Eric sneaked out of the room once Victor was solidly asleep. Things had been crazy over the last couple days since their rescue. Eric had thought he was dead. That Victor and their child was dead. And yet somehow, when the rubble mostly settled, the cells remained mostly intact, leaving a large bubble for them to huddle in while waiting for rescue.

Dr. J was dead. Eric had gone back to the rubble with Dare in wolf form to confirm it after the humans had cleared out. They'd found his scent wrapped up in the scent of death, and that was good enough for him. 

The wolves had started the initial destruction, planting explosives all around the outside of the building. They had avoided damaging the area of the cells. Someone in charge of Gecko's security must have noticed and decided to blow up the prisoners rather than let them escape. By some miracle of architecture, they'd failed. White Falls had pretty much gone on lock down since, waiting to see if Gecko's Central labs would retaliate, but in three days of anticipation, nothing had happened so far.

He found his way down to the Alpha's office. It had apparently been the rescue effort's headquarters, and there was still a surprising amount of activity going on.

Alpha Williams caught sight of Eric and stood to greet him. "How is your mate?" she asked, first thing.

"Better," Eric was relieved to say. "The IV is helping."

"That's good to hear. Eric, do you remember Riley Savage?"

Eric shook the larger alpha's hand. "We were a couple years apart in school."

"And you remember his mate, Dominic."

The small omega was very obviously pregnant, and Eric had met him that first fateful meeting when Alpha Williams had asked him to be her spy. 

"How goes the relocation efforts?" Eric asked.

"We've contacted a majority of the missing shifters' packs, those who wanted us to. The first emissaries will be arriving tomorrow to pick up their pack members. We don't have enough guards to spare any to escort anyone home." 

Eric had been present for the discussion about whether they should send the shifters home at all, if that would leave them more of a target, returning them to their homes. But the end agreement had been that if anyone was going to be a target, it would be White Falls, and the kindest thing they could do was return the missing shifters as soon as possible. A few had declined to attempt to contact their packs or had chosen to stay on with White Falls in case there was retaliation. Alpha Williams had accepted them with open arms.

"So what now?" Eric asked. On the one hand, he wanted the opportunity to tear the experimenting bastards limb from limb, but on the other hand, he hated the idea of putting Victor back in danger again. Not that he had much of a choice. He needed access to a doctor to manage Victor's PICC line as needed, and he couldn't trust a human doctor. Staying put was their best option.

Alpha Williams opened her mouth to answer when a younger voice cut across the room.

"Your part is done." 

Eric turned to see a young omega standing in the doorway of the office, his eyes focused far away.

"White Falls need not worry about direct assault from Gecko Labs."

Eric started forward to ask how the young man knew, but Alpha Williams grabbed his arm and pulled him back with a shake of her head.

"Other trials will come to the pack, to all packs. You must prepare. The time is soon."

The boy slumped in the door frame and several people jumped forward to help him, but Bob was at his feet, growling at anyone who dared approach the young man. Even Riley, as large and powerful as he was, backed away from Bob's ferocity. The young man regained his feet after a moment. He looked up at Alpha Williams with a calm that washed over the room almost like a blanket laid over top of them. 

"Alpha Williams, I need to go."

"Of course, Sean. Do you need a ride home?"

"No. I need to go far away." He met the gaze of everyone in the room. It was silent, as if he'd cast a spell over the room. His eyes landed on Eric's. "You will be safe here if I go."

Eric felt a chill run up and down his spine. There was something happening here that he didn't understand, and yet when Sean spoke, he believed him.

"Sean, can we speak?" The Alpha's tone was neutral, but her imperious hand left no doubt that she expected everyone else to vacate the room. Sean stepped in and Bob followed him. Eric tried to give the wolf a questioning look, but his entire focus was on Sean.

With the office closed to them and the growing certainty that Victor and his child would be safe here, he hurried back to his mate. Victor turned to him and held out his hand as he entered.

"I just woke up and you were gone," Victor teased. Eric loved hearing that tone in Victor's voice. He was strong enough to speak. He was strong enough to tease. Eric couldn't wait to get to know his mate now, free. He captured Victor's lips in a gentle kiss. At least, he'd intended it to be gentle. But then Victor sucked his mate's tongue into his mouth and it was game on. They lost themselves in each other in a way they'd never been free to do before. They had to take care with the IV, but that was a minor concern compared to the obstacles that had faced their entire relationship up to this point. 

Victor collapsed first, panting. "I need to catch my breath, he said."

Eric growled with need. His hands caressed down Victor's sides to his hips, framing a clearly erect cock. "Are you sure you need a break?" he asked before leaning down to mouth Victor's cock through the sheet.

Victor's head banged against the bed. "Fuck, alpha."

Eric rolled his shoulders in pleasure. "Say that again."

Victor looked him directly in the eyes as he said, "My alpha."

Eric moaned in pleasure, pulling the covers off of his mate. "You know one thing these hospital gowns are good for?"

Victor shivered underneath him. "I'm sure I'm about to find out."

"Easy access." Eric pushed the bottom edge of the gown up and took his mate's member in his mouth. This wasn't about getting off himself, though he was perilously close to losing it in his pants, it was about being as close to his omega as possible, about showing his omega that he loved him. That he wanted him. That he needed him. That he was worthy of being worshiped. 

Eric took his time with his mate. Their first time should not have been so quick, so brutal, so dire. Victor deserved to be pampered. Teased. Enjoyed. And so no matter how often or how urgently Victor panted his need for Eric to finish him, Eric pulled back, pushing Victor ever and ever closer to the edge until his mate burst into his mouth, his entire body surging with the rush while Eric lapped up every drop his omega graced him with.

Then he gently covered his limp mate and crawled into the bed beside him. "Everything is going to be okay, my love," he whispered. He still didn't feel worthy. His failures still weighed heavily on him. 

But Victor caressed his cheek and said, "Of course everything is going to be okay. You're here. That's all I need."

And with those words, the mending of Eric's soul began.