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
Ariadne can’t breathe. All the air has evaporated from her lungs. After a pensive night of waiting, when the hospital called her, she already knew something was wrong.Her wolf had whispered it to her; her other half was in life-threatening danger. Hearing the news that he was shot in the head was merely confirmation.Waylon’s driving, gunning it down the line, street lights passing overhead, a siren wailing in the distance, tires gliding against the road. The Beta’s chillingly put together, streamlined, and steady.Ariadne can’t even figure out the turn signals in her state, hunched over, knees tucked into her chest, crying inconsolably.“He’s-” Waylon begins, voice breaking off into a choked sob. He inhales sharply, focusing on the street, white-knuckle grip on the wheel. “He’s going to be okay.”Ariadne can’t speak, not a single word. Although if she could, she’d simply say that it was her fault, that she should have never let Victor go, she’s not sure he’s going to make it. And th
Ariadne doesn't shrink back from it, eyes of blue fire as she watches her other half. "I'm no one's wh*re. I think you know that."Victor's frown is petulant like a child's as he watches Ariadne carefully, studying every fiber of her making like a jeweler would a sapphire."Waylon, you can go," Ariadne says without turning away from Victor's gaze, locked eyes like two mutual predators sizing one another up.The Beta drinks up the tension in the room and realizes he's not safe standing between these two titans. "I'll be right outside this door—""Go," Ariadne repeats, her voice cut like a knife's edge.Waylon exits, closing the door behind him, a soft gust of air fanning Victor's perfect scent over Ariadne's face.Then they're alone, save for the whirring of machines and the periodic clock ticks on the wall."Alright, tell me what's happened, Omega?" Victor speaks, cold and emotionless. "I know that look in your eyes. Did I kill your lover? Are you looking for revenge?""My name is Ari
Ariadne wakes up from a dream she can’t remember, storm clouds in the distant and screams that could only belong to her children.The Omega wipes the stray tears from her eyes, sitting up from the hotel bed on the side that she’s not used to.It’s Victor’s pillow, his part of the sheets, his scent still trapped in the cotton from the night he’d slept there. Ariadne never should’ve let him leave, and now she’s reduced to cuddling with Victor’s pillow just to fall asleep for a few hours.Orange-Amber eyes appear in the dim, curious and concerned.“I heard a sound,” Waylon asks, cheeks ablaze. “Are you alright, Ariadne?”How could the Omega be alright? She’d just lost her husband and the person wearing his skin; Ariadne has to see him in a few hours to hash out a Pack Alliance.No one in their right mind would be halfway okay with the circumstances.“I’m fine,” Ariadne grumbles. “What time is it?”The dark sky outside gives no clue to the hour, ceaseless rain that could be a dream or nig