it when I see it Geralt. Although I might find myself one of those toys for when the nights on the road get lonely.” Geralt whined at his mate’s word. That whine quickly turned into a growl as his alpha screamed that they should be the only thing pleasuring their mate. 

“What. What is it you grump? It won’t take up that much room but if you’re so concerned I can carry it.” Jaskier rolled his eyes, letting his head fall onto the shoulder of his mate as Geralt buried his nose into the bard’s scent glands. 

“I will be the one pleasuring you when we return to the path. Not some lifeless toy .” Geralt growled, letting his fangs graze across the other’s skin. Jaskier shivered at the feeling, wanting to lean into the touch and have those teeth in his skin already. He still couldn’t exactly get his head around the fact that they were doing this. That he was going to have a proper heat with a mate and get claimed in only a day or so. 

“Oh yes, right. I’m sorry darling. My head is in all sorts of places right now. It’s a little overwhelming is all, I promise I’ll come to you when I’m feeling needy hm? How does that sound?” Geralt felt his growl turn sharper, into a happier purr as he let his tongue lick out and drag across those wonderful scent glands. He got a rewarding gasp from the omega as he did. 

“Just don’t stop smelling like this…” Jaskier chuckled, tilting his head to the side to give his mate more access. Geralt’s response was immediate, his hands tightening and his mouth working hard. Licking and sucking as Jaskier hummed at the pleasant, sleepy arousal it caused. 

“Aren’t you starting your heat tomorrow ?” Aiden jokes, watching the pair from his own place in the nesting room. Jaskier simply made a rude face which quickly melted as Geralt sucked over his pulse point just the right way. 

“G-geralt… we should…” Geralt paused, leaving a wet kiss to the fresh mark on his mate’s skin. 

“Yes lark?” Geralt was beginning to feel a bit scent drunk at this point. He just couldn’t get enough. Now that Jaskier had relaxed and calmed down, feeling better since that morning, the scent of post heat was fresh on his skin. Geralt’s alpha was going crazy in the face of it. 

Breed 

Mate

Knot 

Breed 

Good Omega 

In heat for us 

Pup mate 

“I think, I’m uh- ready to get the examination part over with. You’ll be there the whole time? I don’t think My primal can handle space right now.” Jaskier admitted as he turned to tuck into the witcher. Geralt preened at the show of trust and nuzzled into the other’s hair, catching another hint of that irresistible scent before responding. 

“Jaskier… Yes. I won’t leave your side throughout this time.” Geralt reassured. He let his hands loop around the lark’s waist, pulling him close and pressing the other into his lap harder. It cemented his rightful place in Geralt’s arms. Jaskier grasped his hands at Geralt’s shirt, they had rarely left that position even when eating and he wasn’t going to start now. 

“O-ok. Can the others stay here as well?” Jaskier asked mostly to Geralt but looked around the room to make sure the other witchers knew he was talking to them as well and that their input was welcome. 

“Of course bard. Once you go into your heat and Geralt starts his rut we won’t be far behind. It’s sort of useless for us to leave now and the other witchers will be around with food and fresh water as soon as we let them know it’s started.” Eskel explained carefully, coming to rest closer to the pair as they all started to settle in. 

“We take care of each other here, even if one of us is a cat bastard.” Lambert nipped at Aiden’s neck, the other huffing a laugh at Lambert’s jab. Jaskier trilled slightly, a noise that was getting easier on his throat the more he did it. And it seemed that the others in the room were determined to see how many times they could get it out of him. 

“Good mate. Such pretty sounds.” Geralt purred, praising the bard in hopes of getting that scent of arousal to strengthen. It certainly worked as Jaskier squirmed slightly under the weight of his words. Another, smaller trill sounded from him, getting a pride filled purr from his mate.

“Just call your mentor already, I thought that was supposed to happen before all of your depravity. You animal.” Jaskier poked playfully but still nuzzled unto the witcher’s neck, giving soft kisses between words to show he didn’t mean any harshness. 

“Eskel could you- My hands are full.” Geralt jabbed back and Jaskier rolled his eyes. Both of them felt how the bard’s hands had tightened when he asked. It was clear he hadn’t wanted any sort of separation and Geralt was more than happy to oblige. His primal was already clawing at the bars to get to his mate and leaving him even for a moment wasn’t an option. Not when he smelled so good around other witchers. 

Eventually Vesemir and Yennefer entered with their respective supplies and began setting up a small space in the corner for Jaskier to be while they looked. Currently Jasker was still sat in Geralt’s lap, the alpha wrapped around him and monitoring everything that touched or even came near his mate. Vesemir couldn’t help but sigh and give annoyed looks to the witcher. He was sympathetic to Jaskier’s need for contact but Geralt’s over protection was unnecessary to say the least. 

Yennefer was better, talking out loud as he went through the motions and explaining what was going on. ‘This will check your fever’ , ‘this will tell us what your cycle is like’ , ‘this might feel a bit cold, but don’t worry that's normal’. Each word said to make Jaskier feel better about the predicament and to placate Geralt’s primal as he watched the other get poked and prodded while the two healers worked out the best way to induce his heat. 

Geralt all the whole clung to Jaskier more than the bard did to him. This whole ordeal had set his alpha on edge and it felt the cloying fear that if they let Jaskier go, even for a moment, the omega would retreat back into the dark place they had already worked so hard to pull him out of. 

He nuzzled and kissed at the other’s skin, calming him when the touch of another got to be too much for the moment or when he started to fret at the ever present threat of his next heat. Eventually that time would come and the more the older witcher talked about it the less fearful the bard felt. 

“It will feel just like you're going into heat normally with some variation. The dizziness you’ve experienced in the past is due to dehydration, and heat sickness. Neither of which you will experience here. Geralt and the other witchers as your pack will ensure that you are getting enough to eat and drink. Under normal circumstances you would be expected to do the same, you’d feel the urge to do the same but this time you’ll likely not want to leave the nest or Geralt’s side at all. That is completely normal.” The older witcher explained, looking him in the eyes with an expression of complete sincerity before turning to the others. 

“It will be like treating a presenting packmate for the first time. You’ll all act accordingly. We expect you to feel aroused during this time but it’s fine if you don’t feel that even two or three more heats after this, or ever.” He turned back to Jaskier with the last sentence and the bard nodded, feeling slightly strange for having this all need to be explained to him. It’s not like his father ever would have. 

“Since you’ve never nested before either, we can’t be sure what to expect there too. If the end of your last heat was anything to go by you may only want Geralt to be there. Bard. It is ok if you don’t want anyone in your nest at all, but you’ll need to let Geralt help you. Food and water are good to be nearby but you do actually have to eat them for it to help.” The older witcher looked at Geralt now, something hard on his face. A stern look that set the expectations for the other. Geralt knew that this was on him, that he would be the main support during his mate’s difficult time. He was ready for it. He’d spent years helping other witcher’s through their heats even when they first presented, he could do the same for his own damn mate. 

“I think that’s everything then, and the spells are ready when you are Jask. It’ll just start to feel like your pre-heat for a couple days, nesting and cuddles ect… You’ll be fed and kept warm when your proper heat starts. Don’t worry bard, we won't let anything happen to you.” Jaskier’s fists clenched tightly in Geralt’s shirt and he winced at the slightly too sweet words. He knew that. He trusted these people, his pack but it was all still too much. So much information and so little time to process all of it. Yen had said they needed to do it soon but he was still so nervous. 

First heat with Geralt and it’s forced on by magic. 

“Ok, well no time like the present right? I mean the faster we start, the faster it’s over…” Geralt whined close to his ear and he made sure to wiggle in the man’s lap to get him to quiet the noise. It wasn’t spending his heat with Geralt that was the issue. It was having to go through this stupid cycle at all that was causing him all this distress. He knew the others could smell it on him but they had seen him worse by now so what did it matter. 

“Jaskier, I’m sorry this has been so brutal for you and there is a conversation to be had about where you learned that this was standard-” Jaskier tried to defend that he had already had this conversation but Yennefer continued anyway. 

“One that involves a list of names and locations. But this will help you. We wouldn’t be doing it otherwise.” The witch continued, her expression empathetic and caring. That alone had Jaskier off guard as he had only really seen the other with the expression of exasperation when speaking to him. Jaskier swallowed his snarky retort and dipped his head. He knew she was right and he trusted them, these people who had taken him in at his lowest and not abandoned him. At least not yet. 

“I know, It’s just- it’s a lot.” 

“You keep saying that, what about it is a lot?” Geralt nudged the question at the side of the bard’s neck, quickly returning to his effort of coating the other’s neck in spit. 

“Good question Geralt, I’ve been on my own for things like this for years. Hell I’m almost forty now, presented at sixteen. That's a lot of cycles on my own or with a stranger for company. Going from that to this. To all of you. It's… I fear I may be a great disruption to you all like this. As if there is a wrong way to have a heat cycle and I will match that perfectly.” Jaskier explained. 

“There is a wrong way to go into heat, and you’ve already demonstrated that perfectly when we found you, bard. As long as we don’t get a repeat performance you should be fine.” Yennefer’s playfully sarcastic tone came back and Jaskier smiled at that. They cared about him so much, it was hard to understand, even harder to accept. 

“Yes well, I have this great big wall of muscle promising to take care of me and a wonderful witch who might even hold him to it.” Jaskier giggled and the others smiled at him. For the first time in a very, very long time, he felt what it might be like to be part of a pack. A real one, not the secretive and structured one his father had created. He looked out at the mix of Alpha’s, Betas, and Omegas in the room and felt utterly equal to them all. A group of people gathered like family with no forced domination or submission. Something he felt he could sink into and only feel the warmth of kind hands and bright bantering jabs. 

“Ready Jaskier…?” Yen’s voice came filtering in like sunlight rather than the ice cold objectification he had expected it to be. Maybe he wasn’t ok with this, but he could be. He felt himself start to become convinced of this new feeling. 

Pack

Home

Mate 

Family

“...Yes. I think I am.” 

Chapter Text

A warm tingling feeling was the first thing he felt as Yennefer’s hands glided over him. He had to lie down for this part but Geralt was sat next to him, holding onto upper arm. Jaskier squirmed and Geralt gave a reasureing squeeze. 

The quarter-elf muttered over the incantation and Jaskier tried not to listen to the words. His Elder was not that great but it got him by, these words were a little more difficult but he caught a few words. ‘Cycle’ ‘ rebirth’ ‘heat’ ect… Something about something he didn’t understand but Yen kept her tone soft the whole time and her hand lightly grasping his wrist was comforting. The constant scent marking from the pack left him a little weepy with the happy feeling it gave him. 

It was overwhelming in a good way, a welling excitement that passed through him when they would put the effort in to comforting him. It made him feel wanted. 

Soon the ritual was finished and Yen stepped back. Letting Geralt scoop up the little bard back into his lap and hold him there as he sniffed at his neck again. Checking him over for discomfort or worry. He let out a pleased purr when he found none but the sleepy scent of relaxation. 

Their mentor had left earlier, getting two of the other witchers not guarding the door to bring in some more fruit and water for Lambert, who was already starting to show signs of pre-heat. All of this nesting patterns and pack cuddling was bringing it a little early but he wasn’t complaining. 

The scent of pre-heat omega in the room was actually helping Jaskier feel more at ease, like he wasn’t the only one they were doing this for. Although his favorite remained the excitement and pride that radiated off of his witcher. He let himself whine into the other’s neck, lapping at the scent gland as he got resituated in Geralt’s lap. 

“You won’t really feel much for a little bit, the spell is gradual so you’ll be eased into it.” Yen reassured, dragging her hand over the back of Jask’s neck to mark him before she stood to leave. Jaskier’s whine at her movement stopped her in her tracks however.

“Are you staying?” 

“No Jask, but I’ll be in and out a lot, my cycle isn’t until the summer so I don’t really need the room. But I’ll visit and keep marking the items you want. Don’t worry Jask, Geralt’s got you.” Yen gave a meaningful look that could be interpreted as a threat toward the witcher currently wrapped around the bard. 

“You will never want for anything little bard.” His voice bordered on a growl, his attention only focused on his mate at this point. The scent a pre-heat off of his bard was making his head grow fuzzy. Coaxing him into that warmth that Jaskier had always freely given. How could he love again after knowing something as sweet as this. There wasn’t another soul alive that could make him feel like this. 

“Geralt…” Again that breathlessness entered the bard’s voice. It was soft and spilling, flooding through the witcher in a wave of buzzing warmth and arousal. 

“You two should both eat soon, before Jask goes into heat. That goes for the rest of you too, I can see Lambert already itching to start his nest.” Yen turned to the rest of the room as she spoke with an almost chastising tone. Aiden, still in Lambert’s lap, whined at the possibility that he might have to leave it. 

“G-geralt… I uhm. Can we try nesting now?” Something in Geralt sharped at the request. 

Nest 

Home 

Gather for mate

Safe place for mate 

“I’ll leave you all to it then, Vesemir will be around with oils and… other helpful items.” Yennefer giggled and gave one last pass over Jaskier’s hair before slipping out into the colder hallway. Leaving the witchers and the bard alone inside the nesting room. Geralt helped Jaskier to his feet and didn’t complain when the bard didn’t let go of his clothing. 

He looked unsure, nervous as he stared at the carefully folded nesting items and pillows around the room. Like he wanted to get started but didn’t quite know how. His instincts urged him to create a safe space, for his mate, for their pack, but his hands were unpracticed and lingered. 

“Jask…” Geralt cooed, coming up behind him to hold the bard in a comforting embrace. 

“Such a good mate, going to make a nest for us. Good omega, protecting your mate and pack, so good for me.” The witcher continued, relishing the slight shiver and small whimper from his bard. There was a slight growl to the others voice, cementing the words in Jaskier’s head. It was clear his primal was slightly more in control here as Geralt started to work himself into pre-rut. 

“I- Just stay next to me.” Jaskier compromised as he looked between where he was going to put the nest and his clingy mate. Geralt’s hands on him were so warm and being wrapped up like this was comforting. The fleeting thought that Geralt would make an excellent nest passed through him and he smiled as he detached mostly from the other. 

He goes to pick up a couple of the pillows with one hand still on Geralt, still slightly convinced that if he were to let go the witcher might sprint for the door or something. He gathers one into his arms, a larger one with a down filling that he enjoys and then goes for another similar one. Until he realises that he can’t really hold more than that with one hand occupied. Jaskier growls at the roadblock. He could finally feel something telling him to nest. To protect his mate and pack, keep them warm and safe in his nest but he also couldn’t bring himself to let go of the witcher. He would need to if he was going to build properly

Nest? 

Why can’t we nest 

Broken omega 

Mate needs a nest 

We can't give him one

“My perfect mate.” Geralt’s voice came again, his hand resting at Jaskier’s back. Then curling it into a fist to hold into the bard’s shirt. 

“I’ll hold on. Won’t leave you. Use both hands to nest omega.” Jaskier could cry. He might scream and shout at his mate that he can’t have this, that he doesn’t deserve it, but he doesn’t say anything. He leans into the smallest touch, savoring the connection that Geralt is giving him. He purrs. It's choppy and harsh and too small to be heard above the rustling of the cloth in his hand. 

“...thank you.” He stands there for a few seconds, almost testing if what Geralt says is true. Then with his free hand he gathers the materials that call to him. He steps toward slowly, more of a half step and pleasantly rumbles when Geralt follows. His face lit up in delight at the small act of devotion. Geralt hums and tries not to smile too big. 

Geralt continues to follow Jaskier around as he picks up and puts down blankets and pillows against the wall and shaoes them out into a nest big enough for the two of them but not much more. It's beginning to take shape and Jaskier continuously hands his alpha material to scent as well as the other pack members in the room. They have also started on their collective nests, Lambert and Aiden seem to have something shared going on where the wall of one makes up the wall of the second and Eskel is close by too. 

There are low whines and purring filling the room, passing affections as they all scent mark and hold each other. Jaskier is included but to a less intense degree. Where Aiden and Lambert are clasped and hunger for each other's touch, the same with Geralt, Eskel touches with reverence and respect. All of them focus their attention on Jaskier with a soft almost coaxing precision. Geralt is allowed a little leeway, pulling Jaskier into his arms when he feels the call to with little more than a growl of protest as the bard is interrupted. It's all light and always turns into a soft nuzzling as he enjoys his mates cuddling. 

Yennefer stops by again sometime and Jaskier asks for more of her clothing for the nest as just marking the furs isn’t enough. She is gracious but does snort when a growling Geralt pulls his mate against his chest, nuzzling and licking at the other’s neck in order to push his scent into Jaskier’s skin. His alpha was absolutely purring at the scent that came from the bard when he did. That sweet and warm arousal that clung to his skin the more he did it. He wanted to bury his face in it and never come back up. 

Mate 

Claim 

Mate wants us

Mate going into heat 

Help mate

Claim 

Claim 

Claim

He only growled into Jaskier’s skin to get the point across, letting his now dropped fangs catch against the other’s skin. Jaskier shivered and leaned into it, letting a small moan slip from his lips. Yennefer chuckled and promised to be back with more furs and a few of her garments less suited for the winter. Jaskier smiles at her and is quickly distracted once again by that wonderfully hot mouth on his neck. 

Finally laying the blankets over the pillows Jaskier takes his time to tuck in the ends and make sure that the clothing and pillows are carefully packed in order to make the nest study as he suspects there will be much movement when they are inside. He can already feel the low warmth pooling under his skin, the flush of a fever coming on and his scent glands starting to ache. 

Looking around the room it's clear his pre-heat scent is starting to get to the others as well. Lambert is panting as Eskel laves over his scent glands, licking and sucking marks into them as the other is helpless to do anything but purr and preen with the grooming. None of them are on any sort of represents so the smell of pre-rut and heat are very noticeable in the room. 

“F-fuck Eskel. Mmh~ “ Lambert is being held up by the alpha and the beta now, both marking up his neck and shoulders thoroughly. He smells delightful and both of the others are hard pressed if they are going to let that go to waste. 

“M-my nest… I have ughh~” His pleas and demands devolve as the others start to press in on him. He is groping at the back of Aiden’s neck as well. Pressing over this pulse points and forcing more of his scent into the air. Being a beta his scent isn't as strong as the alphas in the room but this is helping. Aiden is certainly enjoying it, his face going slack and losing focus with each pass. 

Jaskier on the other end of the room isn’t doing much better, watching them and feeling Geralt nudge at the base of his neck. Feeling those fucking fantastic fangs scrape over him, he nearly lets the fur he’s holding slip from his fingers. 

He can feel the slick start to pool in his undergarments. Is this what heat is supposed to feel like? Warm and heady. Surrounded by the soft sighs and high purring of the pack and his mate. 

“Our nest is perfect Jaskier. Little bard, so good at this. Taking your time to make us safe for mating.” A thrill of buzzing arousal rushes through him, that swelling of his scent glands only helping with this. It's a dull ache in the junction of his shoulder rather than the usual itching discomfort. 

“We need to mh.. Fuck Aiden back off for a second.” Lambert voices from the other side of the room and they all turn to him, Aiden whining slightly but feeling comforted as Lambert continues to massage over the back of his neck. 

“We’re all slipping fast, we need to eat and drink before this devolves into the usual fuck fest.” Eskel giggles at his tone, also pulling back to let Lambert speak without distraction. Geralt nods when Jaskier looks to him for direction. He’s so unsure of what the proper response is so Geralt is quickly becoming his default fact checker. 

“Will you let me feed you little bard?” Geralt purrs. His alpha is running wild with the need to fill his mate with food, make him healthy again so he can protect himself and the pack. Strong enough to protect their pup. 

“Geralt!” Jaskier yelps as he is pulled and huddled by his alpha. 

“Please Jask.. let me take care of you.” Jaskier relaxes into the hold, letting his face fall into Geralt’s neck and breathing deeply as the witcher’s scent calms him. He lets himself lick over the other man’s scent glands. Geralt purrs and gasps slightly when Jaskier nips him teasingly. 

“Good alpha, so nice to me.” Jaskier coos back, letting Geralt sit them both down near the other three. Lambert takes the opportunity to cuddle up to Jaskier slightly. He presses his shoulder to Jaskier’s and leans in to rub against him. They are the only omegas in the room and Jaskier is struck by the idea that he’s never experienced his heat with really anyone. Not properly at least. There was the odd alpha or beta looking for a quick fuck that he could convice to go with him but this, the cuddling, the feeding, the scenting and licking. It's all so much more than he had ever imagined. 

The usual nausea has not even started and he doesn’t feel the same sickness that his heat normally brings. Vesemir had called it ‘heat sickness’ and he feels none of it now. Even the pain from his head is gone as Geralt kept him drinking water. He even feels comfortable in the buzzing warmth that spreads through his gut when his mate holds him. 

He lets Geralt feed him, the same is done with the others as Lambert does it to Aiden while Eskel and Geralt pass out the food to everyone. He worries for a moment that the alphas might like to be pampered back but he sees the absolutely delighted look on both their faces, well Eskels, Geralt’s is more of a smug smile, and he indulges in letting the two have their fun. 

Their meal is more hearty for now, during their heat it will be more fruits and carbs so in true witcher fashion Vesemir brings them meat and hearty soups. Geralt puts food to his lips for im to tear off and then licks at his mouth when he wants Jaskier to eat more. His words have diminished in the face of his pre-rut but he is clingier. Their routine of not letting go of one another continues here even as Geralt gives food out to the other omega and beta in the room. Jaskier is the one he holds the closest. 

Eskel marks and scents Jaskier but doesn’t attempt to feed him like Geralt. Even if he did, Jaskier probably wouldn’t take it. That sort of intimacy is left to the mates. A little later the pack is sated and full, Aiden is laying in Eskel’s lap, dozing in the glow of his oncoming cycle. The scent of slick has diminished now that there is less nuzzling and licking but its still there. 

Jaskier leans into Geralt’s lap, seating himself in the witcher’s arms as he grumbles happily. He feels full. Geralt had made sure to feed him mostly soup as he is still recovering from the starvation but the bites he did get of the meat were good. He feels warm and happy. An utterly alien feeling during his heat. 

“Geralt…” He whispers as he is cuddled into the group. Eskel and Lambert snuggling with Aiden now draped over their laps. His arms wrapped around Eskel’s torso while Lamb strokes down his thighs and calfs. Jaskier is on half on Geralt’s lap with his legs dropped over Aiden’s,  his hand held by Eskel. The other alpha’s thumb runs over his knuckles and he strokes through Aiden’s hair. Geralt’s hand is on the base of his neck, holding him up while the other rests on Aiden’s back. Stroking and nuzzling as their scents mix and mingle into the one comforting scent of pack. 

“Yes lark…” Geralt’s voice rumbles through his chest in a pleasant vibration. Jaskier never wants to pull away from it. He feels weirdly clingy, clingy like the last few days of his heat. It's another stark contrast to what he usually feels. 

“Thank you…” His witcher growls at that, making Jaskier cling harder to the sound. 

“You are everything little bard. I belong to you. Everything I am is yours to take.” Geralt’s voice was hushed and deep. Every word was slow to emphasize how much he meant them. Jaskier shivered and preened, stretching into his hold to better nuzzle their bodies together. 

“Such a good alpha, giving yourself to me, to your pack.” Jaskier preened, letting the words his omega was screaming at him flow through his mouth to his mate. He leaned up and took Geralt’s mouth, dominating the kiss in a hungry fervor. If Geralt would provide for him then Jaskier would take. All Geralt could do was let him, the breathless kiss leaving him aching for more of his bard. He wanted to be back in the nest his mate had built for him. 

For us 

Mate built for us

Protect us 

Safe in the nest with our mate 

He hum and groaned as Jaskier licked over his teeth, whining in disappointment when he didn’t find his fangs. 

“Drop your fangs alpha. Let me feel them again.” The bard whined, squirming in his place. Geralt's alpha preened. His fangs were large, larger than even Eskel's; they dripped with spit and ached with the need to bite. To claim. Jaskier’s eyes seemed to draw to them each time he saw them. 

Omega wants our bite 

Our claim 

Ours 

Mine 

Mine 

Mine 

Geralt let his maw open, allowing Jaskier to do as he wished, take what he wanted. He couldn’t help the deep purr that left him as Jaskier kissed his bottom lip, licking over the plump skin before tasting his fangs. A soft lick just over the bottom ones, careful not to catch his tongue. Then lapping over the ones on top, slipping his tongue over them and then forcing his way into Geralt’s mouth. Geralt held still as he could not to hurt the other, his own heated arousal sparking over and over again. 

Rut was coming on fast and he could feel his cock start to twitch with interest. The scent of Jaskier’s slick wasn’t helping. That sweet honey-like warmth that he would love to drown in. He knew that If he ever got to taste it there would be no going back to breathing air again. Only the scent of his aroused mate. 

The way he should be kept, fed and comforted and buzzing in sleepy arousal. He wanted to spend the entire winter like this, with his mate. Even after their cycles were over he would wisk the bard away to their room and watch the man nest and cuddle to his heart’s continent. For years now his alpha had been hoarding furs for the bard. He couldn't help but be excited to show his collection to the omega for his approval. 

“Nest… I want to go back to nesting Ger- help me with our nest.” Geralt nodded as Jaskier pulled away, they still had to finish it and Jaskier was clearly feeling the urge. Geralt felt the flutter of delight as his mate came into a more healthy mindset for their cycles. He wanted to burn out those punishing thoughts. The sound of Jaskier whimpering that he didn’t deserve a nest, didn’t deserve to feel safe. It would haunt him until he found the scum who had taught him that. His perfect mate deserved a perfect nest. He’d find only the best furs and blankets for his mate. 

“Want to carry you little bard.” Geralt expressed as he slipped his hands into the proper position to do that. The others whined slightly and the idea at they were breaking the pile but it stopped when Geralt glared at them. This was Jaskier’s first proper heat and they would be respectful in his needs. 

“Mhm.” Jaskier hummed, wrapping his arms around Geralt’s shoulders, using the opportunity to lick and nip at the other man while he was carried and then let down near the nest. Geralt held the back of his shirt once again and followed him around as they fell back into the familiar routine. 

By the time Jaskier was satisfied he could feel the ache deep inside him to pull Geralt in and huddle up to him, to pull the alpha over him like a protective shield and cuddle until he slept peacefully. The last night had been one of the best in years and he was eager for a repeat. 

“Alpha, get in.”  He turns to Geralt with the command leaving his mouth as if it had a thousand times before. Geralt feels the zip of the tone rush through him, flooding each of his senses with the other’s scent and wanting. His primal screams at him to comply to give his mate anything and everything they want. He could of course pull away and disobey but why would he want to with a command as and words so sweet as those. 

Mate built us a nest 

Perfect nest 

Perfect omega 

Get in 

Get in 

Get in

Geralt steps over the high wall of the next, sitting with a hum as he lets the feeling of safety wash over him. Jaskier purrs and smiles at him, at his mate perfectly safe in the first nest he has ever built. Pride swells heavy in his chest, it's a giddy feeling, seeing Geralt like this. He wants to cover his skin with it and wear it like a badge of honor. He can’t wait to show off their mating bites in the next town. 

There are several giggles from the other corners as the others finish up in their own primal hazes and start to sink into a sleepier state. The low buzzing arousal is put on the back burner as they all come down from the stressful day. Jaskier can feel it in the back of his head. The want to let Geralt lick him open and fuck him, the urge to push the witcher down under him and use his knot to his hearts continent. But the urge to curl up against Geralt’s chest is stronger and quickly wins out. 

He steps in next to the witcher and pushes him over so they are both laying down. He positions his mate into a cuddle, his arms tucked into Geralt’s chest as he sniffs and licks at Geralt’s collar bones. Geralt’s arms are around his back with his head blocked from Jaskier as he is forced to let the other man do what he wants with his undefended neck. 

“Jask…” The witcher growls lowly, heady thoughts about his mate swirling with each small pass of the rough tongue. Jaskier purrs, pressing their chests together so Geralt can feel it. He pushes the feeling of safety and comfort as he coaxes the other to relax into it. 

“Perfect nest, good omega. Making us safe. Marking what's yours.” Geralt hums, his words slurring slightly as his fangs have dropped with his arousal. His eyes feel heavy and the more Jask tongue bathes him the sleepier he gets. The other is pulling him into a restful sleep and he finds himself willfully accepting. 

“Sleep now, Jaskier. We’ll eat in the morning.” Geralt hums to his bard, closing his eyes to the sound of the small ‘shlick’ ‘shlick’ ‘shlick’ of Jaskier’s tongue and the rustling of the other witchers settling into the night. One of them gets up to snuff the lanterns that keep the room lit up and the room slips into a quiet, restful night for their first shared cycle. 

The next time Jaskier woke he was squirming. He felt a deep ache in his lower gut, the uncomfortable slide of slick between his legs making him whine. Geralt was up in a moment at the sound, looking over Jaskier’s flushed face with concern and urgency. 

“Geralt… whats-” He was going to ask but he was pretty sure he knew exactly what was happening, this is what all the stories write about right? His gut started to ache in a series of cramps. They weren’t nearly as bad as they normally were, just sort of a discomfort. He clutches at Geralt to ask what he’s supposed to do about it. He feels himself grind forward, the buzzing arousal now a raging fire inside him that demanded to be sated. 

Mate 

Alpha 

So close 

Smell him 

Take him 

His omega whined and chirped at him and Jaskier found his own mouth making similar noises as his cock brushed up against Geralt’s.

“Jask- hush omega. Good~ so good getting slick for me. You smell so good. Look so pretty omega. Heat- your heat has set in, little bard.” Jaskier could only whimper as he felt another drip of slick pool in his undergarments. He needed something. Geralt took his mouth in a slow and passionate kiss. His tongue opened Jaskier’s mouth with ease as the other man whined and whimpered into it. Geralt’s hand reached around to Jaskier’s hips and helped him grind forward into pleasure. 

“AH~ Geralt… fuck. I’m- i’ve never been this sensitive. Mhm~ is this w-what it normally feels like?” Jaskier rutted against the alpha’s cock, letting his mouth be overtaken and claimed as Geralt helped him with the ache. 

“Yes, what you are supposed to feel like. Feels good, Jask?”  

“Y-yes… please Geralt~ more.” He whimpered, clinging to the front of Geralt’s shirt harder. Each grind over his cock sent a shiver of pleasure up his spine but it didn’t help the aching. He needed something more, something better. He needed his mates hands and cock and mouth. He needed the fangs and tongue to take him apart and drive out the ache with the softest touch he had ever known. 

“Sh shh shh~ Jask, let me take care of you. Tell me what you need.” Jaskier whined and kept rutting as if the small pleasure would help his mind clear of the need he seemed unable to identify. 

“F-fingers, your fingers. Please alpha~” Geralt hummed and leaned over him, letting the hand at his back slip down under the hem of Jaskier’s under cloth. It moved over the swell of his ass, dragging the clothing down with it. Jaskier moaned into the witcher’s mouth, not bothering being quiet as he was getting desperate. 

“Going to ride my fingers omega? Going to be good and take your pleasure from me.” Jaskier nods and nuzzles into Geralt’s neck, sucking marks into his skin as Geralt’s fingers slip against Jaskier’s hole. Its leaking slick, soaking through the clothing with every movement. The scent that hits him is overwhelmingly pleasant. He wants to bury his nose in there and drink the slick his mate produces. 

“I- i’ve not been this wet during heat, fuck- must be you Geralt.” Jaskier giggles against his skin as Geralt continues to massage over the relaxed muscle, coaxing the bard open with his own slick. Jaskier pushes back into his hand slightly, encouraging the witcher’s motions as he busies himself with licking and kissing Geralt’s scent glands. He feeds himself Geralt’s scent letting it fuel his arousal and force more slick from his body. 

“You smell amazing Jask. I- mh- you’ll let me taste you right?” Jaskier whines as he imagines it, his mate drunk on his slick. Cock dumb for him and him alone. He could imagine the great white wolf kneeling before him begging for just a taste of what he was to offer. 

“It's for you alpha, only for you. aH~” Geralt lets a single finger slip inside, stilling as Jasskier clenches around it, wanting more as he whines. 

“Relax little bard. My pretty mate, let me take care of you.”Jaskier nods and tries to stop moving, he curls in against Geralt and lets the man slip back out and in again, breaching his hole over. It felt loose when he had first touched it, feeling the warm soft thing open under his fingers as more slick leaked out. 

He pushed in two fingers, Jaskier barely felt the stretch. He was far from an amature and knew how to relax into this sort of thing, even if Geralt’s fingers were larger than his. It felt good, really good. That ache in him backing off and Geralt began to fuck in and out of him. The wet lewd noises only furthering his own arousal. 

“Thank- y-you alpha~ mh~... please~” He whines and begins to push himself back on the fingers, again rutting his cock against Geralt’s as the witcher opens him up. Fuck it feels good. He’s heady in the fog of sleepy arousal. Squirming in the arms of his mate as Geralt fucks him open on just his fingers. 

He feels desperate and needy, clingy for his alpha and lost in the slow pleasure that Geralt gives him. 

“So warm and wet for me. Perfect mate~ opening up for me so nicely.” Jaskier moans, lapping at Geralt’s scent glands once again as the heady scent fills his mouth and nose. Geralt then pushes in hard and pulls up, stretching his hole open to the cool air in the room. Jaskier gasps and moans as he feels Geralt use the new position to help him rut against the witcher. 

“F-fuck~ ah- Ger.. mh~” The stretch was plesant. Its felt vulgar to be held open like this. To have his hips ground against his alpha. The scent of Geralt was all around him and his overly sensitive body was jumping to the stimulation. HIs orgasm felt like it was already building and he usually prided himself on stamina. Fuck, this man was going to be the end of him. 

“Geralt~ your- mh…” He could feel Geralt purring against his chest, the ais heavy with the other’s arousal and the smell of his own slick. His primal was preening under the touch of their mate. His mind wasn’t so much fuzzy as it was sleepily relaxed. He felt himself purring in response as he moaned for each push and pull. 

“So pretty, little bard. My song bird. Sing so sweetly for me.” Geralt growls, snuggling closer and pulling jaskier in tighter. They are nearly completely flushed as Geralt slots his legs between Jaskier. 

“Ah~ ha- mhm Ger ugh~.. Fuck~ I- it’s Geralt~ it-” Geralt slows his hand, just holding Jaskier against his thigh to let the bard speak clearer. 

“S-slower please. I- it’s so intense.” Jaskier huffs, panting now from all of the sensation at once. Geralt hums and purrs in response, stretching open his fingers and thrusting them back in at a much slower pace, still rocking his mate against his leg. Jaskier’s hurried almost gasping moans turn to softer coos and whimpers. 

“T-thank you… uugh~ fuck. I should have gotten you into a nest years a-ago. Hhm~” Geralt huffs a small laugh, letting himself smile as he gently brings his mate pleasure. There are similar sounds from outside their nest but neither of them care enough to look over. To Geralt, his entire purpose is fulfilled with each soft sound his mate makes. 

“Mmh Jask, you’re hah-.” Jaskier pushes his leg up Geralt's more to get a better angle, his cock sloting beside Geralt’s as they both strain in their small clothes. He feels the witcher shuddering at the touch, feels the way his hand twitches. He presses up again. The sound that comes from his mate is a delightfully low growl of pleasure. He coos and whines as Geralt finger fucks him into his cock. 

“I- I can ah.. Fe-feel how big you are d-dear witcher. Mhm~! Y-you fu~uck gonna use t-that.” Jaskier couldn’t help the whimper in his voice, or the excitement he felt at the idea. Did witcher trials also make their cocks bigger? He should probably ask but right now his mind is a little preoccupied by the slow grind to finish his body is creeping up on. 

“No Jask, You are.” Geralt growls, slipping in a third of his fingers to emphasize his point. Jaskier whimpers and clings as he takes everything from the man. Fucking himself back on the fingers inside him and the slow drag of cloth over his already aching cock seems to be enough to close the gap. 

“G-geralt. I’m fuck- ah~ uh… g- fu~” Geralt speeds up just slightly, forcing him open and massaging that spot inside him that makes his brain blank out for a second with the pressure. 

“I know little lark, I can feel it. You tighten up so nicely for me when I touch here.” 

“Ah! G-geralt. Teasing is n-not appreciated.” Geralt huffs another short laugh and leans down to take his mouth again. Jaskier gladly reciprocates, letting Geralt guide him to his first of many orgasms to come. 

Rolling waves of pleasure start to increase as he grinds harder, chasing that high with little care for what he must look like squirming in his nest like this. His gasps and moans come out in shorter busts, sometimes cutting off as his breath catches in Geralt’s mouth.

“Doing so well pretty bard. My perfect mate. Cum for me~ let me have it, please~” That does it, Geralt’s half growl half whimpering plea sends him over the edge. He gasps and his breath catches again as his sensitive cock spurts in his pants, the cum soaking through the thin piece of cloth. Jaskier buries his nose in Geralt’s neck, licking and sucking and then biting when his orgasm crashes through him. Geralt fucks him through his aftershocks. Hes still rutting as his now oversensitive cock finishes pouring itself into his lap. 

“Good omega, feel better Jask?” Jaskier whines, licking over the small bite mark forming. It wasn’t all that hard but there are small indents from his teeth. He can’t help but feel a little possessiveness over it. He wants to leave more. He wants to cover his mate in bites and bruises so that every town they visit will know that this is his witcher. 

“Yeah, Yes. Thank you. I didn’t think it would be that intense. We- uhm… we might need to take it slower than I thought. I’m sorry Geralt. I C-can smell your rut on you. I- don’t think I can g-give you…” Geralt cuts him off, kissing his lips again. He takes Jaskier’s train of thought with a lick to his bottom lick an them opens the bard’s mouth to better taste him. 

“You smell so good Jask, my alpha is demanding to taste you like this. To lick you clean of your spend and slick and hold you until you forget there is anything beyond this nest.” Jaskier whines at the words. Why was his witcher only well spoken in the best of moments. He really needed to get this out of Geralt more often. 

“But your-” Geralt kisses him again before he can mention the fact that Geralt is still hard. Jaskier tries to move his leg up to help the witcher but Geralt stops him. Jaskier whines again, feeling guilty for leaving his mate wanting. It’s not what a good omega would do right? He’s supposed to be presenting, this isn’t how its supposed to go. He’s nice and stretched now and thats more than most of his partners have done. They’ve always-

“Jaskier.” His attention snaps back to the present, to looking at his mate in the first nest he’s built surrounded by his pack. The one that's protecting him in his time of need. He’s here. In his mate’s arms, feeling open and loose and relaxed, buzzing in the residual arousal. He’s safe. 

“Little bard. My bard. You want to help me with my primal, let me take care of you… please…. The only thing my alpha is demanding is your safety, your contentment. To make you happy like you deserve to be. Fuck you have no idea how much just being in your nest is doing for me Jask…” The bard preens and purrs, snuggling into his witcher and kissing him again. Something chaste. Sweet and soft and slow. 

“...ok.” Jaskier finally gives in, feeling the rumble in Geralt’s chest get louder, the small whine in the back of his throat telling the other how delighted he is at the relent. He smiles into Geralt’s lips and kisses him again. 

“How are you feeling?” He could feel the flushed skin against his, the slight shake in the bard’s body as his hormones raged in his fever. He could smell the slight ache and small amounts of pain that come with the cramp but the release had helped with that. He made sure to scent Jaskier thoroughly as they had fucked and was now rubbing the scatterd clothing across the bard’s skin to better help him smell like pack. His primal cooed for it, his mate should smell like him and pack and sex and contentment. Now he does. 

“I think it helped a little but I still feel a little shaky. Th- the cramps aren’t as bad as when I woke u-up. I’ve never been this wet before in my heats. It’s a little strange but I- fuck Geralt~” Geralt held him tighter again, wanting the bard to feel safer as he spoke. He could smell the new wave of arousal starting to hit as Jaskier’s breaths came back to pants. 

He felt himself chub up again at the fresh scent of heated omega. No, his mate in heat. 

Pup mate 

Breed 

Knot 

Breed 

Help mate

Mate needs us 

“What do you need Jask.” He growled, leaning down to the other’s scent glands. Jaskier leaned his head away to make room, he could see how the desperation seemed to creep in as the other’s primal took over. 

“I-I Alpha~ hungry… but- but need you. Mh~” Jaskier began to rut himself against Geralt’s thigh again, his oversensitive cock dragging painfully against the wet cloth. 

“Jaskier… what do you need…” His own voice was dropping now, the fog over his mind swelling as his mate called for him, wanted for him. 

“Knot alpha~ s-so empty. I -I need… Please~ I think I can take it now. C-can we eat after…” Geralt hummed and purred. He let Jaskier grind against him, smelling the bard’s refreshed arousal. He could feel his stuttering hips as he couldn’t decide whether or not jerk away or into the painful pleasure. 

“Are you sure Jask. Omega, take me~ take what you need from your alpha. Then I’ll feed you again. Get your strength back. Need your strength for heat. Will take care of you little mate.” Geralt growls, letting his dropped fangs scrape over Jaskier’s neck. 

“Bite~ bite. Claim me Geralt- I don’t think I can wait any longer. Y-you’re in rut. We can. Mhm~ please...” Jaskier leans up into Geralt’s mouth wanting to feel those fangs sink into his scent glands and feel the connection it brings them. 

“W-wait wa-want to be inside you for that.” Jaskier whines and shimmies until his back is to Geralt, his hand still clinging to the witcher behind him. His small clothes are still caught under his ass and his hole on display for the witcher. He ignores the slight shame he feels. 

Geralt wastes no time in cuddling back up to him. The idea that his mate was even an inch further away than he needed to be was devastating. The call for skin to skin contact as he sniffed and licked over the swollen scent glands is strong. He drinks in the taste, as he pulls out his own cock to rub up against Jaskier’s slicked hole. The slide is nice, it catches on his stretched out rim and Jaskier moans for more. 

“Jask~ you’re so wet for me. Good omega~ fu~uck. Ah. t-tell me I can. S-so warm.” Jaskier grinds back, letting Geralt hold him close as the alpha humps him. His cock sliding against Jaskier in a mock of what the other man would do inside him. The bard can feel how big it is and that only makes him want it more. 

“G-go slow. Again, to- to sensitive.” Jaskier whispers as he pushes back onto the head caught at his rim. Geralt moans as it pops past into a tight wet heat. 

“Y-yes omega.” Geralt submits, letting his hips slide forward, his cock sinking in slower and slower until they are both panting with want. 

“Good alpha, taking care of y-your mate. Mh~ I- I want you o-ver me ugh~ like before.” Geralt’s mind blanks for a second before he figures out what Jaskier wants. He forces the bard onto his stomach and positions himself over him, his body weight pressing the bard into the far wall of their nest. 

Our nest 

Filling omega 

Pup mate 

Perfect mate 

So strong 

Perfect for pups 

The repositioning forces Geralt to bottom out, forcing a strained gasp from both of them. The witcher feels like he could melt into it and Jaskier isn’t much better. His mouth is open and drooling at the agonizing stretch. The pressure inside him as well as pressing him into the soft furs is perfect, he feels whole and sated just like this. He wants those fangs in his neck and that cock filling him for the rest of his heat. Fuck he just wants his mate to be there. 

“Thank you omega. Fuck jask~ you’re so wa~arm.” Geralt’s voice wavers as he feels himself give over to the pleasure. His hips lift slightly and then push back in, the slow drag of soft walls over his cock is deliciously teasing. It draws a long and heated moan from his mate. 

“Ah~ ger- fuck~ keep going…” His hand is still grasping at Geralt’s shirt, almost pulling the other man back down into him. Geralt complies, lifting up and sliding back in over and over again. He sets the same slow pace he did with his fingers, relishing the lewd squelching of slick each time he fills that hole. Jaskier is almost gushing with it and Geralt can't help but drool over the bard's neck at the smell.

He can see the soft pink rim stretching to accommodate him, his alpha growls at the sight and Jaskier whimpers under him. The bard presses his back up to try and get more, his sensitive cock trapped under him and held carefully by the furs. It’s nice like this, the only stimulation from Geralt rather that trying to rut himself dry after such a brutal first orgasm. 

“F-faster alpha~” Geralt speeds up, forcing another satisfied grunt from his mate as he continues. He presses into the bard as far as he can, holding him against the soft nest and caging him into safety. 

Safe 

Mate safe 

Knot 

Claim 

Breed 

His alpha hasn’t quite got the message that witchers can’t have children but he is sure willing to try. The idea of pumping his mate full of his cum and watching it drip out of the other’s abused hole is enticing. He keeps a tight leash on those ideas as he needs to make sure Jaskier is enjoying it. He keeps the slow pace, pleasuring his mate with his body like he was made to. 

“Mh~ hah… Geralt- I fuck knot me~ please. Claim me- I want you to be mine. Y-you’re Ah~ m-mine right alpha?” Geralt nearly melts at his mate’s voice. Its so soft and coaxing but it demands absolute devotion. The only kind of devotion that the witcher is capable of giving to his bard and only his bard. 

“Yours, fu~uck yours Jask. It’s all yours, all of it. Mh-” Geralt grunts and whines as he moves, the waves of pleasure rolling through his mind have nearly as much of an effect as Jaskier’s words. He wants nothing more than to sink his fangs in but he needs to knot first. He can already feel it swelling. The pressure at the base of his cock and how it seems to pop in and out of Jaskier more and more. 

The sight is a wonder, his cock popping obscenely in and out of his mate's hole, slick sticking to his thighs and gut. There's so much of it, like his lark was saving it just for him. That thought nearly sends him over the edge, he reigns in his primal and continues fucking. 

Jaskier has started to pant harder, whining and starting to grind his hips uncontrollably as both of their orgasms start to take over. Geralt fucks harder, deeper, but not faster. His cock shaping out its place inside his mate. He feels ruined, the scent the pleasure, Jaskier’s voice. It’s all going to be too much for him. No one else could ever satisfy him like this. 

“Perfect mate, w-want to knot, breed. W-want to fill you Jask- going to- uh~ ja-jask~ gonna-” He was getting close, licking over those scent glands only pushes him further. Jasier is close too, he can feel the stuttering hips of his bard, the whimpering and catching breath. His knot is growing and no longer slides in easily. Each time it pops in and out Jaskier moans loud and long, he loves it. The stretch, knowing what it means for them, the idea that his mate will claim him. 

His orgasm rockets through him, it’s no longer the slow coaxing over the edge that had happened the first time. It's the sudden huge knot forcing his hole open and the bard's cock cumming in response. Like Geralt had fucked the cum out of him. His hole gushes with the slick that is now trapped inside. He feels Geralt still rocking into him. His hard cock still full of the cum Jaskier desperately wants inside him. 

“Mmh~ Alpha! Fill me~ breed me alpha. Want it~ cum alpha.” Geralt nearly howls with the command, his body doesn’t react instantly but it forces him to focus on the pleasure of having his mate all around him, of pleasing the bard and giving in to his omega’s demands. He strains and ruts and then opens his maw to clamp down into Jaskier’s neck. His dropped fangs piercing into the bard’s scent glands with ease. He holds him down with his teeth as his knot finally gives in and he cums. 

The flood of warm liquid inside him and the rush of excitement as his mate finally claims him. His eyes roll back into his head as his mouth opens in a silent moan. His overspent cock gives another violent spurt of cum. Geralt locks himself inside, his knot swelling even further as he continues to fuck into his mate. 

The aftershocks pulled him to force his cum deeper inside. Despite it being useless for any sort of breeding, his alpha demands that his mate is properly knocked up. He complies as the primal is still at the forefront of his mind. Jaskier doesn’t protest, just moans and whimpers as he feels it start to fill his gut with Geralt’s spend. He whisper’s half moaned praises to his alpha, clenching down on the knot to help milk Geralt of all he’s worth. 

“Good alpha, breeding your mate so good. Mhm~” Geralt whines and keeps rutting, his orgasm lasting long into overstimulation. His cock not seeming to care if he is still enjoying it or not. He doesn’t care, he can smell the contentment and happiness coming off of the bard. He’d stip his cock bare if it meant he could smell this for the rest of his life. 

The witcher licks over the fresh mating bite, feeling Jaskier shiver under him as he begins to clean away the blood. He begins to pull them back onto their sides but Jaskier’s hand stops him. 

“N-No Alpha~ stay here, ke-keep me safe here. Feels safe u-under you.” Geralt preens and whimpers at the praise and lowers himself back down, his entire body weight is not on the bard but enough of it is for him to feel the rise and fall of the other’s chest. He wants to stay knotted to the other indefinitely. 

Fuck the idea of feeding jaskier while the bard is stuck on his knot nearly makes him cum again. Taking care of his mate in every way that he can. He is then reminded that they will need to eat soon but he doesn't want to bring Jaskier back up just yet. He’s clearly enjoying the afterglow and that sleepy haze is getting the Geralt not too. They will be stuck here for an hour or so, there is plenty of time to live out his fantasy. 

It’s everything he expected. Jaskier is sat in his lap, seated on his knot. The bard’s own cock is straining into the air and dripping with pre-cum, it’s been doing that for a while now and each time Geralt starts to play with it more comes out. Jaskier is leaning against his back, relaxed and sated by his mate. 

Geralt’s knot is still swollen inside him, pressing pleasantly against his prostate and keeping the flood of alpha cum inside him. Said alpha is currently slipping another grape onto his tongue. Jaskier moans and squirms on the other’s knot, getting another grunt from his witcher. It feels good. The burst of sweet on his tongue and Geralt’s hands failing to hold him still as he rocks back on the other’s cock. 

“S-so full~ good alpha, keeping your cum inside me.” Jaskier coos and Geralt whines, licking over the know scabbed mating mark. He can’t wait to see the scar there. 

“So how was your first heat fuck bard?” Jaskier’s eyes snap over to Lambert. He’s in a similar position with Aiden, the beta speared open on the omega’s cock, panting and moaning as he begs for the other’s attention. Eskel is currently getting his own cock licked at by the beta as Aiden pleases both of them. Its quite the sight. 

“Mh~ good. I- I can see why you do this sort of thing.” Jaskier relents, taking another of Geralt’s offered fruits. 

“Not just us, everyone does this. It's what heat’s for.” Eskel explains, his face quickly turning up in pleasure as Adien takes him in his mouth. 

“Well clearly not everyone. Oh fuck~ Geralt.” The Witcher shifts as he’s talking and Jaskier curls in on himself as his cock is taken in hand. His alpha is clearly in need of some attention. 

“Eat Jask- need your strength back.” Geralt growls and Jaskier rolls his eyes at the other’s tone. He still takes the next grape offered to him. 

“And it’s really only a few places that don’t do this. This is sort of what heat rooms are like.” Lambert continues, starting to rock back and forth into the larger witcher. Aiden’s eyes roll as he is fucked onto Eskel’s cock. Jaskier can’t help but bite his lip at the sight. Don’t even get him started on the smell. Aiden smells so turned on he can barely think and Jaskier thinks he couldn’t mind seeing Geralt like that under his own cock. 

For now he rocks back onto the knot inside him and drinks in the soft groan from his witcher. 

“We’ll be going to Lettenhove this spring.” That gets Jaskier’s attention. He doesn’t try to turn around but he does lean back against the witcher’s shoulder and turn into him to show hes listening. 

“You really think that's a good idea? I mean as soon as anyone tells the Count i’m there you’ll be run out of town. Not to mention walking in there as an omega is like a walking invitation for violence. Those fucking pigs cant tell the difference between just someone minding their own business and an open invitation.” Jaskier rolls his eyes at the memories of leering alphas and betas, usually men. It makes him want to gag. 

The comforting hands of his mate are helping to ground him. Geralt is holding him against his chest in a protective manner, he feels protected in a way he hadn’t in a long, long time. 

“It’s a good way to weed out those who don’t deserve their knots.” Jaskier mocks a gasp. 

“Planning to use me as bait witcher?” The others snicker, well two of them do. The third has his mouth full. 

“As if you wouldn’t love getting a good hit in with that dagger you carry.” Geralt nuzzles into the bards neck, giving another appreciative lick to the fresh mark. 

“Mh… Sometimes I think you know m-me too well.” Jaskier hums, letting his purr voice his favor of the idea. 

“Our first date will be to maim several pigs, not the most romantic but I think that's what i get for mating someone as emotionally constipated as you.” Jaskier snickers and Geralt gives another lick, slower this time. He takes his time to drag his rough tongue over the pierced scent glands. It smells like them now, their scents mingling in the air along with sex and heat. Geralt’s own scent glands have been aching since he had bit down. 

He wants to have his bard’s fangs in his neck and soon. He keeps licking, coaxing his mate into relaxation as his knot seems to slowly shrink back down. Once Jaskier is off he can have his omega’s mark, the idea sends another throb through him and he finds this counter intuitive. 

“Our first date was me saving you from those brothers after you fucked their sister and helping you skip town.” Geralt growls into Jaskier’s hair. The bard laughs at the memory. Geralt smiles. It’s not exactly a fond one, but now they are far from it they can both look back and enjoy the absurdity of the situation. 

“Well then, I’ve been doing a very poor job at getting you courting gifts my dear.” 

“Jaskier, my knot is inside you. You think I need courting gifts too?” Jaskier chuckles again as Geralt pushes another grape into his mouth. 

“And what do you call everything you’ve been giving me since we’ve met.” Geralt adds after a thought. 

“Those hardly could count as anything! You deserve to be wined and d-ined mh~ fuck you need to get that moster under control. A-are you still cumming? Melitele.” Jaskier curls up as he feels another spurt of warmth inside him. God he felt so full, he could almost see the bump where Geralt’s cock pressed into his gut, the swell where the man’s cum filled him. 

“S-sorry, it’s part of being a witcher.” Geralt confessed, suddenly looking a little more out of breath and sheepish as his cock gives another small spurt and twitch. 

“Got that right, Aiden loves it, you should see him cum. Its a fucking fountain.” Lambert laughs at the vulgarity of his statement. Aiden does pull off at that to swat at Lambert playfully. 

“As if you don’t love it, I had you begging for my knot just yesterday, keeping you full of my cum is always a pleasure.” The beta challenges. Lambert grins feral and snaps his hips forward into the man, choking off his words with a moan. 

“And I’d do it again, that fucking cock is so good, even gets Eskel begging for it. The alpha blushes and continues to pet over Aiden’s hair, not making eye contact with the rest of the room. 

“A-anyway back to what I was saying… I’ll court you properly in the spring, once this whole thing is over.” Geralt whines and kisses him. Jaskier’s own cock has not gone back down since waking up knotted. He loves the feeling, there is something so pleasantly calming about it. That paired with Geralt’s tongue bath over his bite got him hard near instantly. 

“You’ve already gotten me sword oil, leathers, clothes, armor, food, you paid for our stay in taverns nearly every time we’ve been together-” 

“Yes yes. I get it. But you can’t blame me. You’re so easy to buy things for, the way your face twitches when you’re trying not to show how much it means to you makes my day every time.” Jaskier grins, and Geralt blows at the back of his neck in protest. Jaskier shivers and chirps, grinding back down to get back at the witcher. The hitch in the other’s voice is satisfying enough. 

“So you were giving me those for entirely selfish reasons.” Geralt huffs, the playful sarcasm nearly drowned by the dry tone in his voice. Jaskier picks up on it easily. 

“Of course Geralt, haven’t you met me?” Geralt wraps his arms around the Bard’s waist, holding him close and going back to licking over the mark. Jaskier is sure the scabs are long gone by now and the tongue tongue against an open wound only reminds him of just how much he enjoyed those fangs in his neck. Maybe he can get the other to do it again later. 

“I- I think My knot is gone, let me-” Jaskier is positioned back into his stomach, with Geralt over him still connected at the knot. Its still swollen slightly but can be pulled out with little pain. Jaskier whines and moans at each movement, the thing inside him pressing against every one of his buttons. 

He's pulled into a classing presenting position before Geralt slowly, carefully pulls out. The pop audible to the room. Jaksier sits and basks in the feeling, letting his rim stay open for Geralt to gawk at. He can almost feel the witcher’s eyes. 

“Fuck~ I can see my cum inside you Jask~. Let me taste you omega, let me taste us together.” Geralt’s voice is closer to a growl than not, pleading with his mate to let him eat out the mess they’ve made together. 

“Please~” Was all Jaskier managed to get out before felt Geralt’s mouth on him, his long tongue lapping at the rim and he reflexively clenched. Then pushing inside to taste their mixed slick and spend. Jaskier fell into a mess of moans and whimpers as his abused hole was eaten out. That though lapping and sucking him as his legs slowly dropped open, his cock hanging in the air and twitching with each pass of the man’s tongue. 

“Fu~uck you’re g-good at this mhmm~ Geralt…” Geralt’s hand came to rest at his lower back, pushing him deeper into the position and forcing his tongue deeper. Fuck he could do this for hours. The source of the slick was so much better than licking it off his fingers. His other hand reached under the bard to his cock and began to play with it again. Massaging over his balls and then stroking down the shaft like he was milking it. 

His motions were slow and light, remembering how sensitive the bard had been their first time. They had both stripped out of their small clothes now and were completely naked as were the other witchers. Jaskier had taken some convincing but Geralt had coaxed and praised him for every piece he let drop. 

Being softly kissed along his neck while Geralt had been buried deep inside him was an experience he would love a repeat of. But later, right now he was being slowly coaxed to another orgasm as Geralt ate him out. 

“Hng~ guh- Geralt!” His body jerked as Geralt went faster, there was a whistle from somewhere behind them but Jaskier didn’t care, he was too focused on his mate’s tongue. Until he realised he was no longer holding onto him. His heart rate had began to spike, how long had his hands been off him. When had the witcher pulled away? Where… where was his alpha.? 

He couldn’t feel Geralt on him at all. He was leaving. His tongue and hands were gone, Jaskier whimpered harsh and hurt.

Didn’t like nest? 

Doesn’t like omega? 

Where is mate? 

He whimpered and reached back, tring to find his mate but feeling nothing. He squirmed away, dropping his hips and then turning to latch back on to his alpha. Geralt had sat up and away, leaning over the wall of the nest for something. Jaskier gasped and surged forward, griping Geralt’s arm in a loose hold as if that would convince him to stay. 

“Jask? Jask what's wrong?” 

“Hold- alpha… hold. Don’t leave- please…alpha I’ve been good. Ger- a-alpha I’ve-” In an instant Geralt scooped him up into his arms. Jaskier grasped onto the other’s shirt immediately, holding him close and hard. He shoved his face into Geralt’s neck and tried to breathe. 

“Shh shh my pretty mate. I’m here. Not going anywhere. Shouldn’t have let go. Want to be held? Want to mark and claim, little mate?” Jaskier whimpered, he could feel the urge to coo and call back but he was shaking now, startled at the thought that his alpha might just leave him like that, open and vulnerable. He curled in on himself further, huffing Geralt’s scent like he wouldn’t ever get to once the other man pulled away. 

“...were you- what were you doing?...” Jaskier ventures after he’s had a moment to catch his breath. 

“Wanted to feed you again, you need water little lark. Need you to be strong.” Jaskier hummed, sniffling and cuddling closer. Now resenting his need for water as it had taken away his mate. 

“Claim… let me claim you alpha… p-please.” His voice is smaller this time, barely above a whisper. 

“Stay w-with me… be m-mine?” Jaskier is pretty out of it now, his primal taking over and asking for a sure fire way to force Geralt to stay with him. He still feels shaky. He misses the way Grealt’s eyes flash with want and need to have Jaskier’s fangs in his neck, his throat, his everything. Fuck he wants this. 

“Yes- omega claim me. Do you want to… want to fill me Jask~? I-I want you to feel good-” Geralt admits, nuzzling into the bard and curling further around him. The other witchers can’t even really see him anymore, hiding inside his mate’s arms. 

“N-No j-just hold me alp-Geralt. I just let me have you. I-I’m sorry. I didn’t k-know where you were.” Geralt purrs against his bard, hoping the sound will sooth him. He licks at the back of Jaskier’s ear and grips him tighter. He wants the other to know that there is no getting out of this that they are stuck together and that he gladly accepts the omega’s claim to him. 

“Yes omega, claim me~ please Jask- want it.” Geralt begs, almost whining as Jaskier leans into his neck and lets his fangs drop. He whimpers as they drag over Geralt’s skin, wanting them to sink down but he can’t force himself to bite. He worries about hurting his mate with the fangs, he’s never bitten anyone before. Always told good omegas keep their fangs to themselves. 

He hesitates and his fangs retract, the bard slumps his head against the other man and whines at his inability. What must Geralt think of this. 

“I want- Need to claim you alpha. Want you to be mine. Don’t want to hurt you- h-help me. Help me please.” Geralt hums and kisses his hair before putting his palm at the back of Jaskier’s skull and letting the bard open his mouth again. 

Jaskier whimpers the whole time but forces his fangs to drop, letting them rest at Geralt’s skin again. Then with a firm push Geralt forced his top fangs to sink into the skin. From there it’s instinct, his jaw clamps shut and it completes the marking. Geralt moans and shudders at the feeling. His once flaccid cock now starting to fill again. 

“Fuck Jask~ good omega caliming me. Yours, your mate. Mh-” He grunts when Jaskier pulls off, leaning down to apologetically lick a the wound just as Geralt had done. He feels slightly better but whines at the taste of blood in his mouth. 

“Didn’t hurt, made your mate so happy little bard. Thank you.” Jaskier whimpers and continues licking. He feels bad but less bad than he did a minute ago. Geralt just holds him and lets him sooth until he feels the kitten licks tapper off. 

“I was reaching for water for you. Here, drink.” Geralt picks up the water skin that he had dropped to his side and moves it to Jaskier’s mouth. As he drinks Geralt praises him. 

“You took my knot so well omega. Did you feel safe, being under me like that?” Jaskier breaks away for a moment to nod. 

“I- well- i-I’ve seen you fight. I’ve… always felt safe with you.” Geralt purrs in approval and coaxes Jaskier to drink more. He can’t help but preen at the words. His alpha going even crazier now that his rut has set in. All he wants to do is knot his mate down and keep him safe until they both come up after their cycle. 

He guesses that Jaskier wouldn’t mind too much as he had been so reluctant to get out of that position. Something about being caged in on all sides, pressure and his front and back surrounded by the scent of pack and mate. Knowing that there is nothing in the world that can hurt him like that… he wants it again. He wants it to be a staple in their relationship. But he also wants to be the one on top of Geralt, especially when they aren’t knotted together. 

When sitting in Geralt’s lap it makes him feel like he’s keeping the other there, not letting him run away at the first chance they get. His hand tightens on his mate and Geralt takes the water away. 

“Are you up for eating again.” Jaskier nods and coos, he feels a little better now than he did, his scent reflecting the new wash of safety now that he has his hands back on his mate. Even working up the courage to ask for what he wants. 

“C-can I be knotted again … after.” Geralt growls as his own scent of arousal swells. He licks into Jaskier’s mouth, running his tongue over the other’s fangs and lapping at the blood taste of his blood there. He wants Jaskier to taste himself off Geralt’s lips. Wants his mate to know how sweet he is. How fertile and nice he smells. His fingers dip down to Jaskier’s hole and push into the slick and spit damp entrance. He can feel how warm and wet Jaskier is for it. 

He knows that it is taking a lot for the bard to trust him like this and he is appreciating every second of it. 

“Of course love, I’ll go slow and keep you knotted down for the rest of the day. Won’t have to eat again until night ok?” Jaskier moans as he is fingerfucked with the excess cum of his alpha. He wants that. To fall asleep knotted and wake back up knowing his mate is still inside him. 

“Mh~ Yes Geralt. I- I think that would be nice.” 

They sat there in soft words and praising promises. Geralt reminded him after each bite that he wouldn’t leave him. Cooed to him about plans for the spring and how much the pack wanted him. Told stories about when he had come home from winter missing the bard and had shuttered himself away from the pack after the mountain. 

His alpha wanting the bard to know how closely aligned their pain was, how not along they were. That they would get through this together. Jaskier cooed back and told similar stories, whimpering at the idea of Geralt alone and away from him. 

The little bard’s hands never left his mate even as Geralt put back the fruit cores they had been working on and the bits of bread that Jaskier hadn’t managed to finish. He took turns feeding himself and the bard. Between bites rewarding his mate with soft strokes over the back of his neck or slow kisses to his chest and stomach. Geralt made sure to worship every part of his mate, just as his alpha demanded. 

How omega should be treated 

Deserves to be treated 

No other will hurt mate now 

Protect mate 

Worship mate

Perfect mate 

“I wish it had been you those two years, I- I didn’t want to be alone. I just… I couldn’t imagine anyone but you. You know I was so angry during my first heat after the mountain.” Geralt hummed and continued his licking at Jaskier’s abs. The taste of sweat and cum sticking to his tongue. 

“I couldn’t… I was in pre-heat a-and I wasn’t getting wet for the beta I asked to help me. H-he got angry and I could only think that if you hadn’t sent me away I would be fine. I-I’ve never gotten all that wet during heat… I- It’s not even your fault-... and -And I blamed you… Alpha. I- I’m sorry I…” Jaskier began to shudder with unshed tears. Geralt made his way slowly back to Jaskier’s neck, taking his time with the tongue bath. Jaskier babbled apologies to him, guilt at his own feelings welling under the other’s touch. 

“I didn-t e-even want it. I- He was… But I- I blamed you.” Geralt kissed up his neck, taking the bard’s mouth again. Jaskier tried to break away to mutter more broken apologies but Geralt held him firm. 

“N-No you don’t- alpha…” Geralt whined at the placating tone. He hated when the other would use his second gender as a way to play to his ego. He had never been proud of his gender, witches were taught to ignore all urges no matter the gender. Even now giving in to his primal’s wants had taken years on the road with the only person he would ever want to let go with. 

“My bard…” Jaskier’s jaw clicked shut. His hands clutching repeatedly at the other, getting ahold of whatever he could find. Geralt hadn’t taken his shirt off just to give Jaskier a place to hold on to. He knew it made the other feel safer, more in control so he hadn’t even considered removing it. 

“You don’t want me Geralt- I- I’m not good. I can’t please you-” Geralt licked up his neck back to his mouth and kissed him again. If his words weren’t enough then his actions would speak for him. Jaskier was sitting in his lap, his legs wrapped around Geralt’s waist. Both of their cocks had been hard for a while now but Geralt hadn’t yet smelled the level of arousal he wanted from the bard to continue with anything more intimate than that. 

His mate needed him to be there in more ways than just a slick dumb slut and although he would happily provide that too, he knew that it wasn’t the time. 

“Geralt…” Jaskier whimpered, tears starting to gather in his eyes at the show of repeated devotion. Geralt simply kissed him again. Like it was the easiest thing in the world. 

“I’ll tell you again and again, lark.” Geralt lets the growl of anger rise in his throat much to Jaskier’s continued whimpering. 

“No one, talks about my bard like that. No one.” His grip tightens on Jaskier and the bard leans into the growl. 

“My mate is perfect , and beautiful and damn funny when he fucking wants to be.” Geralt continues to growl and Jaskier leans in to start licking at Geralt’s lips. Asking for the other to stop talking and kiss him already. Geralt keeps talking. 

“I have waited years to mate with you lark. I will not lose you again… I can't .” Geralt admits as Jaskier pulls back to look at him. His face is somber and Jaskier matches the expression. It has been a long road to be here. 

“I don’t want to lose you either.” Jaskier feels the tears before he feels them. His lip wobbles and he chirps as a self soothing action. Geralt pulls him into a harsh hug that Jaskier immediately reciprocates. 

Each of them feeling across the other’s backs and kissing at any skin they can get contact in. 

“You’re m-mine now Geralt… please don’t leave.” Jaskier whispers the second half into Grealt’s neck, tears slipping down both of their skin like a free flowing river. Geralt holds tighter. 

“Never again.” His voice is firm and promising. Jaskier begins to purr at that. Not the stuttering kind that he had been forcing out, the relaxed steady hum of vibration that came naturally when he let it. Geralt’s heart swelled with pride for his mate at the show of progress. How resilient was his mate to be overcoming such things as he had. Geralt nuzzles back into Jaskier’s hair, letting the bard cry and purr in his arms. 

“I’m taking you with me Jask, remember. In spring, back on the road. You will never leave my side again. I won’t let you.” Geralt whines, his words sounding more like a plea than a demand. 

“Good.” Jaskier’s nails dig into Geralt’s back as he shakes, Geralt sits and soothes him the whole time. Just grateful to be allowed this close to the vulnerable bard. He feels his primal growl and howl that he needs to protect the other, to keep him safe while he is naked and crying. 

Their erections have gone down by now, sitting and crying will do that to you, but the hazy scent of arousal that fills the room hasn’t left. It feeds their heightened states and makes Geralt more protective as Jaskier cries. He wants his mate to feel better but he knows that there is nothing immediately more he can do for the other. It's frustrating as much as it is satisfying his desire to comfort. 

“Thank you, alpha. For choosing me.” Geralt laughs at this, a low chuckle that makes Jaskier’s heart flutter. 

“If I remember correctly, it was you who chose me.” Geralt responds, leaning away to look at his mate. Jaskier’s eyes are red with tears and his cheeks glisten. His lips are swollen from biting and sucking and the saliva from Geralt’s through tongue bath still clings to his stomach and chest. 

He’s beautiful. 

“Hm… I did I- I wanted you, kn-knew you would destroy me witcher.” Geralt growls and Jaskier leans in to kiss him. 

Its slow and soft, his lips gracing against each other, small licks to already spit slicked lips. Geralt’s hand slips away from Jaskier’s back to his neck then his cheek, his thumb brushing over the others mating mark on the way. Jaskier is way ahead of him. His palm resting over the fresh bite on Geralt’s shoulder, pushing at it to coax out those low groans from his witcher. 

The other side of the room is filled with Lambert's whimpers as the others slowly take him apart for the second time that day. Sandwiching him between them as he mews with satisfaction. Egging them on to fuck into him harder. Neither of the mated pair are interested in watching as Aiden finally slides in next to where Eskel is keeping him open. Lambert moans loud and heady, panting with his mouth open at the stretch and pleasure overwhelms him. 

The second day was harder, where Jaskier had been fairly lucid during the first it slowly devolved over night. Geralt’s rut usually had the effect of making him mostly silent, speaking less than he usually did but when he woke to his bard frantically rocking against his side all he wanted to do was coo and praise his mate for using him to pleasure himself. The others that he had spent his heat with had never had this effect. His pack usually accepts his silent actions as demands and works around it effortlessly. 

It was why he wasn’t usually the first choice for the omegas of the keep to share their cycles with. But now, his bard, his mate. His real mate. The one whose blood and slick still stained his shirt, needed him. Needed him more than ever before and he stepped into that role like he was meant to play it. 

He was. 

He was made for this. 

His mate, His first real love. 

The only one who had stayed for him. 

Not Yennefer and her hunger for the thrill of power. 

Not Renfri and her quest for vengeance. 

The lark that had followed and doted on him for years and years even when he didn’t deserve it. 

“A-alpha, Need it. I need- I… Please~” The bard whimpered against him, pleading for any kind of release as the cramps and aches became too much for him to bear. Geralt leaned down closer, taking the other in his arms to help him grind. The bard’s cock was leaking against his thigh and Geralt couldn’t imagine his leg hair was helping. He placed his palm his cock to provide a softer surface. Jaskeir moaned and rutted harder against it. 

“Yo-you’re touch Alpha. F-feels good. Please… need your knot. W-want you again. Hurts… Hurts again… y-you said. You said I - I wouldn’t have to hurt.” Jaskier whimpered, hands clutched in Geralt’s shirt as he pleaded with the alpha. 

“ Omega tell me what you need. I’ll take the pain from you.” Geralt promised, his primal growling in his head to take the other raw until he was sated and filled with their pups. He wanted to see his bard healthy and filled out, strong and bright again. 

“Y-your knot again, Geralt. I fuck it hurts. I need you again.” Geralt nearly moaned at the words from his omega. He could feel his own cock swelling against his thigh, had been since he had woken up. Now he could feel it start to ache with the need to bury it inside his mate. 

“Jask~ you’re too tense. Gonna get you off once then we can open you up.” Jaskier whined but nodded as Geralt wrapped his hand around the other’s cock. He had been sore from rutting in their pants yesterday but after a good night's rest Geralt’s rough hands just felt good rather than grating. 

“Mh~ f-fuck.” Jaskier groaned, the smell of his sweet slick filling the air as his cock weeped onto Geralt’s thigh. 

“Alpha please… S-so empty.” Geralt growled, his omega deserved to be filled, deserved to be sated on whatever he asked for at all times. He knew of things that wood and steal makers made for this purpose. Maybe he would get Jaskier one, if the bard wanted. 

“Here- here. My fingers first. You’re not wet enough yet Jask. Let me…” He reached around to Jaskier’s hole and slipped his fingers over it. Still leaking slick but not enough for him to knot the bard. He pulled one of the oils that Vesemir had left for them and poured it onto his fingers and then over Jaskier’s hole. 

“Sorry- sorry. I mh- It’s hard… feels like my body It’s confusing.” Geralt stopped at that, he needed to do the thinking so Jaskier could just focus on getting better. On getting through his first proper heat without worry or fear or pain. 

The bard moaned and then thrust into Geralt’s hand with renewed vigor. Geralt let his two longer fingers slip inside and the bard clench around them. 

“Th-thank you alpha. Feels uh~ feels good.” 

“The knot will help lark. Help with the pain, but we need to stretch you first. Your body isn't used to this. You’re so brave Jask.” Geralt felt his own knot start to swell with the scent of arousal and the sight of his flushed bard laid out and pleading for him. 

“Ok- ok. I- hurry alpha, please…” He felt one of Jaskier’s hands drop to his now aching cock, gripping it around the knot and squeezing gently. Geralt groaned, his eyes fluttering shut as he scissored the other open. He remembers the feeling of Jaskier clenching around him as he rolled his hips, milking his cock of all its worthless cum. He wanted to feel it again. 

Jaskier’s hand slipped off the knot, higher up the shaft and Geralt moaned as he continued to add another finger. Jaskier’s back was arching and his hand began to release the pressure as Geralt coaxed him further toward his orgasm. The bard’s cock twitched and he clenched every time Geralt pressed at that spot he knew would make Jaskier feel good. 

“Fu-ck. Your hand- Going to fuck you a-after this is over~” Jaskier whined as he fucked himself back onto Geralt’s fingers. The stretch wasn’t bad, after spending nearly all of the previous afternoon stuck on his mate's knot, he still felt the ache for more. For that same fullness to lessen the pain in his womb. 

Then falling back into the heady heat haze, Geralt could feel the fever on Jaskier’s skin, the slick starting to leak out on his fingers. He moaned as Jaskier gripped his cock again, stroking him lazily. 

“Jask- Omega. Fuck. need to. You’re so wet now, need to-” Geralt whimpered as the pressure on his cock became not enough. He quickly pulled Jaskier into his lap and began ravishing his neck. Licking over the mate mark in order to satisfy his primal while rutting up against Jaskier’s cock. At this rate he would cum just from this, his knot locking into nothing and leaving his mate unsatisfied. 

“Inside- now. Alpha please it h-hurts.” Geralt was barely aware of his mate lifting up his hips and aligning Geralt’s cock toward his now nearly gushing hole. 

“Want to be full. Hurts alpha. 

“Take it Jask- fuck~ mh- so warm, perfect omega.” His rut addled brain taking over as he pulled Jaskier onto his cock  with more force than he had meant to. The other whined at the harsh treatment, wrapping his arms around Geralt’s neck to deal with the stretch. 

Geralt immediately whimpered, guilt at his actions tainting the heat haze. Jaskier huddled over him, driving the witchers face into his chest as they both stilled for a moment. The bard aching for the fullness but whining at the soreness. Geralt licked at his chest to sooth him. 

“Sorry Jask, I didn’t-” 

“Slow, slower alpha… please slower.” His tone was high and pleading as if he wasn’t sure he would actually get what he was asking for. Geralt whined again at the placating use of his title. 

“Yes, slower. Softer for my omega. Sorry.” Geralt murmured, only wishing to please the one above him. 

After another minute of simply sitting in place, letting the fullness of Geralt’s half popped knot keep his ache away Jaskier began to lift his hips before slipping back over the knot. He whined, his legs trembling with the effort. He still felt weakened from the week he spent starving. Geralt’s arms wrapped around his center, holding him down for a moment. Jaskier tried to work against the other, wanting to give his mate the pleasure but Geralt didn’t let him move. 

“Hold, just still mate. Please omega.” Geralt pleaded, trying desperately to get his primal back under control. He could feel every pulsing movement of his mate and it drove him mad. The pressure against his slowly swelling knot was only increasing and he felt himself start to go dumb with pleasure. 

“Ok.. Ok…” Jaskier breathed out and let himself still for a moment. He felt his tongue loll out, he could tell Geralt was close, the way his fingers dug into the bard’s back, the way his knot was already half there, Jaskier felt his rim flutter as he tried to lift up again. This time Geralt letting him rock back and fourth on the knot. 

“Mh~ omega… please. Going to- fu~uck.” Jaskier couldn’t help himself, the ache to be fucked and filled was starting to cloud over him. They were both deep in it. Their primals taking over their minds as Geralt helped him lift up finally. 

The swell of Geralt’s knot popped out of him and then further as Jaskier lifted so that only the reddened tip of the other’s cock was still inside. Geralt moaned wantonly, the tone ending in a soft growl as Jaskier sunk back down. The pace was slow. After the rough start Geralt wanted to make sure there was no more soreness. 

Their desperation cost them speed but neither enjoyed it any less. 

“Ah~ Geralt…” 

“So warm for me omega, per- mh~ perfect mate. …so perfect…” Geralt pressed the words into his skin as if he could brand his mate with the praise. Jaskier, above him, kissed the top of his head. In this position Geralt could hear the soft, content purr of his mate slipping up an down over him. 

He let his hand drop from clutching at Jaskier’s back to feel where his mate’s hole stretched over his cock. He could feel the puffy rim stretch to accommodate him. Hear the rumble of moans as he hit the right spot over and over again. Jaskier was gone to it and so was he. 

The heat, the warmth, the embrace. 

Geralt licked over Jaskier’s nipple as it caught his eye. In response he got a wonderful shutter as Jaskier begged him not to stop. With one hand the witcher helped him lift up and down, the other played with his used rim. His mouth was occupied with flicking and nipping at the bard’s nipple. 

Mh~ alpha… d-don’t stop. Please…” His voice was slurred with lust as his fangs dropped. 

“Good omega, f-feels better?” Geralt pulled off with a pop to ask. Jaskier nearly shoved his chest back to Geralt as he missed the feeling. His own cock straining against the witcher's thoroughly soaked shirt. 

“Y-yes. Feels better… so fuckk~ s-so full alpha. Thank you.” Geralt groaned, he was satisfying his omega. Helping him and taking his pain from him. His omega that was feed and watered by him, safe in his arms in the nest that his omega had made. 

His primal was absolutely going feral at this. 

Our nest 

Happy mate 

Full mate 

Ready for our pups 

Wants our pups 

Geralt began to rock his hips as he slowly fucked the bard. It was nice. A slow drag toward their orgasms as they were both tired and sore. Geralt relished the fact that his mate would rest well tonight. He wanted to taste himself mixed with the other slick again. Wanted to sleep with his knot stuffing his mate full. Wanted to never move from where they were know. 

“Mh~ Alpha~ you-r k-knot.” Geralt let the bard sink over his knot and then pop back off it. Jaskier moaned and curled around Geralt’s head as the pleasure made his hips jerk forward. That only helped to add to it as the tip of Geralt’s cock nailed his prostrate. Then slipping back down over the knot he felt the bard clench, trying to pull more of Geralt’s cock into him. 

“Slower Jask- Let me… ng- enjoy you.” Everytime his knot slipped past the other’s rim it would force the rest of his cock deeper into his bard. He wanted to take his time, using his hand around the rest of his knot to prevent Jaskier from sucking it in deeper. 

Now he could slowly lower his mate over the peak of his swelling cock and and slowly push it inside him. Jaskier mewled when he first did it, feeling Geralt’s hands on his rim to make sure he didn’t take too much at once. Too much friction would irritate him now and the slow pummeling was enough to soothe the ache inside him. 

“F-ck. Feels good alpha. T-touch me… please~” Geralt’s hand moved to the bard’s cock, wrapping around the base of it and slowly stroking up to the head. Jaskier bowed over at that, struggling to get either away from or more of the stimulation. He whimpered at the overstimulation but Geralt distracts him with slight kisses and soothing licks to the other’s chest. 

“Good omega, taking me so well. So full. Stuffed good and proper.” Jaskier moans at that, bucking his hips into the feeling of his mate. They both moan as it works to stimulate both of them. 

“D-doesn’t hurt… ngh~ a-any more.” Geralt swells with pride as he works over Jaskier's cock faster, still a slow drag but more than the next to nothing be was giving before. That paired with the bard’s struggle to lift off his knot has them both hurtling toward their climax. 

“Good. good…. Fu~uck. S-so warm omega. Smells so good, you’re c-close. Can feel it. Yo-your tighten~ ngh~!” Jaskier slips back down over his knot, clutching at Geralt’s back harder as he slowly builds to his orgasm. He can feel every twitch and spurt of hot pre-cum inside him. He feels so open splayed for his witcher and ready to be taken completely. 

Both men’s heads are foggy with their rut and heat lusts, the desperation that comes with the need to breed quelled by their desperation to be good for each other. To prove their worth as a mate. Jaskier lifts up his hips again and nearly squirts as he drops down again. Each time it sends him right to the edge and with Geralt’s hand on his cock he’s practically drooling for it. 

“G-geralt- Alpha . Cum. Cum inside me.” Geralt feels the command rip through him as his resolve shatters. Jaskier’s cock twitches in his hand a small spurt of cum splatters on his chest. He feels his balls tighten and his knot finally pop as his body reacts to his mate’s command whether he wants it to or not. His growls and mewls as his orgasm rushes though him, sending him deep into the throws of pleasure. 

His primal praised him for breeding the other. For widening the pack with pups of his own. Jaskier would look so pretty full and healthy, round with pups, lazing the day away as he only had to worry about nesting and protecting their pack. 

He feels the flood of warm cum surrounding his cock, looking up to see Jaskier tremble in the aftershocks of his orgasm. Jolting with each pump of fresh cum that’s forced into his womb. Geralt may be sterile but that hasn’t stopped him from trying, working hard to fill his mate with everything he wants, take his pain and give all his mate has taken. 

He groans as his cock twitches again, cumming itself dry inside his mate. He rocks into the other, making sure they are locked together for the rest of the day. He slowly maneuvered them so Jaskier was back under him. He crowed his omega against the far wall of their nest as Jaskier was too out of it in post-orgasm haze to do anything but whimper and grind on his alpha’s knot. Geralt was out of it too, only focused on keeping his mate and their supposed pups safe from the outside world. 

Their rut and heat took over as their primals sought each other for safety and comfort. 

“Good omega, taking my knot and pups.” Geralt cooed, licking up Jaskier’s neck and holding him close as he listened to the other purr and whimper. Geralt helped him grind, taking the bard’s spent cock in hand with last orgasm still lingering on his fingers and stroking him back to hardness. 

Jaskier was still desperate to relieve the tension and the ache. Geralt instinctively knew what he needed, not hesitating to rock into the other at the right angle to give him pleasure. The simpering omega whined again as his cock gave another valiant squirt, a less intense orgasm as Geralt helped him through it, milking the last of the thick liquid from him. 

“T-thank you alpha. Mh~ m-more please.” Geralt licked him and pressed down at their mating mark to help Jaskier through it. He continued stroking the bard through his orgasm. 

“Uh~... uh… ~ mh…” The slow movements brought out a sting of drooling moans as the overstimulation of it all helped distract his bard from the ache. He felt sated and full but still desperate to cum. Geralt knew exactly how he felt, knowing he had been the same during some of his earlier ruts. It really was like he was just presenting. Hormones are so intense and hard to ignore. Libido off the charts as Jaskier was left unable to do anything but beg for more. 

“Good omega, keep going. Gonna feel good soon lark.” Jaskier mewled in the face of the praise. Loving the attention as his cock strained again and again. Geralt pressed down on his mating mark again and Jaskier came with a yelping moan. His hole tightening and his whole body jerking as his cock let out nothing. 

Geralt growled at the display, utterly fascinated by the omega’s body, wanting to see that wonderful face and flushed desperation of his mate over and over again. It wasn’t enough that he was the cause of it, he wanted to keep his mate here, at this moment. Enjoying the slow and unhurried pleasure he was giving. Wanted to show him that this is what heat is supposed to be like. That this is how a real alpha treats their mate. 

He growls and mewls and purrs in response to Jaskier finally slumping against his chest. Panting and moaning as he rocked out the aftershocks well into overstimulation, utterly exhausted after everything.

 Jaskier was silent, his eyes dropping heavily as he embraced the witcher. Geralt was happy to let his mate drift off to a quiet rest on his knot. He squeezed the last drops of cum out of his bard, letting them drip down onto his stomach. He feels marked, no doubt reeking of his omega’s cum. He preens at the thought of other alphas getting one whiff of him and knowing how he had pleased his mate. How his mate had marked him like this. 

He whines and breathes deeply into Jaskier’s neck. They smell like them. Like them together, mated together and stuck together. He loves it, his cock giving another twitch and spurt at the thought. He leans them against the wall of the nest, making sure that Jaskier is in a comfortable position to lay his head down now that they are knotted. 

The rest of their cycles pass in much the same way. The next day is similar with Jaskier desperate to cum as many times as possible and Geralt easily keeping up with him. The fourth is slower, mostly spent sleepily fucking and eating while knotted. They spend most nights with Geralt knotting Jaskier down and holding him against the far wall of the nest, trapping the young bard on all sides. Multiple times Jaskier begs for that position, feeling completely safe only when Geralt is on top of him like that. 

Yennefer stops by a couple of times, marking the bard and Geralt as she drops them more food or refills their water, sometimes he’ll leave newly scented furs or blankets which Jaskier is grateful for. Vesemir doesn’t return but Geralt assures the bard that the healer is not far and should something go wrong he will interfere. 

The other witchers initiate a cuddle pile on the last day, sweat and cum are halfheartedly cleaned off as they groom each other back into a semi-presentable state. Geralt has lost his shirt by this time, it is now worn by the bard. Geralt’s primal howls at the sight of it. Its taken off for Geralt to clean off Jaskier’s chest and back but he doesn’t argue when the bard slips the dirty thing back on over him. His hands wrap around Geralt’s arm in place of holding the shirt and Geralt lets him hold him. 

By the end of the sixth day everyone is mostly resting, cuddling in the nests they have built or somewhere close by. Geralt wraps himself around his mate and Jaskier clings back. They are covered in harsh hickies and love bites, none of which stand out more than their matching mate marks. Yennefer comes in one last time with a change of clothes for the two. There had been other witches in earlier in the days but Jaskier had always cowered away from any stranger. Now, more lucid he is content to let Geralt glare at anyone Jaskier doesn't know and bask in the possessive hold of his lover.

An unfamiliar omega brings clothing for the other three witches and they both leave. Yennefer with a complaint about being no one’s maid. Jaskier hums a happy appreciation for her help and she gives him a fond smile. 

“Once we get dressed, i’ll take you to my den Jask. How are you feeling?” Jaskier yawns and stretches in the other’s hold. 

“Better. It doesn’t ache anymore but I feel sore.” He grumbles, Geralt agrees, his own muscles aching from the non-stop movement for six days. He had known this was coming and had tried to help massage Jaskier a few times but the bard had gotten fed up with the non cuddling and told him to stop. They had days to recover it wasn’t a terribly big deal. 

“Thats good, you’ll feel sore for a few days but all we have to do is rest now. You did amazing Jask. I’m really proud of you.” Jaskier blushes and looks away, Geralt just takes him in his arms and holds him there. Getting dressed can wait a little bit longer…

When the conversation of names, dates and places comes up Jaskier and Geralt are back in Geralt’s room not long after Vesemier’s all clear on the medical front. 

It seems that it will take a while for Jaskier’s cycle to return to normal but now that it’s set for the winter he will be allowed to make full use of the witcher heat rooms or Geralt’s den while he’s here. Jaskier nearly cries when he says it. He’s never had a real den, temporary places, always moving forward but never a place to stay. 

He wants that, wants this to be the place he returns to with these people, this pack and to be vulnerable here with his mate. He hears Geralt purr when he accepts. The witcher’s face remaining stoic when his whole chest is vibrating makes the bard giggle. 

“His name was Valdo Marks… the first person I asked to help me with my heat.” Jaskier confesses after Geralt helps him into now their bed. 

Geralt simply sits down next to him, taking Jaskier’s leg into his lap and begins to push at the tight knots in his muscle. 

“He was a beta, with alpha traits. Liked when I called him ‘alpha’” Jaskier sighed as the memory came back up, spiting the tittle like it was less than dirt. Geralt grimaced as he remembered how Jaskier had used the name as a placating method, in hopes that it would get him what he wanted. In hopes that it would make him want to help the bard. It made his stomach turn just as much now as it did then. 

“...That man… on the boat.” Geralt connects, he remembers seeing Jaskier tense when he had first seen him. The horrible awkward interaction afterward. He had seen the man walk up to Jaskier and sit down like he was owed a conversation. 

“... Yes…” Jaskier answered like it pained him and Geralt silently held his tongue. His anger could be saved for when he had a sword to the man’s throat for touching his bard. 

“I… I didn’t want my first time to be during heat. I didn’t even know I could feel good during heat. After my father…” He trails off, his eyes glazing over with something unknowable. Geralt simply works over his calf up to his thigh and then down again. He can feel his resolve slipping the more the bard talks. He knew it would be hard but he didn’t think it would be this hard. Maybe it’s still the coming down from his first rut with his mate. He can’t bring himself too try to hard to quell the rage. He knows as soon as they find this bard his primal will leap to the forefront and take revenge on Jaskier’s behalf. 

“We were in university together in Oxenfurt, he… he insisted that it would help with the pain. That he knew what he was doing… so I let him. Anything to make the pain stop right?” He lets out a self-depricating laugh and Geralt winces at the sound but keeps listening. 

“H-he got angry with me. I wasn’t wet enough… that's what he said. I didn’t even know I could do that during heat, it hadn’t happened since I presented.” Geralt couldn’t help the growl that sat low in his throat. Who the fuck did this beta think he was. Doesn’t he know anything about how to take care of an omega in heat. What the fuck did his parents teach him!

“He took my… purity. If thats what you want to call it and left me to deal with the pain. As you might expect it didn’t help with anything. It was in the worst pain I felt during that time and I was bleeding… he… didn’t want to use oils. Said I would start producing slick if he just kept going…. Fuck it hurt so bad.” Jaskier’s voice drops to a whisper, as if ashamed that he was even part of the story. Geralt can scent the guilt and shame on him and he pulls Jaskier’s other leg into his lap, letting his hands rub over the bard’s shins in a motion more soothing than massaging. He had been so close to his bard again. Geralt had unknowingly left him with this man. He wishes he could go back now, watch the blood drain from his face as Geralt shows him what a real alpha looks like when someone hurts their mate. 

Geralt had been so close to this bastard and had no idea. He feels his fist start to tighten and lifts it off of his mate so as not to hurt him. If Jaskier notices he doesn’t say anything which Geralt is grateful for. Jaskier had never been scared of him, not genuinely, even after all of the ways he they he had hurt him. He’s very grateful for that. 

“After that I spent time on my own mostly, met you and snuck off to have my heats alone… I didn’t want you to think me any… lesser for them and I don’t think you minded the time to yourself.” Geralt winces and Jaskier is quick to correct himself. 

“I know you wouldn’t think that big guy but I mean… You weren’t exactly fourth coming about your cycles. It just wasn’t something we talked about.” 

“I missed you every time you were away from me… and lied to myself that I didn’t” Geralt sighs, admitting it finally, like a weight that he had been holding for years. 

It was. 

“I caught your pre-heat scent once, your suppressants had failed and you were just leaving for your heat week and I caught just the smallest amount…” Jaskier stilled looking at him, waiting for what he was going to say next. 

“I wanted nothing more than to take you away then, to hide you somewhere safe for your heat and help you through it. I had to stop moving because I couldn’t bring myself to step away.” Jaskier placed his hand over Geralts and maneuvered so he was sitting in the witcher’s lap again. Instinctively Geralt leaned into his mate’s neck and breathed in. 

“You have me.” Jaskier whispered, rubbing his neck against Geralt’s. They both purr louder at that, their scents mixing once again. 

“I should have.” Geralt growls, thinking back on it. Wishing he could have had this so much sooner. Maybe it would have prevented what happened on the mountain. The frustration of not being able to have his primal’s claimed mate would be gone. He would have run to Jaskier with an expectation of comfort rather than a lashing tongue. 

“No Geralt. I wouldn’t have let you. I was so scared then back then. I… I would have seen you as just another alpha looking for a warm hole. I’m glad we’ve worked out like this. Better late than not at all.” Jaskier admits. Geralt knows he’s right but he still wishes that they could have been like this sooner. 

“Tell me about the others.” The witcher accepts the bards words and pushes for more details. Jaskier leans harder into him, seeking comfort and begins again. 

“I don’t remember all of them. Some… Some didn’t tell me their names, thinking I was just another whore on the streets. But I’m sure we’ll see plenty of alphas and betas, looking to live out a power fantasy that deserve your wrath when we get to lettenhove.” Geralt growls at the thought of someone looking at his bard like that. 

He’s of course aware of Jaskier’s hedonistic tendencies and he hasn’t cared, he’s had his own taste of the ‘pleasures of the flesh’ as Jaskier puts it. But he also now knows how Jaskier has felt for most of his heats and is thinking about forcing himself on his mate like that. While he’s fevered and heat sick. Scared and half dropped in his pain. It makes him nauseous. He can’t understand the alphas that would do that. Where their instincts have gone wrong. 

“We’ll find them Jask, any of them that don’t deserve their knot. I’ll keep you safe while we take care of your father.” Geralt promises, letting his bard scent him over and over again. He feels the dizzying delight of his mate’s scent as they fall back into the plush bed. No nest but the furs still covered in the scent of them close by. 

The rest of the winter is spent in a haze of cuddling and scenting as their bond strengthens and heals. Jaskier meets the rest of the witches with a huffing Geralt over his shoulder, glaring at anyone who would dare to make comments. It is unneeded as Jaskier demands an important presence, one that holds each of the witcher’s attention on its own. 

Geralt can’t help but preen and show off his mating mark throughout the dinners. He wants everyone to know that this strong omega chose him as his mate. He tries to be subtle about it but he does catch Lambert and Aiden giggling at him once. Jaskier has his own on display the whole night and doesn’t take any shit from anyone about it. 

If he’s finally allowed to be proud of himself and his designation then he’s going to be. The heart of a bard doesn’t stop here. Jaskier fucks his witcher than night. Claiming him from the inside out just as Geralt had done to him. Geralt moans and pleads for it, praising him for his claim and mewling into it as Jaskier forces him to knot in nothing but the air. Geralt loves the way his cock bobs uselessly. Cum dribbling from it as his omega uses him in this way too. 

They get back on the road early that winter, leaving Ciri behind at the keep to train through the seasons under Vesemir. As much as Geralt is loath to leave their pup behind he understands why it must be done. By the end Ciri has warmed up to Jaskier considerably. 

Geralt catches them sharing stories about him once and his primal howls the rest of the week. Reminding him of how his mate is the perfect parent for his pup and preening at how his pup has accepted his mate. He scents both of them extra hard that week. Watching as they start to do the same to each other. When he then brings Jaskier back to their den and can smell his pup on him. Can smell his pack and mate and pup. It overwhelmed him with joy. He doesn’t let Jaskier get up that morning, sniffing and licking over the bard as he lets his primal indulge. 

Jaskier whines and whimpers the whole time, licking back and kissing the taste of his sweat and scent of his mate’s tongue. 

On the road it’s nice, just the two of them together. It’s similar to when they used to travel together but at the same time entirely different. The small smiles and knowing looks are there but so are the soft kisses and subtle scent marking. Long days end in banter and tongue baths and murrmered promises. Its not perfect but its theirs and that makes it close. 

They get looks in most towns and Jaskier finds himself on the end of less propositions. As infuriating as it is to think that people only stop because they think there is the threat of an alpha around, he is also grateful as he doesn’t have to turn down as many people as he thought he might. 

He may be a hedonist and a bastard but never a cheater. Besides now that he has the witcher no one else compares. He looks at the other people trying to get his attention and only sees not Geralt. Where they differ and what they are missing. How little they compare to his mate, how could he ever settle now that he's had that. He expresses this much to Geralt after a long night of performing. Geralt takes him against the door that night, telling him how he belongs to the bard, that he's the only one Jaskier can have. How much he wants the others in the bar to hear who it is the bard calls for when he cums. 

Jaskier enjoys every moment of it, especially the blushing looks he gets the next morning from the few who had thought they had a chance with him. Geralt says nothing but still loves the looks they get, his possessive nature coming to the forefront of his mind. He wraps a hand around Jaskier's waist and makes sure the heavy brusing on his neck is visable for most of the day. 

The closer they get to Lettenhove the quieter Jaskier seems to get, Geralt understands why but he can’t seem to keep the angry growls out of his throat. He knows that this is what Jaskier wants, that this will help him find closure but he can’t help the urge to scoop his mate up and take him back to the safety of the keep. Back to their pup and nest and heat scented furs. 

He doesn’t of course. But he does hold the bard longer and harder when they rest. Scenting him more thoroughly as soon as he finishes washing. Jaskier does the same back. They both find comfort in their shared scent and getting closer to the place that has caused such distress... it helps tramendously. 

There are more leering looks in the towns they visit now. Geralt smells the fear of both his and other omegas more often and he hates it. His hand twitches to reach for his sword, or knife. Any weapon as he watches a sleazy looking beta pass them on the street. 

It's the same in the city of Lettenhove. He sees nearly no omegas on the street. If he does, they are with another person, never alone. He momentarily thinks this is good, until he thinks about the reason behind it. How can anyone, alpha, beta, or omega stand to live like this. He wants to bitch any alpha he sees stare to look at any beta or omega with the scent of lust. He just about keeps himself in control though the day. 

The night is different. He and Jaskier keep moving, not willing to stop in this horrid town. Jaskier has been sticking to his side like glue since they entered, his voice his quiet and his suppressants are always on hand. Geralt had made sure to stock up at the bard’s request. As much as he misses the bard's perfect scent he wont compormise his comfort. 

They find an alpha pestering an omega on the street, tugging at her clothes and sniping at her neck as he presses her against the wall. Geralt wastes no time and neither does Jaskier. He smells his mate flare with anger even through the suppressants and smiles. 

strong mate 

fighter 

perfect for us 

In an instant they have him on the ground with Geralt’s sword, steel for men, just about touching the other alpha’s clothed dick. Jaskier is helping the woman recover, calming and scenting her as only another omega can. They both share in this constant fear and he understands her pain. Geralt can take care of the dirty work so his mate can thrive where he has always, with the people. 

“Go on softknot, struggle. See how you like no knot.” Geralt growls a clear threat as he pushes the blade a little closer. His sneer strikes a harsh fury into the other. The alpha, unwisely, tries to get up and Geralt runs through his crotch without a second thought. The resounding scream is pleasing to him as he leaves the man pinned by his now useless cock to the ground for a moment. 

“Now run.” He rips it down, further mutilating the other and tearing through his cotton clothing. The man scrambles to his feet, his hands hovering over the quickly blood soaking spot in his pants. He gives one last glance to the three before he runs. 

Jaskier insists on getting the woman safely to her home and Geralt doesn’t argue. She's wary of him and he makes sure that Jaskier is always between the two of them. Jaskier coos to her and talks about whatever while they walk to take her mind off it. She looks much better by the time they arrive and thanks them both. 

She never looks Geralt in the eye, not once does she even glance. It unnerves him to no end and he is eternally grateful for the honor of being able to look his mate in the eyes. He isn’t sure what he would do without the image of those cornflower blue irises dancing in his every fantasy. 

They arrive to the manor in the morning, The guards at the front are both alphas and sneer as they see the pair approaching. 

“You here to sell your whore to the count?” One of them goes, sizing up the bard as a piece of meat. Geralt feels his fist clench as the man addresses him. Jaskier puts a hand on Geralt’s shoulder and that clams him enough not to do anything drastic. 

“Tell your count his son is here to make amends.” Jaskier states calmly, almost in a sing-song voice. The two guards look disgusted that he’s even talking to them and confused at his words. 

“Go on, tell him the Viscount Julian has returned home.” Jaskier grins furiously as he sees their faces pale in recognition. Geralt hums his approval at the reaction, seeing Jaskier bow dramatically at the mention of his old name. 

One of them quickly scurries off and before they know it the two stand in the grand receiving room of the manor. It's a strange seating area with a nice large fireplace and ornate sitting chairs around it. It’s certainly decorated like a manor, lavish tapestries and a woven rug. Soft curtains and large portraits between curtained windows. Candelabras and a chandelier hang from the ceiling. Geralt can’t, for the life of him, imagine Jaskier living here at any stage of life. 

There are two guards at the door behind him and nothing else. Neither regard the two with anything other than passive interest. Jaskier quickly makes himself comfortable, Geralt remains standing. 

The man who steps through the door is undeniably Jaskier’s father. Short, almost shaved brown hair and the same blue eyes. It's striking how similar their facial structures are, down to the way his face morphs into a familiar grimace as the man’s eyes fall upon Jaskier strewn out over his lovely seat. 

It's a familiar expression that he has seen on Jaskier a million times. 

“ Omega .” Geralt immediately bristles at the use of a title. He knew it was going to be bad but the word barely sounds decent in the older man’s mouth. Like its an insult. Like how he is called ‘witcher’ as a way to say he is less than human. 

“ Bitch .” Jaskier responds and Geralt is satisfied with the tenseness in the man’s shoulders as his mate doesn’t even look at him. 

“Look at me when I'm talking to you, you worthless piece of shit.” Geralt’s stomach lurches with something uncomfortable with the way this man speaks. He speaks like he owns the bard. Like he’s not a real person. Like a possession to be ordered around. But that's not it, he already knew that's what Jaskier's father thought... 

He speaks like he is talking to a child. Like he thinks of omegas as unruly children. It makes his mind swirl with the realization of exactly what kind of man Jaskier’s father is. He remembers how the men at the gate spoke of him taking omegas, the same omegas he thinks of as children, into his bed. He soon starts to wonder exactly how young some of those omegas might have been. 

“Count.” Geralt doesn’t let his growl loose. He doesn’t give them away just yet. 

“I suppose he’s yours now then? He tell you that if you mated him then you’d be heir?” His voiced turns to something non-chalant when he addresses Geralt. 

“Should have known you’d have a witcher break you in, after all the fucking work I did on keeping you pure.” Before Geralt can get a word out the man has turned back to his son and spits more filth. 

“He’s tight though isn’t he?” Geralt feels himself move before he can stop it. He’s got the guy up against the wall by his neck, his sword in his other hand ready to cut through his throat in an instant. He can smell the nausea of his mate, the fury and the shame. It only fuels his own rage. 

The guards across the room are at a readied stance, clearly not used to anyone challenging their count. Geralt pays them no mind, Jaskier has him covered if they try to do anything. 

“How the fuck can you say that about your own son.” Geralt growls, his voice coming out as barely even human at this point. When the man tries to speak he closes his hand over his windpipe just a little bit more. A warning that whatever he is going to say will just get him killed faster. 

“He’s always been a disgusting pig Geralt. He’s fucked dogs before you know, and sheep. I’ve caught him once.” Jaskier provides. Geralt doesn’t know if that’s true. He doesn’t care, he believes it. 

Geralt spits in the man’s face, taking pleasure in the panicked expression as he tries to shake his head. 

“Think he likes it when they bleed, certainly did when I was.” Geralt feels another flare of rage cut through him. Had this worm put his filthy hands on Jaskier? On his own son? The man who had convinced his mate that heats were supposed to be painful. He squeezed harder, his sword pressing to the man’s gut where a small bead of blood stained the cloth. 

“He what.” Geralt can’t help but growl. 

“N-no gh- err” It’s hard to talk with a witcher hand around your throat as Jaskier’s father is just now finding out. 

“Put him down witcher.” The braver of the two guards speaks, Jaskier looks at him with an incredulous glare and he falters under the man’s gaze. Before anyone can say anything else Jaskier gets up, dusts himself off with a disgusted look on his face and walks over to where Geralt has the man held up against the wall. 

“I’ve never seen an alpha get bitched before but I’m sure you won't be the last. Omega.” Jaskier taunts him, using the man’s own words against him. He sees the man’s face go red with anger immediately. It's truly fascinating how someone who thinks they have so much power gets so huffy over simple words. 

“Oh don’t get your panties in a twist father, I’m sure once you’ve had a nice knot to sit on you’ll be ok. Geralt’s an alpha, just let him make the decisions so your brain can focus on more important things. I’m sure you’re thinking about having pups right about now.” Geralt feels there is context to that statement and he’s not sure he wants to ask. The count gets even more red in the face if possible and Geralt doesn’t break his hold. 

He wants the man to feel powerless, to feel helpless and at the mercy of someone stronger than him. He wants the lesson he beat into Jaskier that those who are bigger get to have the last laugh to be flipped on him in a cruel and terrifying way, just as it had been used to hurt his bard. 

Of course he knows that Jaskier doesn’t think about omega’s like that. Its honestly an absurd string of words the bard has put together. To honestly think that of another human being is insane, it truly shows how much of a circle-jerk Lettenhove is.

“What do you want to do with him?” Geralt asks, thoroughly enjoying the fear that crosses the other alpha’s face. He can smell the stink of piss and terror from here and wrinkles his nose. This thing in front of him is barely even a man let alone human. He can’t find it in himself to feel bad or even guilty. 

“Aw Geralt he’s like a dog. Got too excited while thinking about being pupped.” Jaskier sing songs and Geralt hums as he digs his nails into the sides of his throat again, just enough to be a threat. It’s his job to kill monsters and he sees only one right now. 

“The only thing he's good for at this point is letting some stud breed ‘im.” Jaskier waves dismissively,

"Cut his knot out, y’know. Take the whole thing but leave him alive. You two, you wouldn’t tell the whole village how your count fucks dogs would you? How he’s a cockless bitch who can only get off when he’s cunt deep in some animal?” Geralt is uneased by the prospect of leaving him alive, fucking disgusted by the man in-front of him. Not only for what he has done to Jaskier but for everything he represents. 

The two guards look at each other and Jaskiser takes his cue. 

“Make sure he says alive darling, maybe use that witcher fire of yours to cauterize it. When you’re done. I’ll wait for you out here. Come one boys, we’ve got a story to tell.” Jaskier leads the unsure guards out into the hall, leaving Geralt with the squirming count. 

Geralt is very glad he took the bard with him. He couldn’t have said all that the bard did, his sword could never have that same effect and he sometimes envies it. But not now. Now he has a task to complete. One to set his mate’s mind at ease and one that is a net positive for the continent as a whole. 

Jaskier is waiting for him when he exits, a large grin on his face. Geralt has blood on his sword and boots and a satisfied smirk. Jaskier pulls him into a deep kiss as soon as he sees him and Geralt can’t complain. He was going to do the same. 

“I’m so proud of you Jask. I know it was hard but he won’t be bothering you anymore.” He can feel the bard shaking slightly as he comes down form the adrenaline. It was clearly a performance in there but now, out here, in the arms of his mate, he lets the mask drop. 

All the harsh words will come back to him once they are truly alone but Geralt is prepared for this. They will stay a night in a in just outside of town and Geralt will pamper his mate with oils and soaps and massages and as many orgasms as he can manage. He can’t wait to feed the bard once again, a habit he’s been missing since the keep. 

“I was so scared for you dear, fuck I’m glad it’s over. W-we should- Oh Geralt you should have seen his face. It’s all true by the way. I did actually catch him doing that to a sheep.” Jaskier makes a face of absolute disgust at the prospect. He likes to think he’s generally open to sexual prospects but there are some lines he won’t cross. 

“I told the staff about it, that will get out in no time, Geralt. By this time next year he will be the laughing stock of the town.” Jaskier is shaking harder now and Geralt leans into him to rub their necks against each other. He’s still locked into the performance. Doesn’t feel safe enough to come down completely. Geralt understands and doesn’t push it. 

“...Geralt? Let's leave this place.” Jaskier finally speaks after a moment of embrace. 

“Yes love. There is nothing for you here anymore.” Jaskier lets himself be led out of the manor and away from town. Lettenhove is said goodbye to one more time. He’s not been here since he was sixteen and now, in his late thirties, he will never have to return. He kisses his mate extra hard for that. 

“Thank you Geralt.” 

“Of course Jask.”