It’s only after her sixth drink that Ariadne can begin to calm the shaking in her hands. And even then, it barely takes the edge off. She slams a glass on the table, and Nathan wordlessly pours her another drink.“How far gone is he?” Edward asks, nursing an orange juice, wounds still healing, preventing him from ingesting anything stronger.“Gordon took everything in him,” Ariadne huffs. “There’s nothing left. I-I still haven’t told Ashley or Kelly. I-They’re waiting for me.”As if saying their names invokes the vibrations in the universe, Nathan’s phone starts buzzing. He checks it, now well over midnight, approaching dawn.“It’s Anna,” Nathan announces gravely.And her children, no doubt.Ariadne sets down her drink, wiping the tired from her face and running a hand through her unruly white-blonde locks.“Answer it,” Ariadne says.“You sure,” Nathan replies, finger hovering over the button.“Do it,” Ariadne confirms.Nathan presses the thing, and before he can even say hello, Anna
It's been two days. Every muscle, bone, and sinew in Victor's body aches. It's like the disks in his spine have been replaced by razor blades, and no amount of drink seems to dull the pain.Blindly seeing crimson, Victor tosses his glass into the opposite wall, shattering the thing into a million pieces.Then, chest heaving, he moves himself to the bathroom to sober up, drawing a hot bath. He wants so badly to move on.Only the man in the mirror is a stranger to him as he hovers over the sink, eyes glowing with red agitation. Who did he become in the last five years?And who is Ariadne Emerson to him?The Alpha looks older, fatter, the barest of laugh lines touching his eyes, the ghost of untold joy.But the most notable difference is the scar on his neck, the mark on his scent glands. It was something he promised he'd never do to himself, bear such a thing.The same thing that ended up killing his father.And the way Ariadne Emerson knew him, so well, so completely. How in love were
Victor doesn't know where he's driving until he's already there, late afternoon, cloudy and cool, a sea of white dandelions.This is where he laid his father and mother to rest. Why did he come here? Perhaps to see if there was still one constant in this shifting world that has no place for him.Their graves are still there, the stones weather-worn, and the grass needs to be cut. There are fresh flowers placed over the graves. Curiously enough, someone else has been here.Victor wonders who it could be, inspecting the blooms, lilies, and baby's breath."Everything I built is gone," Victor whispers. "All I wanted to do was come out from under your shadow, old man." He sits in the grass, ignoring the cool moisture that seeps into his clothing. "Why the f*ck did you have to cast such a big shadow?"Victor can't even speak to his mom. Her passing had been so painful, the fire-eating her body. They had to bury an empty casket and a picture frame. "What should I do? I'm so—"The Alpha reali
It's been a year since Ariadne's transformed. She's forgotten the sheer power that comes with it, washing over her body in waves, adrenaline pumping through her wolf blood.Ariadne doesn't expect to feel it. Animal minds are supposed to be simpler, right?She thinks in this form, she can escape it, the feelings that are threatening to crush her to dust, pain so acute that it's hard to breathe. But it's stronger than before, agony where there'd only been an ache.Ariadne sees her reflection, a great and terrible beast in her son's eyes, who recoils backward, never having witnessed his mother's transformation.Ashely's terrified, hiding behind Victor, studying her with a wide, wary expression."Give her back her son," Nathan shouts from the background, getting out of the passenger side, a hand on his neck from the whiplash of running the gate. "What the f*ck, Victor?"Ariadne's going half-mad, so many scents, so many people, but where did Gordon run off to.There's so much noise, and sh
Harry's eyes flash dangerously, so bright it's yellow. He almost seems to have his vigor back. "So sorry about that." "You are, though," Kelly whispers knowingly. "You're so sorry that you wanna claw your own skin off." Harry doesn't react beyond a shrug. "So smart, aren't you? And what else do you know in that pretty little head of yours." Kelly sniffles, focused intently on the man. "I know that Daddy didn't fall and bump his head. He was shot with a- with a-" the girl lowers her voice to a bare whisper, as if afraid to say the word, "-with a gun." All the blood drains from Ariadne's face as she holds Kelly a little closer. Harry smirks, tilting his head ever so slightly. "Do you know who shot your dear, old dad?" "It was the man with one eye," Kelly confirms. "He did this." "Kelly-Bear—" Ariadne begins, trying to leave. "And what do you propose we do with him?" Harry presses. "How do we win?" "Isn't it self-explanatory?" Kelly spits. "He only has one eye. All you have to do
It's a quiet drive back to the hotel, just Nathan and Ariadne. The Omega takes the exit, wondering if she should turn on the radio to cut the silence."Did you find out anything?" Ariadne asks."Nothing," Nathan sighs. "And if they know anything about him, they're not talking. F*ck, I felt like a cop in that room with the way everyone was looking at me. I'm out one year, and I'm a stranger.""I want to be a stranger," Ariadne says, "I don't want to be here in this fucking city. We get this done as fast as possible, and then we go home."Nathan nods in agreement. "Amias and Anna hate it here. We go big, then we go home."Ariadne turns into the Hotel parking lot, scanning for a spot. "Hey, do you know a Tracey Erickson?""The Doctor," Nathan replies without skipping a beat. "Yeah, kinda. I saw her when I got shot in the leg. She's unaffiliated, treats everyone as long as you got the cash.""She's an Erickson, though," Ariadne asks. "Is she—"Ariadne spots a vehicle in the lot, an ice wh
"We have two things to do," Waylon says, taking a seat. "We take out Gordon, and we bring Victor home, preferably by his own free will, but I'm not above hog-tying him.""Vivid," Calvin manages, staring at the other Beta as though he'd betrayed him. "I-I need some air too. Ed, come on."This leaves Ariadne alone with Waylon."What do you propose?" Ariadne asks.Waylon bites his lip for a moment. "Whiskey, neat."Ariadne nods, rummaging through the service bar until she finds a swill that is barely passable. She pours two generous helpings and hands one to Waylon."Thank you for siding with me," Ariadne says.Waylon shakes his head. "I'm on Victor's side. What he did that night, bringing back your boy. The Victor from five years ago, he would've never. That's something only a father would do. He's in there somewhere, Ariadne. And you're the one who's going to find him."Harry's words echo in Ariadne's mind. 'There's nothing that changes a man like love. Have faith.'"Thank you," Ariadn
Ariadne doesn't know where she's going, finding a service exit, and running up three flights of mottled gray steps. She needs a smoke badly, but her pockets are empty, having quit a long time ago when she first found out she was pregnant.The Omega doesn't know what to expect when she reaches the roof, certainly not a rose garden with gorgeous blooms of white, pink, and dark red.Ariadne feels as though she's stepped through time. And she wonders if this is Dustin's or Miner's hobby, keeping this place.It's starkly beautiful against the dark night sky.Ariadne wipes her face, drying tears that haven't even been born yet, then she walks over to the ledge, leaning against the railing as the wind blows up at her.It's drizzling ever so slightly, and Ariadne knows she needs to go inside and face Victor again before her bones are stripped of heat.Only the door creeks open, and the Alpha appears, halting for a moment to take in the scenery. "This isn't what I expected. This Dustin guy has
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