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
It's only a phone call.Ariadne has almost forgotten what it's like to be afraid of one.It's been one year since she's left her former life, all the death, and despair, reminders that she used to get down on all fours for room and board.But there it is again, that fear, pressed against her eyelids, making her see crimson."What happened?" Ariadne whispers, curled in on herself, sitting at the edge of the bed.In the distance, thunderclouds roll in on a somber sky. The sound of the wind is like the wailing of a child."He got shot," Calvin answers. "It's bad, Ariadne. I didn't know who else to call; you were his best friend."Were...Ariadne presses a hand to her mouth. "Shot? Where?"There's a stuttered breath on the other side, and Ariadne physically clenches in preparation for the bad news. There are only so many places a wolf could take a bullet and not make it out alive."I-In the head," Calvin whispers. "T-There was so much— he's in surgery right now. I-I can text you the addre
The drive back to her old hometown is long and uneventful, the highway gradually becoming more and more crowded. The scent of grass, trees, mountains, and earth is replaced by metal, tar, and garbage festering in the rain. Ariadne listens to soft jazz on a CD that Victor burned for her for Valentine's day. It's calming, mixed in with the windshield wipers and the gentle patter of rain on the glass. The clicker comes on as she takes the exit, blue signs expanding into view, directing her to the hospital parking lot. The Omega doesn't know how she'll react. She's ready for anything, from hysterical crying to bitting numbness to white-hot rage. There's no one in this life that Ariadne considers more to be her brother than Edward. And she's already seen one too many people lying in a hospital bed to be calm about it. Ariadne parks the car somewhere on the third level before she makes her way over to the reception area. "I'm here to see Edward Park," she speaks politely to an elderly
It’s Waylon, dressed smartly in a bow tie. He stares at Ariadne in open-mouthed horror.Ariadne has the good sense to let the Beta go, who immediately curls into a ball.“It’s nice to see you again,” Ariadne says, adjusting her dress.“What are you doing here?” Waylon stutters. “He’s not even here. We should—”Ariadne brushes past the Beta, the scent of daffodils permeating around her.“Wait-” Waylon says, trying to catch her shoulder but retracting upon reflecting. He doesn’t want to end up like the doorman.Ariadne trots downstairs to where the action’s happening. It’s a den of iniquity, an indoor hot tub going, filled with people for hire, card games, casino chips, pool games, and a piano with martini glasses atop it.The main event is about to start, the selling of bodies, makeup to paint over bruises, and glitter diamonds to cover up abuse.A few curious eyes rake over Ariadne’s body, making her instantly want to peel her skin off. She takes a seat at the bar, manned by a tall, s
The car ride back to the Park Estate is quiet. Waylon sits in the passenger's seat, and Kelly sits in the back, hands neatly folded. Ariadne flicks on the radio, a catchy tune clashing so harshly with the atmosphere that it defeats the purpose. After a moment, she turns it off, settling back into the silence. And that's when she notices that the car two paces behind her has been following her for the last few blocks. Waylon tenses immediately when Ariadne's expression changes, the Omega's hands on the wheel tightening ever so slightly. "What's wrong, boss— I mean, Ariadne?" "We're being followed," Ariadne hisses. "Don't react. I'm gonna lure them somewhere deserted. Waylon, are you still good of a shot as I remember." Waylon's eyes darken, and he whips out his Glock. "Yeah. I earned my colors as a long-range marksman once upon a time." "When I give you the signal, you shoot out one of his tires," Ariadne replies, keeping her speed steady, rounding a corner. The map of the distr
“Hey,” Victor says quickly. “Why are you calling? Are my babies okay?”“Everything’s fine. They’re just worried about you, and the mutinous creatures demanded one phone call, or they wouldn’t go to school.”Victor sighs with relief. “Put them on.”Kelly’s voice comes in first, loud, worried, rambunctious. “Daddy! Mama! It’s me. Are you dead?”“Baby,” Victor shouts. “Don’t say such things.”“I’m okay. Mama’s okay,” Ariadne answers.“I miss you,” Kelly says quickly. “When are you coming home? I think the dreamcatcher you made us isn’t working. You need to buy one from a witch doctor. It’s the—”Her voice cuts out.“Give Ashley a turn,” Anna says.The sound of something being shuffled around.“Come home,” says a voice that could only be their son, neither demanding nor a request.“Soon, Asheei,” Victor answers. “I found Mama, and she was alright.”“Come home,” Ashley says again, this time a little more urgent.“I promise, we’ll be back,” Ariadne whispers.“Come home before it’s too late,
The last few days of fishing pan out. Harry's sources bite. With Ariadne's appearance at the Auction House and the fluttering rumor that certain wolves of the night are planning to blow it away brick by brick, he's surfaced.Victor's packing a bag, getting ready for a stakeout with his Uncle, and Ariadne's making every attempt to slow him down under the guise of cooperation."Baby," Ariadne calls, holding out several different styles of jerky in her hands. "Which one do you want? Spicy or not spicy?""Just put them both in," Victor says, pulling on a Kevlar vest, smoothing out the velcro. "It's fine.""I wanted to eat one too," Ariadne stalls. "Just pick one."Victor indulges the Omega, very aware of the subtle changes in her scent, substantial and sweet, and calling. He doesn't look and points to the package on the very most left.And Ariadne frowns. "But you don't even like ginger."Victor sighs exasperatedly, gracing the Omega with his full attention. "Baby!"Ariadne shrinks back w
Victor's disgusted, another man's fluid spatter on his cheeks. He wipes it away with his fingertips before he silences Gordon with a quick jab to his good eye."You need to shut up, brother," Harry says, folding his arms.Gordon focuses on the man, squinting, tilting his head from side to side as if to add twenty years to the man's visage."Harry? Oh my god, so it really was you that night, at the bar. I thought it was because I skipped a pill. I almost killed you.""Yeah, it's me," the Cold Wolf casually answers. "Long time no see."Gordon does the math in his head, and he turns to the Black Wolf. "Is that you? Victor?"A jolt goes down Victor's spine, but he ignores it."Yea, it's me," he answers."I didn't recognize you with the new hair. It looks weird. You should go back to natural," the man offers.He seems so lucid that Victor has hope, just the barest, that they won't have to hurt him tonight. "Listen, you shot one of my friends."Gordon scrolls backward in his head. "Ah, I sh