Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jesper wasn’t used to stalking about the streets and alleyways of the barrel, he was never really one to belong to the shadows. That was much more Inej’s thing, but today the plan called for him to be silent and stealthy.

So instead of his usual loud-mouth swagger, he clung to the walls and resisted the urge to find the guns that were hung in their holsters at his hips. He knew that if the mission required him to be the quiet one, it had to be important. He didn’t know that for sure, of course, whether it was to protect the mission or seem cleverer, Kaz rarely explained the ‘why’.

But he now found himself on the outskirts of fifth harbour, awaiting an arrival, one that wouldn’t ever get the pleasure of setting foot on land. He found a place, wedged between some debris and the wall of an alley, to wait for the target and settle in.

                                ***

Some time had to have gone by and Jesper was sure he may have fallen asleep at one point, if only a few moments. It had to have been a few hours that he had now been waiting for a glimpse of the boat, but to no avail. He felt the impulse to move. The itch to go ahead and search for it himself, to steal a boat or to at least take out a few of the guards he could smell, stationed around the whole of the harbour.

They’d never even see him coming with the scent suppressors they had stolen a huge supply of a short time ago. It had given them quite the status amongst the other packs in the barrel. And quite a few enemies.

Still waiting for something to happen, Jesper sighed aloud, he knew his last thread of patience was about to fray and so he freed himself from his hiding place and began to sneak around closer to the water.

There were fewer places to hide here, despite it being night the glowing moon glistened closely overhead. Combined with the amber haze of lanterns, he’d be seen pretty quickly. He also had chosen a bright purple suit which definitely wouldn’t help with this particular plan. Shedding his jacket with a quick prayer, he skipped in between huge crates and half built boats, just avoiding the sights of the burly guards. Some were wearing keftas, most held pistols and what looked to be small bombs. As Jesper inched closer, perhaps more than he should have, he began to catch a new scent in the muggy, salty air.

A scent that couldn’t be mistaken, sweet and strong. An omega. It was rare to find omegas on this side of the barrel. Even claimed it was a dangerous place for them to be, most were held at the west stave, the few who ran with the packs in the barrel were very often surrounded by pack members or their alphas. He knew this because of Inej of course.

Intrigued, Jesper began to pace his way towards the scent. He slipped past another guard and let himself be led to the entrance of a small courtyard area on the edge of the harbour. He glimpsed in to see that there were three men stood over the omega. They were all huge men, and he could definitely smell the reek of alphas. Three alphas, towering over the little omega.

He couldn’t see him properly, he was curled up and looking away from Jesper. But that didn’t stop him catching the overbearing scent of fear laced with pain. He could see trembling as one man suddenly kicked the omega in the ribs with a sickening crack.

It took everything he had to keep Jesper sat by the edge of the courtyard. The men laughed, and flipped him over and held him down as they tied his arms behind his back at an angle that looked painful. He heard the omega cry out and earn a swift smack for it.

“What did we tell you pretty?” One of the men sneered mockingly.

“We’ll teach him his lesson, we just have to meet our old friend first.”

“Do you hear that?” The third man picked him up by the ripped shirt that hung off his small frame, “you’re in for a rough night kid, aren’t you?” He smiled a big, creepy smile.

“Yes sir.” The omega choked out.

Jesper fought every urge to pull his pistols out and make the men eat the bullets. He couldn’t just sit here and watch this play out. He had to do something…

Just as he had tried to clear his mind from the red mist long enough to figure out a plan, he heard the approach of a ship. The shouts of men and the lapping of waves at its bow. The alphas turned to it in unison.

“That’ll be him.”

“You stay here, if you try anything you’ll be punished so badly you won’t be able to speak or walk for a week do you hear me?”

The omega nodded his head quickly as they dropped him back to the ground with a thud. They headed out, leaving a man stationed by the entrance as the omega lay splayed out and unmoving.

He had a choice here.

Leave the omega here with these alphas, head back to his hiding place and take this target out. It may be his only chance and from what Kaz had said and the fact that he’d sent Jesper on this mission, it had to be important. He’d easily be able to take him out from there and return back to the crow club successful, and not having let down his pack or putting them in danger.

Or, he could use the distraction to take out the guard and get the little omega out of there. He’d easily be able to carry him out and back to the slat at this time without too much trouble on the way there. Clearly he was being abused and to leave him here meant leaving him to suffer and maybe even die. But Kaz would be furious, and who knew what losing this target could mean?

He knew he didn’t have long to decide, the ship was almost at the harbour now and he’d lose his chance to do either. So which one?

Kaz’s wrath? Or an omega’s life?

Which one?

But he knew he’d already made his mind up.

He picked up a rock from the ground and threw it to the guards opposite shoulder, as he turned to check out the noice he was on him in a flash. Silently, the sharpshooter held his forearm against his throat waiting for him to stop struggling. Once he had, Jesper ran forwards into the courtyard and stopped just before the omega who was still curled away from him.

“Hello?” He whispered gently.

The omega froze up, his body so tense he was sure it must have been painfully tiring on his muscles.

“It’s okay, I’m here to help.”

For the first time Jesper saw his face as he turned to look over his shoulder, his eyes were a soft brown but were filled with fear. His brown curls were matted and dirty, and his porcelain skin was littered in cuts and bruises. Jesper also noticed a collar strapped tightly around his neck, and the raw skin underneath. 

”You’re okay.” Jesper murmured softly.

He was also older than he’d thought, but he was so small and malnourished that he’d looked much younger from afar. As that thought hit him, the one that followed was that the omega had no reason to trust him. And clearly that thought had hit the omega too as he began to struggle against the ropes.

“Please, please don’t hurt me. Don’t hurt me, I’m being good. I know this is a test. I won’t leave them, I’m being good.” He cried.

Jesper tried to shush him as something sharp tugged at his heart, the omega was petrified. But he needed him to be quiet, he would give them away at any second and there was no chance he was going to cooperate under this much stress.

Unless he used his authority as an alpha, he knew this wasn’t going to make the omega trust him any more than he did now and he felt guilty considering it, but it was the only way they were now both getting out of there unscathed.

He placed a hand on the omega’s shoulder and summoned a growl.

“Calm down omega, you’re going to come with me. I’m going to help you but I need you to help me too, okay? You’re going to sleep whilst I get you out of here.”

Within seconds the boy’s eyes fluttered shut and he had gone limp.

“Please forgive me for that.” Jesper muttered under his breath as he lifted him up into his arms and headed for the exit.

Luckily the unconscious guard still hadn’t been found, in the distance Jesper could see four men now, huddled together by the ship. He hoped Kaz would forgive him as he snuck back towards the barrel with the broken omega in his arms.

He skipped through the streets as quickly as he could, trying his best to avoid lingering and letting the scent of the omega spread. Luckily though it seemed just early enough as light began to creep past the vanishing moon, that no one was around. As he reached the slat, Jesper took one last glance behind him and then hurried in.

He was relieved to find the bar empty as he brushed everything off of one of the tables and laid the omega down there. The gunslinger took a moment to let the adrenaline stop coursing through his veins and for his breath to return to normal. And that’s when he realised how much trouble he was going to be in.

”Jesper?” He heard a gentle voice coming from the shadows at the other end of the bar. 

“Inej.” Jesper smiled as she walked into the dim light. 

“Who is that?”

“What have you done?” This voice was much colder as it rang out into the empty space in between them.

”Just relax and let me explain.” Jesper began.

”Is the target dead?” 

“Where did you find him?”

”One at a time please.” Jesper sighed. “I was at the harbour and-“

The door flew open again as the scent of two betas hit his nose. 

“Why does Kaz look more miserable than usual?” Nina chuckled as Matthias stepped past the door after her.

”It’s done.” Matthias added stiffly, before he immediately caught sight of the omega and simultaneously gave Nina’s arm a squeeze. 

“Who is that?” She added, realising what Matthias was hinting at.

“He’s an omega isn’t he?” Inej asked, she had wandered closer to him in the distraction, almost as if she knew the other two were going to enter.

Jesper noticed Kaz take a small step forward at this, as he cleared his throat.

”Is the target dead?”

They all turned to look at him again, clearly everything on their ends had gone to plan. Which meant that he had screwed it all up. His brain immediately went to curate some kind of funny comeback when he realised that there was no way Kaz would let him keep the omega here if he did. He didn’t want to tell him the truth, Kaz would only use it as an excuse to use the omega for their own ends. 

So he nodded.

”He’s claimed?” Nina cut in, she was with Inej by the table where the omega was still asleep. But now he was starting to twitch and whimper in his unconscious state, again making Jespers heart lurch in a way it never had before. 

Until he realised what Nina had just said.

”Claimed?” He pushed, heading over to the table to see that a healed bite was imprinted deep beneath his bony shoulder. “Saints.”

”You can heal him Nina?” Matthias asked softly.

”I can do my best, there’s a lot here to fix.”

”No.”

Kaz had now found his way to the table as well, his cane planted firmly into the ground as he scowled at them all. Although both he and Kaz were alphas, it was Kaz who led the pack. Not that Jesper had ever had a problem with that, he never cared for the responsibility of it, until this moment. 

“What do you mean no?” Nina pressed, outraged.

”This is just some random omega off of the street? How many claimed omegas do you find alone in this condition? This is clearly some kind of trap or scam. Besides, even if it wasn’t he’s no use to us. We don’t have the means to take on a burden like this.”

”A burden?” It was almost a whisper as it left Inej’s lips.

”You all play your part here.” His eyes found Inej’s. “We can find a healer or someone to leave him with. They can deal with him.”

”Fine. I found him by the harbour.” Jesper sighed, not knowing how this could be received. “They had him.

He hadn’t wanted to tell him that. But if it meant that he could stay.

Something slight changed in his demeanour, something you’d only be able to catch from having been close to him for this long. Kaz took another step towards the omega as they all parted.

”He’s theirs?”

Now looking at him you could see the signs of years of abuse. He was now trembling  again, his tatty clothes revealing bone and bruised skin. It seemed like his wrist had been broken and not set properly, and any inch of skin that was visible was covered in some kind of horrific injury. He couldn’t begin to imagine what he had been through.

At least with Kaz knowing that he belonged to this pack, the omega would be safe for now. Even if he’d have to fight for him later when Kaz tried to use him as some kind of leverage.

”Nina fix him up. I want to speak to him when he’s woken up.” With a swish and thumping of his cane, Kaz headed up to his office.

”The Dejmin is as generous as ever.” Matthias huffed as Nina gently hit his arm.

”You’ll be able to heal most of this won’t you Nina?” Inej asked. Jesper could see the pain in her eyes, this was more than an injured omega to her. It was a reflection of everything she’d tried to move past.

”I’ll do my best.” 

“He can have my room, I won’t need it tonight I’ll be going out.” Inej offered.

”No put him in mine, I’ll sleep down here.” He could sense from her scent that Inej was about to argue. “I mean it. I brought him here and you’ll need somewhere to sleep when you’re back.”

She smiled gently at him, casting her eyes over the omega once more, before she had vanished out of the window. Something burned warmly in his pack bond to Inej, they hadn’t needed to ask to know where she was going.

Matthias stepped forwards and in one motion he had gently scooped the omega up into his arms. He whimpered again, before relaxing slightly.

”I’ll come too.”

Nina and Matthias both looked at him on confusion.

”Why?”

”Well I’m a familiar face, he seemed pretty stressed before and maybe if he recognises someone it’ll calm him down. Besides who would want to see this when they wake up?” He smiled, but deep down he didn’t want to be away from the omega.

His inner alpha wanted nothing more than to wrap him up and protect him against anything. But he settled for a Jesper style joke to reassure his friends instead of revealing that.

”Okay, shall I heal you here first?”

Heal him? Jesper looked down to see blood smeared across his purple suit. But for once he let the crime against fashion go. That wasn’t his blood. Nina seemed to have sensed this through the pack bond as she nodded and Matthias gave him a wary smile.

“Come on then, this is going to take a while.”

And so they followed after Matthias, up to his room. Something finally settling within Jesper’s chest as they reached the safety of it.

How could he have known the path he’d just set them all on would be anything but?

Chapter Text

It had been an hour.

Nina had only managed to heal half of the superficial wounds that covered seemingly every inch of the omega’s skin. The heartrender had managed to calm his heart rate enough for him to lie still, but there was just too much that needed to be fixed. They could tell that it was beginning to get to Nina as she began to falter, but it was Matthias who finally addressed it.

“Nina, my love, I think that’s as much as you should do for now. We’ve been out all night and you haven’t slept at all.”

“I can do this, there’s still so much more to do.”

“Why don’t you at least set the bones properly for now? The rest would heal with time and care even without your powers.”

Nina looked across at Jesper and as the much as the alpha within him wanted to tell her to keep going until the omega was completely cured, he knew it would be selfish.

“He’s right Nina.”

She paused as Jesper felt the overwhelming feeling of her guilt.

“I mean it.” He added, patting her shoulder gently.

The feeling subsided somewhat as Nina nodded and then refocused. For now the omega’s wounds would be treated at least. She got to work breaking and then setting his wrist properly. At her request, Matthias had gone to get some balms and bandages  for the burns, cuts and thin lines that covered his body that she had yet to heal. She applied those and with their help, secured a brace around his broken ribs.

Jesper took to cutting off the collar that was slicing into the omega’s neck. Upon closer inspection his heart sunk, it wasn’t just any collar. The burns hidden underneath attested to that. He threw it aside and got back to the task at hand.

He’d noticed Matthias had never taken his eyes off of Nina once. Of all of them, he was the best in the pack at masking his feelings. Followed closely by Kaz that was. But even now his worry for her was palpable, it filled the room and he knew Nina must have sensed it too.

“Okay, I’m done.” She sighed, falling back in the armchair that had been pushed next to Jesper’s bed.

“Well done, why don’t we go upstairs? You need some rest.”

“Fine, but only because I’m too tired to argue.” She smiled as Matthias lifted her up, wrapping arm around her, as he softly kissed her on the lips. “He needs a lot of rest, food, but only a little as his stomach gets used to it again. I’ll check on the bandages and the broken bones tomorrow.” They muttered a quick goodnight to Jesper before he heard them climbing up the stairs slowly.

He couldn’t help but feel a slight bit of jealousy nipping at his heels. But he pushed it aside to instead take a look at the omega who was looking much better than he had been. He sat at the chair next to the bed that was still warm from where Nina had been healing him, and carefully carded his fingers through the omega’s curls. 

He wasn’t ready to sleep yet. Instead he decided to try and help clean the boy in front of him up a bit more. He wanted him to feel clean when he woke up, or at least that someone cared enough to make sure he was. So he got to work finding a bucket and a sponge to carefully clean him up as best he could.

His skin was covered in dirt and muck, like his hair which was knotted and greasy. He gently dabbed the clean water onto him, having had to go back for a clean pail pretty quickly. He had taken his time and was sure quite a while had passed before he moved onto his curls. That took a bit longer as he wetted and then slowly teased a comb through each strand of hair. All until he resembled a person once again.

Jesper caught himself staring down at the boy with a soft smile on his lips. Already he looked so much better, of course he knew that whatever he’d been through would have a long lasting effect on him. It would be a much harder fix. But he was more than willing to take the time to do that. Deciding it was best to let him change himself, he carefully untucked the blanket and pulled it over the omega.

He wasn’t sure when, but at some point he had slipped away into sleep on that chair, with that warm thought spreading through him gently.

                                ***

Jesper’s eyes snapped open immediately as he heard a rustling coming from in front of him. He leapt into action, grabbing a pistol from its holster and aiming it at the sound. He almost shouted, before he remembered what had happened the night before.

In front of him the omega was sat upright. Eyes wide and frightened as he pulled his injured wrist and bony knees into his body. He cowered in the corner like a trapped animal.

“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I don’t know how I got here. It won’t happen again sir I’m sorry.”

Jesper didn’t even know what to say as he saw the omega rip the blanket off of himself and go flying to the floor on his knees in front of him.

“Woah, woah, woah. It’s okay, you’re okay. I put you here.” Jesper reassured him softly. “I’m going to help you back there alright?“

He could tell from his face that the omega was in a lot of pain. It certainly couldn’t have been helped by his sudden movement.

“But…but a mutt belongs on the floor sir. Is this a test sir? I’m sorry.” His voice was so small it broke the gunslingers heart.

“Come on, back into bed. Everyone deserves to have a warm bed.”

”I-I don’t understand. Where…what…sir?”

Jesper reached out to help him but the omega only flinched back. He was expecting pain. Still nervous and unsure of how to go about this, Jesper held his arms out in front of him in surrender.

“I won’t touch you unless you want me to okay? But can you please get back into bed omega? I can explain everything.”

This seemed to do the trick, the omega immediately crawled up into the bed. He went stiff though, arms by his sides as he started to tremble.

“Well done.” Jesper praised gently as he lifted the blanket back over the boy, seemingly to his surprise. “I’m Jesper, I’m one of the alphas in the crow pack. What’s your name?”

“It’s Wylan sir.”

He was still shaking.

“It’s nice to meet you Wylan, you don’t have to call me sir though. Although many men have. Sorry. That was a joke. A stupid joke. But you’re safe now. Do you remember I got you away from that other pack?”

“Away? They’re not here sir?”

“No. They’re gone. I got you out of there yesterday.”

He could tell that Wylan didn’t believe him. He couldn’t blame him though, why would he?

“Did they do all of this to you?”

The stench of panic began to overtake the room, he could see the rise and fall of the omega’s shoulders start to quicken. Hastily, Jesper chose to leave that topic for later.

“Anyway, are you hungry?”

Wylan immediately looked up at him through those big brown eyes and Jesper almost melted right then and there.

“I…I..sir, um Jesper sir, sorry….”

“I’ll take that as a yes, I’ll be two seconds. Hopefully Nina’s up, she cooks the best food. I’m more of a fire hazard in the kitchen myself.”

He went to leave and saw Wylan gazing at the bandages he was wearing in shock and bewilderment. The nerves were still hanging thick in the air, but at least he was being distracted from it for a moment. Trying to move slowly, Jesper rummaged around in his drawer before leaving the smallest pair of pyjamas he owned at the foot of the bed.

“I’ll leave these here for you to change into, I know you probably don’t believe me but I promise everything is gonna be okay Wylan. You’re safe now.” He smiled as he left the room and headed for the kitchen.

He didn’t want to leave Wylan alone but at least he’d have a chance to gather himself and adjust to the new smells and sights. He hurried down the steps to the kitchen where he found Inej and Nina sat with a cup of tea.

“Morning, how are you feeling Zenik?”

“Are you questioning my abilities Fahey?”

“More like Helvar’s snoring.”

She chuckled gently, “I slept fine. Is he up?”

“Kaz wanted me to tell him as soon as he woke up.” Inej rolled her eyes.

“He’s up, his name is Wylan. Nina managed to fix him up last night, all of the wounds will heal but…well when he woke up he referred to himself as a mutt and thought I’d be angry he was asleep in a bed.”

He saw Inej dart her eyes down, Nina noticed this too as she stood and made for the kettle.

“Refill?” She asked as Inej nodded, “I’ll make him some porridge, it’ll be the best thing to settle his stomach for now. It doesn’t seem like he’s been eating regularly.”

As Nina fussed over the porridge Jesper took a seat next to Inej.

“You okay?”

“I’m fine Jesper.”

“Listen as much as my presence usually lifts a room I can tell when it’s not having the desired effect. You can tell me if living with Wylan is too much. We can figure out a way to make this work that helps both of you.”

Inej took out one of the knives from a sheath by her arm and began to fiddle with it atop the kitchen table.

“I’ll just go and take this up to him, won’t be a second.”

Nina had vanished before they had a chance to say anything else.

“Obviously it’s hard, but he’s not the first I’ve seen and he won’t be the last. It’s not safe for omegas like us here, if we can offer him somewhere safe I’d suffer a thousand times to give it to him.”

Jesper grinned. “Just let me know if you ever need to talk, you know I’m very good at that. I’ll work on the listening.”

“Thank you Jes.” She smiled back at him, he loved it when she did. When Inej had first arrived she hadn’t smiled for a very long time, but the Jesper jokes didn’t take long to crack a smile on her face. They never did. For most people.

“Go on then.”

“What?” Jesper returned.

“Ask me what it is you want to.”

She truly knew him too well, pack bond or not.

”How do we keep him safe from Kaz?”

”Kaz isn’t exactly a good man, but he’s a fair one. And I’ll speak to him.”

“And do I help him?” He asked earnestly.

“You just make sure he knows you’re there and he’s safe, whilst giving him the time and space to learn it for himself.”

“We don’t deserve you do we?”

She only smiled to herself as she threw her elbow over the back of the chair and continued to dent the table with her blade.

THUD.

Without warning a thud and crack sounded out from the roof above them. Jesper’s room. Without thinking both he and Inej had flown up from their chairs and were at the door within seconds. It was Jesper who burst through first, hands on his pistols with Inej pulling out her knives and following closely behind.

In front of them, Wylan was curled up in the corner, dressed in the pyjamas and rocking himself back and forth. Nina was stood over him with the bowl of porridge still in her hand. The dresser had been knocked over and the contents of it had spilled out over the floor in a mess.

“Jesper? I didn’t realise…”

Wylan’s face was still hidden as he rocked back and forth. The alpha wished for some divine intervention to tell him what to do but it never came. He had an overwhelming urge to protect the omega  but he found himself rooted to the spot.

That was until Inej came out from behind him and gently paced her way forwards towards Wylan. Upon noticing her scent, he looked up at her. Immediately Jesper could feel ab unspoken bond solidify between them. 

“Hello Wylan, I’m Inej. I’m an omega just like you. I know you’re scared and you’ve probably been through some terrible things. I understand that. But we’re not here to hurt you. These people, my pack, they helped me when I was like you. They’re good people, I know you won’t be able to trust that for a while but I want you to know that you’re safe here. We won’t hurt you. If it doesn’t hurt too much you should try and sit up and get back in bed. You need to rest. Let us help you.”

Nina had come to stand by Jesper, even as a beta and the person who had healed him, she seemed to understand the threat that Wylan had deemed her as. She backed away through the door as he climbed back into bed once more. Watching both Inej and Jesper the whole time as he settled in, almost like he was awaiting some kind of scolding or attack at any moment.

“Thank you Wylan.”

Jesper could sense the way she was struggling with this, the suppressed memories that were rising to the surface, the triggers that had presented themselves. You wouldn’t have known from the outside, but he could feel all of it through the pack bond.

“Inej? Do you want to check on Nina?” He knew it was the only way she would leave Wylan and that Nina would comfort her once she did.

“Yes, if you need anything I’ll be around Wylan.”

At that she was out of the door and Jesper was alone with Wylan. He was still gazing after Inej. Jesper tried not to take the reappearance of the trembling personally as he fetched the bowl of porridge.

“This is for you Wylan. You need to eat and get your strength back, okay? Just little bits at a time for now, once your stomach can take it we’ll get you something nicer. I know this amazing little stroopwaffle place around the corner. Or fruit. Or chocolate? Whatever you want.”

Wylan seemed stunned by the offer of just the porridge, he couldn’t take his eyes off the bowl but he made no attempt to reach out for it.

“Wylan? This is for you.”

To his relief, Wylan finally spoke again.

“For me si-Jesper?”

“Yes.” Jesper reaffirmed.

Tears pooled in his eyes as the omega cautiously took the bowl in his hands and reached for the spoon. He took one last look at Jesper to make sure he was okay to do so before he took a bite.

Like someone was chasing after him, he began to wolf the food down. As much as the gunslinger wanted to leave him alone he had to ask him to slow down. He didn’t want him to have to throw anything up. He definitely didn’t want him to have to endure any more pain.
But still the omega’s eyes remained fixed on the bowl, as he took spoonful after spoonful. Jesper wondered sadly how long it had been since the tiny omega had last eaten.

As he watched him, Jesper noticed the bite once again that was set in the omega’s shoulder. He wanted to ask him about it but he knew it would be a bad idea now. Better to let Wylan settle first. He was still far too scared and skittish to endure an interrogation.

As the spoon hit the bowl one last time, Wylan placed it down on the bed and looked up at Jesper. He seemed so grateful for just that small helping of porridge that Jesper wanted to wrap him in a hug, but settled for a nod instead.

“Thank you Alpha…Jesper sir.”

“Just Jesper.”

“Sorry Jesper sir.” He noticed his mistake again and bowed his head.

“That’s okay, you’ll get it.”

Wylan managed a glance up, still filled with surprise.

“I promise you now, no one will lay a finger on you while you’re here omega. I promise it on this pack, and if anyone gets close they will pay for it.”

The look of surprise changed to an unreadable one, even his scent was hard to judge. But he hoped that the omega believed that promise. As that thought dissipated in the air, it was met with the thunking of a cane, followed by the door swinging open.

“I said I wanted to speak to him when he woke up.”

Chapter Text

At once, Jesper was in between Wylan and Kaz. He didn’t need to turn around to know how the effect of a second alpha in the room was affecting Wylan.

”Didn’t I?” Kaz pressed unnervingly.

Wylan’s shaking increased tenfold, almost so much that he heard his teeth chatter together a few times. The instinct to protect overwhelmed Jesper, he felt it simmering within him dangerously, and felt it being directed towards his fellow alpha.

“Kaz why don’t we talk outside?” Jesper hissed through gritted teeth.

“I don’t want to speak to you I want to speak to him.”

The stench of fear filled the room. Spreading like wildfire. 

“Kaz, please.” He begged under his breath, praying that the signals being emitted from the terrified omega were enough for Kaz to understand his intensity. “Outside.”

He saw his eyes dart past him to Wylan, before they planted themselves back on Jesper again.

“I suppose I’ll speak to you first then.” The threat of that hung in the air, not reassuring Wylan at all, as Kaz made his way to the corridor. Jesper turned to Wylan and gave him a comforting smile.

“I’ll just be a second, don’t worry about him. He has awful manners and this intense guy thing going on.”

At that he strode towards the door. He caught sight of Kaz against the wall but didn’t speak until the door was closed.

“What is wrong with you?”

“I told you I needed to speak to him.”

“Didn’t you see the state he was in Kaz?”

“You can play hero once we know he’s worth keeping here.” Kaz sneered.

Jesper felt the rage rising within him. Especially as the two alphas of the group, they often fought. And forgot just as often. But this wasn’t any argument, Jesper knew that unlike most, he needed to win this one. Wylan’s future depended on it.

“He’s staying here. I promised him he would be safe here.”

“You should never promise what isn’t yours to give away.”

“I’m an alpha too.” Jesper growled.

“And where would you be if I hadn’t helped you? If I hadn’t convinced you to join the pack?”

“Where would Inej be if you hadn’t helped her?”

He paused at that. If only for a millisecond.

“Inej has proved herself useful a million times over. What can this omega promise?”

“His name is Wylan.”

Once again, a slight pause.

“Wylan?”

“Yes.” Jesper returned. “Please Kaz, you can speak to him soon. Clearly he has ties to the target that you can exploit. But for now let me get him healthy, let me show him some kindness for what might be the first time in his life. I know you’re a fair man deep down.”

Kaz hadn’t moved the whole time. His eyes were fixed on the door to his room where Wylan would no doubt be shaking. He was unreadable, a blank slate, Jesper had no idea if his pleas had been heard on any level.

“I will need to speak to him soon. Ready or not. He better prove his usefulness.”

“Thank you Kaz.” Jesper sighed heavily, leaning against the wall opposite him.

“Kindness is fragile Jesper. You never know when it might come back to bite you. You’d do well to remember that.”

It was followed by the familiar clunking of a cane on wooden flooring. With his nerves settled, Jesper slipped back into his room. Wide brown eyes were awaiting his, peeking out from under the covers.

“How are you feeling?”

“Im okay thank you s-Jesper.” He visibly looked ashamed of the mix up.

“Good. Don’t worry about addressing me right, I’ll take whatever you say. By the time you’re calling me just Jesper I’ll be used to it.” Jesper chuckled. “Are you nesting?”

“No sir.” Wylan choked out.

“Hey it’s okay if you are, I can get you some blankets and pillows to nest properly if you like? That way you can start to feel a bit safer in here? Would that help?”

“I’m allowed to nest?”

“All omegas should be allowed to nest.” Jesper replied gently, although he was aware of the gravity the words had on Wylan. Inej had been exactly the same. “Right I’ll go get those for you.”

He dashed out and headed for the storage room, where he grabbed everything he could and hurried back.

“Here we are.” He threw everything down and took in the omegas look of amazement. “Do you want me to leave while you sort everything?”

“You can stay sir.”

The alpha’s heart soared at that. Any progress was progress for now. He watched Wylan shuffle through some pillows and run a soft furry pillow through his fingers. However, he didn’t pick anything up, hesitating the whole time.

“Are these not okay? Is it your wrist?” Jesper asked.

“No no they’re perfect thank you Jesper sir. It’s just that…it’s been so long I think I’ve forgotten how sorry.”

He tried not to let the heartbreak of that sentence ruin him. It should be second nature for an omega to nest. The fact that he hadn’t been allowed, had been hurt so badly that it had overwritten his natural instinct to do so, stung like nothing he’d ever felt before.

“I can try to help you? I can’t say I’d be any good at it, but I do have great style.”

So that was how he found himself building a fortress of pillows. He helped Wylan drape blankets over them, then helped him cover the floor in the duvet. It wasn’t long before he stepped back and watched the omega start to rearrange and craft his nest himself.

He couldn’t help but let a soft smile hit him as he watched the omega allow himself to move without staring back at Jesper. He focused, until everything was just the way he wanted it, before settling in.

“It looks great Wylan.” Jesper praised. “Especially if it’s not been a while.”

“They said I wasn’t worth the mess.” Wylan replied as if he was stating a fact. “Mutts aren’t worth the mess. But I used to nest a lot when I was little with my mama.”

Jesper could see the memory floating in his eyes, he could tell it was a comforting, fuzzy kind of memory. It was the first time he’d seen the omega not look terrified.

“Thank you Jesper si…”

“You don’t have to ask permission for anything here okay? You just tell me what you need and I’ll get it for you. I meant it, you’re safe now. And you’re not a mutt Wylan, I won’t hear you call yourself that.”

All curled up in his nest, Wylan froze for a moment and then began to cry softly. Then a lot all at once. As much as he tried to cover it. Jesper wanted to rush in with him, the alpha within was clawing at him to jump in there and wrap his arms around him. To kiss his mop of curls and rock him back and forth telling him he was worth everything. For the first time, like with Wylan, he felt the instinct kick in.

”S-sorry sir. Mut-I shouldn’t cry sir.”

He knew Wylan wouldn’t be ready for that for a long time, but he ached for it. Pushing that aside, he tried to distract the omega, whilst still giving him the space to let all the emotions out.

“What else did your mama do?”

He collected himself a little as a few tears rolled down his cheek and he wrapped his own arms around himself, holding his wrist gingerly.

“She would mix up honey and milk to help me sleep, and she gave me a fox plushie for my birthday.” He smiled again, until it faded. “I’d always have it in my nest. I’m sure it was thrown away though.”

“I’m sorry omega. Why don’t I go and mix you up some of that honey milk? You should sleep some more, it’ll help heal all those injuries.”

“Yes, yes please. If that would be okay sir” Wylan replied earnestly.

“Okay, one second.” Jesper groaned as he jumped up from the entrance of Wylan’s nest to head down to the kitchen again.

He found Matthias there, bowl of soup in hand.

“Jesper” He mumbled.

“Matthias, Kaz hasn’t got you running errands today?” He teased.

“It appears hell must have frozen over.”

Jesper burst out in laughter as he began to heat some milk over a pan.

“How is the little one?”

“He’s still scared, but he looks much better than he did.”

“In Fjerda omegas are treated like kings and queens. Even unclaimed omegas would never feel unsafe. But here in Ketterdam…”

“Unless they’re grisha?” Jesper hit back. Before regretting it. “Sorry.”

“No you are right.” He answered calmly. “It is a great shame.”

Jesper nodded as he poured some honey from the cabinet overhead into the milk and begun to stir it.

“Milk and honey? You’ve come across some kruge Jesper?”

They only ever used it to treat wounds as an antibiotic.

“It’s for Wylan, the omega.”

“You really care about him.”

“I’m just treating him like a king.” Jesper winked at Matthias before pouring the milk into a mug. “I’ll be back once I’ve given him this.”

As he reached the top of the stairs Jesper noticed that the smell of fear and anxiety had almost completely faded. As he took two steps further, the sound of soft snoring kicked in. Grinning to himself, Jesper headed back down, storing the milk away in the fridge for later.

He turned to Matthias who was watching him amusedly.

“I didn’t manage to sleep much last night, would you be able to keep an eye on him for me? I just need to dash out and then I’ll be back to take a quick nap on the sofa.”

“Of course.”

The alpha smiled gratefully, before he rushed out. As he had told Matthias, crashing onto the sofa as he returned.

                                   ***

When he woke up, the natural light of the day had slipped away. It had to have been a good few hours, the sharpshooter hadn’t realised how exhausted he was. A blanket had been thrown over him and the familiar scent of Nina reached him. He felt her joy through the pack bond, lulling him awake and to his feet.

He found her in the kitchen, drinking a cup of tea, an empty cup was sat beside her.

“Good morning.”

“Very funny.” Jesper smirked. “It takes beauty sleep to look like this.”

“Oh trust me I know.” She batted back.

”When you spoke to Inej…is she okay?”

”I think so, she’s out tonight again though.”

“Wylan-“

“Is fine. I’ve checked him over, he’s healing albeit very slowly.”

“You checked him over?” Jesper answered in shock. “How?”

Nina only smiled and stood up, beckoning Jesper to follow her. As he did, he noticed the empty mug was the same one he had prepared for Wylan.

Once they reached the door to his room, Nina slowly pushed it open enough for them to peer in. He caught sight of Wylan in his nest. And then Matthias crossed legged by the entrance. He was talking to the omega, as Wylan drew on a piece of paper.

The sight had Nina grinning like a madman. He could feel the pride radiating through their bond as she watched the man she loved gently point at a part of Wylan’s drawing.

Jesper was surprised at how quickly he had bonded with the beta. But he supposed with the comfort of his new nest and his slowly growing trust, which he had to have started to pick up from the familiarity of their pack, it wasn’t that shocking at all.

Matthias had definitely sensed them enter, but he only now turned to look at them both.

“I’d better go now lamb, you need your rest.”

“Will you be back soon Matthias sir?” Wylan asked hesitatingly. Clearly still nervous.

“Of course.” He grinned and then shuffled past Jesper, patting his back as he joined hands with Nina and left the room.

“How are you feeling now?”

“Much better thank you Jesper.”

He carefully sat by the nest, when he felt something squished between his body and his long burgundy coat.

“Oh saints, I forgot.”

He retrieved it from his pocket and held it out for Wylan, who took it carefully in his hands and held it out in front of him. The small fox plushie was a deep orange, with a white belly and bushy tail. Wylan seemed lost for words as he stared at it.

“It is covered in my scent now though, here I can wash it for you.”

Without thinking he saw Wylan snatch it away and hold it close to him. Before he realised what he’d done.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry sir I don’t know why I did that.” He began to panic, dropping the toy and bowing his head. “I didn’t mean to.”

“Wylan it’s okay. It’s okay do you remember I said?”

But he was clearly lost in his petrified headspace. As Jesper leaned in to comfort him he remained still but flinched.

Awaiting a beating. For snatching away the toy he’d just been gifted.

“Wylan?”

“Im sorry sir, it won’t happen again I swear.” He was hyperventilating now, starting to claw at the brace that restricted his movement.

“Don’t touch that it’s okay!” As much as he tried to stay calm the panic was spreading to Jesper too. “Wylan omega, stop, You’re safe.”

He still pawed at the brace, he tried to shift himself back to the corner of the nest but put his weight on his bad wrist and fell, crying aloud. Nothing seemed to be getting through to him. The alpha knew he had to act quick before he hurt himself any further.

Suddenly, an idea hit him, Jesper picked up the plushie, rubbed it by the scent glands at his neck and held it out to Wylan.

“Here, take it omega. It’s a gift for you and it’s yours. You do whatever you want with it, okay? It’s yours. You’re safe in your nest here and with me. You don’t have to be afraid. You’re okay…that’s it.” He felt the relief kick in as Wylan began to calm. He tentatively reached out for the plushie before taking it and cuddling it against his body. As though it was the first cuddle he’d had in a long time.

“You’re okay omega.” Jesper reaffirmed.

“I’m sorry.” Wylan heaved, settling down in his nest as he continued to hug the fox plushie.

“You don’t have to be sorry for anything, you don’t have to talk about it until you’re ready but I know you’ve been through a lot. A lot of things you didn’t deserve, I don’t care how long it takes, I’ll be here to help you alright? You’re going to get better.”

Wylan nodded sadly, forcing a smile, before curling up in the nest.

”Yes sir.”

Deciding it was best to leave it there, the alpha stood. He’d let Wylan have his space in his room for a while, he’d take the sofa for as long as it took. As he mumbled a gentle goodnight he caught a flash of the drawing Wylan had done.

A lifelike wolf, surrounded by a trio of shadowy monsters.

Chapter Text

Jesper woke up on the fifth day after Wylan set up his nest, to Inej shaking him. The alpha was squished into the little sofa, his long legs hanging over the end of it. He had been going about his usual routine of working for Kaz late into the night again, after all Kaz’s work was never done.

Whatever time he had left, he had made sure to be there to bring the omega his meals. He’d spoken to him and stayed with him for short periods at a time. But for now he wanted to give Wylan his space. Allow him to come to the alpha when he was ready. But it was a painful wait.

Matthias, Nina and Inej had checked up on him, especially when he was out on jobs for Kaz. The bond between them all strengthening by the day. But that didn’t stop one fact remaining true.

“Jesper.” Inej urged. “Wake up.”

Jesper groaned and rolled over on the sofa to face her.

“Inej this body is a temple.”

“It’s time for Wylan’s breakfast and you need to eat too.”

He groaned again, but wrestled himself up into a sitting position.

“Okay.” He mumbled back gruffly. “But don’t blame me if I’m two per cent less beautiful today with you cutting down my beauty sleep.”

“I need to talk to you about something.” Inej urged.

“Go for it.”

“It’s about Wylan.”

“What about him?” He hadn’t meant for it to come out so threatening. By nature Jesper was shocked at how much he was starting to care for Wylan, and just how strongly he felt about protecting the omega.

“It’s going to be time soon, especially since he’s claimed, for the rejection syndrome.”

“Oh.”

Jesper had almost completely forgotten about that. And suddenly the pieces clicked back into place. It wasn’t just that Wylan had been programmed to be so obedient and scared, but he was still claimed by their pack. Even if it was weak he’d still be feeling their emotions, he’d still be linked to them that way. Until he wasn’t.

“It’s going to be hard for him, but he’s getting stronger by the day. Most of the cuts and bruises are gone, the bones will be following suit. He’s in a much better place to survive it.”

He remembered back to when Inej had arrived from the menagerie. She’d been part of an ‘omega special.’ The name alone still made his skin crawl. He knew that the barrel and most of Ketterdam were not kind to the omegas. But this perverse treatment of them left a sour taste in all their mouths, so they hadn’t questioned it too much when Kaz brought her home.

It, of course, made sense when he explained how useful she was going to be.

But as she had been claimed by alpha Tante Heleen, she had to undergo the rejection syndrome. It was like a withdrawal, as the bond between alpha and omega was broken. The alphas would always survive, but for the omegas it was much more touch and go. They had to want to get through it, and have to survive the emotional and physical toll.

A sharp pain jabbed at his stomach as Jesper realised that Wylan would have to go through this soon.

“But I can sense it, it’s close. Wylan’s body is rejecting the pack. But I don’t know if his mind is caught up yet. He’ll need you there to help him Jes.” She spelt out.

“Kaz-“

“I’ll deal with that.”

“Inej the last time I thought I was helping him I scared the life out of him.”

“Is that why you’ve been avoiding him?”

“I’ve not been avoiding him.” Jesper hit back. “I just don’t want to make anything worse.”

“In the best way Jesper, from what he’s been through I don’t think you can. I’ll talk to Kaz, you make sure you’re spending time here.”

At that she was up and out of the room like a brush of light. Sweeping through the corridors and up to her room.

He had to be there for Wylan.

Even if it terrified him as much as it probably did the omega.

Trying to brush the anxiety off, Jesper prepared some more of the porridge. On the way home the night before he had stopped by a market stall and left some coins beside the empty space where a jam jar had resided. He took a spoonful of the jam and hurried up to his room.

Knocking and stepping in, he saw Wylan awake, and to his surprise, out of the den. He still froze up slightly as Jesper wandered in, but it was progress.

“Good morning Wy, here’s your food. I have a little treat for you as well.” He handed the bowl over happily. “A little bit of jam, we’ll see how your stomach handles it.”

Wylan took the bowl in his hands and sat cross legged against the bed, facing Jesper, to tuck in.

“Thank you Jesper sir.” He smiled, his sweet little smile. It was growing less forced by the day and the alpha couldn’t wait for the day he could meet that true smile.

“Wylan I need to talk to you about something…” The sharpshooter began.

Wylan dropped the spoon into his porridge and looked up at him with his big sad eyes. The sight of them still left him reeling even now.

“I need to leave. You want me to go don’t you? I have to go. Have they found me? Did they offer you kruge to take me back?”

”Wylan-“

”Did they threaten you? Please don’t make me go, I’ll be good I swear-“

“Woah, Wylan I told you you’re safe and we wouldn’t let anyone hurt you again. And you haven’t seen Kaz properly pissed off yet. He’ll definitely make sure of it” Jesper chuckled. “No it’s about the bite. Well, about the fact that it could be fading soon.”

Realisation clouded over him, he knew what the alpha was talking about.

“They told me I’d never survive it.” Wylan admitted sadly. “That I was too weak and pathetic, so there was no point trying to run.”

“And they were wrong.” He hadn’t thought as the words tumbled out of his mouth. But Jesper wouldn’t have changed them if he had.

“You’re strong Wylan, you’re going to be just fine. And I’ll be here with you for all of it.”

The omega cast his eyes down at the floor. ”I know I’ve thought about it before, but I was wrong, I don’t want to die.”

”You won’t die.” He had to make sure Wylan believed it.

“Why are you being so nice to me?” Wylan piped up.

The question had taken him aback a little. Even with life in the barrel, he’d gotten used to the comfort and safety of his pack. He’d never questioned their love and loyalty. He couldn’t imagine ever asking why they cared about him, they just did, and vice versa. But he searched for an answer now.

“…I think that you’re the kind of person that deserves the world, omega, and I’m sorry that they’ve made you believe anything but.” Jesper muttered soothingly.

Grateful tears swam in his eyes as Wylan picked his spoon back up and finished off his porridge, before he clambered back into his nest. Jesper took this as his sign to leave, picking up the bowl and getting ready to leave, when he was surprised yet again by the omega.

“They never left me any food, so I would eat their leftovers from the bin when they slept. It wasn’t awful, but I didn’t like how it made me feel.” He tilted his head and his messy curls flopped to one side as he did. “Thank you for the jam Jesper.”

The alpha choked down his own tears and nodded with a watery smile. He knew that was one of many horrible truths he would be hearing about Wylan’s former pack, but it felt good to know that he was trusting him with this one.

“Will you stay with me? If that would be okay?” His voice was small, but that didn’t matter. Jesper was listening.

“Of course Wylan.” He sat by the entrance to the nest and pulled his knees into his chest. “I told you whatever you needed.”

Wylan fiddled with the fox plushie as he clearly pondered over what he wanted to say next.

“Will you bite me once this one fades?” Wylan asked nervously.

“Bite you? No omega, why do you think I would do that?”

“Isn’t that why I’m here? To be your omega now?”

Jespers heart sunk a little at the implications of that.

“No, no of course not. You’re here because I couldn’t stand to leave you with that other pack. Not to steal you from them and force you to live the same life. Your freedom is yours now Wylan, you choose what to do with it.”

This seemed to settle something in the omega, even if he still didn’t completely believe it.

“Thank you Jesper.”

“You don’t have to keep thanking me.” Jesper chuckled.

“I do. No one…other than my mama, has ever been this kind to me.”

“I told you, you’re here now. You’re one of us if you want to be. I know the rejection syndrome will be hard, but I also know that you can get through this. Once it’s done, once you don’t have to feel them at all anymore, I hope you can start to move on.”

And he truly meant it. He sat with Wylan the rest of the day after that. Kaz never called on him, and so they just sat in one another’s company. It never felt awkward, even when they didn’t speak. It was the closest he’d felt to the omega since he’d arrived. Even from five feet away.

                                   ***

Two mornings passed with no sign of the rejection syndrome kicking in. As much as the alpha could sense its impending arrival. It was setting him on edge, and clearly Wylan too. Jesper had reassured him many times that he’d be okay, but he could also tell that the omega didn’t believe him. He’d hurried to find Nina, desperate to smother his nerves.

”There must be something we can do? Can we trigger or delay it? Anything other than just wait for it?”

”There isn’t Jes. You just have to be there for him.”

”Inej said the same thing.” He mumbled, resigned to slouching down on his chair.

”She got through it didn’t she? You remember what that was like?”

”Inej was different. You know it.”

As much as it pained him to admit it, they were much more sure of Inej’s survival when she’d undergone it. He was truly worried that the strain would be too much for Wylan’s body to handle.

”I’ve already checked over his wounds, even though we have to leave a lot of the dressings on for now he’s healing well. And he survived that long under clearly awful abuse. He’s tough Jes.”

Nina gave him a comforting smile as she waked over and sat opposite him.

”You’re right. You’re always right, second only to me.” He shot back.

”I’m glad you know it.”

She’d left him alone after heading over to heal a member of the dregs who had been hurt at the club the previous night. Still feeling the anxiety, but with a renewed sense of hope.

                                 ***

He’d been sat with Wylan for a few hours, the omega had slept and now he was scrawling away at his notepad, glancing up every few seconds anxiously.

“What are you drawing?” Jesper smiled, he himself was sat shuffling a deck of cards.

”N-nothing sir.”

”It’s okay, I’m just asking. But you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to.”

It was always hard not to take Wylan’s fear personally.

”I’m drawing a fox.” He’d mumbled gently.

”Oh amazing, I do love an artiste, can I see it?”

Wylan paused for a brief moment, before he held the notebook up to him with shaky hands. It was incredible of course. The drawing was sleek and professional, as though he’d been drawing them his whole life.

”Wow you’re so talented.” Jesper breathed. “You must have had a lot of practise.”

”Before the pack sir.”

He’d said it in a way that told him not to ask questions, but Jesper banked it for later nonetheless.

”Well now you can draw whatever you like we’ll have to frame some of it.”

Wylan again, looked at him in pure confusion.

”My w-work sir?”

”Of course, anything that beautiful deserves to be seen by the world.”

The omega had started to draw even slower after that, even more meticulous and careful. Jesper hoped it hadn’t been in fear, but in a hopeful and artistic kind of way.

                                    ***    

That night, from the sofa, Jesper awoke to the sound of screaming. He sprinted upstairs, to where Inej and Matthias were standing. Kaz and Nina were out, so it left those two, wearing pained expressions and seemingly worrying out of their minds.

“He’ll need you, especially an alpha.” Inej pushed quickly. “Remind him he can get through it.”

”Aren’t you coming in?” Jesper blurted out.

”I shouldn’t.”

“You have experience maybe you should be there.” Jesper retaliated. “Matthias back me up here?”

“I’ll be here if you need me, but he doesn’t need a crowd and he’s bonded the most with you.“

“You can do it.” Mathias added.

”I’ll be in soon.” Inej promised.

He said he would, he swore to Wylan he’d be there for him. Even if commitment wasn’t his strong suit, he stuck to his promises.

Jesper gritted his teeth and nodded, as Matthias headed to find some water and ice, and Inej some medication. He tiptoed into his room where Wylan was writhing in his nest. His small body was contorting as he dealt with the agony of the rejection syndrome. it was even worse than he’d remembered.

Jesper crept forward to the nest, moving slowly so as not to scare the omega.

“Jesper? Sir?” He heaved.

“I’m here. I’m here.”

“It hurts.” He cried.

“I know, I know but I’m here. You’re doing so well Wylan. Inej has gone to get her old medication and Mathias will get ice and water for the fever. You’re in the worst of it now but it will pass. You can do this.”

The omega only sobbed, burying his head in a pillow and shouting.

“I can feel them, they’re so angry.” Wylan howled.

“Don’t let them win, you can do this I know you can. You’re free once this is over, they won’t hold anything over you anymore.”

For the first time, the defeat was wiped from Wylan’s eyes. Replacing it, there was fire. He grabbed the plushie and took a deep breath as the pain visibly ripped through him.

“Please don’t leave.” Wylan begged.

“I’m not going anywhere.”

Matthias came in first, he gave the omega a cloth that had the ice wrapped in it to help cool him down. Inej followed soon after, the medication took some time to kick in but when it had it offered Wylan some respite. Inej had stayed for a little while to talk Wylan through everything, she shared her story of it which calmed him a lot. Before she had to leave to carry Jesper’s share of Crow work. He’d smelt her as she’d walked past the door every hour though.

But for now he was sat by the omega, clothes and hair drenched in sweat. Panting and weary, eyes droopy, but alive. He managed to heave his eyelids open long enough to stare into the alphas eyes dazedly.

“Can I hold your hand alpha?”

Jesper didn’t answer, instead he found Wylan’s smaller, softer hand and joined it in his. It felt…right. He noted that it had been the first time he’d touched Wylan since he’s carried him to the slat. That was it, he was finally starting to trust him. Even if it was slight.

”I’m doing it?”

”Yes you are omega, you’re doing so well.” He assured him soothingly. “You’re almost there now.”

”I can hear him. He says I’m a mutt who needs to be put down. He says if I live he’ll kill me. He…he won’t be quiet.” Wylan managed to get out, stuck between delirious and strained.

”You tell him he doesn’t know you like we do. You’re strong Wylan, you’re doing so so well.”

”I want to sleep, will you stay here?” 

“I’m not going anywhere.”

For the next two days Wylan thrashed in pain. He burnt up, didn’t eat and just about slept. As much as the gunslinger wanted to take it away he couldn’t. Instead, he never left the omegas side. He sat there the whole time, clinging to the smaller hand. Him and Wylan against the world, for the very first time.

Jesper himself was terrified too. Every time the omega’s breath became shallow, or the rise and fall of his chest slower. Every time he laid too still or the wheezing of his chest stopped. He felt his heart lurch each time, but Wylan was stronger than even he had given him credit for. He was a fighter.

                                    ***

”Did it last this long…?” He trailed off.

”Yes, it was three days for me. He’s doing well.”

”What if he dies?”

”He won’t die.” Inej reassured him.

”I told him he’d survive it.”

”And he will.”

”How do you know that?”

”Because I did it.” She sounded so sure it settled something in him.

”I can stay with him a while? You need to sleep too.”

“I’m fine.”

”You’ll be no use to him half-dead yourself. Go and sleep.”

He’d nodded and accepted Inej’s offer to sleep in her bed until he woke up and came to sit with the omega again. If anyone would be some comfort Wylan now it would be her.

                                   ***

“Jesper? Sir?”

On the final day, Wylan woke up. His skin wasn’t as pale, and wasn’t soaked in sweat. He wasn’t confused or delirious, burning up or crying out in pain. He was the healthiest he’d seen him yet. He was alive.

Jesper had been watching him as he awoke, he’d been too frightened to sleep for anything longer than two hours at a time. So he was there when Wylan sat up, relief gripping at him at last.

”How are you feeling?” He asked hopefully.

”I’m okay, thank you. I feel okay.”

”And…and the bond?”

Wylan paused, inhaling heavily, almost in disbelief as he finally exhaled and stared up at him.

”It’s gone. I don’t feel them anymore.” He saw the most real and beautiful smile he’d ever seen, grace the omega’s lips. “They’re gone.”

”You’re free omega.”

He knew that their work was far from over. Wylan had a long way to go yet. Physically, but mostly mentally. But this was the most hopeful he’d been yet, the journey to recovery was just beginning.

Chapter Text

Jesper hated science. Of course, as a man with almost magical abilities, you could see how he would already be opposed to it. But now, it was biology that he despised. Wylan was now an unclaimed omega as of the day before. And his scent had grown tenfold.

As much as he tried to keep away, to distract himself, anything. He knew he was being drawn towards the omega. He knew how dangerous that was with a man that needed the space and time that Wylan did. But he’d already distanced himself before, he couldn’t do it again. The predicament was toying with him. An unclaimed omega, right here in his home who needed love and care but space and time.

He found himself in the kitchen at 2am, after desperately trying to send himself off into an unconscious oblivion and having given up. He decided to wrestle himself up off the sofa and to make a little snack in the hope that it would clear his mind. So, as he spread a hefty spoon of jam over one slice of toast, he jumped at an entirely new sound he hadn’t expected.

Jesper spun quickly on his heels to see Wylan stood in the doorway at the foot of the tattered stairs. How he’d been able to be so quiet he had no idea. But he was there in front of him, big brown eyes and soft curls, an endearing and sickly sweet smell. Saints.

“Jesper sir. I…I couldn’t….” He trailed off. “I am very sorry I shouldn’t be here I-I only…”

“Wylan this is your home now, you don’t need permission to walk around in it.” Jesper smiled, trying to keep his mind off the intoxicating scent.

“Thank you.” He looked up through his eyelashes, gazing past him at the slice of toast.

“Are you hungry?”

Wylan didn’t reply but he didn’t need to as an extended growl erupted from his stomach in the patch of silence they found themselves in. And then almost as if it had heard the demanding cry of another stomach, Jesper’s growled back in response.

“I’m sorry.” Wylan whispered.

Jesper chuckled fondly, and for the first time  a soft brief laugh even escaped Wylan’s lips. The alpha found himself wondering how long it had been since Wylan had laughed. He caught it quickly though, and his usual nervous disposition retook him.

“Well I think we’re both in need of a midnight snack aren’t we? You’ve been through a lot.” Jesper motioned for Wylan to sit as he turned around and started to lather the second slice of toast he had intended for himself. As he turned around Wylan was still hovering by the table.

“You don’t have to sit if you don’t want to.”

“Sorry, only I just…you mean at the table sir?”

“Of course I don’t mean for you to sit on the floor, the body is a temple and all that…” Jesper drifted off as he realised the implications of Wylan’s reluctance to sit. “They didn’t let you sit at a table?”

“No sir.”

Jesper sighed sadly. Before an idea struck him. He raised his hands to tell Wylan he wouldn’t hurt him, and began to slowly walk over to him. He saw Wylan tense up, but he did his best to move as slowly and deliberately as possible until he reached the chair the omega was stood by. He carefully reached over and pulled it out from under the table, before motioning to Wylan.

“My lord.” He bowed as low as he could, with a huge grin on his face, as Wylan stared back at him in confusion. “Would you do me the honour of joining me for midnight supper?”

Wylan cautiously stepped forward and allowed himself to sit as Jesper tucked his chair in. He then hurried over to the counter and served the slice of toast in front of him with a clink as the porcelain hit the wooden table.

“I’m sorry, I know a nobleman such as yourself deserves only the finest of delicacies, but tonight it’s jam on toast.”

A knowing smile crept onto Wylan’s lips.

“Thank you Jesper sir.”

“There you are, now the sir makes sense as well.” Jesper returned a smile, taking a bite of his toast as he sat opposite the omega. Wylan hesitated again, staring down at the food.

“Go on, it’s for you. Your stomach should be strong enough for some proper solids now I hope.”

Gently, Wylan picked up the bread and took a small bite of the toast. His eyes never left Jesper, as though he was waiting for a reaction. But of course it never came.

“And how is the food my lord?”

“It’s very nice thank you.”

“You’re too kind, I just stuck some bread over the stove and spread some jam on it.”

“It’s the best thing I’ve eaten in long time.”

The alphas heart sunk again. It was harder to read Wylan since the rejection syndrome. As the fear was slowly starting to subside, his scent gave away much less of his feelings. Without a pack bond it was hard to know what he was thinking. Especially as Jesper was only ever with his pack or staring down an enemy. He didn’t need a bond to know what they were thinking.

“I was never allowed anything but the scraps. I wouldn’t be permitted to sit at the table either. They would make me serve them though, even when my stomach rumbled sir.” The omegas voice was quieter as he bowed his head down towards the table.

“What they did you was wrong.”

The toast still only had one bite taken out of it.

“Do you still feel them?” Jesper asked impulsively.

He paused for a few moments before the omega replied.

“No. Not through a pack bond anymore. But I still hear them.”

Of course, of course they hadn’t just gone away. Something in the alpha had hoped for it but it would have been a miracle. He wanted to smother Wylan in affection, he wanted him to trust them all. But he knew that would be a long road to walk. As frustrating as it was starting to feel.

“They’ll fade.”

He wished Wylan would look up again, he wanted to see that he believed that. But nothing.

”I meant what I said, you're safe here. We’re going to look after you. You don’t have to be afraid, you shouldn’t ever be afraid.”

Wylan’s honey-like scent started to radiate off of him, as much as Jesper wanted to take it simply as a sign of something good, he felt it start to consume him. Like a slowly filling pool in his stomach, he felt the urge to be closer to the omega. To touch him, to-

“You’re both here, good.” Kaz’s voice cut through the tension like a knife. “We finally get a chance to speak.”

Suddenly the scent was gone, and he was left with Wylan staring at him in fear.

“I know cool and mysterious is your thing but for once if you could sense the tone-“

“I’m Kaz Brekker. You are Wylan.”

Wylan had stood up again, his back had found a wall and he was still looking down at the floor.

“Yes sir.”

“Just Wylan?”

“Kaz-“ Jesper began.

“You’ve somehow survived the rejection syndrome I’ve been told. Which now leaves us with an unclaimed omega.”

“Kaz where are you-?”

“An unclaimed omega with a bounty. A 50,000 kruge reward actually. Your old pack are very eager to see you back.”

Jesper started to move in front of Wylan when he noticed the omega flinch away and begin to tremble.

“Do you have to be like this? You’re scaring him.”

“How many people in the barrel are scared Jesper? Does that stop you killing them if I ask? Does it give them free boarding and supplies? So omega, what can you do for us if we allow you to stay here?”

“Kaz he’s still healing.”

“He looks pretty healed to me.”

“Not just physically.”

He gave Kaz daggers, praying that for once they’d be sharp enough for him to slow down but he didn’t. Or he didn’t care.

“So?”

Wylan’s shaking was only getting worse.

“I-I d-don’t know sir. I’m sorry. P-please don’t t-take me-e back there.” His breathing becoming more staggered. “Wh-what would you want f-from me?”

Jesper’s heart lurched uncomfortably. He knew if Inej had been there some knives would have been flying by now.

“Wylan it’s okay, relax okay, Kaz was just leaving now.” Jesper urged the omega.

“I don’t sell people omega. I’ve been told you used to supply them with chemical weapons.”

“I d-Did sir.”

“Any kind?”

“W-whatever they asked sir.”

“If I found you the supplies, you’d be able to do the same for us?” Kaz pushed.

“Kaz will you listen to m-” Jesper argued.

“Yes sir.” Wylan’s voice was small.

“Then you begin in two days, in return we keep you safe and fed. He’s all yours again Jesper. And for saints sake give him some scent suppressors. We don’t want news of a new omega that’s miraculously turned up in the crow pack, spreading. People here talk for less than 50,000 kruge.” With the clunk of a cane he was gone.

Of course, why hadn’t he remembered that? Thank the saints, not only for the power that came with having the scent suppressors, but for saving him from this situation from here on in. He could….

He was broken out of his thoughts as Wylan slid down the wall, frozen still. Jesper immediately sunk down to his knees beside him, wildly gesticulating as he did.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry Wylan he’s a complete podge.”

“You- you said…you said….” The omega barely managed to get the words out as he attempted to inhale sharply.

“I know, he’s a podge like I said. But a fair man, he wouldn’t let you go back there Wylan. I swear to you, on my life I know he would never do that.”

“But….he…h-he sa-id.”

“I know he was just trying to scare you. A tactic that anyone with a heart would realise was a terrible idea here.”

Wylan was still struggling to take in any air. He was going to strangle Kaz for doing this. Why he’d think it was a good idea for him to intimidate Wylan when he’d been abused by alphas for years was beyond him. The alpha was panicking himself now, as he wildly tried to figure out how to calm the small man in front of him. He wanted to help but he just didn’t know how. Until he did.

”And as lord of this place I’m sure you’d have the last word.”

Wylan seemed to hear the return of this game and with a brief look up, it was clear he was starting to regain some control over his breathing again. As he had before, much to Jesper’s surprise, he reached out for the alpha’s hand. And upon Jesper giving him his, he had begun to still and breathe through his nose slowly.

“I’d rather die than go back sir.”

“I won’t let it come to that.”

”They’re still after me. They’ll be looking.”

”They’ll be dead men even if they did somehow find you.” Jesper growled protectively. His alpha taking over at the suggestion of them coming for Wylan. He gently rubbed the omegas thumb with his own. Whether that was for his or the latter’s benefit he had no clue.

“Would I be allowed to go back to my nest please?”

“Of course you would.”

Wylan slowly found his way back up to standing, clutching at his chest as he did. As he began to shuffle towards the stairs, still with an eye on Jespers whereabouts at all times, he caught sight of the sofa and stopped dead.

“H-have you been sleeping here sir?”

“It’s more comfortable than it looks honestly.”

They both looked to the tiny, murky green looking seat. Wylan stared much longer though.

“For me?”

“Well I didn’t want you to be uncomfortable omega, I told you I care about you.”

Wylan’s mouth fell open, and he looked at Jesper as though he was some kind of angel that had fallen from the sky.

“Thank you.”

Jesper only nodded, unsure of how to respond to this show of unbridled gratitude. He very rarely did such pure things to inspire appreciation.

“B-but it’s your room sir. I wouldn’t want to take it from you.” 

 Jesper longed for his own bed once more. Him not sleeping had started all of this. But between Wylan’s scent and him not wanting to rush the man, especially after Kaz’s outburst, it didn’t seem like the best shout.

“I don’t want you to feel guilty okay omega? It’s been a humbling experience that I was probably owed to be honest.” Jesper laughed. “I’m okay here.”

“Do you?”

He paused.

“I wouldn’t be opposed to it.”

Wylan looked up at him, letting himself hold his head high.

“So I will be in my nest on the other side of the room?”

“And I’d be in my bed.”

“I know.”

He couldn’t imagine how brave Wylan had to be to trust him like that. Maybe he was starting to have more faith in him than he’d realised. 

“I don’t have to be if it’s too soon.”

”Its okay sir”

”Alright, well you can change your mind at any time. I’ll also go and get those scent suppressors. Would that be okay?”

Kaz’s suggestion was the only reason he was agreeing to this so he hoped the omega would consent to it.

“Yes please sir.”

“After you then my liege.” Matthias would be proud of the whole sentiment. “And about the weapons I’ll talk to Kaz so don’t worry ab-“

But Wylan had already started to climb the stairs. With a brief exhale, Jesper followed after him slowly and called out softly.

“So you know your way around a chemistry set do you?”

Chapter Text

Wylan

He knew it was coming. He’d tried his hardest to be silent as he crawled from where he had been sleeping on the floor, to the bin. He had tried to move slowly, to barely even breathe but it hadn’t been enough. The bin had creaked as he’d opened it. That was enough to seal his fate.

But he had been desperate, he had to try to make it to the small waste bin that was tucked in the corner of the kitchen. He couldn’t sleep, the pain of pure hunger had forced him to at least attempt to relieve his suffering. At any cost. Even in spite of the terror that had gripped him as he had.

Footsteps approached as he tried to shuffle back to his sleeping spot, but it was too late.

“You greedy whore.” The voice cut through him. “What have we told you?”

A hand lashed out and gripped his wrist in a vice-like grip. Wylan whimpered and kept his eyes to the floor as he had been trained to enough times.

“I-I e-eat when I’m t-told sir.” Wylan’s voice quivered back.

“So what are you doing?”

“I-I…I haven’t eaten in f-four days s-sir.”

The man tensed up, revealing the path they were about to go down. He crept closer to him, before he leant down beside him. Wylan kept his eyes to the floor. He resisted the urge to rock back and forth as the man leaned into him, still holding his wrist painfully tight.

“You eat when we say you eat, you ungrateful little shit.”

“Y-yes s-sir.”

The electricity bolted through him, from his neck through his veins. It was a sharp assault that seized his body at once and rendered him a writhing mess on the floor.

“P-please sir!” The omega cried. He was sure his pain and fear were radiating through the pack bond. He hated that. He was sure it was what they got off on.

Eventually the pain subsided and Wylan began to return to his body in a haze. The alpha-omega claim that was staked into him lit up as he sensed the presence of the full pack returning.

“You’re in a lot of trouble now.” Rough hands dragged him into the small cellar. A short chain was forced onto his collar and attached to a hook in the wall. He could only move a few feet from there, if he even dared to. This was the worst room in the house, this is where the stuff of nightmares happened.

The other alphas slowly descended down the steps, joining the third. They circled him, entrapping him like predators.

“What’s the little bitch done now?”

“Caught him trying to take food. Didn’t I pretty?”

“After all we do for him? You used to better you little slut?”

Wylan’s heart thudded, it pounded like a beast in his chest. He tried to ignore it but he couldn’t think of anything else, he couldn’t stood himself trembling or his breath shaking as they all circled him. Taunting him. Playing with him.

“Well someone needs to be punished don’t they?”

“You never learn do you?”

He felt the glob of slimy spit coat his cheek.

“Pathetic.”

“It’s my turn.”

“You got him last time.”

“It is his turn.”

Turns. Like he was nothing. He tried to cower away, but there was nowhere to hide in the tiny dark room. He was exposed, and al he could do was wait.

“You haven’t had the belt in a while have you?”

The last time he’d been beaten with the belt Wylan couldn’t walk for a week. They had also burned his feet so he’d struggle even more. And then they’d told him he had to clean the house and wash up or they’d mark him enough for the pain to last another week. It had been pure agony, and every second of every day before it had healed again, had been limitless torture.

“P-lease I’ll be good! I won’t take food again I swear!” He cried. “Please don’t!”

But his pleas fell on deaf ears.

A harsh whack rung out in the tiny space, as Wylan felt the beginning of a bright red welt start to form on his back. As much as he tried not to, the scream escaped him.

“Ah ah ah. What did we say about you making noise? Only when I want to hear you purr.”

This was nothing yet, the worst was still to come.

                                     ***

Jesper

The first night back on a bed was bliss. Jesper had handed the scent suppressors to Wylan and he had taken them gladly. The knowledge of the bounty his former pack had put on him couldn’t have been easy to push from his mind. Between that and a somewhat stranger being in the same room as him, he had clearly been nervous.

As he came to think of it they really didn’t know much about one another yet.

Trying to take the lead, the alpha had settled down facing away from the omega, who was pressed against the wall of his nest and clutching his fox in his lap. After a little while Jesper had heard the rustling of him getting settled. To his great relief.

Now he woke up, stretching out in all of the extra room he now had, vowing to never take it for granted again. He peered over to see Wylan still curled up asleep, and decided to go down to make some breakfast. He was just making it towards the kitchen when he heard hushed whispers. As he creeped closer he could make out Nina’s voice.

“You need to be careful Inej, if they find out you’re the one doing all of this-“

“They won’t. Don’t worry.”

“Nina just means that you are an omega…out there alone. It isn’t safe.” Matthias’ low tone rung out.

“Where is?”

“At least tell us so we can come with you.” Nina pleaded.

“I need to do this. Please, just keep it to yourselves.”

“Maybe it is better the Dejmin knows, he can help you.”

“He won’t help me.”

“You’d be surprised.” Nina’s sarcasm leaked through.

With his stomach threatening to rumble and expose him, as well as the fact that he was never one to keep his opinion to himself, Jesper noisily stepped down into the kitchen.

“Is everything okay here?”

“Of course, of course. How is Wylan?” Nina replied swiftly.

“Inej?” Jesper asked lightly.

“I’m fine. How is he?”

“You should tell him. And he’s okay, as okay as he can be.”

Nina sighed and hurried over to where she was frying something that smelled delicious. Matthias was sat at the table a seat away from Inej who was staring out the window. He knew her well enough to know she no longer wanted to linger on this conversation. He’d speak to her about it properly later.

“Kaz wants him to work, starting from tomorrow.” Jesper admitted. He knew what it would do to Inej, and as guilty as he felt, she was the only one the alpha would listen to.

“He what?” Nina burst out, turning away from the pan. “Even for Kaz that’s a bit intense isn’t it?”

“I’ll sort it.” Inej replied, clearly shocked by this revelation. “Don’t worry.”

“Thank you. He’s just not ready yet.”

”Of course he isn’t.” 

Relief blossomed through him, he knew Wylan wasn’t ready yet, but at least he knew why the omega was still being left alone by Kaz. He was valuable to him, which meant he had a place here for now.

“Inej how many pancakes do you want?”

“I’m not hungry.”

“You have to eat, tell her Jesper.”

“You have seen the posters? They are looking for the lamb.” Nina immediately elbowed Matthias as he said it. “What?”

“He’s here now, they’ll have to tear me apart before they get to him.” The gunslinger answered defiantly. Although he did notice Inej shift in her chair as he did. He looked over to her to see her gazing back.

“Be careful Jes.”

”I could say the same thing.”

He was about to inquire on what she was talking about when he heard the creaking of the bottom step. He didn’t turn around, he didn’t need to.

“Wylan?” Jesper asked, looking out into the doorway where the omega was huddled.

“Sorry. It’s just-you said it would be okay if I….”

“Of course it is, come on, we’re having breakfast.”

“If you’d like to join us?” Inej asked softly, suddenly back in the room with them all.

Cautiously, he stepped out into the room where the pack were all bustling around. Jesper was surprised at how well Wylan was doing with being surrounded by quite a few people at once. He hoped that it was a positive sign.

“Good morning lamb.” Matthias smiled heartily as the omega slinked forwards closest to Jesper.

”Good morning, Matthias sir.”

He lingered there Jesper, as if waiting for an order. Or maybe he felt safe there.

“It’s okay Wy, sit down next to me, Nina’s made pancakes.”

“Maple syrup or powdered sugar?” Nina asked him.

To no response.

They all turned to look at the omega. The sudden shift in atmosphere had clearly startled him and left him feeling vulnerable.

“I-I…..”

“Could I have both on the side please Nina? And the same for you Wylan?” Inej offered, clearly stepping in to settle Wylan whose eyes snapped down.

They all seemed to understand in that moment, that the best thing to do here was act normally and allow Wylan to come to them.

“Kaz has us both on a mission later, we’ll be out late. Some patrol of the harbour.” Nina mumbled as she began plating up the food.

“The harbour?” Jesper asked, remembering his failed mission there and the fact that he’d lied to Kaz about it.

“Yes something about an old debt. You know Kaz.” She added.

“Here I will help you.” Matthias pushed his chair back quickly to help Nina hand out the food. Jesper noticed Wylan jump at this, as he rested his hand next to the omegas on the table.

Matthias handed the plates out, starting with Inej, then Wylan’s and Jesper’s before taking his and Nina’s. They were now all tucked cozily around the table, nattering away as the sun peaked through the few windows they had.

Jesper began to tuck in, ravenously tearing through the pancakes. They were of course, fucking delicious. No one cooked like Nina did, any day the beta was in the kitchen the table would often be full. He carried on, when Inej elbowed him in the ribs.

“Oof. W-hat the he-ll ‘Nej.” He mumbled, his mouth full of pancakes and sweet maple syrup. He noticed her glance at Wylan and then back to him incredulously. It didn’t take long for him to work out why.

Wylan hadn’t even touched the fork as he stared down at the table, glancing up through his eyelashes every few seconds to stare longing at them. Still, his arms remained rigid by his sides as the others slowly noticed too.

“So, there must be something to stop this one’s snoring-“ Nina began, distracting the attention away from him and Wylan. Jesper shot her a grateful smile and then turned to the omega.

“Are you not hungry Wylan?” He asked gently.

“I-I…am I allowed to eat too sir?” His voice was timid as he hurriedly answered.

Jesper only smiled.

“Of course, just like our midnight snack yesterday my liege.” Wylan returned a soft smile. “The others will treat you exactly the same as I do Wy, you can trust them like you can trust me. I trust them all with my life.”

This seemed to relax the fearful omega somewhat, he cautiously reached for his spoon as he looked up at the others who took no notice. Taking this as a sign that the alpha was telling the truth, Wylan picked it up and cut up a small piece of the pancakes. Hesitantly, he brought it to his lips and took a small bite.

“Good?”

Wylan’s eyes had lit up, he licked his lips and looked up at Jesper happily.

“It’s incredible. Can I eat more?”

“You can eat until your hearts content omega, I’m sure Nina made extra if you’re still hungry as well.”

An endearing look of surprise settled on his face as Jesper found himself watching the omega eat joyfully. He seemed ready for someone to snatch it away at any moment, but still content nonetheless. Looking at him, it was obvious his former pack had starved him. Who knew how else they had weaponised his hunger against him.

Inej hadn’t finished much of her food before she stood and bid them all goodbye for the day, offering Wylan a cheery look as she did. He knew he had to make time to speak to her soon, the work she was doing was honourable but dangerous. With him caught up looking after Wylan and the other two on regular jobs for Kaz, she needed to be much more careful.

“We need to fix up our room, it’s looking as miserable as this kitchen.” Nina’s admission snapped him out of his trance.

“When we have time.” Matthias joked back. “The Dejmin has no regard for our free time.”

“I’m thinking a purple, maybe some decoration.” She sung. “What do you think Wylan? Would you paint a room purple?”

He froze, before looking to Jesper who nodded encouragingly.

“I like blue, a light blue miss.” He returned quietly.

“That could be nice, we could paint some purple flowers on top?”

“If they were a darker colour it would contrast very nicely, maybe with some orange marigolds…maybe, sorry, miss.”

“Do you like painting too?” Jesper quizzed, recalling Wylan’s drawing.

“I-I used to.”

The idea hit the alpha like a lightning strike, he struggled to contain his excitement as he worked out the best way to ask the omega.

“Why don’t we help out Matthias and Nina later? Whilst you two were gone we could help paint your room? What do you say?”

“So long as the lamb is in charge.” Matthias retorted.

“Please that would save me.” Nina chuckled. “But I do agree, Wylan will have to be in charge.”

”M-me?”

”Of course, we trust you, and I’m sure anything you do would be a hundred times better than anything Matthias attempted.”

“Coming from you?”

The two turned to one another and laughed, a smile graced Wylan’s lips as he watched this.

”I will try my hardest, I swear.”

”Thank you lamb.”

                                    ***

A few hours had passed, Wylan had asked to be allowed back up to his nest and of course Jesper had agreed and insisted that he be the one to clean up. And so, he quickly tidied and then hurried into the market to find some new bullets and a fresh painting set. He’d found the first item on his list from his regular stall, and then headed for the paints.

Arriving at a little store, he started to browse around for a large tub of blue paint and something special for Wylan to have. He asked the attendant who had been only too happy to help, she’d lightly brushed over his arm as he reached over to try a paintbrush, and normally the gunslinger would’ve seized the moment. She was gorgeous and smelled divine, like strawberries and lemon, but nonetheless he focused on the job at hand.

As the smell of honey and milk stayed fresh on his mind.

She had pointed out a wooden box set that was full of vivid colours, fine paintbrushes laid out in a fold out shelf below them. It was perfect. He bartered a little, maybe used a few of his many flirting skills as he had to keep up the practise, and then thanked her and left.

He returned as Nina and Matthias were leaving.

”Hey, I just wanted to thank you both. I think this will really help.”

”Thank you, we’re not paying you for the paint are we?” Nina joked.

”It’s important for him, I think he’s starting to trust us. Like he trusts you.” Matthias added, almost vaguely threatening.

”Well I’ll probably let him take the reins here, I’m good at many things. Painting might not be one of them.”

”Please do”

”Please. Also I forgot to say earlier, but maybe start to check over his bandages and the chest brace? If you’re not sure leave them on and I’ll have a look later but he should be healing properly again. Especially if he’s eating regularly now.”

”Will do, thanks again you two.”

He hurried upstairs where Wylan was curled up snugly in his nest. He was wrapped around his fox, snoring softly. Just the sight of him left the alpha feeling warm. He decided to leave him to sleep when he noticed him stirring.

”Jesper?” He asked nervously, sitting bolt upright.

”Sorry, it’s just me. I just wanted to ask if you were ready to paint?”

Wylan’s posture softened as he allowed an excited expression to settle on his face.

”Yes please.” He slowly started to crawl out of his nest, stopping as he reached the entrance. 

“Matthias and Nina’s room is this way, can you follow me?”

Wylan paused and then nodded slowly, leaving the sanctuary of his nest. Jesper plodded along ahead, allowing him to move at his own pace. He reached Nina And Matthias’ room and realised that they had already moved the furniture away from the walls.

A king size bed, chest of drawers, wardrobe and armchair were huddled away. The walls themselves were a fading white, putting it nicely, they clearly hadn’t been shown any love in a very, very long time. The omega followed in after him and took a quick look around. 

“Here is the paint.” He picked up the tub and left it by one wall. “And this…is for you.”

He pulled the paint set from behind his back and held it out to Wylan. He cautiously took it from him and unlatched it before folding out the paints and brushes.

”Jesper, this is for me?” He asked in bewilderment.

”Of course, the only use they’d be to me would be if I ate them.” He replied in jest.

”I-I can’t. I can’t.”

”You can.” Jesper pressed. “I insist my lord, only the very best for you sire.”

”I don’t know how I can repay you s….” He trailed off.

”That smile of yours is enough, now let’s get to work shall we? Those two have definitely underestimated us but this is going to be a work of art by the time we’re done.”

The omegas leg began to bounce in excitement, for the first time the smell of happiness slipped through the scent suppressors, and filled the room. It felt  intoxicatingly light. 

Jesper started with the rollers, coating the walls in duck egg blue, as Wylan followed after him. He’d watched the omega as he carefully chose a brush, and dipped it into a sunset orange. He’d paused by the wall, an adorable look of concentration etched onto his face, before he began.

Jesper himself had focused on getting the walls evenly covered, and almost gasped in shock as he finished and turned to see what Wylan had achieved. 

Intricate orange and golden flowers adorned the walls, joined by beautiful green vines with varying textures and shades. They stood beautifully against the blue, almost masterfully, realistically sitting against the sky walls. It was almost too beautiful to even look at. Wylan finally finished up and gazed back at the alpha.

”Do…do you think it’s okay?” He asked. “Will t-they like it?” 

“Wylan.” Jesper gasped. “They will love it. You absolute genius. You’re incredible.”

He blushed violently at that, smiling to himself.

”Thank you. My mama and I used to paint together.” He smiled sadly. 

“Tell you what? Why don’t I go and get us some lemonade to celebrate? We’ll sit here and let it dry for a bit?”

So he headed to grab two glasses and headed back to the omega as they both leaned against the wardrobe, drinking their celebratory lemonade.

”I haven’t painted in a long time.” Wylan eventually spoke unprompted.

”Before the old pack?” He knew this was going to be a horrible conversation, but until they had it he’d never understand the omega. They couldn’t avoid it again or they’d never start to really be able to get to know one another.

”Yes.”

So he just had to be brave.

”I never painted with my ma, but she taught me how to shoot. She was amazing my ma, strong and kind. Like you.” A heavy feeling settled in his stomach.

”What happened to her?”

”She died saving a girl from my old village. Giving her life for hers. I used to be angry at her for that, but I think I understand her more now.” He’d never spoken about her to any of the others in depth before.

”My mama died too, she sounded a lot like yours. Then it was just me and my father. And then the pack…”

He didn’t want to push the omega, but this was the closest they’d ever been to discussing what had happened to him.

“When did you get there?”

”Three years ago.”

Three years.

”I am so sorry you had to suffer for that long.” Jesper started to click his knuckles, trying to distract himself from the horrors that his brain filed through. “You don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want…but if you do I’m here. I want you to know that, you don’t owe me anything, but if you let me I’ll be by your side through this whole journey Wylan.”

The omega shifted and looked him dead in the eye, for a moment it was like their souls became one. It felt stronger than any pack bond or mating bite. It was like this moment was always destined to happen.

”I would like that.” 

Wylan’s hand reached for his, he took a deep breath and leaned back against the wardrobe. It was evident they wouldn’t discuss his past anymore for now, maybe they never would speak about all of it, but for now it was enough to know that it was an option. It was enough to hold his softer smaller hand in his as they allowed the comforting silence to overcome them.

But not for long.

”THEYRE HERE. RUN.”

Chapter Text

The grip on Jesper’s hand tightened beyond belief. He didn’t look it, but the omega was strong, and he was pretty sure that soon most of the bones in his hand would be a fine powder. The peaceful moment they had shared only seconds before had been shattered by the sound of chaos that erupted from the lower floors. Shouts and the destruction of furniture or worse. Wylan was staring at him, eyes wide and the stench of fear filling the room at once like a grenade.

Jesper didn’t hesitate, with his spare hand he grabbed one pistol, the other led Wylan to the door with little resistance. He felt his protective instincts kick in, his biology take over him like the rush of a wave. The omega  trusted him to get them out of whatever this was, he couldn’t betray that. With a snarl, Jesper risked a glance around the edge of door. 

He could tell the fighting was happening down by the bar, it was closest the main entrance and the weakest point of the crow club. Normally he’d be the first on the front lines. No feeling matched the feeling of being shot at, but today he had to play this as safely as possible, which left hiding or running. They were on the first floor so it would be hard to hide, if they were swarmed it would be all of the ambushers against the alpha. Which left running, and the only way would be up through Kaz’s office and into Inej’s territory.

“We need to run okay? Up to Kaz’s office, and up onto the roof. We’ll be okay, but we need to be fast.”

Wylan’s breathing was only getting faster. The noise from below was getting louder and he felt the feeling of being helpless more so than he ever had.

“Wylan?”

His eyes had glazed over, like he was stuck in some kind of memory or held hostage  by some dark thought. 

“It’s them isn’t it? They’ve come for me. They’re going to kill you all, and then they’ll take me back-“

“I’ve told you I’ll protect you Wylan.” The alpha within him growled with authority.

He could tell the omega was considering this, nonetheless, he was deciding something. The look in his eye was enough to tell him. 

“Y-you should give me to them.”

“What?”

“They won’t stop. You don’t know them. You’ve done enough for me.”

Jesper reached out slowly and held Wylan by the elbows, slowing his breathing slightly, as he looked into the brown eyes he’d come to care for.

“We don’t leave anyone behind here, we’re going up to Kaz’s office. You need to follow me quickly okay? I am an incredible sharpshooter and I swear I will get us out of this.” His attempt to lighten the mood fell frustratingly flat.

Regardless Wylan nodded gently, took a deep breath and then retook Jespers hand. He tried not to let the dizzying joy of this gesture overtake him just yet. Spinning the pistol once for luck, they dove out of the room. At the same time they heard the pounding of footsteps coming up the stairs. In a mad dash, the pair crossed the corridor and reached the staircase to Kaz’s office, with Jesper encouraging Wylan to start climbing up.

He spun on his heels, ready for whatever was coming, and watched as one man came into view. A beta with another pack’s scent. Without hesitation Jesper had unloaded a bullet into his throat before he’d made it within three feet of them. It was almost too easy. Looking back over his shoulder he saw Wylan staring at him…in fear.

“It’s oka-“ he was about to say when he was interrupted by a man pulling the omega from the stairs onto the floor. He had to have come in through the window which Jesper hadn’t accounted for.

Immediately his alpha instincts kicked in once more and he had hurtled past the staircase to where the two men had fallen. He couldn’t make out where Wylan was in the bundle of limbs, and he didn’t have long to find out before they were joined by even more intruders.

He heard the omega cry out as his heart lurched, but he had to deal with these men first or they were both doomed. He turned and prepared to mow them down. The gunslinger managed to take out three with little trouble. Until he realised, in his worry for the other man, he hadn’t been counting his bullets. That never happened. Aiming, as nothing was fired, the reality of the situation sunk in.

Instead he got ready to fist fight, as one man reached out to grab him he brought the pistol down hard on his arm, breaking his wrist. The other was bearing down on him as he danced out of the way, but in doing so was tripped by the man who had sunk to his knees holding his hand, winding him. They both staggered to their feet as Jesper crawled to his hands and knees, coughing out his lungs.

“You ever killed an alpha?” The uninjured man grinned maliciously.

“Can’t say I have, especially not a crow. Aren’t you lot supposed to be untouchable or something?”

”Looks like our man’s having fun with your rent-a-pet over there.”

He was cornered, Wylan was still struggling against the other assailant, Jesper was breaking his promise.

The second man leapt down and went for his throat. Another beta, he could tell, strength wise Jesper had the advantage here. He felt the hands close around his neck and begin to squeeze, straining the life out of him by the second. There was no second guessing in those fingers - they were going for the kill. But he was an alpha. Jesper grabbed a hold of him, feeling a surge of energy as he spun them both over, landing blows to the attackers head that rendered him still at last.

Suddenly he heard something fly towards him and then a body hit the floor. As he turned he saw the shining hilt of a knife in the man’s back, as he seemed to have been seconds from leaving one in his instead. Inej stood behind them, her eyes fixed elsewhere, blood trickling from her forehead.

“Wylan?” Jesper croaked, his throat still sore, as he heaved in as much air as he could muster.

He scrambled to his feet, grabbed the knife and caught sight of a man on top of the omega who was lying on his stomach with his hands held behind his back. Or at least one of them, the other was flailing wildly. The attacker’s free hand was caught in his curls tightly as he muttered something in his ear. Jesper stormed ahead, knowing Inej was behind him. This man was very fucked.

Just as he reached Wylan, one of his flailing arms caught his assailant in the face, causing him to recoil. Seizing this opportunity, Jesper buried the knife into his neck. Multiple times. Until he slumped lifelessly to the ground. The omega immediately sprung back, his back flush with the wall as he tried to control his blind panic.

Inej retrieved her knife and started to scout the hallway as Jesper crouched before the shaking omega.

“Wylan, I know this is a lot, I’m sorry. But we need to get up to Kaz’s office, alright? I’m going to help you up, we need to go now.”

Wylan was unresponsive. He tried to curl up but was stopped by a growl from Jesper.

“We need to go omega.” He commanded lowly, they didn’t have any time for softness right now.

The omega rose without thinking, as Jesper led him towards the staircase with Inej hot on their heels. They hurried up as Inej banged on the door. To no answer. So she continued to knock as loudly as she could until they heard footsteps approaching again. Definitely not friendly ones.

“I can break the lock, move back” Jesper urged, pushing forwards to the door. As she did it flew open, revealing the other alpha of the crow clan.

“Hurry up.” Kaz mumbled.

“Sorry I was taking my time a bit there wasn’t I?” Jesper snarked. “Why are you still in here?”

He mumbled it as he ushered Wylan in and made sure Inej had slipped into the room, before locking the door behind them all again.

”Why did you take so long?” Inej pressed, still on her toes ready to escape through the window.

“It’s all part of the plan.” Kaz replied cooly.

“What plan?” Returned Jesper.

“It’ll be over soon.”

”Wh-“

Something clicked into place in Jesper’s brain as he realised why Kaz was so calm and why they hadn’t yet clambered out of the window and to safety. What he had meant by ‘plan’.

“Wait. Wait, wait. You knew all of this was going to happen didn’t you? And you didn’t warn us? You just let them in?”

Kaz had sat down and gone to read through a letter he had just opened, as Jesper finished he looked up over the piece of paper with little emotion.

”You couldn’t have even left a little hint? Especially with Wylan, you know he’s been through enough. You let them come in and terrorise him?”

“We need to know who we’re living with.”

”What does that even mean?” Jesper shouted incredulously.

“You promised.” Inej whispered betrayed.

“Promised what?” 

Inej hadn’t said a word, she had wrapped an arm around her middle, the other rested on the window ledge as she stared back at him guiltily.

“I never promised that.” Kaz answered, looking up briefly. “Someone got a hit on the wraith?”

”I’m fine.” She replied, absent minded.

“What’s going on here?” Jesper pushed.

As he did, knocks started to ring out on the door again, along with familiar shouts.

“Hello? Are you all in there? It’s Nina, they’re all dead.”

Wylan who had sat in the corner of the room with his chin in his knees sighed with relief. He was still clearly in the same state he had been back on the first floor. Inej crossed the room and opened the door as Matthias and Nina bundled in, joining the rest of the pack.

“We came as soon as we felt you through the pack bond.” Nina nodded at Jesper, “what happened?”

“That was the dime lions.” Kaz stated.

Wylan’s heart rate started to soar again, he was sure the others could hear it too. It was beating so fast he was surprised the omega was still alive.

“In return for me giving Wylan some time off, Inej promised to tell me about her late night adventures.” His tone was almost sarcastic. “And I wanted to stop them from having to be done in future. It’s a pretty big risk on my investment.”

“You didn’t say they would attack this place.” Inej pushed back.

Jesper waited for him to get petty, to give her a lecture of some sort - but none came. Instead he bowed his head slightly and stopped speaking.

“So hang on, your plan was for the pack that Inej had been freeing omegas from to attack us?” Nina asked.

“It was to draw them out, the dregs will be infiltrating their properties on the west stave as we speak.”

“Thank you.” Inej breathed.

“Their profits will be very useful.”

He knew that wasn’t the only reason Kaz had attacked those places, but he decided to keep his mouth shut.

“So Pekka Rollins will be after us now?”

The heartbeat ringing in all their ears met a new high. Wylan had started to tremble again, his breath picking up to an abnormal pace as he buried his head in his knees.

“Wylan?” Jesper asked carefully, settling next to the omega. Everyone in the room was transfixed on the two of them.

“They’re already after us, aren’t they?” Kaz pressed further.

Wylan immediately looked up, tears were streaming down his face as he began to sob aloud.

“Please, p-please don’t t-take me back. Just k-kill me. Please. You c-can’t.” His panicked gaze switched to Jesper as he reached out for his arm. “P-please.” He begged.

“That’s enough Dejmin.” Matthias declared.

“This wouldn’t be a problem at all if it wasn’t for a certain someone.”

“Kaz? How could y-“ Nina began.

“I’m not talking about Wylan.”

Jesper seized up. Saints. That name, that target…the one that got away.

“You were supposed to have killed him Jesper, so why is Pekka Rollins still alive?”

His lie had come back to bite him. The man who had supposed to have stopped living the same day he had found Wylan, beaten and alone. He had made his choice. He had let him go to save the omega. And he would do it again.

“We’ll get him now.” Jesper argued back through gritted teeth. This was the man who had tortured Wylan, this was the pack that had let him. He’d known it all along, what exactly they had done he wasn’t a hundred percent sure, but he’d been biding his time to get revenge. 

”So that’s the pack who have been leaving the missing posters?” Matthias asked aloud.

“We’ll go.” Nina pressed, as Matthias patted her shoulder in agreement.

“He’s hiding now, why do you think we’re drawing him out? That night was our one chance to be rid of him.”

“Hang on.” Jesper began. “Is that why you still let them attack this place anyway? Surely you could have stopped his goons before they got here? Was it a punishment? Not even for me, but to hurt him?” Jesper nodded at Wylan who was still rocking back and forth in a tight ball.

“It was your mistake that did this. You’re an alpha, you’re as responsible for this pack as I am and yet you risked all our lives for a stranger.”

“For a person in need.”

“Both of you this isn’t helping W-“

“What about when you brought Inej here? We’re all glad you did but isn’t it the same thing?”

Kaz was silent. But you could smell the tension in the air, it was clearly affecting the rest of the pack who were slowly retreating subconsciously.

“Enough.” A voice plucked up. “This isn’t helping anyone. Jesper you should take Wylan back to his nest and make sure he’d okay. The rest of us need to talk.”

“Yeah you’re right, I’ll do that and then I’ll be back to help.”

“We don’t need you.”

“I think it might be best we get some space for a while.” Nina added gently.

Jesper only kissed his teeth and nodded as he took Wylan by the arm and lifted him to his feet. The omega seemed to be stuck in his robotic, dream-like state. He careened him back down the stairs and to his room, where he paused.

”You can go to your nest Wylan.”

Without hesitation, the omega collapsed back into his nest and burrowed deep beneath the blankets and pillows. He could just make him out as he grabbed the fox plushie and began to settle. The scent supressors still created an invisible barrier between them, but he was sure he would smell the sweet scent of honey as Wylan started to relax again.

Jesper decided to leave him alone for now, whatever headspace he’d been in, he clearly needed some time to feel safe again. It had to be some form of PTSD, but that was a question for a later date. 

Besides there were a lot of answers that he needed now, and he ran through them as he tried to let his own anger fizzle out.

Pekka Rollins was one of the men, but then who were the others? What exactly had they put Wylan through the last few years?

And when could he kill the lot of them?

Chapter Text

Jesper had gone for a walk about the slat to calm himself down. That had been around half an hour ago. There was a reason packs weren’t supposed to have more than one alpha. Even though he knew deep down they were like brothers to one another, he and Kaz couldn’t fight the chemistry that ran through their veins. They would butt heads often, but this time was different, this time it got Wylan hurt.

His mistake.

With the omega fresh in his mind, Jesper found his feet dragging him back to the crow club. The place was still a mess, the front door windows were smashed in. Failing that, all of the windows were smashed in. Broken bottles and the harsh scent of liquor filled the air, some tables were now only fit for kindling. All for Kaz to make a point.

He skipped up the stairs, long leather jacket flowing angrily behind him as he did, before he reached his room. He carefully pushed the door open and peered into the nest that was now looking worse for wear in the corner of the room. Wylan was barely visible.

“Wylan, are you okay?” He asked softly. “I’m sorry that all happened, do you want to talk about it?”

No reply came back.

“Wylan?”

He sighed and sat back against his bed. He supposed after all that he’d want to disappear too. This time had been different , the omega hadn’t just been trembling, he’d been paralysed by fear. He was rendered almost immobile but obedient. Pliant and broken. It made the alpha’s chest ache. There were things they’d need to speak about soon.

Instead, for now, he sat there for a little while. Letting them both exist together, and yet in their own little worlds peacefully. Until a knock rang out at the door.

“Come in.” Jesper called out as Nina and Matthias wandered in.

“We wanted to thank the lamb, our room looks amazing.” Matthias smiled widely, as Wylan’s head poked up from under a pillow.

“It’s beautiful Wylan, better than anything we could’ve done. Well anything Matthias could have done.”

He only chuckled and poked her in the ribs teasingly as the omega started to crawl into view, finally snapping out of the state he’d been trapped in the last hour.

“Luckily it survived the carnage, and thank Ghezen it did because it belongs in a museum.”

“You liked it?”

“So much so, that I decided dinner is on me.” Nina announced happily.

“So me then?”

This time Matthias got an elbow in the ribs.

“What do you say Wylan? Do you want to go and get something to eat?”

“They’re out there.” Came the small voice in response.

“Yes they are, but you’re with the crow pack now. Even the wolves will be scared of you when you’re with us, and perhaps it would be good for you to see outside again? It’s been a long time.”

That sunk in for Jesper at the same time as it must have done for Wylan, it really had been a long time.

“We can go to our usual place around the corner, it’s dreg territory, and besides the kitchen is in pieces. We’ll let his lordship up there fix it. It’s the least he could do.”

Jesper was grateful for her condemning of  Kaz’s plan. It would be good for Wylan to know the pack didn’t agree with it. Kaz could be cruel, but he would protect his own. That just didn’t include Wylan.

…yet.

The thought lingered with him a moment too long.

“Earth to Jesper? We’re all hungry.” Nina poked.

“Sorry, yes let’s go. You’re all good to come out Wylan? Don’t let these two scare you off, there’s one pretty face to welcome you.”

He ignored their bemused faces as Wylan slowly emerged from the best, curls all matted and eyes bloodshot.

“Oh my poor omega.” He sighed, walking closer to Wylan who turned his head to the side and looked down as he did.

The alpha carefully cupped his chin and tilted his head up to meet his eyes.

“It’s okay now. Remember? You’re safe with me. I promised didn’t I?”

To his surprise Wylan hesitantly reached one hand up to meet his shoulder. And then the other. Before leaning forward and pressing his cheek against Jespers chest. Trying to be tactful, Jesper reciprocated, also locking his arms around the omega.

For the first time he realised how much this hug meant to him. It almost made him want to cry. How tentative, yet how tightly the smaller man now clung onto him.

Ghezen when had he started getting this attached?

They were broken out of their moment by Nina ‘awwing’. Mathias promptly dragged her out of the room, telling them they’d be waiting downstairs to go and get dinner.

As Wylan finally pulled away, Jesper gently started playing with his curls, pulling the matts apart with his fingers, careful not to ruin any curls.

“What happened up there?” Jesper mumbled softly.

Wylan paused, lips parting shakily, before he carefully chose his words.

“I just remembered what it was like back then. Since the rejection syndrome I stopped feeling them all the time. But it hasn’t stopped me still feeling the memories. I still remember it all. Physically.”

The omega pushed his face into his hands as Jesper went to rub his shoulder, but thought better of touching him when he couldn’t see.

“I just want it all to go away.”

“How did you get there? What did they do to you Wylan?” He knew it was too much the moment those questions rolled off his tongue.

“Can we…? I d-Don’t think I can. Not now. Please. Later.”

Later was the soonest answer he’d received so far.

“Of course, whenever you’re ready.” He suddenly stood upright, before bowing melodramatically. “Why don’t we go out now? Your carriage awaits my lord, and perhaps you would like to acompany me to one of the finest establishments in Ketter….” He drifted off.

He never told Wylan why he’d stopped there, but he had just realised that the omega no longer called him sir.

He held his arm out for Wylan to take, which he did so with a fraction of a giggle, and led him downstairs. Matthias was sat on one of the only surviving stools and Nina was behind the bar…seemingly searching for any bottles that had bested the ambushers.

“Gin? I hate gin, why couldn’t they have left the rum instead?” She groaned.

“Look, that might be a little bottle there min trassel.”

“Trouble? Where? You couldn’t be speaking to me?” She replied in mock horror.

He was about to apologise for them to Wylan but he saw a half-hidden grin grace his lips. He wondered if Wylan had ever known love like that before this pack. What had his life been like before them? How had he ended up there?

“There you two are, shall we go?” Nina hummed.

They all quickly found themselves heading to the little restaurant on the edge of the slat. They walked in pairs, with Wylan still holding onto Jespers arm for dear life as they did. Jesper oddly liked it though, it felt good to be needed, depended on. It made the alpha within him almost purr with contentment.

As they arrived, they hustled in and chose their regular booth. This time with slightly different company though. The sharpshooter let Wylan slide in first before shuffling in after him and handing him a menu, trying to be as natural as possible.

If this was the omegas first time back outside he wanted it to go well. He was sure Wylan must have been so tired of being scared, the alpha was determined to make this a good trip out for him.

“Are we all getting our usual?” Jesper grinned.

“Of course, we’re going to get two plates and share aren’t we?” Nina asked looking at Matthias. 

“Of course we are.”

”Maybe a little surprise too…”

“Wylan what about you?” Jesper asked, looking over at the smaller man beside him who seemed engrossed in the menu. He twitched slightly, and then looked up at him.

“I’ll have the same as you if that’s okay, thank you.” He replied quickly.

“If you say so, I do have the best taste.”

As the waiter trudged over, Nina read out her and Matthias’ food as the gunslinger gave his and Wylan’s order. The man finished writing and then paused, staring at the omega a little too long before Jesper coughed.

“That was all.” He snarled, as the server  nodded bashfully and hurried away. He was sure Wylan’s scent was still concealed by the scent suppressors, but in truth he’d forgotten how dangerous it was to be an omega in the barrel. Especially an unclaimed one.

“Thank you.” Wylan leant into his side a little, shifting closer to him.

“That’s alright.” He mumbled back softly, wrapping an arm over the back of his seat. For no reason at all. “It could be worse I suppose, you could be in heat.”

Ghezen Jesper.

He watched as a light pink blush changed to a deeper scarlet and spread across Wylan’s face. Almost like the tension that now hung over the table.

Why would you say that!?

“Not that that would be a bad thing. Or a good thing. Or-I don’t know actually. I hadn’t thought about it. Obviously. That would be strange.”

Luckily, Nina was ready to save the situation as always.

“Wylan, why don’t you come around this side of the restaurant with me? They have these paintings I’m sure you’d love.” Her voice clearly wasn’t asking.

Wylan, in spite of his still deepening blush, didn’t seem to want to leave without Jesper. He turned to the omega and gave him a sorry but encouraging smile. So, hesitatingly, he rose and squeezed past Jesper, watching back at him as he followed Nina.

“At least the Dejmin is an idiot on purpose.”

Jesper groaned and buried his head in his arms in the table.

“I didn’t mean to say that. I only just realised as I said it. He’s been here for a couple of weeks now and nothing. Something must be going on with him right? Do you think Nina could check him over when she checks his bandages and the best brace? And oh saints, he must think because I’m an alpha and we brought him into this pack, the only reason was to….” He groaned dramatically again.

“Rescuing omegas is a lot different to flirting with them. Which is a shame because I’m amazing at that.”

“You’re doing a good job.”

Jesper froze, he hadn’t expected that response in the slightest.

“Sorry for a second I forgot you weren’t Kaz or Nina. Can you just say that one more time?”

“I mean it. He’s starting to trust you, and you’re both figuring it out together.”

The shrill panicking in his head started to subside, replaced by a calming hope.

“Do you think so?”

“You can see it. Just be careful with him.”

As he said it the beta and omega returned to the table, Wylan’s shoulders were a lot further from his ears than when he’d left.

“So how were the paintings? I’m sure they weren’t a scratch on yours.” Jesper tried to test the waters.

“They were beautiful, Nina said they had more by the old gallery.”

He still seemed too wary to ask, so Jesper answered for him anyway.

“Then we’ll have to go one day, as long as you’re happy and safe that’s all I want.”

Again he was struck in the moment. That’s all he wanted. That’s all Jesper wanted. For the first time ever.

“Thank you.”

Nina had definitely had a word, from how he’d seemed to calm down. The gunslinger looked over and mouthed a ‘thank you’ at her as she rolled her eyes fondly.

They made a good team, her and Matthias. He supposed he’d never really thought about it that hard, or even longed for it before…

The food thankfully arrived and was laid out in front of them by an entirely new waitress. In front of him and Wylan was a mouthwatering dumpling soup, served with fresh bread. A fair mountain of it. Nina and Matthias had ordered some kind of fish and fried potatoes, and a steak.

“Potatoes are new.” Jesper noticed, impressed.

“Some of us don’t like to keep to bad habits Fahey.” Nina smirked.

“You know Wylan, she stopped bullying me for a little while when you first came. And now look, back to her old ways.”

To his right he could see the look of bewilderment on the omegas face as he smiled and then stared down at his plate.

“You don’t have to eat it all.” He chuckled.

But the omega seemed determined, he started to dive in and managed to eat far more than any of them had expected. Pride swelled in his chest, the alpha within him feeling comforted and satisfied at the sight.

“We’ll make a crow out of you yet Wylan.”

Chapter Text

Wylan

The door crashed open in an instant, sending the omega flying back at the presence of his formidable alpha.

Every waking moment of the last few years had always stretched to feel like an eternity. Every second of pain was etched into his skin as much as it was his memory. And yet he always found himself being surprised by how much worse it could get. Surprised but never not scared. All he ever felt was scared. He didn’t remember what it was like before the endless void of fear, he didn’t even remember if he’d ever not been terrified.

“You never learn your lesson do you, you little runt?”

Wylan trembled as he tripped backwards and his coccyx hit the floor at an agonisingly painful angle.

“S-sorry sir, it was a-a mist-ake I swear.” He conceded.

“A mistake? You know how we deal with mistakes here, don’t you?”

He could barely hear over his racing heart, the thoughts that rushed across his mind and entangled themselves in one another.

He braced himself, tucked against one of the kitchen counters, the one he had left a speck of dirt on, as a rough hand clawed at his hair and lifted him up as his roots cried out in protest.

“Such a pathetic omega, aren’t you? You’re worthless. Weak. Weren’t even worth what we gave away for you.”

He prayed it wasn’t the burning. Nothing hurt like that. Just not the burning.

He was dragged upstairs, not downstairs which meant he wasn’t going to be beaten. So that left burning.

That’s what he thought, until Wylan was brave enough to finally open his eyes. He’d been dragged into the bathroom. He tensed up as he was carelessly thrown down next to the bath, and almost jumped back as he began to hear the harsh rush of cold water crashing to the bottom of the tub like waves on rocks.

“Fucking useless aren’t you? You always were. Only good for a quick fuck, but you don’t even fight back anymore do you? That was what made it much more fun. Now you just take it, because you’re weak.”

He wished he could deny that, he wished he could secretly hold his head high in defiance - but he couldn’t. In three years he’d never tried to run, he’d stopped fighting back mere months in. And he couldn’t help but accept everything he was being told.

“Aren’t you?” He heard through gritted teeth.

“Yes sir.”

“What are you?”

That didn’t mean it didn’t hurt say out loud, that it didn’t feel humiliating to have to admit it.

“I’m w-worthless and p-pathetic sir.”

Without warning he was grabbed harshly by the collar and forced over the edge of the bathtub, looking down into the cold pool below.

“And don’t you ever forget it.”

And then it began.

He was pushed down and held below the freezing water in a vice like grip. He tried to calm himself, tell himself he’d be fine, but it was no use, he was never calm. He felt the panic set in and he tried his best to push back against the firm hand that held him there, to scratch at the bottom of the bath, to run. The air was quickly running out, he couldn’t breathe or think, his lungs started to cry out in pain and the urge to gasp for air was edging maliciously closer and closer.

Everything felt like it was happening at once, every memory launched through his mind. The burning sensation in his chest roared, his body fought and thrashed, desperate for oxygen.

Until he felt the last seconds of air begin to fade away, like everything was about to end forever and time froze.

Until he wondered what would happen if it did.

Would they bring him back or leave him?

Would that be any better than this?

Could anything be worse?

Maybe he should let it happen. Maybe this was the right thing to do. Maybe this was his escape. He’d thought about it before but always pushed it aside, but now in these precious seconds he let it fester.

Maybe he should.

So he prepared himself, he stared down the barrel of the gun and squeezed his eyes shut. Not in defiance or fear, but in acceptance. As he was about to take that final gasp…he felt himself being dragged back up and out of the water, and heard the sound of more footsteps approaching.

He couldn’t help but feel like he’d lost all over again.

Jesper

He had been buzzing since last night at the restaurant, like a giddy child. He knew that the consequences of Kaz’s betrayal wouldn’t just go away, but he hadn’t lost Wylan’s trust entirely. If anything, he just hoped it hadn’t trauma bonded them in the omega’s eagerness to feel protected by an alpha. Though he supposed he hadn’t been protected by an alpha before him, had he?

He stretched out in his bed, when he heard a whimper that pulled the alpha in him up and into action immediately.

Wylan was twitching in his sleep, convulsing almost, as he whimpered and exhaled quickly. It had to have been some kind of a nightmare. Before he’d even had a second to think he found himself pushing the fox plushie, which was still covered in his scent, into the omegas hands. To his relief and pride, Wylan immediately curled around it and started to calm down.

His long eyelashes fluttered open as he looked out at the sharpshooter.

“Jesper?” He mumbled, sitting up

Looking at him, it was obvious that he’d been having these nightmares for a while before Jesper had woken. Maybe even on previous nights. His hair was tousled crazily and a thin sheen of sweat coated his face. 

“Bad dreams?” Jesper asked softly.

Wylan flinched somewhat and started to push back towards the wall of his nest. “It’s okay, I get it.”

He saw Wylan clutch at his chest and realised that the chest brace which was securing his broken ribs couldn’t have helped with the sweating or the breathing. He needed Nina to give the omega a little check over again, but he didn’t want to push the omega.

“What do you fancy for breakfast this morning? I’m afraid I’m not on the menu.” He joked, trying to elicit a smile from the smaller man. For once it worked.

“I don’t know.” He replied softly.

“Anything you like, your highness, even if I have to accost the best chef in Kerch to have it made for you.” He saw Wylan hesitate.

”Would it…?”

“I assure you it’s my honour.” The gunslinger reaffirmed.

“…Would it be possible to maybe have some of the waffles Nina was speaking about please?”

Perfect, a way in.

“Of course, I will go and find her actually, she would be the best chef in Kerch I was speaking about. Give me a second.”

He flew out of the room excitedly, to find Nina and Inej downstairs as usual.

“Hello you two, how are you doing Inej?”

It had only been a day since the raid on Pekka Rollins’ establishments in the West Stave. As much as Kaz had spoken about the profits they’d take, he was sure the focus had been on the indentured omegas that were stuck in them. Inej had to have been there all night. 

He felt a slight bit of resentment creep up on him, if only for a second. It had been Kaz’s plan to save the omegas for Inej at the expense of Wylan feeling safe and secure. But looking at the big picture it was hard to settle on it, instead he shook it off for now.

“I’m okay, we just have a lot of work on our hands treating and finding homes for the omegas we rescued.” She returned, clearly exhausted.”

”I’m sorry I would’ve been there-“ Jesper started.

”No, no you should be here with Wylan. Besides I’ve had the dregs and Nina and Matthias with me.”

“I’ve told her to relax like usual, but she won’t listen. At least convince her to have some breakfast with us before she’s gone again please?” Nina implored him.

Inej turned to him and rolled her eyes, although he could tell she didn’t mean it.

“Actually I was coming down to ask if you could make waffles? You know Wylan actually asked me about them? So you, my darling Inej, should definitely not pass up the opportunity to join us in having celebratory waffles all round.”

“If I make them.”

He shared a playful look with Nina who winked.

“I could stay for a few minutes.” Inej gave in with a small smile.

“Amazing. I’m sorry to ask more of you Nina, but you wouldn’t be able to check Wylan over after? We haven’t had time since….” He trailed off as an uncomfortable silence took over. It was Inej who broke it.

“I swear I didn’t know that was the plan. I just wanted to get Wylan the time to recover.”

“I know you didn’t. It was Kaz.”

Inej paused at that.

“He just doesn’t trust Wylan yet, you know him.”

Another silence.

“You need to speak to each other, it spills over to the rest of the pack when you two argue. It’s not good for us all.” Nina cut in.

“We will.”

“Soon. And of course I’ll check him over, even Matthias could if he’s free? I’ve been teaching him all things first aid so you lot don’t always come to me like I know what I’m doing.” She was joking but there was a layer of truth in it.

“I’ll go look for him now.”

”Jesper? He asked about you and Wylan, in his own way. He came to help me for a little while. He does care.”

He nodded, and at that he was off to Nina and Matthias’ room. He knocked once and heard Matthias huff and come to open the door.

“Oh Jesper, what is it?” He asked.

“I wanted to ask if you’d be able to check Wylan’s injuries over? See if we can take some bandages and the chest brace off?”

Matthias paused at that.

“Have you asked Nina?”

“She said to ask you.”

“Djel. Of course I can look over the lamb but I might need some help.”

“That’s what I’m here for, other than to improve the scenery.”

So they found themselves back in Jesper’s room, Matthias following a few steps behind him as they poked their heads round the door to see the omega sitting against the wall of his nest.

“Wylan? It’s me and I’ve got Matthias here if we can come in?”

“Yes.” A small voice returned.

“He’s here to check on some of the bandages and dressings. Is that okay?”

Wylan froze, staring up at the two of them for a few seconds.

“It’s okay if you want to say no.” Matthias added. “But it would not be a problem.”

The omega squirmed a bit, clearly considering this, before he sat up and nodded intently.

“Okay, is it okay if you sit here on the bed?” Wylan took a moment before he crawled out from his nest tentatively,  sitting on the bed closest to Jesper whose eyes had never left him.

“And can you take your jumper off?”

This appeared to set the omega on high alert, Jesper moved his hand closer to his, hoping that would be some comfort.

“You can say no.”

“To l-look at the bandages?”

“And only that, we’ll go at your pace, and we can stop whenever you say.”

Matthias nodded as Wylan peered at him over the alpha’s shoulder.

“Okay.”

He could tell that he had been holding his own breath all throughout that as Matthias lifted a heavy hand to his shoulder comfortingly, clearly having felt his loaded emotions through their bond. Jesper had been doing that a lot recently as he’d come to think of it.

Wylan shrugged off his jumper cautiously, before leaving it folded on the bed and turning to the beta. It was clear from afar that his wounds had been healing well. Most of the bruises were now a faded yellow against stark pale skin, the breaks that had been previously set also looked much less painful and more mobile. Many of the scars were still faintly visible though, and those were just the ones that could be seen on his arms. He recalled the marks all over his body, it had been horrendous to imagine how they had been inflicted.

But carefully Matthias checked over each one, Nina had clearly taught him well, and he tried his best to look from afar without touching the omega. Whenever he did have to, Wylan would turn towards Jesper or reach for his hand which the former was only too happy to oblige.

As the omega lifted his shirt behind his back they once again bore witness to the faded burns and many thin lines that covered every inch of skin. He wanted to hug Wylan and never let go, he wanted him to know just how messed up it all was, but none of that would have served the omega right now. So he just sat and watched.

Eventually the beta made it to the chest brace, he asked Wylan and with his permission, he finally removed it to check over the ribs underneath. After a few minutes of gentle touching, he turned to the two of them with an unreadable look.

“How is it looking?” Jesper asked nervously.

“Much better, it looks like we can take all of the bandages and braces off, your body should be able to heal the rest now. Especially if you keep eating and sleeping properly lamb.” Matthias smiled fondly.

Whether it was relief that it was over or that he’d be okay, Wylan exhaled and turned to him.

“Thank you Matthias sir.” He expressed.

“I’m going to check on my Nina, I’ll give you a chance to clean up.”

At that he was out of the room with little fuss, just as was Matthias’ way. The smell of fresh waffles was starting to waft its way upstairs and especially with their keen senses of smell, it left their mouths watering.

“You did really well.” Jesper grinned, “Since it’ll still be a few minutes until the foods ready, why don’t I fill the tub and you have a nice bath? It’ll do you some good to have it a soak.”

The omega’s face fell, as the rise and fall of his shoulders grew more extreme.

“What is it? Have I said something?”

The omega’s eyes turned from a glassy nothingness to a look of pure pain. It churned something in Jespers stomach.

“I…I just remembered something.”

He winced, both in the realisation that he’d accidentally brought something up for Wylan and that his mind began to wonder what a bathtub could possibly bring up for him.

“Do you want to talk about it?”

Wylan’s face contorted as his brows furrowed and he made himself hunch over as small as possible on the bed beside him.

“I don’t think I know how.”

“I promise I won’t judge you, or expect anything, or patronise you. I’ll just listen. Inej has assured me that I’m getting better at it than I am at just rambling.”

“But if I say it all out loud, what if…what if it all comes back?”

Jesper took a moment.

“Is it really gone if it’s all just shoved down deep inside you?”

Wylan bowed his head, and Jesper was about to apologise for overstepping when he was startled.

“They…it was once when I hadn’t cleaned everything properly. How they liked it. I used to do all the chores when they left, I couldn’t leave…the collar would’ve…” He could see the physical strain in Wylan’s throat as the words came up, along with the memory.

“I think sometimes they just wanted an excuse to hurt me. Mister Rollins took me upstairs to the bathtub. I could tell by his eyes…it was always in his eyes that I knew. I knew I was going to be punished and that he was so angry but…but I didn’t… he just pushed my head underwater and I thought it was all going to be over.

And for a minute I was okay with that…but, but he pulled me back up and…it just hurt so much. And I was so scared. It hurt and I knew no one was coming to help, I…I didn’t do anything. And then they all came back…and then they…each one of them…all three. I didn’t want to…I didn’t want them to…I never…I didn’t….”

Wylan had begun to hyperventilate again, and for the first time Jesper just couldn’t help it. He reached out and held the omega gently by the shoulder before pulling him into a hug. He held him in his arms and for that moment it was only them. Wylan had started to sob and so the alpha had rocked them both back and forth as he let him.

The omega dug his fingers into Jespers favourite purple silk shirt, but he hadn’t spared a moment to think about that. All that mattered was the small omega in his arms who had been through so much but deserved the world. And he vowed to himself that he would never stop until he had it.

“Did that happen a lot?”

Wylan nodded into the alphas sodden shirt.

“The bath?”

“Everything.”

He was going to tear that pack apart, each alpha would suffer for what they’d done. That night whilst Wylan slept he would go to find Kaz, even if they didn’t get along, he knew once Kaz knew what had happened, or at least a semblance of it, he would help. They would put an end to all of them for good. A painful, sticky, fucked up end, the ones they’d earned.

Wylan shifted his head into the crook of Jespers neck, right where his scent glands were. He tried his best to relax, knowing that the pheromones would probably be torturing him if he felt an inch of the rage that he was feeling right now. But thankfully he only relaxed.

”No one should treat anyone like that. Let alone an alpha to their own omega. I know I’ve said it before but I need you to know that, and I’ll spend as long as I have to making sure you believe it.”

Wylan just nuzzled further into him and exhaled softly.

“If I let you go in and lock the door, and I sit outside and make sure no one comes in, would you want to take a bath? Or I can turn the shower on, whatever you want my love.” He mumbled soothingly. “We need you to get cleaned up.”

Wylan softened and then looked up. His huge, brown eyes were filled with a pained innocence that fuelled the alpha within him.

“I…I think that I could take a bath. If I can lock the door?”

“Of course you can, come on, I’ll get you a towel and show you where everything is. And that reminds me we’ll have to take you shopping for some new clothes soon.”

“My own?”

“Of course, can’t have you in my comfies forever can we? They do suit you but we can do much better.”

“I’d like that, would you come with me?”

“Yes. Yes I will definitely be there to supervise such an important moment. Fashion is me.” He grinned.

“Sure.”

Jesper feigned insult dramatically before smiling down at the omega, wiping the tears off of his face as carefully as he could.

“This way.”

He grabbed Wylan a towel and some fresh clothes and then led him to the bathroom. The omega waited outside as Jesper poked out where the soap and gels were and demonstrated how to change the temperature of the water. He only stepped foot into the bathroom once the alpha had stepped out, but stood behind the half closed door.

“You’ll be here?” He asked through the closing crack in the door.

“As long as you want me to my omega.”

He was just about to close the door when Jesper butted in.

”Wylan? Thank you for trusting me with that. You can, you know? Whenever you need. I think you may be one of the strongest people I’ve ever met.”

This had clearly caught the omega off-guard, he seemed surprised to hear those words. As if he’d never been told them before. The alpha made note to remind him of it as often as he could.

At the sound of the lock clicking shut and the water starting to run, Jesper slumped  down, back to the wall, as he let the tears spill and did his best not to sob out loud.

Chapter Text

As Jesper tried to resume control over himself he heard the rare sound of a cane thumping down the rickety old stairs that led to the office. He quickly did his best to regain some semblance of a man who wasn’t on the verge of collapse, wiping the tears from his cheeks and praying his eyes weren’t bloodshot and swollen.

The other alpha stopped at the bottom of the stairs, turning to him slowly.

“I was in the middle of a plan until I could no longer think.” He moved out of the shadows slowly. “This pack bond often feels like more of a hostage situation.”

“Many people would pay a pretty kruge to be bonded to me for life.”

“Many fools.”

“I prefer people with taste.”

“So go on then.” Kaz muttered under his breath.

“Oh Kaz I’m sorry but you’re really not my ty-“

“Not that. Why are you sat here and why do I feel terrible?”

Kaz took a step forward as Jesper motioned to keep their voices down, he didn’t want Wylan to hear any of this. He was honestly quite surprised that he was about to admit any of it, especially to Kaz Brekker.

“He’s just told me the truth about…you know…everything he went through there. It’s bad, really bad.”

“No one in the barrel wound up here because they were living happy lives.” Kaz stared back.

“But this is basically torture and abuse, cruelty, so horrific for no reason other than their own entertainment. We do bad things but never like this and never for no reason.” The sharpshooter paused. “We have to kill them.”

“I intend to.”

Jesper stopped still, looking up at Kaz who he could have sworn had the vaguest apologetic hint to his gaze.

”Has he told you much about his life before the alphas?” Jesper shook his head, as Kaz inhaled deeply. “The raid we endured from Pekka Rollins…was a vital necessity in order for him to be left more exposed.”

”From now on we put our pack first.” Jesper added for the both of them.

”Deal.”

He supposed that was the closest he’d get to an apology from Kaz. He hated that it did, but even this vague attempt meant a lot to the alpha. He believed him, Wylan was never meant to be hurt by the raid.

“I know. So what do we do now?” He said lowly.

“I need to speak to him.”

“Wylan?”

“Yes.”

“No.”

He knew Dirtyhands was a good person deep down. Or at least there was something there that cared for them all. But he also knew that until Wylan was a bonded member of the pack, he was an outsider. And Kaz would treat him like one.

Wylan was still far too vulnerable to be able to withstand the alphas questioning, it was too early for him to endure Kaz’s colder side alone. Especially after what he had revealed only a short while ago.

“I’ve just got him to take a bath, and you don’t want to know why it’s so hard for him. Not right now.”

Kaz nodded abruptly, gazing at the door that Jesper was still leaning against and then towards the stairs going down to the kitchen.

“Can you always hear them all from up here?” He asked.

“Most of the time.” Jesper scoffed back with a smile.

“It’s a good thing that they’re just as good at listening as they are making noise then, isn’t it?”

Something swelled in his chest, even if Kaz was incredibly uncomfortable in this moment, he wanted Jesper to know that. This whole situation was hard, not as hard as it would be for poor Wylan, but he had the people around him he needed to be able to get them both to through it.

“That is lucky.” Jesper responded.

”I too, am good at it. Should I ever be the last option.”

Just as he said it, the sound of water starting to gurgle down the drain caught both of their attention. Kaz seemed to take this as a hint to descend to the kitchen where the others had their waffles. A low, timid knock hit the wood on the other side of the door followed by a small voice.

“Jesper?”

“I’m here Wylan, you can come out if you’re ready.”

The omega reappeared, dressed in Jespers oversized sweats. His hair was tousled and not yet fully dry, it made his eyes look even bigger. The scent of his own citrusy shower gel hit him immediately, for now it overpowered his usual smell of honey and pastries. Jesper found himself missing it.

“Are you hungry? I’m sure you can smell the waffles?”

The omega nodded enthusiastically and with a laugh, Jesper offered him an arm and bowed, as they both followed in Kaz’s footsteps to join the others for breakfast.

They were greeted by the sight of the pack all around the table as always, but with the addition of their, usually absent, second alpha. They all seemed much more settled, which was definitely a result of the alphas’ prior conversation.

“Here you are Wylan, the best waffles you’ll ever taste.” Nina grinned as she set a plate down and then went back to her own.

Jesper felt Wylan push forwards of his own accord to sit at one of the two empty seats, he still lingered and waited for the alpha to join him but it was a welcome surprise nonetheless.

Jesper also sat down to eat, proudly watching as their new omega started to make his way through the waffles without trembling or asking for permission. He felt something fuzzy and warm spread across his chest as the sight of him alone, a feeling he wanted to let sit for as long as possible as he stole glances at him.

Realising it had been a minute, he started on his own food before catching Kaz’s eye, he wasn’t eating, and he could feel the ticking of his mind from where he was across the table.

Vengeance.

                                    ***

Wylan

He couldn’t describe the feeling of it, but having just conquered one of his biggest fears all on his own, Wylan was on cloud nine. He’d sat in the bath alone. With Jesper at the door. But alone. And he was clean. He felt clean. It was liberating.

It hadn’t washed away what had happened, but he felt the first threads of hope that one day it might.

And now he sat with a steaming hot plate of delicious waffles in front of him, dusted in a snowy layer of powdered sugar and oozing with gooey maple syrup. His mouth watered just at the sight of them. Never mind the smell.

Without thinking, the omega in him tucked in. He’d never had so many opportunities to eat such good food. Not in a long time. But today he was sat around the table with a new pack. And he thought maybe he could be happy. Maybe he was happy.

He could tell this was radiating off of him as Jesper shuffled closer to him. Jesper who was kind. Jesper who was protecting him. The alpha he’d always dreamed of. And yet he still felt the creeping doubt that had always been instilled in him.

Who did he think he was?

Who was to say this wasn’t a cruel elaborate trick? That they’d turn on him at any moment? Or that he handy escaped his old captors at all?

He slowly let his fork sink to the plate, no longer feeling very hungry. Instead he observed. Nina and Matthias were deep in conversation, smiles etched upon their faces. Jesper was wolfing down his food, occasionally sneaking glances at him. Inej and Kaz were definitely speaking about something important. Perhaps the omegas she’d freed?

He wanted to ask more about that. To talk to her more. He admired Inej for her strength. He wasn’t sure he’d ever be capable of it. But looking at her gave him hope that maybe he could.

“Wylan?”

He was broken out of his thoughts by Jesper, who was looking at him worriedly. The guilt immediately bit at him.

“Sorry.”

“No it’s okay, you just stopped eating? I wanted to check this beautiful face hadn’t distracted you from your food. Or maybe Kaz’s put you off?”

He wanted to joke back, he wanted to say something witty. Something to tell the alpha that he liked it when he spoke to him like that. That it made him feel like a person again. But he just couldn’t. Instead his training took hold.

“No, I’m not hungry. Sorry.”

“Don’t apologise, we can save it for later. A midnight snack perhaps?” Jesper winked and he felt his heart flutter.

“Actually can I go to the toilet please?” Wylan asked shyly, realising he needed to go. Soon.

His old alphas would sometimes make him wait for hours before he could go to the toilet. Just for fun. They’d wait until his bladder was bursting to let him, and sometimes they just watched and laughed as he soiled himself. Before they made him clean it and go to bed without food. When he was chained he would be left to fester in it for hours. And that was often. It had happened for so long he knew his bladder was now badly damaged.

But he was starting to somewhat trust this alpha. He wanted Jesper to know that too. He didn’t want to be too difficult so that the alpha would get bored and get rid of him.

“Of course you can Wy. You don’t ever need to ask me.” He only nodded, feeling slightly embarrassed as he headed upstairs. Treading lightly, feeling the stares burning into his back. Nonetheless he hurried up to the toilet as fast as he could.

After washing his hands and sprinkling some cold water in his face, Wylan stared at himself. He never looked at himself when he was with the old pack. They never let him, but he was glad of that. He was sure he’d been a sight for sorry eyes. Maybe he wouldn’t have even recognised himself.

But he mustered up the courage to look out and at himself. He looked older, and tired. His eyes were lacking in any light, and he knew that the bruises were fading but some of the scars wouldn’t. And yet, he realised that he saw himself. That was him. As he remembered himself. Wylan.

He chocked back the tears that threatened to spill, and sat down on the toilet seat lid. That was until he felt his heart start to pick up. Something was wrong.

”Where are you going?” An eerily familiar voice leered at him.

His omega instincts kicked in as he searched for a place to hide, and realising there were none, he unlocked the door to find one.

“So pretty.”

Instead he was stopped dead in his tracks by the sight of the open window at the end of the corridor. And the ladder that was settled at the edge of it. A way out.

“What do you think you’re doing here? Huh?” Prior grinned at him in a way that made his stomach churn. “You thought you were going to leave did you?”

Wylan whimpered and started to retreat, careful not to put weight on the ankle that had been broken and set incorrectly.

“You wanted to leave us my pretty little omega? No, no, no, not after what we paid to get our hands on you.”

Wylan looked past Prior at the empty doorway. He’d been so close to freedom. So close. He was almost there. The thought tore at him. This was going to be terrible.

“What are you barking about?” Miggson had joined them, standing behind Wylan so he was now caught between them. “The little bitch tried to get out of here?”

“Almost.”

“Don’t know how lucky you have it do you?” The men began to circle him, leaving Wylan feeling helpless and vulnerable. Unable to watch both at the same time as the sharks got closer.

“Omegas on the west stave in Pekkas’ places have hundreds of clients. They don’t get fed, don’t get looked after how we look after you.”

“You’re not like them though, are you? You’re pedigree, too pretty for the west stave. Perfect here. But you want to go?”

“I’m sure Pekka could let you try out a night in the sweet shop? Maybe then you’d know better than to try and leave us, you ungrateful slut.”

They were so close now. Wylan’s heart was pounding, his head hurt and he could barely breathe. He should’ve walked faster. He should’ve run. He could’ve been free.

“Are you listening you little shit?”

“Y-yes s-sir. Sorry sir.”

He felt his legs give way as they were kicked out beneath him. He yelped in fear as Prior grabbed his arms and held him still, as Miggson grabbed his ankles and started to crawl up his body.

“You know we can’t let that go unpunished beautiful.”

“You never learn your lesson, never get it through that thick skull of yours do you?”

Miggson pulled a knife from a sheath that was tied at his ankle, brandishing it in front of the omegas terrified eyes.

“We are your alphas. You do whatever we say, when we say it. We own you. You’re our property. You don’t try and run, you hear me?”

Miggson raised the knife and slashed at his shirt as Wylan let out a strangled scream. He felt it being ripped off of his torso helplessly as Miggson pressed the blade against his already bruised and battered body.

“Y-yes sir.”

”Let me show you how we mark our property.”

“You don’t fail our test again beautiful.”

As they started to use his body however they liked, just as they always did, that thought overcame him. Their test. He never had a chance of escaping. He would never escape. This was his forever, he never even had a chance. They’d dangled it in front of him like a carrot only to tear it away.

It was the most wounded he’d felt in weeks.

Every second was agonising, every cut and gash roared with pain. It demanded to be felt and overcame his nerves to the point he almost passed out but was slapped back to consciousness.

“You’re in luck omega, Pekka is on his way back now. He’s asked us to get you looking all pretty, so we won’t carry on much more, but he is very excited to see you.”

Wylan squirmed and cried out, but to avail. He was still-

“Wake up Omega.” A steely voice commanded.

Wylan gasped and looked up into a pair of dark eyes. He panicked, pushing himself back against the wall of the corridor he found himself in. Before he recognised the familiar crushing feeling of an angry alpha, suffocating him.

He tried to push the fear away but it enveloped every part of him, through his bones and deep into his soul. He tried to move but felt himself frozen, awaiting whatever punishment that would be administered now.

“You need to calm down.”

The command immediately started to settle him, but in an uncomfortable and almost stifling way. Like he was masking it but still feeling everything. He hated that power the alphas had over omegas the most.

“You’re in the crow club. Jesper is out on an urgent errand. He asked me to check on you, you’ve been a while.” Kaz was still staring down at him.

“I-I’m sorry sir.” Wylan gasped between his gulps of air.

“You’ll learn to control it.”

“How s-sir?”

“Don’t call me that. You give that title to people who earn it. Do you understand me?” Wylan nodded earnestly. “It takes time, but you find ways to push down any weakness.”

Weakness.

The omega was now starting to calm, he wished Jesper was there. It this moment he realised how much he was yearning for him, how much he made him feel safe. He wanted him there more than anything.

“Jesper will be back. In the meantime, we need to speak.”

Wylan’s breath hitched, as Kaz sat on one of the steps. Bringing himself down to Wylan’s level.

“Yes. Yes I’ll speak.”

“Good. We’ll start with your old pack, where did they keep you?”

Wylan had no idea about that of course. He’d just been in the house, never having left in three years he probably would only be able to pick it out based upon the scents that hung around it, but nothing else.

“I-I don’t know.”

“But it was Pekka who had you?”

The name alone made him want to flee. Why was he being questioned? Was he in trouble?

“Yes.”

“How did he get you?”

He knew he couldn’t lie to an alpha. He’d be beaten for it, or worse. But Wylan knew the dangers of his secret, of how they would wield it against him. Or even that they could sell him out for it.

“I-I don’t r-remember.”

Kaz didn’t look convinced, Wylan was sure his heart rate couldn’t have helped that.

”I need to know these things if we’re going to get our justice.”

Our?

”Who made up his pack?”

Wylan felt the sickness creeping in.

”Their names were Miggson and Prior. They were alphas too, their pack was also made up of the Dime Lions.”

”All of them?”

”All betas. I was the only omega.”

This seemed to have stumped Kaz. It wasn’t regular for a pack to be made up of that many members. But the omega had realised quickly that the pack was more of a means to force loyalty than it was a loving family unit to Pekka.

”Just a random omega from the street? The only omega to three of the most powerful alphas in the barrel….” Kaz trailed off.

Wylan bit his tongue, as he noticed a change in Kaz.

“Did you know my real name isn’t Kaz Brekker?” Kaz announced. “No one knows my real name, and maybe they never will. But I make it my business to know other people’s names.”

Wylan almost stopped breathing. He’d been caught. Kaz was going to beat him or worse and Jesper wasn’t around to help. This place would become a new hell, he was going to do it all over again. He knew who he really was. Kaz knew where he’d come from. What did that mean for him?

He flinched back, bowing his head down, ready for the first blow.

“And I know when to not make it my business.“

Wylan froze in shock, before lifting his head to meet Kaz’s eye.

“I protect my pack first, every time. You want to be part of us? You make yourself useful. I know you’re a talented chemist, so you’ll start working for me the day after next. This time no delays. You’ll be paid a fair wage, and you’ll work fair hours. In return, I mind my business.”

Like an equal. He had to work, but he’d have his own money? He would be paid a fair wage? Not an omega wage? Kaz wouldn’t reveal his secret?

“Th-thank you. Yes, yes I’ll do that.”

“Perfect. Then we understand one another. We won’t speak of this again unless we need to.” Kaz rose to his feet, he made to leave and then stopped.

“You started panicking when you saw the empty window.” It was more of a statement than a question. “Why?”

He didn’t want to tell him, but Wylan was far too scared to lie.

“I tried to escape them once, but it was a test and then they…they hurt me.” He wrapped his arms around himself, trying to ignore the instinct to run to his nest and bury himself in there.

“We’re going to make sure they never hurt anyone again.” Wylan looked up to see Kaz leaning forwards. “You have my word.”

And somehow Wylan knew he could trust that.

“Now go on to your nest, I’ll make sure Jesper comes back soon to be with you.” Wylan nodded gratefully.

“And Wylan? You don’t have to join us, the choice is yours. But if you do become a part of our pack, know that no one touches a crow.”

As the swish of a long black coat disappeared up the old stairs, Wylan sprinted back to his nest, relieved beyond all reason. He burrowed under the covers immediately, grateful for his safe space.

Luckiky, his whole being had been through enough that morning, Wylan passed out pretty quickly.

                                   ***

When he woke again, Jesper was sat lazily on his bed, seemingly fixing a pistol.

“Jesper?” He called out.

“Wylan?” He answered, smiling down at him. “Kaz said you were having some kind of nightmare when he found you. Are you alright? I’m so sorry I wasn’t there?”

“It’s okay.” Wylan returned quickly. Without thinking, he realised he had reached out for the alpha. He craved the safety he felt with him, especially after everything that had happened. He just wanted Jesper as near as possible.

To his relief, Jesper put the gun down and hurried to the entrance of his nest. Again, fighting the fear, Wylan struggled with himself before he finally asked…

“Will you come in?” He didn’t want to offend the alpha, in thinking that he’d actually join him. But to his surprise Jesper’s face spread into the widest grin.

“Of course I will, thank you for inviting me into your humble abode my liege.”

Wylan’s heart soared as the alpha crawled in beside him, careful to sit a little distance away where he wasn’t a threat. He wanted to close the distance, but settled for this for now.

“Will you be on missions a lot now?” He mustered up the courage to ask, not wanting to be left alone again.

“You’re my main priority, my omega.” Jespers voice was smooth and comforting, like a lullaby.

Wylan looked deep into the alphas warm, grey eyes, and down to the crinkles by his smile, his pointy canines. His long arms and soft calming hands. From here in his nest, he felt the radiation of joy coming from the alpha, or maybe it was his own. It felt right. For the first time the edge of unknowing and vulnerability was gone. He just felt safe.

Cautiously he crawled forwards towards Jesper, as a small flicker of worry flashed across the alpha's face, before Wylan settled his head into his lap. He brought a blanket up and pulled it over himself, before nuzzling into  Jesper’s thigh.

The alpha had paused for a moment, before he let one hand cradle his shoulder, and the other gently run through his curls. Wylan could barely contain the happiness that threatened to erupt from him.

This is what having an alpha should feel like, warm and protecting, loving and caring.  He should be curled up in a nest, feeling safe and cared for. Not left on the cold hard floor, terrified of his next punishment.

As he allowed himself to settle, relishing in the comfort and feeling the clutches of sleep overcome him, Wylan felt a low purr escape him.

He’d never purred before that night.

Chapter Text

Jesper didn’t know how to feel about Wylan working for the dregs. On one hand he was glad that the he and Kaz had spoken without the alpha chewing him out. And that they’d seemed to come to some kind of agreement that had settled Wylan’s nervousness around the other alpha of the pack.

But on the other he knew Wylan was still in a fragile place and it would be better for him to rest and have time to readjust to a normal, safe, happy life. Working for the dregs was none of those things. Exciting, yes, but safe? Stable? The best thing for an omega who had been through what Wylan had?

Inej had had a very different view on that when he’d caught her the night before though.

                                   ***

“You don’t need to treat him like he’s made of glass Jes. It would probably do him some good to actually do something proactive, it’s been enough time. I know it helped me.”

Jesper had sunk down into the armchair beside her at that.

“I know, you’re probably right.”

“Compared to you I’m always right.”

“It’s just…he’s doing so well. I don’t want another setback. You remember how he was when he first got here?”

“Of course I do. But wrapping him in cotton wool won’t help him either. I know it must be different for you as an alpha, I know you’ll want to protect him. But you can’t keep the world at bay forever, better you do it while you’re there to help him through it.”

As always she was very right.

“Maybe I should start believing in saints. It seems to make you very wise.” He sung.

“I can’t think of anything more terrifying.” She retorted as Jesper let out a low laugh.

“So how are things going with the omegas you freed?” Jesper asked, trying to quickly move away from his own troubles.

“It’s going well, we’ve managed to treat a lot of them. But you’ve seen how long that will really take.”

He felt for Inej, not only having a hundred of Wylan, but having been through all of it herself had to be an ordeal.

“Those who wanted to leave have gone and the others are waiting for us to find them homes and jobs.”

“Kaz hasn’t been recruiting then?”

“A few, but you know he’ll treat them fairly. They stand a better chance with him than against him.” She sighed.

“He’s told you? About his plans for Wylan’s old pack?”

“Of course he hasn’t, but I have a feeling it’s going to be bad.”

Jesper leaned forward in his chair, reaching for her small hand as he did. He gently rubbed her thumb as she looked up at him with her caramel eyes.

“I’ll be here if you need me. Always. You’re the bravest person I’ve ever met Inej. You’re the best of us.”

They’d sat there together for a little longer, happily basking in one another’s company as they had done many times before, until Inej had to leave and Jesper returned to Wylan who had already fallen asleep. He slipped into his bed as quietly as he could, watching the gentle rise and fall of the omega’s chest until he too succumbed to sleep.

                                  ***

As Morning rolled in, the alpha felt the light hit his closed eyelids. He managed to wrench his eyes open as he stretched.  Although he always was, Jesper found himself especially jittery.

Wylan seemed to be okay as he too began to stir, no doubt in relation to the alpha in the room waking up.

“Morning sleepyhead.” Jesper mumbled happily.

“Good morning.” The omega replied in a drowsy morning voice that made him a little more jittery.

“Why don’t we go and get some breakfast before we get dressed? Whatever you want.”

Wylan still wasn’t used to this gesture, even after all the time that had passed. He cocked his head to the side adorably and gave a slight confused, if not happy, smile. They’d both headed down to an empty kitchen that morning, as Jesper prepared some toast.

“Remember you don’t have to do this, if anything is wrong you come tell me and I’ll sort Kaz. Alright?”

Wylan had only nodded from the kitchen table, he was always hard to read but it was only especially frustrating now. He wanted to know how the omega was feeling, but he understood the reluctance to speak about his feelings openly yet.

“You’re going to be just fine.”

He wasn’t sure if that sentiment was to reassure himself or Wylan.

Once they’d eaten and gotten ready they had walked alongside each other, ambling towards the lab as slowly as possible. Wylan still seemed very on edge being outside of the slat, and so Jesper tried to stay as close as possible as they made their way through the crowded market.

“Is this your second time at this market?”

Wylan nodded again.

“Any better than the last time?” Jesper tried to joke.

“They never let me leave the house I was in, it’s nice to finally see the barrel I suppose.” Wylan replied, clearly distracted and trying to keep himself calm as they brushed past hordes of strangers.

“Nice to see the barrel, I never thought I’d hear those words…but wouldn’t you have seen it before then?” Jesper had asked curiously. Wylan never answered that. As they passed a stall of fishmongers slicing up some fresh tuna, Wylan inched closer to the alpha.

“Jesper, will you be staying for a little bit when we get there?” The omega had asked, reaching for the gunslinger’s arm as they neared their destination.

Jesper’s stomach had fluttered at that, the alpha within him beaming from the gesture. Pride swelling at the idea of him being a comforting presence to the smaller man.

“Of course I will.”

They finally found themselves at the doors to Wylan’s new workstation. They were big metal doors, clearly rusty as the colour matched that of the old bricks that held it the place together. The two shared a quick look before Jesper stepped ahead, pushing them open to reveal a small room. There was a bench at the end of it, littered with vials, bottles and chemicals. Old lights hung from the ceiling, somewhat illuminating the place. It was cosy, but kind of suffocating. He looked nervously across at Wylan who seemed to be overwhelmed.

“Are you okay?” Jesper asked lowly.

“Yes, yes it’s just…is all of this for me?”

He was a little stumped at that, was Wylan happy for all of this? Grateful even?

“I think Kaz said there’d be a few of the omegas he kept on coming along, but yes.”

Wylan only moved further in, mesmerised by the sight in front of him. He found himself by the work bench, hands gliding carefully along the row of empty vials.

“I never really liked chemistry, I preferred numbers.” He spoke softly, as though telling the most important secret he’d ever withheld.

“I’m not surprised, someone as smart as you.”

A pink-ish blush spread across the omega’s cheeks at that. It was one of the most pure sights Jesper had ever seen. He smiled, hiding his head as he did, before stopping at the dyes.

“Where did you learn all of that?” Jesper questioned, intrigued.

“Maybe I could dye your coat something a little more subtle?” Wylan joked back quickly.

Jesper gasped in mock outrage, it always caught him off guard when Wylan made a gag. He loved it when he did though.

“You really are something you know that omega?”

Wylan giggled, surprisingly comfortable in the new space. As though he belonged there, or at least thought he did. Maybe it did help for him to feel like he was contributing something. Maybe it made him feel more a part of them all, Jesper didn’t care. Anything to keep that beautiful smile on his face.

“We should take you shopping around the market later when you’re done, how does that sound? Since you’re an expert on fashion now.”

“Around the market?” Wylan reiterated.

“If you’re up to it, why don’t you think about it, and if you are we can go later?”

Something unspoken was lingering in the air. They hadn’t talked about the night they’d cuddled together in the nest, maybe they didn’t need to at all. But something within Jesper knew that they should.

“Did Kaz say what he needed?”

“Ah right.” Jesper landed back on earth. He pulled out a piece of paper, before holding it out for Wylan. The omega hesitated for a second, before instead reaching for some goggles that were hanging up by the shelves.

“Could you read them out to me?” He asked. “I won’t be able to see with these on.”

“Of course, twenty flash bombs and thirty smoke bombs. Saints Wylan, would you even know how-?”

“It’s just chemistry.” He answered, “it shouldn’t be too hard I think.” Jesper grinned at that, he’d never seen the omega so confident. “If I don’t…will Kaz…?”

“Over my dead body. And I happen to be very good with a gun.”

This settled the omega, mere seconds before he was disrupted again. A loud knock rang out at the doors. Instinctually, Jesper’s hands flew to the pistols at his hips as he tried to act as nonchalantly as possible, making his way to the door.

As he did he was hit by the collective scent of three different omegas. He shot Wylan a comforting look and swung the door open, and sure enough he was met with forearms adorned with the cup and crow.

“Hello sir, you must be Jesper? Mr Brekker said you’d be here. We’re the omegas you rescued.”

The scent of three unclaimed omegas hit him like a truck. There was a Shu boy, eyes confident and self-assured in spite of all he’d been through. Next to him was a young girl, ginger hair in two plaits that fell past her shoulder. She had a black eye and a scar that spread across her face from forehead to cheek. She also appeared to be nursing her wrist, the look on her face reminded him of Wylan when he’d first arrived at the crow club.

Finally was a petite woman with long dark hair. She was clutching at her ribs, with some fading bruises across her shoulders and neck.

“I’m Kuwei, this is Anika and Genya. We were sent by Mr Brekker to begin working. He said for me to stay here, and that you would be helping Anika and Genya.”

“He did?”

“Yes he did, although if you wanted to stay I wouldn’t be complaining.”

Normally he would’ve acknowledged such a remark, but the scents of now four unclaimed omegas, were swimming around in his mind. Just like when he had first come across Wylan, he cursed his biology. Trying his best to mask this, for both the omegas sake and for Wylan’s. He hated how creepy it felt.

“You’re all okay to start working now?” The alpha asked, nodding his head at the injured omegas.

“We want to sir.”

“You don’t have to call me sir.”

“If you insist.” Kuwei answered.

Jesper looked over at Wylan who was watching them, a look he’d never seen before settled on his face.

“I’d better follow orders, will you be okay here?” He asked the omega.

Wylan’s eyes were wide, he could hear that his heartbeat was a little faster but nothing disastrous. The presence of more omegas may have been nerve-wracking for him, but not fear-inducing.

“Yes.”

“I’ll be back in a bit.”

“You’ll come back?”

“Always.”

He managed a quick smile at Wylan, before spinning on his heels and heading for the door, the two omegas hot on his heels. Just as he closed the door he heard Kuwei’s casual-

“You have the most beautiful eyes.”

He had to apologise to Anika and Genya for the growl that escaped him.

                                   ***

A few hours later and Jesper had managed to show Anika and Genya around the slat. At a good pace. He realised why it was that Kaz had chosen them to join the dregs. Anika had a sharp mind for strategies and would clearly make a good foot soldier as he did. Genya was like him, Grisha, a tailor in fact. Kaz with a tailor would just be deadly.

He’d done his best to be careful with the omegas as he showed them to their new rooms, but they seemed hardened by what they’d been through. Unlike Wylan, who was terrified, they seemed numb to everything. He couldn’t help but try to shake the sadness that overtook him as he silently promised to help Inej more with them all.

Once he’d done this, he dashed out of the crowd club to return to the lab. Sprinting through the streets of the market, apologising to the people he bustled past as he did, Jesper arrived back where his mind had never left.

He waited to stop panting, before he pushed the doors open and caught sight of Wylan and Kuwei tucked behind the work bench, talking to one another enthusiastically.

Quite enthusiastically.

He let out a cough to notify them of his presence, even with his scent doing this anyways, and then descended the steps. He could see that Kuwei had just set a fire under one of the Bunsen burners, inferni. Grisha. Interesting.

“Hello Wylan, ready to see the highlights of the market? Again we don’t have to but they are quite the sights.” He added, ignoring Kuwei’s presence almost entirely.

“I’m think I’m ready to.” Wylan answered, trying to peel the goggles off of his forehead without pulling at his curls.

“The market? I haven’t seen it here yet.” Kuwei threw it out into the open, helping Wylan remove his goggles whilst maintaining eye contact with Jesper.

“That’s a shame. Come along then Wylan.” The alpha beckoned for him, relief settling in as he said his goodbyes to Kuwei.

“I will see you here tomorrow Wylan?” He asked smoothly.

The alpha in him wanted to lurch forward and strangle the life out of the omega. Obviously because Wylan was only just re-entering society and wasn’t ready for those kind of advances just yet.

“Yes. See you tomorrow.”

Wylan hurried forwards and took the alpha’s  arm once more. Jesper couldn’t help but smile smugly as he rubbed his hand and started to lead him out of the lab.

“So how was it?” Jesper asked as they started along the winding road back to the market and away from the dock.

“It was good thank you. I managed to get all of it done for Kaz, I hope he’s happy with them.”

“I’m sure he will be. You weren’t distracted at all then?” He hasn’t meant for it to sound so forced as it left his mouth.

“No, no it was okay.”

“So what do you think of Kuwei?” He just couldn’t help himself.

“He’s okay, he talks a lot though.”

“Yes I hate people who do that.”

“I don’t, not all of them.” Wylan was hiding another smile when Jesper turned to look at him.

They hit the market pretty quickly, with Jesper firstly leading them to a clothing stall. The seller watched them warily as Jesper helped Wylan flick through a clothing rail.

“What kind of clothes would you like to wear?” Jesper had asked. “Maybe some sequins? Some purple or green?” The excitement tumbled out of him.

“I was thinking this navy jacket? And the matching trousers?”

The white stitching that was visible on them definitely made them cuter, but they were basic for Jespers standards, and yet imagining them on Wylan they seemed a perfect fit.

“I think they’re a great choice, I’m sure you could pull off anything though.” Another deep blush. “Anything else?”

“Do you think Kaz will pay me soon so I can get them?”

Jepser smiled at the omega, before he reached into his pocket and handed over a wad of kruge to the merchant.

“Jesper what are you doing?”

“Consider it a gift my omega.”

“You’ve already done too much.”

“No I haven’t. That’s enough for a couple more items, isn’t it?” He nodded at the merchant who seemed ready to argue, but after catching sight of who was under the top hat, changed his mind pretty fast.

Wylan reluctantly ended up picking out a few shirts, two brown coats, a couple pairs of trousers and a scarf. All of which suited him to a tee. The omega seemed satisfied at this, albeit still a bit guilty for Jesper’s intervention.

“Thank you very much Jesper, I will pay you back.”

“No you won’t, it’s my gift to you. Please, it’s good for the alpha in me.” Jesper grinned a toothy grin. “Are you hungry? We could get a cone of fried potatoes to share?”

The omega didn’t answer but looked up at him hopefully, eliciting a laugh from the alpha.

“Let’s go.”

He was glad that Wylan was starting to regain an appetite, even if he wasn’t always comfortable to say that he was hungry, it was good to know that his stomach was now sending him cues on when to eat.

Jesper reached for the omegas hand and led him to a stall, the smell of salty potatoes hitting his nostrils tantalisingly. He paid for a cone and handed them to Wylan.

“Will you be having some too?”

“I’ll pick at them, but they’re for you Wy.”

And so they followed the road home, Wylan munching at the potatoes with Jespers arm around him protectively guiding them home. HThe other hand holding the bags of new clothes. The omega was the perfect height for him to do this, Jesper found himself looking down at Wylan, watching him carefully pick which potatoes to start munching. His eyelids fluttering shut as he savoured each one, trusting Jesper to keep an eye out as he did.

He never wanted the moment to end.

Chapter Text

Wylan

“Here he is.” Wylan was pushed forwards into the tiny room. He’d been led up the stairs, with a harsh hand scuffing the back of his neck. He had no idea where he was or why, only that he’d been instructed to be up especially early and to have all his things packed.

Alys, his father’s omega had assured him, even though his father had told her not to speak a word of it, that he’d be sent on his way to music school. Which had settled him somewhat. He’d be happy to be away from the pack for a while. He was sure his father would be happy to be rid of him, especially with a new arrival on the way.

So he’d obediently packed his things and waited for the cart as his father pushed him inside and ordered the driver onwards. They had driven for a little while before he felt the horses grind to a halt, and the door fly open.

Now in the room, Wylan managed a look up to see a tall, stern-looking man standing over his him. He reached forward and grabbed the omega by the jaw, jolting his head to the side.

“Mr Rollins. This is the omega. Keep him here, make sure no one knows of his existence, and I’ll make you the wealthiest pack in the barrel. Even more so than the one that just stole all of those scent suppressors from under your nose. It’ll be just as you asked, a mutual solution to our problems.”

“And why wouldn’t you just send him away yourself?” Rollins answered. “Is this a trick?”

“I need him close enough as a contingency. But far away enough that his memory starts to fade.”

The alpha in front of him inhaled deeply into the crook of his neck, eliciting a shudder from Wylan. He was being sold out, he was being sold to these people. His father was giving him away. Like a problem to be rid of. Not even for any gain for their pack standing, like he knew that he wouldn’t be worth anything as an omega for anyone else. An embarrassment waiting to happen.

“My fellow alphas would certainly be satisfied with this one. And I’d be only too happy to oblige the deal, Mr Van Eck. We will expect the kruge soon.”

“Good, once this heir is delivered he’s yours to dispose of however you want.”

Wylan went stiff. His own father had just said that. Dispose of. Like he was nothing.

“Any ‘complications’ and I’ll bring the weight of the merchant council down on you thugs like a ton of bricks.”

“Is he well trained?”

“He may be worthless to me but he was bred well. Regardless, I’m sure you’ll find some means to train him how you’d like.”

Wylan turned to plead with his father, only with a look though. He knew better than to argue, he may have been ignored and abused in other ways but his father hadn’t hit him. Much. He knew that as much as he despised his life in the Van Eck mansion it would be better than this fresh hell he’d been delivered to.

But his father didn’t react. He only held his hand out and nodded.

“The deal is the deal.”

”The deal is the deal.”

Just like that. His fate, sealed.

                                   ***

Jesper had handed him a pouch of coins that morning at the breakfast table. He still wasn’t used to be able to sit there instead of the floor, and having a full plate of food in front of him. But he was starting to believe that this could be his life now. Let alone being handed real kruge.

“For me?” He’d asked softly.

“Of course, a week’s wages for now. Kaz may be a podge but he’s a good man.” Jesper replied happily.

He relished being in the alphas presence, not being with him all day for the last week had been hard. Especially as he was the only one that Wylan fully trusted for now, but it made the time they had together even more special.

Most of his wariness was starting to wear off, and he found himself being more comforted than afraid of Jesper.

“I don’t know what to spend it on.” Wylan admitted. He’d never had his own kruge to spend.

“Why don’t we go to the market after work again? See if there’s anything? Or you could save it, I’m saying that for the others’ sake they’ll kill me if I didn’t tell you that you could save it.” Jesper chuckled.

“You don’t save yours?”

“I try to. So, shall we make our way down to your office?”

“Let’s go.”

They walked side by side to Wylan’s lab, the streets were as bustling and busy as ever. But he pushed himself to not cling to the alpha on the way there, it wouldn’t too risky, especially with the scent suppressors. He managed three quarters of the way before he grabbed Jesper’s arm.

Once they arrived they found Kuwei already getting to work, goggles on and setting something up over a Bunsen burner. That didn’t stop him rushing over as they entered though.

“Wylan, you have to see what I’ve been doing. Have you ever tried using arsenic instead of phosphorus? I’ve been conducting an experiment myself and I believe it could be much more efficient.”

He felt Jesper tense up next to him as he fought the instinct to flinch away. He wasn’t sure what he’d done wrong but he hoped the alpha wasn’t angry at him. Instead he chose this moment to create a bit of space between them and to follow Kuwei.

Even if he was wrong about this experiment.

Jesper stood still and then leaned against a wall, watching them as Kuwei helped him put on a pair of goggles. Kuwei’s enthusiasm was a lot, but as an omega, and one who had been through what he had, he felt much more at ease around him. Just like he had with Inej.

As Kuwei prepared to mix the two, and Wylan began to explain why it was a terrible idea he heard the door swing open and felt himself stand upright apprehensively. Luckily it was only Inej with Genya and Anika.

“Kuwei, Wylan.” She acknowledged gently before turning to Jesper. “You me and Anika are going to search a property. It may be important.” He felt Inej’s eyes flicker to him. “It shouldn’t take too long.”

“It’s okay? We’ll be fine here.” Kuwei sung happily.

He could sense Jespers reluctance in the air as he turned to look at the alpha. But he gave him a comforting nod and knew that he’d be back as soon as he could be. Jesper nodded once, stared at Kuwei and then flew out the door after Inej and Anika.

Genya cautiously wandered down the steps, closing the distance between them all. She had been there one day to observe them working, like Wylan she was valuable to the dregs, but deeply damaged from the abuse she’d suffered. She was the first person he’d truly been able to relate to more so than anyone else.

“Are you okay Genya?” Wylan asked softly, noticing her hesitation to join them.

“Yes.” She answered, barely looking up at him.

“She’s okay, so will you help me to try this on a larger scale.”

“Um…just a second please Kuwei, Genya what’s wrong?”

The omega just retreated to sit on a step, barely moving as she did so. Feeling an invisible thread pulling him towards her, Wylan sat beside her. Much to Kuwei’s exasperation.

“Mr Brekker is not going to be very happy.”

Genya looked over at him and wiped away a silent tear that had fallen from her cheek.

“This is a lot so soon.” She mumbled, trying not to cry any more.

“Did they not let you cry?” Wylan asked, recognising this sign.

“No.”

“Me either.” He returned, looking over at Kuwei who had burned his own hand slightly and was running it under a tap like a madman. “But they let you here.”

“How do you know it isn’t a trick?”

He smiled to himself sadly, recalling his own fears.

“I trust Jesper, and he said we’re safe.” He pulled down his sweater from his shoulder to show his bare skin, now free of bruising and cuts for the first time in years. “When they brought me here I was sure it was just so I’d be the pack omega again. But how it was with my old pack. But they’re different.”

He smiled again, but differently this time.

“They’re everything you imagined, and fantasied about when you tried to escape what was happening to you. It’s not perfect, but it’s good.”

Genya hadn’t stopped staring at him, but she was no longer resisting the need to cry.

“But you have Jesper. He likes you.”

“Yes.” He conceded. “But they’re all good people.”

“Mr Brekker told me it was this or the street.”

“He’s very blunt. I know that, I still don’t trust him. But Jesper does. Trust me that that’s enough.”

She seemed to settle a bit after hearing that, “You sound like Ms Ghafa.”

“She was just like us too.”

“Like us.” Genya repeated, this time she turned fully to him and then lunged forward to hug him. It had caused Wylan to jump but he accepted the hug nonetheless. He knew how badly they’d all needed one after ending up there.

“I think we’re going to be okay.”

“Thank you Wylan.”

They were startled by the sound of Kuwei cheering. “

“Your recipe was right actually Wylan, look I think I made a smoke bomb.”

In his excitement Kuwei had held it up to show them. And they’d watched it tumble out of his hand accidentally as if in slow motion. They were all suddenly surrounded by smoke, luckily not too much as it was quite a badly made bomb.

They all hurried to their feet, spluttering as they tried to open a door. It was Kuwei who managed to do it.

“Saints.” He coughed. “Maybe you should do the smoke bombs.”

He turned to the other two, who were now once again visible to one another, as they began to chuckle. Even Genya. It was different to the crow pack, he felt he owed them something by being there even if they insisted he didn’t. This felt…easy. These people felt like they could be his friends.

“Where are you both staying?” He’d wanted to ask the other omegas that before but he’d always been hesitant. Worried that they’d be in squalor while he’d been staying like a prince.

“Some small flats not far from here, they’re ugly but comfortable.” Kuwei replied.

“And you’re happy there?”

“Yes. Happy enough.” Kuwei jumped in, Genya only nodded.

“That’s good.”

Wylan decided he should get back to work, or else he’d never get Kaz’s order done. He did feel the creeping realisation of how lucky he was to have Jesper float in though. Even as he worked. He just managed to finish that as Kuwei had worked on some target practise and Genya had practised her tailoring.

Jesper came flying in shortly after joined by Inej.

“Hello, you. Good day?” He grinned at Wylan, sharing a look with Genya and still skipping over Kuwei.

“Very good day.”

“Good good. Well, back to the market then?” He offered his arm again, as Wylan quickly said his goodbyes and took it in his.

“Where were you today?” He asked Jesper nonchalantly.

“Here, there and everywhere. You know me.”

He tried to hide his dissatisfaction at that answer.

“So you can have whatever your heart desires. Where are we going?”

But Wylan knew exactly where to go. He led Jesper this time, directing him towards the stall he’d been at before. But this time stopping at the one next to the potato stall.

“And what is this?” The alpha asked.

But before he could say anymore, Wylan mustered up the courage to step forwards and look up at the merchant.

“Two stroopwaffles please.”

Jesper had his head to one side as Wylan spun around to look at him.

“Hungry?”

“One’s for you.”

“Oh no Wylan-“ the alpha began.

“I insist, my lord.”

Jesper only stopped, for once silent, as he stared at Wylan. He clearly wanted to say something, but the alpha but his tongue nonetheless.

The merchant handed over the stroopwaffels and the two tucked in, looking out into the harbour as they sat on a wall just off to the side of the stall.

“I’m so proud of you.” Jesper finally settled on.

It struck him as Jesper said it. Something deep in his gut. He couldn’t remember the last time someone had uttered those words to him in that order. If at all. But they meant everything to him, and he let himself believe that Jesper meant it.

“Thank you.”

An arm wrapped around his shoulder as they sat in silence, finishing off the last of their sweet treats. He wanted to stay there forever.

But he knew it was time for them to go home, they both still needed the rest after all.

As they started to head back along the main road to the slat he felt a shift in the wind. A new scent picked up, one that had something within him struggling for breath. He had tensed up, before dropping the remains of his waffle to the floor. He’d reached for Jespers arm, clinging to it tightly as he looked up at him fearfully.

Jesper’s hands had gone to his pistols, his eyes careened around for the danger that the omega had sensed.

But Wylan knew what was happening. He knew that scent, he knew this feeling.

“It’s them.” He managed to get out before shouts rang out from the crowd that surrounded them.

Without thinking, Jesper grabbed him and hauled him forwards and onto the road to the crow club. He could sense the presence following after them, he felt like prey once again as the shadow swept after them.

They were getting closer to the crow club now, only a couple hundred yards away as a figure broke out from a huddle of strangers. It was tall, bulky and threatening.

It was enough for Wylan to start screaming.

Chapter Text

Jesper pushed the omega behind him as he stared into the eyes of the burly man in front of him. His eyes flickered down to the knives that he had strapped to his thighs, a gun also settled at his hip. Despite that, he hadn’t reached for them. Even this deep into dreg territory.

Jesper knew his type well though, a man that was here to play a game. He hadn’t reached for the weapons, he didn’t feel threatened. He just came here to be a threat.

This had worked on Wylan though, who was trembling behind him. He could hear his heart racing, even smell his fear through the scent suppressors. He definitely knew this man, and he was definitely an alpha. The dime lion tattoo plastered onto his forearm like a child’s work of art told him all he needed to know.

“That omega there seems to have had quite the fright. Like he’s seen a ghost.” A sickening voice snarled.

Jesper pulled his pistol from the holster and held it in front of him, trained on the man’s head.

“Who are you?”

“Are you not going to introduce us my pretty? You’ve forgotten your manners.”

Jesper held his other hand out behind him, trying his best to signal to Wylan that he was safe with him.

“Don’t talk to him, talk to me. Who. Are. You.” Jesper bit back.

”They’ve kept you in good condition for us, how kind of them.”

”Name. I’m warning you.”

“My name is Prior, I’m here on behalf of Pekka Rollins. He has a message for you all. And for this little one here.”

“I told you not to-“ Jesper began, finger tightening around the trigger. “I told you to talk to me.”

”Jesper Fahey, gunslinger right? And alpha. And thief.”

He was about to start applying pressure to the trigger when a familiar voice cut in.

“Does Pekka Rollins not have the courage to face me himself?” Kaz spat. “He had to send one of his lackeys instead?”

“You have something of ours, and you’ve taken more still. Pekka isn’t very happy.”

“I couldn’t give a shit what he wants, you’re in dreg territory and you need to leave before I rip your throat out.” Jesper growled.

“But…Mr Rollins is a fair man. He’s willing to let all of this be bygones. In exchange for that omega there. He does still belong to us after all. Just hand him over. I can assure you we’ll take such good care of him”

Chills ran down Jespers spine.

“I was under the impression he didn’t belong to anyone anymore.” Nina snapped, as both she and Matthias joined the wall that separated Wylan from the alpha. “Especially not some big brute.”

“Rejection syndrome or not, claim or not, he’s our property.”

“So what’s the real reason Rollins wants him back? I’m sure the two of you have your reasons, but why Rollins? Why this omega?”

“That’s none of your business Dirtyhands. But you hand him over right now and we can just leave it all here. What do you say? I’m sure you’ve seen for yourself he’s worthless, and such a boring fuck. Stopped screaming ages ago. Wouldn’t you agree pretty boy? Or maybe you’ve all had a turn too?”

He had aimed that right at Jesper, and he would’ve had a bullet shaped hole in his head if Matthias hadn’t reached him first.

“How fucking dare you!? You-“

“Enough Jesper.” Kaz ordered.

He was so angry that Jesper wasn’t sure he could even talk, luckily for the other alpha of the crow clan.

”You have enough of them now, it’ll take ages for us to replace them all. Why not just choose of them?”

”They're not things you choose, they’re people.” Jesper snarled.

“Why would he let us keep his businesses then, but not Wylan here? Curious isn’t it?”

That had suddenly struck Jesper, why would he only want Wylan back? It also seemed to hit Prior who let his assured smile drop for a moment.

“What’s it to be Dirtyhands? You don’t want a war against us. You know we’d win, we’ve got the numbers and the money. We’d take your heartrender here, along with your wraith and the gunslinger, I’m sure they’d do fine work for us. You’d end up at the botttom of the harbour unfortunately. And this runt, well our beds have been awfully cold without him.”

Wylan whimpered behind him which seemed to excite Prior all the more.

”Who will have him first I wonder?”

“Over my dead body.” Jesper replied coldly.

“Can I be honest with you? I was hoping  you’d say that. You have no idea what the boss has planned for you all. I’ll see you real soon, pretty, I’ve been missing you. All of you. Good evening.” At that he sauntered off as though he had no care in the world.

Again, Jesper fought against Matthias who held him there but it was Kaz who finally stopped him.

“We need him for the plan to work. Just leave it Jesper. Get Wylan back inside, the rest of you come with me. We need to start organising the dregs. We need to be prepared.”

He didn’t think to complain, his only thought went to the shivering omega behind him. His eyes were wide and glazed over with fear. He was hyperventilating, mind clearly swimming with old memories and bad thoughts. Jesper reached for his arm slowly and clearly, but he batted it away nonetheless.

“He’s here. He’s here. They’re going to- I don’t want to. I don’t want to go back, don’t make me go back. Please. I don’t want to g-go back.”

The omega started to feebly lash out at the alpha. Trusting that he believed Jesper was a safe person now, the alpha reached out and enveloped the omega warmly in his arms.

“You’re safe with me. With us. I’d never let them hurt you again Wylan, on my life.”

Wylan stopped struggling and just sobbed aloud, slumping back against the alphas chest and letting himself be led back inside. Jesper had made him a cup of tea and sat him down, he’d been hesitating to sit too close to him, but he’d reached out for the alpha who was only too happy to oblige.

“He said…in front of everyone…”

“No one is judging you for that, trust me Wy. It’s them, they’re the ones we look down on.”

“What if they do get me? Why won’t they just leave me alone?”

“They won’t. But I’d come after you.”

“Why?”

Jesper hadn’t been ready for that question. Why? He knew why. There were a hundred reasons and yet only one screamed at him. But he pushed it aside nonetheless.

“Because it’s the right thing to do.”

Wylan nodded into his cup of tea, brushing the tears off of his cheeks. Jesper felt guilty leaving it there but he didn’t want to lay on anything too thick right now.

“What if it isn’t? What if it’s more dangerous for you all?”

“I’d still come.”

“But why?”

“Because I care about you Wy.”

He regretted saying it the minute it had tumbled out. His eyes had darted to Wylan’s but he’d turned his head away again.

“I just mean, I like you. You’re an amazing person Wylan. I could tell from the second I met you that you deserved to be saved. Because you’re good and kind, and smart and pretty funny sometimes. I care about you, and I would come for you.”

Wylan looked up at him as if he’d just given him the world. His heart rate finally started to settle as he lulled his head against Jesper’s shoulder.

“Do you really mean it?”

“Of course I do.”

“I care about you too Jesper.” A gentle voice sung back. “And I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for me.” He seemed hesitant to say anymore, worried he’d be crossing a line. But it was more than enough. Jesper wrapped the omega in his arms again and rocked him back and forth.

“We’re gonna make them pay for what they did. And they’re never going to hurt you or anyone else again.”

”But I’m not one of you. Not really.”

”You are now omega, you’ve seen how much the others love you. Inej is always asking after you, Matthias and Nina adore you. And even Kaz is asking for updates on you. Which is a miracle because he doesn’t ask me how I am.” Jesper grinned. “You’re one of us.”

”I’ve always wanted to be part of a pack like yours.” Wylan started to open up. “One that cared for each other. And spoke to one another and were kind and looked after everyone. I started to think that packs like yours weren’t real. And then I found myself telling Genya that here you were.”

”We’re right here Wy.”

”Do you think I could be part of you all one day?”

Jesper’s heart lurched in his chest.

”Oh. Oh I…well I guess-“

”Sorry. Sorry I didn’t mean to ask that. It was a stupid question.”

”No. No I just hadn’t expected you to ask. But of course.”

Wylan smiled the biggest he’d seen him yet. A real genuine smile.

”I think I would like that.”

”Me too omega. I’d love that too. When you’re ready.”

”When I’m ready?”

”I don’t want to rush you, we have all the time in the world.”

He could almost hear Wylan overthinking.

”I mean it.”

”You can tell me if you wouldn’t want to. I’d understand.”

”It’s not that at all Wy-“

Kaz broke their moment apart with the thumping of his cane. The whole pack crowded in around them.

”Are you okay Wylan?” Inej had asked softly, squeezing the omega’s shoulder.

”I’m okay, thank you.” He replied, quickly and quietly.

”They’ll get what they deserve. Don’t worry lamb.”

”We should’ve killed him right there.”

”I agree.” Jesper chimed in with Nina.

”Not yet, I’ve got the dregs on patrols watching the crow club day and night. You’ll have protection at the lab too Wylan, we’ll need your work.”

”No. No it’s not safe.” Jesper stated.

”It’s safer than here right now, and it gives Wylan the chance to do something useful.”

”Kaz-“

”You know I’m right.”

He did know he was right, it didn’t mean he had to like it.

”It’s best you stay there, we’ll get a bed put in as quietly as possible.”

”But-“ Jesper began.

”A double bed.”

He was sure that Wylan had flushed red yet again.

”I meant his nest.”

”I’ll help you rebuild it how it is now. If that’s okay Wylan?” Inej added.

”I can d-do that.” The omega responded.

”It’s just for your protection, I’ll be there with you Wy. It’ll be okay.” Jesper rubbed his shoulder tentatively.

”So go on then, what’s this plan? How do we get these fuckers?”

They all turned to Kaz.

“We start with his minions. All the way to the top.”

”To Rollins?” 

Jesper could have sworn he saw Kaz catch Wylan’s eye.

”To the top.”

Chapter Text

Wylan

“This is Miggson, this is Prior, they are also your alphas and you do whatever they say. Do you understand?”

Wylan nodded his head obediently, before bowing it again and facing the floor as he always did. He’d been dragged away, out of what he’d realised was the old factory they’d been in, and into a smaller house. With bolts and padlocks running up both sides of the door.

”This is the reward I promised.” He was pushed towards the centre of the room, three pairs of eyes trained on him uncomfortably.

“Wow, your father just gave away something as pretty as you?”

He felt small. He felt stupid and he wanted the earth to swallow him whole and take him anywhere but here.

“He’s clearly the runt of the litter, look at him. Scrawny little bastard is only good for one thing.” Miggson pressed.

“Good thing that’s all we want isn’t it?”

“I trust you two can keep an eye on him for now? I’ll claim him later. Until then you make a start on his training.” Pekka sneered.

The man had waited for the grumbled yeses before he’d stalked out of the room purposefully.

“So, how do we start training you? You seem exceptionally well behaved to me. You’re going to be good for us aren’t you pretty?” Prior slurped as he crept forwards, dangerously close to the omega’s ear now.

Being in a room of alphas had been enough already, the omega in him terrified by the power that each held over him. He felt like a rat in a trap, but now they had him where they wanted, they were playing with their food.

Miggson also prowled towards him, before grabbing his hair and forcing his head up to look at him.

“We have a gift for you.”

Prior had snuck up behind him and forced something around his throat. Once it had clicked into place Wylan was thrown to the ground with a painful thud. He crawled backwards as his hands flew to his neck, realising that he’d been fitted with a collar.

“This is so you know to behave.”

At once a jolt of electricity flew through him. Like a sharp spark of pain he cried out, cowering into the corner in an attempt to hide from the gravity of his new living arrangement.

“You do something we don’t like, you get punished. Understand?”

“What do you say?”

He didn’t know what to say but he knew he would do whatever it took for the pain to stop.

“What do you say? We gave you a gift.”

“Thank you.”

Wylan wailed through the involuntary contortions of his body, desperate for it all to stop. And then it did.

“Good boy.”

“He’s getting there.”

Wylan started to pull his jumper over his palms as he always did to comfort himself. He was never granted much comfort at home. He was mostly ignored more than abused, but he’d felt the sting of it all the same. A different kind of pain pulled at his heart as he realised he’d lost the one source of comfort he had had though.

His father hadn’t known about it, and the staff had never revealed his secret, but he’d created a small makeshift nest in his wardrobe. It was made of clothes and pillowcases, bad for a nest. Awful even. But it was enough to make him feel some semblance of safe and comfortable. To follow even one omega instinct that called to him. That his peers and other omegas were allowed to do.

When his father was done forcing him to attend another event, or parading him around or even dragging him back from another failed attempt at tuition, he’d buried himself in the nest. And it had helped.

The only thing he had that hadn’t hurt him.

And now here he was, a tiny omega all alone, surrounded by three huge alphas that could do whatever they wanted with him until he was murdered.

He would have done anything to be able to nest now.

Another bolt of electricity flew through him as Wylan cried.

“I said, how do you address your alphas?”

“S-sir.”

“That’s good, good boy.”

“Why don’t we show you around? I’m sure you could come see my room first?” Prior purred at him, setting the omegas teeth on edge. “We can break you in early.”

Wylan tried to go somewhere else. He wanted to force his mind to leave him or escape anywhere better but he was painfully aware. He knew where he was, who he was with and what was going to happen. And there was nothing he could do about it. All he could do now was endure.

                                   ***

Jesper 

Jesper had found the omega standing over his nest a few hours before they’d left. He’d felt the guilt of forcing Wylan away from this safe space he’d finally embraced; like an anvil tied to his ankles. But he knew it was for the best. If Wylan’s old pack knew where he was, and were willing to defy the borders between pack territories, they’d have to hide for now.

Wylan had been staring at the nest for a little while, not moving. Just looking. Glazed eyes and a worried expression resting unnaturally on his soft features.

“I’m sorry Wy.”

The omega jumped and turned to look at the alpha, the anvils feeling that much heavier for it.

“Sorry, sorry I know you’re probably a bit skittish right now. I’m so sorry we have to leave.”

“I understand.”

The words were so gentle and hurt that they felt like a dagger to the heart.

“We’ll be back soon, once Kaz’s plan works out and we have control over the barrel again. You’ll see. That pack won’t be a problem anymore.” He did his best not to spit the final sentence out.

“You’ll be with me?”

“Kaz okay’ed it. I might need to come back and help out but I’ll be with you for as long as I can be.”

He saw the omega visibly sigh with relief.

“And I’ll be working?”

Jesper’s stomach flipped, it felt wrong for the omega to be doing any work right now, and that the other omegas would likely be joining them. All of the omegas.

“Just as much as you can omega, if you don’t want to at all I’ll sort Kaz.”

“I do. I want to help.”

Jesper smiled, carefully stepping forwards until he was beside Wylan. The omega didn’t move, not out of fear, at least he couldn’t smell any. The alpha wrapped an arm around the shoulders of the smaller man, gently pulling him into his side as he nestled his chin into those soft curls.

“You do help.”

Wylan had shifted beneath him to look up into Jesper’s eyes. He would be lying if he didn’t think to lean down and meet the omega there. Maybe it was the pheromones, maybe it was biology, maybe it was chemistry. But he knew it would be wrong for him to push for anything, especially given Wylan’s past. So he shoved that impulse deep down and focused on their next steps.

“So they’ve put two beds into your lab. I mean very small beds but they’ll do, I guess they’re what you make of them. I’ll bring some sheets with me, see if you want to nest there as well? We’ve got some clothes, and we can cook there too. That’s everything isn’t it?”

Wylan nodded, still staring up at him with those beautiful wide eyes.

“You’re not going to cook are you?”

“Watch it.” Jesper laughed back, “Come on, we should go settle in.”

As they made their way downstairs they were met with the welcome sight of Nina and Matthias. They’d clearly been waiting for them.

“We said we’d both follow you to the lab, make sure you get there safely and settle in.” Matthias announced.

“And we thought we’d make sure you know that we can take Jesper out whenever you need Wylan. Saints knows he is a lot to live with. Especially in a confined space.”

Wylan chuckled softly and nodded in gratitude.

“Oi, I’m sensing a lot of jealousy coming from this corner.” Jesper pointed around her dramatically.

“Jealousy or wisdom?”

“Let’s go, before it gets too dark.” Matthias took over, leading the group towards the door like the only responsible one there. As they were walking over Jesper felt Wylan reach for his hand. He took his and squeezed once comfortingly.

“You know what you need to do then? Both of you?” Kaz’s voice rang out from the door.

“We’ll lie low.” Jesper replied. “Wylan will be making your bombs and I will be silent and keeping out of trouble. Happy?”

Kaz didn’t respond, he only shot Jesper a death look and then turned to the omega who was half hidden behind him.

“We used the flash bombs you made. We’re still alive. Can you make more?”

“Of course.” Wylan piped up.

“Perfect, we’ll take them and I have a few ideas. Kuwei will talk you through them.” And then he was gone.

“That was Kaz for I’m impressed.” Nina rolled her eyes as they all headed back into the streets of the barrel.

They made their way through the crowds pretty quickly, all of them a bit quieter and more on guard than usual.

“We should’ve brought Inej, I’d feel a lot better.” Jesper hissed at the betas that hurried in front of him.

“Do you think we would do this without her?” A low voice boomed back as Jespers eyeline shot up and he caught the brief sight of a turquoise cape whipping through the wind.

He definitely felt much better for it. Despite having the omegas hand in his, everything felt a lot more terrifying than Jesper had ever felt during any mission before. If ever. He supposed he’d never really had anything to lose before.

They finally made it to the rusty old doors and had all barrelled in within seconds, other than Inej who gracefully dropped in.

“You okay Wy?” Jesper had mumbled softly, low enough that the others couldn’t hear.

“I think my heart stopped five times.”

“Better than six times.”

Jesper caught the brief smile on his face, as they had gotten settled, sorting out the bed situation and then wrangling up something to eat. Inej had made sure everything was secure, darting around the place. Matthias had moved the furniture and work bench around to maximise their room and Nina had pushed Jesper out of the way and taken over cooking them all dinner.

Wylan had seemed completely overwhelmed by it all, keeping to himself with his back always pressed up against the wall. For now Jesper gave him space to adjust without adding to the suffocation of it all.

They’d eaten altogether before wishing their friends a goodbye and then feeling how much bigger and emptier the space now felt. Wylan was huddled on his bed, having just polished off his soup.

“This is…cosy isn’t it?” No response. “We won’t be here forever though. It’s temporary.”

Wylan still seemed on edge, as though waiting for something terrible to happen. Imagining what was riling Jesper up a bit himself.

“What is it Wylan? What can I do?” Jesper asked, voice laced with concern.

“I don’t feel safe. I’m sorry.”

“That’s okay, thank you for telling me, what can I do to make it better?”

He could tell Wylan wanted to say something but was hesitant.

“You trust me don’t you?”

The omega paused. The silence and weight of that question fell on them both. And then Wylan nodded earnestly.

“Okay. What do you need?”

“Could I, maybe, would it be possible for me to nest?”

Relief filled him.

“Of course, you don’t need permission for that. We’re going to build the best nest any omega in the barrel has ever seen. They’ll be talking about it for years. Maybe they’ll put us on the front of the Ketterdam Mail?”

Jesper hurried over to his bag, of which he had begrudgingly unpacked a few extra lavish jackets of his, and pulled out the sheets he’d made room for.

“These will help, and we can use the pillows from both our beds.” He added excitedly.

“But what about yours?” Wylan had asked.

“I don’t need one, I’m out like a light when I sleep. Inej tells me it’s so that I can recharge after blowing my battery all day.”

“Or you could sleep in there too?” The voice that accompanied the sentiment was hopeful, a little brave.

“If you’re sure? I could definitely be convinced.”

He felt a lot more at ease to jest with Wylan now, it felt like both their personalities had only just started to be unearthed from where they’d been buried in fear.

“You do seem quite easy to convince.”

“Or that’s just what I want you to think.”

Wylan had gotten to work building the nest at once. Just like the one in the crow club it was ‘full of personality’. And painfully obvious that he hadn’t been allowed to nest much before. If at all. But once he was done it was big enough for the both of them, spread across the mattresses and stuffed with blankets, pillows and sheets. The chilly Ketterdam air only made it look more inviting.

Wylan had turned around, looking at him as though Jesper was about to mark him out of 10.

“Well maybe we could make it into the Ravka Post too?” Jesper had sung, full of pride.

Wylan had blushed lightly and spun back around, before clambering in and settling in a corner of the nest. Once again he started to breathe and relax.

“Are you coming?”

“Of course I am.”

He knew what a big deal this was. He knew what it usually meant for an alpha and omega to share a nest like this, and especially how big of a deal it was for Wylan with his past. It dawned on him for the first time that Wylan’s biology was probably fighting his mind as well.

Jesper climbed in and sat with his legs stretched out in front of him. He glanced across at Wylan who looked ethereal in the low light of the room. His skin was golden, reflecting the orange glow, his eyes looked huge and warm. His curls were sitting perfectly on his head, framing his angel-like face in a way that made him look otherworldly.

He’d noticed all of this before, sure. But never in this light.

“I wasn’t allowed to nest.”

“With your old pack?”

“Yes.” Wylan replied, clipped and strained.

“You nest all you like now. Wherever you want to make one, if you want to move this one or whatever I don’t care. You just tell me and we’ll keep on making history.”

Wylan smiled at him before his eyes fluttered down.

“I’ll make sure there’s room for us both.” It was so genuine and wholesome that Jesper could’ve melted.

“Thank you Wy. That means a lot to me.”

He felt the air start to thicken around them, something electric floating between the bodies that breathed in unison. But he still wasn’t ready for all of that, it just wasn’t right yet.

“Do you know how to play cards?” Wylan shook his head.

“Come to think of it I might have forgotten too, I don’t think I’ve played since…” Since him . “But we could have a game? No stakes involved. I’ll teach you.”

“Okay.”

And so there they’d sat, draped in the comfort of the nest that belonged to them both in a way. Jesper growing more frustrated as it turned out that Wylan was a genius and a dab hand at cards. Naturally. Until he’d spent a little too long trying to figure out a way to win the hand, finally finding a way forward, only to realise Wylan had nodded off.

And checking his cards, the omega would’ve won anyway.

He’d only let out a soft laugh though, wrapping the omega in another blanket. He watched him for a minute, the lull of his chest. The way his features had softened and looked so peaceful in a way that they never did when he was awake. And he found himself smiling like an idiot.

With that warm feeling enveloping him, Jesper too laid out beside the omega and let sleep softly lead him away. But not to recharge any battery, to lead him away to dreams of one particular man.

Chapter Text

Jesper

Jesper woke that morning feeling a different kind of bliss. Lying beside Wylan,  just being that close to him was a reward enough. He’d waited so long, and it was good to know that they were making progress. More than that he just didn’t Wylan to fear him at all.

He stretched out, right down to his toes before rolling over. To see the space next to him empty. His stomach lurched and he immediately sprung up onto his knees to search around.

“Wylan?” He hissed lowly.

The worst thoughts flooded his mind all at once. It couldn’t be? His old pack couldn’t have been here could they? They wouldn’t have just left him and taken Wylan? Why leave him alive? Unless Wylan had offered himself up to save him, but surely he would have woken up?

Panic only continued to grip him as he fought his way out from the safety of the nest and scrambled to his feet, not caring at all about how chilling the steel floor was.

“Wylan?” He cried out.

“Jesper.”

The alpha exhaled, almost collapsing to the ground as the build up of stress within him began to dissipate. The omega was standing over the stove with wide eyes, his weight gently shifting from one foot to another to soothe himself.

“Sorry was I not supposed to…?”

He had dressed in his new clothes, fitted navy trousers that matched his waistcoat and black boots, along with a checkered white and navy shirt. Seeing Wylan in his own clothes was like seeing him for the first time again, every time.

He had clearly been lost in his own world before catching sight of the alpha. Until he had no doubt scared the life out of him.

“No, no not at all. Just got a bit worried.” Jesper exclaimed, settling into the chair next to the omegas workstation.

“Okay, sorry. I just got a bit hungry. I made us some food if that’s alright?”

“Alright? That’s amazing Wy, a man of many talents aren’t you?”

Wylan only smiled softly and tried to hide it by bowing his head. He got back to cracking an egg over a pan, when something finally registered in Jesper’s head. There had to be at least a dozen eggs already boiled in front of him.

“Do we have company?” Jesper chuckled, trying not to intimidate Wylan but wanting to check in with him nonetheless.

The omega looked up with a confused expression on his face until he too seemed to realise how much food he had already made for just the two of them. He immediately looked as though he was about to cry.

“It’s okay, whatever we don’t eat we can offer the omegas that come in today.” Jesper reassured him, looking for Wylan’s reaction intently.

“I-I swear I didn’t realise. I won’t waste any food again.”

“I said it’s okay, I was feeling pretty hungry today anyway.” Jesper grinned. “A feast for my belly and eyes.”

Wylan just nodded his head apologetically, before playing up the last egg and then going to serve Jesper.

“No I insist, you’ve done the cooking, now sit down and I will bring the food to you. It’s the least I could do.”

Wylan reluctantly accepted this and headed over to sit on the bed, waiting for Jesper to bring the eggs. He didn’t know whether to bring all the food, especially as Wylan’s stomach was still adjusting. He was eating more than he had when he arrived, but still too little for his size and weight. So he opted to bring two eggs over and see how he managed.

Dramatically, he raised the plates above his head and sung a holy-like melody as he carried them over to the omega. Wylan laughed gently, before reaching out for his plate and taking it from the alpha.

“Cheers.” Jesper muttered holding out a fork and waiting for Wylan to clink his against it. Before he then had to explain how and why to do that. Wylan did it, still smiling.

He tucked in, savouring the food. More so than he would’ve before meeting all of these omegas and realising just how lucky he’d been. So much so that he hadn’t realised that Wylan had already polished off his plate. His eyes widened in surprise as he turned to the omega.

“Wow you really were hungry. Want some more?”

Wylan nodded cautiously again, as Jesper finished off his own food and then handed Wylan another plate of two eggs. And then again. The third time leaving his own and just piling Wylan’s plate. The omega finished it all.

“Well that’s a good sign if ever I saw one.” Jesper laughed, watching as Wylan rubbed his eyes. He yawned then, adorably, as the omega leaned against his shoulder.

His behaviour was now starting to worry Jesper a little, he wondered if maybe something could have been tampered with, but then he’d be affected too. Maybe his old pack had done something that day in the market during all of the fuss, that’s why only one alpha had shown up? 

The stress of the old pack and Wylan’s safety hanging over him once more had left him feeling unable to sit still or even breathe. Just like the night outside the bathroom. 

He pushed that aside for now, not wanting that fear to transfer to the omega.

“Do you want to go back to sleep Wylan? I can tell Kaz you weren’t feeling great today he won’t mind.”

“I can do that?” He mumbled, staring up into the alphas eyes. Making him want to melt right there.

“Of course.”

“Kaz won’t be angry?”

“You need to look after yourself Wylan, that’s the most important thing.”

“They would’ve killed me before I took a day off. Even if I’d been beaten or….” Wylan trailed off. Guiltily Jesper was grateful he hadn’t gone into full details.

“Go on, you rest, I’ll keep an eye on you.”

“The others-“

“I’ll tell them not to come today. Get some sleep.”

Wylan finally gave in and crawled back into the nest, still fully dressed. He wrapped himself up in blankets and then buried his head in a pillow, the fox plushie laid just next to him. Jesper melted again, before he headed over to the workstation to start cleaning up. Or at least he intended to.

The door swung open and just before Jesper could dive for his guns the friendly faces of Matthias and Nina joined him.

“Saints, you could knock.” Jesper breathed.

“And you could lock the door, Matthias said he even walked in on you in the shower once.”

“The glass was steamed up.” Matthias mumbled, embarrassment etched upon his face.

“I unlocked it just now. And Matthias if you wanted a look all you had to do was ask.” Nina swatted at him as Jesper dove out of the way. “Well, right this way, keep it down though Wylan’s gone back to bed.”

“Really? Is he okay?” Matthias asked, his voice laced with concern.

“He said he was tired. How’s everything back at the crow club?” Jesper asked.

“The usual.” Nina sighed.

“We’ve been finding homes for the omegas that the Dejmin didn’t want, Nina’s been working too hard taking care of them all.”

“It’s nothing.” Nina insisted. “I like helping them.”

Matthias just sighed fondly and ran a hand through her hair, landing it on her shoulder in a way he had done a million times. She raised her own hand to squeeze his, the moment seeming far too intimate to watch. Jesper pretended not to have seen.

“So what are you doing here?” He asked.

“We just wanted to check in whilst we were around.” Nina answered quickly.

“Uh huh. Is Kaz spying on us?” Jesper pushed.

“He actually doesn’t want us coming to see you both.”

“Why?” The alpha questioned.

“Just because it could look suspicious, if Wylan’s old pack are watching him, that we’d just come here randomly.” Nina whispered the last part. “But we wanted to make sure you were both alright.”

Jesper waved a hand in the air and grinned.

“It’s good to see you both, it’s hard being away from the pack. It feels wrong.” Jesper admitted.

It was hard to be away from them all. Being at the crow club more often than not meant that he always felt attached to the whole pack, bond or not. But now it was like he could feel the stretch and strain of it as the distance between them all grew more familiar.

Maybe it was that need to gain some slack back that had drawn the betas back to their other alpha. Not that he was complaining.

“Yes it does. Especially because I’m now the only entertaining one.” Nina chuckled as Matthias rolled his eyes.

“You are okay?” Matthias pressed.

“Im fine. I mean, it’s hard having to hear a lot of what he went through. And just worrying all the time, especially with the pack around. But it must be harder for him.”

“That doesn’t mean it isn’t hard for you.” Matthias added, as both he and Nina sat down by the workstation.

“We’re here if you ever need a break, or someone to talk to. You know that don’t you?”

“Of course I do. Thank you guys.” Jesper felt something almost lift off of him as he said it. “You guys hungry? I’d offer you eggs but Wylan ate most of them this morning.”

“He ate all the eggs you brought?”

“Yes.” Jesper replied, slightly perplexed. “Why? Is that bad? Do you think it has something to do with him being tired too?”

Nina opened her mouth and then closed it again. She looked over at Matthias, who’s stared back at her, and then fixed her gaze back on Jesper.

“He’s asleep ?” Nina mouthed.

Jesper nodded, “Am I doing something wrong?”

“I think Wylan’s body is recovering now, especially since it’s been a couple of months that he’s been here. And obviously he is an omega…”

“Right?”

“So as an omega, he has certain cycles.”

“Oh.”

Jesper had completely forgotten. Not that he’d never thought about it. But he’d pushed it so far from his mind with what Wylan must have been through and his need for care and compassion for now. Wylan’s heats. Of course they’d return at some point.

“Saints, what am I going to do? It’s just me and him here. Obviously I can control myself I’m nothing like his old pack but…but….”

Nina reached out and grabbed his hand.

“I don’t think he’ll start this month, but I think it’s a sign that they’ll be returning soon. And that it’ll be around this time, but I can check him over to make sure, if he’s okay with it? And then we cross that bridge when we get to it.”

Jesper nodded, that made sense and was reassuring enough.

”Tomorrow though, if that’s alright? I promised him some restful sleep for now.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t been sneaking around at night to run after your…pursuits.” Matthias grimaced.

“Keep your voice down.” Jesper pressed. “And I’m actually putting Wylan first right now. Whatever he needs.”

It had been quite a while now he thought about it. Maybe the day before he’d found Wylan, with a shu woman who’d been staying in Ketterdam a few days. But he quickly threw that from his brain.

“Mhmm.”

“I mean it you guys!” Jesper answered, exasperated.

“We’re teasing.” Nina laughed. “We’ve seen how you look at that one.”

He immediately felt exposed and wanted to argue. Luckily, Jesper was a dab hand at being able to manipulate a conversation to his advantage. Even if Nina was a worthy adversary.

“Like your other alpha and Inej you mean? I think this is quite a different situation. Shouldn’t you be getting along now actually, I’m sure Kaz wont be too happy when he finds out you were here.”

“Are you throwing us out?” Matthias smirked.

“He’s so sensitive about this one, all the others he was so blasé. Isn’t he acting different Matthias?”

“Enough, I think I hear Kaz calling now.”

The betas only laughed their way to the door, each hugging him and instructing him to tell Wylan that they’d said hello. Before the silence overtook the room once more.

He managed a look in to the nest to see the omega still dozing. Jesper loved how peaceful he looked when he was asleep, as though he had no past at all.

But he did.

And for that reason he pushed all the thought of heats and all that from his head for now. At least it was a sign that Wylan was becoming healthy again. Whatever he did, he’d always make sure it was with Wylan in mind first. He moved his way over to the kitchen to find something to prepare for lunch, if the omega needed to eat right now then he’d make sure he ate like a king.

He’d probably also nip to the market, maybe pick him up a few things that would settle him when he did wake. But he’d wait for someone to stay with him, until then he’d be watching over the omega for as long as he needed.

Chapter Text

He groaned, trying to push himself up onto his elbows when he felt a rough hand shove his face back down into the pillow. This was the only time he was allowed on a bed. Not that he ever wanted to sleep on one again now.

“Where do you think you’re going pretty?”

A voice squelched into his ear, the hand now stroking his curls and slithering down to his the back of his neck.

“N-nowhere s-sir.” He croaked back, trying to lift his head whilst not moving at all.

The hand was applying more and more pressure, making it harder and harder to breathe.

“Good boy.”

A hand creeped down and smacked his ass, eliciting a whimper from the omega.

“Get dressed.”

Immediately Wylan dragged himself off of the bed and pulled his clothes on.

“Good thing those heats have stopped isn’t it? You’re just perfect now. Like a doll.”

Beady eyes raked over him, making his whole body want to break out in shivers. Even more shivers than he already had.

“Yes s-sir.”

Even though they had starved and hurt him enough for the heats to only have just stopped, it didn’t mean he’d escaped all of the side effects. And he was definitely supposed to have had one now. Immediately as he’d stood up he’d felt the dizziness and nausea start to creep up on him.

“Are you not going to say thank you?”

Wylan pulled his t-shirt back on, now fully dressed, and lifted his head weakly to look up at the alpha that towered over him.

“Th-thank you sir.”

“Good boy.”

He pulled him in by the collar that was strapped tightly around his neck and planted a slobbery kiss on his lips, only making him feel more sick.

“I’ll be back later, make sure everything’s clean for when we’re back.”

The door slammed shut before he could muster up a reply. Immediately Wylan sunk down to the floor, grateful for the chance to collect himself.

That was until the whole room had just started to spin and he felt the sweat instantaneously start to pour out of him. The urge to lie down or rest for just a few minutes tugged at him, but he knew that if his pack returned and everything wasn’t ready he’d have much worse than these side effects to deal with later. And that was whilst he already felt this ill.

With a pained groan, he tried to pull himself to his feet and immediately regretted it. As the room now started to shake as well as spin, he toppled back to the ground with a thud, the impact immediately churning his stomach.

He felt the nausea bubble up in his stomach and threaten to erupt, before he had even had a chance to stop it Wylan bowed his head and gave in, throwing up next to the bed.

“N-no.” He half-cried to himself, still feeling nauseous but now faint too. “Please no.”

He had to get it cleaned up, or they’d smell it before long. Wylan tried to stand up again but his legs felt too weak and his body far too heavy to heave up, even in its current emaciated state.

He knew he didn’t have long, he couldn’t be subjected to another beating right now, with one last attempt, he sucked in a breath and tried to lift himself, only to fall back.

But this time he fell quickly, with no control. For a split second it was peaceful. He didn’t think anything at all, didn’t panic, didn’t feel scared. He just felt himself free falling.

Then his head hit the bed frame and everything went black.

“What is that smell? Where is that little mutt? Where are you!”

                                 ***

“No!” Wylan shouted.

He sprung upright to realise that he wasn’t back there, but tucked underneath layers of blankets in the makeshift nest he and Jesper had built. He groaned, trying to regain his breath as his mind raced.

Where was Jesper? How long had he been asleep? And why did he feel so awful?

Trying to answer at least one question, Wylan pushed himself up to peer out of the nest. He couldn’t smell the alpha at all, which meant he had to have left. He was all alone. The omega was about to settle back into his den when he felt a pang in his chest, and then the sweat start to break out all over his body. Even if it was freezing cold winter outside, he was swelteringly hot in there.

He chose to climb out of the nest, as much as he wanted to remain within its safety, he couldn’t stand the extra heat. Flashes of pain gripped his stomach, as he sat back against his workstation and clenched his eyes shut.

Maybe it had been all the extra food he had eaten, maybe it was still too soon for his stomach to be eating like that. Or-

No. Not that. Please.

Desperate to stop the never-ending flow of thoughts in his brain, Wylan decided to make himself useful. He would try and clean up in there, as a nice surprise for Jesper at least. He had been doing most of the work for the two of them, he didn’t want him to think he was ungrateful.

He dragged himself up and trudged around to the cleaning supply cupboard beneath his workstation. At once the scent of chemicals overwhelmed him, and he felt the familiar feeling of nausea start to nip at his heels.

He slammed the door shut but it was too late, the damage had already been done. He sunk to his knees, trying to ignore the twisting feeling in his gut. But just like the nightmare he’d had, he couldn’t push it away. Crawling back towards the nest, but failing halfway, he couldn’t hold it any longer as he choked up his guts onto the workstation floor.

Immediately he felt himself freeze, and his heartbeat isolate in his ears. He had to clean it before Jesper got home. He’d be in trouble. He had to clean it.

Wylan knew he couldn’t open the cupboard again, the risk of him making even more mess was too high. He could try and mop it up? But with what? What if Jesper was so angry he threw him out? He’d be on the streets. His old pack would find him. They were out there looking for him now and they’d find him and bring him back and….

“Woah woah woah, what happened in here?” Jesper asked aloud, stepping further into the room. Wylan hadn’t even noticed him enter. “I just went to go and get more eggs.”

Wylan could barely contain the sob that ripped out from his throat. He hadn’t even realised he’d curled up into a ball by the side of the workstation, only a foot away from the contents of his stomach.

“I’m s-sorry.” He whispered.

He couldn’t even look up, he knew what this meant. He’d finally blown it. He’d messed up so bad that he’d be thrown out until his old pack found him. Or he’d be hurt so badly he wished they would. This was it.

Jesper shuffled towards him, stopping just before him. He looked down at the mess, and then straight at him. He didn’t speak for a few seconds as Wylan’s stomach tied itself up in knots. He could barely breathe, and his muscles were to tense he couldn’t help but twitch and whimper as he waited.

“I’m going to clean this up okay?” Jesper mumbled gently. “I want you to go and lie down, I can get rid of the blankets if it’s too hot for you?”

Wylan had to stop his jaw from falling wide open. He hated that even though he could give advice to the others about him, he still couldn’t bring himself to fully trust the alpha. He’d only ever been good to him, treated him well, but he was just waiting for the switch. The moment he ruined it all and everything he’d ever known came flooding back into his life.

“You’re not angry?”

“Angry? Wy…I...of course I’m not angry. You’re not well.” He replied back almost too sharply.

Like he’d been snapped out of a trance, the world seemed to shift back into reality as he looked up into those concerned grey eyes that he’d started to confide in.

“Sorry. It’s just I had a dream. A memory. I-I…”

“It’s okay omega, you’re okay.”

His voice was so soothing, he’d always longed for someone’s voice to speak to him that softly. Jesper was still hesitant to touch him, but he could sense that he wanted to.

“You go and rest, and then we’ll get you comfortable and have a chat about all of this alright?”

Wylan nodded quickly and then went to lay down. He felt bad leaving Jesper to his mess but he didn’t want to disobey him after he’d been so kind to him. He laid there, his body starting to overheat and torture him once more as he did. Luckily Jesper didn’t take long.

“There, all sorted.” He sung, hurrying over to him. “Oh Wylan, you’re burning up. Why didn’t you say?”

“I’m okay.” Wylan murmured back, his head still spinning as if he was on a rollercoaster that he couldn’t get off of.

“You’re not alright, and that’s okay. Here, I went and got some of this from Inej. It should help with the pain, and I can get a cold towel and see if we can start to cool you down? How does that sound?”

He held out a small vial of something, Wylan didn’t know what. But it had never meant anything good.

“Okay.”

Jesper left him once more as he tried to find a place to hide the contents of the vial that wouldn’t be too conspicuous. He didn’t want to spill it on the sheets, and it would be noticeable on the floor. Unless-

“Right, why don’t you take your shirt off? We can cool you down with this wet cloth. Are you going to drink that Wy, sweetheart?”

He was nodding at the vial in the omegas coiled fingers. Wylan just unstoppered it, and got ready to drink. He’d just have to deal with whatever came from it. He hesitated, before preparing to tip it into his mouth.

“It’s for heats Wylan. A tonic. It helps omegas, at least with the pain. But you don’t have to take it if you don’t want to?”

He could hear the tone of disappointment in Jesper’s voice as he tried to push his own embarrassment down at the mention of heats.

“A tonic?” He replied quietly. “Before the pack I used-“

“Just a tonic omega.”

Wylan nodded and then quickly downed it before Jesper could get upset with him. He did find comfort in having the alpha around, but he was sure that the nightmare had thrown him off. As much as he trusted him, the doubt that ate away at him had only been exasperated by the memory of his past. It was the closest he’d felt to being back there again.

“There you go, now let’s try and cool you down.”

Wylan slowly unbuttoned his white shirt, before lying down in front of the omega. He knew he was trembling as he did, lying there like that had only meant one thing before.

But to his surprise the wet cloth danced across his skin gently. Jesper was still sat back, and the alpha was delicately brushing the fabric over him. It was heaven. His skin slowly switching from feeling like it was on fire to feeling chilly and cool.

“Thank you alpha.” Wylan stuttered out once Jesper had finished. He at least felt like he could think once more again. 

“You don’t have to thank me, but we do need to speak about this.”

Wylan started to sit up, clawing at his shirt and forcing it over his head as quickly as he could.

“Okay.”

“Wylan do you know why you’re not feeling well?”

Of course he did. It was his heat. He wished it wasn’t but this would be the time that Jespers primal instincts overcame him. He would do what the alphas of the barrel did to unknowing omegas in heat as they scampered around in the shadows fearfully. What the upper class omegas had to endure from their pompous, overbearing alphas. He wouldn’t feel safe again. After all they had built.

He nodded up at Jesper who smiled understandingly.

“Okay, so we need to discuss what you need during this time.”

“You mean when you take me?” Wylan mumbled downwards as he bowed his head shamefully.

“N-no. No Wylan. I wouldn’t. I mean…you know. Not now. Not ever if you don’t-you know.”

He didn’t know.

“I think so?”

“Wylan I meant what you’d like to eat, if I can get you more medicine. And how you’d like to…relieve yourself.” Jesper managed to get out.

“Oh.”

“I know that your heats will return soon, maybe even for the next one. If you let me know what you need I can get it for you.”

“Okay.”

“And I know it will be a strange time for you, and I don’t know what you’ve been through during these times before. I’m sure it was horrible Wylan. But I don’t want you to be scared, I just wanted to help you through it and for us to be prepared.”

“You mean if I want you?”

“In a way…” Jesper began. “I know you will have many instincts as I will, and we can work our way through them however you need.”

He was being given a choice? Control even? Him?

“I…I don’t know.”

“I can find Inej for you one day? Or someone who might be able to share how they cope with them? I just want you to be comfortable omega.”

That sentiment alone finally washed over him and allowed him to look up at Jesper once more. His eyes were filled with concern, his brow furrowed in a way that didn’t suit his beautiful face. But Wylan knew, even if he couldn’t yet subscribe to the idea, that he actually was safe now. This man wasn’t just an alpha. He was someone who cared about him.

“I would like that.” Wylan answered. “They never gave me a choice.”

He wasn’t sure if he’d ever be ready to have someone help him through his heats again, but maybe one day he could. Maybe it would even be good.

“Good, well now that’s out the way Wy.” He said it quickly, glazing over what Wylan had just said. “I brought chicken and you will be having a feast tonight.”

”I can help you?” Wylan offered.

”No, no I insist. Get comfy.”

Wylan smiled to himself and pushed some pillows behind him, allowing himself to rest against them. Jesper on the other hand sprung into action, rushing around the kitchen chaotically. He hurried over to cut some vegetables and then practically sprinted back to the pan to where the chicken was cooking, refusing to let Wylan even suggest helping.

Wylan only chuckled to himself, feeling the new found confidence overtake him again whilst the alpha grinned at him goofily as he plated up their dinner. Finally, Jesper handed him a plate of food before lowering himself next to the omega.

”May I present to you, the finest cuisine this side of the barrel. Rated five stars by Ghezen himself, don’t tell Inej I said that, and even given the highest order of feedback, ‘It was okay I guess Jesper’ by Kaz Brekker himself…pan fried chicken and vegetables. With a special fried egg on top to settle those cravings for you. Ta da.” Jesper sung happily.

Wylan felt his eyes watering as he looked down at the full plate of food, his body now at a normal temperature and pain-free. Sitting beside an alpha that he was truly starting to believe, would move heaven and earth for him. And maybe he would too.

”Thank you so much Jesper.” He chirped back, nuzzling his head into the alpha’s shoulder in thanks, before tucking into his food.

They both tore their way through the food, Jesper only stopping to try and glance subtly at Wylan to make sure he was eating and enjoying the food. But Wylan didn’t mind that. He liked how protective Jesper was becoming of him. It made him feel safe, it was a fantasy he’d dreamed of in every past life where he’d barely even been seen. Or seen for all the wrong reasons.

”I’ll take those plates.” Jesper announced as Wylan settled his fork down on his empty plate. “Your stomachs doing really well now isn’t it? Nina really knows what she’s doing when it comes to healing.”

Wylan only nodded up at him, noticing that Jespers hands were starting to twitch uncomfortably. To his own wonderment, Wylan reached out and took his hand in his. Jespers hands were a lot bigger than his, and yet they seemed to fit together perfectly. He settled into the moment once more, feeling much more calm again.

”I’m very lucky to have you all.” He added softly.

”We’re lucky to have you omega. I’m lucky.”

He looked up into Jesper’s eyes once more. They were peaceful now, more than he usually saw them as well. Open and bright. His face was so close, his hand still gripped tightly in his. The air between them was thick and the space far too wide. The thudding in his chest, for once, wasn’t uncomfortable and panicked as the alpha inched forwards….

The knock that rang out was met with a low growl from Jesper.

”Who is that?” 

The alpha rolled his eyes before he gathered himself and hurried over to the door, opening it an inch. Even from where he was sat just out of the nest Wylan could see Jesper’s frustration. His head was poking out of the door, but he could still hear the muffled conversation taking place.

”What are you doing here?”

”Mr Brekker needs this order urgently, I’ve come to work with Wylan.”

”Tell Kaz that Wylan isn’t well.”

”He isn’t?”

”No that’s why I just said that.”

“Can I see him? There are some Shu cures that could work w-”

”He’s asleep.”

”Can I come back when he wakes up?”

”He’s had a tonic, he won’t be up for a long while.” Jesper bit back.

”I could show you some of the cures? Maybe even my presence would do him some good?”

”That would require having some.”

”But-“

”Great to see you, bye Kuwei, bye.”

He slammed the door in the omega’s face, and spun around to look at Wylan.

”Just someone trying to sell something.”

Wylan turned his face away and hid a smile, he’d apologise to Kuwei when he saw him next. But for now it was just him and Jesper. And he liked it that way.

                              ***

How could he know what else was lurking in the shadows and snow?

Chapter Text

Jesper

Relieved was one word for what Jesper was experiencing. Wylan had been recovering over the past few days, returning to his still skittish but more trusting self, and luckily there had been no news of any dime lions lurking about. Kaz wasn’t currently on his ass to get anything done, life was unexpectedly relaxed, even mundane, for once.

Both he and Wylan had gotten into a routine of sorts now, they’d play cards or Jesper would watch him draw, then they’d fall asleep in the nest together a foot apart, before waking up in the morning to cook breakfast with one another.

Wylan was up first this morning, since the first day of his muted heat he’d been a lot more confident in starting activities without asking the alpha’s permission. Jesper had just rolled out of the nest and stumbled up to the cooker where he met the back of the omega. He was wearing one of Jesper’s jumpers which was adorably too big for him.

“Morning.” He mumbled sleepily, trying not to startle the omega.

Wylan flinched a little nonetheless, but turned around to smile.

“Good morning. I’m making pancakes.”

Nina had been around with Matthias the day before and she’d dropped off a recipe book as well as some more paints for Wylan. Although, he wouldn’t have as much time for them now his heat had passed and Kaz was becoming less patient once again. Today would be the day that he resumed his demo work for the barrel boss; the alpha his gunslinging work.

“That you are, the smell was too hard to resist.” Jesper replied, he couldn’t fight the urge to wink cheekily. He noticed Wylan turn away though, and hoped he hadn’t made him uncomfortable.

“I hope they taste nice too.”

“If you’re making them I’m sure they are…how are you feeling about getting back to work? If you need more time-“

Wylan spun around again, this time with a light pink blush spread across his freckled cheeks.

“I can handle it.”

Jesper held his hands up in front of him and chuckled softly. Every day with the omega was different now, some days he was lucky enough to witness his true sassy, kind and intelligent personality shine through. Other days he was met with the shell of a man, terrified and conditioned to obey. Today was a good day.

“I never said you couldn’t Wy. Now are these pancakes going to be ready any time soon or am I going to have to let this perfectly stunning, fit body go without food before a mission.” He acted out every word dramatically.

“It’s ready now.” Wylan huffed, also trying to overact but just sounding sweet.

He plated up the food and handed Jesper his as he hurried to sit on Wylan’s workstation, but waited for the omega to join him before tucking in. The alpha in him always wanted to make sure Wylan was safe and looked after before he was. Although the blur between alpha and Jesper was feeling very thin nowadays.

“Mmm Wylan these are incredible. Honestly, don’t tell Nina about these she’s competitive as shit.”

Wylan giggled to himself, taking another forkful.

“They’re okay, aren’t they?”

“Okay?” Jesper fake gasped.

“Better than okay?” Wylan offered.

“Wylan I would create a whole saint to pray to for more of these pancakes.”

Wylan started to laugh aloud, less controlled and delicate than usual, which only pushed Jesper further. He loved the sound of Wylan’s real laugh.

“I’m going to name my firstborn, The pancakes Wylan makes , I swear it.”

“I think your child would hate you and me for that.”

“Who could hate you Wy?” Jesper chuckled fondly.

He could tell Wylan’s smile had started to fade at that however, and he felt a pang of regret in having said it.

“The answer will be Kaz if we don’t get started on that order, won’t it?” Wylan smiled again, but it was back to being forced once more.

“Very true, do you want me to wait for the other omegas to get here?”

“No you go, I can manage.”

Jesper didn’t need any more confirmation that he should go than that. He shot Wylan once last winning smile, before he grabbed his pistols and his jacket and pulled the big doors closed behind him.

                                  ***

Wylan

Wylan hurried to clean everything up. He paced around the room awaiting the arrival of the other omegas so they could all get to work. Both he and Kuwei would work on demo, and by that he meant he would try to wrangle Kuwei into paying attention as he chattered away. Whilst Genya would work on her tailoring and try to assist wherever she could in disguising the bombs they created.

It wasn’t exactly honest work, and he hated the idea that the bombs would be used to destroy. But he had very little choice in the matter when Kaz was the one offering him protection and a roof over his head. Though he suspected Jesper would let him do anything but.

Finally the door swung open, and the twosome followed in after Inej.

“Hello Wylan, how are you feeling?”

“Much better thank you.” Wylan answered, bowing his head lightly.

“Good.” She smiled warmly as the others started to prepare the workstation. Inej lingered by him though, clearly not done yet.

“Jesper told me why you weren’t feeling great. Please know you can always come to me if you have any concerns Wylan. No one knew how to be here for me when I arrived, but even if they had I think I would’ve been too proud and ashamed to speak to anyone. Don’t make that mistake.” She was gentle but firm as she spoke. “Everything would always be between us.”

He fully believed that.

“Thank you Inej.” He nodded, as she made her way to the door.

“I’ll be back to walk you both home later.”

Even in a city where being an omega was a death sentence or worse, the wraith could walk the streets freely. Even if Kaz insisted she have people with her, it was clear no one would risk it. He felt a familiar feeling of lacking when he compared himself to her, which he quickly tried to shake off.

“Thank the saints you’re better Wylan.” Kuwei immediately stated, hugging him tightly in a way that made Wylan want to scream. Omega or not, he wasn’t ready for that.

He staggered back, meeting Genya’s gaze.

“Thanks Kuwei.”

“Maybe we ease up on the hugging  though?” She suggested. “It’s good to see you Wylan.”

“You look much happier.” Wylan smiled.

“I am.” She returned the favour.

The relief that flowed through him couldn’t be understated. He knew that he’d asked Genya to trust him that things would be okay even if he didn’t fully believe it yet, so the fact that they actually were was music to his ears.

“We’d better get back to work, Wylan will you help me?”

Genya rolled her eyes as Wylan braced himself and hurried over to the workstation before something blew up. They worked for a few hours and had competed most of the order already, before Kuwei insisted they take a break. To his surprise Genya agreed vehemently.

“I could use a break too please, I was just about to say.”

“Okay, we should get this done before the end of today though.” Wylan answered softly.

“Yes, yes we will.”

At that a knock rang out at the door. Yet none of them were expecting company. The wind howled against the door, as another knock rang out. Low and booming as the room around them almost shook. Wylan felt himself slinking back away from it, caught in another moment in time. Long ago. As the knock continued this time. Once, twice, three times.

It was only then he noticed Genya creeping towards the door.

“What are you doing Genya?” Kuwei called out.

But she only continued to move, inching closer until she grabbed the handle and threw the doors open.

“You’re late.”

“We’re just going on a break now.”

A man a few inches taller than Genya stepped in briefly. He had dark hair, and was wearing a long black jacket. Wylan had never seen him before, but as he turned to look at Kuwei he saw no fear on his face, instead he found recognition.

“David, what are you doing here? You’re going to be getting Genya in trouble.” He teased.

“No, Brekker said it was fine to go on a break.” He answered quickly, “we’ll be back soon.”

Before anyone could say anything else he’d whisked her out of the room. Wylan wa still baffled, but he lurched towards the door nonetheless.

“Is she going to be okay?” He breathed.

“Of course, they seem to like one another.” Kuwei replied, completely blase.

“You know him?”

“He works for the dregs too, Durast, like your alpha mate.”

“He’s not my mate.” Wylan bit back almost too quickly.

“Good to know.”

Wylan ignored that.

“He does seem to like you a lot, do you like him?” Kuwei pressed.

“I-I…Jesper has been very good to me.”

Even if he hadn’t of lived the life he had, Wylan would’ve been a mercher, cold to the idea of love or romance. He never would’ve been able to speak about anything of the sort anyways, much better suited to prudish ambition instead. So he found himself very stuck for words here.

How did he feel? Did he even know?

“I hear he’s very good to many people.”

He knew he shouldn’t press but Wylan couldn’t help himself. What did a comment like that mean? What if this would confirm all of his suspicions?

“What does that mean?”

“I hear Jesper Fahey gets around. If you know what I mean.” Kuwei was almost gleeful. “Most of the betas looking after us have said so, both the men…and the women. I suppose you’re just the next one in line for him.”

He’d said all of that in such a matter-of-fact way that Wylan was stunned. He was already silent. But now he was stunned too. What could he say to that? Was this all a trick? Was his being so nice, a way for him to get what he wanted and then toss him into the streets again? 

“You’re thinking a lot.”

“I always do.” Wylan sighed.

“I understand. They will never look at us the same way, the betas and alphas. We will always be nothing to them but a means of breeding or property. My old mistress and master were like that.”

Wylan turned to him, switching off the fire that was bubbling underneath a vial. He didn’t care about the bombs right now.

“You don’t have to say…”

The look on Kuwei’s face was different to anything he’d seen before. He was somewhere else, somewhere sad.

“She never even let me leave. They brought me at an auction, a grisha and omega, they knew I would be valuable. They wanted a pup who would be like me. So they used to tie me up with a leash and collar, and I wouldn’t ever leave that one room.”

Tears swam in his eyes as he stared up at the ceiling.

“I think she hated me because I was their only way of having pups. She and her husband were both betas. So they had to use me. She enjoyed hurting me because of it.”

He didn’t need to say any more, not that he could. Wylan understood all too well. He remembered what it had been like to have been controlled by all three of them. Forced to be a slave to them in every way the word could mean, and treated like he was nothing at all.

“I’m sorry.” Wylan whispered. “Did you ever….?” He couldn’t bring himself to say it.

”No, no I was only there for a few months when Inej came to rescue us. I was in a home next to Pekka’s sweet shop. It was luck that she found me too.”

”I’m glad she did.” 

“They hurt you too?”

He wanted to reply, as much as he didn’t trust Kuwei yet. He’d been honest with him. And he hadn’t yet been able to talk about his own trauma. As much as Jesper was kind and good to him, he seemed to be too scared to ever hear any of it. Not that Wylan could blame him.

“Three alphas. In every way they could.”

It was all he could say without breaking down, but he felt Kuwei’s hand reach out to take his and he let him. Squeezing tightly, as he looked up at his new friend. One of the only people who could ever understand what it was he’d been through.

“In the beginning it was all about breaking me…”

                                   ***

Jesper

Jesper was never more alive than when he was in the thick of the action. Staring down the barrel of a gun, or watching a bullet fly from his own. He had many skills, but this was by far one of the best.

He stood amongst a small army of razorgulls that didn’t need to say a word for him to know how dead they wanted him to be, and stared each one in the face. His heart pounded in his chest. He wasn’t scared, he was excited.

In a fewer number of bullets than there had been enemies, and barely a dodge or move, he had dispatched the whole legion of men. Just in time for the others to come running through, Anika, Nina, Matthias and Inej. Kaz strolled in, looking down at the men as he did.

“Razorgulls. They never learn, come along Jesper.”

They made it back to the safety of the slat without any more hassle, and the alpha watched as the others slumped down to the floor or in a chair. But not him, he could still run a million miles more.

“Well don’t say Kaz never treats us.” He sung.

“What was that Dejmin? You said it wouldn’t be guarded.”

“And what is ‘it?’” Nina added. “We’ve risked our lives for it so you may as well tell us now.”

Kaz remained still, apart from a small twitch of his jaw that meant that he wasn’t enjoying being questioned by his own crew. He sighed, and then withdrew what looked to be something small and wooden.

“A seal? We almost died for a seal?” Nina cried aloud.

“Mr Brekker, was that worth it?” Anika piped up.

But Jesper had known their trio a lot longer than he’d known the other crows. And the dreg members. He risked a look at both Inej and Kaz, who were sharing a steely glance. It was enough to know that whatever this seal was for, it was big.

“For the exercise? Of course it was.” Jesper grinned, for once choosing not to argue with his fellow alpha. It had clearly surprised Kaz as much as it had himself.

Maybe Wylan was a good influence.

And at that thought, he knew it was time to get back. Even though there were dregs watching the lab at all times, and it was deep within their own territory, the threat  Prior had given them was still lingering with him. Whatever this seal was for, it better have been a useful tool in taking down Pekka’s pack for good.

For now all he wanted was to go and check that the omega was safe.

“I’ll be heading back to the lab, let me know if you need anything more boss.”

“You’re okay with…Jesper!?”

“It’s Kaz. There’ll be a good reason.” He added before he swished his way out the door and hurriedly along back down the path to the lab.

Even at mid afternoon, the winter night was starting to take hold. The wind whistled past his ear, bringing a cool chill over his body. The light was slowly fading, and the barrel was becoming quieter with every passing minute. Which was always a disquieting thing.

Still the way home wasn’t long, and yet something was gnawing at him. Something didn’t feel right. He gazed around, and then risked a quick glance over his shoulder and could’ve sworn he saw a shadow quickly disappear. It could’ve been his overactive mind, but he knew it was a risk to go home if someone was on his tail.

If they were following him, they’d be after Wylan.

Wylan. Did that mean…was he safe?

He couldn’t go back to check yet though, instead he curved back around. Speed walking as he ignored the now panicked thumping in his ears and caught the sound of someone jumping from a building. Instead of hurrying forward to be caught, he stopped and thought of what Inej would do. He noticed a small alleyway between two houses along the road and squeezed himself in.

The sound of crisp footsteps along the ground echoed out as if they had microphones attached to them. They were getting louder, closer and closer until he saw the feet, and then legs of the stranger. He readied himself to spring out and fight  but before he could lean forwards, something dropped down from the heavens, landing on top of the woman.

Inej stood up over her, taking her knife back as she did.

Dime Lion.

“I’ll scout around and alert Kaz, go and check on him.” She urged, her eyes darting around for any accomplices.

Jesper didn’t need to hear anything else though, he made a beeline straight for the lab. He had to get there, Wylan would be okay. They were following him, which meant they still didn’t know where he was right? Wylan was going to be fine.

The alpha in him wanted to roar, to tear up any obstruction that he came across and rip the hinges off the doors to make sure that he was safe. It was pushing that urge back down that made the minutes feel like seconds as he approached the familiar door.

To his utter relief he heard Wylan’s muffled voice through it. Just as he was going to push it open, he unfortunately caught Kuwei’s too.

“Prior, he was always the more…he wanted to take me to bed. I don’t think he ever asked if I wanted to, I think he liked that I didn’t. Maybe. I don’t know. Miggson just wanted someone to hurt physically, like a stress toy, I guess. He liked hurting me, he was creative too. I think Rollins just wanted me around, well he had to…”

“What do you mean had to, Wylan?” His voice was so soft and careful, so slippery, it made Jesper want to run in and strangle the life out of him.

“I, er I don’t know. I shouldn’t….”

He couldn’t take it anymore. Jesper smashed the doors open as they flew into the walls, almost scaring the life out of the two omegas in front of him.

“J-Jesper?” Wylan whimpered.

“There was a dime lion following me, she isn’t anymore but I was worried.” Jesper panted.

He didn’t want to let his jealousy show. It was the alpha in him that was primal and territorial, and the thing he couldn’t let slip out of his control. It never really had before, until now. It wasn’t Wylan’s fault that he was opening up, but with Kuwei? With someone else who hadn’t shared even half the time he had with the omega?

“We’re okay. We haven’t seen anything we were just taking a break.” Kuwei interjected.

“Well I think Kaz should know how long these breaks are.” Jesper responded. “That they are delaying your work.”

“P-please Jesper. I’m sorry, we’re sorry, it won’t happen again. We swear.”

He finally brought himself to look at Wylan. He was shrinking back into himself, eyes wide and full of fear, he could see the harsh expanding of his lungs against his chest, even from where he was stood a few feet away.

The sight made him feel terrible.

“No, no of course I won’t. I’m sorry, I just…I was so worried Wy. I didn’t mean any of that.” As much as it pained him he turned to Kuwei too. “I’m sorry. Maybe you should go now. I’ll tell Kaz, he won’t say anything to you.”

Jesper saw Wylan glance across at Kuwei, he could hear his heart rate from there and could tell he didn’t want the omega to leave him alone with the alpha.

“It’s okay Wy, it’s me. I was just worried about you. I’m not angry, you have nothing to be sorry about. You’re okay.” He mumbled softly.

Wylan seemed to accept this, after taking a brief second, and nodded at Kuwei to signal he was okay. Kuwei only raised his eyebrows in return and purposefully brushed past the alpha as he slipped out of the room.

“They’re still looking for me?” Wylan piped up in a small voice.

“And they won’t find you. Especially not when the crow pack is with you.” Jesper murmured, stepping forwards towards him.

To his shock Wylan also stepped forwards.

“Thank you for telling me.” He replied.

“Of course, you can tell me anything…” He hadn’t meant for it to come across as desperate, but he knew it had.

He knew he’d struggled to hear about Wylan’s past before, of course the omega needed to open up and speak about it. He just hated that it had to be with Kuwei, someone he’d only known for a week or two. And who clearly wanted him.

Of course, he’d have to forget about his own discomfort in order to be there for Wylan. He had to hear the very worst things that could happen to an omega, being recalled to him as a memory from a person whom he cared so much about. His heart told him to ask, but it was his head that prevailed.

“Why don’t I help you clear all of this up for now? We can get comfortable and make some dinner?” He offered weakly.

“Okay.”

He just couldn’t do it. He would need to talk to Nina or Inej. He had to ask eventually. It was the only way for Wylan to ever feel comfortable around him. To address the elephant in the room that was crying out to be heard. How could he ever understand the omega if he didn’t know  what he’d been through?

Wylan was willing to open up, it was just that something about that terrified Jesper. He didn’t know what exactly, he couldn’t figure it out. But he would. For Wylan.

Chapter Text

Inej had returned a few hours after, she warned him that the others were on their way too but she had scouted ahead to be safe. Wylan had fallen asleep in his nest, exhausted after a day back at work . And probably from the stress of knowing his old pack were closing in more tightly by the hour.

He hadn’t spoken much before asking to go to bed. Jesper had, of course, told him he didn’t need to ask and had watched as he crawled into his nest and curled up, hugging his arms around himself tightly.

He felt awful about having lost his temper earlier, and even more so for not being able to comfort the omega now.

“Clearly they’re closing in on the lab. We either need to move you or have you come back to the crow club and we prepare for them to attack. Kaz has all the details.” She stated.

“I shouted at him, and Kuwei…when I got back.” Jesper admitted, eyes off to the ceiling, unfocused.

“Why?”

“I was scared, I thought they had him. And then when I got back he was talking to Kuwei about his old life. You know that little shit likes him. A lot. That and…I can’t. I can’t talk to him about it. I can’t explain it Inej but I just don’t know how. I feel so guilty. I don’t do that stuff, I do funny.”

Inej settled beside him on the counter next to the makeshift hob they’d been using to cook. They both sat for a few seconds before she was broke the silence.

“He wants to talk about it?” She asked softly, nodding her head towards the nest.

“I think so. He was talking to Kuwei.”

“Do you know how long it took for me to talk to Kaz about what happened to me?”

Jesper shook his head, he never had asked Inej about her past. He’d figured she didn’t want him to know, and knowing Inej it would be for a good reason. Over time he was ashamedly glad he didn’t know. He only just realise how similar those sentiments were.

“A year. I never knew what the use in opening old wounds would be, and why anyone would want to know. But Kaz just asked me one day, and I decided that I wasn’t going to be afraid to tell it anymore. It didn’t have any power over me, and yet it would help so much if people understood why I need something like my saints to believe in or why I don’t always like touch. No matter how well intentioned it may be. It was hard, to be that open and exposed, but I realised that when you trust the other person it’s easy.

I didn’t need any answers or miracles or even advice from Kaz, I just needed him to listen. He wanted to know how he could help me, and you know Kaz, do you think it was easy for him?”

“No” Jesper scoffed.

“It’s hard, to know that someone you love has been hurt. But you don’t even need to cure them, just let them know that you’ll be there. You don’t have to be anything but you Jes. You’re enough.”

He didn’t want to start crying at that. But he felt the tears prick at his eyes all the same. She was right of course. Inej was always right. He had to bite the bullet, and that was it. He just had to let Wylan know he would listen. No matter how hard it would be.

The alpha shifted to sit more upright as he turned to Inej.

“You should’ve been an alpha. You’re better at it than me.”

“My life definitely would’ve been easier.” She grinned, “but I wouldn’t trade being an omega for anything. We can be just as strong as the alphas.”

“You’re telling me.” He joked back gently.

”You’re a good alpha.”

”Not like Kaz.”

”Exactly. It’s why you work so well together.”

Just then they heard a scuffling coming from the nest, and then a soft sigh he recognised as Wylan stirring.

“Now’s your chance, the others are taking a while. I’ll go check on them.” She gave him a knowing look and a firm nod of her head before she’d slipped out of the room.

Wylan had crawled to the edge of the nest and poked his head out adorably, his hair all tousled and his eyes sleepy.

“Was that Inej?” He mumbled.

“Yes Wy, she’s just gone to check on the others. They’re coming now, to discuss how we protect you going forward.”

“All of this effort for me.” He’d said it as though he was embarrassed. “I’m not even a part of your pack.”

“Hey, enough of that. You’re one of us Wylan, you know that don’t you? You’re a crow now, if you’d like to be. Just like I said before.”

The omega looked up through his eyes and gave a little nod.

“Good. You hungry, thirsty?” He knew Wylan wouldn’t be, but he was only stalling the inevitable now.

“I’m okay thank you Jesper.” He mumbled back, pulling the alphas jumper over his head and settling his fox plushie on top of his pillow.

“Good. Good sleep?”

He knew he was dragging this moment out the second it tumbled from his lips.

“Yes, thank you.”

With a big inhale that led him to sit on the edge of the mattress that the nest was built on, Jesper finally said it.

“Wylan, I heard earlier…I overheard by accident…I know you’ve been trying to talk about….” He trailed off, hoping the omega would jump in and tell him to stop but no such sentiment came. “…your old pack. Those…those bastards. If you need to talk about your old life…you don’t have to with me I can find someone…but if you need to talk to me then that would be okay. I’ll be here for you no matter what. I swear it.”

Wylan had been playing with the drawstring on Jesper’s jumper the entire time. He hasn’t looked up, focused instead on the tiled floor ahead of them. The silence was destroying him, and yet he waited with bated breath for the omega to say anything.

“I don’t want you to think of me like that.” He finally uttered.

Jesper immediately softened, reaching out for his shoulder as he smiled sadly at the omega.

“I will always see you Wylan. As the clever, brave, gentle person that has lived through some of the worst things an alpha could do to an omega and is still the same beautiful person I could only hope to be one day. Never anything less than that. I just want you to know that although I might not understand it fully, I want to be there for you. You make me want to be better. You only deserve the best Wy.”

Wylan’s eyes were full of both bewilderment and tears. He finally looked up at him, and Jesper wanted to freeze time to remember that look forever. There was something there that there hadn’t been before. Something new.

“Thank you. I…I don’t know what to…thank you.” Wylan managed to stutter out. “No one has ever….ever. Some days I know I’m…I’m harder to deal with. I’ll try harder.”

“No we’ll always do this at your pace, we take every day as it comes. If you need a bit more help one day, even today…?”

“I don’t know about today. I would like to tell you what happened one day. It’s not that I don’t trust you, but it’s-“

“Scary?”

“Yes.” Wylan scoffed lightly. “I don’t think I’m ready yet.”

“I’ll be there when you will, it’s scary for me too but we’ll figure it out together.”

Wylan didn’t say anything this time, but he sprung forward impulsively and wrapped his arms around Jesper’s neck. He only laughed in shock and wrapped a careful arm around the smaller man’s waist to hold him up.

“Thank you Jesper.” He whispered, barely even audible.

“Always Wylan.”

The alpha in him was practically singing with joy. He’d said what he needed to say, finally stared down the elephant in the room. And it had worked, Wylan was happy. That was what mattered. His omega was happy.

He pulled back so that the two were face to face, both smiling from their eyes to their toothy grins, lost in the safety and comfort they’d just given one another. Wylan’s low purr filled the air with a sickeningly sweet melody.

Until the panicked knocks rang out.

“Saints, what-“

Inej ran in, clearly having run and fought for her life.

“You both need to get back to the crow club now. It’s not safe here.”

Jesper didn’t hesitate as he rose from the nest, pulling Wylan to his feet with him, careful not to startle the omega.

“What happened?”

She looked over at Wylan who was standing there in blind panic, frozen like a stone statue.

“Wylan get your shoes on quickly, we need to go now okay omega?”

Wylan had immediately responded as Jesper realised he’d used his alpha tone to command rather than ask him.

“What is it?” He urged in a hushed whisper.

“It’s Matthias, he got hurt. There was an ambush. Everyone got out of there but I think it’s serious. We need to recover and plan in case they come back here.”

Jesper quickly glanced over to Wylan who was pulling on his other shoe quickly, fingers tangled in the laces as he struggled to do them up in his haste. The alpha hurriedly over to him, asking with his eyes, and upon receiving a look that meant yes, he started to do them up for him.

“Come on omega, you stick close to me. Inej will be watching on ahead so we shouldn’t run into any trouble. You’re gonna be okay.”

Wylan bit his lip anxiously but nodded nonetheless, waiting for the others to signal it was time for them to leave.

“You got those guns fully loaded?”

“Always.”

“Then let’s go.”

They slipped out into the chilly quiet of the night. It was unnervingly quiet, peace never really suited the barrel. It felt way too disconcerting. The moon was barely shining, meaning that it was hard to see anything. Especially the shadows they were hiding from. He didn’t know how many there were, where they were, but he knew he’d tear this pack apart to save his two omegas.

They moved quickly, Wylan holding Jesper’s hand now. He could hear the struggling heartbeat pounding out of Wylan’s chest as they did. And it was only when he caught the scent of dime lions that he realised he could no longer provide any comfort to him.

As they skipped past houses and stalls, moving from cover to cover, he wished he could hear Inej. He knew she’d be there but it was unsettling to not be able to see her at all now.

He had no idea where they were but the scents were only growing stronger as they silently dove behind the back of one of the packed away market stalls. He felt his own breathing start to shift as he peered out from around it, taking a moment to try and get his bearings.

“Are you okay Jesper?” Wylan pressed.

He could tell the omega was pushing his own fear aside, his instinct to appease  creeping in. That, and the omega’s hidden  bravery that Jesper had always seen there.

“Okay” He returned quickly. “Come on.”

He took Wylan’s had once more as they looked at one another, took a deep breath and slipped back into the void once more. The air felt so thick despite it being so cold that he could barely breathe. In that second though, he caught a glance of the tailors shop. They were almost there.

That knowledge alone spurred him on, as they gained ground on the crowd club. So close now.

…When the outline of a person slowly prowled into their view. He didn’t need to see them to have his ideas as to their identity narrowed down. Wylan let out a terrified gasp from behind him and from the way he clung to his hand he knew it was one of the three.

“Little mutt, did you miss me?” A voice cut through the air like glass. “We have enjoyed the hunt, but we need you home safe now.”

“Miggson.” Wylan choked out in a strangled whisper.

“You’ve forgotten your manners. No matter, you’ll learn them again. Through whatever means necessary.”

“You won’t touch him.” Jesper snarled, stepping in front of Wylan.

“What’s this? This is who’s been keeping you locked away is it? The gunslinger.”

“I didn’t get that title for nothing.”

He gripped the pistols that sat at his hips and aimed them both straight at Miggson’s forehead.

“No. But you’ll have quite the war on your hands if you kill the alpha of a rival pack now won’t you?”

He considered it for a second. The dime lions would want blood, especially losing the alpha they were bonded to. Forget the other alphas, he knew what he would do to avenge Kaz if, saints forbid, anything ever happened. Slowly he lowered his pistols.

“Good choice. Now hand him over.”

“You’re in dreg territory. I’m giving you a chance to leave.” Jesper pushed back, growling lowly.

“Hand him over. You can’t find another omega to fuck? I’ve heard you stole quite the few from Pekka. West stave trained as well. What’s this one to you?”

He felt Wylan seize up behind him.

“He’s everything to me.”

The unmistakable smell of a happy omega sifted through the air. Wylan’s scent suppressors were wearing off.

“It’s been a few months, now we need him back.”

“W-Why can’t you j-just leave me al-one?” Wylan cried, clearly terrified but speaking up nonetheless.

“You have a voice now too? What have you been doing with him?” Miggson almost seemed amused.

“You need to move aside now, I will kill you.” Jesper threatened.

Miggson held his hands up and took a stride closer.

“Go ahead.”

Another step, then another. He didn’t want a war, but he couldn’t let them take Wylan. He held his guns up again, trained on the alpha ahead of them. A huge man, wide and bulky.  One he could finish off so quickly with one bullet.

Another step. It wasn’t like he didn’t derive it either. He was almost right in front of him now.

“I’m waiting….nothing? Don’t you see you little shit? When it comes down to it, no one will fight for you. Let alone love you. You’re nobody, a worthless little omega that never even fought back. You’re a pathetic little mutt and you belong on a leash, or strapped down where you won’t burden us or anyone else again. Maybe then you’ll remember your place as a runt of an omega.”

The anger had melted down to a hot liquid that boiled up in Jesper’s blood like mercury. He felt himself seething with blind hot rage. The alpha within him rose up once more, howling at the moon and forcing his finger against the trigger. He felt himself squeezing it, doing what had to be done. They’d face the consequences later.

When all of a sudden Miggson began to fall back. He crashed down to the gravel floor. Screaming in agony and holding his face in his huge hands. He looked back to see Wylan holding a glass vial, his breath shaky as he stared at the sight in front of him. His eyes glassy and shocked.

“Come on.” Jesper yelled, grabbing his hand once more and dragging them both forwards.

They sprinted onwards the last few minutes, adrenaline coursing through them and pushing them all the way to the front door of the crow club. Jesper didn’t hesitate before he used his fabrikator powers to slide the lock open, motioning for Wylan to go ahead as he watched their back, and then falling inside and locking the door behind them. Immediately they both collapsed on the floor, panting like crazy.

“Thank the saints you’re both okay.” Inej sighed, “I got caught up, they attacked the omega safe houses too.”

She has clearly been pacing the floor by the kitchen table.

“Are they okay?” Wylan managed to force out between breaths.

“They are now, Kuwei and Genya are fine, as is Anika and the others.”

He never thought he’d be relieved to hear Kuwei was safe.

“Wylan?” Jesper heaved, turning to the omega beside him. “You saved our lives.”

Wylan still looked dazed, but he managed a small half-smile nonetheless. It was quickly painted over though, as it seemed to have finally hit Wylan that he’d just attacked Miggson. There would be consequences for that.

“What was it you threw?”

“I found vials by the stall we stopped at…it sold chemical wares. Under the streetlight I could see…I hoped they were the chemicals I use at the lab.”

“Thank Ghezen you’re the smartest person I know.”

Just then a door flew open, Kaz marched down the stairs and towards them.

“Matthias isn’t good. We need a plan and soon.”

Chapter Text

Wylan

Wylan didn’t hear most of the conversation that followed. He’d been focused on something else entirely as the others planned their next steps through strained murmurs. Nina was upstairs with Matthias and the other healer Kaz had called. Kaz was stood on the raised platform by the bar, his hands clenched around the crow on the end of his cane, Wylan was sure they would have appeared white knuckled and tense if they could see them. Inej was sharpening one of her knives that had been dulled from the night of attacks, and Jesper was sat on the arm of the chair that Wylan was being swallowed up by, his leg bouncing up and down like crazy.

Wylan thought of Matthias, and how it was his fault he had been harmed on his way to discuss how to protect him from his former alphas. Sweet Matthias who had only ever been good to him, more than he ever had to, and was now lying half-dead in bed, having to be fixed up by two healers. All of the omegas who had finally been given new lives, and the crows themselves who had taken him in and were fighting a war on his behalf.

And then his mind could no longer hold the door closed as the memory of Miggson’s face rushed in. He’d defied his abuser, but at what cost? What did this mean for him? He’d thrown the concoction he’d created in the alley into his face, he’d possibly blinded or disfigured him. Whatever they would do if they got their hands back on him, it would only be a hundred times worse now.

“So Wylan, you’ll be staying here again, any work you can do in the basement. For the foreseeable you won’t leave the crow club, in the meantime we’ll try and get intel on what they’re planning and we figure out our final stand.”

“Are you okay?” Jesper mumbled softly beside him so only he could hear.

Wylan only nodded.

He was glad to be back at the crow club, but the lab and his new nest and Jesper were starting to feel like a whole new life entirely. An actual new start. Of course it had been snatched from him, all because of his old pack. All because of him.

“Okay, why don’t we go upstairs?”

Jesper said goodbyes on their behalf as he then followed after him on their way to his room. As they ascended the steps, one of the dregs, a man he’d never seen before but smelt like a beta and was carrying a bag, winked at Jesper. He was stunning, black curls, tall, grey eyes that matched Jesper’s. He ignored Wylan entirely, his eyes fixed on the taller man behind him.

“Good to see you back Mr Fahey. What did I miss? I’m sure you could catch me up in a bit? Upstairs?” He flirted shamelessly.

He turned to see Jesper speechless for once, his mouth was hanging half open as he looked at him sheepishly. Wylan turned away quickly, trying to hide his face as Jesper stuttered out a reply, his usually smooth tone forgone.

“Not the time. Matthias got hurt on a job, this is Wylan my…he’s…we’re helping him.”

The man seemed to sense the tone and immediately he shifted his bag into his other hand and cleared his throat.

“I see. I’d better go unpack, I’ll see you later.”

He’d catapulted himself down the stairs as quickly as he could.

“Wylan that was…”

He didn’t want to know, nor needed the reminder of the warning Kuwei had given him before.

“It was this way to your room?” Wylan replied, knowing exactly which room it was.

“Yes.”

He carried on, not looking behind him as he pushed the door open and was met with just the bed frame and a few blankets on the ground. Everything else looked undisturbed, just as they’d left it when they’d headed for the ‘safe house’.

He recalled waking up in that bed for the first time, seeing Jesper for the first time. Being so afraid he could barely even speak. He’d come so far to lose it all now.

He’s everything to me.

Maybe he was overthinking all of that. Maybe none of it mattered right now, not with the dime lions knowing where he was and being ready to strike at any time. Not now that he’d pissed them off even more, or that he was sure his father had to know he’d escaped.

And yet all he could think about was what Jesper had said. If he really meant it. And if he did then that was the first time anyone ever had in his whole life up until now. Which meant it had to be a trick, or a lie. Didn’t it? Or if he did really mean it, what would it matter if this pack war they were fighting on his behalf got all of them killed?

Wylan my…he’s…we’re helping him. 

“Saints, I forgot we moved everything to the lab.” Jesper admitted, exasperated. “I’ll figure something out, you take the bed I’ll be back.”

He flung himself out of the room in seconds as though he was glad for the excuse. Wylan looked over at the bed for an equal measure of time, there was no way he was sleeping in it. He’d much rather take the floor. He tried to distract himself from the painful memories that were already bubbling too close to the surface, when he heard Nina’s muffled voice coming from the room across the hall.

Curiosity got the best of him as he gently swung the door open and followed the noise. He crept towards it and began to make out some of what she was saying.

“Told you…next time…I say-“

She suddenly stopped, as Wylan then heard a small chuckle.

“Wylan? Come in.”

Scent suppressors, he’d forgotten to take them and it had almost killed them earlier. Earlier, when he’d almost…

“Wylan?”

He was immediately broken out of his thoughts as he slowly opened the door to the pair’s room and peeked his head in.

“Sorry, I was just worried about Matthias.”

The Fjerdan was lying on top of his bed sheets, his bare torso now brand new other than a faded bite on his shoulder, he was sure Nina would have a matching one on hers. As betas they could bite one another to claim their mate too.

“I was just talking to him about you actually.” She smiled through watery eyes. “I told him you were okay, so he didn’t fight for nothing.”

“What happened?”

Nina sighed, from where she was sat beside Matthias, one hand stroking his hair and the other holding his hand in hers, and sat back slightly.

“We were on our way to the lab when all of a sudden we got a whiff of a load of betas. They attacked us, in the most cowardly way possible. They knocked me out first, to protect me Matthias took the brunt of them. Luckily I woke up in time to stop them, the jumped up bastards. Whoever they were I’m sure Kaz and the dregs will sort it.”

“I know.”

She sighed again, “He likes you a lot, my Matthias, he knew what he was getting himself into. We all do, you’re a crow Wylan. As soon as you and Fahey get your act together it’ll be official as well. We’ll finish them before we let them take you.”

Wylan was sure he’d just blushed a deep shade of scarlet. He had no idea why it was that they were so willing to fight for him, as grateful as he was, it only intensified the guilt that festered within him.

“Will he wake up soon?” He changed the subject back to Matthias quickly, and tensed up hoping the answer would be a positive one.

“He should do within the next few hours, between me and the healer we patched him up well. But it was a close call. He’s strong this one.” She smiled down at him fondly.

Wylan shifted his weight from one leg to another and then nodded once more, thankful that it was good news. It gave him more space in his brain to think, but also filled his head with the exact bad thoughts he’d sought to remove by coming to their room.

Realising Nina was the only one who would give it to him straight, Wylan seized his opportunity.

“There was a man on the stairs, he’d just returned he said?”

“Oh must be Raske. Why do you ask?” There was a mock suspicious tone to her voice that worried him a little nonetheless.

“He was just speaking to Jesper, on the stairs. I was just…just asking.”

Nina smiled knowingly, “You’ve heard then? He does have a bit of a reputation our Jesper, but he’s been different ever since you arrived. He’s acting more like an alpha than he ever has done before, and most of his time he’s spent with you.”

Jesper was a good alpha, a kind man. One who would do anything for his friends, he was gentle and not bad to look at. Fun and alive and exciting, he clearly had the pick of the barrel. So why was he wasting his time on him? Why was he risking his life and the lives of his friends for him?

Why was Wylan letting him?

“Thank you Nina.”

“Anytime sweetums.”

Wylan didn’t question it. Just at that moment Jesper came bundling into the room.

“How is-“

They locked eyes, Jesper staring at him.

“He’s okay now, he’ll be okay. Wylan beat you to asking though, so you’re officially the worst pack member right now.”

“Rich coming from sleeping beauty.”

“What-“

“I found a mattress Wylan, you can sleep in my bed and I’ll take the floor.”

Wylan gave Nina parting nod and then ambled off towards the room, Jesper following closely behind.

“Please take the bed, I’d rather have the floor.” Wylan tried to hide the pleading tone in his voice, Jesper recognised it though.

“Okay, okay, then we’ll have to make the best nest we can for now then won’t we?”

The alpha managed to find as many blankets, pillows and sofa cushions as he could find. He told the omega he’d have a word with anyone who complained, and within an hour or so it was looking much comfier. Wylan clambered inside, his back flush with a sofa cushion as he closed his eyes and let his head roll back. Jesper climbed onto his own bed, still with no mattress and let out a huge yawn.

“You really did save us Wylan, I thought I was brave, but what you did?”

“They won’t be happy.”

“Who cares? You’re safe again here and Kaz will have a plan to finally finish off their pack soon.”

He didn’t feel safe, not anymore. Everything felt off, the world outside and even in this room. Maybe even with Jesper.

He wanted something comforting or familiar and felt his fingers reaching out for the fox plushie. Until he remembered that it had been abandoned at the lab. He failed to suppress a high pitched whine as the realisation hit him.

Meanwhile Jesper’s instincts had taken over and immediately he appeared at the foot of the nest. Without thinking, Wylan reached out for his arm, inviting him in. He just wanted to feel safe and loved and peaceful. Just like he had in the lab. Jesper followed in cautiously, before sitting back with him, letting Wylan snuggle into his shoulder.

”Wylan the man earlier…”

”Don’t.” Wylan answered softly, lifting his head from the alphas arm. He could see Jesper tense up as he did.

Even if he didn’t deserve it, he just wanted the alpha close to him for now. Even if it couldn’t be forever, this pack had fought for him, he wouldn’t let them burn for him.

For now at least, he just wanted to let sleep take him anywhere else.

That was until a sharp single knock came from the door to their room. Jesper groaned before replying.

“Come in.”

The click of a cane followed the opening of the door.

“I have an idea, you aren’t going to like it.” Kaz announced, standing at the entrance of the nest and pretending not to see that they were currently sharing a moment.

“Kaz not now can we-?”

“You’re going to have to bite and claim Wylan.”

Chapter Text

Jesper hadn’t slept much that night, he was sure from the rustling sounds coming from Wylan’s nest that he hadn’t either. And not due to the fact that he was sleeping on a bed with no mattress and the omega in a quickly constructed nest. Although he did factor it in.

You’re going to have to bite and claim Wylan.

They hadn’t exactly had much to say before they’d fallen asleep. Jesper had tried to reassure Wylan that it was his choice but the omega had barely reacted, asking only to be left alone in his nest to sleep. Which Jesper begrudgingly obliged.

You’re going to have to bite and claim Wylan.

He couldn’t bear to lie there thinking any longer, the minute he saw the light of morning break through the crack in the door he was tiptoeing straight to it. He didn’t turn to check on the omega, who still hadn’t taken his scent suppressors and smelt like freshly baked pastries, instead choosing to descend the stairs.

To his surprise, and yet not, Kaz was sat at the table. A knife was left atop of it, two seats to his left, but he was the only one in the room so far as he could tell.

“Did you tell her you had to claim her too?”

Kaz didn’t jump, naturally, but turned slowly to face him.

“I told you, you wouldn’t like it, but it’s the only plan I have. There’s no other way.”

“Then find a way.” Kaz didn’t react. “You know what he’s been through, it’s cruel, it’s unnecessary.”

“You enjoy his company don’t you?”

“Kaz-“ Jesper began, standing up and starting to pace the length of the table.

“If he doesn’t want to stay mated to you he can wait for the rejection syndrome.”

“Which he barely survived last time, not to mention the trauma of how he was probably bitten the first time.”

“Do you want to save his life or not?”

“Of course I do-“

“There you go.”

“You make it sound so easy.” Jesper sighed in frustration.

“It is easy, when you follow my advice and leave your personal feelings out of pack business. You need to do what it takes to protect him and all of us. That includes making him a crow.”

“Not like this.” Jesper breathed intently, stopping and slamming his hand down on the table.

He could tell this had awoken the alpha instincts in Kaz one more as a low growl escaped him.

“Find a way.” Dirtyhands declared finally.

He stood, pushed his chair under, and then skulked away back up to his office. Leaving Jesper alone with his impossible decision. He groaned, kicking one of the chairs that flew sideways and landed with a dull thud.

Of course he cared for Wylan, maybe even in a way that he hadn’t expected. There had always been some connection there from the day they’d met, maybe he would be okay with seeing if there was more to that.

But would Wylan?

He’d clearly seen his interaction with Raske earlier. Who knows what else he’d heard about him? Did he know about his past? What if he thought Jesper only saw him as another body for his collection? Past the trauma of how he’d been claimed before, what if he didn’t even want him? Jesper enjoyed the gamble of barrel life and the many opportunities it offered, sure. Maybe he had done a lot in the past. But this was different, for the first time he didn’t crave chaos. Or even peace. He wanted the perfect balance between both that Wylan brought him.

The omega was still somewhat wary of him, still only a few months into his new life. How could he bite him and tie him to this one now? Or worse how could he do nothing and risk his life? What was the kindest cut? If there even was one.

                                      ***

A few hours had passed and the crow club was alive and singing once more. Dregs wandered through, stopping to chat with him, updating him on missions or life in general. They went to speak to Kaz or stopped for a glass of water. He hadn’t seen any of the crows…presumably Kaz, Nina and Matthias were still upstairs and Inej was out helping the omegas.

Wylan would be getting some much needed sleep, he hoped. He knew he had work to do for Kaz and the dregs but it didn’t stop him wanting to stay all day to wait for the omega. He did his best to look like he was cleaning up, or writing up something important as people walked past, but it was blatantly obvious he was stalling. Waiting for the inevitably impossible conversation.

Eventually he heard soft familiar footsteps trudging down the stairs as he jumped up and pretended to be washing something in the sink. Despite all that time he’d had, he’d put off thinking what it was he was actually going to say to Wylan. He was hoping it would just come to him in the moment but now he deeply regretted the blind faith in himself. He turned around nonchalantly, ready to greet the now stopped footsteps, to see Inej. He sighed aloud.

“Great to see you as well.”

“Sorry. It’s just-have you seen Wylan?”

“I think he went downstairs to work, no?” Inej replied.

“Oh. Really?”

She nodded and raised an eyebrow. How had he missed Wylan slipping through the kitchen?

“Did Kaz go through with it then?”

It was Jesper’s turn to nod. And Inej’s to sigh aloud.

“I told him neither of you were ready for that, not only that but to claim someone as part of a plan…? As though it isn’t something sacred and beautiful…”

“I doubt it is to Kaz.”

She had no response to that.

“Do you think I’d be a good mate?” He asked, feeling the gravity of that question starting t consume him.

Inej looked a little taken aback, but answered nonetheless.

“Of course I do. Anyone would be lucky Jesper, but Wylan has only been here a few months.”

Jesper stopped to look at her properly, she seemed a lot paler than usual. Dark circles haunted her eyes and her long black hair was abnormally frizzy and frayed.

“Are you okay Inej?”

“Fine, fine. Just thinking.”

“No I mean…” he lightly gestured to her as she sunk down in a chair.

“I’ve just been trying to help the omegas after the attack, and keeping an eye on Wylan’s old pack and the dime lions. And training…dealing with Kaz…”

Jesper felt a pang of guilt in his stomach, he knew he was going through something right now but so was Inej, and yet she’d still been looking out for him, whilst also working herself into the ground. Just as he went to reply Nina marched into the room.

“I’ve told you you’ve been working too hard haven’t I? Why didn’t you tell me? I would’ve come and helped you.”

“And me.” Jesper added.

“You’ve both been busy.” Just like Wylan her scent had started to bubble through, and was clearly driving both him and Nina insane. They’d both been letting their omega down. And now they could both feel that need to right their wrong physically. The invisible thread between them only feeling stronger.

“From now on one of us helps you, alright?” Nina pushed, sitting beside Inej and pulling her into a hug. One that Inej didn’t flinch from. She only nodded into Nina’s shoulder as Jesper also wandered over and wrapped his long arms around the both of them.

“Thank you both.” She whispered.

“I’ll go with you tonight” Jesper mumbled.

“What about Wylan and Kaz?”

“Saints what has he done now?” Nina sighed as they all broke apart and went to sit down at the table properly.

“He wants me to claim Wylan.”

“What!?” Nina cried.

“Yes.”

“What did you say?” She pressed further.

“Nothing yet, I haven’t spoken to Wylan. Inej said he went down to work, I wanted to talk to him about it now.”

“Why didn’t you tell me this?”

“You were with Matthias.”

Nina laughed humourlessly. “We really are a mess aren’t we?”

“At least we have each other. We’ll get through it.” Inej spoke up.

“What are you going to do Jes?” Nina asked.

“I have no idea. I don’t want to put him through anything if he’s not ready, but if it saves his life and gets rid of his old pack for good?”

“Do you love him?”

Jesper almost choked on pure air.

“Love?” He scoffed.

“Do you?”

He knew the answer. He just couldn’t say it aloud.

“Maybe you never feel ready.” Nina added.

“But after what Wylan’s been through?”

“That doesn’t mean he can’t love too.”

“But he might need more time.” Inej urged.

“I just need to speak with him. But thank you for being here both of you, even with everything you’ve got on.”

They all just kept their eyes on one another, wanting the moment between them to sit for as long as possible.

                               ***

Once Inej had left to get some rest and Nina had followed her to make sure she actually got said rest, Jesper couldn’t wait any longer. He thought of Wylan downstairs alone, working away at whatever Kaz had him up to, probably plagued by the same thoughts that had gripped him. They couldn’t just leave it like that.

He whisked up a quick sandwich for the omega, it was already past lunch after all, and then trotted down the steps towards the basement. The stairs were narrow and dimly lit, with a metal door at the bottom. Jesper took one final breath in, before he pushed it open.

The space itself was bright and alive. The walls were a crisp white, the new workbench in the centre of it, a gleaming metal. There were whiteboards on one wall, a small desk in a corner with a spinny chair that Jesper knew he’d be zooming around on soon. It was a far cry from the demo man’s prior space.

And there he was in the centre of it, mop of brown hair and beautiful doe eyes and all. He was wearing a pair of goggles that he’d pushed up into his curls, Kaz really had thought of everything.

“Jesper?” He inquired, popping his head up to look straight at the alpha.

For some reason, for one of the few times in his life, Jesper didn’t know what to say. Instead he raised the sandwich up in one hand and pointed at it with the other before stuttering out a quick-

“Hungry?”

“Oh, um, yes I lost track of time I think.”

Wylan pulled the goggles off of his head and waited as Jesper stepped forwards, careful not to push the alight bunsen burner and row of glass bottles and vials off of the workstation. He handed over the food and watched as Wylan took a small bite.

“It’s good. Thank you.”

Jesper smiled weakly. “Good, I was worried it might be a bit dry. Not ‘Kaz’ dry but just a bit dry, I guess.”

The mention of Kaz seemed to have filled the room with tension again in only a few seconds.

“What are you doing down here?”

“I’m making a new poison for the dregs, something that causes temporary blindness.”

“Oh, wow. Impressive.”

They both looked down, not speaking, until Jesper couldn’t bear it anymore.

“About earlier…I wanted to-“

“What do you mean?” Wylan answered, as though he had no idea what Jesper was talking about.

“You know earlier? This morning?”

“I think I just got an idea, why the equations aren’t working…sorry can I just-“ he mumbled as he scurried away to write something.

“Wylan I need to tell you that I-“

“Sorry could I just write this quickly?”

“Wylan no, we need to talk.”

“Jesper. Please-“

“No we can’t not mention it at all. I’m trying like I said to be more-“

It was as though Wylan wanted to divert away from the question at all costs. Pretend it had never even been asked of them. Desperate to alleviate the tension, Jesper leaned forward to get the omega’s attention and finally discuss it.

“Oh no.”

“I know it’s hard, but I really think we need to figure this out Wy-“

“Jesper!”

The alpha looked up to see the bunsen burner awfully close to him. And then the sour scent of burning hit his nostrils as he pieced that and the look on Wylan’s face together. Immediately he pulled the jacket he was wearing off of himself and threw it to the ground before stomping the growing flames out.

Luckily it hadn’t burnt through his shirt yet, but as he looked up at the look of terror on the omega before him’s face he wished it had so he had a reason to run.

“Wylan I’m okay, it’s okay.”

Something had clearly triggered him as Wylan’s breath became laboured and shaky. He backed away slowly, closing his eyes tightly shut and shaking his head.

“Wylan?”

The omega didn’t react, he just started to whimper so softly that it made something in Jesper’s chest feel like it was snapping.

“Wylan?”

It was like a storm had swept him up, winds hurtling at break neck pace, around just him. Like Jesper was being blown away and held at bay, unable to get to him. Meanwhile the tornado was growing bigger and stronger as it swept around the small boy in front of him.

He risked taking a step closer to him, with Wylan so caught up in what seemed to be a memory he didn’t catch it. So he tried another and another. Until he was right in front of him, as he cried out loud and twitched. Carefully, he reached out and placed his hands on each side of the omega’s face. Wylan flinched away, but prised his eyes open. Upon meeting Jesper’s he saw a flash of recognition as he started to wake up.

“You…they…I don’t…Jesper. Jesper. Jes-“ His voice cracked as Jesper wrapped him up in his arms tightly. Holding on as he felt Wylan clutching at his shirt, and then balling it up between his fingers.

“It’s okay, it’s just me here. You’re fine, I’m fine, it was just an accident. No one was hurt, no one’s gonna hurt you. You’re safe omega.”

Wylan finally stopped crying, as he instinctively raised his head to the scent glands at Jespers neck and tried to bury his head into him. Jesper let out a relieved huff and buried his own face into Wylan’s tousled curls. It all felt so natural until he was reminded of Kaz’s words.

You’re going to have to bite and claim Wylan.

The reminder sobered him instantly.

“Wylan we need to talk later okay? But for now we’re going to get you to bed and you’re going to rest for a while. Dr Fahey’s orders.”

“You’re not a doctor?”

“I went to university same thing.”

“Y-you did?”

“For like a few months but same difference. Come on.”

He gently pulled Wylan after him and helped him upstairs to his nest where he dove in and curled himself around his fox plushie. It didn’t take long for him to pass out, likely he hadn’t slept much at all the night before, as Jesper closed the door after him.
Still none the wiser to the omega’s thoughts or even his own.

                               ***

Half the day slogged away. He eventually did go out with the dregs. Today they were just shaking up a few people who hadn’t repaid their loans to the gang, shady people that it was best to have a gunslinger along for. Everything had gone to plan, in truth it had been good to blow off some steam. Now he was sat alone at the bar, drinking some of the whisky.

“Hello stranger.” A smooth voice hit him.

“Raske.” Jesper replied.

“Drinking alone? That wasn’t usually your style.”

“Maybe I’ve changed.”

“I’ve heard.” Raske hit back, as though they were playing a game of tennis. “Wylan? That’s his name isn’t it?”

Jesper nodded somberly.

“Trouble in paradise?” He continued.

“Something like that. I just traumatised him trying to fix an impossible problem.”

Raske pulled up a chair beside him.

“I think I’ll need one of those too then.” He smiled. Once that smile would have floored him, excited him, but now he felt nothing. He just poured the drink and sat still. “What happened?”

“I can’t really say it’s just…complicated.”

“Ah, the easiest problem to give advice for.”

Jesper chuckled. “There’s a hard decision we need to make, and he’s avoiding me.”

“I see, surprised it’s that way around.”

“Me too.” He squirmed in his chair at the reminder.

“Do you remember the night we…you know? You were doing your whole shmoozing routine at the blue pearl, and then you realised it wouldn’t work on me. I left, and then you tried to pursue me, respectfully of course. But it wouldn’t work. The next night you were just you. Open and raw and vulnerable. And so I was ready and I stayed. You always cared so much, I think you forgot that people cared right back Jesper. If you wait for them. They’re not running away, they just need time. So you wait for him to come to you.” Raske said as if it was the easiest thing. And then he realised it was. It was that easy.

“Oh.” Jesper mumbled. “You’re actually right.”

“Of course I am.” Raske laughed.

“Thank you. I mean really thank you, you’re brilliant. You’re so right, Raske I could kiss you.”

Raske beamed at him, tucking his hair behind his ear.

“I didn’t mean to make things awkward yesterday, I-“

Just then the floorboard outside the bar corridor creaked, and slowly Wylan shuffled in.

“Wylan?” Jesper called out. Then he remembered what he’d just said. “Wait, Wylan no you don’t-“

But he’d already taken off upstairs.

“I’ve done it again haven’t I?”

“It’s not you Rakse, I’m sorry.” Jesper blurted out as he ran after the omega.

He reached the door, and realised it had been locked.

“Wylan? Let me in please? You don’t understand it wasn’t like that.”

Nothing.

“Wylan? He was giving me advice about you, on how to help you.”

Still Nothing.

Jesper sighed and turned, letting his back hit the door as he slid down.

“All I want to do is help you Wylan. I don’t care about anyone else other than you and the pack. You have to believe me. We were speaking about what happened yesterday. I wanted to make everything okay and just do what was right, I didn’t want to push you. And he told me to wait for you to come to me and he was right. I was just really happy to realise that. That was all. Nothing more.”

Silence.

“You’re it Wylan. So I’ll wait for you to be ready.”

Another minute of silence. And then the sound of a key in the lock. Before brown eyes met his.

“How are you feeling?” Jesper breathed.

“Okay, thank you. You?”

“Good, I think we both need to speak don’t we?”

Wylan’s eyes widened as he nodded in response, shuffling back into his nest.

“Do you want me to come in there?”

Another nod as Jesper kicked off his shoes and joined Wylan. He sat opposite him, back flush to the edge of the nest as Wylan shifted and copied him.

“I’ll go first. I’m sorry that Kaz just threw that on you. On us. And that I tried to push you for an answer. I never want you to feel uncomfortable or unsafe Wylan, ever. I promise you that. But, well, whatever this plan is…I don’t want to put your life at risk either. I know this must be so hard for you, and I’ll do whatever it is that you want Wylan, but I want you to know that it’s ultimately your choice. I care about you so much omega that I just want you to be happy.”

He stopped, realising that he’d just waffled quite a bit and possibly still not said much at all. He tried to glance up subtly, trying to register anything of what Wylan was thinking but the omega had been transfixed on him.

“I’m scared Jesper.”

He remembered the conversation they’d had in the lab before the ambush, as much as the alpha wanted to run right now he kept himself sitting there and present. He’d be there, no matter what.

“What are you scared of?” He breathed.

“I was bitten by Pekka Rollins, when I was taken there. The first thing they did was take me back to the place I’d be locked in for three years. P-Pekka tied my hands so I couldn’t fight, but I was so scared I don’t think I would’ve. And then, then he pushed me down.”

He paused for several seconds.

“He pushed me onto my knees and Miggson held me in place whilst Prior pulled my hair so my neck was exposed and he…he bit me. Hard, I remember it really hurt and it bled for ages. It didn’t heal for a while. But after he bit me they slapped me around a lot. Kicked me. Hurt me. Taunting me. And then they…they pushed me onto the bed. It was the day it all started.”

He stopped there, silent tears slipping down his face like mournful raindrops.

“I’m so sorry. That’s awful Wy, and you didn’t deserve it at all.”

“What if I did?”

“Don’t say that.”

“But if it’s true?”

“You didn’t. You don’t. I need you to know that, you are so special Wylan. You’re so sweet and caring and gentle, in spite of all of it. If we went though with this it would be nothing like that, you know I’d never hurt you.
You’re so much better than them, it’s truly amazing that you don’t know that. I’m sorry they made you feel that way. I want you to know I’ll spend as long as you let me proving otherwise.”

“I don’t deserve you.”

It has been quick but final sounding. Like an admission, like he’s just revealed a secret that had been sitting in plain sight with no one able to address it until now.

And it drove the alpha in him insane.

He reached out and gently pushed Wylan’s chin up to meet his eye.

“Wylan I think I could live several thousand
lifetimes and never deserve you.”

“I don’t understand. You’ve been so kind to me, you’ve always been there when I needed you. You make funny jokes and you look after me and you make every room light up when you w-walk in it. You make me feel safe, when I hadn’t in three years. You’re Jesper Fahey.”

“And you’re Wylan…”

“Hendricks.”

How had he never asked his surname?

“You’re Wylan Hendricks.”

“You had…could have anybody.”

“But it would be the greatest honour of my life if I claimed you. But only if you wanted to, completely of your own volition, if you were a hundred percent okay with it. And even if you weren’t, everything between us and everything around us would stay the exact same. I swear on our packs lives.”

“Our pack?”

Wylan’s eyes had become watery and the expression he was wearing was one of complete and utter disbelief. He reached out for his alpha’s hand, hesitating for a moment before taking it.

“What if it’s too scary?”

“Then we wait.”

“I don’t want to wait.”

“What do you mean?” Jesper asked.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“I would like that. If you claimed me as your omega. I-I don’t know if I would be a good one, but I’ll try.”

“My mate. You don’t have to do anything but be you Wy. We can figure the rest out together.”

Jesper grinned so hard he thought his smile would fall off. He wrapped Wylan up in his arms once more and gently rocked them both back and forth, as he realised what had just happened. Something he never thought would happen, something that a few hours ago had cause him so much fear that he thought it could choke him. Something that had set the whole word ablaze.

“I want you to take some time to think on it anyway okay? I’ll speak to Kaz about the whole plan and figure out how this plays into it. But either way we’re going to get rid of them for good Wylan, you’re a crow now. Speaking of which, I need to go and help Inej for a little while. Will you be okay when I’m gone?”

The alpha within him roared, he didn’t want to leave. He didn’t want to leave Wylan unprotected, or just leave him at all. Especially when he knew that this omega belonged to him, and him to the omega now. His instincts pulled him back towards the demo man, but there was another omega that needed him too. He was pretty sure that the need to protect her too was the only thing that would’ve dragged him away.

“Yes, I’ll be okay.”

Jesper pressed a kiss to the top of Wylan’s head and then crawled out of the nest. He pulled a new jacket out of his wardrobe, a long burgundy leather one atop his red and blue checkered shirt and trousers, before heading out to her.

                                      ***

“Inej?” Jesper called.

He’d just entered the little block of apartments where the new omegas were staying. They all looked a lot healthier than the last time scenario he’d seen them in, in which they’d all been bandaged and medicated to some degree. Most smiled at him, some seemed slightly fearful and some gave small suggestive smiles that made him feel a little uncomfortable. Especially considering their pasts and the conditioning they’d endured.

Eventually he caught sight of Inej, fixing up a hole in the wall.

“Jesper-“ she began as she saw him sauntering down the corridor. “This is the last hole in the building, can you help me with it?”

The hole was pretty big, around head sized, and had splintered the paint, plaster and brick around it.

“I’m sure I can rustle something up, little old genius like me.” Jesper sung.

“In a good mood again?” Inej asked lightly, the look between them saying all it needed to. “Congratulations.”

Jesper just beamed once more and got ready to use his powers to-

“I’m sure a bit of fire would help meld everything together, no?” Kuwei’s voice droned out.

For f-

“I think I’ve got this.” Jesper snapped back.

“I insist.” Kuwei ignored him, moving around Jesper and standing in front of him to inspect the hole.

Jesper looked up, exasperated and ready to argue with Inej, only to realise she’d already slipped away. Saints, as long as he did this quickly he could leave and get back to-

“How is Wylan?”

“He’s doing really well.” Jesper jostled in front of him once more.

“That’s good. He really opened up to me the last time I saw him, I’m sure his old pack reappearing must have been terrible.”

Jesper didn’t answer, getting to work summoning the materials back to their rightful place as Kuwei melded them back together.

“He needs someone who can be that for him, someone he speak to, don’t you think?”

“Good thing it isn’t you then, I’m not sure how people get a word in.” Jesper just couldn’t help himself, jealousy tearing at him as he tried to stay focused on the task at hand.

“I’ve heard a lot of things about you.”

“Okay.”

“Lots of the betas around here, even an alpha. But never an omega.”

“Is there a point to this?”

“You’re scared aren’t you?”

He hadn’t been. Not with Wylan. He’d never thought of a future with him when they’d first met, his only thought had been saving his life and helping him recover. Maybe that had changed along the way, and so too had his fear of committing to something. Someone. Hadn’t it?

“No.”

“You are.”

The anger was building within him, bursting at the seams now. He was here to help Inej, not make her life harder.

“He deserves something amazing, I think.”

“Yes.”

“Someone special. Someone who knows what they want. Secure. A sure thing.”

“Do you want to say something? Please, go ahead and say it. Since you’re feeling brave.”

Kuwei didn’t say a word, he just stared at him blankly. Jesper scoffed at the sight of it, finished piecing the last part of the wall in and forced a fake smile.

“All done, as are you.”

At that he stomped away to find Inej and ask her home. Or for her to walk him home if truth be told. Even if she was the one in more danger in the barrel as an omega, she’d be the one to eliminate a threat without so much as a sound.

As much as he hated letting him have that power over him, his conversation with Kuwei mangled his mind. What if this was a step too far? What if he really wasn’t ready? Mating was forever, it was serious. And Wylan deserved someone who could give that to him and even more.

He was pulled out of that train of thought as he came across Inej bandaging up a young omega, she’d clearly been hurt in the attack.

“Thank you Miss Inej.”

“Just Inej, Anya. And you are most welcome, how are you finding the new book?”

“It’s very interesting Inej, mis…sorry.”

It reminded him of Wylan, and just how far he’d come.

“That’s okay, I’m glad it’s a good one. I thought you might like it.”

Not just him, come to think of it, but Jesper too.

“Do you want me to read you some now?”

From the crack in the door, Jesper knocked softly. Alerting them both of his presence.

“He’s an alph-“

“He’s a very good friend of mine. His name’s Jesper. He’s friendly.”

She was so gentle with the girl it made him burst with pride.

“Hello Jesper sir.” She chirped carefully.

“Hello Anya, I need to steal Inej from you now if that’s alright? We need to get some sleep now.”

“Okay Jesper sir. Good night Inej.” The girl hugged her, he caught Inej freezing for just a second before she hugged her back.

“Good night Anya, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

They’d left then, making their way back home as quickly as they could.

“You’re good with them.” Jesper mumbled to her, careful not to speak too loud.

“Thank you, it helps, you know? But I’m sure anyone would be the same.”

“No, it’s a skill.”

Inej smiled gratefully.

“Maybe you should bring Wylan one time?”

“I think I might.”

As if she could read his mind she added, “It’s nothing you haven’t already done.”

They’d finally gotten back to the crow club as night fully settled in. He gave Inej a quick goodnight and hurried upstairs to see Wylan. After those few hours he felt the urge to cuddle him as close as he could to him. He flung the door open a little too hard and peeked into the nest.

To his surprise the omega wasn’t there. He decided to knock on Nina’s door, he’d probably gone to see Matthias. With no reply he carefully opened it to see Nina asleep with her head on Matthias’ chest. He closed it, took a few steps towards Kaz’s office but heard him talking to a dreg or someone in a tone that made him decide Wylan wouldn’t be up there.

He tried the kitchen next, and then hurried downstairs to the basement. He wouldn’t panic, the omega would be there he was sure. He’d have snuck down to do something work, thinking he’d be in trouble with Kaz. He’d scold him gently and bring him back up to bed.

Jesper ended up slamming the door open, to find an empty room.

“Wylan?” He hissed. “Wylan?” Louder this time.

He rushed upstairs now, his heart beating out of his chest. The breath caught in his throat, sweat breaking out all over. Blind unbidde panic set in like nothing he’d ever felt.

“Wylan!?”

The others had all staggered downstairs half asleep, all shouting at him, starting to split up to look for him but he knew it was no use.

“WYLAN!?”

Wylan was gone.

Chapter Text

Wylan

(The Same Morning)

Wylan woke up alone. He shifted in his nest and groggily pushed himself up to his elbows. To his dismay, the final thing Kaz had said to both him and Jesper was ringing in his ears.

You have to bite and claim Wylan.

The memory of the night he’d been bitten by Pekka and become a claimed omega for the first time forced itself up into his brain. He remembered the sick ritual they’d performed on him, and the idea of being claimed again made him sick to his stomach once more.

He knew Jesper, he knew the alpha was different. He believed him. But that didn’t stop the fear gripping him like muscle memory. 

Kaz had almost declared it, like it was something that was going to happen. He couldn’t fight off two alphas. What if he didn’t have a choice in all of it? Was it all up to Jesper? Did he have a choice?

Desperate for a distraction he dressed in a green jumper and black trousers before tiptoeing down the steps to the kitchen. There he saw Jesper, head resting on his arms as he sat sleeping on the table, practically drooling. He felt a pull inside him, pointing him to the alpha’s side. Just as an omega was supposed to do. But he couldn’t bear to face his feelings just yet. And so he carried on down the stairs to his new workstation.

It was much more impressive than the lab down by the harbour. A brilliant white, everything looked brand new, not to mention the huge collection of materials and equipment that had been stowed away for him. Then, to his surprise, the notes he’d left in the old place. All scrawled in his own handwriting, musical notes and all.

His old pack never would have even thought he’d be capable of all of this, let alone created and built this for him. He knew he was providing something in exchange for his protection and shelter. And yet, it felt personal. Not to mention the set of shining goggles he found, with a leather headband that fit like a glove. They really did care about him. Even Kaz Brekker.

But why? They had to have had other demo people that could do the job too. He wasn’t providing anything exceptional. Wylan was good at his job sure, but all of this? They cared. Jesper cared. This pack was different, they all truly loved each other. They were a family.

Maybe he could be part of a family.

The thought sent goosebumps running along his arms, as well as a tingle down his spine. All he’d ever wanted was a family, once having a new pack had meant just that. An escape from the one that he was worthless and ignored in, and yet he’d come to find there was so much worse. If he said no to this, was he pushing away the best thing that had ever happened to him?

Wylan tried to get to work, Kaz had left a voice recording for him telling him he needed an elixir that would cause temporary blindness. Which was no short order. Although it was a welcome challenge right now.

What if this was all some elaborate trick and he was just being stupid once more? What if they were lulling him into a sense of security, what if his father was behind all of this again?

He pushed it away once more. Sodium phosphate, what could he use with that to create the illusion of…? Why couldn’t he think?

He wanted Jesper. 

Jesper always made everything feel better. Forget his nest, the plushie and his new clothes, it was Jesper. He made him feel safe and cared for, in the last few weeks he was the only thing that made the bad thoughts go away. What if that could be forever? What if he didn’t have to be scared it would all be taken away?

No, he couldn’t make any rash decisions. Especially not out of fear. He just wanted to be alone for now, that meant without his thoughts too.

Wylan did his best to disappear within himself once more. Eventually the only thing that ticked through his mind were the names of chemicals and the equations that danced across his mind like a lullaby.

                               ***

At some point in time he’d been pulled from his mindless scrawling and experimentation by loud footsteps plodding down the stairs. 

What if it was them come to do it now? Maybe he’d done something wrong? He shouldn’t be down here? Would they just hold him down and do it here?

The familiar perplexing scent of citrus and gunpowder met his nostrils as Wylan registered who it was that had come down to meet him. And he was alone. Once he’d opened the door he was met with his bright grey eyes, although they seemed more muted than normal. Almost sad and worrisome…

“Jesper?” He inquired, popping his head up to look straight at the alpha.

“Hungry?”

He felt his stomach grumble at that, he’d forgotten about food altogether today until the sight of the sandwich that was being held out towards him.

“Oh, um, yes I lost track of time I think.”

He managed a bite, “It’s good. Thank you.”

Jesper smiled weakly. “Good, I was worried it might be a bit dry. Not ‘Kaz’ dry but just a bit dry, I guess.”

The mention of Kaz seemed to have filled the room with tension again in only a few seconds.

“What are you doing down here?” Jesper asked, he was hoping that the alpha would leave. As much as he wanted Jesper to stay, the unanswered question between them felt like it was suffocating him.

“I’m making a new poison for the dregs, something that causes temporary blindness.”

“Oh, wow. Impressive.”

They both looked down, not speaking, until Jesper started the conversation he’d been dreading.

“About earlier…I wanted to-“

He wasn’t ready yet, he hadn’t pieced his thoughts together. He wasn’t ready, he didn’t know what he felt.

“What do you mean?” Wylan answered, hoping that Jesper would pick up on the hint he was cautiously throwing out.

“You know earlier? This morning?”

“I think I just got an idea, why the equations aren’t working…sorry can I just-“ he mumbled, maybe if he pretended to be busy that would work?

“Wylan I need to tell you that I-“

“Sorry could I just write this quickly?”

“Wylan no, we need to talk.”

“Jesper. Please-“

He really couldn’t do this right now, the memories of being claimed before were burning up under his skin. Simmering away underneath him so close, he’d been managing it but now here they were again.

“No we can’t not mention it at all. I’m trying like I said to be more-“

He saw Jesper lean towards him as he flinched away instinctually. Then he watched in horror, as his lit Bunsen burner caught the arm of his jacket.

“Oh no.”

“I know it’s hard, but I really think we need to figure this out Wy-“

“Jesper!”

Immediately he began to tug and pull at the jacket he was wearing, finally getting it off and throwing it to the ground before stomping the growing flames out. At least Jesper was fine.

Then he was back.

“Someone needs to learn their lesson, don’t they you little slut? Did you think I wouldn’t find out that you’d fallen asleep without my permission? What was your punishment for speaking out of line?”

A slap flashed across his face.

”N-no s-sleep for th-ree days s-sir. I didn’t m-mean it.” Wylan choked out in a panic.

A backhand across his other cheek.

”You didn’t do what I said. Luckily we’re all home today, so we can make sure you really learn your lesson.”

He was dragged by his hair, kicking and screaming. In the distance he heard laughs that were growing ever closer.

”Please! Please!” He was shrill now.

”Shut the fuck up you little runt, you’re getting it bad now.”

Wylan sobbed as he was finally dragged into the claustrophobic punishment room. The other alphas entered just as he was being hung by his wrists in the centre of the room. Pekka crossed his arms as he watched in front of the now closed door, Miggson licked his lips as his eyes raked up his now unclothed, already battered, torso.

”I thought you were going to do as you were told pretty.”

“I-I’m sorry sir.”

”Enough.” Pekka declared, even the other alphas straightening up somewhat at that. “Start the fire.”

Wylan struggled in his manacles, but to no use. All he could do was watch as the reflection of the fire burned brighter and brighter in the pupils of his abusers.

“Wylan I’m okay, it’s okay.”

The voice, he knew that voice? Was he dreaming? Was he finally losing his mind. He hoped it was any of them, as they stoked the fire in front of him, before grabbing a metal rod and throwing it onto the fire.

Immediately sparks flew from it, as it started to heat up. Glowing yellow and then orange and then red.

“Wylan?”

”Look at him shaking. Poor little baby, you really should learn, pretty. Don’t worry though, we won’t touch you anywhere we need. Although…maybe we will somewhere that could look sexy the next time we fuck?”

“Wylan?”

Wylan whimpered, trying to kick away from him but his hands closed around his arm and waist holding him still. On the other side Prior did the same, except his nails dug into his fragile skin, into a welt that had been left by a belt earlier. Wylan gasped, knowing it would be nothing to what he was about to go through.

Pekka grabbed the cool end of the rod and then took a step closer to him. The  another and another until he was right in his face. He pushed his sweaty curls away from his face and grabbed Wylan’s face in his hand.

”No wonder your father sold you. Look at you, a pathetic whimpering little coward. Who could ever want you?”

And then the boiling hot rod was thrust into the melting skin on his chest.

Suddenly Wylan was in a bright white room. The hands on his face were no longer holding him in a vice-like grip but caressing him gently. The eyes in front of him, not filled by fire. But grey clouds. Jesper.

“You…they…I don’t…Jesper. Jesper. Jes-“

His voice cracked as Jesper wrapped him up in his arms tightly. Wylan gripped his shirt, balling it up into his fists as he sobbed. Grateful beyond all words to be out of there and here with him.

“It’s okay, it’s just me here. You’re fine, I’m fine, it was just an accident. No one was hurt, no one’s gonna hurt you. You’re safe omega.”

Wylan finally stopped crying, as he instinctively raised his head to the scent glands at Jespers neck and tried to bury his head into him. He felt Jesper to do the same, the embrace of an alpha calming him down infinitely.

In the arms that kept him safe.

He was safe here, this was a new life. What if the claiming was the confirmation of that? This is what he wanted. This moment here, safe and loved, in the arms of the man he-

He what?

“Wylan we need to talk later okay? But for now we’re going to get you to bed and you’re going to rest for a while. Dr Fahey’s orders.”

“You’re not a doctor?”

“I went to university same thing.”

“Y-you did?”

“For like a few months but same difference. Come on.”

Jesper helped him upstairs. He still felt fragile and shell-shocked. But he wanted the alpha with him. Although he was too scared to ask. So he watched as he left him to his own space, the warmth of his nest. Maybe it was the ordeal he’d just been through, or the fact he’d barely slept a wink last night. But Wylan was out cold in seconds.

     
                               ***

When he woke up Wylan was immediately aware of a presence in the chair just off to the front of his nest. He sucked in a breath and mustered the courage to peer out where a pair of cold black eyes were watching him intently.

His heart raced a little as he tried to shake off the haze of sleep and the anxiety from earlier that still felt like it was crushing his windpipe. He shook his head and looked out once more, this time a name came to him.

”Kaz?”

The alpha nodded slightly and then sat up even more straight if that was possible.

”You almost figured out the new elixir?”

Wylan nodded.

”I saw. I also saw Jesper carrying you up here.”

He felt the talk coming, the on he was used to.

I’m disappointed.

He knew Kaz wasn’t like Pekka, but he was still scared of him nonetheless. Maybe he was here to convince him to be bitten? Maybe he was telling him that he would be regardless. He just wanted him to rip the plaster off.

”The plan for Jesper to bite you was always with the intention of protecting the pack.”

What was he saying? That he had to go through with it if he wanted to be protected? That he was failing them by not agreeing?

“Not to cause you any more harm.”

Oh.

”Oh.” It slipped Wylan’s mouth before he could think.

”I promised you they would all pay, from the smallest to the biggest player in the game. Although I suppose it isn’t a game is it? There’s a reason Pekka Rollins wants you back, it’s your father isn’t it?”

The whole world could have fallen out form beneath Wylan’s feet right then and there.

”I-I’m sorry I d-didn’t tell you.” He stuttered in absolute shock.

”You should have. But it doesn’t matter now, we need to eliminate the dime lions and Pekka Rollins once and for all. That means following a plan, and I’m afraid I only have one.”

You’re going to have to bite and claim Wylan .

”For all our sakes, including yours.”

Wylan stayed silent, as Kaz stood and limped to the door. No cane in sight.

”But it’s your choice omega. We don’t do what they did to their omegas, you always have a choice. Albeit that there are good and bad choices to be made. But I can assure you, Jesper is not a bad choice. Far from it.”

An endorsement from Kaz? A choice from Kaz? Wylan still couldn’t quite believe it.

”Why?” Wylan asked before he could stop himself.

Why say all of that? Why the plan? Why Jesper?

“You remind me of someone. So does Jesper. Hold onto it.”

Then he was gone.

                                ***

Wylan had been sat in his nest ever since that interaction. Cuddling the fox plushie that smelt like the alpha’s room. The scent that had come to mean so much to him. Kaz’s words hanging in his mind.

He was right. If the plan freed him from the his old pack, and gave him Jesper, what was he so afraid of? He’d been proven time and time again that this pack and his new alpha were different. Good. Kind. He had nothing to lose. He wanted to be a part of the crow pack, the crow family, and he would.

Then a new terrifying thought hit him. 

‘Who would ever want you?’

It was true. How had he forgotten? Who would ever want him? Not as a mate. Him? Stupid, pathetic Wylan? And Jesper…

Kind, protective, bumbling, lovable, exciting Jesper? 

Kuwei had said it before, he was a man who had had many encounters. He could have any encounter he wanted. So why him? What could he offer him? Only the last night they’d walked past one of them, he couldn’t quite remember his name. But he’d been a demo man too, and quite clearly interested. 

Maybe his outburst earlier had already woken Jesper up and he was with him now? 

The idea of it made him feel nauseous, made the omega in him want to curl up and never come out again. His one duty, to be someone that could be loved. He was a failure at it. Why would Jesper want a failure?

Maybe it was him that was pushing Jesper into this? After all, he hadn’t come up to speak to him yet? What if he’d just created this distance between them that would never be closed?

Enough. Enough. He had to find his alpha. 

Carefully, Wylan descended the steps once more. He was cautious not to step in any place that he knew creaked, only wanting to find Jesper and finally have that talk that he’d been speaking about. So that he could finally free Jesper from himself.

He made it to the kitchen but saw no sight of him. It was possible he’d been on a mission, was on one right at that moment. But he’d wait for him right there, maybe he could make himself a snack too. Wylan headed for the far cabinet, only to catch the tone of a familiar soothing baritone.

The sound was muffled, but close, meaning he had to be in the bar. So off Wylan went, when he caught the scent. Gunpowder, citrus…and mint?

And a different voice? Yet one he recognised.

“Of course I am.” 

“Thank you. I mean really thank you, you’re brilliant. You’re so right, Raske I could kiss you.”

Jesper. Raske. Jesper. A different encounter. He was right. He was keeping Jesper from this. Why would he want him? What was he thinking? He had to get away. He needed to leave. He-

In his haste, Wylan had stepped in an exact spot that creaked. Calling out his location and position as eavesdropper.

“Wylan?” Jesper called out. “Wait, Wylan no you don’t-“

But Wylan had already felt his legs carrying him away, past the kitchen, back up the stairs and into Jesper’s room. He twisted the key, that normally just sat there, in the lock and slid back against the door. He slipped down to the floor against it, muffling the sobs as he realised how stupid he’d been. 

Jesper was just kind. Why would he want him? Why would he wait for him? Stupid Wylan, stupid.

He heard Jesper calling out to him from the other side of the door but he didn’t want to listen to him. He shouldn’t have to explain this, he shouldn’t have to pretend to care. Until he heard-

“All I want to do is help you Wylan. I don’t care about anyone else other than you and the pack. You have to believe me. We were speaking about what happened yesterday. I wanted to make everything okay and just do what was right, I didn’t want to push you. And he told me to wait for you to come to me and he was right. I was just really happy to realise that. That was all. Nothing more.”

Silence.

“You’re it Wylan. So I’ll wait for you to be ready.”

He wanted to be here, he was here for him. He’d been asking Raske for help, in talking to him? He was waiting for me?

Before he could overthink it, Wylan had opened the door for him.

“How are you feeling?” Jesper breathed.

The tension in the air was palpable, unbearable and nothing like anything he’d experienced with the alpha until now.

“Okay, thank you. You?”

“Good, I think we both need to speak don’t we?”

He wanted to go to the place he felt most comfortable again, so he crawled back into his nest, following Jespers lead and sitting opposite him. The fox plushie tucked into his side, slowing his heart rate somewhat.

“I’ll go first. I’m sorry that Kaz just threw that on you. On us. And that I tried to push you for an answer. I never want you to feel uncomfortable or unsafe Wylan, ever. I promise you that. But, well, whatever this plan is…I don’t want to put your life at risk either. I know this must be so hard for you, and I’ll do whatever it is that you want Wylan, but I want you to know that it’s ultimately your choice. I care about you so much omega that I just want you to be happy.”

He just kept his eyes on Jesper, dumbstruck. He didn’t know how to react to any of that, he didn’t know if he even had the right to. No one had ever wanted him to be happy before. He didn’t know how to respond to that idea now. He just didn’t feel like he was the right person to be accepting it. 

But at the same time he didn’t want to go back to a life where he was sure he wasn’t.

“I’m scared Jesper.”

“What are you scared of?” He breathed.

And so Wylan took a deep breath in, and for only the third time, he chose to recall one of the worst memories of his life. 

“I was bitten by Pekka Rollins, when I was taken there. The first thing they did was take me back to the place I’d be locked in for three years. P-Pekka tied my hands so I couldn’t fight, but I was so scared I don’t think I would’ve. And then, then he pushed me down.”

He paused for several seconds.

“He pushed me onto my knees and Miggson held me in place whilst Prior pulled my hair so my neck was exposed and he…he bit me. Hard, I remember it really hurt and it bled for ages. It didn’t heal for a while. But after he bit me they slapped me around a lot. Kicked me. Hurt me. Taunting me. And then they…they pushed me onto the bed. It was the day it all started.”

He couldn’t continue, and he didn’t want to. The tears were falling. But he was glad to have said it out loud. He just hoped Jesper would understand. He hoped he wouldn’t look at him any differently.

“I’m so sorry. That’s awful Wy, and you didn’t deserve it at all.”

What if he did?

“What if I did?”

“Don’t say that.”

“But if it’s true?”

It was all he’d ever been told. Or made to feel. Even now in the midst of the kindest pack he’d ever come across, and the best man he’d ever met, he couldn’t bring himself to believe it.

“You didn’t. You don’t. I need you to know that, you are so special Wylan. You’re so sweet and caring and gentle, in spite of all of it. If we went though with this it would be nothing like that, you know I’d never hurt you.
You’re so much better than them, it’s truly amazing that you don’t know that. I’m sorry they made you feel that way. I want you to know I’ll spend as long as you let me proving otherwise.”

He felt safe enough to finally say it, to let the fear that was holding him hostage go.

“I don’t deserve you.”

He admitted it, he really didn’t deserve this. This man. Who wanted him. Forever. What was this feeling?

He reached out and gently pushed Wylan’s chin up to meet his eye.

“Wylan I think I could live several thousand
lifetimes and never deserve you.”

“I don’t understand. You’ve been so kind to me, you’ve always been there when I needed you. You make funny jokes and you look after me and you make every room light up when you w-walk in it. You make me feel safe, when I hadn’t in three years. You’re Jesper Fahey.”

“And you’re Wylan…”

“Hendricks.”

He could never know the name Van Eck.

“You’re Wylan Hendricks.”

“You had…could have anybody.”

“But it would be the greatest honour of my life if I claimed you. But only if you wanted to, completely of your own volition, if you were a hundred percent okay with it. And even if you weren’t, everything between us and everything around us would stay the exact same. I swear on our packs lives.”

“Our pack?”

For the first time, Wylan saw why he was worth it. Through Jesper’s eyes he was someone else entirely. He wanted to be that person. Or he was that person. Either way, it was like an awakening. He wanted to let Jesper prove it, and he wanted to make him as happy as he deserved to be too. Even if it did take forever. With his new family. With his alpha.

“What if it’s too scary?”

“Then we wait.”

“I don’t want to wait.”

“What do you mean?” Jesper asked.

“Okay.”

“Okay?”

“I would like that. If you claimed me as your omega. I-I don’t know if I would be a good one, but I’ll try.”

“My mate. You don’t have to do anything but be you Wy. We can figure the rest out together.”

Jesper him up in his arms once more and gently rocked them both back and forth, as he realised what had just happened. Something he never thought would happen, something that a few hours ago had cause him so much fear that he thought it could choke him. Something that had set the whole word ablaze.

“I want you to take some time to think on it anyway okay? I’ll speak to Kaz about the whole plan and figure out how this plays into it. But either way we’re going to get rid of them for good Wylan, you’re a crow now. Speaking of which, I need to go and help Inej for a little while. Will you be okay when I’m gone?”

The omega in him wanted to cling to him and tell him not to leave now. They had just reached the place he’d always dreamed of, and he wasn’t quite ready for the warmth of it to leave him cold once more. But he knew Jesper was loyal to his friends, he would only leave if it was truly necessary.

“Yes, I’ll be okay.”

Jesper pressed a kiss to the top of his head and then crawled out of the nest. He pulled a new jacket out of his wardrobe, a long burgundy leather one atop his red and blue checkered shirt and trousers that suited him too well, and then he left.

His Alpha. Jesper Fahey. His mate.

                                 ***

Not long had passed, Wylan had already slept away the last few hours and so he wasn’t quite ready to be unconscious again. That and he wanted to try and see if he’d be able to sleep a little closer to Jesper tonight than he had before. He was still a while away from cuddling him or being overly intimate, but a closer proximity felt like a big step.

He ended up sketching to distract himself. He used the drawing pad and the paints that Jesper had bought him to ease his mind. Even now the anxiety never quite left him. He messed around for a bit, until he decided on his muse.

He smiled to himself, as the paintbrush glided across the page, each stroke careful and meticulous. Ever the perfectionist. He mixed the colours like he was conducting an experiment, and blended them together as though it was the most prestigious craft in the world.

Eventually he stopped, took a look at it and grinned. It was perfect. After it had dried he rolled it up carefully, and was about to leave it on the side counter when he heard some commotion downstairs.

He was about to dash to Nina’s room, worry setting in and his hair standing on edge, when he heard something he hadn’t heard in years.

A tune he’d recognise anywhere.

It was the sound of a flute, in a melody he had always held close to his heart.

The one that had lulled him to sleep at night.

The first he’d ever learned.

Taught to him by the only person who had ever loved him before.

Mama?

Like he had been put into a trance, the worry left him. Wylan felt himself being pulled towards it like a magnet, unable and unwilling to stop himself. He was sure his mama was dead, and yet he followed the noise all the way to the front door.

He eased it open and kept walking, following it to the right of the building. Walking past the windows where the bar was, and past them to the alleyway beside the crow club. It was then that the music stopped.

And everything else started. All of a sudden the omega in him felt very exposed, very vulnerable and very alone.

“Mama?” He called softly.

He didn’t know what answer he was waiting for. Instead he realised what he’d done. He relaxed his fists and gasped for air. It was dark, even the moonlight couldn’t fill the wide alleyway. Like a black hole, he looked into it but saw nothing. Wylan turned on his heels to run back inside the club, just focusing on the light a few feet away and making it there.

That was when rough hands clamped around his middle, pulling him back into the darkness. A cloth was shoved over his nose and mouth aggressively, so much so that he couldn’t even breathe.

Then everything went black.

Chapter Text

Jesper

The panic never left him, but it was easily sidelined by the fury that tore through him quickly and all at once. Like a landslide, there was no fighting it. The true force of the alpha within him stirring and ready to front.

He’d kill everyone and everything that stood in his path.

Jesper had already grabbed his pistols, waving them around to demonstrate his anger that nobody but him seemed to understand. Their stoicism only riling him further.

He was constantly moving, he didn’t know where but he knew he hadn’t stopped since he’d realised what had happened. It was the only way he could feel like he was doing anything but wasting time.

They’d just sorted things, Wylan wouldn’t have run. Besides he had nowhere to run to. But more than anything he knew the connection that the two shared. An alpha-omega bond was sacred, and mated or not, it was there and it was alive. It was the only reason Wylan had been able to heal as quickly and as much as he had, and that Jesper had learned a complete new way of life. It was that strong, and it was that strength that was coursing through him like lava flow.

Which meant someone was trying to snatch it away from him. Like a ghost limb he felt it. And he’d be damned if anyone was going to keep it that way.

He would do whatever it took to get to his omega even if it meant burning the barrel to the ground. Searching each and every house one by one, or taking each pack on alone. Right now he knew where he’d put his odds.

It was Nina who caught him first, he could feel a pull at his chest as he knew she was trying to calm him. But he didn’t want to be calm, he wanted this red hot anger that would lead him to what it burned for. So he fought, and to her horror her powers had little to no effect on him.

“Jesper! Jesper please! Killing someone on your own side is often bad etiquette.” She squawked at him as he raised his pistols once more.

“Someone’s taken him. I know they have, they’ve taken him and they could be…I promised him. I’ll kill them.”

“And I won’t stop you but this won’t help us now.”

“Nina they have him. I love him! I love him Nina. I’ve never loved anyone like this my whole life and I only just admitted it and now it’s gone? Why does this always happen? And you think anger won’t serve me? It will serve me just fine against anyone who stands against me.”

“That doesn’t include us, put the guns down.”

“How would you feel if they had Matthias!?”

“They did.”

It was a low blow, he’d realised after the said it but been too lost to his own anger to admit it.

“That was different.”

“Being terrified that they’re being hurt? That they’re scared and alone and there’s nothing you can do about it?”

He didn’t respond.

”Knowing that you want nothing more than to protect them or just wrap them up and tell them that everything’s going to be okay but you don’t know where to start?”

It hit him right at his core.

“How? How did you do it? I can’t breathe.” Jesper’s voice cracked.

“It wasn’t easy, I know. But you keep that anger under the surface and ready, you don’t let it loose like this. It won’t serve you like this Jesper.”

Maybe she was right, maybe she wasn’t. Either way his thoughts started to jumble as much as he tried to untangle them.

“We’re on your side, we love Wylan, we were ready for him to join our pack. Let us help you.”

And with that sentiment his heart rate began to steady somewhat. Even without her powers Nina had managed it all the same. The red mist started to ascend and he could finally hear what she was saying clearly.

”Now, let’s start with his old pack, did he ever tell you any of the places he was being kept?”

He was sure he had asked Wylan, but he hadn’t been able to answer. Maybe he would have told him if he’d listened more, he would’ve known everything already. Why hadn’t he been able to listen sooner?

He shook his head at Nina.

“Okay, we don’t have a lot to go on yet. Do you-“

“He’s finally calmed down?” Kaz’s ice cold voice skimmed across the room. “If you had let me know that Inej needed help none of this would’ve happened. How could you think to leave an omega alone unprotected this deep in the barrel?”

His words reignited the blaze within him in mere seconds.

“Calmed down!? I will not be calm until he’s back and safe! I-I wasn’t gone long. I thought you always knew everything, why weren’t you looking after him too?”

Kaz barely even batted an eye.

“I thought my crows would know better.”

“Fuck you Kaz.” Jesper growled dangerously. “I’m leaving.”

“Then you won’t hear about my plan to get him back.”

“Your plan? You told us you already had a plan and look what happened. Wylan is gone, and you don’t care. About either one of us.“

“If he had stayed within the club like I said we wouldn’t have a problem in the first place.”

“So it’s his own fault?”

Kaz said nothing.

“You’re unbelievable. I’m going to get him myself.” He stated, starting to walk away from him.

“No you won’t.”

”Are you going to stop me?”

“Not without my help.”

Jesper scoffed and spun around, slowly squaring up to Kaz as a low growl erupted from the older boy. Jesper always was the taller of the two. It didn’t stop Kaz from  holding his ground either though, as the air filled with tension so thick anyone could have choked on it.

“How do you know he didn’t choose to leave? No Dreg saw him.”

“He wouldn’t.”

“You know that?”

”Why are you doing this?”

”We need to cover everything.”

“Nina, are you coming?”

He darted his eyes to the side, still stood right in front of Kaz. Nina was staring at them both, clearly being affected by the struggle between the two alphas as they butted heads once again. This felt different though, Jesper was much more unpredictable with his omega in the equation.

“Jesper please don’t do this.”

“Are you really going to stay with him?”

She paused, pain in her eyes, before speaking one word softly.

“Matthias.”

And as much as he understood, he felt what many men standing against him must have, the pain of a bullet going right through his heart. He nodded.

And then he’d flown out the door without a second thought, ignoring the protests of Nina as she pleaded with both him and Kaz to hear reason. But he was beyond reason now.

In the dingy, dirty streets of the barrel Jesper took a moment to just stand still. The wind picked up and brushed past him arrogantly.

He wouldn’t have run. Wylan wouldn’t have run, he was so sure of it. Why now was he wavering? What if he did want to go? Would all of this be futile? He’d been so sure of his own feelings maybe he hadn’t even noticed the hesitance in the omega’s?

The thought ate at him, chewing him up from the inside out. He’d been so wrapped up in everything did he even know the real Wylan at all? Would he know if he hadn’t meant any of what he’d said? Had he really just been seeing what he’d wanted to? He didn’t know what to do now. What use was there in chasing down a man who wanted to be free from him? 

It had been a long time since his thoughts had consumed him like this. Since…since…how had he been so stupid as to think that someone could truly love him? He sighed to himself sadly, letting his back hit the wall as he slid down. Uncaring of how he’d probably scratched his best blue leather coat, as the world fell apart for the second time in the last hour.

He knew there was one way to distract himself, the way he’d always known. His fingers started to itch in yearning, his throat feeling dry. He wanted the burning sensation of whiskey to numb everything, all the pain and racing thoughts. The thrill of a card game igniting an enticing adrenaline within him. Feeling the urge once more, he pushed himself up.

When something brushed past his leg.

A sheet of paper it would seem, it wasn’t odd for rubbish to be caught in the sea winds. But this was a large piece of intact paper just hovering around. He could see flashes of colour, as though it had been painted. Maybe he could pawn it? Jesper reached down and took the piece of paper, opening it up as a gasp escaped his lips.

To his own shock and slight disbelief, he saw himself reflected in the page. He clenched his eyes shut and shook his head but when he stopped it was still there. A painting of him, drawn with such care and detail. All his best features, even the flaws caught so honest but lovingly.

Wylan.

He knew it. Of course he knew deep down it had to have been real. Wylan wouldn’t run. Wylan was in trouble, and he was going to get his omega back.

Any previous thought of the tables was gone, replaced only by strategy and the memory of one man. He had to think. It would be Pekka’s pack that had him now, but where? Who? He would have to leave Dreg territory and stay undetected in the Dime Lion’s for long enough for him to hear a whisper of his omega. The minute he did he’d find the one who’d whispered it and do what he needed to to find out where he was being held. Then he’d level the place.

He checked his pistols, happy with the amount of bullets, all that was left was to sneak across to dime lion territory. The border was past the harbour, towards the west stave. His skin crawled to even think of Wylan trapped somewhere amongst it.

He stormed past the streets, dust and dirt flying in his wake. The sea salt scent in the air guided him as he sped on, nearing the border of Dreg territory. He didn’t even think as he stepped across it, now on enemy lines. A thousand scents hit him at once, the dime lions didn’t have the same luxury of an unlimited supply of scent suppressors. 

He tried to pick out a lone wolf. Sneaking from one hiding place to another as he got deeper and deeper into unknown territory.

                           ***

The first signs of morning were fast approaching when Jesper finally took a break. He’d been on edge, trying to contain his anger and stay as stealthy as he could be. On any other mission he wouldn’t hesitate to run in all guns blazing, but for now he didn’t want to risk any harm coming to his omega.

He’d tried as many of the pleasure houses as he could, tried to listen for any idea of a bolt hole or hidden space, to catch Wylan’s familiar scent or the casual mention of his name, to no avail. He’d almost been caught twice, the last time he’d only just remained concealed as he held his breath, tucked behind a decaying crate.

And it was all for nothing. He brushed white hot tears from under his eyes and soldiered on, but the pain of this was like nothing he’d ever experienced before.

As much as he wanted to think of anything but, images of Wylan haunted him. The thoughts of what he could be going through lashed at him in quick bursts. It was now as he was caught in the midst of one that he finally stopped. He found himself ducked below an open window at one of the west stave pleasure houses, much to his dismay.

But it was the conversation he heard that sent chills down his spine.

It seemed like someone was being beaten, as they muffled cries of pain. And a domineering, cold voice pushed through.

”You don’t want me to go to Mr Rollins do you? I can tell him what a bad boy you’ve been? Or you can’t start to behave, like the good little whore I know you are.”

More cries, it was a boy, not Wylan but the similarities were enough for him to get ready to pounce.

”A rare little bird like you can make so much more money. Although, I do hear you have some competition coming along soon. Another male omega I hear, what will you do then? When you’re not the prettiest rarity on offer?”

Jesper’s blood ran stone cold in stark comparison to earlier. As much as he tried to push it away the image of Wylan in one of thrust itself into his mind. His toes curled and fingernails dug into his palms uncomfortably as he tried to focus on the one way conversation.

”Brown eyes, real small and cute I hear. You think you can compete? I wonder if he cries the same as you?”

He couldn’t bear it, the idea that it could be Wylan or the pained noises escaping the clearly very hurt omega. He clicked the safety on his pistols and took in a long breath.

He dove over the windowsill and before the man ahead of him could even react he’d grabbed him from behind. The man struggled, as Jesper gripped him by the throat, holding him in a headlock as he fought against him. He thought of all the things he would do to the men who had hurt Wylan, and the very worst ways he could inflict pain on the man. When he realised who was in the room with them.

The shirtless omega on the floor stayed dead still. His blond hair flopped in front of his eyes as his breathing got more and more rapid. His back was covered in bright red cuts and welts. Any skin that was still exposed was bruised and broken. Just like Wylan had once been. 

And then he knew he couldn’t do it. 

Instead Jesper pushed down on his windpipe, cutting off his air until the struggling stopped and the man collapsed unconscious to the floor. The alpha crouched down to check his pulse, and then let his attention fall back on the boy on the floor. 

“I’m not here to hurt you.” 

“Is..is he?”

”Dead? No. Not yet.”

He looked down at the unconscious man, dressed up in a suit, good cuff links and all. He was a tall man, bulky and frowning. A man who got off on hurting those smaller and more vulnerable than him. 

But he was more use alive, he was about to reach forward to start tying him up, when a hand pressed down on his shoulder. He spun, ready to attack when his eyes met familiar honey brown ones.

Unsurprisingly Inej stood before him. He felt a brief sense of relief before he noticed something was off. Her expression was grave and forlorn.

Mourning?

”Please no.” He whispered, starting to panic once more.

”Wylan’s alive, but he’s not with his old pack.”

What?

”You know where he is?” Jesper managed to get out, his hands now shaking angrily.

”Not where.”

”Then who Inej?”

”I don’t know who exactly, but there’s someone bigger than Pekka Rollins that wants Wylan. Someone that whoever has him knows will pay millions of kruge. There’s something he hadn’t told us.”

”So where is he?” Jesper pressed, ignoring that last part.

”I don’t know exactly, but I think they’re planning an auction. We can go back to the crow club and figure-“

”I’m not going back.”

Inej sighed. “Whatever happened, what’s more important to you? You and Kaz or Wylan?”

”You know my answer. Do you know Kaz’s?”

She didn’t answer that.

”Exactly.” The man on the floor began to stir as Jesper raised his pistol. He wanted something, anything to be able to dispel his rage on.

”Don’t Jesper.” Inej hissed. “If you kill him they’ll know it was you, they’ll put two and two together and then they’ll be after Wylan too.”

She was right. But he knew what this man represented, he knew what he would do to his omega if he’d ever been given the chance. He was repulsed by him, he wanted to do it for Wylan. But she was right.

He only just realised how painful it had to have been for her to be in that room. But she’d done it for him. He could trust Inej. Jesper lowered his pistol and turned to her.

”Thank you. Now let’s get back-no don’t!”

He turned to see what had shocked her, the omega stabbing the man. Once, twice, with no sign of stopping.  The carnage of him unleashing what had to have been months, if not years, of frustration and pain and fear leaving a sight to behold.

“Omega stop.” Jesper demanded, as he finally stopped and looked up at him, blood surrounding both the omega and the body.

At least it would look as though the omega had snapped and fought back. No one would suspect them of being there looking for Wylan, they wouldn’t catch the scent yet. He still had the advantage, he just needed to strike now whilst the iron was hot. 

”Come on, we need to leave or they’ll hurt you. Jesper can you give me a hand? Jesper please-“ Inej began…

But he’d already gone, she’d done enough for him and he didn’t want her to risk anything else now. She’d look after the omega and get him to safety.

All he cared about now was finding Wylan and destroying whoever had him. And now he had nothing holding him back.

Chapter Text

Jesper

The Auction was all Jesper had to go on. If someone wealthy was interested in Wylan being sold, the only place he could think to look was the Exchange. There was no use in even attempting to sneak around the Geldstraat without the pack, and if he decided to rampage through he wouldn’t last long alone. Finally leaving Dime Lion territory, he found himself there and with it a new feeling.

Hopelessness. Loss. Guilt.

New feelings that left him uneasy as he darted about the large and varying groups of people hanging around. Every type of person was there, which left him with even less of a chance of picking out someone who might know where Wylan was being held.

And all this time who knows what was happening to him, all because he was taking too long to find him. He never should have left him alone, he should’ve left someone with him. Why didn’t he? How had he let this happen? How was he still letting it happen? What kind of alpha did that make him?

He’d been skulking around for a while, darting between people trying to focus in on conversations or any person trying not to be seen, but with no luck at all. He truly was trying to find a needle in a haystack, and it was slowly destroying him.

He had to think logically. Like Kaz. If someone wealthy was after him, surely the merchers wouldn’t have him. The dime lions didn’t, which left the other barrel packs. Who would have caught wind of Wylan’s ‘monetary value’ and knew that he was hiding with the Dregs?

Just as he was entering the outskirts of the exchange he finally caught something. Just a sentence, but one he’d been dying to hear. Two women, walking side by side. They were dressed similarly, footsteps quick and even, matched perfectly as they trotted on. But it was what they said that caught him.

“Everything is in place, they’ll be announcing the auction soon.”

Immediately he was zoned in, now following as closely as he could to not lose them whilst remaining unseen. This was his chance. The women carried on, skipping past the exchange back towards Dreg territory. Their scents didn’t give away much about who they were, but the fact that they dared to get that close to a pack’s state made him even more fearful for Wylan’s wellbeing.

To his disappointment, the women finally strayed from the path and ducked into what seemed to be a gambling den, tucked into the alleyway between two buildings. Both with red roofs.

Jesper hung back, back pressed against the wall of one building as he strained to hear what the women were saying.

“A game of three man bramble? How original.”

“Oh do shut up and join us. Mary? You never say no to a game my love.”

“Just one.”

“Mary!”

“We can spare a little time can’t we?”

From the scents that ensnared his nose he could tell there were three men that now made up the group of them. He knew he should come up with some kind of a plan, but he didn’t care right now. If these people had Wylan, he’d fight dirty if he needed to.

He swung around from behind the wall to greet them, hoping they wouldn’t recognise him.

“Room for one more?” Jesper sung, tipping his hat to cover his eyes.

“Depends who’s asking?”

“Name’s Rotty, and my kruge is as good as anyone else’s.”

“Never heard of a Rotty.”

“I’m new here.” Jesper grinned, playing his part. “But with such fine company where else could I have begun.”

He saw one of the women swoon and nudge the other who rolled her eyes at the man who had been speaking. Clearly the leader here.

“Fine, but we start bets high.”

Even with the cards in front of him and the game beginning Jesper could barely bring himself to pay attention or care. Just the faces of these people made him want to jump across the dirty table and end them all right there. Saints the things he would do. But he bided his time.

Eventually the man pulled out a flask and Jesper saw his way in.

“Why don’t we get more whiskey? On me of course. A gift for my new friends.”

Thank the saints he has charm to spare, even in his state. And it was then that his plan begun. Before long the other members of the game were blind drunk, and much more ready to talk. Jesper on the other hand, was sure that even if he had drunk instead of pretending, his anger would have kept him stone cold sober.

As the last game ended, one of the man turned out his pockets as he turned to Jesper who was now winning far more easily with the group’s lack of sobriety.

“I’m afraid I’ll have to pay you back my friend, I’m skint. But I can tell you we’ll be coming into big money soon.”

Jesper clicked his pistols under the table.

“Is that so?”

The woman closest to him rubbed his arm suggestively, but as much as he wanted to push her off he let her continue as she spoke.

“Or we could pay you back another way.”

“Mary.” The man seemed desperate to stop that interaction. “We’ve come into the possession of very valuable merchandise.”

“What kind of merchandise?” Jesper asked.

He knew.

“I can’t say.”

”Oh don’t be so boring, I heard the barrel was the best part of Ketterdam. Don’t tell me I was misguided?”

”I can tell you…it’s quite the special little thing.”

”Like jewellery, gold?”

“Proper pretty it is, alpha like you would destroy the little fucker.” The man laughed.

Jesper inhaled deeply.

“Interesting, gotta be careful then, I don’t usually deal in merchandise that can run away.” Jesper continued through gritted teeth, that were slowly being ground down to dust.

“He won’t run, scrawny weak little thing.”

Jesper took in another breath through his tightening chest.

”How do you know that?”

“We’ve got him drugged enough he’s probably somewhere in the clouds right now.” The other man added, slapping his knee.

Jesper couldn’t breathe anymore.

“Could probably do anything to him right now and he wouldn’t know. I know some of the boys won’t be able to help themselves. But what else are omegas for eh-“

Before he could finish that question the man fell forward, the bullet in his forehead landing first with a sickening thud. As one of the women went to scream she too fell, and the other man until just the ringleader and Mary were left.

“Where is he?” Jesper asked, dangerously quiet.

“Please, look we don’t actually know. I swear!” Mary almost screamed, her mouth open in fear.

The other man held his hands up, and as his sleeve fell down he saw five birds blocked together tattooed on his wrist.

Razorgulls.

“I’ll kill you. And I’ll burn every Razorgull building to the ground you have my word. Where is Wylan?”

“Jesper?” The woman asked.

Jesper spun to look at her.

“How-“

“He’s been calling for you.”

He’s waiting for me and I’m stuck with these idiots. I’m failing him.

”Even in his sleep, screaming out for a Jesper. You love him or something? Was he about to be your omega? Is that what all of this is about?”

He was so shocked by that that he hadn’t noticed the man sneaking up on him. He grabbed his pistol arm hard, making Jesper squeeze the trigger accidentally as he fell.

And Mary’s blood splattered against the wall behind her.

“Mary!” The man shouted furiously.

Both he and Jesper fell to the ground, they were both tangled up in one another, trying to get hits off. At one point the man tried to crawl away but Jesper grabbed his ankle, causing him to hit the ground hard. He quickly regretted it though once the man kicked him in the forehead, causing blood to trickle into his eye. But once again it was the alpha who won the struggle as he twisted his way on top of the man, overpowering and knocking him out.

The thought of Wylan filling him with more fight than he’d ever thought possible.

Luckily night had crept in again, and so Jesper was able to grab the man by the ankles as he dragged him away from the bloody scene and into the darkness once more.

                                ***

Jesper was sat opposite the man cracking his knuckles as he started to stir. He hadn’t bothered cleaning up his eye yet, and so half of his face was stained with his and the stranger’s blood.

The Razorgull quickly noticed he was in foreign territory, clearly recalling the previous events and realising he was in the lab Jesper had stayed in with Wylan. He was tied to the chair, and fought against the ropes for a few minutes, shouting into his gag, before giving up and slumping back.

Jesper stepped forward and pulled the gag out of his mouth roughly.

“You can scream if you want, you’re in Dreg territory now.”

The man chose not to.

“Smart choice. Where is he?”

The man growled in frustration, before starting to chuckle, only infuriating the alpha more as he stepped forward and punched the beta in the temple.

“I’m not playing games, where is Wylan?”

The man spat blood onto the steps where he’d sat with Wylan as they spoke about his old life. Then he lifted his head slowly, saying nothing in defiance.

“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Without any hesitation Jesper suddenly crouched down in front of the man, and thrust a butter knife in just above his knee. Slowly applying pressure to the kneecap itself. The man screamed, crying out for him to stop.

Jesper may have loved a fight, and he would always do what he needed to for the pack, but he’d never enjoyed hurting people like this. Not that he did now either. In fact he felt nothing as he did it, thinking only of his omega.

“Where is Wylan?” He whispered harshly as the man kept screaming and crying. “WHERE?”

Screams.

”WHERE IS MY OMEGA?”

“I-I don’t know. I swear. I swear, please. They have someone moving him every four hours. Our boss said we had to. He’s too precious to lose. Please.”

Jesper pushed the knife in further.

“Why?”

“Why wha-“

“Why did you take him?”

“Razorgulls were offered money to find him, but the auction is a betrayal.”

“Who paid?”

“I don’t know. All I know is it was a wealthy mercher pack. Please. Please stop.”

Jesper pulled the knife from the man’s leg as he sobbed.

Why was a mercher paying all that money to get his hands on a random omega? Why would they go to the Razorgulls? Why would they pay for Wylan at an auction?

“Where and when is the auction?” Jesper pressed.

“I don’t know that either, Mary was going to…” He started sobbing once more. Only for a second, before a bullet hit his forehead too and he slumped in the chair.

”Then you’ve outlived your usefulness.” His voice sounded eerily like Kaz’s.

He knew who and why, but he was no closer to where. No closer to actually reaching the omega and freeing him from these thugs. Everything they’d said about him earlier played in his mind on a loop. They could hurt him if they wanted. They could do anything, and he couldn’t do a thing about it.

He was failing him.

His mind turned to the abandoned nest, peering in as the memories of the days they’d spent in this place taped over the bad thoughts. He wanted nothing more than to hold him once more. He’d never let go again. He just wanted the smell of fresh pastries and honey, not the muted remains of it.

The alpha in Jesper caught the scent on one of the omega’s oversized jumpers. His hands reached for it immediately, scrunching his fingers into the material and gently, slowly hugging it to his chest as he felt warm tears start to flow.

Wylan. I’m trying. I’m trying so hard to find you. Please hold on. I’m so sorry.

Just at that moment a knock rang out at the door, filling the silent void that had just held him. He scrabbled to his pistols just as the door opened and he aimed right for the intruders head.

Before he lowered it.

“Matthias?” He stuttered in shock.

“Inej said she saw you dragging someone here.” He looked at the body. “And Nina told me you couldn’t argue with a man who had almost died a few days ago.”

“I’m glad you’re okay, truly I am, but I need you to leave me alone.”

“We understand how you’re feeling. We can feel it too, you remember?” Matthias asked gently.

He hadn’t thought about that, and he felt somewhat guilty that they had had to go through even a small part of the emotional journey he had been on the last twenty four hours.

“I’m sorry.”

“It is what happens in a pack. In family.”

Something stabbed at Jesper’s already bleeding heart.

”I need to do this by myself.”

”No you do not.”

“I need to find him.”

“And I will be there to help you. But this..” he nodded at the dead Razorgull in the chair. “…is not how you do things.”

“I’ll do anything for him.”

“So will I, now come back and fight with our pack. The man was open with you?”

Jesper nodded.

“Then we have somewhere to start.”

“Any second I’m wasting feels like hours. I can’t stop thinking about how they might be hurting him.”

“Will that help him? Is it helping you?”

The two questions had one very obvious answer that must have been easy to read on the alpha’s face.

“One lone wolf is no threat. It’s the pack that can take down even a lion. Will you deny him that for your own pride?”

“No. Of course not.”

“Come home. Before Nina kills us both.” Jesper scoffed gently, before raising his head once more.

“Okay.”

Matthias started to walk towards the door but Jesper stayed still.

”Nina was so scared when you got hurt, I’ve never seen her like that.”

”I never want her to feel like that.”

”Was she angry at you?”

Matthias walked back and placed a hand on his shoulder.

”I call him lamb for a reason. I don’t think there is any hate in Wylan’s heart, especially not for a man I hear he was willing to mate with. Even after what he’s been though. I think he is a man who isn’t angry, but is capable of more love than we could even imagine. I know I learn that every day.”

Jesper smiled, for the first time in a day, at Matthias. They had never been the closest in the pack, but he’d never been more grateful for him than in that moment. He had no idea.

”Let’s get him back.”

He still clung to Wylan’s striped jumper as they both stood and walked away, past the dead Razorgull and back towards the crow club. They knew enough to start planning now, and with the full force of the pack they had a much stronger chance of bringing Wylan home. They were going to bring him home.

Inej dropped down from the roof next to them a few seconds after they began their walk, Jesper only turned to her and stared deep into her soft eyes.

“Thank you.”

“Always.” She stated.

“Always.”

They finally reached the crow club, Nina pushed her chair out and rushed over as they entered.

“I knew you couldn’t argue with a man who had almost died.”

Jesper hugged her. The worry seeping out of her with the stench of gone-off fruit.

“I’m sorry I worried you.”

”Look at the state of you, let me help clean you up.”

”I’m fine Nina.”

She just shook her head and hugged Inej and then Matthias too. He kissed the top of her head and grinned down at her.

“Now we’re all back why don’t you sit? I made tea.”

As Jesper was about to interrupt her the clunk of a cane hit them all. It grew nearer and nearer until Kaz came into view and stopped at the opposite end of the table where the others were now sat at either side of. Inej closest to him, Nina leaning into Matthias. A few awkward seconds of silence filled the room, surprisingly it was Kaz who broke it.

”You’re back.”

”Yes.”

”Good decision. Then we can begin.”

Jesper stayed standing, as the others clearly breathed in deeply.

”Let’s begin.”

And then exhaled.

”I’m assuming that Razorgull was helpful?”

Jesper stared across at him, then around at his pack, his family, that was one man short. He rubbed his thumb carefully over the soft material of his jumper as it sat folded over the chair in front of him.

”There’s going to be an auction-“

Chapter Text

Wylan

Time seemed to stop existing. Though he wasn’t sure if maybe it was him that stopped existing. He didn’t even know if that was what he meant to say. Or if any of it made any sense. But he knew three things, the light was too bright, he didn’t know what time it was…and he wanted Jesper.

His head throbbed, his throat felt dry yet sticky. He couldn’t seem to position his heavy body right, and so he couldn’t get comfortable. This, accompanied by nausea, left him disoriented and confused.

He couldn’t see, except for thin strips of light that attacked his eyes when he tried to open them. He was pretty sure something was holding his wrists and ankles, and he couldn’t speak.

And still all he thought of was Jesper. And his guilt. Although he couldn’t quite remember what it was for. His ability to think clearly came in waves, and for now he was drifting away once more…

                                ***

More time, he still didn’t know how much. It was different now though. His body didn’t feel quite so heavy, and it did feel somewhat more comfortable. He still couldn’t move his hands to rub his eyes, but when he tried to open them he was now met with complete darkness.

He yearned to be able to shift the fabric over his eyes, to be able to take in a deep breath of air.

Where was Jesper? Why was he here? Where was he? Why wasn’t he home?

He tried to move but felt something keeping him secure. He was sat upright, in a chair? Was he tied? He struggled feebly, and called out for Jesper through the fabric. He couldn’t hear whether he managed it or not, but something pressed against his face as he felt reality slip away once more.

                               ***

He could smell this new place. He only realised now that although he didn’t know how long it had been, he’d been moved. This was a new room. He knew that. He wasn’t with the crows, he was somewhere else entirely. Why?

And then he remembered…

I left. Someone attacked me. I’m not safe here. Who is it?

Cold dread started to snake its way down his spine. Filling his entire body in waves and then freezing like ice.

What if it was them?

He could barely breathe now, in this place he was sat against a wall. His hands were above his head, he could feel the weight of them being suspended. He realised his  ankles were free so he could pull his legs close to his chest, making him feel a small fraction less vulnerable. And there was no gag.

“Jesper.” He begged aloud, to who he had no idea. But he prayed to every being, that there was some way the alpha could know he needed him.

And then he realised, what if they weren’t looking for him at all? What if he wasn’t worth the aggravation? He wanted to think that Jesper would come after him but why would he? They hadn’t mated, he wasn’t technically Jesper’s omega. And what about him was worth coming after?

He’s everything to me.

He meant that. No one had ever truly been kind to him before and meant it. It was true when Jesper said it all, he knew it. But then what if they thought he’d run away? Walked out? What if Jesper thought he’d been afraid to mate with him? Or hadn’t even wanted to? Would he even be looking for him then?

The realisation sent another fresh ripple of panic through him. He still was sure he hadn’t taken in a breath, far too anxious to even function. But that was nothing to the sound of a door unlocking and footsteps following down a small set of steps. Someone was walking closer to him.

He tried his best to scrabble away, to push himself closer to the wall so small that he could disappear. But they got closer and closer nonetheless until they stopped dead ahead of him.

Time stopped once more as his brain struggled to keep up and process what was happening, beyond the fear and drowsiness.

All at once the gag was pulled from his mouth as the blindfold was shifted down to around his neck. He was in a small dark room, empty and claustrophobic. Opposite him was a huge man, an alpha, with beady black eyes and a scraggly beard. Someone he didn’t recognise a bit. He stared at Wylan for a few seconds before he eventually spoke.

“Wylan? Isn’t it?”

Wylan barely reacted, too afraid to even move. He just wanted Jesper, he wanted warm arms and his nest. The pack he was coming to love and the home that made him feel safe. He’d forgotten what it was like to live in abject terror and torture. He didn’t want to remember even a bit of it, let alone live it once more.

What if this was his old pack and this was all part of an elaborate trick? He knew their cruelty was on another plane. This would be the thing they would do before they really hurt him. It was all happening again.

“No one here is going to hurt you Wylan.”

He didn’t believe that for a second.

“This is simply a business transaction on behalf of our pack, but we won’t hurt you. You have my word on that.”

Could it be true? And what pack? Who were these people and what business transaction was he a part of?

He still didn’t say a word, far too terrified to speak or even look up at the alpha that was easily double his size.

“I’m going to get you some water and food now, you will eat. Understand?” The man was talking as though he was dumb now.

Wylan nodded once quickly.

“Good.”

The man disappeared back up the steps leaving him alone. He could hear the hustle and voices of life upstairs. It didn’t have the warm glow that the crow club did, but there was life to it. Maybe this wasn’t his old pack after all. But then why was he here?

The man returned a few minutes later, a bowl of soup and piece of bread on an old plate in one hand, glass of water in the other. He placed it down in front of him and then unshackled his hands from above him.

Wylan gingerly rubbed his wrists, the skin was raw and itchy from where they’d been hanging for some time. He hesitated, waiting for the first blow that would let him know how the rest of his time there would go. But it never came.

“Go ahead. Finish it.”

Not wanting to disobey direct orders, Wylan reached for the food and slowly started to pick it apart enough for him to get it down. He had no appetite or will to eat but he did it nonetheless. The water proved especially useful in helping him get it down.

“I often thank Ghezen I wasn’t born an omega.” The man mumbled, watching Wylan with a skeptical curiosity. “The world is a cruel place, especially to those most vulnerable. Unfortunately where profit is involved a man can’t have morals. And someone is willing to pay a pretty penny for you.”

Transaction. Someone willing to pay. Someone with money. The icy feeling crept up on him once more. He knew someone who fill that bill perfectly. But surely they wouldn’t pay for him? They’d be happy if he died outright.

Saints they knew he wasn’t dead. They knew.

What would they do to him when they got their hands on him? He supposed it would be better than being taken back to his old pack. His death would be quick and clinical, not drawn out and painful.

“For what it’s worth, it brings me no joy to do this.”

It’s all the man said as Wylan finished off the food and gulped down the water. Once he was done his hands were re-shackled above him, feeling much more sore now, but the gag and blindfold stayed off.

As the man vanished once more he felt some small semblance of peace return to him. He finally managed to take in that breath as he let his back relax against the wall. Succumbing to a sleep that lulled him in involuntarily once more.

                                ***

It had to have been hours when a woman’s heels appeared in front of him. He looked up to see her staring down at him intently, before she started speaking to another woman behind her. Wylan did his best to fully regain consciousness as he made himself as small as he could.

”It is him, so then everything is in place. We announce the auction tonight and it takes place at 23 bells tomorrow.”

”The Van Eck pack will pay?”

He hadn’t wanted to hear the name of that pack ever again. Much like Pekka Rollins’. This was it, his worst fear come to fruition. Everything he had nightmares about, even in the safety of the slat. Even curled up next to an alpha he felt protected by.

He was all alone now, and if there was an auction, his father would win. He hoped more than anything Jesper wasn’t there to see it. He didn’t want the last thing he remembered of him to be his betrayal.

”They know what is their’s to lose, he’ll be there.”

”How do you know he’ll want to buy him in a public auction?”

”He’s Van Eck’s son and heir, even as an omega he’s a legacy” She hummed at him. “You’re invaluable to him, aren’t you?”

The woman reached down as he flinched away and awaited a slap or worse. But she only reached for one of his curls and pushed it behind his ear, still making him feel uneasy and afraid.

”And our cut?”

”10%, enough for us to be out of here forever. We’ll be free Mary, you and me.”

The other woman gave him one last withering look before she strode forwards and took the arm of the other, and they both ascended out of the dingy little room.

Back there. Public auction. Kidnapped. Trapped.

He just wanted to be warm and safe and home. He just wanted the alpha he chose. The alpha who chose him. He wanted the peace and security, his fox plushie and his paints. The pack, his pack.

Jesper. Please come save me. I need you.

Chapter Text

Jesper

Jesper didn’t sleep for the second night in a row. He wasn’t sure he’d want to, let alone be able to. It didn’t feel right for him to rest while Wylan was still vulnerable out there going through who knows what. Instead he spent every moment going over each intricacy and detail of the plan, trying to preempt any failing or flaw.

He’d been sat at the kitchen table alone for a while, still also trying to figure out where he could be being held. Maybe it wouldn’t come to the auction at all if he could find him. The possibility of everything going wrong and someone being able to ‘buy’ him was sending his alpha side into overdrive. 

The auction had been announced via papers that travelled from business to business and territories alike. Everyone would know that a sought-after omega was up for sale, and that only made the likelihood of him losing Wylan all over again even greater.

He hated that this was just an accepted part of society, that omegas could be treated like this. That Wylan, who was smart and funny and brave, would always be seen as property to the very worst kinds of people just because of how he was born.

He didn’t want to think about why it was that people would want to buy him, he was tortured by thoughts of that already. But maybe that was his penance for letting this all happen in the first place. He knew there was a reason he’d never chosen an omega, and yet he’d chosen. And just like he’d feared, he was now in the position to destroy them.

It was hurried footsteps that woke him from that terrible thought, as the scent of an omega stumbling into the kitchen caught his attention. Jesper looked up, and then settled his sight back down on the table again.

“Mr Brekker asked for these.” Kuwei muttered plainly, dropping a wooden crate on the table in front of him.

“I’ll make sure he gets them.”

”Please do, he said they were urgent.”

”I said I’ll make sure.”

At that Jesper cleared his throat, he still hadn’t looked up at the omega.

Although his instincts called out for him to make sure that the omega was safe and would get back to his apartment okay, he couldn’t help but be frustrated with his presence. Nonetheless he longed for the days when Kuwei was the biggest threat to his relationship with Wylan.

“He’s still out there?”

Jesper started to chew the inside of his cheek.

“He’s going to be okay.”

“I know.” The alpha returned. “I’m getting him back.”

“I’m sure you will.”

“Is that meant to be sarcastic?” Jesper growled, dangerously low.

“No, no. I mean it.”

“Okay.”

“I do.”

“Don’t you have somewhere to be now?”

”His work was always better than mine, even now I couldn’t quite make the delivery as good as Wylan’s. I miss those days at the workstation.”

”Kuwei-“

“I saw how you used to look at him when we were in the lab. Made me feel pretty jealous. I hope someday someone loves me that much.”

Jesper only nodded, clearing his throat once more but this time to disguise a choked sob that threatened to escape him. It had been that obvious the whole time?

“I was auctioned off to the highest buyer, cruel alphas, and no one was waiting to save me from them. I’m sure that alone will mean everything to him.”

Silence. Kuwei tapped the lid of the crate, and then slowly turned to leave, trotting towards the door.

He supposed he was lucky, he was no omega but he had decided that love wasn’t something he would have. It had seemed to always be something that ran from him, and in this moment he connected with Kuwei for the first time. He even felt for him.

“Do you need me to walk you back?” Jesper asked.

“It’s okay.”

“Are you sure? It’s dangerous out there for an omega, especially at night.”

“I’ll be alright, it isn’t long. There’s something I need to do first anyway.”

As the door cracked open for him to leave Jesper sighed to himself and then finally conceded.

“Thank you. I needed to hear that.”

The omega smiled comfortingly and then disappeared from view.

Maybe he wasn’t such a bad alpha after all, he’d do whatever it took to make everything up to Wylan, he just prayed there was little to make up for. The plan had to work.

“You’re going soft.” Kaz’s voice droned out.

“I just did something nice Kaz, I don’t need your disapproval to immediately take away from it. Especially not today.”

“That’s good, I didn’t come to talk to you about that.”

“Then what?”

“Tomorrow you need to be focused, I have you on the ground because I know you can handle business there. And also because I know you won’t be anywhere but.”

“I will be.”

“Not like normal, hyper-focus, everything has to go to plan.”

“It will Kaz.”

He stopped to look at Jesper, and then the scattering of maps and papers that surrounded him. He could’ve sworn he saw something soften in those dead eyes of his.

“When we spoke last…I really have forgotten about it.”

“Me too.”

“I know what he means to you. We’ll get him back, and our revenge. I swear to you.”

“I’m sorry too.”

“I didn’t-“

“You didn’t need to. Sometimes brothers fight, but we have each other’s backs.”

“Something like that.”

A comfortable quiet settled amongst them, he realised now that this was what Kaz did for them every time they had a mission. This level of planning and time. The late hours of the morning worrying and double checking. A different kind of love altogether that was easy to miss and just as easy to forget about.

“Get some sleep. You’d be a fool to show up unprepared.”

And with that backhanded advice, he knew everything was right with them again. They were ready to be a team. And tomorrow they had two of the most dangerous alphas in the barrel on theirs.

                                      ***

The clock tower rang out at eleven bells. An ominous calling together of the inhabitants of the barrel and those just as crooked in the Geldstraat. The wind whistled creepily into any space it could find, cold and unfeeling. Shadows moved through the night, all at once and yet in an almost choreographed dance of doom. All leading towards the town square.

Jesper was already waiting, for once a black ankle length coat keeping him anonymous and unseen from his position atop an abandoned tannery. He was crouched, looking out at the whole square in bleak anticipation.

In the centre of the square, as always, was the large wooden raised platform. Built into it was the holding cell, wooden bars stretching across it and all. The captured omegas would be dragged up into the cell and then paraded around one by one until they’d all been sold every day from twelve bells.

Jesper had always stayed far away from this place, as had all of the crows. Especially Inej. But now they had no choice but to be stationed around it and ready.

The unorthodox announcement had clearly caught the barrel’s attention as many of the packs had assembled. All stood in their respective groups, awaiting the start of the ceremony. Like it was some grand event, some form of entertainment for them all. It made him want to do things his way again, but then everything they’d planned would be for nought. He forced himself to stay put, and to focus on wherever they’d be bringing Wylan out from.

He just couldn’t wait to see him again. He had the omega painted in every colour and detail imprinted in his mind, and yet it was nothing compared to the real thing. He missed Wylan’s face. Everything about him.

Time never seemed to last and yet it still dragged. Seconds felt like millennia as he waited for just a glimpse of him. Like he was in a vacuum, everything went quiet except for the sound of his own ragged breathing.

And then he saw him, his omega, his hands bound in front of him. He looked so small next to the towering men that dragged him up to the platform. And they were definitely dragging him, as though he barely knew how to stand. As though he barely knew where he even was.

He resisted every urge to break ahead and run to him. Instead planting his feet and inhaling, once, twice, three times.

They pushed Wylan up onto the stage, as all at once he could hear everything. The cheers, jeers and muttering of every person stood there and watching this unfold.

He wished he could wrap his arms around Wylan and tell him everything was going to be okay. To focus on him and not the chaos that must have been absolutely terrifying him. That he’d once promised to protect him from.

Saints Wy forgive me for not being there.

They threw Wylan into the cell, as he landed heavily, and locked the door after him. He vowed then and there that every Razorgull he ever came across would feel the wrath he had for them at that exact moment in time.

Wylan crawled to the corner of the cage just as he had his nest, but with none of the comfort. Instead burying his head in his arms that were crossed over his knees.

When he was finally able to tear his eyes away to focus on the plan, Jesper saw something unusual.

One pack stood out amongst the rest, all dressed similarly. Burgundy and gold, velvety and perfect. Every member of the pack was standing controlled and almost unblinking. They didn’t appear to be feeling anything at all, completely unbothered about being surrounded by barrel packs. A sense of superiority coating them.

The omegas were all wearing white, stood behind the other pack members. Eyes down to the floor. There was clearly one alpha. A wiry, upright looking man. Something was unnerving about him, he had the same kind of an aura that Kaz did, but colder and darker if it were somehow possible. But that wasn’t what made him seem so familiar…

A bell being rung forced Jesper’s attention back onto the disgusting spectacle in front of him, as a small woman began to shout aloud. From his distance Jesper struggled to make all of it out.

“Today…of one….omega…..sale….exchange…of property to….”

He gave up trying to hear, instead he was made to watch as Wylan was lifted from the cage by the two men and held in front of the packs. Shown off like livestock. Even from that distance he could see the whites of Wylan’s big brown eyes, that rattled him to his very core.

Focus Jesper. For him.

His eyes flickered to the Geldstraat cult-looking pack. The man, to his surprise and yet not, was wearing a look of disgust. As though all of this was beneath them despite them being present there by choice, Jesper supposed.

“Can I hear ten thousand kruge?”

The bidding had begun, as Jesper awaited the signal. The numbers kept rising, five thousand kruge at a time and then more and more. They hadn’t expected the barrel packs to actually bid, but the event seemed to have turned into a cruel competition. A show of pride and power. It made the alpha in him want to roar out in fury.

None of them knew him, deserved him. He knew what they all saw as they looked at him like a piece of meat in there. But he saw so much more, not just a person and an omega. But a whole word, solar system, universe.

Finally he heard the crow call he’d been waiting for as he flew down the steps of the building two at a time. Ready to do his part, ready to get his omega back.

Forty thousand kruge….Sixty Five Thousand Kruge.

He got to the entrance of the door and then kept his head down as he merged into the crowd. Becoming one of the hundreds, until his moment to strike.

Ninety thousand kruge, can I get one hundred thousand kruge?

Hold on Wylan, I’m almost there my love.

Inej

Inej was stood at the very opening of the ditch. She hadn’t been surprised when Kaz had told her the role she would play in the plan. He had almost tried to stop her just before, as they realised they might not have enough time to secure the safety braces, but she’d convinced him to let her anyway. She wouldn’t risk Wylan or Jesper in order to save herself. They were her pack.

One hundred and fifty thousand kruge.

She readied herself and then dropped forwards, into the hole that had been occupied by the dregs for almost a whole day now. They’d been digging for Kaz ever since he’d found out about the plans for Wylan. The space was just wide enough at this part for her to get her shoulders through, but with little room for error.

But she didn’t have time to think about that as she lay on her stomach and began to crawl through the dark tunnel. This had to go right, or else there was no chance everything would work out. Everything on the other’s parts would be for nothing.

Two hundred thousand kruge.

She loved Jesper like a brother, he was the first person who had ever been family to her since her life began in the barrel. There was little she wouldn’t do for him, and as for Wylan, she knew exactly how it felt to be in his shoes.

She remembered being dragged up into the wooden stage as she was shown off and bought by Tante Heleen. There had been no alpha to save her then, and she’d remained as far away from the place and the west stave as she could ever since. But now she fought her omega instincts to hide and run, to crawl towards danger for them both.

Almost as though she was also reaching the ghost of who she once was before all of it. That younger Inej, she was doing it for her too.

She was now making her way to the end of the tunnel, it had widened out and she was able to crawl, she kept on going. The strain in her arms and core was grating on her and her body cried out to stop, but her mind pushed her on.

Until, to her horror, she was met with the flickering of flames. Two dregs were at the end, shovelling as quickly as they could.

“Anika?” Inej called.

“Inej? Inej! I think this is rock. We can’t get through, there wasn’t time to go back.”

The plan. Jesper. Wylan. Nina. Matthias. Kaz. The auction. Her pack. Time was running out.

“Then we dig up.”

“What?”

“Dig up, now quickly!”

”We might not be far enough!”

”It doesn’t matter, hurry!”

There were no more shovels but she got to work, digging her fingernails into the dirt above. She knew they had to be careful not to collapse the space they had and suffocate them all, but they had no time to think anything through properly. All she knew was that she had to get to the stage. She couldn’t let her family down.

Nina

Two hundred and fifty thousand kruge.

Nina was leaning against a closed stall a few feet from the wooden platform. She had her arms crossed, trying to look as casual as possible. Fortunately she also had a perfect view underneath the stage. Right where Inej was supposed to be.

She was awaiting this cue, but it was taking its time. In amongst the hundreds of heartbeats she could feel packed in around her, it was her own that gripped her. Where was Inej?

Two hundred and seventy-five thousand kruge.

Everything that was happening made her skin crawl. Wylan looked so tiny, so fragile in  that cage and on the huge stage. Even though it had only been two days he seemed weathered, weaker and thinner again. From where she could see him he had a few injuries that she could clean up easily but she feared for his mind. Jesper’s too.

She looked across for Matthias, desperate for the comfort he always offered her but to no avail. She’d have to comfort herself. Instead she focused on Wylan and looked out for Inej, willing her to appear as she so often did when they needed her.

“Fools, why would they try to outbid us? Anyone with common sense would know the idiot wasn’t worth paying ten kruge for.”

Nina turned into the sea of red and gold beside her, some kind of mercher pack clearly. The twisted traditions they had on full display, and yet still they seemed to sneer on the rest of them. This man had been bidding throughout, and so this statement threw her off entirely.

“Shall we just finish this? You know we could, and then we’ll deal with the boy once and for all.”

Her skin crawled once more, whatever happened Nina just knew this man could never get his hands on Wylan. She prayed Inej would surface soon. And that was when she felt the sudden pull from somewhere. Something so familiar. That feeling. A heart-render, somewhere, warning her. Unless she found them, she was a sitting duck.

Matthias

Matthias knew his job was one of the most important, he had the omega that worked with Wylan’s flash bangs in hand ready to go. They were nowhere near as good as Wylan’s, both he and Kaz had tested them out a few hours before and instead of twenty five seconds, they had ten.

Three hundred thousand kruge.

He needed Nina to stop the hearts of the guards, and then he’d be ready to throw the flash bangs and carry the omega back to safety with Inej and Jesper covering him. He was closest to Kaz and the dregs, awaiting the signal to run up and grab him.

Matthias never liked fighting much anymore, he was good at it yes, but when you realise you have been fighting for the wrong thing for your entire life it left a bitter taste in his mouth to do it. Let alone half of what Brekker wanted to do, he was no criminal either.

But Wylan had reminded him of that. The boy had been so innocent and pure, he wished he’d had the chance to grow up like that also. Betas were so expendable, foot soldiers or gang members. Either way just tools for a greater cause than them. Until Nina.

He knew that love that could change everything you were, and so his heart ached for Jesper. They’d never been close, but he understood him. And despite not being an alpha he was protective of the omega, they’d all accepted him as theirs, it was like he was already part of the pack. And they all could feel the loss of that.

Four hundred thousand kruge.

They would no longer be able to pay their way out of this either, it was the plan or nothing. And Nina’s signal hadn’t arrived. Matthias risked a quick look at the bottom of the stage but saw no sign of Inej. If something had gone wrong they had no chance now. And so they had nothing to lose, Matthias crept back towards Kaz. Easily making his way through the crowd until he reached the man who barely looked at him.

“Kaz, Inej isn’t here. This isn’t going to work.”

“She’ll be here.” He answered.

Five hundred thousand kruge.

“Kaz, we need to move soon, only three packs are bidding now.”

“We wait for the signal.”

Matthias huffed, the slightest ounce of worry stretching its way across his forehead.

“I hope you’re right Dejmin.”

One million kruge.

Kaz

Kaz hadn’t told the others, but he knew Jan Van Eck would win the bidding war. He knew that none of the spectators would have the money to outbid him, and so his pack would always win. That was a variable they didn’t need to consider.

He hadn’t expected Inej to be the one to falter in their plans, but he had of course prepared for extenuating circumstances.

“Kaz?” Matthias hissed.

He knew it was important to stay level headed, unlike the others he found it easy to compartmentalise. But that didn’t count for much when the feelings shared by the entire pack were spread to him. He felt their anxiety, fear and desperation. As much as he tried to resist they were seeping into him too.

Going once, going twice, sold.

“Dejmin? What are we going to do?”

Without hesitation, Kaz stepped forwards past Matthias, out of the crowd, and watched as attention shifted to him. He knew Wylan would see him, that was a small part of the reason he’d chosen this plan.

“I request the chance to sell, myself.” Kaz declared.

“Sell? Sell who? This isn’t part of the plan?”

Kaz ignored him.

“Very well, we see no reason why not.” The lady announcing replied, clearly delirious at the money she’d just accrued.

”What about my purchase?” Jan Van Eck boomed.

”Collections happen after the auction has ended and the deeds have been written.”

Wylan was tugged away by his bonds and thrown back into his wooden prison. At the same time someone began to write up the deeds of omega ownership, the very thing that would tie Wylan to the buyer pack. Invaluable and the only copy that existed yet. He knew the Kerch were fond of law.

All meanwhile Kuwei made his way through the dregs to stand beside him.

“This omega here, male, Shu, rare.”

The woman who was orchestrating the auction smiled down at him. She held up ten fingers, which he knew to mean ten percent commission. Fair. And so he nodded subtly in response.

“You’ve heard the man, I have here a fine…”

The guards had climbed down off the stage and were headed for Kuwei. Kaz didn’t look at him as he was pulled up to the stage by the thick rope that was tied around his hands.

“Kaz what are you doing? We don’t do this? Kaz?”

“Enough.” Kaz replied.

He was waiting.

With one glance across the square he knew that plan B was in place.

“Enough.”

“Can I hear five thousand kruge to begin?”

And then his omega appeared.

“Now.” He announced.

Jesper

Jesper was now in the middle of the crowd. He had been waiting for the first signal which still hadn’t come, his pistols clutched tightly in his fingers under the black coat as he pinpointed his target that he’d spotted from the top of the tannery. Any longer and he was sure he would break the guns that had to be straining in his grip.

Wylan was right there, he was there but he couldn’t do anything yet. He couldn’t help him. Couldn’t let him know he was there. All he could do was wait.

I’m here Wylan. I’m here, we’re going to take you back where you belong. I’m here.

Finally he saw a flash of blue from underneath the stage as his heart settled. He took one last look at Wylan, knowing it wouldn’t be long now, and then raised his pistol to shoot. He barely even looked up. The heartrender crumpled instantly.

Twenty thousand kruge.

Inej appeared at the base of the stage. In a flash she had climbed up silently, before suddenly appearing behind the woman who was clutching the ownership deeds, ready to deliver to the mercher pack. In mere seconds she had knocked her out and had triggered a pre-positioned wire that let her ascend to the roofs that welcomed her back. And no one would catch her there…or the only copy of the deeds that were tucked into her pocket.

At the same time Nina had incapacitated the guards, they’d fallen to the ground clutching at their chests in agony. He knew that Rotty had been told to stand watch over Nina, and he hadn’t been sure why. He knew Nina could hold her own, but then he’d seen him start to bid on Kuwei and it had all made sense.

He didn’t know what he’d have said if Kaz had told him about this secret plan to use Kuwei as a distraction. But he was pretty sure that for Wylan, he’d do anything.

As panic erupted from the crowd and bodies  dragged him forwards and then back against his will. Jostling him, poking him, jabbing him. He tried to fight them, desperate to be closer to Wylan who was still up on the platform, locked in the cage. He tried to push forwards, finally seeing a crack of light in amongst the bodies as he lunged for it and broke into a less dense area.

Matthias was also fighting his way towards the stage, getting closer than he was. He didn’t care who got there first or how, so long as someone was getting him out of there and far away.

He’d make sure the omega was settled and bite him as soon as he could, claiming him and keeping him safe from the other packs for as long as he wanted that bite to be there. Which he hoped Wylan would want to be forever. No one would be able to separate them again after that.

To more hysterical screams and his own shock, a blaze raged up on stage. Blanketing their vision once more, until it burnt away and Kuwei was left onstage, no longer tied by the rope. He could see him getting to work on the wooden bars, charring them as they started to give way.

Wylan was only a few feet ahead of him. He was trembling, looking out as though he was waiting for him to come, hoping.

“Wylan!” He shouted, he knew it was no use though.

He just kept fighting against the swarm, surging closer and closer. He could see his omega, he could see Wylan, he was so close. The alpha wanted his omega, he could feel it, he would do anything now to reach him, to hold him again.

And then their eyes met.

Merged once more. Grey and brown, familiar and comforting. From there Jesper could see dark rings around his tired brown eyes. A cut across his lip and a swelling black eye, but still a perfect smile on his face at seeing the alpha. It lit his heart ablaze as every atom of his body reached closer to be with his omega once more. 

Wylan started to cry aloud, he could see his mouth moving, calling for him. Jesper was so close and shouting his name back. This time he would answer those calls.

He wrested to now only two feet away, close to the bottom of the stage. The alpha no longer had eyes on Matthias but could see the light in Wylan’s eyes as he reached it. Kuwei burned the last board away, as the now free omega rushed out. Jesper was leaning up for Wylan’s hand to help him down and make their break for it back to the crow club. Matthias would get Kuwei. He couldn’t see his pack but he could feel them close by, no doubt watching to make sure they would get away.

His hand still reached. Their fingers were so close, just inches apart…

When suddenly time stopped again. Jesper felt his legs tremble and then give way beneath him, betraying him as he fell to the floor.

“Jesper! Jesper! No, no, Jesper please! Just let me check he’s okay! Please! No! No! Jesper! Jesper help me! Jesper!”

He heard Wylan’s cries but he couldn’t move. He was on his back, staring up into the painted night sky of Ketterdam. On any other day he might’ve even called it beautiful. But now he fought to look away from it and back up at Wylan. To no use, as he felt his consciousness slipping away, as much as he wanted to stand and fight. He could barely keep his eyes open. Just finally hearing one last thing before he slipped away.

“Hello pretty, did you miss us?”

Chapter Text

Wylan

He had only just started to regain consciousness as he realised that Jesper’s fingers had been inches from his own.

All he could recall was being dragged through the street, hearing numbers being called that went far higher than anything he’d expected. He’d wanted to hear Jesper’s voice, or any of the crows but he’d heard none. Just the ringing that wouldn’t stop.

And then he heard a voice that sent chills down his spine and back. Silky smooth, yet cold and calculated. Meticulous and foreboding. Sobering. His father. He’d managed to look out through the wooden bars of his cage to see him there. The whole of his first pack, in all their superior glory. He was sure he hadn’t looked at his son though, not once. None of them had. When he heard ‘a million’ he wondered whether he’d get a quick death or a painful one. Would he even ever leave the square?

He wanted to know where Jesper was. Had he watched any of that, did he care? Did he realise who he’d once belonged to? Was he ashamed? Angry? Would he still want to come after him?

And then he’d recognised the equally powerful, icy tone of the Bastard of the Barrel, and immediately he’d felt the weight of his impending fate be lifted from him. Everything seemed to still for a moment. The crows were here. His new pack was going to rescue him. They were going to take him home at last.

He’d felt the world become sharper and clearer, the ringing in his ears ceased and he could start to form coherent thoughts. He was finally done with this ordeal, Jesper would claim him and he’d have an alpha and pack that would never let anything like this happen again. Maybe he could live a long life, a happy one, even as an omega in the barrel. Maybe he was safe now.

Jesper’s fingers had been inches from his own.

And then scarily familiar tree trunks of arms wrapped around him like vines. Dragging him back away from happiness once more. Quickly and all at once, he was losing everything again. He met the face of Miggson, sneering at him, through skin that was mottled and bright pink. One of his eyes was swollen permanently shut, as he recognised his own handiwork.

Below him he finally caught sight of Jesper’s face, peering up over the stage and calling out to him. Before he could warn him though, Pekka’s menacing stare appeared from behind his alpha. Then he could only watch as Jesper collapsed.

“Jesper! Jesper! No, no, Jesper please! Just let me check he’s okay! Please! No! No! Jesper!”

Blind hot panic swept him all at once, he had no idea what Pekka had done to him or what he’d do now. He kicked out against Prior, struggling and scratching all he could, the most he’d remembered ever fighting against the trio. But there was no use, Jesper was all alone down there and he couldn’t do anything to help him.

He was surrounded by the alphas that had made the last few years of his life hell. A prison that he’d only just escaped and was now back in the clutches of. His stomach churned and the breath caught in his throat as the reality of his situation settled in.

These were the worst men he’d ever come across, even worse than his father. They had him. They were going to hurt him. As badly as they could. And then who knew what else. He’d never see the crows again, or Jesper. This was how it all ended.

“Hello pretty did you miss us?” Miggson chuckled. “Look at me. You did this, you are-“

“Not now Miggson. Take him back to the room by the Sweet Shop. Quickly. They can’t know we were here.”

Suddenly the boom of a bomb rang out, before smoke started to billow in front of them, blanketing all of them from sight. He recognised the unpredictability, the slight blue hue to the smoke. Kuwei.

And then everything went black.

                                  ***

Just like before, everything felt timeless. He’d been floating and now he was back. Like he’d been flying and was now falling down to earth. As much as he wished he wasn’t. He remembered everything that had happened and he knew exactly where he would be and who with. He decided to keep his eyes shut tight.

He was so close to home. He’d almost touched it. How could this be happening to him again? Why did he deserve this? Why couldn’t they just leave him alone? Why wasn’t he supposed to be happy? 

For the first time in a long time, Wylan wanted to fight back. He had been so close to everything he’d ever wanted, he didn’t know if they’d hurt Jesper. He didn’t even know if he was alive. But, Ghezen forbid, he wasn’t? They had done this. They’d taken everything again. For the first time he wasn’t ashamed, or frightened or accepting. Wylan was angry.

He wanted to struggle, break something, hurt them back, but he realised he couldn’t move his arms or his legs. He heard the clanking of chains, and realised he was on an old blanket atop a stone cold floor. It was dark, with a few shards of light escaping through the window that he could see through his eyelashes. But worse than all that, he felt eyes on him that he couldn’t see, making his skin crawl as he fought against his bonds. Finally opening his eyes.

“The mutt is awake at last.”

“You look very pretty now, they’ve been feeding you up have they? Skins all shiny and brand new for us again. Just in time for me to make you pay for this.”

“In good time Miggson. For now we want hear all about your little trip. All about Brekker.”

Wylan was trembling, his breath was uneven and short, he tried to mask it but he could barely think straight. His mind could barely comprehend that he was back here, back at the mercy of his old pack once more. It was then that he felt his old collar clamped around his neck as the first jolt of electricity ran through him.

“You’re going to tell us all about it aren’t you, you little whore?”

Wylan’s body warred against him as his limbs contorted and he yelped aloud.

“What’s the matter? Fahey give it to you good? You wouldn’t have been the only one I’ve heard, you’re not special.”

“What does Dirtyhands know about us? What’s his next move?”

The collar stopped.

Wylan took a deep breath, and summoned every ounce of strength he had left as he mustered up an actual reply.

“I won’t tell you anything.”

“Our little puppy’s grown some fangs boys.”

They laughed at him, as Pekka leaned down by his head and grabbed him by the jaw, forcing his mouth open.

“All the more fun for us.” Miggson laughed.

“Come on omega, give it up and we’ll make this as quick and painless as we can. A fond farewell, if you will.”

Wylan allowed his eyes to absorb some of the fear he was feeling, he let the trembling hold his body, as Pekka started to grin and relax his grip at the sight of it.

“What is Dirtyhands planning?”

Without letting himself overthink it, Wylan pulled his jaw away and then clamped his teeth down hard into the flesh of Pekka’s hand. He roared, trying to pull it away but only tearing his skin more. The omega just sunk his teeth in further before he felt a sharp pain in his wrist and screamed out loud, releasing Pekka’s mangled hand.

“You little fucking shit.”

He slapped him, but Wylan couldn’t feel it in comparison to his now broken wrist.

“Do what you want with him, make sure he talks. And then this time we do what we should’ve done from the beginning and finish him off for good.”

Pekka kicked him in the side as Wylan keeled over and tried to catch his breath.

“Maybe we’ll send the crows your head. That way they can get their fangs back and all.”

And then he was gone. Leaving him with Miggson and Prior. Bound and alone. Wylan whimpered, trying to scrabble away but Miggson got to him first. He felt the body weight of the larger man on top of him, crushing him, before the sensation of him pinning him down by his wrists. Even the broken one as he screamed again.

“You did this to me, little omega. I’m stuck like this for life now. You’re lucky that this will only last a little while.”

“Then he’s mine, I haven’t been able to use the poker or the whip in a while. Just the thought of it is getting my blood flowing you little fucker. You really thought we’d just let you go? You were done with this?” Prior taunted.

Hands tugged at his clothes as Wylan felt his body writhe and struggle underneath him. But no matter how hard he tried he couldn’t do anything.

”And then he’s mine again, it’s been a while we could go a few rounds.”

“You’re nothing, just a little toy for your real alphas. You think Fahey cares about you? Where is he? Where is your pathetic alpha now whore? You’re ours. You’ll die ours.”

He just tried to push his mind as far from this place as he could.

And endure once more.

                                ***

Jesper

Jesper woke up in his own bed. His eyes snapped open and he shot up as the memories flooded in.

Just inches away from reaching Wylan.

Wylan.

He went to throw his blanket off of him when a strong hand held him in place.

“Nina told me to make sure you didn’t get up until she’d checked you out.” Matthias immediately pressed.

“Wylan? Did you get to him? Is he here?”

The solemn look on the Fjerdan’s face was enough to tell him that he wasn’t.

“We need to find him. They have him. Pekka. We need to go now they have him somewhere, who knows what they’ll do to him, we need to go now.”

“Patience Jesper, there’s-“

“Patience? Do you know what they used to do to him? I don’t even know half of it but I know that we need to go now!”

He’d been so frustrated and one track minded that he hadn’t noticed the figure hanging around in the corner of the room. Inej stood, eyes to the floor, the stench of a troubled omega hanging thickly in the air.

“Inej?” He mumbled, calming slightly.

“You’ve been out for hours, we were all worried.”

“I’m fine. Sorry. I am fine. I was just so close to him.” He’d aimed that last part at Matthias who looked equally as guilty and torn up.

”You’re hurt. Sit back.”

He’d failed Wylan again. Again. This was why he shouldn’t have had his own omega. Just look at what he’d done. Wylan could’ve had a whole new life somewhere else with someone better but he’d been selfish and now everything had gone just as he’d expected. 

“It’s my fault. I should’ve been faster, more prepared. Everything that they do to him-“ he stifled a sob at that. “It’s on me.”

“Once you’re done wallowing we can get back to business.” Kaz’s voice cut through the room.

He was followed in by Nina who shot him a sympathetic look as she hurried over and started to heal her fellow pack member. Matthias watching as she worked, rubbing a hand over her shoulder gently.

He’d lost that. He’d never even gotten the chance to get that close to Wylan. And now he never would, they’d hurt and kill him. That would be how everything ended for him and it was all on him. He’d have to live with it forever, as he should. He was hurting right that second and there was nothing he could do.

“He’s gone Kaz.”

”Jesper-“

”He’s really gone.”

“He isn’t gone. We made sure of it.”

Jesper’s heart lurched in his chest. The fluttering of hope just settling in. He knew Kaz wouldn’t say something like that without meaning it. Could there be a plan? Some idea of where Wylan was being held? Why weren’t they doing it now?

“What do you mean?” He asked shakily.

“Do you think I’d send my wraith into that much danger just as a signal to Nina?” He asked.

Inej shifted in the corner of the room, catching Kaz’s eye and lingering there for a moment longer than either of them seemed to expect.

“The tunnel wasn’t ready when I got there but we managed to get through to the bottom of the stage. When I was there I was waiting, and when Pekka’s pack got to Wylan I managed to coat the bottom of their shoes in bioluminescent ink.” She stated.

Jesper’s mind flickered back to the previous night when he’d been working on the plans for Wylan’s rescue. Kuwei had brought a crate with him. Inej wasn’t just there as a signal. Kaz had been prepared for all of it. Ten steps ahead as always.

“So why aren’t we going? We should follow it now before they can do…” he trailed off, trying to keep his mind away from those thoughts.

“We have to wait until dark, or we won’t be able to see it. But when we do we have to move quickly, if there was still ink when they made it back to wherever they’re holding Wylan they’ll realise what we’ve done.”

“And then they’ll try to move the lamb again. We won’t stand a chance of getting him back?” Matthias questioned, as Kaz nodded his head.

“One chance.” Nina muttered sadly, from her red eyes she’d clearly been crying over Wylan’s fate. “For our omega.”

”Why didn’t you use normal paint and we could go to him now?” Jesper cried as Matthias tried to steady him again.

”It would’ve shown up and they’d know our plan.” Inej cut in.

“Once we find him, you have to bite him Jesper.” Kaz announced.

Bite him? After all of this?

“I know what we said before, but a lot will have changed after this Kaz. I don’t want to hurt him any more-“

“It’s non-negotiable. If we want him to stay with us and we take down Pekka once and for all you have to bite him.”

Jesper inhaled deeply, it felt wrong to even consider it now. Their conversation about the claiming bite felt as though it had happened years ago. Wylan could be different when they found him, maybe he wouldn’t want an alpha who couldn’t protect him anymore. Or he’d be too fragile after…all of it. It was too much to happen so quickly. Kaz seemed to notice his hesitance though.

“I understand Jesper. But it has to be done. Or they’ll take him to the winning bidder. If he’s bitten by law they can’t take him.”

It was more gentle than he’d expected, but once he’d heard Kaz say it like that he knew he had to do it. If it saved Wylan, and meant his old pack could never hurt him again, he’d have to consider it.

He nodded once, and then relaxed as Nina finally finished healing his legs and stopped his head aching like crazy.

“Who bought him?”

“It was a mercher pack wasn’t it? I was close to them, it looked more like a cult than a pack though.” Nina scoffed.

“Why would a mercher pack want Wylan?” Inej questioned.

The silence was loud as they all turned to Kaz.

“I don’t know.”

“How long until dark?” Jesper pushed impatiently.

“A few more hours. Inej will go first as our best tracker, and then we all follow.”

He felt something light up in the pack bond between them all. Like a spark of understanding. Of hope. They all wanted to get to Wylan, they all knew they had a role to play and the tension between them all was palpable. And yet it felt strong, and united and powerful. They were getting their omega back…the question that remained unasked was in what state?

                                     ***

When the first signs of night taking control showed, the pack was ready to go. Jesper had recovered fully, although he hadn’t even realised. He’d spent every second worried sick, picturing the very worst things and trying to distract himself.

The air around them was thick and heavy, chilly and harsh. As if they knew, the streets were already quiet and emptying out. They knew that the stadwatch were out, still looking for the ‘stolen’ omega who had been purchased. He wanted more than anything to hope that they’d find him, but if they got to him first he’d be lost all over again, and who knew what the mercher pack would want with him?

Inej went ahead as they reached the stage at the town square. Moving as a pack, all trying their best to remain unseen and unbothered. As they got to the stage the memory of Wylan struggling against the arms of one of Pekka’s alphas hit him. He saw the fear in his eyes every time he closed his own, the look haunted him.

“Focus Jesper.” Kaz urged. “There’s no time for that.”

Immediately Jesper snapped out of the trance he realised he’d been in and tried to focus on Inej who was waiting for the dark to overtake enough light for them to find the trail to Wylan.

He allowed himself to finally let hope creep in. This could be it, it could be the chance to finally bring him home. For all of it to be over at last. It was on the horizon now.

We’re so close Wylan, I promise I’ll get you home after this. Hold on just a little longer.

“There!” Nina cried, pointing ahead as the first footprint started to light up on the ground ahead. Then another. And another.

Inej was on the trail right away, climbing up one of the old houses to get a better view from higher ground as they all followed. Jesper took off, sprinting faster than he knew he was capable of.

“Jesper! Wait! Inej!”

But they’d already taken off too fast for the others. He knew they would wait for Kaz, he had to follow the footsteps and Inej, as quickly as he could. He just wanted to hold his omega and promise he’d never let go again. He wouldn’t fail him this time.

The streets flew by, houses and lampposts all blurring into one as Jesper kept running. The two trails of footsteps leading him towards the west stave. Inej was ahead of him but only by a little, but he realised she’d started to slow as they got closer and closer to the pleasure houses.

“Inej!” He called up to her, watching as her head snapped back to him. “You’ve done enough, I’ll go on.”

“Not alone! I’ll get the others they won’t be far behind!” She half-whispered, half-shouted.

“There’s no time! Just find them!”

He knew Inej had already freed all those omegas from the pleasure houses, he didn’t want to have to demand anything more from her, especially after all she’d already done. Besides this was his fight, and he couldn’t lose when the stakes were so high. The only omega, the only man he’d ever let in. Everything.

Before she could protest, Jesper flew into the west stave…and Dime Lion territory. The footsteps were starting to fade now, almost to the point that they were barely visible. It had slowed the alpha down as he had to keep his eyes on the floor. Missing one clue could change everything. The presence of stadwatch and dime lions did help him though, he knew he had to be in the right area.

He kept following what he could find, keeping to the shadows as best he could. Even if it wasn’t his style. He hid whenever the dime lions or stadwatch got too close, trying to be as stealthy but quick as possible. But as the amount of dime lions posted around got greater and greater he knew he was so close. Until he noticed a speck of bright blue coming from underneath an old rickety door to a tiny apartment. Just by the sweet shop itself.

It had to be it.

Jesper breathed in, once, twice, three times. He was wedged behind a sign on the opposite side of the street. Posted by the door were a man and woman, both armed with knives and a gun. He knew they wouldn’t want any stadwatch sniffing around, so the gun wasn’t an option. For either of them. Which left the knives. He could manage that.

Summoning all the alpha strength he could, Jesper took one last breath in and then flew out into the street like a madman possessed. The element of surprise stopped the two dime lions for long enough for him to land a heavy blow to the side of the man’s head as he slumped to the ground in an instant. The woman kicked out at his leg, almost making him buckle and fall but Jesper regained his balance in the nick of time. The woman went to finish him but Jesper landed a blow to her throat, leaving her gasping for air as she stumbled back and he knocked her out too.

He rushed over to the door, trying to yank it open only to find it locked. Once again he had to focus his mind as he instinctually pulled a coin from his pocket and held it in his hands. To his own surprise he felt it shift quicker than he ever had, and as he opened his fists he saw a fully formed key. He pressed it into the lock, relieved as it clicked open, and then flew in. Locking the door behind him.

The apartment was tiny, with only a few inches of extra room on either side of him. Just a corridor going ahead, leading to one room, and a staircase heading up to what he assumed was another small room. It was dark and dingy, paint scraped off the walls and scratches carved into the bannisters of the stairs. As though it had been abandoned for a long time.

And then the scent hit him.

Terrified, hopeless and in pain.

But familiar.

Wylan.

His omega.

The alpha in him tore up the stairs, pushing him onwards regardless of the danger. He was met with another door and the scents of two alphas. Two. His chances weren’t great, but he had the element of surprise and the rage to finally see this through. Baring his teeth, Jesper slammed the door open.

Immediately he realised someone had been waiting for him next to the door. As he stumbled in a thin wire was wrapped  around his neck. He was held back as the other alpha appeared in front of him. Face disfigured and pink. Miggson. The man’s belt was undone and hanging from his trousers. It turned Jesper’s blood cold.

Summoning a new strength Jesper changed the wire into a thread that snapped as he pulled it away from his neck with two fingers. As the rest of it landed on the ground he recognised the weapon as a  whip, further enraged, he kicked back at Prior who he knew was behind him. He’d aimed right for the crotch and the slow groan he heard told him he’d found his target.

With Prior down he lunged forwards at Miggson. The man was strong, and as Jesper pushed him back against the wall he felt him fighting back.

The gunslingers hands found their way to his throat as he pushed into his windpipe, cutting off any air he had. He watched in satisfaction as the man turned red and then purple. Choking, trying to beg as his hands tried to find Jespers face. But to no use. He heard the wheezes of final breaths as someone grabbed him from behind and threw him to the ground. Miggson coughed loudly in relief.

Prior tried to get to Miggson but Jesper was prepared, he kicked his legs out from under him as Prjor landed on his face next to him. Groaning again, he turned, ready to pounce on Jesper and land a shot off but Jesper had already pulled out the knife he’d stolen from the dime lion earlier. He’d aimed for Prior’s eye. And he never missed.

The man toppled to the ground, rigid and still.

He hadn’t been ready for Miggson’s roar, no doubt feeling the severing of one of his fellow alphas from his pack. The cry was shrill and haunting, Jesper might even have regretted it if he didn’t know what a monster the man was.

The rage had filled him though as Miggson swung and only just missed Jesper’s jaw. They’d both gotten to their feet, as Jesper went to retrieve his knife but was pulled back. He struggled, but the other alpha was strong too and managed to overpower him. Sending him flying into and through the door. Jesper choked, feeling winded as he tried to stand but felt a kick sending him flying down the steps. He felt each one as he fell, hearing a sickening cracking noise coming from his body as he did. Luckily the adrenaline blocked it out, but it didn’t stop him laying there unable to move for a few seconds.

“You don’t want him anymore. Trust me. This time we got him real good. Even you wouldn’t touch the little slut now.”

Jesper tried to argue but his mouth was filing with blood that he tried to spit out.

“First Prior gave him the beating of a lifetime. Every inch of that porcelain skin, cracked and ugly. Burnt and untouchable. He’s not so pretty now.”

Miggson was walking down the steps closer and closer to him.

“He screamed and begged but we didn’t listen. We always liked it when he did, he has such a pretty voice don’t you think?”

He had reached him, and raised a foot over his head. The paint still faintly shining in the darkness.

“I made him sing real good when it was my turn. Did you fuck him Fahey? I bet you didn’t get what I got out of him, such a good time our little whore is isn’t he?”

Jesper screamed in rage as the foot came down on his throat, crushing his windpipe instead now.

“Even if we wanted to give him to you, you think Van Eck would let him live with you like a pet? He’d kill him within the day. The stupid spineless, pathetic little nobody. That’s who you’d die for? He isn’t anything but a hole for people like us, it’s what omegas were made for. It’s just the way things are. He’s property, but not yours.  Don’t worry, we’ll let him know about you so he can mourn though. Then we’ll have our fun with him until he finally joins you too.”

Jesper screamed, feeling the fury build within him as he ripped himself up from the ground, sending Miggson flying. He flew to his feet and jumped on top of the other alpha, starting to land fists at the mess of Miggson’s face. Again and again and again as he just laughed. Until the laughter died out, and Jesper kept landing punches.

That was until he felt arms pulling him away as he turned to fight them too but saw the worried face of Nina.

“Enough. He’d gone, enough Jesper.” Nona muttered, defying her alpha to stop him.

Jesper felt his head clear, they were dead. Not Pekka. Pekka wasn’t here. But Wylan. Wylan?

He ran up the stairs two at a time until he found himself by the empty doorway. There on the floor was the broken body of a tiny omega. Wylan’s hair was sticky and blood-soaked, as were his clothes. The skin he could see skin was turning a deep purple, or had been burned hot red and black. His wrist was at unnatural angle, that was only what he could see. The sight was enough to make Jesper start to sob aloud.

He gently rolled Wylan onto his back, cradling him in his arms as he pushed his hair back and carefully held his face with his free hand.

“Wylan?”

Nothing.

“Wylan?” Jesper pleaded, holding his broken omega in his arms and crying. “Please Wylan wake up.”

Nothing.

”I need you Wylan, I love you. Please wake up omega. Please Wylan. Wake up. Wake up.”

Suddenly a low wheeze came from deep in his chest, as the omega stirred and familiar brown eyes fluttered open to meet his.

“Hello Wy, I’m so sorry, I’m here omega. I’m here Wylan, I’m here now.”

He rubbed his bony shoulder, waiting for Wylan to reach up and hug him in his own time so he could cling onto the smaller man at last.

But nothing.

Wylan didn’t even react.

“Wylan? Sweetheart?”

“I-“

“Yes?”

“I’m s-sorry s-sir.”

“What?”

“I-I’ll be g-good n-ow.”

Jespers heart sunk to the bottom of his stomach. His chest tightened and he couldn’t breathe. This couldn’t be happening again.

“Wylan it’s me? It’s Jesper.”

“S-sorry…” 

“No don’t be sorry. Nina? You can fix this right? Wylan it’s me.”

Nina only looked at him in horror as the others started hurrying up the steps. He couldn’t hear but he was sure that she was filling them in as he felt tears running down his cheeks and his pack entered the room. Jesper only stared down at the glassy eyes that had once been so kind and soft. There was nothing there, no recognition, no life, no Wylan.

Nothing.

“Jesper you have to bite him now.”

“He doesn’t know who I am.”

“It doesn’t matter.”

“Kaz he can’t-“

“He has to!”

Loud banging suddenly rang out at the door to the place as the whole room shook.

“Stadwatch! Open up now!”

“Jes now! Quick!”

“You have to!”

“We can try and get them out of here?”

“In this state? He has to bite him or they’ll take all of us.”

He couldn’t think. Wylan was just as he’d been when he found him. What if he didn’t remember him? What if he didn’t remember anything? What if he could never be the Wylan he’d known again? Even now he’d been too late, he’d failed. They’d hurt him, they’d done the worst things you could do to a person. To his Wylan. He just wanted to help but how could he now when he meant nothing to him again?

“Jepser they’re going to get through now.”

“It has to be now!”

”Bite him!”

He couldn’t bite him like this. He couldn’t claim him like this, it was wrong. He couldn’t do that to him. It made him feel sick to his stomach.

“Jesper they’re in!”

“Please!”

”Do it now!”

“Wylan?”

Chapter Text

Jesper

Jesper was pacing around the room at a mile a minute. He was still struggling to process everything. It had all happened so fast and he felt as though he’d been a witness to it more than anything. Only now was the dust starting to settle. Although it felt more like ashes.

He felt something he hadn’t felt in such a long time. He felt like his chest was physically aching, his palms sweating and his breathing still hitched in his throat. He couldn’t stop the overwhelming feeling of failure and grief that consumed him. It had  already been threatening to take him, but now it had a suffocating grip on him.

His heart had been broken into thousands of tiny pieces that he didn’t want or have the strength to put back together again yet.

The only time he recalled feeling like that had been when he’d lost his ma. And ever since he’d shied away from having to feel it ever again. From any chance of loving like that again. Losing a pack member, let alone losing a parent felt like losing a limb. An extension of yourself. But Wylan had started to feel like another half of him that he hadn’t known was missing. Only for it to also be taken away.

On top of all that he’d made a decision that would shape the rest of their lives. A decision he didn’t know if Wylan would thank him for or not, if there was any of his omega left at all. 

Suddenly the door swung open to his room and Nina tiptoed out. Jesper hadn’t even realised he’d stopped dead still, waiting in heavy anticipation for her answer.

“He’s stable.” She mumbled softly, as Jesper sighed in relief.

“He’s okay? What about his wrist? Is everything sorted now or does he still need more help? Do we need another healer? Kaz said-“

“Easy, woah. You’re bonded now Jesper, you need to calm down. He’ll be feeling all of this otherwise. He’s okay for now.”

His back hit the wall as he slid down onto the floor and held his head in his hands.

At least he was physically okay, he’d recover from this. His body would anyway.

Nina joined him, squeezing his knee comfortingly.

“I’m so sorry.”

He tried to follow her advice, he didn’t want any of this to seep into Wylan’s psyche. He’d suffered enough without Jesper’s mess of an emotional system making him any worse. But it was hard.

I failed him. If his mind is lost forever it’s my own fault. I never should’ve left him, I never should’ve let this all get this far. I knew I’d let him down. You did this Jesper. This is on you.

“Did he wake up?”

“Once. But he was the same.” She admitted softly. “It doesn’t mean he’s gone forever though.”

”Do you think he’ll come back?”

”I don’t know.”

”I let him down.”

”No, don’t do this to yourself. You have to hold it together, I know it’s so hard but he needs you.”

“I bit him. I don’t know if he wanted me to or he even knows who I am…I’ve ruined everything. What kind of alpha does that make me? He doesn’t need me.”

If he ever recovers you need to let him go. You can’t do this to him again. He deserves so much better. You failed him.

“You saved him Jes, it was a hard decision but you made it. You are an amazing alpha and Wylan is lucky to have you, you’ve never given up on any of us. Even Kaz. You never gave up on Wylan. Why does it sound like you are now?”

“What if he wants me to?”

“I can’t say if he does or not, but I saw how much he grew with you. He became a whole different person, you both did. I can’t say for you, but I know that that’s how I’d describe Matthias and I. And look at us.”