Ariadne can't sleep. Her brain won't stop it with these random, chaotic blurbs. It keeps ticking onward, relentlessly to its own destruction.
To maintain the sanity that she still has, she quietly counts the number of things that make life still worth living.
And now, at the very top of the list, against all unfathomable million to one odds, rarer than a royal flush in poker, was Alpha Victor.
Victor has become Ariadne's priority, even above herself. She knew it as soon as she saw the Alpha cry like that, all alone in the dark.
Ariadne realized then that there was no escaping it anymore.
The Omega had lived in prison, where the walls were thin and made of chalk, where everyone stayed away.
It was necessary to survive and keep clinging to this side of the earth, where one could still see the sky.
But then came Victor, who knocked, knocked, and knocked even when Ariadne ignored.
Victor was persistent, unwavering, and when living
Victor stumbles into the kitchen, still sleepy, hair disheveled. "Did you guys make coffee yet?"Edward and Ariadne immediately stop talking.The Alpha doesn't notice as per usual. He just shuffles through the kitchen to get himself a mug before disappearing upstairs again."Just give me time," Ariadne says once they're alone again. "I've only ever killed that one man.""Arlo?" Edward spat. "He deserved that for what he did to you that night.""I still- I still dream about it," Ariadne admits.Arlo deserved to die more than most. Ariadne pulled that trigger, thinking it would end the hate clawing her on the inside.It hasn't, neither has the grief.Edward's eyes soften for a moment. "Sorry."Ariadne answers with a pitiful shake of her head. "I get it.""Do what you need to," Edward sighs heavily. "I'm sorry that I'm pushing you. I-I can't-"The silver Omega swallows his own emotion, choking on the serrated
Ariadne's whole body flushes with heat.The way Victor talks about Edward, with complete faith. He sees Edward and her for their merits. He's the first Alpha that hasn't underestimated them.Once Dustin is gone, Victor turns to Ariadne, eyes going soft once again, his scent leveling out. "You okay?"Ariadne shakes her head ever so slightly, and Victor takes her hand. "Let's go for some fresh air, yeah?""Okay," Ariadne manages. She'd give anything right this moment to not appear so f*cking weak.Victor watches her, crimson eyes, so dark and heavy a gaze, leaving the other's skin tingling.Victor doesn't let go of her hand as they make their way outside.
Victor can't sleep. He absentmindedly plays with Ariadne's hair, enjoying the soft texture between his fingertips.The Alpha has never been one for repetition, but the names repeat in his head. He doesn't know if he can ever sleep again, at least not peacefully, until he finds justice for Ariadne.Chester Mason, Felix Cooper, Leonard Parker, Robin Spencer.He knows only one name on this list, so he'll start from there. After, he'll step on whoever he needs to, to find Arthur and destroy him.He plays it over and over.Victor eventually finds the sleep he needs, mind going to those dark places.When Victor wakes up, he's alone.He rarely gets up early enough to find Ariadne sleeping by his side. It's simply not the Omega's circadian rhythm.But somehow, Victor misses it.It's not an experience he's ever even had, a soft body cuddled by his side, something nice and familiar to wake up to.Victor rolls out of bed, bo
"I don't believe I have had the delight of an introduction," Harry says, not blinking his midnight eyes.Ariadne takes ahold of Victor's arm, a frown forming on her face. "I'm Ariadne.""You're the most beautiful Omega I've ever seen," Harry says, which has the hairs on Victor's forearms raised."The outside is a lot prettier than the inside," Ariadne responds after a tense beat.Victor growls, a territorial snarl that he, himself, is surprised by.Nathan and Waylon both take a step back defensively. Harry, however, remains as still as stone, his expression nearly blank but with a touch of mischievous delight."Forgive me," the man says, "I've clearly overstep
"I'll check on those names, boss. We'll find him." Waylon says before following Nathan outside.That 'him' could have meant a superabundance of things, but judging by the look on the Beta's face, Victor knows he's talking about Calvin.The dynamic duo is not dynamic anymore. Waylon's barely been able to talk since everything went down. But every fallout waiting to happen can keep edging at critical until Calvin's found."Do you want to go back to work?" Victor asks Ariadne once they're alone.Ariadne sighs. "I want to go home. I'm done for today.""I'll drive, Ariadne." that's more than understandable. Victor offers his arm, and Ariadne surprisingly takes it.The Omega nods, seemingly aged five years in that hour, eyes drained of vitality. "Okay."Ariadne curls up in the front passenger's seat, pressing her forehead to the window. She's a tiny, lost thing.Victor sees her fragility, but he also sees the strength, not dismissing
"He's gone rogue." Ariadne slumps over, losing strength in her legs as she slides down the kitchen wall. Her eyes skitter about, unable to focus, pupils so wide that the blue appears black. Victor's there with her, holding her hands tightly, trying to ground the Omega. "Ariadne, talk to me," Victor whispers frantically, trying to connect but not able to reach. "Whatever you need." The Omega's eyes slide shut as she exhales shakily. Every breath seems to dissipate the emotions that storm inside her. "We can't go after Edward, Victor." That wasn't the reply that the Alpha expected. "What are you saying, baby?" Shouldn't they be planning Edward's quick and precise recapture? Ariadne shakes her head, swallowing audibly. "If we split our resources, then it'll slow us down. We might not find either of them." Victor gently starts rubbing Ariadne's shoulders, thumbs pressing into her neck, massaging out the tension.
Nathan sheepishly scratches at the back of his head. "You can if you want, but I-well, Felix gave us an access point, but the whole thing is encrypted now. It's like Arthur knows he's been crossed."Getting their hands on Arthur's files could be a meaningful breakthrough."Let me see," Ariadne says as if possessed. Nathan leads the way to the desk in the corner."I tried last night, but it was impossible, and..." Nathan sighed. "I don't know how much longer we have. Arthur's probably going to move the data if we-""It's okay," Ariadne says, cracking her knuckles. "I'm an expert at bread trails."Harry stares at Victor, a devil's smile on his face. "I feel like this is a good time for us to talk shop, Alpha Victor."Victor would be in a much more entertaining mood if Harry weren't so openly infatuated with Ariadne.It'd been a day.But to be perfectly fair, Ariadne is just that captivating."Business can wait," Victor say
Alpha Victor's gaze lingers on Waylon one moment longer before turning to the doors.Ariadne takes his hand, and the two go back down the staircase, through the tattoo parlor, back to their car. Ariadne's pensively silent."Baby?""You lost everything. It's all my fault. I'm like a tornado, and I uprooted everything. Just kick me to the curb; I wouldn't even blame you.""I can find a new First Beta," Victor says. "I already know who. It's-It's manageable."Ariadne gasps overwhelmed with emotion. She's still driving steadily, but it makes Victor worried."I'm ruining you. I'm destroying you. I don't want to, I just- I'm so sorry, Victor. I can leave if-"Victor chooses his following words carefully. "If you go, I'd die."That's just short of acknowledging Ariadne as his mate. The Omega knows it.Ariadne takes a few steadying breaths. "I'll do what I can to make things right. We'll find them. We'll make Arthur pay."