4-Flying Over

“Be safe, make good decisions. I am here if you need me. I love you,” Ariella says as tears stream down her face.

“Everything your mother said, plus, don’t forget to call,” Anderson tells the boys before hugging them.

Ariella gets in one last hug before Bär tears away.

Buck- She acts like we are never going to see her again.

Bär- She knows this time it will be for a long time. I’m her baby.

Buck- Sure, that’s it.

Duke stays behind as Bär walks toward the waiting lounge.

“So, the name?” Duke asks, looking at his mother.

Anderson puts his arm around Ariella.

“Darlin,” Anderson says, getting her attention. “As much as Zoe, Romeo, and Claire are Dad’s grandkids, so are Bär, Rose and Duke. We did name him after Dad’s wolf.”

“Duke,” Ariella takes a deep breath. “Monty is honored, your uncles, and your dad too. I can’t stop you, and I won’t, but I will never call you Finch.”

Duke nods and hugs his mom.

Duke remembers when she handed the title of Alpha over to Monty. She spent the next day sitting at Finch’s grave, talking to him. Duke says a small prayer that he never fully understands her pain.

He heads to the lounge to wait for the plane.

At the lounge, Bär has gotten a drink and is enjoying a book when another werewolf tries to talk to him.

“What ya reading?” A pretty blonde asks sitting down.

Buck- Slut alert. Someone wants to ride on the royal Johnson!

Bär- I’m aware, I was dealing with them long before you woke up.

“War and Peace,” Bär answers, trying to sound as uninterested as possible.

“That is a big book. What language is that?” She asks, leaning over the chair, putting her breasts on his arm.

“German,” Bär answers again, coldly.

“You need a little in-flight entertainment?” She whispers in his ear.

Buck- She is wearing a perfume to make us want her.

Bär- I smell it.

Buck- Shut it down, Bub.

He closes his book and looks at her. She is a werewolf, she knows who he is, they all do.

“I’m flying on a private jet. I’m here for a drink and silence. Please move to the other chairs,” he asks her straight forwardly.

She nods. “Sorry, Your Highness.”

Finally, he can read in peace. And does, until his brother decides to plop next to him.

“She agreed,” Duke tells him.

“So, I have to call you Finch?” Bär asks.

“Has it ever bothered you that you are named after a wolf?” Duke asks.

Bär shakes his head. “I was named by my father’s wolf. It’s an honor.”

“I’m named after a dead man’s wolf,” Duke sighs.

“Romeo is named after the man himself,” Bär offers.

“I need a distraction,” Duke complains. “I miss Gabby. Her body is perfect.”

Buck- He will do the slut.

Bär motions for the she-wolf to return.

“My brother, Duke,” he tells her.

Duke smiles and so does she. They talk for five minutes before heading to the bathroom.

Buck- A bathroom?

Bär- Agreed, disgusting.

Buck- Why not a bio-germ lab?

Bär laughs at his wolf and returns to his book.

The pilot, Jern, arrives a few minutes later.

“We are waiting on Duke,” Bär tells him, offering him a seat.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Jern takes the seat.

“I would offer you a drink but seeing as you are flying me over the ocean, I think I will refrain,” Bär jokes, making Jern laugh.

“I refrain, but thank you,” Jern nods, before taking out a book of his own.

Duke and the blonde emerge a few minutes later looking dishelmed but happy.

“Oh, good, Martha,” Jern says, seeing the blonde. His expression sours when he sees her state.

“Sorry, Papa,” she says, straightening her shirt.

“Jern, I had no idea she was you daughter,” Bär states. “But know my brother didn’t have to convince her too much. She flirted with me first, but you know where I stand.”

Most know Bär's stance. It is a matter of respect.

“Martha, your mother will be disappointed,” Jern picks up his book, “Let’s get in the air.”

Jern walks away and Bär looks at Martha.

“How the hell didn’t you know I was reading German?” He asks, confused.

“I was playing dumb,” She shrugs.

“That works on me. On Bär, you need to have brains,” Duke jokes.

Martha looks more embarrassed as they board the plane.

Helena, the flight attendant, greets them with a smile.

“Highness, Mr. Duke,” she smiles and hands them both a drink.

Martha goes to the galley to likely hide for next few hours.

Jern has a smooth take off as normal and Bär is back to reading.

“I’m bored, Brother,” Duke says, three hours in.

“You decided to come today,” Bär reminds him.

“Yeah, to get some Omega pussy,” Duke jokes. “I’m going to personally test out every Omega in the palace. I’ll let you know which ones are worth keeping around.”

Bär growls.

Buck- Don’t kill your parent’s son. Your name is not Caine.

“You will not use my home or employees as a harem. I mean it. Go into the human town and do what you will, but anyone in the palace is off limits,” Bär warns him.

Duke looks up at the sky.

Buck- He is praying you lighten up.

Bär- You telling him fat chance?

Buck- I’m talking to my brother, Stag.

Bär- Buck, Stag, and Doe. Triplets for sure.

Buck- Hey we get along better than you three.

Bär- Superman and Lex Luther get along better than the three of us.

“How in the hell are we so different?” Duke asks. “It’s like we didn’t come from the same womb. You, all blonde and buff. Me, tall dark and killer handsome. You, the prude and me, the lady-killer. You, the book worm and me, the guy who passed high school because you did my work.”

“I always wondered why I didn’t absorb you in the womb,” Bär says, not looking up.

“Rose stopped you,” Duke laughs.

“You owe her your life,” Bär retorts drily.

“I know, I thank her every day,” Duke laughs.