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
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
“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
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
Drugs, guns, w*ores. Victor Erickson has a hand in all of it. He is the Alpha of a vicious and ruthless Pack, stationed in the Eastern plains. If there is a dead body floating in the River, Alpha Victor can be traced back to it within six degrees of separation. He is the Black Wolf, the grim reaper with red eyes, the beast with the face of a doll.He's what one would call a beautiful monster.Victor scans around the poker table, 10 million dollars in buy-in, holding a pair of aces. The other Alphas eye him patronizingly. It is his size. Victor is small for an Alpha, too dainty, not to be taken seriously. But that's their mistake, their ultimate loss.“Vicky, your hand?” Arlo asks, a burly man with a false smile.Victor inhales, thin cigarette slotted in between his full lips, tasting of ash, and smoked wood. He isn't planning on losing tonight, a Glock resting easily against his hip, in case things get dicey.Victor
“Well,” an Alpha approaches them, “I guess pigs do fly.”It is Nathan, Pack Alpha of an adjacent district. Victor actually likes the Alpha. Nathan is smart and charming. He walks on landmine fields like a runway model. But most of all, in this world of rejects and degenerates, the man is fair and loyal.“How’s the trade?” Victor smirks at the Alpha.“Supply and demand,” Nathan shrugs, “Speaking of which, who is this gorgeous thing?”“Why don’t you try and find out, fucker,” Even before Victor could open his mouth Ariadne snaps, red wine in hand suddenly looking like a grenade.Nathan chuckles unaffectedly, “Please.” the Alpha tilts his head back, pulling down his shirt. There’s a mark on his scent gland, one that will never heal over.“Y-You’re mated,” Ariadne stutters.V
Ariadne is counting under her breath. It takes her a long time to calm down, as Alpha Victor drives over to Head Quarters.“One hundred and eleven, one hundred and twelve…,” Ariadne mutters.Victor is already over the blood and guts. What he’s fixated on, is how the Omega is doing. This is Ariadne's first kill. It means something. There’s a light that goes out from the eyes at the first kill. Victor only wishes he could turn back the clock and take Omega’s place. The Alpha remembers his first kill, but certainly not his one-hundred-and-twenty-seventh.“One hundred and twenty-eight,” Ariadne continues.“I’ll take you home,” Victor suddenly says. Maybe Head Quarters can wait until tomorrow. Ariadne seems too traumatized to meet the rest of the pack. They can wait.“I don’t have a home,” Ariadne answers, eyes glittering as the street lights pass o
Ariadne drives them back, hands steady, eyes focused. The Alpha is left wondering exactly what kind of person this Omega is. She’s not like her cast type at all. She’s different, special.“You’re not at all like they say on TV,” Ariadne suddenly voices.Victor's breathing hitches. It’s like they were thinking the same thing about one another at the same time.“I’m exactly like that,” Victor clarifies, “Just not with you.”Ariadne’s driving swerves slightly before she regains control of the car again. “Why not with me?”Well, that is the million-dollar question.“I need a reliable person like you,” Victor says. He’s not sure if that’s a lie or the truth.“A reliable person like me?” Ariadne’s voice quicks upward.“You’re smart.” Victor continues, “Albert Einstein smart.”