Ariadne wakes up in a cold sweat, breathing heavily. It's dark, moonlight streaming in through the tall, streaky windows.For a moment, she forgets. But then she remembers all that she's lost.The Omega hasn't seen her children for three months. That night Ashley had sent the adults packing, that was the last time she'd seen her son's face, and when he'd decided to keep Kelly and Amias, that's when Anna became her enemy, for whatever misfortune that may come.A figure appears at the door, bright red eyes scanning her over in the dark. "I heard screaming? Are you alright?"For everyone who's left, there's one person that's stayed, not at all who Ariadne expected. Victor watches her for a moment longer, arm braced on the door frame. "Omega?""I'm fine," Ariadne spits. "Just get out."Victor hovers, silvery strands catching errant moonbeams, skin aglow with a mysterious and secret beauty. "And what if I don't want to?"It's been like this for the last week, ever since Victor invited her
The Omega pushes the cell back into her pocket. When she looks up, Victor's watching her intently. "What? You look like you want to say something."Victor sighs, finishing his drinking at setting it down. "I'll have someone bring my car home. Let's just go, yeah? The sooner we find your kids, the better. Then you can finally be rid of me."Ariadne wants to shout, though she doesn't know what her point of argument is. "Alright, I'll drive."The two pay their tab and head out together. The drive to the mountains is quiet, and Victor listens to the soft jazz playing on the stereo without complaint."This is really good," Victor sighs, pushing his seat all the way back. "You got good taste, Omega."Ariadne smiles dryly. "It's a mixtape. You made it for me.""Oh," Victor hums, eyes sliding shut. "Damn, I have good taste then.""Occasionally," Ariadne notes, enjoying the soft blue scenery, pine trees, and the mountains in the distance.They drive peacefully for the next hour until the signs
Ariadne's heart feels like it's about to quit, beating rapidly in her chest. She crawls forward, pressing her face into Victor's stomach. "Oh god, no, please no, baby."The Omega cries over his body, hugging him, feeling the burn of losing a mate. She now understands what that is, how a wolf could stop eating and living.Ariadne knows she can't move from this body; she'll die on this mountain beside Victorโ"Are they gone?" the barest of whispers.Ariadne holds back her sobs, pressing a hand to her mouth, thinking that she's going insane. Did Victor just speak?"A-Are they gone, Omega?" Victor whispers again."Yes," Ariadne manages unsteadily.Victor groans, pulling himself up. "Ah f*ck, that hurt.""W-Why aren't you dead?" Ariadne whispers, wiping her eyes. The sun's going down below the horizon. All becomes dark.Victor smiles, "Look at you. I knew you were pretending. I told you that you wanted me. Now you're crying so hard over me."Ariadne's so confused. "But he shot you."Victor
She pushes Victor back a pace, trying to close the door, but Victorโs hand shoots out, holding the thing open. The Alphaโs eyes are desperate, drinking in the sight of Ariadneโs bare skin.โYouโre beautiful. It just feels like youโre flaunting it in front of me, what I canโt have, and you expect me to be satisfied.โโIโm not a conquest,โ Ariadne says, heat crawling up her face, turning her ears red. โIโm sure youโve seen plenty of naked Omegas with way fewer scars. Now, if you could goโโโYou mean this?โ Victor hums, hand shooting down, fingers tracing an old battle scar on Ariadneโs stomach. โWhat happened?โโI got bit while saving your life,โ Ariadne whispers, electricity shooting up her spine. โHarry did that.โVictorโs eyebrow shoots up. โReally? You guys seemed all chummy the last time I saw him.โAriadne bites her lip, sighing, giving up, setting in the water so that she can at least hide some of her nakedness. โHeโs changed. We didnโt kill him because we wanted him to change, m
Ariadneโs curled up in the seat beside him, starboard, arms folded, fast asleep. The Omegaโs restless, shifting back and forth, trying to find a little bit of comfort in her bearings.Victor watches her for a moment before gazing back out at the waters, adjusting the wheel. Then he sighs, shrugging off his jacket, embracing the chilly morning air.He covers Ariadne with it, nice and tight, and the Omegaโs frown lines fade immediately, falling back into a peaceful slumber.Theyโre headed for the island, where the clue had sent them, old philosopher words to many but a personal meaning to Victor. Though the question remains, how did Ashley know?โGive me a firm spot to stand, and I shall move the earth.โAriadne smiles softly, still asleep. She pulls Victorโs jacket more snuggly around her body, inhaling and then exhaling, โAlphaโฆ.โThe hairs on the back of Victorโs neck and forearms go rigid, and a shiver runs down the column of his spine. A pang of heat twists in his gut, followed by
Ariadneโs so close, mint and vanilla scent so tantalizing. The Omega runs her hand up and down the otherโs arm, fingertips dancing over the skin. Victorโs so comfortable, Ariadneโs soft blond locks ticking his face. He could stay like this forever. โI-I thought you said we should focus on finding the kids,โ Victor manages. Ariadne nods. โYouโre right. But weโre here, and all our family is here too. We have nothing to do until tomorrow.โ This reminds Victor. โThis is not a journey for the weak. Itโs a six-hour hike to the summit. Itโs gonna get cold, freezing cold, before it turns warm, and then so hot you want to rip your skin off.โ โYour point?โ Ariadne asks, pressing a kiss to his jawline. The Omega is so much like this place. Cold one second and hot the next, leaving Victor following after her in confusion, wanting something thatโs being baited just in front of his face. โYou donโt have to go,โ Victor says, staring at the woman, so beautiful it hurts to look at her. โYou can
The hike up the mountain is more strenuous than Victor remembers. Maybe itโs because the last time he was here, heโd done it alone, at the bloom of his age. But now, heโs old, and his bones ache from old battle scars that he doesnโt even recall.Ariadneโs miserable, wrapped up in a thick blue parka, with only her eyes exposed to the elements. Sheโs not as graceful on her feet now, the snow making it hard for her to move. The Omega waddles through, nearly tripping four times.โWhy did I come?โ the Omega laments. โThis sucks.โVictor smiles despite himself, standing right behind Ariadne in case the Omega falls again, needing a brace. โItโll get warm soon. The heat from the top of the volcano will cancel out the winter.โAn hour later, they hit the midpoint in their travels, shedding their jackets as they go. But a new problem presents itself. The melt has created a thick layer of mud on the slope, which is so easy to fall into.Annaโs leading the charge, amazingly lithe, and Nathan is a
Theyโre all gathered by the hearth, fire crackling softly. Ariadne reads the letter aloud for the fourth time while the rest of them try to glean the clues, though the Omega feels itโs a fruitless exercise. It reads as straightforward as they come, nothing subject to interpretation.โListen carefully, father, or youโre all going to die. The time to strike is soon. Gordon thinks youโre both dead. His overconfidence will be his undoing. I know youโre wondering why I didnโt take the shot when Iโd won the game. But we were on his territory, his assassins ready to take us all out if Iโd gone through with it. At least thatโs what I tell myself. Be ready; the Wolf Moon is coming. Gordon intends to invite all the remaining Pack Alphaโs in the city to join us at the Auction House. This is where you must make your resurrection, take his life and claim the black throne. Itโs the only way.โThen thereโs the post note from Kelly, which Ariadne reads in a different voice, so accustomed to reading h
Then the adults are alone, an awkwardness washing over them, carrying with it their history. It goes all quiet, and all that's left is the sound of soldiers marching in the distance, carrying about their morning routines. "I-" Ariadne and Nathan say at the same time before pausing. The Alpha's cheeks go red, and his apple scent spikes high, taking on a sour note. He's nervous, rubbing the back of his head sheepishly. โY-You go ahead, Ariadne.โ Ariadne doesn't even know what to say. It's been approximately one eternity since they've seen each other. "Thanks for taking care of- You brought them here, my babies." "Yea, no- it's cool," Nathan manages. "And thanks for- for not dying. I mean, I'm glad you're alive." Anna slaps Nathan on the shoulder. "What he's trying to say is, it's good to see you." Ariadne laughs, and then she cries. Then she launches herself forward and gives the pair a great big hug. She squeezes them tight, one in each arm. "F*ck," Ariadne says. "I thought I'd
โAre we there yet?โ Ariadne asks despite herself.She doesnโt even know where they are, which is saying something. Theyโd promised to put Victor into one of their best hospitals, but thereโs nothing that remotely resembles a hospital.Thereโs no town, barely a road to drive through. Itโs miles of trees on both sides and a dirt road that looks like it might give way at any moment.โFifteen minutes,โ the Commissioner answers, hand steady on the wheel. โTake it easy, dear. Weโre almost there.โEasy for him to say. Everyone he loves is alive and well. His son is literally getting a medal.Ariadneโs not sure about Victor. The alive part has been confirmed, yes. But, she doesnโt know who sheโll be seeing in a quarter hourโs time.Is it going to be Victor Erickson, father, and husband, or will it be the Black Wolf, Victor regressed to some other bizarre time frame? She has no idea.No. Ariadne takes a deep breath. Sheโd talked to Victor on the phone for a few minutes before he had to go. He
It's perfect timing. They're at the control panel that opens up to solitary confinement. Gordon's just through there, safe and tucked away.Felix uses his thumbprint to unlock the door. It's a pressure chamber. The thing hisses as the metal lid unseals from the wall.It's all lead up to this. They step inside and-It's empty."Where-"Gordon's not in the cell. Though it does look like he's been there, the space was modified to be more comfortable. Stolen seats from the guards' lounge, a big screen t.v that's leaning haphazardly against the wall, it's nice.But why isn't he here?He's supposed to be here.It's then that the screen turns on, and a very familiar face appears. It's a man wearing milk glass eyes, smiling wide. Ariadne's confusion turns into fury."I knew you would come, Ariadne. You're a mouse caught in a trap," Gordon speaks. "You want to kill me? You can't even find me. And now you never will."Trap? What trap?The metal door starts moving. It's shutting, pushed in by a
Felix is dressed from head to toe in swat gear. His face is blank, an assault rifle shoved under his armpit. He's hunched over in the locker room, eyes wide. He's not doing anything, long since dressed, shoelaces neatly tied. But he doesn't move. He hasn't moved for five minutes."You okay, kid?" Ariadne asks, tightening the velcro on her Kevlar vest, the fabric stiff under her fingers."I don't know," Felix hums, half a ghost. "My whole world has turned upside down in the last twelve hours."Ariadne has half a mind to slap the Alpha in the face. They have a mission, and if Felix dies, the Commissioner isn't going to be pleased.The older takes a seat on the opposite bench, resting her elbows on her knees. The situation is much too urgent for her to play the dad in a feel-good t.v. Show, as hard as she tries to.โHow dramatic,โ Ariadne hums."Monday morning," Felix says quietly. "I thought I understood everything. There was order, good guys, bad guys, policemen, and criminals. Now eve
Ariadne doesnโt know how long sheโs been asleep for, an ache in her ancient bones, shedding tears over a dream she canโt remember. Itโs light out, just barely dawn or dusk, Ariadneโs not sure. Blue casts over them, lines on the wall, setting divisions that arenโt truly there. Victorโs asleep, eyelids fluttering, every breath he takes is a strain, followed by a whistle. It hurts Ariadne to her core. Heโs not recovering, that time has long since past. He needs medical attention. F*ck the costs. So what if heโs Victor Erickson, legendary mythos surrounding him, a ruthless and terrible criminal. Heโs also a father and the love of Ariadneโs life. Doesnโt he deserve to live too? Hasnโt his life been about doing more good than harm? And one thing can be said for sure, when Victor was on the throne, there was order. โA-Ariadne?โ A voice cuts into the night. โBaby?โ Ariadne replies, cupping Victorโs face. Itโs not Victor though, still asleep, eyes closed in eternal slumber. He forgets
Ariadne sees in shades of red, her wolf blood pulsing hot through her veins. It's hard to focus through the screams and the stampede of people trying to get through the two exits.The smell of fear in the air it's intoxicating and inviting. Ariadne wants to bite, sink her teeth into something, tear through it, and drink the red.Her enemy is in front of her, a great dark, eyeless specter. Gordon seems more like a shadow than a wolf, smoke rising off him, still hot from his transformation. His eyelids are sealed shut, and pink scar lines cut into his flesh.He raises his nose and tastes the air. It doesn't matter that he's blind; Ariadne knows. The man can still see them. He knows exactly where they are.Victor growls from the back of his throat, flashing rows of razor-sharp teeth, drool dribbling down his chin. His eyes are like glowing coals. Ariadne's not sure how much of her mate is in there and how much is the terrible beast he keeps prisoner.The three of them are giants. People
Fuck, this guy is really smart. Victor's glad that Felix isn't higher on the food chain. Sh*t could actually get done. "What do you mean?" Victor asks noncommittally. "You said it yourself that he was, just this morning." Felix flushes, rubbing the back of his head. "Ah, no judgment, but... I was only saying that to impress Sansa. I didn't know you guys were dating. We don't get a lot of Omega security officers here. They're usually reserved for Omega prisons." A pang of worry twists in Victor's stomach. He hopes Ariadne is alright. "Oh," Victor replies, "No, it's alright." Felix smiles, patting him on the shoulder. "So, what do you think about my theory?" "Your theory?" Victor repeats. "That's not Victor Erickson," Felix says again. "If I had to guess, that's Victor's First Beta. He's taking the hit for him." Bingo. "Come on," Victor clicks his teeth. "That's crazy." Felix's eyes widen. "I think I'd know if I was looking at the Black Wolf! I told you, I did my whole dissert
Victor watches himself in the mirror, his skin crawling. His appearance it's out of an alternate universe. He's wearing the cop clown suit. It's tight at the neck, and there's barely any room for hisโSomeone squeezes his ass, causing him to jump. A soft gasp escapes his lips. It's Ariadne, sneaking behind him, a Cheshire grin on her face."Hey there, sexy," the Omega teases. "Are you gonna arrest me?"Victor's heart drums, cheeks turning pink. Ariadne's alarmingly good-looking in her uniform, blond locks, and pale skin contrasting the dark color of the material.The Alpha turns fully around, taking Ariadne's hands, using his fingers as makeshift handcuffs."I don't think this is the time for roleplaying," Victor chides. "But I promise I'll arrest you later, at least three times."Ariadne laughs, something effortless about the way she stands. It's happier than he's seen the Omega in a long time."I look forward to it," Ariadne answers, pulling him along to the living room so they can
They leave the helicopter on the beach, already half-buried by the sea. Ariadne knows theyโre not coming back for it. The thing will probably be a home for the crabs before turning into rust and getting swallowed by the sea.Under the cover of night, the five of them set sail for the mainland. Ariadne watches with one eye open as the sea rocks them. All sheโs thinking about is not throwing up. Itโs not a calm night, storm clouds pouring on them, lightning lighting up the sky.โAre we there yet?โVictor pulls her close, pressing the Omegaโs chest to his head. โAlmost, baby.โAriadne takes in deep, calming breaths, Victorโs coffee scent filling her lungs. It helps, allowing the Omega to focus on something else besides the churning of the sea. Edward plops down beside them with a smile.โWhy do you look so happy?โ Victor asks.The Silver Omega presses a finger to his lips. โIs a secret.โAriadne sighs, turning ever so slightly so she can have a better view of the other. โHow can you smi