FIVE days of eating, sleeping and fucking… Erik had slipped easily into the role of caretaker. Bathing and feeding Ariyan, even seeing to his mate’s more private needs. Anatoly frequently offered to assist, but Ariyan was so open and exposed that the thought of letting anyone else into the room was inconceivable. Call it instinct, or a side effect of the heat, either way Erik assumed complete responsibility of his mate.

Come the fifth day, it was obvious they were returning to the way things used to be. Ariyan became less and less dependent, flinching at Erik’s touch and nearness. There had been this roaring fire between them, and all at once someone had doused it. Ariyan appeared to have no memory of their time together; no concept of how many times Erik had bred him during their seclusion. In fact, the only one who could recall every passionate and erotic detail was Erik.

ON the morning of the sixth day, Erik woke up alone and in his own room. The sense of loss made his chest tighten uncomfortably. He sat awhile, alone in his thoughts, not quite ready to face his men. Anatoly brought him breakfast, asking the Alpha if he wanted to talk about what had transpired during the heat. The healer could tell something was off, but Erik had no interest in discussing what had happened between him and Ariyan. As far as the Alpha was concerned, there was nothing to talk about. 

When Erik finally emerged from his room and onto the deck, his men made no attempt to hide their shock. The Alpha had seen his reflection in the mirror, so their reaction was no surprise. While attempting to keep Ariyan clean and fed, Erik had let his own needs fall to the wayside. He’d lost a noticeable about of weight, and the bags under his eyes refused to go away.

“You look like shit on a stick,” Utgar said, clasping arms with Erik. “Was it that good?”

Erik snickered, ignoring the question. “Where are we?” he asked, taking a moment to savor the fresh air.

“We should reach our shores in a couple of days. I’ll send a raven when we’re closer. With any luck, our arrival will be announced.”

“We’re ahead of schedule,” Erik remarked.

“Yes, well… with an Omega in heat on board, the men focused their energy elsewhere.”

Erik nodded, understanding the need for a distraction. He was fighting the urge to go in search of his mate, but any hopes of distancing himself from the cornerstone of his thoughts evaporated when Ariyan stepped onto the deck. The men stopped to look, but once they realized they were all staring, they immediately went back to work.

Utgar looked from Erik to Ariyan and back again. “How come he looks refreshed and you look like you spent the last week on a battlefield?”

Erik didn’t answer right away. He was too entranced by his mate’s arrival. Indeed, Ariyan looked completely renewed, his blonde hair glistening in the sun, and his pale cheeks flushed with a healthy pink. Anatoly ushered the boy to the edge of the ship and away from the men. Much like Erik, Ariyan must’ve needed some fresh air as well. After 5 days in that small room, they were both in need of sunlight.

Once more, Erik ignored Utgar’s question. “I have command,” he said, giving Ariyan one last look before escaping back to his room.

WHEN they reached the deck, the cold air burned Ariyan's nose and cheeks, making them flush red. He'd sat in the wash basin for hours that morning. He scrubbed off the evidence of Erik’s touch, taking time to completely rid himself of the lord’s pungent odor. He breathed in deep, and exhaled the sea heavy air. It was a welcome scent after the smell of his decadence. 

He wasn't surprised by the careful looks the Alpha's gave him. For the past five days he was the source of their anguish. He was, however, surprised to find that he was in relative good standing. Other than the bite marks and bruises from Erik’s attentions, he seemed…. healthy…well as healthy as one could be after an unsuppressed high heat. 

‘Anatoly’s doing most likely…’ He couldn’t imagine the lord touching him affectionately, or feeding him, or washing him, or clothing him. Erik had enjoyed the effects of the heat, he’d just washed off the evidence of that, but that didn’t mean the lord knew or even understood the implications or duties of taking an Omega in heat. When Ariyan was like a helpless child in his arms, he was sure the lord gave that responsibility to Anatoly.

Ariyan traced the mark on his neck. The tickle of his fingertips brought back the memory of Erik doing the same to him three nights ago. His heart began to race as he remembered the crush of the alphas lips on his, and the strength with which he’d held him. The way the demon looked at him with those ice blue eyes, full of determination and power.

Ariyan shook his head. He couldn’t even escape his own thoughts. The mating bite between his neck and shoulder seemed to pulse with the memories of the past few nights. He had asked for it. ‘Harder. Faster. More. Deeper.’ He had initiated. Begged for it. Dishonored himself and his family name.

"I spoke to Utgar earlier," Anatoly said quietly. His voice distracted Ariyan from the memories of his heat. "We should arrive soon. Two or three days at the most."

Ariyan didn't reply. He didn't care whether they ever reached the Winter Islands.

"When we finally reach the mainland, the pack will be curious to know who you are...there will be some that are less enthused about your arrival, considering who your father was, but given the nature of you and Lord Erik's relationship, they will have to just accept it."

Just accept it.

An interesting concept. Anatoly expected the pack to accept something that he and Erik hadn't even fully accepted. They were strangers as far as Ariyan was concerned. Enemies even. He didn't expect the pack to accept or like him. Nor did he care.

"And of course, I'll help in any way I can."

"Heh— as if you care what happens to me," Ariyan mumbled.

"What?"

“Nothing." Ariyan shook his head before he turned away from the water. "Is there anything else I can do for you, Anatoly?” The man stared at him blankly. Anatoly's weary eyes creased before he frowned.

"You blame me for what happened between you and Erik...don't you?"

Ariyan squeezed the rail of the deck, averting his gaze.

"I know you don't want to hear this, Ariyan, but I'm not the one who called for Lord Erik...you did."

Ariyan lifted his head and clenched his jaw. "I would never," Ariyan sneered.

"You needed him, and you called for him. There’s nothing to be ashamed of.”

"I’m not ashamed!” Ariyan lied.

“I’m glad to hear that,” Anatoly said. “Because blaming me for your bond with your Alpha won't change anything."

“Bond? You mean this bite on my neck?" He pulled down the coat collar, exposing the throbbing bite to the freezing wind. "Do you think this equates to love Anatoly? Do you think I care for him because he bound and fucked me while I was in heat?”

Several of the men nearby looked over, and Anatoly ushered Ariyan away under the deck stairs.

"As I've told you before an Omega isn’t as defenseless as that. The beast inside would not comply with your decision so easily if there wasn't something more than a bite tying you together! And as much as you deny it, your wolf accepted him!

“And so what if it did!" Ariyan snarled back. Anatoly was the first to admit that an Omega in heat could be swayed by an Alpha’s hormones. "I asked you to protect me! I asked you, to protect me when I could not protect myself!”

“You asked me to do something impossible, Ariyan.”

“It wasn’t impossible! You could have easily locked me away, but you care more about your lord’s lust, than you do my well-being!” Ariyan let out a cruel laugh before he shook his head and felt heat under his eyes. “Why did I even think you would try to protect me from him? You didn’t try to stop him from fucking me raw! You didn’t stop him from ripping me away from my family!”

“As if I could have stopped any of those things from happening to you. You gave yourself to him, Ariyan. You made a vow. You offered to be Lord Erik’s mate.”

“And what a fool I was to think that it was better than death,” Ariyan whispered as tears gushed down his face. Anatoly looked at him pitiably. Ariyan could tell the man felt sorry for him, but it didn’t matter. He still had betrayed him.

“I was a fool..." Ariyan’s voice trembled. "I was a fool to think I could withstand this.”