Sometime in the early hours of the morning, Erik was jolted awake by a soft knock on his door. He expected to find Utgar, but instead it was Anatoly. The old man looked rather panicked, his expression one of dread and uncertainty.

“My Lord, I must speak with you. I fear it is urgent.”

Erik pulled the door open, allowing the doctor to enter.

“It’s Ariyan, Lord Alpha. I’ve taken care of him as best I can, but… I cannot heal what ails him now.”

“What’s wrong with him?” Erik asked, dropping into the only chair in the room.

“He is… in heat,” Anatoly replied.

Erik frowned. “Have you no herbs to give him?” Erik’s sister used to take a concoction their mother mixed in order to suppress her heat. Erik knew little about the ways of an Omega, but he knew that a heat right now, under these circumstances, was dangerous. There were nine other Alphas on onboard, and Ariyan’s scent would be enough to drive them mad.

“Several of my supplies were destroyed during the chain of storms. There isn’t enough to make a full dose.” Anatoly wrung his hands, clearly nervous about what he was going to say next. “My Lord, I know things between you and Ariyan have not settled, but the heat… it is unbearable. You must attend to him. As his Alpha, you are the only one who can provide him relief.”

Erik considered the doctor’s words, wondering what Ariyan had to say about this. Anatoly must have read his thoughts, because he answered the question immediately.

“Ariyan is too far gone to resist you. Once the heat overtakes him, he will submit willingly and… with great fervor.” Anatoly cleared his throat, averting his gaze as he asked the next question. “Have you… ever experienced a heat cycle with an Omega, Lord Alpha.”

Erik shook his head. “No. The risk of a child is too great.”

It sounded arrogant, but Erik’s seed was too precious to waste on a breeding Omega. Though he had women within the pack who saw to his needs, he never took them during their heat. He could not, and would not, allow a bastard son to stake his claim on the Winter Islands once his legitimate heir was born.

Anatoly nodded solemnly. “Then we have much to discuss, my lord. It would best for you to transfer command to Utgar for the time being. For the next 5 days, your only concern will be Ariyan.”

Erik stood to full height, peering down at the old man. “You assume I have agreed to this.”

Anatoly’s expression softened, but his resolve remained firm. “In this, you will want to agree, my lord. There is great pleasure to be had. And believe me, you do not need to love each other in order to partake in this. Nay, you do not even need to like each other. You have the right to deny Ariyan this physical comfort, but seeing as though you’ve forced him to attend to your needs, it’s only fair that you tend to his.”

“Take care in how you address me, old man,” Erik growled in warning.

Anatoly bowed his head in submission. “Forgive my boldness, Lord Alpha. I will leave you to think on your decision. But if I may, I’d like to make one more request.”

Erik hesitated, but nodded in reply.

“If you decide to share in this heat, I ask that you commit yourself wholly. Ariyan will be extremely vulnerable. He will do and say things that he would not normally. He will be so consumed by his desire, he will choose your touch over food; your kisses over water and ale. You must care for him in between the fits of lust. Feed him, wash him, and make sure he sleeps whenever possible. But more to the point, you must do the same for yourself. You are powerful and strong, Lord Erik, but nothing brings an Alpha to his knees like an Omega in heat…”

BY the time the sun had risen to the highest point in the sky, Ariyan felt like he was dying. The poppy oil was wearing off, and the ache was unbearable. Ariyan pulled the blanket close around his shoulders, burying his face into the pillows on his bed. They were drenched in his scent. As was the entire bed.

Anatoly had gotten him to eat and drink under the threat of informing Erik that he was heat, but with the promise of high heat approaching, Ariyan felt helpless.

"Hgnn..." Ariyan clenched his eyes as another toe curling cramp slammed down on him. It was not only the pain, it was the urge to be filled that was crippling.

~Call to him…~ Ariyan shook his head, his lips trembling.

~You know what you want…just call for him...he can make it go away….~

‘No…’

~It'll be easy. He’ll give you what you desire. He’ll stop the pain…he'll make you feel good.~

‘He killed Austin...he killed father…’

~And yet...you still pine for him…~

‘No…’

~You still want him to hold you.~

‘No.’

~You still want him to fuck you.~

‘No, I don't!’

~Just call to him…~

Ariyan let out a moaning whine, and pressed his face into the feather down bedding. Ariyan grunted and reached down between his legs to squeeze his painful erection.

~It won't help…~

‘I can withstand it.’

~Call to him. Beg him to fuck you…~

“No!" Ariyan growled through his lust. “No, no don't.”

~Why do you refuse what you can’t control?~

"I can control it!"

Ariyan was sobbing into the bedspread. His mind was teetering right on the edge of utter madness.

~You couldn't save your father. You couldn't save Austin. And now you can't even save yourself.~

ALL Ariyan could hear was the sound of his staggered panting. Warm heat enclosed his fingers as he slid them into his entrance. The stimulation made his back arch, and he pushed back against his own too small digits, desperate for the relief he needed. A part of him knew he should feel ashamed. For all he could tell Anatoly was still in the room with him. But the only thing he felt was incomplete. Was longing. Burning. Aching for something more.

He released his cock in frustration, spreading pale his legs. They were covered in the aromatic slick, dripping from his hole. The tight ring that usually barricaded his pussy had thinned into a puffy bud. He was an Omega in his prime for breeding, and despite his insistence that he could overcome his desires, he was losing his mind every second that passed.

More…

He shoved three fingers in, stretching the soft skin around his gaping entrance. His fingers melted into his tight pucker, sucking him in.

More…

No matter how far he went, he still wanted more. No matter how hard he drilled into himself, it still did not fulfill his need.

It's not enough…

Ariyan knew what he wanted. Something only an alpha could give him. A hard and thick knot, penetrating his entirety. He wanted to feel Erik's hot cum as it gushed into him.

'Don't...don't think about it…'

~Why?~

‘Because...I hate him…’

~Do you…. do you truly?~

The question was left unanswered.

Ariyan breathed in and his body stiffened as he smelled that oppressive scent. He raised from his arched position, and stared at the bare-chested beast.

Erik was littered in deep, old scars. His shoulders were wide and broad. His dark hair cut right above his pecs. His stomach was flat and chiseled, abs trailing to pelvis, and pelvis to that glorious cock…

The truth of it was, Ariyan wanted him. He could deny it to Anatoly and to himself, but his body was humming with anticipation from just the sight of his mate.

It was...terrifying.

His legs moved without his permission, and then he was pressed up against Erik, inhaling the alphas scent through his nose and mouth, thirsty for the thrill it gave him. He buried his face against Erik's chest reaching out to squeeze the man's biceps. Ariyan couldn't tell if he was pulling or being pulled, but he was backed up into the bed, and then turned to his stomach.

The feel of Erik’s rough hand sliding up his thigh was like hot iron. It left his skin burning.

“Hgnn... Erik...” Was that his voice? It sounded so needy and wet. “In...in me…” It sounded so desperate and hopeless.

Erik cupped his taut sac, and slid his finger up the crease and then into the crack of his ass. Ariyan's hips swayed, as he pushed his ass against the finger longingly.

‘It wasn't enough…’

Ariyan rolled to his back. His cock head was an angry pink, and his shaft stood hard and upright, thicker than he'd ever seen it. His cheeks, slightly hollowed from the weeks of his debilitating seasickness, were flushed crimson red. His lips were parted and swollen.  For the past seven hours, he had bit down on the urge to call out to Erik. Now the lord was standing above him, cock hard and ready. The once daunting sight now made Ariyan tingle with anticipation.

Ariyan spread his legs and presented himself to the alpha. The moment Erik breathed in his scent Ariyan could see the switch flip. He could see the lords Adam's apple quiver when he swallowed the saliva building in the alphas mouth.

“What is it, little wolf?” Erik whispered, pulling his thumb free and massaging the dripping hole. “Tell me what you want and I’ll give it to you.”

Ariyan gripped the lord’s thick cock before he pressed it right snug against his entrance. His hole pulsed. Hot. Ready. Needy to be filled.

“Fuck…. me…” Ariyan huffed out.