Victor Erickson is a coin; on his face, a man in recovery; on the other side, unbelievable hunger. Every iteration of him sits on a throne overruling hell, except one.His sole salvation, the one version of him that’s worth anything at all, is the one that met Ariadne Emerson.Victor opens his eyes, light streaming into the room, bright and painful. It’s morning, one in a long, monotonous series of mornings.He smells coffee wafting in, followed by the sound of soft humming.The Alpha pulls himself out of bed, the cool air giving him goosebumps. He trudges down the hall of the little apartment they’ve rented just for the view of the skyline.Ariadne’s singing to herself as she makes breakfast, in a better mood than last week, when they had to say goodbye to their children when Nathan literally had to tear Ashley out of the Omega’s arms.Ariadne greets him with a kiss and a plate of bacon and eggs. “Take that to the table, baby.”“You’re in a good mood,” Victor notes, carrying the food
Harry pinches his nostrils closed, one hand on the steering wheel as they blast down the highway. "This is reckless. You need to go home."Victor folds his arms, ignoring the boiling in his stomach. "I'm fine for the rest of the day."Harry scoffs. "You're ripe. You smell like the inside of a gym sock—"Why would the older even know what that smells like, to begin with? Victor doesn't say."-- Go Home. Be with Ariadne."Victor doesn't respond. Yes, he really should go be with her right now. And yet—"Let's just find this kid," Victor barks. "What do you have?""It wasn't that hard," Harry says after a long pause spent in quiet contemplation. "We put up a missing person's flier, and the person immediately responded, thinking it was a prank."Victor's face darkens. "So you already have him." No wonder Harry didn't want him tagging along. "What were you planning, you old fool?"Harry laughs mirthlessly. "The night that we went after Gordon when you got shot, what do you remember any of i
Victor's hands are trembling as he sits in his ice bath, dress shirt sheer across his chest. He's trying to read the directions on the back of the extra-strength suppressants that he'd gotten at a dime store. It's been so long since he's taken them that he's not sure if it's two pills every twelve hours or one every eight. His hands won't stay still long enough for him to read it anyway. "F*ck," Victor growls, letting the small package drop to the floor. He's burning, every inch of his skin itchy and inflamed. He's glad Ariadne's asleep, curled in bed without a care in the world, so the Alpha can adequately deal with this before the other wakes up— "What are you doing?" Ariadne's standing in the doorway, rubbing her eyes. How much time has passed? There are stray cubes still melting on the tiles. "Just taking a bath," Victor answers through chattering teeth. "With your clothes still on?" Ariadne takes a groggy step forward, and that's when the smell hits her. The Omega's knee
Victor reminds himself that he's in a meeting, even though all he can think about is how he left Ariadne slumbering just before the sun had risen. The Omega had looked so perfect that he could hardly pull himself away. But the throne waits for no man, and Victor's already taken off three days for his heat, three days filled with magic, fevered dreams, and silk sheets. But it's time to come back to reality. And in this reality, there's a very pressing threat. "No news is good news," Edward hums, running a hand through his silvery locks. His eyes are unreadable. Victor agrees, and yet somehow, he's uneasy. Gordon is not one who would let sleeping dogs lie. Even now, blind and helpless, he's dangerous. He's unpredictable, and most importantly, he doesn't give up. "I guess." Cigar smoke wafts up from the casino below, carrying with it heavy notes of cherry and desperation. The dark wolf stares down for a moment in dispassion. The patrons suffer heart-wrenching losses and saccharine
The windows break overhead, showering the people in shards of jagged glass. Victor ducks under his arm as rain cuts through the sleeves of his suit. He does his best to protect Waylon with his body since the Beta refuses to move.Little metal shells litter the floor, belching out huge plumes of purple, knock-out smoke. It's suffocating, and Victor's hit with a surge of adrenaline. His body wants him to survive, trying to cancel out the effects of the sleeping gas for as long as it can."You can't do this," Victor shouts, covering his mouth with his arm. "We haven't done anything wrong."An officer with a gas mask on points a gun in his face. "Victor Erickson? We're here to apprehend you. You're charged with fifteen counts of homicide, eight counts of grand larceny—"Victor tries his best to fight the man off, but it's useless as the chemicals bond with his receptors. He can barely keep his eyes open as his arms are wrenched behind his back. "You have the right to remain silent; anythi
Ariadne hates the ocean with a passion, the turning of the waves makes her stomach boil. And she’s cold, clutching her jacket and squinting at the horizon, basted in cream oranges and pale yellows.There’s only one safe place for an Alpha on the run, the volcanic island where Black Wolves are made. Ariadne didn’t think she’d ever be coming back here. But such is life, one step forward, two steps back.But what if Victor’s not there?Ariadne pushes the thought away from her head. He has to be there, and if he isn’t, the Omega will comb the entire world looking for him. Not even death could separate them.A person is waiting on the beach, legs folded under him as the waves come dangerously close to washing over him. Ariadne’s heart races, eyes following the horizon and spying on a helicopter on the sand.Ariadne does her best to dock the boat, tears streaming out of her face as she roughly bumps against the pier. The Omega rushes out, and before she can take on a step on land, a body co
They leave the helicopter on the beach, already half-buried by the sea. Ariadne knows they’re 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 she’s thinking about is not throwing up. It’s not a calm night, storm clouds pouring on them, lightning lighting up the sky.“Are we there yet?”Victor pulls her close, pressing the Omega’s chest to his head. “Almost, baby.”Ariadne takes in deep, calming breaths, Victor’s 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.“Why do you look so happy?” Victor asks.The Silver Omega presses a finger to his lips. “Is a secret.”Ariadne sighs, turning ever so slightly so she can have a better view of the other. “How can you smi
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 his—Someone 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
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. “Y-You go ahead, Ariadne.” 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
“Are we there yet?” Ariadne asks despite herself.She doesn’t even know where they are, which is saying something. They’d promised to put Victor into one of their best hospitals, but there’s nothing that remotely resembles a hospital.There’s no town, barely a road to drive through. It’s miles of trees on both sides and a dirt road that looks like it might give way at any moment.“Fifteen minutes,” the Commissioner answers, hand steady on the wheel. “Take it easy, dear. We’re almost there.”Easy for him to say. Everyone he loves is alive and well. His son is literally getting a medal.Ariadne’s not sure about Victor. The alive part has been confirmed, yes. But, she doesn’t know who she’ll be seeing in a quarter hour’s 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. She’d 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.“How dramatic,” 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 doesn’t know how long she’s been asleep for, an ache in her ancient bones, shedding tears over a dream she can’t remember. It’s light out, just barely dawn or dusk, Ariadne’s not sure. Blue casts over them, lines on the wall, setting divisions that aren’t truly there. Victor’s asleep, eyelids fluttering, every breath he takes is a strain, followed by a whistle. It hurts Ariadne to her core. He’s not recovering, that time has long since past. He needs medical attention. F*ck the costs. So what if he’s Victor Erickson, legendary mythos surrounding him, a ruthless and terrible criminal. He’s also a father and the love of Ariadne’s life. Doesn’t he deserve to live too? Hasn’t 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. “A-Ariadne?” A voice cuts into the night. “Baby?” Ariadne replies, cupping Victor’s face. It’s 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 his—Someone 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 they’re 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 she’s thinking about is not throwing up. It’s not a calm night, storm clouds pouring on them, lightning lighting up the sky.“Are we there yet?”Victor pulls her close, pressing the Omega’s chest to his head. “Almost, baby.”Ariadne takes in deep, calming breaths, Victor’s 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.“Why do you look so happy?” Victor asks.The Silver Omega presses a finger to his lips. “Is a secret.”Ariadne sighs, turning ever so slightly so she can have a better view of the other. “How can you smi