The following day Victor wakes up to a cold shiver running through his body. The right side is extra cold, which should be warm with a hot body pressed to his side.Where is Ariadne? Victor stretches his hand, searching for her, and finds it empty. The bed had gone cold, indicating the person had gotten up a long time before.Victor's sleepy eyes dart to the clock in the room, which reads seven in the morning. That explains the coldness. Ariadne is an early riser, but still, Victor misses seeing sleeping Ariadne beside him on this day.Victor expected a smiling Omega wishing him a happy birthday as soon as he woke up. It's disappointing to wake up alone on a cold bed. Victor wonders who he slept all these days without her.'I have prepared a surprise for you; I'm sure you're gonna love it' Ariadne's words ring in the back of Victor's head. And a smile sleepy smile forms on his face. He is excited to receive the said gift, too eager to tell precisely. And to give one back to her.Victo
By the time Edward or any other could open their mouth to explain, Victor's spinning on his heels and headed out of the door. He sprints down the road blindly. He slams into the side of a wall. Stumbles back.Victor feels numb all over. All feeling lost, nerve-endings cut off. If he could feel, he'd realize he is ice-cold. Far enough to be dangerously close to forgetting what the warmth feels like."Are you okay?"Victor looks up. A stranger staring at him with a stricken expression. He must look a mess. He does look a mess."Are you okay?" the stranger re[eates, taking a step closer. Victor stumbles backward. He feels himself losing control of his limbs."N-no," he stutters, gripping his stomach with his left hand. It hurts. Everything hurts. It's funny the way one can physically feel the sadness. Victor clutches his stomach tighter. Something is piercing at it. And it won't let up.Victor side-steps as the stranger reaches out a hand. Resumes a blind sprint to the exit. The pain spr
Ariadne looks at the wall, a soft, neutral blue with off-white old trim. It's pretty, too pretty for a hospital room.The Omega stares at it in confusion, a hand shooting to her belly. There's no swell there, and she panics, looking down, pulling up her dinosaur t-shirt.Her stomach is flat and taut, skin clinging to her hip bones. There's no scar or marks, nothing to indicate that she'd ever been pregnant. How long has she been out? Where is her baby?"Ariadne, get up!" an oddly familiar voice calls from down the hall. "It's time for breakfast."The Omega stumbles out of bed, catching herself in a mirror. Simultaneously, Ariadne's confusion is doubled and cleared.Forgetting to breathe, she studies her own face.She's young again. Instead of tired panda eyes staring back at her in the glass, there are these vivid, bright blue sapphires, full of mischief and humor. Her body feels different, too, with no injuries, no pain, or aches in any of her worn-down joints.What's going on?Ariad
"She's not for sale," Dorian says. "This is my little sister. She will be quiet; I promise."The tattooed Alpha studies Ariadne for half a minute before he shrugs. "If she starts crying or some shit, then you're out. Got it.""She won't," Dorian replies firmly.The man steps aside, tapping on the door, once, twice, then once again. The thing groans open, rust grating against steel. The air smells heavily of whiskey, tobacco, fear, and blood.Ariadne's nose wrinkles as she tosses an arm over her face to filter it out. But even her father's favorite laundry detergent isn't enough to cancel it.Dorian walks in, pulling out stolen bills to exchange for chips. He turns back to Ariadne with a stern gaze. "You promised not to cry."Ariadne nods as if she'd ever cry in front of this person, ever.Dorian blinks a few times and then breaks character, kneeling in front of the Omega, holding her tight. "Go find him, Ariadne."Ariadne's heart stirs.Dorian looks into her eyes sadly. "I'm so sorry
"V-Victor," Ariadne calls, voice hoarse.And the Alpha is there, hovering above her, arm in a sling, worried eyes scanning her face, holding one of her hands.The Alpha looks like he hasn't slept for days; instead, he is using that time to cry. "B-baby, you came back to me."Ariadne's head feels fuzzy. She'd been standing just a moment ago, and now she's spreading down on a bed.In the last moments, before it all fades away, she remembers to tell Victor something. "She says that she misses her beautiful Sweet Pea very much, that she loves you."As soon as she speaks it, she forgets it, whoever asked her, and the context of her already forgotten memory of a dream."A-Ariadne," Victor repeats. "I- okay. Okay, baby, I understand. How are you feeling?"The Omega cries, everything returning to her, how Harry had bitten into her belly, pierced her womb, and stolen all her happiness.Ariadne can't move her arms to check her stomach, and so she just sobs."D-Does it hurt?" Victor asks, "I'll
Ariadne slurs, struggling to figure things out as Victor explains the situation. She's both happy and apprehensive about the twins, talking about a storm? Light and Dark? Things that seem frightening and nonsensical.Then Ariadne settles, drinking deeply from a cup, before pulling Victor into the bed with her, as if that's the only place in the whole world for him. The Alpha wouldn't have it any other way, settling against the Omega perfectly."I was an idiot," Victor whispers. "I was so desperate to end everything that I almost did. I shouldn't have gone out to meet Harry as I did."Ariadne shakes her head, playing with Victor's fingers. "We got lucky. We're finally out, aren't we? What do we do now?""Restaurant," Victor reminds her. "American Mexican and Korean fusion. We can do Doubles, Spicy Mexican Burger with Kimchi Burger. How does it sound?"Ariadne laughs, a gummy smile blooming on her face, something Victor hasn't seen in forever."Baby, I love you. But that sounds terrible
"You didn't have to forgive him," Victor says darkly, heart racing. "I didn't do it for him," Ariadne sighs. "I did it for me, for us, a fresh start, no more grudges or hate or black blood. Do you understand?" "No," Victor says truthfully. "Forgiveness is a wonderful thing to give. Can you ever forgive me?" Ariadne asks. "For what?" Victor asks, blanking on any way Ariadne's ever hurt him. It's hard to with the Omega in the room, being so wonderful. "For leaving you, for risking our child, and for not loving you the moment I laid eyes on you," Ariadne whispers, cupping Victor's cheek, making the Alpha flush. Oh right, here she is. And just look how beautiful she is. F*ck. Will Victor ever cease being stunned? "I-I- there's nothing to forgive," Victor says, locking gazes, those brilliant blue sapphires so mesmerizing. "I understand why you did those things. Can you forgive me? For what my family has done to you?" Ariadne laughs and nods. "I forgive you, and I forgive them. I wan
Victor smiles, wishing he could convince the boy to address him as Dad or Dada, but he's already outgrown it, much preferring this title over anything else. "Good night, champ."The Alpha shuffles over to his bedroom, where Ariadne will inevitably be awake and sulking.True to form, the Omega is laying in bed, eyes wide open and glowing in the moonlit darkness. Ariadne sits on the precipice of glorious perfection, so breathtaking it hurts, even with a frown on her face."Ariadne," Victor calls."Don't 'Ariadne' me," the Omega hisses. "You traitor."Victor laughs. He knows he shouldn't, but the sound fights its way past his throat, bubbling over into reality.Victor quickly covers his mouth to his own chagrin. "Sorry."Ariadne's frown deepens as a wine-hued blush settles on her cheeks and the tip of her nose. "It's easy for you to laugh. They both love you."Victor throws himself on the bed, his head landing on Ariadne's stomach. "We can always have another one. Maybe this time, you'll
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