I lay awake, staring at the ceiling of the guest bedroom. I turned to look at Jupiter, who was sleeping quietly beside me. She sucked her thumb and breathed softly. I hoped she was okay—she hadn't spoken much since we'd arrived in Wolfheart.

That kiss...

I sighed and carefully slipped out from under the covers, doing my best not to disturb her. I tucked the blanket up to her chin, and she murmured and turned to the face the other way, still sucking on her thumb. I went over to the window and looked through the blinds, out across the property to the fence that ran around my family's mansion. We lived on a hill just on the outskirts of the city, and could see the twinkling lights of Wolfheart off in the distance.

I hoped I'd done the right thing, coming here. My confidence that somehow, I'd find a way for Jupiter and me to escape from our situation was waning with each passing moment, but at the very least... At the very least I'd met him again. I shivered and wrapped my arms around myself, remembering the feeling of his arms around my body. The touch of his lips against mine. Was he thinking about me now, too?

Thirteen years ago, Arthur and I had fallen in love. We'd only had a month together as lovers, having spent nearly all of our friendship unable to confess our feelings. I'd gotten so angry with myself, questioning why I couldn't have been a little braver, telling myself that if I hadn't hesitated, we might've had more time to be with one another. Finding him today had really been the last thing I'd been expecting. Seeing him again had never been a part of my plan coming back here. I'd hoped to find sympathy from my father, but... Now it seemed like that wasn't going to happen. I was stuck again. Stuck with no options. Stuck with a love that'd been rekindled from the ashes.

I wanted to see him again. I'd told him not to worry about me, that I thought we should let things be, but that was a lie. I wanted him again. I wanted to see him so badly.

A tear streaked down my cheek, and I quickly wiped it away. Hounds of Hell... coming back here was a mistake.

Headlights arced through the fence as a car rolled up the road in front of the house, casting sweeping shadows across the grass. I narrowed my eyes when the car stopped in front of the gate and didn't move. My heart started to pound. The back door to the car opened, and a tall figure stepped out. In the light of the streetlamp I couldn't see his face, but I instantly recognized his silhouette.

"Arthur," I whispered, and I ran out of the room, down the stairs and out the front door. The dewy grass wet my bare feet as I cut down the hill towards the gate. He was pacing back and forth by the car, talking to the driver.

"I don't know, Stephen. Maybe I should climb—" He turned and saw me, and his jaw dropped. "Perry?"

I pulled open the gate and ran to him. I found myself throwing my arms around him, leaping into his arms. I kissed him, unable to restrain myself. He tumbled backwards, banging up against the side of the car. The driver cleared his throat, but we were already too far away, carried off and lost to our desire for one another. For just a moment it felt like it was only him and I in the world, and I felt like it was thirteen years ago and nothing could touch us. I was left breathless, my chest heaving as our lips separated. We gazed into each other's eyes, amazed.

"How did you know I was here?" he asked.

"I didn't. Well, I saw you from the window. But if I hadn't gotten out of bed to look..."

"Something just keeps bringing us together," he said, grinning. "Something is looking out for us."

"What are you doing here?"

"I've come to get you. If you're gonna have to go back to Elclaw at some point, then at least spend the time you're here with me. Get out of this house. Be with someone who loves you."

"Arthur... I don't..."

"Come with me," he said. His face was strong, confident, kind. I remembered that it was these things that'd attracted me to him in the beginning, that I'd fallen in love with.  "Go get Jupiter. You'll be safe at the Luna house. And who knows, maybe we can find a solution to this mess."

"I don't know..." I whispered, almost to myself. It was crazy, but all of this was. Running to Wolfheart, seeing Arthur again... I'd lived obediently for so long that it felt wrong—but I'd already come this far. What the hell was stopping me from going further? "Alright," I said, finally. "Okay. I'll be right back."

"I'm not going anywhere," Arthur said, and I turned and ran back to the house. I raced up the stairs and back to the bedroom. My suitcase lay on the floor next to Jupiter's, still packed.

"Sweetie," I said, gently shaking her shoulder. She stirred and groaned, her eyes slowly opening.

"Daddy," she murmured.

"I'm going to carry you, okay? You can go back to sleep. Daddy's going to pick you up."

She nodded, stuck her thumb back in her mouth, and closed her eyes. I scooped her up from the bed with one arm and hauled our suitcases with the other. I made my way down the stairs, doing my best not to make any noise.

"Perry," a voice hissed. I froze and turned, and then relaxed when I saw Dimitrius standing in the doorway to his bedroom.

"Why are you awake?" I said. "Go back to sleep."

"It's not even late," he said. "I wasn't even asleep. What's going on? Where are you going?"

"Keep your voice down," I said. "I can't stay here. Not with Dad."

"Shit, take me with you," he said. "I can hardly stand the man. Where are you going?"

"The Luna house," I said.

"Luna? Like Master Loch Luna?"

"His brother. Maybe you were too young..."

"Arthur," he said, like the memory had just returned to him. "I remember him. He was your boyfriend in pre-academy. Wow, I'd forgotten."

"I gotta go," I said. "I'll be in contact."

"What do I tell Dad?" he asked.

"You don't need to lie to him," I said. "Don't get into trouble on account of me. Just tell him the truth."

"Fuck that," he grinned. "I'll let him figure it out."

I smiled and said, "I'll see you around," before hurrying out.

Arthur's driver quickly came around and opened the back door, helping me load Jupiter into the back while Arthur put our luggage into the trunk. Jupiter curled up on the seat, and Arthur produced a blanket and covered her up with it. The driver pulled the car away from the fence, and I took a look back out the window as the house disappeared from view. I knew that this wasn't going to be forever. Fate had brought us back together, but it also would separate us again. It was only a matter of time. It was strange how familiar this felt to thirteen years ago. We'd spent so many days together telling each other that there was no way we'd be separated, that we'd fight, that things would work out because we were in love. I guess the difference was that we knew better, now. I could appreciate this extra time I'd been given with him, however short it might end up being.

I leaned my head on Arthur's arm, his arm wrapped tightly around my shoulder. Jupiter slept curled up on the seat, her head on my lap.

"She's adorable," he said.

"I can't wait for her to meet you."

He leaned in and kissed me. I melted into him, savoring it. Every kiss from him was better than the last. I hardly remembered a kiss being so sweet, so wonderful.

We arrived at the Luna house, and I followed Arthur through the sprawling mansion with Jupiter in my arms. It was my first time seeing his home, and the difference in family status and wealth was obvious. The Windhelm estate seemed like a tiny little shack in comparison. We walked down huge, ornately trimmed hallways adorned with towering oil paintings of regal looking wolves who stared down at us with stern eyes, past heavy wood doors that guarded room after room. The place was so big, I wouldn't have been surprised if we could hide away here forever without anyone finding us. The silly idea did cross my mind—could I just stay hidden away here forever as his secret?

"Jupiter can sleep in this room," he said, opening a door. "This used to be my younger brother's room. Everyone's moved out except me."

I tucked Jupiter under the covers of the king-sized bed. It was adorable how small she looked sleeping in the middle of such a huge thing. She stirred, but didn't wake, and I kissed her on her forehead.

"Goodnight, sweetie," I whispered, and followed Arthur to his bedroom.

He shut the door and drifted over to me, undoing the buttons of his shirt, one by one. My heart raced as I pulled my shirt up and tugged it off of my head. He opened his at the front, revealing a physique that hadn't been neglected these past thirteen years. I gripped the shirt on either side and helped pull it down his arms, revealing biceps as hard as carved oak. He laid his palms on my chest, sending ripples of goosebumps across my skin, and slowly drew his hands up until they were at my neck. He slipped one hand around the back of my neck and drew me in to him, until my bare chest pressed up against his. The warmth of his skin on mine was intoxicating. I leaned close to him, resting my forehead against his. We held back from the kiss, our lips hovering millimeters apart, the sides of our noses gently touching. I took in his breath and he did mine, like we were living on one another's each and every breath.

Then, finally, we kissed. This one wasn't like the brief reunion kiss we'd shared on the roof, nor was it like the restrained kiss at the car, or the gentle one we'd shared inside it—this was broken floodgates. His hands were on me and mine on him as our lips crashed desperately together. He pushed me back, his greedy hands working at the tie to my pajama bottoms. They were down to my ankles in seconds, and I nearly tripped over myself as I stumbled to get out of them. He caught me, one strong arm around my waist, the other wasting no time to get reacquainted with the hard excitement between my legs. I moaned as his lips found my neck and his hand gripped my bulge. A hard squeeze, like a test, before tugging my underwear down too. I was fully naked, he was still in his trousers, and he gave me a quick shove that sent me bouncing back onto the bed. He gripped his belt, flipping open the buckle and yanking open the front, dropping his trousers down to his ankles. He stepped out of them and pushed his underwear down to follow them. When he straightened upright again I sucked in a breath as I took in the sight of his gorgeous form. Yeah, he really hadn't neglected his body these past thirteen years.

I was hungry for him, dying to be reunited with him in the best way. He came forward and I tried to sit up, but he gently pushed me back down by my shoulders. He kissed down from my collarbone, across my chest and to my abs, his lips brushing the trail of hair leading down to my hardened cock. I sighed as his fingers wrapped around me, squeezing me tightly in his fist. Then he lowered his face down, his gaze never leaving mine as he opened his mouth and took me inside of him. I moaned and squirmed against the sheets as he enveloped me in his warmth, his tongue teasing pleasure out of me that had long been neglected.

"Oh, fuck," I murmured. "Arthur...." It was obvious that he still knew exactly how to please me, even after all this time. Or maybe it was just the fact that it was him, and anything he could've done at that moment would've been the best thing I'd ever felt.

He kissed the tip of my cock, swirling his tongue along the curve of my head before giving attention to my balls, gently sucking on them and caressing them with long, velvety licks. I flinched and gasped, my toes curling with every movement. I felt warmth building in my stomach, an aching to be filled as my entrance became wet with an omega's desire.

"I've missed you," he said softly, kissing the pillar of my cock. "I've missed everything about you. I've missed hearing you moan. Tasting you. Feeling you. Perry, I've missed you so fucking much."

"I've missed you too," I whispered. "I had no idea how much I'd missed you until I saw your face again."

He came back up and kissed me, and I held him tightly to me, not wanting to let go. I held on when he sat up, my arms slung around his neck. His cock pressed against my stomach and my own cock, crossing like swords.

"I want to fuck you," he told me, our foreheads pressed together. I kissed him and dropped down to the bed, turning myself around to present my ass to him.

"Then do it," I said.

He reached into his bedside drawer and drew out a condom, unwrapped it, and unfolded it down his length. Then he came onto the bed, moving on his knees until he was right behind me. He caressed my ass cheek with his hand, gently running his palm and fingertips down my skin. I shivered and begged him with my eyes not to keep me waiting. He answered with his cock, taking it firmly in his hand and pressing it up to my opening. Then he entered me. I cried out in surprise as his cock filled me, stretching me out. It'd been such a long time since I'd fucked, and that feeling was like a glass of ice water to sun parched lips. And it was him. Arthur Luna. A dream come true.

Moonlight crossed through the shadows to pool across the bed, casting our lovemaking in a lunar spotlight. Arthur gripped my waist as he thrust into me, his cock pumping deep like the pistons of a wolf-cycle engine. I pushed my face into the sheets, gritting the fabric between my teeth in an effort to hold back the groans of pleasure that were threatening to depart my lips. I was being carried away into a world of ecstasy I'd forgotten—ecstasy and the comfort of being taken by the man I loved.

How had I managed to go without him? How had I done it? It was too good—he was too good.

He leaned down and kissed me. I moaned against his lips. "I love you. I love you."

I was going to come. I could feel the tidal wave of climax rushing towards me, about to eclipse me and drown me in an ocean of pleasure. Arthur fucked me harder, gritting his teeth as his muscles tensed and rippled with every thrust. Beads of sweat glistened against his chest, and I could see he was going to come too. I let myself go. I moaned into the sheets as the orgasm hit me, and my cock throbbed and came. Arthur's gasp sounded almost like one of shock. He gripped my ass cheek with one strong hand and thrust in deep, all the way to the hilt, and I could feel his cock swelling and pulsing inside of me with his finish.

I crumpled into the bedsheets, and Arthur fell next to me, both of us gasping for breath. I looked at him, and he smiled at me between breaths, sweat matting his hair. I reached over and pushed a lock of dark hair from his forehead and kissed him.

"I love you too," he said, his smile turning into a grin.

After cleaning up the mess we’d made on the bed, Arthur and I took a shower together and then cuddled up under the covers. I nuzzled into his chest and nibbled on his collarbone, just like I used to do. I was amazed at how easy it was to fall back into old habits, even after all of this time. It was like picking up right where we left off.

"Do you remember the first time we had sex?" I asked him.

"I do," he said. "It wasn't nearly as comfortable as this. It was on top of that announcer's building. Our knees got all banged up."

I laughed. "It was the only place we could meet. Every time we did it, we hurt ourselves even more. It looked like we'd fallen off a motorcycle, or something."

"That was the most intense month of my entire life," he said. I caught a hint of wistfulness in his voice.

"Yeah," I said, recalling the memories. "I remember being so angry at first, when you first admitted you were in love with me. I remember thinking, 'why couldn't he have said something earlier?' We'd been friends for years. Why wait until a month before I was going to be married?"

"I was afraid," he said. "I was worried I'd ruin the friendship. It took me that long to realize how dumb of an excuse that was."

I laughed. "But I understand, completely. I was afraid, too. That's why I never said anything. I was afraid that if we got together, I'd have to live with losing you for the rest of my life."

"I guess we had to deal with that anyway," he said, sadly.

"I don't regret that time together at all," I told him. "Not one bit. No matter how hard it was afterwards."

"Mm."

I looked at him. "Do you?"

"No," he said. "But it was hard. And now that you're here, and I'm next to you, I'm remembering just how hard it was. It changed me."

"How?"

"I realized today that I'd lost the ability to fall in love with anyone. Anyone but you."

I felt a bittersweet pang grip my heart. I hugged him close. "Surely you must've found others."

"I tried. I've met lots of women, some of them more special than others. But many of them I had just because I could. And I could never bring myself to be with another omega after you."

"I see," I said, uncertain how to feel. It hurt to hear how he'd been suffering. I'd hoped that at least he would've found happiness even if I couldn't.

"I know," he said. "I'm broken in that way."

"It's an empty feeling, living a life without love," I said. "I dealt with that for ten years, until I had my daughter. She saved me."

"And now, you're trying to save her."

"Before it's too late," I said. "Yes. But I think I may have gotten my hopes up." I shivered, feeling a dark cloud of hopelessness pulling over me. "I don't think anything can be done."

Arthur hugged me close to him. I could hear the beating of his heart through his chest, my face rising and falling with every breath.

"I won't let him take you and Jupiter back," he announced.

I smiled. "I appreciate you wanting to comfort me. But you and I both know that it's not that simple. I'm an omega, he's an alpha. I belong to him."

Arthur sighed. "We'll see."

I kissed his chest, then his neck, then his cheek, and finally his lips. "No matter what happens, I'm glad to be here with you. Everything will have been worth it just because I got to see you."

"It's not over," he said quietly. "It's just beginning."

We lay together in each other's arms for a while, just enjoying each other's presence and touch. The moonlight slowly tiptoed its way up the bed and across the wall as the hours trickled by. I didn't know what would happen tomorrow. I was afraid that all of this would be over, as quick as it had come back together. Whenever I glanced at Arthur's face, thinking he must've dozed off by now, I saw his eyes were open. I realized he probably was thinking the same thing I was.

"Arthur," I whispered.

"Yeah?"

"I should go to the other room. Jupiter won't know where she is in the morning."

"Okay."

Leaving his arms felt like the most painful thing, like my body was crying out to return to his embrace. I slowly slid out from the covers and he followed me, taking my hand. I realized what this felt like—the last day we'd spent together back then. Every moment of that day we'd wanted to be in each other's arms, unwilling to let go of each other's hands, hoping that maybe if he held on tight enough everything would turn out okay.

"I'll be here tomorrow," I reassured him, knowing he was having the same fears and feelings as me. He relaxed.

"Goodnight," he said. "I'll see you tomorrow." And he smiled, like he was delighted to hear himself speak those words.

"Tomorrow," I repeated, and disappeared into the other room.

Jupiter was curled up under the covers, sleeping peacefully. A kiss of moonlight splashed across her forehead, and I went and drew the curtains shut and slid under the covers next to her. Despite the wild turn the day had brought, and all the fresh uncertainty that came with it, I felt calmer at that moment than I had in a very long time.

* * *

The next morning, I woke up and gave Jupiter a bath before laying out some of my clothes on the bed to change. Jupiter bounced up and down on the huge bed, giggling as she rolled around. She was unable to complete a full shift yet, but she had figured out how to pop out her ears and tail, so she wiggled around with just a set of wolf pup ears and a fluffy grey tail.

"Do we live here, Daddy?"

"No, sweetie," I said, buttoning up my shirt. "We're just staying here for now. This is Daddy's good friend's place."

"Oh. I like the bed." She laughed and plopped down into the billowy comforter, her little tail wagging.

Suddenly, the door to the bedroom opened. I turned around, grinning, expecting to see Arthur, but was surprised to see someone else. He was around Arthur's age, probably a little younger, and holding on to his hand was a little girl around five years old. I immediately could see the family connection—this was one of Arthur's brothers.

"Uhh, hello," he said, freezing. "Who are you?"

"Hello," I said, "I'm Perry Houndfang." Part of me wanted to use my bachelor name, Windhelm, but it probably wouldn't have been proper. "Um, Arthur put me and my daughter up in this room."

"I'm Vander," he said, shaking my hand. "This is my daughter, Alexis."

Jupiter sat in the middle of the bed, watching quietly. She always became very quiet around other people. Alexis walked over and climbed up onto the bed, and Jupiter eyed her cautiously.

"Isn't my daddy's bed fun?" Alexis asked. "It's so big, and poofy. Look what I can do on it." She started to bounce up and down, and at the peak of her jump she shifted, to my surprise, into a bear cub. Vander's mate was a bear, apparently. She bounced back onto the bed, and Jupiter's eyes widened. She started to laugh, her tail wagging furiously.

"Do it again!" she squealed.

I smiled. "Vander," I repeated. "Oh, this is your room! I'm so sorry."

"No worries," Vander said. "Arthur didn't know we'd be home. You're... I know you." His eyes widened. "You're that omega!"

I laughed. "That omega?"

"Sorry, I didn't mean to be rude. It's just that, we kinda just had a conversation about why Arthur wouldn't date omegas, and—"

He was cut off when Arthur came up next to him and rested his elbow on his shoulder.

"Good morning," Arthur said loudly.

I took one look at his hair and started to laugh.

"What?" he asked.

"Your bed hair," I said, pointing.

Vander turned to look, and snorted. “You look like your hair exploded.”

Alexis squealed with laughter too as she jumped up and down on the bed. Jupiter went quiet again with the new addition to the room, and came to hide behind my leg.

"You look silly, uncle Arthur," Alexis said.

Arthur quickly ran his hands through his hair, but it only made it worse. I laughed harder, and he groaned. "Ah, screw it. Vander, what the hell are you doing home?"

"I remembered how much I missed it, yesterday. Hey, I thought you'd be happy to see your little brother. Loch's going to be here later, too, if you weren't aware."

"I knew that," Arthur said. "Sorry, I'll move Perry and Jupiter to Christophe's room."

"Nah," Vander replied. "That's fine. We're not staying the night. Alexis, let's go and eat some breakfast. You can play with your new friend later. Nice to meet you, Perry," he said, and winked at me.

"Bye," Alexis said, waving to Jupiter. Jupiter silently waved back, her eyes still wide as she gripped my leg.

"Sorry about that," Arthur said. "I had no idea they'd be here today."

"Don't apologize," I said. "I'm the one intruding..."

"You're not," he said. "So. You must be Jupiter." He crouched down to her height, and she hid herself further behind my leg, her ears flattening down and her tail drooping shyly.

"Jupiter, come on. This is Daddy's friend."

"I like your ears," Arthur said. "And your tail. Very nice. I can do that too." He closed his eyes, and his ears pulled upwards to the top of his head, popping out as two, fur-covered wolf ears. He smiled and made them twitch, and Jupiter eased out a bit, her tail wagging curiously.

"Can you shift anything else?" he asked, and she shook her head.

"That's okay. You'll be able to soon. Are you hungry?"

She nodded.

"Good. Breakfast is ready downstairs, and afterwards you and Alexis can play together. How about that?"

"Okay," she said quietly.

After Arthur washed up and fixed his hair, the three of us went downstairs to join his family in the dining room. In the light of day, the house seemed even more regal and impressive. Gigantic windows lit sprawling sitting rooms lined with towering bookshelves, antique furniture, and artwork. Contrasting the older, antique rooms were modern ones with clean design and cutting-edge style, obviously packed with impressive technology. It was apparent the house was very old, and had been updated and renovated over many decades. You could see family history lying in every corner.

I'd been briefly introduced to his parents before when we were young, but my memory of them was thin. I was worried that they would be apprehensive about having me here, especially because they didn't know who I was, but I was quickly relieved of my fears. They both greeted Jupiter and me warmly, almost as if we were part of the family.

Arthur exchanged a look with me. I could read the question in his gaze—if it was appropriate for him to discuss my situation. I nodded to him.

"I offered to take Perry and his daughter in because of the situation he's currently in," Arthur said.

"And what situation is that?" Mr. Luna asked.

"My husband," I said. "Is not a faithful man. Nor is he a reliable father, or a kind one. My mother and father had arranged my marriage to him when I was very young, in order to strengthen our family position. I managed to hold on out of duty to my family, but once I had Jupiter... I couldn't stand having her raised in that environment, so I took her and left. I was hoping to find a way to sever the marriage, but my father isn't supportive, and I've come to realize that there isn't a way to do it anyway."

"Perry and I are in love," Arthur announced, suddenly. I looked at him in shock.

"Well, I think we all knew that," Mrs. Luna said.

"I didn't know that," Mr. Luna said, looking bemused.

"Perry was the only omega he was ever with. You must've had a great effect on Arthur for him to never want to be with another omega."

I felt myself blushing. "Um, well..."

Arthur groaned. "Mom..."

Vander started laughing, and Alexis looked around the table, curious to know what joke she didn't get. Jupiter quietly munched on some cereal, in her own world.

"You are right," Mr. Luna said, his expression serious. "A marriage bond is sacred. As unfortunate as the situation may be, the promise made between your families isn't something that can be broken."

"There must be some way, Dad," Arthur said.

He shook his head. "Unless it's a mutual agreement, I don't know of any way. The alpha must approve of the decision."

"That's ridiculous," Vander said. "That's backwards."

"Being highborn often is," Mr. Luna said.

I had expected this to be the case, so I hadn't gotten my hopes up, but I could see Arthur had. He looked at me, a furious determination burning in his eyes. All I could do was take his hand in mine, and try to transfer some of the peace I felt to him through my touch. At least I found you again.