Chapter 2

“Well,” an Alpha approaches them, “I guess pigs do fly.”

It is Nathan, Pack Alpha of an adjacent district. Victor actually likes the Alpha. Nathan is smart and charming. He walks on landmine fields like a runway model. But most of all, in this world of rejects and degenerates, the man is fair and loyal.

“How’s the trade?” Victor smirks at the Alpha.

“Supply and demand,” Nathan shrugs, “Speaking of which, who is this gorgeous thing?”

“Why don’t you try and find out, fucker,” Even before Victor could open his mouth Ariadne snaps, red wine in hand suddenly looking like a grenade.

Nathan chuckles unaffectedly, “Please.” the Alpha tilts his head back, pulling down his shirt. There’s a mark on his scent gland, one that will never heal over.

“Y-You’re mated,” Ariadne stutters.

Victor can understand the Omega’s surprise. Mated Alphas are rare. They’d have to be absolutely high to let an Omega mark them. All the same, rules apply. Separation is death by starvation

Ariadne asks, “What if she leaves you? You’d die. Where is she?”

Victor laughs.

Nathan does too, “My Omega has my mark. I’m bonded. I just sent her on vacation. She’s probably eating with the president of the nation as we speak.”

My Omega….

Something stirs inside Victor's chest, hearing Nathan show off his precious mate. Anna is the most spoiled Omega in existence. But it won't be that way forever. Not with Aria around.

“That’s fucking crazy,” Ariadne huffs.

Through the Omega’s eyes, he can appreciate how rare a spectacle Nathan really is.

“Shall we?” Nathan sits down at the poker table.

Victor takes a seat as well, with Ariadne on his lap. The Omega is tense. Every time Aria turns her head towards Victor’s scent gland she stops herself. Victor wonders about that for a moment before focusing on the game.

They’re midway through the tournament. Luck is on Victor's side. The Alpha is ready to throw all his chips in when Isaac raises the stakes. But that’s when Ariadne presses her mouth into Victor's ear.

The Alpha's c*ck harden under Ariadne’s a**. It’s schoolboy levels of embarrassing.

“Don’t,” Ariadne hisses.

It turns out that Isaac has a royal flush. He combos out in the first round. How did Ariadne know that?

“You’re full of surprises,” Victor comments. Ariadne flushes as she turns away.

“I swear,” the Omega hisses, “If you don’t stop it with this hardon. I will kill you.”

Ariadne is already killing Victor in so many ways.

Isaac winks and takes his earnings, leaving the table. There is not a moment to lose, and another takes his place. Arlo, made rich from the bodies trade, make poor by one Alpha Victor.

“How’s it go-” Arlo begins, bright hawk eyes full of mirth, when he spots Ariadne, “Well, well, this is a surprise.”

Ariadne’s back goes rigid. She’s suddenly holding onto Victor's arm hard. A terrified whimper leaves her throat before she can cover her mouth.

Victor doesn’t know what’s going on. But the wolf inside is already furious.

“Do you know this man, Aria?” Victor asks.

“P-Please,” Ariadne stutterers. It breaks Victor’s heart, “Don’t let him take me b-back.”

“That Omega is mine,” Arlo cuts her off, “Thank you for returning her to me. She’s a pretty good fuck. I’ll give ya that.”

Victor blames it on the Alpha hormones (again). In an eyeblink, he takes his Glock and points it right at Arlo’s disgustingly handsome face. The Alpha looks like he’s about to shit his pants.

“W-What are you doing?” Arlo gasps.

The image of Ariadne’s bruised and beaten body runs through Victor’s mind. He wants to kill this Alpha right now. His finger is itching to pull the trigger. Even with so many eyes watching him, he barely contains himself.

Victor places the gun down on the table.

“One on one,” Alpha Victor says evenly, “Skin only. The Old Way.”

Some of Arlo’s color returns to his face. He laughs. “The Old Way? Do you want to fight me? For the Omega?”

“I could have just killed you,” Victor said, “But this is a gentleman’s establishment.”

Arlo smirks. He’s sizing Victor up and seeing the difference. Arlo is twice Victor’s weight, and he thinks it will save him. But Victor has destroyed greater men with his own two claws. He has every intention of ending this man now. He wants to savor it, the tactile sensation of victory.

“I’m game,” Arlo says.

Immediately, the floor clears, Nathan and the other Alphas back away. Ariadne hops off from Victor's lap and runs to the nearest wall, yipping in fear. Her blue eyes are utterly terrified. Victor wants to rip Arlo apart.

The larger Alpha circles him, “To be honest Victor, I’ve always wanted to punch that pretty face of yours.”

Victor follows the movement with his eyes. Arlo attacks, going for the throat, too quick, too early. But most importantly, too predictable. Alpha Victor slams his fist into Arlo’s jaw. Something cracks underneath Victor's knuckles. It sounds like justice.

Arlo flies to the left, reeling. It takes him a minute to gain his footing. He grins with a bloody mouth before spitting out one of his molars. Beautiful.

Victor is calm and collected, as Arlo growls, showcasing his red-tinged fangs. He’s trying to intimidate the smaller Alpha. But Victor isn’t even flinching. Arlo rushes in again, his hands just managing to graze Victor’s cheek before he moves to the side. There’s a line of red. It’s a lucky shot.

But Victor is done with mercy. He steps in low and close, sending a crushing blow right into Arlo's gut. Broken rib, maybe two. The large Alpha steps back like a drunk. He’s dead on his feet, clutching his stomach. He’s crying, growling, feral.

Arlo lunges one more time, no grace, fangs bared, and Victor ends him with a kick to the face. The giant sprawls backward and falls with a deafening crash. Alpha Victor smirks, steps forward, and presses his shoes against Arlo's throat, right on his windpipe.

Victor applies the slightest of pressure. Well no, not really.

“I-I submit,” the Alpha gasps, “She’s yours.”

As if Ariadne is anybody’s to give away.

Victor suddenly stirs from his high. Where is Aria? Alpha Victor scans the room. The Omega is cowering under the poker table. She’s so scared. It is tragic. Victor decides that he’s had enough.

“Aria, let’s go,” Victor says, stepping over Arlo.

It is then, with Victor’s back turned, that Arlo bursts from the ground, launching a coward’s attack. Alpha Victor hears the noise, but he knows he’s too late to defend himself. His mercy had been foolish.

He turns just in time, to hear a gun go off, and a bullet plant itself between Arlo's eyes.

Victor looks back at Ariadne. She’s there, on the smoking end, looking dumbfounded, still under the table. The Omega quickly drops Victor’s Glock and covers her face. She lets out a stream of terrified yelps.

How did she make a shot like that? At such an impossible angle?

Victor looks around. How many more casualties would there be tonight? The Alpha is ready to kill everyone in the room, to protect Ariadne.

“Hold on,” Nathan speaks, hands raised, “That was fair. He attacked you, like a coward. He deserved that end. I don’t see any problem here.”

“Anyone else?” Victor hisses.

Silence.

It is done.

Victor reaches out for the Omega, whose rocking back and forth. “Aria? We’re going home.”

The pale woman drops her hands. Her bright blue eyes are filled with agony. Shee looks at Victor, so lost. But after a minute she slowly moves forward, allowing Victor to carry her out. The Alpha steps over Arlo’s cold dead body.

Ariadne slides into the passenger’s seat, clearly in no condition to drive. She tries to calm down, but not like a normal person. She counts her breathing again, from one to ten. At ten, her face is blank. Victor thinks they’re in the clear. But Ariadne starts sobbing into her hands, crying uncontrollably.

It’d been her first kill.

Victor has never been so close to losing it, watching Ariadne like this. It’s so painful. The Omega rolls down the window, throwing up the night’s intake. God, Victor prays, how can he take this woman’s pain away.

Ariadne inhales two steadying breaths once she is done, “You should have just killed him, to begin with.”

Victor wishes with all his might that he’d done it. But it’s already too late.

Buyer’s remorse.

“Where to now,” Ariadne frowns. She’s back to ground zero again.

If there was any way to prove her loyalty, Ariadne has already done it. It had to happen now, tonight.

“You’re meeting the rest of the pack,” Victor says.