Later that evening, a soft knock on his door made Alex raise his head from the documents he was reading."Come in."He couldn't help but smile when his boyfriend entered his office with a grin on his face."How was your day, beautiful?" he asked Win happily, moving his chair backwards to make room for Win on his lap. His boyfriend knew how much he loved that.Alex sighed content when Win did exactly that and sat on his lap, their faces mere inches apart, Win hands instantly playing with his messy hair. He hummed at that, loving the contact."Fantastic," Win responded. "Emma and I shopped all morning; she bought—I don't know how many dresses—I only got a few shirts and an eye shadow palette I wanted, though.""You know you are free to use my money, right?" Alex asked, gently kissing Win's lips. It was true; he had told Win since the day they became boyfriends, when he knew he could trust him, that his money was always going to be there for everything he needed or wanted. At first, Win
Alex finds his wife-to-be in his workroom... for the lack of a better word. This specific area isn't one of the apartment's permanent features, Alex knows that much. The walls are red bricked at the moment, something that could change depending on the way Win intends to use the space, be it for researching, working, creating and perfecting cream or even experimenting. The room is cluttered; books, rolled-up parchments, candles and wicker baskets are thrown around haphazardly all over the wooden floor. There are a few portraits, taxidermied rodents and clocks hanging over the walls, staring down at the unpredictable occupant with varying degrees of curiosity. Taken by itself, the place looks like the hidden lair of a shifty hedge witch, not a part of the luxuriously appointed apartment of the biggest mafia boss.The said mafia boss is currently sitting behind the massive mahogany desk in the middle, surrounded by even more paraphernalia of his trade. A few multicolored glass beakers
I'm going take Win into new apartment.""Oh.""It's not a problem, right?" Alex asks softly when that is the only sound Mike makes."No. I mean, there's no rule that says the boos has to... Has to live on-site. Is there?" Mike inquires, sounding as if he is hoping there is something along the lines. As if he finds the idea a little unsettling."No, there isn't. I checked," Alex murmurs. He understands why Mike would feel upset about the change. He knows he is going to miss having his brother, sister and all his boy's around him all the time. But Alex has already made up his mind. "Just, um... don't be a stranger.""Can't even if I wanted to Mike," Alex mutters with a straight face before placing a hand on Mike's shoulder, smiling. "You're my brother," he says sincerely, "wherever I go, you're right there next to me.""I'll hold you to it," Mike warns before pulling him into another bone-crushing hug.Alex finds himself miraculously free of work only after a couple of hours since his
"Ready, son?"Sebestian's Will gentle nudge brings him back to the present. There is some sort of music playing in the background. He doesn't recognize the song or the words, but the dulcet melody of it is beautiful, uplifting and beckons him with promises of hope and love. The butterflies in his stomach flutter a little as excitement flows through him. This is really happening. All of a sudden, he wants to run down the short distance to where the Priest is waiting. He wants to get married already.He takes a deep breath and settles himself as best as he can before looking at his father with a smile. "I am." That is apparently the signal the little Omega before them has been waiting for. Maggi shows him exactly how seriously she takes her duties as their flower girl by summoning flower petals out of thin air to sprinkle them all over as she leads the way. Some petals land on the walkway while others gracefully land on the crowd. Some shake loose wings and take flight to gather arou
When Alex turns back, Win is smiling at him, his hand held out, "Will you dance with me, my darling?"Alex usually doesn't like to dance. He despises the feeling of too many gyrating bodies in close proximity and constantly having to dodge stray limbs. He's also not very confident about his dancing skills. He is a soldier born and bred, with a well-developed range of fluid motion and flexibility, and he's pretty sure he can move gracefully to follow a beat. But he has never been inclined to test those theories like his siblings. Well, until now, that is. He cannot possibly decline when his husband looks at him with that particular sparkle in his eyes.He slips his hand into the waiting one and lets himself be led. The music changes the moment they step into the spacious arena. The crowd parts just enough to make space for the newlyweds at the center. A slow song starts playing, and Alex thinks it sounds familiar until he remembers the beautiful melody that's been playing during their
A small voice reminds Win that it's not very nice to leave his own party unannounced. It's irritating because he doesn't think he can wait another second without falling into Alex arms, to get the chance to finally indulge in those deep, secret pleasures they are yet to discover."Don't worry," Alex whispers knowingly and his husky chuckle sends another electrifying spark of excitement through him. "Mike knows. He'll take care of the guests."Win's back hits the wall of their bedroom even before the door has fully close behind them. Alex long fingers wrap around his wrists in a tight grip to hold them above his head. His torso is flushed against Win, and he loves the delicious weight of his Alpha effortlessly pinning him in place.Win's gasp is swallowed by Alex mouth on his own, rough and demanding. Win kisses back with eager passion, chasing the feel of those warm lips, nibbling teeth and insisting tongue. Kissing Alex is heady and exciting and Win always gives himself fully over to
Soon, the bedroom is filled with the sounds of Alex grunts, Win's hitching pants and slaps of their straining, sweaty bodies. The pace the Alpha sets is relentless, finally giving in to his own needs and taking what is being eagerly offered. Win trusts back with equal vigor, his entire body alight with sparks as Alex nails his prostate the best way possible.He lets out a squeak when he's abruptly lifted off the mattress from his sprawl by an arm that snakes between his chest and the bed. When his brain catches up, Win realizes that he's now on his knees, with his back flushed against Alex chest. The new position lets Alex cock slide in even deeper, and he lets his head fall back on the Alpha's shoulder and moans."So perfect..." Alex murmurs against his ear and Win trembles. The Alpha has one arm wrapped securely around his chest and the other hand wrapped around his cock. Win is well and truly trapped and can't do anything but dig his own fingers in on the Alpha's thighs that are br
Brandon's doesn't need the words to understand how torn he feels, stuck between his work and obligations and the need to help his friend. He sends a wave of assurance through his scent, letting Win know that he's prepared to go by himself."I'll try to find out about what's happening," Win offers the assistance he can, "Any information on the ways we can help her get back. Maybe there's something with Will's help.""Okay," Bradnon flashes a bleak smile.Before they could talk further, however, the door behind them groans open, startling them both. When they turn, they are greeted by Brandon's sister, Rain, already dressed in her work uniform, her hands planted firmly on her hips and wearing a frown on her face."What's going on?" She demands the moment she locks her gaze with them."Rain," Win says, patting the wooden floor next to him, "Sit down for a bit, will you?"She closes the door behind them and drops next to him without a word, already having figured out that something was ho
Consciousness arrives gently, letting Win's awareness spread in tiny increments.The first thing he realizes is that he is not stuck inside an ancient magical entrapment anymore. The suffocating presence of the twin is gone. He can breathe easily, and the air is cool and fresh, with hints of herbs and mint.His mind is functional enough to remember that only the smells like this; of old scent and sanctuary... the safe and welcoming parts of it, at least.It's also wonderful to feel that he's lying on a bed instead of kneeling on the hard stone floor. His weary body is much appreciative of its softness and warmth. He is content to lay there for the moment, accepting that even though he still feels drained and exhausted, he is alive. Against all insurmountable odds, he is somehow alive.Alex.Even as the thought slams into him, something flares in his chest, bright and vibrant and vital. It catches all of his attention instantly, this new feeling that seems to have lodged deep inside hi
Win drops his gaze, letting the flickering flames on the seal go blurry in his vision. Despite the almost melting temperatures in the chamber, he feels cold inside, as if his own life force is fading along with his husbands'. The manifestation of the final dying throes is watching above them, hovering like a carrion bird, eager to witness the birth of the new realm - the one that is being born out of the scattered, buried energies of its own recent annihilation.He blinks at the way the flames on the stone floor lick at his knees, feeling detached, almost numb. A tiny part of his scattering mind wonders why he hasn't been set ablaze by the fire surrounding him. He's not completely aware of what he's doing when he slowly gets back to his feet again. Win watches from the center of the floor, his expression a blend of exhaustion, sorrow and relief. He thinks Win is leaving, having finally seen his point, and is relieved.The time slows and stretches. They are both caught in a monumental
"I need to see him." There is nothing else in this goddamn world Win wants to do right now."Win, please–""You said so yourself," Win cuts off Mike softly, feeling strangely calm, as if he's trapped in the eye of his own storm of mounting agony, terror and grief, "He walked inside a trap and shut himself in, he's not walking out. I need to see him... please," his voice breaks at the end."It–it might not be a good idea, Win," Mike tries again to plead with him. "It won't be pleasant to experience the emergence, especially for someone like you with your Omega.""Alex and I and my Alpha and I'm already feeling my skin crawl with what's happening right now," Type mutters, almost to himself. A faint shudder runs down his entire body."I will see him if that is the last thing I do. Do you understand me?" Win asks, simply because that's the truth. He doesn't care if this will end him too. If Alex is the last thing he sees when he leaves the world, he's more than ready to accept it. What he
Win glances around, taking his first-ever look at the base as the door shut behind them.He's surprised by how normal everything looks. Well, the entire area exudes an extremely luxurious and wealthy aura, of course, but it is all very un-welcome-like, in Win's somewhat frazzled opinion. Whatever he's been expecting, this lavishly appointed, massive lounge area that seems to belong in a parlor of some ancient mansion, is definitely not it.Whenever the subject of the hardly-ever-discussed topic of main base came up, Win used to imagine a large, stone structure built in the shape of a complicated maze. It would always be dimly lit with fires blazing in the braziers hanging on the stone walls along the long, twisting corridors. They would be dotted with big, imposing wooden and metal doors at unpredictable intervals, always closed and warded with hissing men, and invisible deathly scent in others. There would be all kinds of gun's, machine's and otherwise, lurking in these endless dark
Win swims back to consciousness with all the strength and aplomb of a man who's been wading aimlessly through an unforgiving bog for hours. Everything around him is quiet. The first cautious lungful of air he breathes in is free of the cloying scents and the static of the sullied scent. It's a small relief after being saturated in it for longer than he cared to find out.His eyes are still closed, and he knows he's lying on his side on the floor. The carpet beneath him is thick enough that the hardwood is not digging into the bones on his shoulders, hips or knees. But it's not nearly as comfortable as lying on the disgustingly luxurious bed in the main room.A faint sensation on the shoulder he's not lying on, the right one, draws his attention. He flinches and opens his eyes the moment his sluggish brain informs him that what feels like a feather brushing over his skin is healing."Hey, hey, take it easy, Win."He knows that voice. His blurry vision finds the owner after a few blink
Alex is on the balcony; clad only in the loose black pants he puts on during his meditation. He has erected a shield around the balcony to stay dry as the rain continues to fall outside. The raindrops hit the transparent forcefield nonstop, only to dissolve into a sparkling display akin to silent, white fireworks, distorting the view of city night into something whimsical in the backdrop.The Alpha is moving slowly, unhurriedly as he always does when he is practicing his control... his powers. His arms and legs move in delicate, graceful twists, turns and swirls as he flows through the familiar routines.He has been at it for a while, Win can tell by the way the sweat runs down the expanse of his tanned back in rivulets. They glisten, caught in the candlelight, drawing attention to the alluring ripples of his well-muscled torso.Win has to wrench his distracted mind back to the present to focus on greeting his husband and apologizing properly."Alex..." the call comes out softly, almo
"Want to tell me what happened?" Win asks as May lights up a cigarette with trembling hands."Jordan went on a food delivery," she says after releasing a long cloud of smoke. "He never made it to the customer. We only found out when we received a very angry call. That lady was not happy.""Where was he going?" Win wants to know. He watches the wolf while May drags more nicotine into her lungs. The beta cocks her head to the side and smirks."Uptown," she replies, shrugging. "Anyway, we tried calling him. No luck. So, I sent Clara and Trent after him. They found him passed out in an alleyway, two blocks from his delivery address. They brought him back.""Did he wake up like this?" The beta's mouth starts to droop, twisting his smirk into something sickly-looking as if he's having a stroke. His eyes are still shining like two black stones, and they stare unblinkingly at May and Win."No, he didn't," May shakes his head, her expression caught between worry and fear for her clan member.
Alex is so angry, his eyes that are boring into Win's with hate are very dark, clouded in swirls of black smoke.That snaps Win out of his frozen stupor."Alex...stop." He pleads softly, with a hint of real fear he can't properly mask in his tone.Something in his expression, or his words, gets through the haze of rage Alex has succumbed to. "Stop what?" He hisses."I–I think it's happening again... that thing," Win manages, unable to tear his eyes away from the darkness that rages around the warlock, "Your eyes, ah, they are changing again."The words hang in the air while they hold each other's gazes, surrounded by scent that feels wild and chaotic, as though it's fighting to wreak havoc and destruction. After what feels like forever Alex closes his eyes. The moment he does, all the scent around them vanishes as well. Win is out of his seat and hovering next to Alex when the Alpha collapses back in his chair with a pained groan. "Ah, goddamn it."Win places a gentle hand on the Alp
Jenny, Alex on and only aunt and the best doctor according to him, is sitting at the edge of their bed, studying Alex still form with a frown. She has just finished scanning him from head to toe, and to her great consternation, she can't seem to pinpoint what is wrong with the Alpha. Win is sitting on the bed on the other side, next to Alex, his limp hand cradled in Win's own. The sleeping Alpha is still pale and drawn, but he doesn't have a nosebleed anymore. Jenny and Win both are waiting, confused and a lot worried, for him to wake up on his own.Alex surfaces gradually as if he's only waking up from a deep sleep, not a sudden loss of consciousness. His face scrunches up as he stretches lazily, and blinks awake to see aunt Jenny hovering close to his face. "Hey, welcome back to the land of the living," Jenny announces loudly when the Alpha flinches in surprise, "Or close enough.""What?""How are you feeling?"Alex appears to be thinking about it for a moment before his brows dra