This Love, This Hate

by RaTheSunGod

Summary:

HIATUS

Aron Erlichman never wanted to come back. The past is a weight he’s been carrying for years - ex-bandmates turned rivals, a career lost to betrayal, and a world that never let him forget who he used to be. He tries to drown it all in sex and drink, but when he gets rejected a little too hard, he starts to spiral.

Enter Danny Murillo - the man who replaced him, the Alpha who took his place in Hollywood Undead, in the spotlight, and maybe even in the pack. Their history is tangled in resentment and things left unsaid, but when Danny steps in to help free Aron from the clutches of the cult they all grew up in, Aron has no choice but to accept. As old wounds resurface and the inescapable pull of instincts threatens to unravel them both, Aron is forced to confront the past he’s been running from.

With the shadows of Scientology, past betrayals, and a lifetime of control issues looming over them, Aron has a choice to make: stay locked in the past, or finally let himself be something more. But trust has never come easy—especially when the one offering it is the same person who once took everything away.

Omega Deuce
Alpha Danny

Notes:

This fic is pure self-indulgence because I enjoy the storyline I created with it. It is loosely based off of a chat I did on c.ai a while ago, and I just started writing more on it once I abandoned the chat, I used my own bot. I took the idea and the concept of that chat I had and then I threw Danny as it and it just... took off. So enjoy!

Oh, also, I totally forgot Danny had Scarlet before Roman so I fucked up the timeline on that bit. Also, also, for future chapters I did TRY to find the names and ages of the kids, but tbh I didn't want to be a fucking stalker so I didn't try too hard. I found the names. That's really it. So ages are estimated, and J-Dog's family specifically is mostly just from what I know following his fiancé on Instagram.

Anyway, if you do end up reading this, Enjoy!

Chapter 1: I Came To Party

The bassline of the club music thudded through the dimly lit bar as Aron Erlichman leaned casually against the counter. The flashing neon lights overhead reflected off the metal accents of his chain bracelet as he toyed with it absentmindedly, his sharp blue eyes scanning the crowd. He had ordered a drink, but when it arrived, he frowned. He picked up the glass, staring at it in confusion.

This wasn't what he ordered. He'd ordered a Vodka Soda, not... this.

Someone cleared their throat beside him.

"I'm sorry, I think our drinks got mixed up," the deep, masculine voice said. Aron turned and his breath caught in his throat, his eyes widening slightly. Well Goddamn, aren't you pretty...

"Oh, shit, thanks," he said, reaching to swap the drinks with a small, sly smirk. "Hey, at least we know it ain't poisoned, right?"

Andrew smirked at the shorter man, taking his drink and taking a small sip as he eyed him. 

"Of course," he said, his deep and gravelly voice almost like a purr.

There was something about this guy that made Aron’s pulse race. It wasn't the chiseled jaw or the smouldering eyes, though they definitely helped. No, it was the air of danger that surrounded him. It was the hint of violence beneath the polite smile. It was the dark side hidden underneath that handsome exterior, just begging to be unleashed. Aron couldn't resist a little challenge.

He leaned against the bar, his voice dropping to a husky whisper. "You know what? I think I owe you a drink. It's only fair, right?"

Andrew raised an eyebrow at the cocky little shit in front of him, the piercing in said eyebrow glinting in the pulsing lights of the club. He raised his glass to take a sip of his drink, intense blue eyes locked on the other man. The leather of his biker jacket creaked as he moved his muscular arm, the fabric of his shirt pulled tight across his broad chest. 

Cocky little shit... But cute. 

"I have a drink," he replied, his deep voice like pure sin and sex. "But thank you."

Aron couldn't help but notice the intensity in the man's blue eyes, and the way his voice sent shivers down his spine. He found himself drawn to the sheer force of his personality, the intoxicating combination of danger and sex appeal. But he wasn't about to let himself be intimidated. Not anymore.

"I insist," he purred, leaning in closer. "It's on me."

He signaled the bartender and ordered a shot of whiskey, sliding the glass towards Andrew. Their fingers brushed, sending a small spark of electricity through Aron's body.

Andrew hummed, turning away from the other man to lean on the bar. The 1%er patch on the arm of his jacket was a stark white against the black leather. He reached forward to take the shot glass of whiskey in his hand, tipping it back as he downed it. 

"Can't say no to free booze," he mused, licking his teeth to savor the burn of the alcohol. He looked back over to the smaller - so much smaller - man with a raised eyebrow. "Should I be thanking you?"

Aron couldn't take his eyes off the man's lips as they lingered over the rim of the glass. He could already feel the beginning of an all too familiar twinge of lust, something he hadn't experienced in a long time. 

"No need to thank me," he replied smoothly, his voice dropping to a low rumble. "I'm just being... hospitable." He reached out, brushing a lock of hair away from Andrew's face. A small but significant gesture, like a lion offering to groom a potential mate. Andrew glanced at him, that eyebrow raised again. 

"Hard to find hospitality in the heart of LA these days," Andrew replied, taking another sip of his drink. As the man's hand brushed at his hair, Andrew inhaled deeply, subtly searching for scents. It wouldn't do to get caught unaware if this guy wasn't exactly human.

Booze, cigarettes, weed, body spray, and... citrus? That seems out of place. Tang? Wolf. The Alpha in Andrew immediately woke, clawing to the surface at the possibility of a threat.

Aron's senses went haywire as soon as their skin touched. He could smell the Alpha pheromones of the other man, the primal and intense musk that called to the wolf within him. The room was suddenly a few degrees warmer. He took a sip of his drink, his tongue darting over his upper lip as he tried to play it cool. But it was hard to hide the lust that flickered in his eyes, or the way his pupils dilated in response to the scent.

"You're not wrong," he managed smoothly. "This city is filled with all kinds of predators."

Andrew didn't even try to be subtle this time. He caught Aron's wrist and brought it to his nose, inhaling at the scent gland there to get the scent straight from the source. 

"Oh, isn't that interesting," he murmured, eyes locked on Aron. "Omega. Unmated, unpacked Omega. You're a fucking rarity." Aron shivered visibly at the touch, his eyes widening slightly. The scent glands were a sensitive place, and the feeling of Andrew's breath against his skin sent electric shocks through his body. He was suddenly uncomfortably aroused, his breath coming in short gasps.

Christ, I forgot how this feels, he thought, his eyes darkening with lust. How long has it been? Too long. Much too long.

He licked his lips, fighting to keep his voice even. "Maybe not as rare as you think," he purred, his hand still in Andrew's grasp. Andrew hummed, eyes sliding to Aron's throat and the curve where his neck met his shoulder. There was no scare there. No old bite mark over the mating gland that was there. Aron had never been mated. Interesting. 

"You know," Andrew murmured. "A pretty little thing like you is a prime target. You sure you should be out alone like this? It can be dangerous."

Aron's breath caught in his throat at the words, his pulse racing even faster. The Alpha wasn't wrong. He was alone, and he was vulnerable. An unmated Omega in a city like this... it was the perfect target for any Alpha nearby.

He tilted his head, exposing his neck. "Are you threatening me, Alpha?" he purred, his voice dropping to a husky murmur. He didn't let go of Andrew's hand, his body still drawn to the intense presence of the Alpha.

"Not at all," Andrew replied, voice low and gravelly. "Merely showing concern for a precious rarity like yourself."

Andrew wasn't the kind of Alpha that lost control around Omegas or potential mates. He wasn't the kind of man that lost control in any situation. He wasn't a slave to his designation or his wolf, so he had no trouble letting go of Aron's wrist. Other Alphas would have jumped the poor, scrawny Omega and had their way with him - consent be damned. But not Andrew. 

"What's your name, Omega?" he asked casually, letting go of the stranger's hand and taking a sip of his drink. 

Something inside Aron deflated as Andrew released his hand. His body had been craving that contact, and the sudden lack of it left him feeling cold and... disappointed. Which was ridiculous. What in the world had gotten into him? And Andrew's casualness bothered him too. The Alpha seemed almost bored with him, completely unaffected by the fact that an unmated Omega was practically throwing himself at him. His confidence wavered, he realized with a small, internal spark of outrage.

He should be all over me. He should be desperate.

"Aron," he muttered.

Andrew hummed, his tongue lacing across his canine tooth as he looked down at the smaller man. He was thin, almost too thin, but he wasn't entirely devoid of mass. He had muscle, he wasn't deathly skinny, he was just thin. Andrew's eyes drifted down to Aron's hips, noting the slightly wider bone structure there. Definitely Omega.

"Andrew," he replied, quiet but smooth. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance."

"Yeah, sure," Aron mumbled, annoyed that Andrew hadn't seemed to pick up on the subtle hints he was sending. He could feel himself pouting like a kid and bit his lip in frustration. Damn Alpha. He leaned against the counter, trying to appear casual, but he was anything but. The Omega part of him was thrumming with anticipation and excitement, but his pride was wounded. The Alpha should be pursuing him, not the other way around. He had never felt this way before and it was infuriating.

Andrew tilted his head slightly, raising an eyebrow at the tone shift in the Omega. From cocky to bitchy in ten seconds flat. Andrew lifted his glass, his thick, heavy titanium rings glinting in the light of the bar as he took a slow sip, eyes never leaving Aron. 

"You seem tense," Andrew observed, leaning his elbow on the bar as he set his glass down. "Don't be, please, I promise I'm not like those Alphas that lose control the second they scent an Omega. I have some decency."

Aron scoffed, glancing sideways at Andrew through his dark eyelashes. He couldn't help but feel a little offended. He'd been throwing himself at the man for the past five minutes, practically begging to be noticed, and now he was being told to relax?

He crossed his arms, a pout on his pretty lips. "What's wrong? Scared I'll bite back?" he teased, his tone dripping with sarcasm. He was still reeling from the heady cocktail of emotions stirring inside him: frustration, attraction, and a desperate need for attention.

Damn Alpha.

Andrew paused, frowning. Oh, that just wouldn't do.

"Would you prefer me to be all over you, with or without your consent?" Andrew asked, almost scoffing. "I have decorum, Aron, I'm not an animal - despite being a werewolf."

Aron paused, his eyes widening at the response. His mouth opened and closed a few times, but he had no idea how to respond. Of course he didn't want to be forced into anything he didn't want, but... he did want Andrew to be a little more... aggressive. Dominant. Claiming. 

Damn my Omega instincts, he groaned internally. This is so embarrassing. I'm a grown man, for Christ's sake. 

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to compose himself. "I... I guess not."

Andrew raised an eyebrow, shaking his head with a slight chuckle. 

"Don't look so disappointed, Omega, I'm not uninterested, I'm respectful."

Respectful, Aron thought, frustration welling up inside him. He didn't want respect, he wanted Alpha, dominance. He wanted to be held down and claimed. But he couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. He took a steadying breath, trying to calm the turmoil raging within his chest.

"You call ignoring me respectful?" he grumbled, his annoyance creeping into his voice. "An unmated Omega approaches you, basically throwing himself at you, and you do... this. It's insulting."

Andrew stiffened, nostrils flaring and eyes narrowing. 

"I beg your fucking pardon?" he growled. The glass in his hand creaked from the strength of his grip. "I'm so sorry if trying to learn your name before I fuck you against the bar was insulting, Omega, next time I'll be sure to just toss you over my damn bike like a caveman."

Aron inhaled sharply, eyes widening as the Alpha finally lost his composure. The harsh words, combined with the scent of Alpha arousal, left him feeling weak in the knees. He took a step closer, his body now mere inches away from Andrew's broader frame. His mouth was suddenly dry, his heartbeat erratic.

"It's rude to refuse an Omega what they want," he whispered, his hands coming to rest on the Alpha's arm. His fingers traced along the line of his bicep. "Especially when they've earned it." Andrew rose from the barstool, glaring down at Aron. 

"And how have you earned it exactly?" he asked, lip curling as his teeth extended into slight fangs. "Does throwing yourself at a stranger with no regard for your own safety constitute earning an Alpha's regard in your mind?"

Aron's eyes narrowed, his Omega instincts kicking into high gear. He let out a low, dangerous growl, the sound rumbling deep in his chest. He was an Omega, but he was also a survivor. And the wolf inside him wouldn't let this Alpha push him around so easily.

"I can take care of myself just fine," he retorted, his fingers digging into the Alpha's arm. "I may be an Omega, but I'm not some helpless girl. I know what I want, and I take it. Are you going to give it to me, or are you too weak?"

Andrew sneered down at Aron, his hands shaking slightly from the effort it took to restrain himself. Weak. Weak. Andrew took a deep, steadying breath, trying to keep from just... hurting. He didn't want to hurt. Not Aron, not anyone. 

"You have ten seconds," he growled, low and gravelly and deep and rumbling. "To pay your fucking tab."

Aron scoffed, completely unfazed by the Alpha's anger. In fact, he was enjoying it. The aggression, the possessiveness, the anger. It was intoxicating, and it was doing things to him that were... indecent. 

"No," he said simply, the corner of his mouth lifting in a little, mocking smile. "And what are you going to do? Hurt me?" He stepped closer, his body pressed against the Alpha's, his lips inches from the man's ear. "I dare you."

Andrew leaned down, eyes burning as the blue irises bled into gold. He gripped Aron's chin roughly, dragging him forward into a rough kiss. His tongue didn't ask for entrance, it took it. Andrew's kiss was dominating and claiming and hot and full of promises. 

And then he pulled away, breathing hard.

Aron's eyes widened as Andrew pulled him close for a sudden, rough kiss. The Alpha's tongue in his mouth sent a jolt of heat through him, and he couldn't help but push back against the other man's lips. His brain was fuzzing up, the Omega in him purring and stretching happily, pleased with how things had turned out. 

But when Andrew pulled away, Aron felt a pang of disappointment. He wanted more, he needed more. 

"That was good, Alpha," he murmured, looking up at Andrew through his dark lashes. "But I want more."

Andrew smirked, a sadistic twist to his lips. 

"Too bad," he purred. "You dared me to hurt you, Aron. So I will."

Andrew pulled out his wallet and tossed a few bills onto the bar to cover his drink before turning and walking away - without Aron.Aron froze in place, utterly bewildered. He had dared the Alpha to hurt him (half hoping he would), and the man had... backed down? He was leaving? His Omega instincts were howling at the unfairness of the situation. He had offered, and the Alpha had denied. The audacity. He quickly gathered himself, scrambling to follow Andrew. "Hey! Where do you think you're going?" he sputtered, stomping after him. "That's not how it goes! I offer, you accept, you hurt me, we both have fun!"

Andrew threw his head back and laughed. 

"Oh, you wanted to be hurt in a kinky way," he mocked as he pushed out of the bar. "But I meant I’d hurt you in a way that matters, sweetie." 

Aron froze, his blood running cold. He hadn't meant any deeper than what Andrew was thinking, he didn't have feelings for the man, of course not. He was just... attracted to him. Yes, that was it. And now Andrew was rejecting him. An Omega. He felt sick. Like he'd been punched in the gut. It was the ultimate rejection, and it cut deeper than any physical pain ever could. 

He stared at Andrew, his eyes wet and burning with tears, and whispered, "You're a bastard."

Andrew shrugged, walking over to his bike. 

"I tried to be good," he mused, pulling out his keys. "I tried to be chivalrous and respectful and get to know you before I just knotted you, Aron, but you didn't want that. You wanted to be treated like shit, so I'm treating you like shit."

Aron's hands clenched into fists, his Omega nature rebelling at the thought of being discarded so callously. He was valuable, he was special, he was important, and he didn't deserve to be treated like some worthless piece of trash. 

"Don't you have any sense of obligation?" he spat, his eyes burning with anger and humiliation. "Don't you understand the responsibility that comes with being Alpha? An Omega offers, an Alpha accepts… that's how it's supposed to be! Not this… this… bullshit."

"No, that's not how it's supposed to be," Andrew snapped, whirling around to snarl at Aron. "I am not a slave to my secondary gender, Aron, and neither are you. We're people, not just wolves. You're more than a breeding machine, I'm more than a stud to be milked. I wanted to get to know you, to maybe see if things could be more than sexual between us, but all you wanted was a quick knot and a bite that you probably wouldn't even honor. Fuck you."

Aron was left speechless, his mind spinning with conflicting feelings. He had always been taught that the Alpha was dominant, the Omega subservient - it was the natural order of things. But now…was Andrew suggesting that they could be something more? Something more than Alpha and Omega. Something equal. He took a shaky breath, his eyes locking with Andrew's. 

"So what you're saying is…you want to be friends?" he said hesitantly. The very word, 'friends,' felt strange upon his tongue. Andrew looked at Aron with a mixture of genuine pity and 'are you 'dumb?' on his face. 

"No, Aron, I wanted to see if you were boyfriend material," he said, shaking his head. "I wanted to see if we have chemistry outside of lust."

Aron's eyes widened in disbelief. Boyfriend material? Him? It was absurd. He was a rough-around-the-edges Omega, not some simpering, clingy Omega who craved love and commitment. Boyfriend material. It was laughable.

But… It was also strangely appealing. It made him feel... wanted, in a way he hadn't felt in a long time. Maybe he could be... boyfriend material.

He cleared his throat, trying to play it cool. "Boyfriends, huh? That's a little... risky, don't you think?"

Andrew laughed, sarcastic and loud. 

"Yeah, understatement, Aron, given your reaction to me just trying to have a conversation instead of just sticking my dick in you."

Aron winced at the bluntness of Andrew's words, his cheeks flushing. It was painful to hear the truth put into such harsh words, but it didn't make it any less true. He had been more interested in the physical aspect of things than anything else, but... He couldn't deny that there was a certain attraction between them. A magnetic pull that went beyond the physical. He was intrigued, curious, and maybe a little bit smitten. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. 

"Fine," he murmured. "Fine, we can… try the boyfriend thing. See where it goes."

"No," Andrew scoffed. "No, that's off the table now. I'm not going to waste my time on an Omega that just wants my fucking knot instead of a guy that wants me as a human. Fuck off." Andrew turned back to his bike, climbing on.

"What the hell, Andrew?!" Aron exploded, his Omega nature flaring up at the refusal. The way he saw it, Andrew should have been grateful he was even offering the chance of a boyfriend. "I just agreed to explore the possibility of more, and now you're just throwing me out?! You're really a piece of work, you know that?! What do I have to do, huh?" Aron clenched his fists, his entire body shaking with anger. "Tell me what it'll take for you to give me a damn chance!"

Andrew started the bike, not looking over at Aron. 

"You had your chance, dude," he said, shaking his head. "You had your chance when I asked your name and tried to get to know you and you were insulted that I didn't just toss you over the bar and fuck you brainless. You had your fucking chance."

Aaron stared at Andrew, his anger and frustration growing by the second. He couldn't believe how arrogant and stubborn the Alpha was being. So he'd made one little misstep, so what? He was willing to make it up to him, willing to give this thing between them a chance. But instead, he was being thrown away like some toy that had broken. Aron felt his heart squeeze tight, his Omega instincts crying out in protest. But he refused to show any weakness. He had more pride than that, goddamn it.

"Fine," he said, his voice low and icy. "Have it your-"

Aron hadn't even finished the sentence before Andrew was peeling out of the parking lot on his bike, engine roaring. Aron clenched his fists as he watched Andrew speed away on his bike, feeling a surge of despair. He had just been rejected, his Omega pride bruised and battered. But he wasn't going to let it break him. He was strong, he was capable, and he was damn well going to move on from this humiliation. He took a deep breath, steeling himself, and then turned and walked away. Back to his lonely life, his empty house, and his constant craving for intimacy that he could never seem to satisfy.

As he walked, an idea began to take shape in his mind. If Andrew wasn't going to give him a chance, he would find someone else who would. Someone who appreciated him, who understood him, who would never reject him.

"If Andrew is going to toss me away like a piece of trash," he thought grimly, "then I'll find someone who'll worship the ground I walk on."

Over the next several weeks, Aron made it his mission to find someone new. He became a regular at the bars, prowling the streets for someone who would appreciate his Omega instincts and his fiery nature. And despite his determination, he found himself striking out again and again.

No one seemed to want him. No one was interested in him for anything more than a quick, easy lay. And as the days went on, he could feel his Omega pride taking a further beating with every rejection. 

It was one of those nights, Aron once again in a club and alone and trying to attract someone's attention. But either the entire bar was filled with humans, or nobody wanted an Omega like him. But then he smelled something. Alpha. It was fresh, it was foresty, it smelled like cigarettes and musk and willow trees. Aron froze, his nose twitching as he picked up the scent of the Alpha. Alpha… It was like a bolt of lightning shot through him, his Omega instincts instantly responding. Fresh, foresty, it smelled good and right. He quickly swiveled around, trying to find the source of the scent. He could feel his heart racing, his body reacting to the smell. He had to find him, he had to.

Danny had smelled the Omega as soon as he had walked into the bar, but he hadn't found them yet. He was trying, head on a swivel, but he wasn't having any luck yet. Everyone was a fucking human, and his inner wolf was getting discouraged. The scent didn't seem stale and old, but maybe he had just missed the Omega? 

He sighed, running a tattooed hand through his bleached hair. His denim vest with the HU patch on the back caught on a chair as he passed and he paused to fix it, frowning slightly. 

Then his head snapped up. The smell was getting stronger. The Omega was closer-

Aron walked through the bar, his eyes scanning the crowd, his heart racing. Every nerve in his body was on edge, his Omega instincts on high alert. 

Then he caught another whiff of the Alpha's scent. It was stronger, closer. His eyes darted around, trying to find the source of the smell. And suddenly, he spotted him.

The Alpha was standing by the chairs, fixing his denim vest. And he was everything Aron had ever dreamed of - tall, muscular, tattooed, with bleached blonde hair. He was perfect.

The sight of the Alpha was like a magnet, drawing Aron closer. His entire body seemed to thrum with energy, his Omega instincts screaming at him to get closer, to make a connection. He wove through the crowd, never taking his eyes off the Alpha, his every movement driven by the need to be near him. 

Finally, he came to a stop in front of the Alpha, his heart pounding in his chest. He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the Alpha, his inner Omega purring in pleasure. He could feel himself getting heady, his legs feeling weak. 

Danny spun around, nostrils flaring. His eyes locked on the Omega and he-

He froze, his gut twisting in anxiety and dread. 

"Deuce?" he asked, taking a step back. Shit. Deuce. Aron. The guy Danny had replaced in Hollywood Undead, the guy that had made Danny's life hell for three years before he'd become a werewolf and an Alpha. Deuce was the Omega. 

Aron's heart skipped a beat at the sound of Danny’s voice. He was so deep in his instinctive responses that he almost didn’t recognize him. But then he heard the name that the Alpha used. Deuce. It was the name that he hadn't heard in years, the name that he had tried desperately to forget. It was the name that had come to represent everything he had lost when Hollywood Undead had chosen to replace him. He took a step back, his eyes widening in surprise and recognition. This couldn't be right. This couldn't be… 

“Danny…?”

Chapter 2: Help Me

Summary:

Danny and Deuce talk and Aron reveals he is still in a very dangerous situation. Danny calls in reinforcements from the LAST people he ever imagined calling for help.

Notes:

Nine Lives, bitches! And yes, each chapter will be a song title - either from the HU or the Deuce discography. Enjoy!

Aw, hell in a handbasket. It was fucking Deuce . Of course it was. 

Was Aron there to bully him again? Was he just there to mock Danny and throw names and insults and maybe a few bottles again?

Danny swallowed. He wasn't a dumb twenty-something anymore. They were both grown ass men in their 40s, they could be mature about this. God, he smells good-

"How have you been?" Danny asked carefully, testing the waters. Aron's jaw dropped in disbelief, his head reeling. The Alpha was acting… cordial? Almost polite. Not snarling and spitting at the sight of him? He took a step back, his mind trying to process the situation. Why wasn't the Alpha lunging at him, yelling in his face? It didn't make sense. And yet...he smelled so good.

"I've been..." Aron trailed off, biting his lip. "I've been..." He swallowed hard. "Fine. I've been just fine."

Danny's eyes fell to Aron's mouth, watching him bite his lip. He swallowed. 

"Good, good, that's... That's good." God, he sounded so dumb right now. Danny cleared his throat and shoved his hands in the pockets of his jeans to keep them from reaching for Aron or fidgeting. Or both.

Aron's heart was thumping against his chest, his breathing ragged and uneven. He was still trying to process what was happening. The Alpha hadn't attacked, hadn't ridiculed him. Instead, he sounded...nervous? That didn't make any sense.

He took a deep breath, trying to calm his racing thoughts. "You...you look...different," he finally managed to say, his gaze flicking over Danny. He did look different. Older, stronger. More...Alpha. Danny looked down at himself. He'd filled out over the years. Touring and lifting heavy equipment helped, sure, but he'd been hitting the gym with George and Jorel regularly for years now. 

"Thanks," he said, shrugging and offering Aron a nervous smile, his angelic face slightly less nervous. "I uh... I got the bug, and it helped a lot with... getting stronger." He didn't want to outright say that Jordon had accidentally infected him with Lycanthropy, but he couldn't exactly hide the scent of wolf and Alpha that came off him in waves. 

"You look good too," he continued, eyes trailing down Aron's thin, small, lean body. "... Real good." Aron's breath caught in his throat as the Alpha complimented his body. A wave of heat and pleasure washed over him, his Omega instincts preening at the praise. He swallowed hard, trying to keep himself under control. It was unfair, how the Alpha could make him feel so weak and needy with just a few words.

"Thanks," he said gruffly, his voice a little thicker than usual. He shifted, almost subconsciously, to expose his neck just a little more. Danny's eyes snapped to Aron's throat instinctively. Unmarked. No bite. No mate. 

"Yeah," he breathed, his voice a little strained. "So uh... What brings you here tonight? You used to hit up Moscow every weekend, what brings you to Rojo?"

"Just... needed a change of scenery, I guess," Aron muttered, his eyes flickering up to meet Danny's. He could feel the Alpha's gaze on his throat, and a shiver ran down his spine. He took a step closer, his heart racing. "What about you? You don't usually come to Rojo either."

Danny licked his lips, his hands clenching in his pockets. 

"Jumbo's is closed because of the fires," he said, his voice getting just a bit lower. "And if the guys aren’t going to be with me, strip clubs aren’t really my scene. Girls are... Not my thing."

Aron's stomach twisted at the Alpha's words, his Omega instincts going haywire once again. The Alpha wasn't interested in girls… He took another step closer, closing the distance between them. He could almost feel the Alpha's body heat, the scent of his leather vest and cigarettes surrounding him like a warm, heady cloud.

"Not your thing, huh?" he said, his voice dropping a few octaves. He ran a hand through his messy hair, showing off his neck again.

Danny's hands slid out of his pockets as Aron stepped closer again, clutching at the chair behind him like it would stop him from grabbing the Omega. His eyes were locked on that pretty, unmarked neck. 

"Yeah-" He swallowed. "Yeah, not my thing... You uh..." God, you smell so fucking good… "Is that a problem?" he asked, trying to keep his voice level. Aron had never liked Danny, so he was fully anticipating some kind of negative reaction.

It was taking all of Aron's willpower to not sink to his knees in front of the Alpha, to press his face against his thigh and inhale his scent. He could feel his body responding to the Alpha's proximity, his Omega instincts screaming at him to submit, to give in. But he held himself back. Barely.

"Problem?" he repeated, his voice a rough, raspy whisper. "No. No, I don't think it's a problem...at all."

Danny's teeth sank into his lip, his eyes flicking between Aron's. The other singer was only an inch or two shorter than Danny, but he was smaller, thinner and leaner. He had always wanted to see his old bully on his fucking knees, but now it was for a totally different reason. 

"Hey, uh... Can... Can I buy you a drink?" Danny asked, his hands shaking slightly as the wood of the chair he was gripping creaked. "For old time's sake."

Aron's heart was beating so fast, he was almost panting. His body was aching to submit, to do whatever the Alpha asked of him. He was fighting a losing battle against his Omega instincts. But he couldn't, he couldn't let the Alpha see how much he was affected right now.

"A drink?" he repeated, feigning nonchalance. "Sure. Why not."

Danny almost growled at Aron's uninterested tone, but he bit it back and let go of the chair. His hands had left cracks in the wood. 

"Cool, yeah," he said, clearing his throat and turning. He forced himself to walk toward the bar, trying not to put a hand on Aron's back to make sure he followed.

Every part of Aron wanted to follow, to let the Alpha lead him wherever he wanted. He trailed after Danny grudgingly, his eyes taking in the back of the Alpha's form as he led the way to the bar. He sat down on a barstool and looked around, trying to get his bearings. He hadn' been to Rojo in years, but not much seemed to have changed. Maybe a few new decorations, but otherwise everything was as it had always been.

Danny ordered a few beers, taking both from the bartender before walking back over to Aron and holding one out for him. 

"You still like Corona, right?" he asked, thinking back to all those times he'd hung out with the band before Aron had been kicked out and seen the other singer with a Corona or a vodka in his hand while recording. Aron nodded, taking the offered beer from the Alpha. 

"Yeah," he said, his fingers brushing against Danny's as he took the bottle. A fission of electricity shot through him at the brief touch, and he had to fight to keep his hand from shaking. He took a slow sip, trying to maintain his composure.

"You remember that?" he said, his voice deliberately casual. "You remember what I drank?"

Danny let out a shaky breath as the electricity went up his arm. He shrugged, looking away from Aron. He didn't want to admit that he'd always paid more attention to Aron than any of the other guys. 

"Yeah, good memory, I guess," he said dismissively, taking a sip of his beer.

Aron hummed, his eyes roaming over the Alpha. He could tell there was more to it than that. The way Danny was avoiding his gaze, the slight tremor in his hand...it was as if he didn't want to admit something.

He leaned forward slightly, resting his forearms on the bar. "You always had good memory," he said, his voice almost a purr. "You always seemed to be paying attention to things that the rest of the guys missed. Things about me."

Danny almost dropped his beer, his head whipping around and his eyes wide as he met Aron's. His grip on the bottle tightened. 

"Yeah, well," he said, trying to sound less caught. "You were pretty in your face about everything you did, so... It was hard to miss."

Aron felt a thrill go through him at the Alpha's flustered response. This was almost too easy, flustering the Alpha with just a few words.

He leaned closer, his voice low and silky. "But it wasn't all bad, was it? I know you remember some things that weren't all that bad..."

Danny looked away, his lips pursing. 

"Yeah, things were fine before..." Before you got kicked out of the band and I replaced you as lead singer and you started harassing and bullying and threatening me. But he didn't say that.

Aron grimaced slightly at the memory, a wave of guilt and remorse washing over him. Looking back now, he could see how awful he'd been to Danny. Everything he'd said, every insult and threat...he'd been an absolute prick. He was quiet for a moment, staring down at his beer. When he spoke again, his voice was softer, almost apologetic.

"Yeah," he said, his throat tight. "Things were...good before."

Danny leaned on the bar, staring at the wood like it held the answers to the universe in the grain. He was quiet for a long moment before he looked over at Aron again. The Omega smelled delicious and looked fantastic - he'd obviously put effort into his outfit for the night, probably trying to get laid or something - and he was unmated and unmarked and-

Danny swallowed again. 

"You uh... You got a girlfriend or anything?" he asked. "I remember you were still with Sigh back in the day. You two still going strong?"

Aron's heart leapt at the question. Danny sounded almost nervous, almost hopeful. Was he...was he hoping he was single? 

"No," he said, shaking his head. "No, Sigh and I broke up ages ago. We...we just weren't working anymore." He took another sip of his beer, meeting Danny's gaze again. "Why do you ask?"

Danny shrugged, trying not to seem too interested. 

"Just curious, I guess," he said casually. "Me and Reese split too. She took Roman. That's around the time I figured out I didn't like girls as much as I thought I did."

Aron's eyes widened slightly at the confession. Danny was...gay? The Alpha was gay, meaning he could—

Aron pushed those thoughts away, trying to ignore the sudden stirring of hope in his chest. 

"Reese took Roman?" he repeated, his mind still whirling. "Damn. That sucks. You didn't...you didn't try to fight for custody?"

"Oh, I fought like hell," Danny said, shaking his head. "But the courts figured that me being on the road for nine months out of the year wasn't a stable home for a kid, so they gave him to Reese. I get him in the summer, but I don't see him nearly as much as I want to."

Danny wasn't bitter about it though, really. Reese's new husband was a great step-dad for Roman. Aron listened in silence, his chest tightening as he heard the pain and sadness in Danny's voice. He could tell that Danny was trying to sound like it wasn't a big deal, but he could hear the emotion in his voice. He reached forward, carefully resting his hand on Danny's arm. 

"I'm sorry, man," he said quietly. "That must be...rough."

Danny looked down at Aron's hand, his eyebrows rising. He hadn't expected empathy. He hadn't expected Aron to do anything but mock him. But this... He liked this. He looked up from the hand on his arm, meeting Aron's pretty, so fucking pretty eyes. 

"Yeah, it's... It's lonely," he murmured. "Big house, no one in it but me."

Aron's heart thumped with excitement, his Omega instincts going crazy. They were talking—really talking—and he could feel the connection building between them. They were connecting on a level that he'd never thought possible. He let his fingertips trace over Danny's arm lightly, the leather of his jacket smooth and soft under his touch. 

"Alone?" he said, his voice low and intimate. "That sucks, man."

Danny slowly - like he was trying not to spook a wild animal - turned his body to face Aron. Aron was on a barstool, but Danny was still standing and that made him a bit taller than Aron. 

"Yeah, it's quiet," he replied, voice just as low as Aron's. "The uh... The recording room doesn't get used nearly as much as it used to, either. Now that Jordon and George live in Nashville and not LA, it's kind of just... Just me. Jorel moved to Oklahoma and Dylan's in Texas with his new wife. We only really see each other for recording at Jordon's and touring..."

He turned his hand on the bar, palm up.

As Danny faced him, Aron felt his breath catch. The Alpha was so close now that he could smell his cologne and cigarettes. Even the leather of his jacket seemed to exude a warmth that made his head swim. He swallowed hard, his gaze flicking down to Danny's hand before back up to his eyes. 

"It must be hard..." he murmured, his fingers still tracing a slow, gentle path over the Alpha's arm. "Must be lonely and boring, all alone in a big house with no one to talk to."

"Yeah," Danny breathed, his fingers flexing as Aron's touch trailed over his sleeve. "It gets real boring. Sometimes I think I need a roommate or some shit." He took a small, almost nonexistent step closer to the Omega, inhaling deeply to get another hint of that scent.

Aron's heart was racing, the Alpha's nearness making his thoughts scramble and his body hum. He'd never felt this way around another man, this mix of excitement and desire and need. He could tell Danny was sniffing his scent; he couldn't help the shiver that ran down his spine. He could practically taste the Alpha's scent, that same piney, musky smell that had always made him weak.

"A roommate, huh?" he said, his voice lower and breathless. "That...that could be good."

Danny licked his chapped lips, his throat dry despite the beer. 

"What about you?" he asked quietly. "You still live in Inglewood?"

Aron's lips curled into a slight smile, his body practically vibrating with the Alpha's attention. 

"Yeah," he answered, his voice almost a whisper. "Still in Inglewood, same place I've had since we were a band." He let his fingertips trail down over Danny's hand slowly, his touch just a light, tantalizing caress.

"You're still in that shithole you rented from your parents?" Danny asked, his brow creasing. He... He didn't like that. Aron may not have worked out with the band, but he was talented and a good musician and he shouldn't be stuck in a crap apartment run by Scientologists. 

"You never moved out? Jesus, Aron-" He actively didn't think about the fact that he hadn't said Aron's real name and not Deuce in decades "-You gotta get out of there, man."

Aron's chest tightened at the mention of his apartment. It was a shithole; it was cramped and noisy and run by a cult. He'd always hated it, but he'd never had the money to get away. Hearing Danny say it, hearing him say that he should get somewhere better...it made his hands tremble and his heart ache. 

"You think I don't know that?" he murmured, his voice shaky. "You think I wanna stick around in a shithole like that? I'm just...stuck." 

Danny growled, the wolf in him getting pissed at the idea of the Omega in front of him being stuck in a bad den. 

"Stuck? Stuck how?" he asked, his brow furrowed and his lips frowning. The frown looked out of place on Danny's usually smiling features.

Danny was getting angry. On his behalf. Aron's Omega instinct was preening, practically purring at the Alpha's protectiveness. No one had ever gotten that riled up on his behalf before.

"It's...money," he admitted, his voice reluctant. "It's the money. I've been trying to get gigs as a solo artist, doing some production work, but it's...it's not easy. I'm getting by, but I can't afford to get a new place, or-" His voice caught, his shoulders hunching. "Or anything."

Danny's fist clenched. For a second, he felt guilty, even though Aron being kicked out of the band had nothing to do with him. But he shoved the feeling down, going through the mantra his therapist had given him years ago to deal with that exact feeling and focusing on the now. 

"You gotta get out of there, Aron," he said again. "It's run by a cult. We all left the church and bailed on our parents for that exact reason."

Aron winced, the reminder of the church and his awful parents making the old anger and pain stir up in his chest. 

"You think I don't wish I could get out?" he snapped, his voice strained. "I can't, okay? I can't just wave a magic wand and get a new apartment. You have no idea how many places I've applied to and-"He cut off, breathing hard, his hands clenching at his sides. There was no use in getting mad at Danny. He'd been nothing but supportive.

Danny growled again, his knuckles turning white. The thought of Aron applying to other places and not getting in wasn't surprising. The cult actively sabotaged things like that to keep people from leaving. 

"Are you still in the church?" he asked carefully. "Are you still a Scientologist?"

Aron took a deep breath, the simple question a punch to the gut. He'd hated being raised a Scientologist. His parents had been horrible and abusive, using the church to justify their awful behavior.

"No," he said firmly, his voice low and hard. "I'm not in the church. I haven't spoken to my parents in years." He paused, his gaze flickering up to Danny, gauging his reaction.

Danny sighed in slight relief, his shoulders relaxing a bit. 

"Jesus, good," he muttered. "You have no idea how worried we've all been about you, man, we all left and you stayed and-" He took a breath, Aron's scent filling his nose and his brain and making him relax further. "Let me help."

Danny's shoulders had relaxed, his scent sweetening and God, it was driving him crazy. He let out a shaky exhale, his heart thudding in his chest. 

"Help me?" he echoed, sounding just a little desperate. "Help me how? I already told you, it's a money problem. I don't have enough to-" He cut off, his mind whirling. Was Danny really offering to give him money?

"Just... Just let me help," Danny repeated. He didn't know why he was offering, Aron was probably still too proud to even accept it, but he had to try. He couldn't do nothing. "Let me... I have room. I have so much room. Let me help. Stay with me a while and you can save up and find something and-"

Stay with him. Aron's breath caught, a fluttery mix of hope and shock filling his chest. Could that really be what Danny was offering?

"Stay with you?" he repeated, shock lacing his voice. "As in...move in with you? I can’t- I don’t want to be a burden."

Danny let out a low rumble, the scent around him sharpening at Aron calling himself a burden. He stepped forward and grabbed Aron's thin shoulders, his tatted up hands firm and strong and warm. 

"You aren't a burden," he said, his voice low and growling. "Don't ever call yourself that again, I swear to God."

Aron's breath caught as Danny's strong hands touched him, long fingers gripping his thin shoulders. The Alpha's voice growled, possessive and protective, the scent of pine and musk and power filling his nose. His knees buckled and he had to reach forward instinctively, his palms landing on Danny's chest to keep from collapsing.

"Danny," he murmured, his heart thudding in his chest. "Danny, I can't...I can't ask you to-"

"You aren't asking," Danny murmured, pulling Aron just a bit closer instinctively. "I'm offering. Let me help you, Ruru."

Aron let out a soft whimper at the nickname, his fingers digging shakily into Danny's jacket. He'd forgotten how much he loved hearing the Alpha's voice when it was this close, this intimate, whispering against his ear in the low, possessive tones. 

"You...you really want me to stay with you?" he repeated, sounding almost awed. "You...you don't mind?"

Danny let out a ragged breath, wrapping his arms around Aron's shoulders and hugging him tightly. He shut his eyes and just breathed in the scent of the Omega, the scared and alone and needy Omega that had been throwing himself at Alphas left and right since Ambrose had rejected him. 

"I've got you, Ruru," he murmured. "It's okay. I'll get you out of that fucking cult house and you can stay with me as long as you want, okay? I've got you, now, you're safe and I won't let anything happen to you."

Being held by Danny felt like coming home. Aron buried his face in Danny's chest, his arms wrapping around his middle. The Alpha was warm and big, the scent of pine and wood filling his nose. It was all he'd dreamed of for a decade, of having Danny hold him, protect him. 

"Please," he mumbled, his voice a mix of hope and desperation. "Get me out. Please."

"Tonight," Danny promised, his hand buried in Aron's hair. "We're getting you out tonight. You never have to spend another night in that goddamn place ever again, Ruru, I swear." Danny turned his head and pressed his nose to Aron's neck just below his ear, inhaling deeply. "I got you now, baby, I got you," he murmured, the endearment slipping out instinctively.

When Danny nuzzled into his neck, the action so protective and primal, it made the Omega inside of him whine and preen. The feeling of Danny's big hand in his hair was making his spine tingle, his body heating up. He barely even noticed the endearment. He was too intent on keeping his knees from buckling. 

"Please" he repeated again, his hands clenching in the other man's shirt. "I can...I can pack, just...get me out of there, please."

"I'll make some calls and we'll get your shit and get you out," Danny promised, his voice hoarse and low. "I promise."

He wouldn't let Aron stay in a place controlled by the cult that everyone else had escaped. No matter their past, Danny refused to leave Aron to the cult. 

"Just a few calls and you're out, okay? We won't tell the landlords, we won't tell anyone in that entire building. You'll disappear, they won't know where to find you, you'll be safe."

Aron swallowed hard, the thought of having to go back into that building, back into that cult, to pack his stuff, making his heart pound. But to know that he'd finally be free from that place...that it wouldn't take months and months of saving and searching...

"Okay," he murmured, pushing aside his trepidation. "Okay, I can...I'll pack, I promise, we just have to-"

He cut off, his voice sticking in his throat.

"Shh, it's okay," Danny soothed, the hand in Aron's hair scratching gently at his scalp. "Packing doesn't fucking matter. You aren't going back to that place, Ruru, I won't let you step foot on the fucking property. You're staying in the damn car and I'm handling everything. Say yes."

Danny's touch, the soothing hand in his hair and the possessive words, sent a shiver down his spine. His eyes fluttered shut, a low whine building in his throat. 

"Yes," he breathed, leaning further into the Alpha's touch. "Yes, please, Danny, I can't go back there, please-"

Danny held Aron tighter, pressing the Omega into his chest protectively. 

"Never," he swore. "Just let me handle everything, baby, I got you." 

Danny pulled away only just enough to reach for his phone, dialing the familiar number and holding the phone to his ear. The call was answered on the second ring. 

"Hey, Jeff? Yeah, I need your help, brosky, Aron's leaving the cult and we gotta help him get his shit out of that apartment he was in back when we were kids. You in?"

"Aron's finally leaving? Fuck yeah, dude, of course I'm in. Hol' up, I'll call b.Lay and Truth. You get Yuma and Gadjet."

"Thanks, man, I knew I could count on you. Yeah, call the others."

Danny hung up and started searching for the old phone numbers for Aron's old rap group Nine Lives. It was overwhelming, being the object of so much care. For a decade, Aron had been mostly alone, only having his parents and the "church" for company. And now he had Danny, who was making calls and calling in favors to get him out, and it was making his heart pound. 

He heard the name of the only former friend he had a phone number for and took a shaky breath. Jeff. They hadn't spoken since Aron left, but Jeff had promised to help if he ever called. 

"Jeff..." he whispered, hope filling his voice.

"Yeah, Shady Jeff," Danny said, his voice low and soothing. "Shady's got your back. He's a fucking conspiracy theorist now, but he's got your back. He's calling b.Lay and Truth, too. You remember them? Nine Lives?" Danny hit the button to call Jimmy Yuma, wondering if he'd actually answer.

"B.Lay and Truth!" Aron's head shot up, his eyes wide. He hadn't heard those names in years - b.Lay and Truth, his former bandmates, his once-friends, the only people who had tried to help him after he'd been kicked out. Were they really going to help him escape? 

"How did...how did you-" he started to ask but stopped when the phone began to ring.

"The fuck do you want, Rose?" Yuma asked angrily. Danny rolled his eyes. 

"Hey, Aron's leaving the cult," he said. "I need people to help get his shit from the old apartment in Inglewood."

"Deuce is- He... Yeah, I can be there in twenty minutes."

"Thanks, man."

"Still fucking hate you, by the way. I'm doing this for Deuce." 

"Yeah, same. Fuck you, thanks for the help," Danny replied, hanging up to call the next person, arm still wrapped around Aron.

Yuma was going to help. Aron couldn't believe it, couldn't process it. Danny was calling everyone, getting people together, and they were all going to help him escape. His head was spinning, his hands trembling, as he struggled to breathe. 

"Danny," he managed to force out. "Danny, I don't-"

"Shh... It's okay," Danny soothed, running his hand up and down Aron's back. "You see how loved you are? We've been keeping in touch with all these people just in case you ever needed us. Shit, if they were in the state, I know that Jordon and George would be here in a heartbeat."  Danny scrolled to find Gadjet's number.

Loved. Aron had almost forgotten how it felt to be loved, to be wanted, by people who knew who he was. He was practically drunk on the feeling, the sensation of people caring about him for him, rather than for the Church. He didn't realize he was crying until he heard Gadjet's voice on the other end of the line. 

"Danny? Is everything okay, dude?"

"Hey, man, sorry to bother you so late, but Aron's ready to leave the cult and I need all hands on deck to get his place cleared out. Jeff's getting b.Lay and Truth, and I just called Yuma. We need a driver. You game?" Danny asked, running his hand through Aron's hair. The words seemed to take a second to register, but when they did, a strangled noise left Aron's throat, his face buried in Danny's shirt and his shoulders shaking. 

"Of course, I'm game, what kind of question is that, dude," Gadjet said. "I'll get my ass there as soon as I can."

"Hell yeah, knew I could count on you, Tony, thank you. We'll be there soon," Danny said, grinning. He hung up and looked at Aron, his smile softening. 

"You're gonna be okay, Ruru," he murmured.

Danny's words were soft, soothing, helping to calm the maelstrom of emotions that was tearing through him. He took a shaky breath, trying to steady himself, but it was hard. Everyone, everyone was helping him. Gadjet, b-Lay, Truth, people he hadn't seen in years, people he wasn't sure were still in the country… His arms wrapped around Danny impossibly tight as a fresh wave of tears slipped out.

Danny soothed Aron with quiet murmurs as he guided the rapper out of the bar. He led him to his car, helping Aron into the passenger seat. Danny kept one hand on Aron as he cried in the passenger seat the entire drive to the old apartment in Inglewood. When they rolled up, five other cars were there, all of Aron's old friends already there and waiting. Danny parked across the street, not wanting Aron to be on the property. 

"You wait here," he said quietly. "We'll handle the packing and getting everything out. You just wait here and don't unlock the doors for anyone but me or one of them, okay?"

Aron was too emotional to do anything but nod. His mind was racing but he couldn't form coherent words, his eyes darting between the old apartment and the cars scattered across the street. He tried to take a deep breath but it caught in his throat, fear and excitement swirling together and making it hard to think. 

"Danny-" he started, cutting off and looking at the Alpha helplessly. "Hurry, please-"

Danny raised a hand to cup Aron's cheek, his instincts screaming at him to comfort and protect. 

"Fast as the Flash, baby," he murmured, leaning over to kiss Aron's forehead. "Gimme your keys."

Aron's heart thumped against his ribs as Danny's hand cupped his cheek, his chest feeling tight from the flood of emotions that were rushing through him. 

"I-" he started again, cutting off with a shaky breath. Shakily, he pulled his keys out of his pocket and handed them to the Alpha. Danny took the keys and hopped out of the car, shutting the door and jogging over to the other. B.Lay, Truth, Jeff, Yuma, and Gadjet were ready and waiting - all having brought either a truck or boxes. 

Danny cracked his knuckles, facing the people that absolutely hated him but had answered his calls because they cared about Aron. 

"Let's get this done fast, Aron's not okay," he said. Truth nodded, raising his hand to wave at Aron in the car. Danny looked up at the apartment, his gut clenching at the trauma and memories that the cult had inflicted on them all. It was time to get Aron out - the last one of their childhood friend group to still be stuck in the cult's clutches. It was time to end it.

Truth's wave was the signal everyone was waiting for. The friends all looked in the direction of the car, their gazes finding and taking in Aron's form. Everyone looked determined, focused, and angry.

Aron met their eyes, his own burning, his shoulders shaking. They came. They actually came. The rag tag team had Aron's tiny apartment cleared out in less than an hour, all of their cars packed with his stuff - mostly instruments, computers, and recording equipment - and headed to Danny's house across town before midnight. 

Danny took one last look at the empty apartment where the band had recorded their first album, bittersweet and traumatizing, before tossing the key onto the carpet and leaving the door wide open as he walked out. He got in the car with Aron, ready to lead the caravan to his house.

Chapter 3: The Kids

Summary:

Aron has a meltdown.

Notes:

So, Aron's autism and his meltdowns displayed here are heavily based on my own symptoms, meltdowns, and experiences as I have the 'tism. The scene with Danny helping him through it is very similar to what my wife does for me, actually.

The drive was short, but for Aron, it felt like a lifetime, each mile that passed bringing them closer to freedom, to escape. He sat in the passenger seat staring out the window, his mind racing, a million thoughts and emotions flowing through him at once. When they finally pulled up to Danny's house, the other cars parking closely behind, Aron's heart was hammering against his ribs. 

He was out. He was out.

Danny turned off the car and hit the button on the dash to open the garage, turning to look at Aron. 

"You can pick any room you want," he said quietly. "There's two stories, six bedrooms, and you can have whichever one you want. A whole other room for your recording equipment too." He reached over and brushed a hand over Aron's hair as the guys started unloading shit from the first truck. "You're safe. I promise." 

A whole house, to himself. It seemed surreal. After so many years of living in a rundown apartment, barely scraping by with little more than his instruments and a futon, the idea of having a whole house was almost too much for his mind to wrap itself around. Aron's eyes flickered over the massive building, awe and disbelief warring in his chest as he stared at the garage door opening. 

"Is this real?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. "It doesn't feel real-"

Danny cupped Aron's cheek, ignoring the looks from Gadjet and Yuma through the window. 

"It's real," he promised. "It's real, it's really happening, you're really out. They won't look for you here, Ruru."

Ruru.

Aron felt his throat getting tight again, his chest feeling like it was going to implode. 

"I'm out," he murmured, more to himself than to Danny. The words echoed in his ears, his heart racing as he tried to process the reality of the situation. It was a lot. Too much. His breath hitched in his chest, tears burning at his eyes, and the next thing he knew he was sobbing, burying his face in his hands.

Danny cursed under his breath and nearly fell out of the car in his hurry to get out and around to Aron's side. He ripped the door open and pulled Aron into his arms, hugging him tightly in the driveway. 

"I got you, I got you," he tried to soothe. "Fuck, fuck, Aron, I've got you."

Aron all but fell into Danny's arms, his hands fisting in the Alpha's shirt as he tried desperately to get his breathing back under control. 

It was no use. The emotions swirling inside him were too intense, too overwhelming, and he felt like he was drowning, helpless against the onslaught of tears. He clutched Danny in a vice-grip, his face buried in Danny's chest, and broke down completely.

Danny scooped Aron up, carrying him bridal style into the house. He ignored everyone putting Aron's things in the living room to sort out later and nearly ran up the stairs. 

He kicked his bedroom door open and carried Aron to the bed, sitting down on it and holding Aron in his lap. 

"Shhh, I got you, baby, I got you," he kept repeating, his arms wrapped around Aron so tightly he felt like he would break the Omega.

Aron clung to Danny like a lifeline, his body trembling against the Alpha's strong chest. He couldn't speak, couldn't even form coherent thoughts as he pressed his face into Danny's collarbone. The sobs that wracked his body were deep, chest deep, soul deep. It was as if all the hurt and fear and pain he'd been suppressing and holding onto for years was finally pouring out all at once. Truth peaked around the doorframe, but Danny didn't notice. He was too busy stroking Aron's back. 

"I got you, sweetheart," Danny murmured, his face pressed to Aron's shoulder. "Let it out. You're safe. God, you're so loved, you know that? Look who all came to help you. Everyone - we never stopped caring about you, Ruru, we never stopped loving you. I swear, we never stopped caring."

The gentle words were a soothing balm to Aron's soul, a lifeline in the storm of emotions that was battering him relentlessly. He clung to Danny's shirt, fisting the fabric in his hands, as the Alpha's murmured reassurances and promises washed over him. For a moment, the world faded around them, and it was like nothing existed anymore except for the two of them. 

"I-" His voice was rough, hoarse, broken. "I'm not- no one's-" no one's ever cared about me like this. Danny hushed him softly, his hands running soothingly over Aron's back and sides as Truth and Yuma crept into the bedroom behind them. 

"We never stopped caring," Danny repeated. "You could throw as many diss tracks at me that you want, you could throw as many beer bottles at my head as there are in the entire world, Aron, but I never stopped thinking of you as my fucking friend. Jordon, George, Dylan, Matt, fuck even Jorel still cares about you. We never stopped loving you, Ruru, you just stopped answering our calls. We never stopped waiting for you to let us in again."

Aron felt his breath hitch as the words slammed into him. They cared. They still cared about him. Even after all the insults. All the hurt. All the hate. The realization was dizzying, almost too much for his mind to process. He clutched at Danny, his body shuddering as he tried to wrap his head around it all. 

"I-" He swallowed. "You should... hate me. You should hate me."

"But I don't," Danny promised, pressing a kiss to Aron's forehead. "And I never did. I never hated you, Aron, even when you called me an American Idol reject."

His hands slid over Aron's back, keeping the Omega pressed against his chest. Danny's warm, strong arms were like a fortress. It was the safest Aron had ever felt in his entire life. 

He buried his face in the Alpha's neck, breathing in the familiar pine and wood scent. It was a combination he hadn't smelled in nearly a decade, one that brought back so many memories that he almost started crying all over again. 

"I'm-" He choked on the words, his tears staining Danny's neck. "I'm so sorry. For everything."

"I'm sorry too," Danny whispered. "I'm sorry for what happened with the stupid band, I'm sorry for taking your place, I'm sorry for calling you a retard that one time in middle school, I'm sorry it took me so damn long to say I'm sorry." Danny hugged Aron tighter, his eyes squeezed shut and his breathing ragged as he tried to think through the scent of Aron and tears and Aron and the others in the house and Aron. His heart was racing, the steady thump against his chest a sharp counterpoint to the emotions roiling through him. Aron closed his eyes, pressing even closer against Danny. He was never letting go again. 

"You don't-" His voice was hoarse, thick with unshed tears. "You don't... understand. You- You don't know... what it's been like." 

His hands fisted in the front of Danny's shirt as a shudder wracked his body. "I've... been alone. For so long. I've had no one."

"You have me now," Danny swore, his voice hoarse and croaking. "You have me now, Ruru." Danny pressed his nose to Aron's throat, the scent gland there red and puffy from his crying. Danny instinctively licked it to soothe the Omega, a low growl in his chest. "You have me now."

The gesture was like electricity. Aron's breath caught, a sharp gasp leaving his lips as Danny's tongue touched his scent gland. He clutched at him, his fingers digging into those broad shoulders. "Please," he whispered, his voice strangled. "Don't abandon me. Not again. Please..."

"Never," Danny promised. Truth hot Gadjet's arm lightly, nodding toward the door. They'd come up to ask Aron where he wanted his things, see if he was okay, but they'd seen enough. The two slipped out unnoticed by either Aron or Danny, closing the door behind them. 

Danny growled again, low and deep and rumbling, his nose pressed to Aron's neck. 

"No one's gonna hurt you ever again," he promised, he swore. "Not while I'm alive."

Aron buried his face into Danny's shirt, his entire body trembling. He'd never been this exposed. This vulnerable. This open. And here was Danny. His oldest, once closest friend. The one who had taken his place in the band, the one who had been his first heartbreak. But also the one who was holding him now, making promises and swearing to keep him safe. 

The tears spilled over, wetting the fabric of Danny's shirt. "Please," he strangled out, his voice choked. "I c-can't-"

Danny slid his hand up Aron's back to tangle in his hair, holding him closer. 

"I got you," he murmured. "You don't have to. I got you."

He was spiraling. Aron's mind was a whirlwind of emotions, all of them conflicting and battering him simultaneously. Safety. Fear. Despair. Hope. Longing. Pain. Trust. Love. So much love. 

He couldn't think straight, couldn't find one emotion to cling to as every one fought for control. Aron pressed even closer to Danny, as if he could somehow bury himself in the Alpha's chest. "Make it stop."

Danny growled, lifting his head from Aron's neck and looking at the Omega in his lap with dark brown eyes that were full of promises and protection. 

"Make what stop?" he asked. "What's bothering you? I'll break it, just tell me what's hurting you. I'll fix it."

Aron gripped the fabric of Danny's shirt, his fingers clenching so tightly the fabric ripped slightly. 

"Everything," he gasped out. "I can't- I can't think- My mind- It- It hurts. I can't- I-" 

He was spiraling, his mind spiraling, Aron was spiraling. His thoughts were a tangle of sharp edges and hurt feelings, his emotions so overwhelming they were almost blinding. 

"Please," he choked, his words barely more than a shattered whisper. "Please make it stop. Please."

Too many emotions. Too many thoughts. Danny suddenly remembered that Aron was autistic and he was having a damn meltdown. 

"Fuck, shit uh- fuck, how did we handle this in high school-" Danny looked around for something to wrap around Aron. He settled for his own leather jacket, ripping it off and wrapping it around Aron's shoulders. If he remembered right, Aron needed pressure and constriction and-- 

Danny moved Aron from his lap so he could run over to the desk across the room and turn on music. Led Zeppelin filled the air as Danny came back to Aron and pushed him back to lay on his back on the bed. Danny climbed in with him, wrapping his arms tight around Aron to provide the pressure. 

"Is this okay? Is this better?" 

It was helping. The pressure from the jacket made him feel like he was grounded. The weight of Danny's arms pinning him down felt like an anchor. The music was a godsend, providing a distraction from the spiral of pain and fear in his mind. Aron lay there for a moment, taking shaky breaths as the storm in him slowly calmed. 

"It's working," he murmured, his voice rough. "Keep going."

Danny sighed in relief, his head falling to the pillow as he held Aron tighter. He started quietly singing along to the music, the familiar songs the same ones they would all listen to in the old days when they were kids on skateboards in West Hollywood and too much time on their hands. Immigrant Song filled the room, the lyrics a familiar and comforting sound. Aron closed his eyes, letting Danny's singing wash over him. It was a soothing sound, a pleasant rumble right against his ear. 

The jacket was still wrapped around him, pressing him into the bed. The weight of Danny's arms on his chest was a steady pressure, like a pair of chains weighing him down and keeping him from flying apart. The Omega inhaled deeply, drawing in the Alpha's scent. Wood smoke, pine - Danny.Danny sang, his arms around Aron to keep him together and a leg thrown over him too for good measure. With Aron bundled up in his jacket, Danny felt a flash of a very toxic sense of dark satisfaction. 

Jorel had always been the one to hold Aron during his meltdowns or hard times. Jorel had always been the one to have an arm around Aron's shoulders. Jorel had always been the one to have Aron buried in his chest like this to calm him down. 

Danny had tried so hard not to be envious or jealous of Jorel, but he'd failed spectacularly. Jorel was straight as an arrow and had no idea Aron had had a crush on him. Meanwhile, Danny had been crushing on Aron for years from the background, like a fucking loser, watching his best friends all make gay jokes about "Ruru and Joey" and wishing it had been "Ruru and Danny" instead. 

It was oddly familiar in a comfortingly nostalgic way. Aron could remember other times like this. In the old days when the only people he could trust were the five people in the band. It had always been Jorel who knew how to handle him. Jorel who had held him like this. Jorel who had somehow always gotten him. That familiar pang of hurt and anger flared in his chest. 

He'd lost all that because of Jorel.

For a moment, Aron just lay there in Danny's arms, his heart a jumble of conflicting emotions. Bitterness over what had been lost. Fear over what they'd all become. Anger at Jorel breaking their promise. Pain and uncertainty over what would come next. But... there was also hope. And longing. And love. 

Slowly, shakily, he reached up to place his fingers on Danny's arm, seeking out the Alpha's scent gland. Danny instinctively turned his wrist up, the gland on his wrist exposed. 

"There's a lady who's sure... All that glitters is gold... And she's a stairway to heaven..." Danny sang softly to the music, his eyes closed and his limbs wrapped around Aron to keep him grounded. The scent of pine and wood smoke filled his nose, warm and smoky. It made him feel warm and tingly, and the Omega in him wanted nothing more than to shove his face into Danny's neck and just breathe. 

"Been a long time since I heard you sing," he murmured, his fingers still pressed against Danny's gland.

Danny opened his eyes and gave a small, lazy smile.

"Yeah, I guess it has," he replied quietly. "Bet you never listened to any of our music over the years, huh?"

Aron shook his head as he glanced up at Danny. 

"No," he said quietly. "I didn't." It was a lie. "After I left..." he paused, his fingers curling in Danny's shirt. " I hated you all. I still kind of hate Jorel."

Danny grimaced and looked away. He frowned as his heart clenched in his chest. 

"Do you... Do you still hate me?" he asked.

A dozen snarky responses were there at the tip of Aron's tongue, but he squashed them down. There was no point in being cruel. That would only serve to push Danny away, and he couldn't bear that. 

"No," he said, looking up into Danny's eyes. It was the truth, he came to find. "Not anymore. I stopped hating you a long time ago."

Danny relaxed a bit, his hand sliding up Aron's side to cup his cheek. The pillow under Danny's head covered one of his eyes, but the one that was visible was locked on Aron's face. 

"I never hated you," he murmured, his thumb brushing Aron's cheek. "Even when you threw beer bottles at my head and called me names and said faggot all the fucking time... I never hated you."

The touch made his breath catch in his throat. It was so unexpected, so gentle, and his heart skipped a beat. 

He wanted to lean into the touch. Wanted to close his eyes and just sink into it. 

Instead, he licked his lips and smiled weakly at Danny. 

"You're a better person than I am, then," he replied quietly. "I said some awful things to you. I was a real, Grade A prick."

Danny's gaze flicked down to his lips before returning to Aron's eyes. 

"Yeah, you were fucking insane," he replied with a small chuckle. His hand slid a bit lower, at the curve of his jaw now. "But that's okay. We needed your crazy, I think.  We needed your nuts so that the rest of us could be nuts too."

"That's definitely putting it mildly." Aron chuckled, the warm weight of Danny's hand on his jaw and his arm around his chest making his heart pound. Every instinct in him was screaming to push himself into Danny's arms. 

It would be so easy. So good. 

But a decade of hate and anger wasn't something you just let go of. 

"You're not so good yourself," he continued, trying to force some coldness into his voice. "You're still a pain in the ass."

Danny just laughed, softly and sweet and his angelic voice like hymns. 

"Yeah, so I'm told," he replied, grinning. He scooted a bit closer to Aron, shifting his head on the pillow to be closer. "But that's okay, I hear it only hurts for a minute," he said, winking.

An actual wink. 

Aron's heart stuttered and his pulse sped up. He'd never noticed how long Danny's eyelashes were, or how much the tiny wrinkles around his eyes crinkled when he smiled. 

His gaze flicked down to Danny's lips before returning to his eyes. 

"It also feels good if you're doing it right," he said before he could stop himself.

Danny bit his lip, the hand on Aron's jaw pressing a bit harder, fingers curling slightly. 

"I haven't had any complaints," he murmured, his voice dripping and octave.

Don't do it. Don't do it. Don't do it. 

"I bet." Aron's voice was soft, the words breathed out in a rush. He forced himself to be still, to not lean into the touch or crawl into Danny's lap. He was hanging on by a thread, and it seemed like Danny wasn't faring much better by the way his voice lowered. 

His eyes traced over Danny's face, taking in every line and freckle. He was just...so damn pretty.

Danny stared at the Omega, the scent of him like a drug and Danny was nothing if not a goddamn addict. He inhaled deeply again, his eyes fluttering slightly. 

"Jesus, Ruru, you smell so fucking good," he practically groaned. Danny shifted, scooting closer to Aron as he hand slid from his jaw to tangle in Aron's hair. "Fuck..."

Damn Alpha hormones. 

Aron swallowed hard, closing his eyes against the wave of scents- Danny's scent. It was like fresh pine and wood, like the smell of an evergreen forest, and Aron wanted to bury his face in Danny's throat and huff it until he lost his mind. 

When he felt Danny's hand in his hair, the last of his self-preservation crumbled to dust. He made a strangled noise, tilting his head and exposing his neck in a silent request.

The Alpha growled, pressing his nose to Aron's throat and inhaling like he needed the Omega to breathe. 

"Fuuuuuuck..." he groaned, his eyes rolling back and closing. Danny instinctively licked the scent gland on Aron's throat, his chest rumbling with a growl.

Oh God-

Oh God--

Aron made a choked, stuttering whine as his mind went blank. He arched up into Danny on instinct, digging his fingers into the front of his shirt as Danny's tongue traced along his scent gland. It took all of his self-control to keep from rolling up to straddle the Alpha, to rub himself all over him like a damn cat.

Danny's breath caught and his mind went blank when Aron whined. He let out another groan and rolled them, hovering over Aron and pressing the Omega into the mattress. 

"Fuck, what are you doing to me?" he muttered, burying his nose in Aron's shoulder. His tongue swiped across Aron's throat again, over the gland but also up toward his ear.

"I could ask you the same damn thing," he breathed, shuddering and arching up into Danny. He was helpless to stop the movement, his body reacting automatically to the Alpha above him. 

The feeling of Danny's tongue tracing over his scent gland was heaven, making him shiver and let out another whine. He wanted more, wanted the Alpha to sink his teeth in, to claim him, to make him his. 

"Danny..." His voice was thready, pleading.

Danny moaned, his hands on either side of Aron's head as he leaned back. He stared down at the Omega, his eyes almost black and gaze so heated that it could have started another wildfire. 

"Aron," he murmured, cupping Aron's cheek with his hand. "You're fucking beautiful. You always were. God, I-"

There was a loud knock on the door of the bedroom. 

"Danny? We got all of Aron's shit out of the cars," Truth called through the door. "We need him to pick a room so we can put his stuff in there for him."

Danny cursed, immediately rolling off of Aron and getting up from the bed to approach the door.

It took all of Aron's will-power not to whimper as Danny pulled away, his body instantly cold without the Alpha pressed against him. It was a physical ache, leaving him with the urge to drag Danny back to the bed and bury his face in his chest. 

Instead, Aron sat up, running a hand through his hair as he watched Danny walk away. He could feel his skin burning, an echo from where Danny's hands had touched his body, and he shivered again. 

He wanted Danny.

He always had.

Danny opened the door and leaned on the frame. 

"He's uh.. He just had a meltdown, so give him a second," he said to Truth, glancing down the hall at Jeff, Yuma, b.Lay, and Gadjet waiting. "Thank you, guys. I know we all hate each other, but we all care about Aron and I'm really grateful you answered my calls to help him. We might not like each other, but you're good guys."

Truth scoffed, rolling his eyes. 

"Yeah, shut the fuck up, D, we get it, you're a fucking angel," he said sarcastically. "Just get Aron okay for a minute so he can pick a fucking bedroom. I don't want to be in your goddamn rich person house any longer than I have to." 

Danny rolled his eyes. He was trying to be nice, but noooo, not these fucks.

Aron watched through the open door as the group talked, his eyes on Danny's body. The Alpha was tall and lean, all whipcord thin strength and muscle. He was built like an ancient warrior, built to fight and kill and dominate. 

God he wanted that. He wanted to be under those powerful hands, those strong arms, that alpha strength. He wanted-

Aron tore his eyes away, his face and body getting hot. This wasn't the time for those thoughts, but damn it, he couldn't get them out of his head.

Gadjet walked up to the door beside Truth, peaking in over Danny's shoulder. 

"Hey, Deuce, you good?" he asked. "Come on, bro, let's pick out your room. There's gotta be a decent spot in this fuckin' place for ya, king, let's roll."

Danny's eyes narrowed at Gadjet, his lip curling as the other man called Aron king. His grip on the doorframe tightened.

"Hey, Deuce, you good?"

Aron flinched, his shoulders hunching up involuntarily. Hearing someone call him Deuce was a punch in the gut, the words scraping across his skin like a knife. 

The instinct to be polite was hard to shake, but God, he didn't want to be called Deuce ever again. 

"Don't-- don't call me that," he said shakily, his fingers clutching his hoodie. "Please."

Danny's head whipped around to look at Aron at the tone of his voice and he instinctively stepped toward him. 

"Aron?" he asked, low and careful as he came over to the bed. 

"Call you what? King?" Gadjet asked, confused. Danny shot him a glare, putting a hand on Aron's shoulder.

Aron curled his fingers around Danny's wrist, his head down and shoulders hunched. That stupid name brought back so many terrible memories, so much pain and hurt. 

He never wanted to hear it again.

"I-" He swallowed hard, the old training pulling at him. Stay polite, don't offend, don't make waves. "I don't.. I just want to be called my name," he mumbled, looking up at Danny. "Please, Danny... please."

Danny let out a low, threatening growl, staring Gadjet down with a near snarl. His grip on Aron's shoulder tightened. 

"His name is Aron," he said firmly, authority in every word. "You'll call him Aron."

Gadjet threw up his hands in exasperation, shaking his head. 

"He's been Deuce for 20 fucking years-"

"You will call him Aron or you will lose your fucking head," Danny snapped, raising his voice. None of the old members of Nine Lives or Jeff had ever heard Danny yell before. Danny was the sweet one, the nice one, the guy that typically diffused the situations. He never yelled. He never got violent. 

Not anymore.

Hearing Danny growl so protectively made something flutter in Aron's chest, a sharp thrill shooting down his spine. The Alpha was protecting him. He hadn't lost his chance completely, not yet. 

"Please," he said again to Gadjet, keeping his voice low and soft so he didn't anger Danny further. "Just.. just call me Aron. I hate the name Deuce. Please."

Aron's head was full of static, his thoughts coming in an endless, churning loop. He was out, he was away from Scientology and his parents, and he was free. 

And he was with Danny. 

Danny, who was sitting on the bed next to him, solid and warm and so, so close. The smell of pine and fresh air filled his nose, mixing with the Alpha's scent. It was a soothing combination, one that made him want to-

Gadjet held his hands up, looking between Aron and Danny cautiously. He'd clearly never seen Danny so aggressive before, clearly didn't know what to do with it.

"Alright, alright, I'm sorry," he said, raising one hand to run through his hair. "Sorry, bro, you want me to call you Aron, I'll call you Aron."

Danny's grip on Aron's shoulder relaxed a bit. He looked down at the Omega, his expression softening. 

"You wanna go pick a room?" he asked quietly. "There's like four that aren't being used right now. You can have a whole ass second room for your recording equipment or anything you want, okay?"

Aron's thoughts stopped in their tracks as Danny spoke, his mind whirling. A whole studio? Somewhere quiet and out of the way, a place where he could be alone and create music like he loved? His heart sped up, his hands clenching in the comforter. 

That was all he'd ever wanted, since he was a kid, somewhere he could make his own music, create beats and write and not have to pretend he was someone else.

"Can I?" he asked, the words coming out shaky and breathless with hope.

"Yeah, baby, of course you can," Danny said, kneeling next to the bed in front of Aron. 

Truth's eyebrows shot up and Yuma's jaw dropped. 

"Baby?" Jeff asked incredulously, but Danny ignored them all, his hand resting on Aron's knee. 

"Anything you want, okay? A whole room for music, or your books, or your gaming, or your - do you still like to paint? I can get you a new easel and shit - and you can decorate however you want, okay? You can stay with me as long as you want, Ruru."

Hearing Danny call him that old nickname sent a shiver down his spine, a wave of emotion swelling in his chest. Baby, stay as long as you want, Ruru. 

How was it possible that after all these years, after everything that had happened, Danny still cared about him? 

Aron blinked, his throat tight with feelings he didn't want to name. "Are you sure?" he managed to choke out, looking up into Danny's face. "I don't want to be a burden-"

"What did I say earlier?" Danny interrupted, frowning deeply. His grip on Aron's knee tightened slightly and the scent around him sharpened. 

"Never call yourself a burden, Ruru, you aren't a burden. You're my- ...You're my friend."

The words were a punch to the gut, knocking the wind out of Aron. 

He almost wanted to laugh, because it was so stupid, that this powerful, rich Alpha - Danny - would be calling him a friend in the most casual way. Like their history didn't make it so messy and complicated and impossible to ever be just friends again. 

But he didn't laugh. Instead, he just nodded and swallowed heavily. "Okay," he said weakly. "Okay, I - I won't, I'm sorry-"

Danny lifted his hand, cupping Aron's cheek again and running his thumb over the crusted tear tracks that had dried on his skin. 

"You're safe here, Aron," he promised. "You're not a burden. You'll never be a burden. Let's go pick your room, yeah? We can set it up however you want and tomorrow, I'll take you to Costco and we can get you some real sheets and a bedframe and curtains and whatever else you want, okay?"

Gadjet snorted from the doorway, making a lewd gesture. Jeff smacked him.

You're safe. 

Aron closed his eyes, leaning into the touch. He couldn't remember the last time someone had touched him with such gentleness. 

He'd never been to Costco before. His heart fluttered in his chest at the thought, at the prospect of being able to pick out his own stuff, stuff he wanted - real sheets, a bedframe, maybe even a game system or a new laptop. 

And Danny had offered it to him without any hesitation, as easy as if he was offering him a cup of coffee.

"Okay," he said, opening his eyes and looking up at Danny. His heart was beating a mile a minute in his chest, his hands clenched in the sheets of the bed. Danny was everything he'd ever wanted, everything he'd ever dreamed of, someone who actually cared about him, and having him this close was overwhelming. 

But in a good way. A really, really good way.

Danny stood, taking Aron's hands and pulling him from the bed. 

"Okay," he echoed, leading Aron toward the door. The other guys made room for them to pass, still staring at them like they were either insane or clones sent from a different universe. 

No one, absolutely no one, had ever expected Danny and Aron to get along, let alone set aside the past beef so thoroughly. Danny offering to help Aron leave the cult was one thing, but being so fucking nice? So caring and protective and sweet? None of them had ever expected such a drastic departure from what things were like in 2009. 

Danny led Aron through the house, showing him the available rooms and talking about the bathrooms, the water pressure, the locks on the windows, the one room that had a skylight that he had no idea what he wanted to do with since Reese had full custody of Roman now, about different colors he'd been thinking of painting walls, literally anything to keep Aron in the present.

Aron soaked it all in, taking in the vast luxury and comfort of the house. It was a world away from the austere simplicity of the church, from the cramped room he had lived in surrounded by other members. 

He couldn't believe he was going to be able to stay in a place like this, where he could have his own room. A place he could go to be alone and make music and exist without having to answer to anyone else. 

And the thought of having Danny near him, just a door away at night? It made his heart flutter in his chest.

Danny finally led Aron to the room directly across from his own, opening the door to the empty bedroom. 

"I was gonna make this into a workout room, but I haven't had the time and honestly, I kinda like having to actually go to the gym, so I've been putting it off," he said, leaning on the doorframe and watching Aron walk into the room. "It's got a connected bathroom, though, so it would make a good bedroom."

Aron nodded, stepping into the room and looking around. The floors were hardwood, a good canvas for rugs or a carpet, and the walls were a pale yellow that he could easily paint over if he wanted to change the color. 

The connected bathroom was a big plus - it meant that he didn't have to leave the room in order to use the toilet or change clothes, and having that extra bit of privacy was always appreciated.

"It's...it's nice," he said, turning to Danny. "I like it."

Danny grinned, crossing his arms as he leaned on the frame. 

"Yeah? You want this one?" he asked. Truth, behind Danny, glanced into the room and nodded, making a face of disgruntled approval. 

"Yeah, we can move your shit in here, for sure," he said. "Come on, guys, let's get the mattress and desk first."

Truth led the small group of Aron's old friends back downstairs to get Aron's things from the living room where they had unloaded from the cars, leaving Danny and Aron alone for the moment. Danny smiled at Aron, resting his head on the doorframe. 

"I'm glad you picked this one," he said quietly.

Once the others had gone, Aron crossed the room to stand right in front of Danny. He still had the Alpha's leather jacket thrown over his shoulders, the weight and the scent of pine and smoke still making him feel safer than he had in years. 

"I..." he started, struggling to put what he was feeling into words. "Why are you doing this for me? Why...why are you being so nice to me?"

Danny shrugged, trying to seem more casual than he really was. He tried not to think about how good Aron looked in his jacket, how good Aron looked period. 

"You need help," he said, his voice quiet but light and sweet. "I wasn't going to let you stay in that hellhole of a cult anymore, Aron."

Aron's heart pounded in his chest. Everything about Danny right now was just too much - how he looked leaning against the doorframe, the smell of his jacket, the gentle smile on his face. How could he dare be so sweet, so gentle, when he'd all but stolen Aron's life?

He took a step closer, the toes of his beat-up sneakers bumping against Danny's boots. He felt small like this, shorter by several inches, and completely dwarfed by the Alpha's big, lean frame. 

"And what… what do you want in return?"

Danny's answering frown was immediate and deep, his brown eyes darkening. 

"I don't want anything in return," he replied, his tone changing to almost offended. "I don't need payment or favors or some stupid shit like that. You needed help, Aron. I'm not going to take advantage of you like that."

Aron's eyebrows pinched together, confusion on his face. He had expected something - favors, money, for Danny to demand that he do something for him as payback for his kindness. That's what everyone expected, what all Alphas demanded from him. 

If Danny was being this kind for no reason… that went against everything he'd been taught. 

"But… why?" he asked. "You don't gain anything by helping me. You… you get nothing out of this."

"Sure I do," Danny said, shrugging again. "I get a roommate in this big empty fucking house that I hate being alone in, I get to reconnect with someone I haven't been on speaking terms with for over a decade, and I get to actually know you again. How is that not a net gain?"

He pushed off the door frame and raised a hand to cup Aron's chin, lifting it up just a bit. They used to be the same height, but once Danny was infected with Lycanthropy and presented as an Alpha, he got taller. 

"Aron, I'm serious," he murmured. "I don't need anything from you except you being out of that cult and trying to get your shit together. Just don't eat my leftovers and we're good, okay?"

Aron had to fight the urge to press into Danny's hand, to close his eyes and let his guard down. It would be so easy, to be vulnerable, to let the Alpha see under the layers of trauma and anxiety and fear. But what if Danny was playing him? What if this was all some elaborate trap? It didn't make sense. Danny wouldn't do that to him. They'd been friends, they'd been childhood best friends, and Danny had never once lied to him before. Aron swallowed thickly, Danny's eyes like magnets that he couldn't look away from.

Danny opened his mouth to say something, but Truth and Jeff stumbled up the stairs carrying Aron's mattress. Danny cursed under his breath at the interruption, but put a hand on Aron's waist to guide him to the side and out of the doorway as the guys started bringing his stuff up from the living room. 

Truth and Jeff were arguing loudly about which side of the bed was the "front" and Gadjet and Yuma followed behind with the desk, yelling Friends quotes at each other. B.Lay walked in last, Aron's computer and monitors in his arms with wires trailing after him.

Danny's hand on his back made the Omega's heart skip a beat, the press of the Alpha's fingers lighting up every nerve in his spine. 

Aron looked around at the sight of his belongings being moved into Danny's house, a sort of dazed disbelief setting in. This was really happening. He was leaving the church for good, and moving in with his childhood best friend. A friend that he'd once loved. 

A friend who seemed impossibly big and broad in front of him, who smelled like pine and wood and musk...

Danny's hand on Aron's waist instinctively moved around to the small of his back as Danny stood in front of him, blocking his view of most of the room. With Aron's back to the wall, Danny could feel him starting to shake a little. He squeezed comfortingly, not looking down at Aron as he kept his eyes on the Nine Lives guys. They had all been Aron's friends, not Danny's, and Jeff had been a part of Hollywood Undead for maybe a year in the very beginning before he left and didn't speak to any of them for decades. 

It was surreal having them all in his house, but he knew that it was for Aron, so he didn't mind too much. He just... Also didn't trust or like any of them.

Jeff and Truth finally got the mattress shoved into the room, their bickering still going. Gadjet was making faces at Yuma as he leaned past with the desk, his lips pursed into a kiss. B.Lay was setting up the computer, the cords connecting everything laid out across the floor. 

Aron was shaking even worse now, his eyes wide and unfocused. It was all too much, too many people, too many. His breathing was coming in short, harsh gasps. He was having another goddamn meltdown.

Danny looked down at Aron, the change in his scent catching the Alpha's attention. Gasping breaths, glazed eyes, unfocused. 

"Shit," Danny muttered, pulling Aron against his chest and backing toward the door of the room. "Guys, he's overwhelmed again, I'm taking him somewhere quiet." 

His explanation didn't even get acknowledged over the bickering so Danny just shook his head and pulled Aron out of the room and across the hall to his own bedroom once again. He helped Aron sit on the bed and tucked his leather jacket tighter around the Omega's shoulders. 

"You're okay, Ruru, I got you," Danny murmured.

As Danny pulled him across the hall, Aron blindly followed, his body going willingly into the Alpha's arms. He let himself be pushed down to sit on the bed, his hands clenching in Danny's jacket. 

Aron gasped for air, his chest heaving as he fought to control his breathing. This was another goddamn breakdown, but this time he had Danny. The thought made his breath catch in his throat. 

With Danny here, he'd be safe. Danny would make sure he was safe. "It's too many people," he gasped.

"Okay," Danny murmured, running his hand through Aron's hair soothingly. "I'll close the door, one second."

Danny stood and went to the bedroom door, closing it firmly and locking it for good measure so no one would just barge in. He turned back to Aron on the bed and paused before coming back over. 

"Do you want me to go too?" he asked carefully. "Is this one of those where you need to be alone?"

Aron's hands clenched in Danny's jacket tighter, his knuckles going white. The thought of being alone made his eyes widen, his head shaking almost violently. 

"No," he gasped. "No don't go, stay, please, don't leave me alone- please don't-" 

He broke off, his breathing still harsh and shallow. He couldn't be alone, he needed Danny. He needed him.

Danny was immediately back at Aron's side, sitting next to him on the bed and wrapping his arms around the Omega. 

"Okay, okay, I'm here," he whispered. "I got you. I'm not going anywhere, Ruru, I got you."

Aron clung to Danny, his body trembling as shock, confusion, and fear raced through him. He buried his face in Danny's neck, his nose pressed to the Alpha's scent gland as he breathed in. 

His whole body was shaking, the pressure and constriction of Danny's arms and the smell of pine and wood helping to focus his thoughts.

"Just you and me," Danny murmured quietly, trying to draw focus from the sounds from the other room. "It's just you and me, baby, I got you."

Danny ran his hands over Aron's back and sides, pulling him closer until the Omega was practically on his lap. Aron's face near his scent gland was sending his Alpha instincts into overdrive and it was taking every ounce of control that Danny had to keep himself from doing something stupid and friendship-rekindling-ruining. Like kiss him. Or touch him in a weird way. Or push him back on the bed and-

Aron took another deep breath, Danny's scent helping to ground him, to distract him. His hands clenched in Danny's shirt, his mind going blissfully blank. But that couldn't last. Reality began to seep through the haze of Danny's scent, of his strong arms, of the heat of his body. 

Aron pulled back a little, just enough to look up into the Alpha's face. His eyes were still dazed, his breathing still ragged but a little calmer now. "I-" he croaked, his throat tight. "I need-"

Danny pulled back to look at Aron, his hand cupping the side of the Omega's neck gently. 

"What do you need, Ruru?" he asked quietly. "Music? Pressure? Dark time? Do you need dark time?"

Aron's eyes closed, a shudder running through him at the gentle touch. The urge to lean into it, chase it like a cat to a laser, was nearly overpowering. But he needed to focus, to stay grounded, to keep himself from spiralling back down. His breath hitched as he nodded, his face rubbing against Danny's palm. "Y-yeah," he rasped. "Dark time. Need dark time..."

"Okay," Danny said, shifting Aron off his leg so he could stand. 

Danny went to the light switch, turning off the overhead light before going to the large bay window across the room and drawing the black out curtains. The room was plunged into darkness, the only lights coming from the electronic clock on the bedside table and the hallway light under the door. 

"Better?" Danny asked, making his way back over to Aron. He knelt down in front of Aron, gently and carefully taking off his boots and socks to let his feet breathe. He remembered how much Aron hated wearing shoes when they were kids - always walking around barefoot until he stepped on a nail and had to get a tetanus shot in his ass and then he started wearing sandals.

As the room went dark, Aron felt a wave of relief wash over him. The familiar sensation of isolation, of the world shutting out, was comforting and familiar. 

He let his head rest against the bed, his body slumping a little as the world took on an almost unreal, dream-like quality. 

Danny's touch was the only tether to reality. 

"Yeah," he whispered, his eyes drifting open as he watched Danny kneel in front of him. A small part of his mind noted that the sight of his Alpha on his knees for him did things to him.

"Good," Danny murmured, lifting one of Aron's feet to check his ankle for signs of bad circulation. Aron was skinny as hell because of his high metabolism, but that came with circulation issues and having boots on all day probably didn't help. 

Danny wasn't even thinking anymore, he was just making sure Aron was okay, going off of information he remembered from decades ago, back when they were kids growing up in Scientology schools together in West Hollywood with the other guys. He remembered Aron had issues with circulation, he hated wearing shoes, and he would have autistic meltdowns or episodes if he was in "big lights" for too long. 

Danny checked the other ankle, hands gentle and cool against Aron's overheated skin as he rubbed the grooves from his socks out of the skin.

Being touched felt so good after so long alone. Danny's hands were so careful, his touch light and grounding. The way he checked his ankles was so gentle, making sure he was okay. 

Aron let out a soft noise, his eyes half closed. He was tired, but being in the dark always gave him a second wind. Darkness was when he felt free. Darkness was his world. 

"Alpha," he murmured, the name slipping out before he could stop it.

Danny's head shot up as Aron called him Alpha, triggering his instinctive response. 

"Omega," Danny growled, his grip on Aron's ankle tightening slightly. They hadn't acknowledged their designations out loud since they had run into each other at the bar hours earlier - they hadn't discussed anything about any of it, like how Danny had become a werewolf in the first place or why Aron had been one for so much longer than anyone else in their old friend group. Calling each other by their designation was opening a door right into their instincts - and those instincts often between an Alpha and an Omega went in a very particular direction... 

Danny moved then, to stand on his knees instead of sitting back on his calves on the floor. The motion brought him slightly between Aron's legs.

That growl was doing things to Aron. His body hummed beneath Danny's grip, his skin tingling with the need to submit. 

He wanted to give himself over, wanted to let Danny take control. It was what Danny was meant to do. He was the Alpha, and Aron, God damn him, was the Omega. 

He'd dreamed of this, for more years than he cared to think about. 

Aron wanted to beg for it. He wanted to demand it. The only thing that stopped him was the fact that he knew they couldn't.

"Danny..." he croaked, his arms reaching out to grip one of Danny's wrists like a lifeline. "Danny, I-"

He cut himself off with a strangled gasp, his breath coming faster. He'd dreamed of this, fantasized about it. He'd pictured hundreds, thousands, of scenarios where Danny had touched him, held him, owned him....

Danny leaned forward, his hands sliding up Aron's legs, his thighs, to his wider than a man's should be hips and that perfectly thin waist-

"Aron," Danny murmured, his soft and angelic voice deeper and almost gravely. "I need you to listen to me. Can you do that for me, Omega? Can you listen?"

Aron was practically shaking. It was taking every ounce of self control he had not to beg for more. Every one of Danny's touches sent electric shocks through him, his skin singing under his fingers.

He'd imagined it so many times, but nothing could have ever come close to the reality. 

Aron nodded shakily, his breathing quick and uneven. "Yes, Alpha."

Danny growled low in approval, leaning forward to press his nose to Aron's collarbone. His hands slid over Aron's waist, bunching his tight shirt that he had obviously worn to try and pick someone up at the bar before he'd run into Danny. 

"You need dark time," Danny whispered. "You need quiet and dark time and to decompress and relax. You need to let your brain process what happened today, okay? Otherwise you're just going to keep having meltdowns. So I'm going to put you to bed in here for the night, okay? You can stay in my room tonight, in my bed, safe and sound and no one will come for you because they don't know where you are, okay?"

Danny lifted his head, meeting Aron's hazy eyes. 

"I'm just across the hall, okay? I'll set up your room all nice for you and tomorrow when you feel better, I'll take you to Costco and we can get you everything you need, okay?"

Aron couldn't form words. His brain had shorted out entirely, reduced to nothing but a tangled mess of sensations.

Danny's touch was branding him.

Danny's voice made him ache. 

Danny's scent was like a drug, flooding his mind and body with need and want. 

A part of him recoiled at the idea of sleeping alone when the man he'd longed for for years was across the hall. 

"Danny..." he choked out, his pulse racing. "Danny, I... don't... don't want to be alone."

"Just for a little bit, baby," Danny promised, his thumbs tracing soothing circles on Aron's stomach. "I'll get your room set up and I'll come back okay? I won't be far, I'll be just across the hall."

He wanted to protest. He wanted to cling to Danny and beg him to stay. He wanted to crawl into Danny's bed and stay there like he'd dreamt of doing for years.

But he didn't want to be a burden. He didn't want to be a bother.

He didn't want Danny to push him away.

Aron swallowed thickly, his fingers unclenching from Danny's shirt. "Okay," he rasped. "Okay, Alpha. For a little bit."

Danny nodded, leaning forward again to press his nose to Aron's neck, inhaling deeply of the scent of the Omega. It was like a drug, and he needed another fix. 

"I'll be back soon," he promised, standing up from kneeling beside the bed. He tugged the his leather jacket tighter over Aron's shoulders and after a moment of thought, he took off his denim vest too, handing it to Aron. 

"Here, it smells like me," he murmured. "I'll be back soon, Ruru."

Danny turned and unlocked the bedroom door, quietly opening it just barely enough and slipping out so that the hallway light wouldn't hurt Aron's eyes.

Aron nodded faintly, burying his nose in Danny's jacket. It smelled like Danny, like pinecones and trees and wood, like a winter forest at night. It smelled like the Alpha, and that thought sent a shiver down his spine.

He knew he should wait patiently, obediently, as Danny had said. He knew he should lay down and try to decompress, to let his brain process the day's events.

But as he lay there, buried in Danny's jackets and his scent, all he could focus on was how badly he wanted the Alpha to come back to him.

Notes:

Next Chapter will be Explicit.

Chapter 4: Levitate

Summary:

Danny has trouble controlling his instincts when he's tired and Aron's coping mechanism isn't healthy.

Notes:

THIS CHAPTER IS EXPLICIT. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

Danny walked into the bedroom opposite his to find the others were still trying to put Aron's things together. The drum kit was in pieces, the keyboard was on the floor instead of the stand, an entire box of books was off to the side with nothing to put them on since Aron hadn't had any furniture in that damn cult run apartment. Danny sighed, already missing the quiet of the dark bedroom with Aron as he stepped into the middle of an argument between Jeff and Gadjet over whether or not the mix board needed to be put on the only desk or if it was safe to leave on the floor on the carpet. 

Danny rubbed his temples for a minute, trying to stave off the headache and inhaled. The scents of the human males in the room were almost overpowering, but he could still faintly smell a sweet, honey and coffee and energy drink and cigarettes and sawdust. Aron. 

It was barely there, lingering on his clothes, but Danny pulled his shirt up to his nose and inhaled anyway, needing another hit of the pure dopamine of Aron's scent to be able to deal with the asshole idiots in his house.

Danny only needed to glare and raise his voice a bit for everyone to shut up and listen to him. It was his house, after all. And he supposed it helped that none of them had ever seen him get angry or yell before that day, so bonus points. 

He managed to get them on task enough that all of Aron's things had been moved into the new bedroom and set up in a way that Aron could access everything but he could easily change if he wanted to. With Danny directing everything, it only took an hour or two and it was about 3am when they finally got everything done. 

Danny was exhausted. He'd had a long day already, but then running into Aron at the bar, the subsequent immediate calling in of favors to help Aron get out of that damn cult house, the moving and packing, the drive across town, the unloading and unpacking, and the meltdowns and the- 

He was tired. He wanted to go to bed. 

So he thanked everyone for their help, said they could come back the next day to check on Aron, and kicked them all the fuck out of his house. He trudged up the stairs again, grumbling under his breath about how much he hated Yuma in particular, and went back into his bedroom. Aron was still on the bed in his tight shirt and his Fuck Me jeans and Danny didn't bother to ask permission, he just took off his hoodie and shirt and started walking toward the bed.

Aron watched Danny undress, his eyes tracking the movement of skin baring muscle, admiring the tattoos on the Alpha's arms and torso. 

Danny's scent was thick in the room, filling his nose, making his head swim. His eyes locked on the Alpha's broad shoulders, drinking in the sight of the smooth skin and the dark ink on his chest. 

"Danny," he mumbled, his mouth suddenly dry. "That's- that's a lot of skin."

Danny hummed in reply, not really thinking anymore, he was so tired. He unbuckled his belt and slipped it from the belt loops of his jeans, tossing it to the ground lazily. He started unbuttoning his jeans, pushing them off his lean hips. The cut and defined V of his stomach and hips was covered in a sparse layer of dark hair that disappeared under the waistband of his briefs - briefs that were tight and left absolutely nothing to the imagination to the point where the outline of how big he was was visible even in the dark of the bedroom. 

Danny tossed the jeans aside, walking over to the bed and pushing Aron back with a hand on his chest, keeping him laying down. Danny's hands found the fly of Aron's jeans in the dark and started undoing them.

Aron's breath hitched as Danny's hands unbuttoned his jeans, the Alpha's fingers against his skin leaving a trail of sparks. The thin fabric of his boxers was doing little to hide his own reaction to Danny's near nakedness. 

"Danny," he protested weakly, lifting his hips to help Danny tug his jeans off his legs, leaving him in just his shirt and boxers. "What are you doing?"

Danny tossed Aron's jeans aside, his eyes flicking over the lightly haired and tattooed thighs now visible before slowly raking up his body to meet his eyes. 

"Sleeping in jeans is really uncomfortable," he replied, his voice hoarse and husky and low.

Aron bit his lower lip as Danny's eyes drank in the sight of his bare legs. His skin prickled and heated, the weight of the Alpha's gaze heavy on him, making his heart hammer in his chest. 

He swallowed hard, his eyes flicking down to Danny's bare chest, the dark ink on his skin, the defined muscle, the way his muscles flexed as he grabbed the edge of the bed. 

"Yeah," he managed to reply, his voice breathless. "Yeah, you're right. Uncomfortable."

Danny hummed again, his eyes locked on Aron for a moment. 

Then he pulled away and stood straight, walking around to the other side of the bed to climb into it under the covers. As soon as his head hit the pillow, Danny extended one arm out to the side, raising the other like he was waiting for something.

Aron's heart nearly stopped as Danny moved, his eyes following the Alpha's broad back and lean hips as he walked around the bed. His mouth went dry as Danny's muscles rippled as he lifted his arm and extended his hand. 

For a second, Aron wasn't sure what the gesture meant. 

Then his stomach swooped and he realized what Danny wanted. 

Slowly, trying desperately to control his shaking, he turned over, crawled toward the Alpha, and laid down, his back pressed to Danny's bare chest.

Danny lowered his arm, sliding it around Aron's waist and pulling him flush against his front. Danny pressed his nose to Aron's hair and inhaled with a small groan. He was so tired and he had trouble with his instincts when he was this damn tired. He would have to be careful. 

Danny closed his eyes, the hand around Aron's waist splayed across the Omega's stomach, his thumb slipping just a bit under Aron's shirt. 

"Night, 'Mega," Danny mumbled, already starting to fall asleep, wrapped up in Aron's scent and the warmth and weight of him in his arms.

The heat of Danny's body pressed against his back made arousal bloom in Aron's belly. His skin tingled where Danny's hand settled on his stomach, the touch like fire on his skin. He shivered, his body reacting to the Alpha's touch in ways he couldn't control. 

The sound of Danny's hoarse voice and the press of his nose in his hair was nearly enough to make him whine. 

He had dreamed of this for thirteen years, dreamed of being close to Danny again, of being held by him.

Danny's nostrils flared at the shift in Aron's scent, the arousal tinging the usual sweet honey and coffee with an alluring tang. His eyes cracked open and he inhaled. 

A low growl rumbled from his chest, vibrating against Aron's back. Danny's hand slid further up Aron's stomach, dragging his shirt with him. 

He had to think. He had to stay focused. It could just be Aron's Omega instincts, it could be nothing but an automatic response to being so close to an Alpha, it could be-

Danny's cock twitched against Aron's ass and Danny cursed under his breath.

Aron's breath hitched as Danny's low growl vibrated against his back. He could feel the Alpha's hand slide up his stomach, pushing the fabric of his t-shirt up and exposing his skin to the air. Every touch was like fire, leaving his skin tingling and sensitive in its wake. 

And then he felt Danny's hard length press against his ass, and the moan that slipped past his lips was involuntary and desperate.

He hadn't felt this way in years, this needy and desperate for another person's touch. The Omega in him was begging for his Alpha, for his Danny.

He could feel the Alpha's breath on his neck, the heat of his body pressed against him. Every breath was a mix of anticipation and fear. The harsh memory of Andrew’s rejection was still fresh, but Danny’s scent was fresher. 

"Danny..." he whispered, his voice trembling.

Danny could smell Aron's arousal thickening his scent, the tang and bittersweet smell like a tempting morsel he wanted to sink his teeth into. At the sound of his name, Danny's hand paused and he let out a ragged breath against the back of Aron's neck. 

"Ruru," he whispered, hoarse and low and growling. "I need you to tell me to stop. I can't... I'm sorry, I can't- you need to tell me to stop if you don't want this to go further and get weird, because I can't fucking stop on my own."

Danny, as if proving his own words, slid his hand back down Aron's body to his pelvis, pressing him back until his plump ass pressed directly over Danny's hard on.

Stop… Stop.

The words were on the tip of his tongue, ready to be spoken. 

He knew he should say them. 

He knew it was risky. 

Dangerous , an old, familiar voice whispered in his head, the reminder of Andrew. 

He pushed the voice away. He didn't want to think of that man. He didn't want to be afraid anymore. 

He wanted Danny. 

"Don't stop."

Danny groaned, a desperate and relieved sound that ripped from his throat as he buried his nose in Aron's shoulder. His hand slid lower, cupping Aron through his briefs. 

"Goddamn," Danny muttered, pressing his hips forward into Aron's ass again.

Aron stifled a moan, his body arching back into Danny's touch. The feel of his hand on him, even through the fabric of his briefs, was like fire on his skin. 

"Danny," he breathed, his voice hoarse. "God, I want- I want- please-"

His mind wasn't working properly. His thoughts were a jumble of desire and need, his body thrumming with the desperate need to be touched, to be taken.

Danny's breath was ragged against Aaron's shoulder as his hips rocked forward again, grinding against Aron's ass. His other hand slid up the Omega's stomach, under his shirt to pinch his nipple. 

"Aron," Danny groaned, tongue leaving a wet trail across the skin of the rapper's neck. He gently started to stroke Aron through his briefs.

"Uuh-uhn-"

Aron let out a strangled noise as Danny pinched him, his back arching at the sharp pleasure and pain. He could feel the Alpha's erection against his ass, and he ground back against it with a whimper. 

His hand reached back, grabbing onto Danny's hip, trying to pull him in closer, make the touch more solid, more real. 

"Please," he gasped, "Please, Danny, I need-"

Danny growled and pulled away, only to push Aron onto his back on the bed and roll on top of him. 

Danny hovered over Aron for a moment, breathing hard and looking down at him with heated eyes. The scent of slick and arousal and Aron was thick and heavy around them and it was driving Danny absolutely insane. 

"Aron, I need you to tell me to stop if this isn't what you want," Danny murmured, his voice low and strained from keeping himself controlled. "I need you to stop me if you don't want this."

Aron looked up at Danny, his heart pounding. The Alpha loomed over him, eyes dark and gaze hungry, his scent surrounding them both. 

He shook his head. 

"This is all I want," he said simply, his voice quiet but firm. "Danny, I want this. I want you." 

There were no inhibitions anymore, no internal battles. All that was left was the raw, primal want and need for the Alpha above him.

Danny left out a strangled moan and leaned down, his lips crashing over Aron's in a desperate kiss that had decades of secrets and wanting and desire laced in every breath, in every taste. 

Danny settled over Aron, on his elbows on either side of Aron's shoulders as his hips slotted between Aron's legs.

Aron responded to the kiss eagerly, his hands wrapping around Danny's waist to pull him in close, his legs parting instinctively to make room for the Alpha between them. 

The scent of his slick was even stronger now, the musky, sweet scent heavy in the air around them as they pressed their bodies together. He could feel how hard Danny was, could hear the Alpha's ragged breathing. 

He wanted more. He wanted everything.

Danny pushed his tongue into Aron's mouth, hips rocking against him slowly. He had wanted this for so fucking long, never thought he would ever have the chance to even try, let alone actually have it. And now he had that chance. 

Danny slid one hand down Aron's lean body, fingers slipping under the waistband of his underwear and seeking that slicked heat.

Aron gasped as he felt Danny's fingers brush against his flesh, the touch sparking a wave of pleasure through him. 

His head tilted back, and he broke the kiss to breathe and moan, "Danny." 

He felt vulnerable like this, so exposed to the Alpha above him. But it also felt...good. Right. Like he was supposed, to be like this. 

Aron's hips arched off the bed, trying to get more friction, more touch from those callused fingers.

Danny growled, nose burying in Aron's scent gland and tongue lapping at it as his fingers slid across the slicked flesh and found the opening he had been searching for. 

"Jesus, you're so wet," Danny moaned, grinding his hips and his erection against Aron's thigh.

The feeling of Danny's tongue on his scent gland made pleasure run through him like molten fire. 

Aron's legs spread wider, his body trembling as the Alpha's fingers moved against his opening. His hands clawed at Danny's shoulders, pulling him closer, wanting more. 

"Danny," he panted, "Danny, please, p-please, more, I need-"

He couldn't even form complete sentences anymore, his brain too clouded with the need to be filled.

Danny pulled back, licking the slick from his fingers as he did, and sat up. 

He wasted no more time in divesting Aron of his shirt and pulling off his underwear. Finally having him naked in his bed after decades of wanting him, Danny took a moment to just... Look. Admire. Memorize. 

"God, you're beautiful," he whispered, hand running up Aron's tattooed thigh reverently. He twitched in his briefs and bit his lip, eyes locked on Aron's length and the slick that was glistening between his thighs.

Aron flushed at the praise, the heat spreading across his cheeks and down his neck. 

He was used to people telling him he was attractive, yes, but never beautiful. And coming from Danny, it carried more weight. Made him feel seen, valued, in a way he'd never felt with anyone else.

His legs fell open further, letting Danny see all of him, every single part. "Please," he whined, needing the Alpha's touch, his everything. He'd needed it for so long.

"I need-- I need to fucking--" 

Danny groaned and slid down the bed, hooking Aron's leg over his shoulder. He leaned forward and wrapped his lips around Aron's tip with a heady moan, eyes rolling back as he finally got to taste what he had been dreaming of since they were teenagers. A sharp gasp left him, Aron's hand flying out to tangle in Danny's hair instinctively. It was better than anything he'd ever felt before, the Alpha's mouth around him, taking him in. It was like finally being able to have a drink after years of living in a drought. Danny groaned, sinking his head down until Aron hit the back of his throat. His fingers found Aron's opening again and pressed inside gently as he started bobbing his head.

"Oh, God," he panted, his fingers pulling at Danny's hair as the Alpha's fingers slipped inside him. It was overwhelming, the feelings and sensations coursing through him. He was surrounded by Danny; the scent of pine and wood was all around him, the feeling of the Alpha's body between his thighs making him see stars. 

"Please, Danny, please," he begged, body shaking from the need to be taken, to be claimed.

Danny released Aron with a wet pop before shifting and pushing his tongue inside him with a moan. The taste of Aron's slick was like a drug, his eyes rolling back as he finally tasted the sweet, salty, heady, intoxicating ambrosia.

"Danny!" he cried, his back arching up off the bed. 

He tugged at the Alpha's hair, fingers clenching as his other hand gripped the sheets. It was so much, like he was being set ablaze. His entire world was Danny, his taste, his touch, his everything. 

"I-I need-, please, Danny," he managed to get out, overwhelmed and desperate.

Danny curled his tongue, catching as much as he could before pulling away. He pushed his briefs down and off, kicking them off the bed as he climbed back over Aron. 

"Are you clean?" he asked, panting. "Are you-- when is your heat?"

Aron's breath caught as he saw Danny without the briefs, the sight only adding to the heat building inside him. 

His mind, hazy as it already was, took a second to register the question, but when it did, he had to swallow, his throat suddenly dry. 

"Yeah," he managed to get out, "I'm clean. And my, uh-," he paused, flushing even redder, "my heat is in like a week."

Danny bit his lip, running a rough hand down Aron's body to lift his leg and hook his thigh over Danny's hip. 

"Are you sure you want this?" Danny asked again. "We can stop, we can pretend this never happened, it's okay. Are you sure?"

Aron's breath hitched at the feeling of Danny's hand on his thigh, the rough touch only making him more desperate for the Alpha. 

He shook his head, his eyes locking with Danny's. "Yes," he said firmly, "I want this, I want you. I'm sure. I-I need you, please." 

He felt vulnerable, laid completely open for the Alpha, but he was willing to give Danny everything he had.

Danny leaned down, capturing Aron's mouth in a heated, slick tinged kiss as he slowly and carefully lined himself up. 

"You have no idea how long I've wanted this, Ruru," he murmured against those perfect lips before slowly pushing forward. His eyes rolled back with a groan as Aron's heat slowly enveloped him and sucked him in, the feeling like nothing he had ever experienced before. 

He'd had women, he'd had men, hell - he had been married to a woman for a while there. But nothing, no one had felt like this. Had felt this right.

Aron gasped into Danny's mouth as he pushed in, his body arching off the bed as the Alpha slid inside. It felt amazing, like they were made for each other, like they were puzzle pieces that had finally been put together. 

"Danny," he managed to get out, his nails digging into the Alpha's shoulders, "God, it's- you're- please ." He'd never been this desperate before, had never wanted someone so badly he felt like he might die. It was like Danny had consumed him, his scent and his touch and his voice filling Aron's senses. Danny rocked forward slowly until he was fully seated. Then he paused, panting heavily and trying to get his body to calm down enough that he didn't finish immediately. 

"Fuck," he hissed, pressing his face into Aron's neck. "Fuck, shit, god, you are fucking perfect--" He started moving then, slow and steady and rhythmic and it felt like fucking heaven.

Aron let out a litany of sounds beneath Danny, his hands roaming over the Alpha's body in a desperate attempt to get him closer, to get him deeper. Every thrust was sending sparks through his veins, making him moan and cry out and arch up into the Alpha. 

"God, Danny, please, it's-," he tried to get out, to find the words to describe what he was feeling. It was pure pleasure, but also something more, something deeper.

"Aron," Danny moaned, hands sliding up the Omega's body, touching and mapping and memorizing and worshiping. "Aron, Aron, Aron, fuck--" 

He started moving faster, a bit harder. He couldn't help it, everything about Aron just made him fucking lose it. 

"God fucking damn, you're so fucking tight--"

"Danny, don't stop, please, don't-" 

Aron's voice broke off into a moan as Danny picked up the pace, his eyes rolling back as the Alpha hit a particularly sensitive spot inside him that sent sparks through his body. 

He clawed at the Alpha's back, trying to find purchase, to anchor himself in the sea of pleasure that he was drowning in. "God, yes, more, please," he gasped out, his body responding to every movement.

Danny groaned, the scratches on his back sending electricity down his spine. He grabbed Aron's thighs and wrapped his legs around himself, anchoring Aron as he thrust harder. 

"God, baby, you're fucking perfect," he grunted, licking at Aron's scent gland. It was red and puffy and everything in Danny was screaming for him to bite it, to break it, to mate him and keep him forever and ever and never let him go.

Aron's body responded to Danny's touch, to the way the Alpha was moving inside him. He felt raw and exposed, completely vulnerable to the Alpha's touch. It was a little terrifying, but also intensely good. 

He was getting close, his body tightening around Danny as the pleasure built inside him. The feeling of the Alpha's mouth on his neck only added to it, sending shiver after shiver through him. 

"Danny," he gasped out, "please, I'm-I'm-"

Danny could feel Aron's walls fluttering around his cock and he drove his hips forward harder, determined to get Aron to that point of bliss. 

"Yeah, baby, that's right," he moaned, licking up Aron's throat. "You like that? You like my cock inside you, baby? Fuck, you're so hot and tight and wet for me, baby boy, look at you, all perfect for me--" 

Danny cut himself off with a groan, his hips pistoning into Aron as he touched every inch he could reach.

Aron's moans turned to whimpers as he was overwhelmed by the pleasure coursing through his body. The Alpha's words were like a drug, lighting up all of his nerve endings and making him feel like he was on fire. 

Aron was gripping the sheets of the bed so hard that his knuckles were white, his body quivering with the force of his impending release. He was right on the edge, right on the precipice, and he was desperate for the fall. 

"Danny-"

Danny's answering growl was loud and long and rumbling as he latched his hand over Aron's throat - not enough to hurt or cut off his breathing, but enough that he couldn't breathe without feeling Danny's grip. 

"Mine," he growled, angling his hips to hit that spot inside Aron with every thrust. "You're mine, Ruru."

The moment Danny's hand closed around his throat, Aron's world exploded. He let out a choked cry, his body convulsing as pleasure slammed through him. It was overwhelming, powerful, and consuming, leaving him helpless in its wake. He was utterly unraveled, completely at Danny's mercy.

"Yours, yours, yours," he gasped out, his words almost a desperate plea. He didn't care about anything else; all he wanted was Danny.

Danny felt Aron convulsing around him and he was able to hold off his own release through it - until Aron said yours in that beautiful, broken voice. 

Danny roared, driving into Aron hard and deep as he spilled into the Omega and his knot swelled, larger than it ever had before and locking them together as Danny's seed painted Aron's walls.

The feeling of Danny's knot tying them together sent another wave of pleasure through Aron, leaving him boneless and trembling. He'd never felt so close to the Alpha, so filled. 

He reached blindly up, grasping at Danny's shoulders to ground himself in the sea of sensations. His nails dug in, leaving red crescents in the Alpha's skin. Mine, he thought dizzily, even though he knew it wasn't true. Danny wasn't his.

Mate. The word whispered through Danny's mind, a siren call that he couldn't ignore. His instincts, his Alpha nature, were telling him to do it, to claim this beautiful Omega who was currently trembling in his arms. 

But he didn't. He couldn't. Not unless Aron wanted it too. So Danny sank his teeth into the pillow next to Aron's head instead, breathing hard with the effort it took to not just claim the Omega. His brain and his heart were in perfect alignment for the first time in decades, but he couldn't just take like that. He wouldn't.

It took a full minute for the world to come back into focus after the mind-blowing orgasm. As he came back to himself, Aron became gradually aware of the feeling of fullness inside him, and the way his leg was draped over Danny's hip, keeping them locked together. 

Mate, his Omega instincts were practically singing. Mate, claim, keep, forever. But it couldn't happen, he knew. Even if Danny wanted it, he'd never let himself do it. 

So he kept his mouth shut, even though he wanted to say it-

Danny growled, low and deep in his chest, struggling to keep the pillow in his teeth and not Aron's neck. 

He wanted nothing more than to keep him and love him and take care of him for the rest of their lives, but he couldn't just do it without Aron's permission, no matter how much he wanted that red, puffy gland to burst in his mouth. 

Danny panted hard, his fist clenching next to Aron's head as he tried to keep himself together.

In the past, Aron would have been hyper-aware of Danny's struggle, of the way the Alpha's muscles were coiled like springs and his breath was coming in sharp gasps. But he was still a little bit out of it, still too overwhelmed and overstimulated to pick up on the subtle signs of a man fighting against his nature. 

Aron sighed, the sound soft and content as he pressed his nose into Danny's neck, inhaling the Alpha's scent. He reached up with his clean hand and ran his fingers through Danny's hair, wanting closeness and affection.

Danny groaned, the pillow released from his teeth as he turned his head to press his nose into Aron's neck. 

Claim. Breed. Bite. Mate.

The words pounded through his head like a drumbeat, his instincts screaming at him to just do it. The scent of Aron's skin was driving him insane, the need to sink his teeth in and claim the Omega as his.

But he couldn't. Danny would never, never do something so irreversible without permission, no matter how desperately he wanted it. So he buried his face in the Omega's neck and held on tight, trying to resist the impulse. His knot pulsed inside Aron and despite his struggle, everything felt right in the world for the first time.

Danny's grip was strong, almost to the point of being painful, and Aron let out a soft, whimper-like gasp as the Alpha buried his face in his neck and inhaled deeply like he was trying to memorize his smell. He knew what Danny was trying to do, and it took everything in him not to give in. 

"Danny," he whined, tilting his head back to expose his neck even more. "Please… ohhhhhh Danny..."

Danny growled again, his teeth bared and his hands shaking from restraint. 

"Don't- don't do that," he gasped out, staring at Aron's exposed neck like it was the most tempting meal on the planet. "Don't present like that, fuck... Not unless-" 

He couldn't even bring himself to finish the sentence.

Danny's words sent chills down Aron's spine, and he let out a needy whimper as a shiver went down his spine.

"Unless...?" he repeated, tilting his head back even more, almost obscenely so. "Unless what, Alpha? What do you need me to say?"

He clenched down, deliberately massaging Danny's knot and the Alpha let out a strangled gasp. 

"Claim me," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "Claim me. Take me."

Danny moaned, his knot pulsing and pleasure shooting up his spine. He jerked his hips, shoving his knot deeper. 

"Fuck, Aron, you can't just--" he gasped, his elbows buckling and he fell on top of Aron again. His teeth scraped Aron's neck and his breathing quickened again, panting against him. 

"Don't- don't fucking tease me with this shit, Ruru, not like this."

"Not teasing, Alpha," Aron replied, his voice low and earnest. "I'm offering."

He tilted his head back again, his eyes fluttering shut as Danny's breath brushed over his skin. His Omega instincts were screaming at him to submit, to let the Alpha mark him and claim him for good. "You think I want anyone else? You think I don't want to belong to you, mate?"

Mate. 

All those years of Aron hating him, all those years of the two of them being enemies, all those years of Danny pining and wishing and hoping and wanting... Danny let out a desperate whine, his teeth aching and his heart breaking. 

"Aron, you don't understand what this would mean to me," Danny whispered. "This is your instincts, this is your hindbrain. This isn't what you really want."

Aron's heart ached at the sound of Danny's whine, and he let out a small, helpless whimper of his own. 

"No, no, no." he said firmly, holding Danny close. "Not instincts, not hindbrain. Me. I'm not a slave to my Omega side, I make my own choices. And I choose you."

He trailed a hand up Danny's spine, letting his nails scrape over the Alpha's skin. "Claim me. I'm offering, no instincts, no coercion. Just me, letting you have all of me."

Danny panted against Aron's throat, his brain at war with every other atom of his body. He wanted nothing more than to do it, to have Aron forever. But he wanted to do it right and not in the heat of the moment where either of them could regret it in the morning. 

"Sleep on it," Danny begged against Aron's throat. "Just... Sleep on it. And if you still want that in the morning, then we can- we can talk. But I don't want to Claim you with my knot in your cunt and our instincts going insane and we wake up and you regret it, Ruru. Please..."

Aron's breath hitched at the words, his heart skipping a beat. He could hear the Alpha's desperation in every syllable, the conflict between what his instincts wanted and what he thought was right. And damn it, he hated that Danny was being so thoughtful about this, so considerate of Aron's well-being and his own desires. But he understood, even as his Omega side protested and growled in frustration. Because Danny was right. 

"Okay," he said softly, the word a hesitant whisper. "I'll sleep on it. But just...stay with me. Please."

"You couldn't get me to leave if the world ended," Danny promised, shifting them so that Aron was laying on top of him, his cock still buried deep inside the Omega and his knot swollen and throbbing. Danny wrapped his arms around Aron, holding him tightly and keeping him close.

Aron snuggled against Danny, his smaller frame completely enveloped by the Alpha's warm embrace. His muscles relaxed against Danny's chest, and he let out a soft sigh of contentment, the feeling of being so close to Danny both soothing and arousing.

He nuzzled against Danny's chin, his teeth grazing over the Alpha's jaw. "You're so warm," he murmured drowsily, his eyelids heavy with exhaustion. "And you smell so good."

He inhaled deeply, as if trying to breathe in Danny's essence and make it part of him. Danny ran his hands down Aron's back, blunt nails scratching along his spine. 

"Sleep, baby," he murmured. "You've had a long, hard day. You need rest." 

It was hard to believe that they had run into each other at the bar after thirteen years, called in half a dozen favors, and midnight-moved Aron in secret to get him out of the cult controlled apartment he had been living in for decades and away from the cult's control all in one night. 

Danny pressed a kiss to Aron's head, closing his eyes.

Aron's eyelids drooped, the soothing touch of Danny's hand on his back making him feel drowsy and boneless. He hummed softly, the sound a mixture of pleasure and contentment.

But there was a nagging feeling in the back of his mind, the fear of falling asleep and waking up only to find it had all been a beautiful dream. "Danny..." he mumbled, his voice soft and hesitant.

"Will you...Will you still be here when I wake up...?"

Danny chuckled softly and scratched at Aron's scalp. 

"Babe, this is my house," he murmured.

Aron huffed, his expression tinged with mock annoyance but also a hint of amusement.  "I know that," he muttered, his eyes still closed. "I meant... this. Will this be real?"

He emphasized the word "this" by shifting his hips, reminding them both of their intimate position.

Danny bit his lip and moaned, jerking his hips to shove his knot deeper into Aron. 

"Stay still, Omega, or as soon as I deflate, I'm fucking you again," he growled, gripping the back of Aron's neck possessively.

Aron's cheeks flushed with heat, his body responding to Danny's alpha dominance with a shudder of excitement. He let out a low, needy whine, his head falling back to expose his neck.

"Y-yes, Alpha," he managed to gasp, his hips stilling obediently. He felt completely at the mercy of the Alpha, his body trembling with anticipation.

"Good boy," Danny mumbled, resting his head back on the pillows and closing his eyes. His thumb stroked the side of Aron's neck soothingly. 

"Look, as long as you want this to be a thing, Aron, I'm more than happy for this to be a thing," he said carefully. "But I want you to know that I didn't bring you here to stay with me or get you out of that cult house with the expectation of you doing this with me. I didn't help you with the intention of getting you to sleep with me, and I don't expect you to keep sleeping with me just to stay here. If you want this to be a one time thing, getting the tension out and shit, that's okay. I'll deal. Whatever you want, okay?"

Aron's heart skipped a beat as Danny spoke. It was an unexpected confession, one that revealed the depths of the Alpha's concern and kindness. 

He opened his eyes, tilting his head to look up at Danny. "You...you mean that?" 

Aron's voice was soft, tentative, still tinged with disbelief. "You won't... expect anything from me? You won't get angry if I... if this is a one time thing?" 

He knew what most Alphas were like. He knew what most werewolves were like. But Danny... Danny was different.

Danny opened his eyes and looked at Aron on his chest. 

"I just refused to Mate you because I didn't want you to regret it," he murmured, cupping Aron's cheek. "Whatever you need, Ruru, okay? If you need time, or space, or a fuck buddy, or whatever, just tell me okay? I gotchu."

Tears stung at the corners of Aron's eyes, and he sniffed softly. He hadn't realized how much he'd needed to hear those words until now. To have someone who wasn't expecting anything of him. Who was just offering a safe space, no matter what he wanted.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice thick. "For understanding. For... for being you."

He closed his eyes again, his head sinking back onto Danny's chest. "I... I don't know what I want. I'm just... I'm so tired, Danny."

"Then take some time to rest and recover," Danny supplied, running his hand down Aron's sweaty back. "Take some time. Your entire life has been at the mercy of Scientology, Aron, and now you're free. Take the time to be free, okay? You don't have to attach yourself to the person who got you out just to stay out. I'm not going to send you back if you don't Mate me. I just want you safe." 

Danny leaned down a bit to press a kiss to Aron's hair. 

"Take as much time as you need."

Aron let out a weary sigh, his body sagging with exhaustion and relief. Danny's words felt like a balm, soothing the raw emotions he was feeling. He nodded, nuzzling against the Alpha's chest.

"You're right," he whispered. "I spent years in that cult. I need to... figure out who I am now. What I want." 

He swallowed hard, his voice becoming more vulnerable. "But I'm... I'm scared, Danny. I'm scared of being alone. It's all I've known. I'm scared to be on my own."

"You're not on your own," Danny promised soothingly, his hands running up and down Aron's back. "You've got me."

Aron's breath hitched in his throat, a mix of gratitude and relief washing over him. "You... you promise?" he murmured, his voice barely more than a whisper.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling of Danny's hands on his back. It was soothing, reassuring.

"You won't... you won't abandon me, right? You won't leave me alone like everyone else?"

"I promise." 

Danny pressed his nose to the side of Aron's head, closing his eyes. His knot finally started to deflate and his cock slid out from inside Aron with a wet shlick. He groaned. 

"I got you, Ruru. You can stay as long as you want."

Aron let out a soft whimper as Danny's knot deflated, the emptiness leaving him feeling... vulnerable. He shivered slightly, the sensation alien to him.

He nodded against Danny's chest, a wave of relief washing over him at the Alpha's promise.

"Thank you," he whispered, his voice wavering slightly. "I... I don't know what I'd do without you."

Danny shifted them to lay on their sides, arms wrapping around Aron protectively. He tried not to imagine what it would be like to do this every night, to hold him every night. He tried not to imagine what it would be like to love Aron openly instead of in secret in his own head. 

"You don't have to thank me," he murmured, closing his eyes and resting his head on the pillow. "Just get some sleep and rest. You need it."

As Danny curled up behind him, holding him close, Aron almost let himself sink into the moment. He wanted to nuzzle into the Alpha's chest, to wrap his arms around him and never let go. But he didn't.

He knew that it wouldn't happen, that this was just a one-time thing. Danny was offering him a safe haven, but Aron wasn't so naive as to think that he'd open his heart to him too. So he nodded weakly and closed his eyes, trying to push away the bittersweet ache in his chest.

Chapter 5: I'll Be There

Summary:

Aron let's fear override his own desires and Danny suffers because of it.

Notes:

I felt so bad doing this to Danny tbh. But alas.... Angst.

 

The next morning, Danny woke up with the sun like usual and rolled over. He took a minute to just... look at Aron. Softened face, worry lines smoothed, that dopey expression from sleep... He was gorgeous and beautiful and everything Danny had ever imagined he would be through the years of pining after him. 

Danny slowly and carefully got out of the bed, padding across the room to get his phone and go to the kitchen downstairs. He texted the guys, letting them know what was going on and filling them in on the situation from the night before - minus sleeping with Aron, of course. He didn't think Jorel would ever forgive him. 

But he made breakfast, he made his morning protein shake, and he brought the food back up to the bedroom. He set the tray of oatmeal with honey and fruit and the glass of apple juice on the bedside table for Aron before getting dressed for his morning run. He put his headphones in and tied his sneakers, glancing back at the sleeping Omega before heading out the door for his run.

When Aron finally stirred awake, he took a moment to adjust to his surroundings. The room was unfamiliar, but the scent was not. He inhaled deeply, the musk of pine and wood mixed with... Danny.   

He sat up, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and looking around. The tray beside the bed caught his attention, and he reached for it, his stomach grumbling. He took a bite of oatmeal, the sweetness of the honey and fruit a welcomed relief. But his mind was preoccupied. 

Where was Danny?

After finishing his breakfast, Aron pushed the tray aside and got up, the memory of last night's events still fresh in his mind. He looked around the room, taking in the details of the space, the subtle smells, the faint hum of music. But there was no sign of Danny anywhere.A feeling of unease settled in his stomach. He padded across the room, pausing at the desk to run a hand over the papers, the pens, the books. He saw a framed photo of Danny with the band and... someone else.

It was Reese, Danny's ex wife, and his little son Roman. The sight of the photo made something tighten in Aron's chest. Danny looked so happy, his arm around Reese and Roman in his lap. He remembered Danny mentioning the night before that Reese had taken full custody of Roman, that the courts had given it to her because Danny toured so much. 

Aron felt a stab of... something. Jealousy? Longing? He couldn't quite put his finger on it. But he knew that seeing Danny with his ex-wife and child made him feel unsettled.

The feeling was quickly pushed aside though, his mind preoccupied with Danny. Where was he?

A few moments later, the sound of the front door opening and closing reached Aron's sensitive ears. 

He padded out into the living room, his feet silent on the carpeted floor. He could hear movement in the entryway, the sound of keys rattled, the thump of shoes being kicked off.

And that familiar scent, growing stronger.

Danny kicked off his running shoes, tossing his keys and the arm strap for his phone onto the table by the door, bobbing his head to the music in his headphones. He was sweaty, but not as much as usual. He hadn't gone for as long as he usually did, not wanting to leave Aron alone for too long. 

"And I, I keep records of the wreckage of my life! I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind! They talk shit, but I love it every time! And I realize - I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night!" he sang along to the Halsey song in his earbuds, shuffling across the tiles of the foyer of his house, dancing like an absolute dad and not like the famous rockstar that he was as he made his way through the living room to the kitchen for his after-run protein bar.

Aron stood in the living room, a mixture of amusement and awe on his face as he watched Danny sing and dance. He'd never seen the Alpha being so... extra. In the few times they'd met up again, Danny had always been the picture of cool indifference, his emotions tightly reined in, his walls erected firmly. Watching him dance around like a dork with his over-the-ear headphones on felt like a bizarre glimpse into a different version of him. 

Aron fought back a smile as Danny shuffled his way into the kitchen, still singing loudly, oblivious to his audience.

Danny grabbed the protein bar from the basket full of them, tossing it in the air before catching it and singing into it like a microphone. 

"No, I won't smile, but I'll show you my teeth! And Imma let you speak if you just let me breathe! I'll be polite, but I won't be caught dead - Lettin' a man tell me what I should do in my bed!" 

Danny twisted his hips, doing a very bad attempt at a moonwalk in the kitchen that was really just him shuffling backwards until his foot hit the cabinets and he couldn't go back any farther.

Aron had to stop himself from bursting out laughing. This version of Danny was... different. His usual cool indifference was replaced by a carefree, almost childish exuberance. And that dance -- it was like a bad version of a Michael Jackson impression. 

Aron shook his head, a small smile on his face. It was hard to believe that this was the alpha who had always acted so aloof and distant when they were kids. 

"You're such a dork," he muttered under his breath, watching from the living room.

Danny grabbed a second protein bar, using them as drumsticks against the counter as he shook his ass to the music and went for the coffee maker. He stumbled over the lyrics a bit as he started the machine, mumbling but keeping tune and pitch because he was really good at singing by ear. 

When the chorus hit again, he slid across the kitchen floor on his socks, arms out like he was doing a power slide straight out of the 80s rock scene. 

"And I, I keep records of the wreckage of my life! I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind! They talk shit, but I love it every time! And I realize - I'm no sweet dream, but I'm a hell of a night!"

He turned, air guitar rocking hard with a protein bar in each hand, before freezing as he saw Aron in the doorway of the kitchen. His eyes went wide and he immediately stopped singing, taking out one earbud. 

"Uhh... Morning?"

Aron couldn't hold back anymore. The sight of Danny sliding across the kitchen floor on his socks, pretending to play an air guitar with protein bars as drums, was just too ridiculous to keep a straight face. He burst into laughter, unable to contain himself. 

"Morning to you too," he said through giggles, his expression a mix of amusement and disbelief. "What the hell are you doing?"

Danny's face flushed, but he grinned, tossing one of the protein bars to Aron. 

"It's called having fun, Erlichman, maybe you should try it sometime," he replied, chuckling. He paused his music and took out his earbuds, putting them back in the case. "Did you eat your breakfast? I couldn't remember if you liked just honey with your oatmeal or if you liked honey and butter, sorry."

Aron caught the protein bar, turning it over in his hands. Danny was being downright chatty and easy-going this morning, like he actually...enjoyed talking without it being a pissing contest. 

He considered the question about breakfast, not missing the fact that Danny had remembered something about his food preference. "Just honey is fine," he replied, setting the bar on the counter. 

"But, uh...I'm confused," he admitted, looking up at Danny. "You're being...different."

"How so?" Danny asked, pulling two mugs from the cabinet above the sink. "I do this every morning, by the way, so while you're staying here, you're gonna get a private dumbass show just like this every single day."

Danny poured them each a cup of coffee, smiling to himself.

Aron's lips twitched in a small smile. "Private dumbass show, huh?" he remarked, watching Danny pour the coffee.

"It's just...you're being...chatty," Aron elaborated. "You're actually...talking to me. You're not snapping or being defensive or trying to insult me or anything-"

"Yeah, you're not throwing bottles at my head and calling me an American Idol reject and saying I stole your life," Danny countered, taking a sip of the coffee from his mug and opening the protein bar in his hand. "Amazing what not bullying someone will do for your communication with them, huh?"

Aron winced slightly as the barb hit its mark. It was a well-deserved one, but it was true. He had been a complete ass to Danny for over a decade. 

"Fair enough," he agreed softly. "I...I suppose I was being an absolute dick, huh?"

"Yeah, a bit," Danny replied, chuckling and giving Aron a wink. "But it's cool, dude. Water under the bridge. I don't hold grudges."

Especially not after fucking your brains out last night, he thought, but he didn't say it out loud.

"You don't?"

Aron raised an eyebrow, skepticism clear on his face. It was hard to believe that Danny, of all people, didn't hold any grudges. He had a sharp tongue and a tendency to get under people's skin.

"Really," he drawled, taking a cautious sip of coffee. "You're saying you don't have any...unresolved...resentment...towards me?"

Danny took a bite of his bar, chewing thoughtfully as he genuinely considered the question. After a minute, he swallowed and shrugged. 

"I think I still feel hurt that you thought I replaced you in the band on purpose," he said truthfully. "Like I planned that shit or something. Conspired against you. But honestly? It's been almost 20 years, Aron, I've moved on. I went to therapy, I did a lot of self reflection, and as guilty as I felt for years... I came to understand that you were hurting. You were lashing out because you were hurt and angry and I was the easiest target because I was the only one out of the entire group that wouldn't beat your fucking ass. I get it."

Therapy. The word was a gut punch. 

Aron's eyes widened, surprise and shame blending together in a messy jumble. He had never, not once, considered that Danny had been going to therapy all these years. 

"Therapy," he repeated quietly. "You...you went to therapy for...because of me?"

"Not just because of you," Danny assured quickly, frowning as he leaned back against the kitchen counter. "We grew up in a cult, Aron, I had way more shit to deal with mentally than just you and the band drama. But I do admit, you were the push I needed to start going."

I was the push he needed...

Aron's guilt coiled around his stomach like a vise. Here he'd been all these years, blaming and villainizing Danny, when the truth was that Danny had been going to therapy to deal not just with Aron, but with the psychological trauma from growing up in a cult.

"Danny," he started softly, "I...I never knew."

"Nah, it's fine," Danny said dismissively, waving him off with one hand. "No one knew, not until a few years ago when Jordon caught me doing one of my sessions over the phone on tour. I didn't exactly feel safe admitting to a bunch of ex-Scientologists that I was seeking mental health care, ya know? The church forbid that sort of thing."

It made sense. The church viewed mental health as a sign of weakness, a flaw in one's faith. Anyone who was seeking therapy was seen as 'suppressive', and Danny would've been labeled a 'SP', a term that Aron was all too familiar with.

"The church forbade...well, pretty much everything that wasn't in line with their ideals," Aron said grimly. "They're all about control and manipulation and obedience."

"Cult shit," Danny said succinctly, nodding. "But, luckily, the guys all left the same time I did and they did their own healing journeys so we all had a nice long talk about mental health and what medications we'd been taking and cleared the air. We talked about you that day too, actually."

Danny took another sip of coffee, smiling at Aron. 

"We were all really worried about you still being in the church by yourself. We considered reaching out to you, but you were still on your 'I hate HU and everyone in it' shit at the time so we didn't think you'd want to hear from us."

They'd talked about him...

Aron took a deep breath, trying to process all of this information. He'd spent so many years feeling abandoned and betrayed, but here was Danny, telling him that the band had been worried about him, concerned about him. They weren't out to get him, they weren't trying to hurt him. They'd wanted to reach out, but they thought Aron wouldn't want to hear from them.

"Yeah, I..." he started, his voice thick with emotion. "I was pretty angry back then."

"Oh! That reminds me, fuck, I messaged the group chat this morning-" Danny pulled his phone out of his pocket, immediately wincing at the number of texts and missed calls from the entire band - including Matt, even though he wasn't in the band anymore. "Ah, damn, I'm in trouble."

Ah, good ol' group chat. 

Aron couldn't help but crack a small smile at the thought of everyone losing their minds in the group chat. He could just imagine the flurry of messages and the barrage of missed calls.

"Yeah, I figure they're all losing their minds right now," he agreed, chuckling softly. "They probably thought you'd murdered me or something."

"Oh, honey, you have no idea," Danny muttered, sighing as he hit the call button on the group chat, not even bothering to read any of the messages before doing so. Jorel was the first to pick up. 

"Daniel, what the fuck do you mean Aron left the cult and he's staying with you!" Jorel yelled. "Why didn't you call me? I'm at the fucking airport - I'm coming back to LA!"

Danny blinked in surprise. Jorel lived in Oklahoma now, why was he-

"What? Why are you coming back to LA? Are we recording more music?" Danny asked in confusion. 

"No, you dumb shit, I'm coming to see Aron!" Jorel yelled. "You're telling me my best fucking friend for my entire childhood is finally out of the goddamn cult that made him into a monster and you expect me to not drop everything and come see him?"

Best friends...

A lump formed in Aron's throat. He'd always looked up to Jorel, he'd always wanted the singer to be his friend. He was shocked to hear Jorel was coming all the way from Oklahoma just to see him. J-Dog cares.

A mixture of surprise and gratitude swirled around in his chest, making his heart skip a beat. Danny opened his mouth to reply, but George joined the call, the sound of an airport announcement in the background. 

"Hey, fuck, is he okay? Is Aron okay?" George asked worriedly. "Me and Jordon are on our way right now, our flight leaves in ten minutes."

Danny's eyes widened. George and Jordon had moved to Nashville years ago to get away from the LA gangs and shit to keep their families safer. 

"Wait, you're both there?" Danny asked. 

"Hey, brother!" Jordon's voice came over the phone from George's icon, indicating Jordon was there with George in person.

Jordon...? George...?!

Aron's heart leaped into his throat, his mind spinning. Both George and Jordon were coming? They were flying all the way from Nashville? It was too much. The idea that they care so much about him that they were flying in to see him... it was unreal.

"Wait, where's Dylan?" Jorel asked. 

"He's in court until noon doing jury duty," George replied. "He's gonna tell them he can't do it because he's Mexican or some shit to get out of it and he and Lex are flying up later today."

"Lex's coming too?" Jorel asked. 

Danny pulled away from the phone, looking over at Aron. 

"Lex is Dylan's wife," he explained. "They got married last year and he lives in Texas with her now."

Aron nodded weakly, processing this new information. It was almost too much, all his old bandmates coming all this way just for him. A part of him still found it hard to believe. They all still wanted him..? They still cared..? There was a beep as another person joined the call and Danny looked down. 

"Oh, look who decided to join the party," he mused. 

"Fuck you, where's Ruru?" Matt asked immediately. "I can't get on a fucking plane like you bitches can because I'm stuck filming this stupid fucking movie, where's Ruru? Lemme talk to him. RURU!"

Matt...

A part of him found the rapper's impatience almost funny. It was typical Matt; demanding, brash, and unapologetic. 

Aron cleared his throat. "I'm here," he said quietly, his voice still shaky.

A chorus oh "AYYYE!" went up from everyone in the call as Aron's voice was heard and Danny grinned. 

"Ruru! My brotha! Jesus, it's so good to hear your fuckin' nasally ass voice!" Matt yelled happily. "Where you stayin'? You need money for a hotel? I got plenty, I'll set you up in a fuckin' Marriot!"

"He's staying with Danny, I thought?" Jordon said in confusion. 

"Wait, Aron and Danny living together? Gay," Matt teased, laughing. 

"Fuck off, Matty," Danny said, rolling his eyes. 

"Hey, Danny, does Aron know you're a faggot?" George asked, laughing. 

"Fuck off, George," Danny replied, laughing and rolling his eyes. "I'm not a faggot, I'm a fruitcake, get it right!"

"Whatever, Gaylord," Jordon mocked, laughing. Aron couldn't help but chuckle at the banter between his old friends. It was just like old times – the insults, the teasing, the laughter. It was like they hadn't missed a beat, even after all these years.

"Yeah, I'm staying with Danny," he confirmed, unable to keep the smile off his face. "Don't worry about the hotel, Matt. I'm good."

"Damn, aight," Matt said, snickering. "Ruru and DeeDee sittin' in a tree-"

"F-U-C-K-I-N-G!" Dylan finished as he joined the call. Danny rolled his eyes, but his face was red, remembering the feeling of being buried balls deep in Aron the night before. He cleared his throat, actively not looking at the Omega.

Aron blushed at the reference, a mixture of embarrassment and excitement coursing through him. It was all too much – Danny holding him, the memories, their old friends making dirty jokes. He was almost overwhelmed. 

"Hey, I'm still here, y'know," he said weakly, trying to join in the banter, "And I can still kick all your asses!"

"Ayyyeee, there he is!" Jordon cheered. "There's the fuckin' gangster!"

"God, it's so good to hear from you, Aron," Jorel sighed into the phone, like a weight of a decade had finally lifted. "You have no idea how much we missed your ass."

"Me and Lex are on our way to DFW to catch the plane," Dylan said. "Hey, Aron, hi, I'm married! Can you believe it? I got fuckin' married!"

A feminine laugh in the background made Danny grin. 

"Hey, Lex!" the guys chorused. 

"Hi, fellas! I can't wait to meet Aron, I've heard so much about you, sweetie!" Lex said through Dylan's phone.

Hearing their voices was like stepping back in time. Familiar, friendly, and safe. He'd missed this, the easy banter and the jokes. It was comfort he'd never admit he'd longed for, and here it was, wrapped in the sound of their laughter.

"Dylan got married?" Aron said with a fake gasp, his lips curving up. "I never thought I'd see the day!"

"Me neither!" Dylan enthused. "You're gonna love her, she's the best! She makes the best food, she gives the best blowjobs - but you won't know that because she's mine - and she's fucking hilarious -OW!"

"What did I tell you about talking about our sex life with your friends?" Lex demanded. 

Danny snickered, his hand covering his mouth as the guys all immediately jumped on the "let's get blowjobs from Dylan's wife" bandwagon.

Aron chuckled, his chest tight with bittersweet emotions. Here they were, still the same rowdy guys, making the same dirty jokes and ribbing each other. It was almost like nothing had changed.

"Congrats, man," he said to Dylan, shaking his head in amusement. "Lex sounds like a keeper. And I do not need to hear about your sex life, thank you very much."

"Oh look, one of you is decent! Aron's my new favorite," Lex said. Jordon immediately protested. 

"Hey! What about me? I thought I was your favorite because I gave you Mexican coke!"

"You gave my wife cocaine?" Dylan demanded angrily. "Dude, the fuck-"

"Soda, Papi, Mexican Coca Cola."

"Oh."

Danny outright laughed.

"Jordon, you're the last one of us who should be giving anyone anything questionable," Aron quipped, raising an eyebrow. "Remember that time you tried to convince us that you'd found a loophole for speeding tickets? How'd that work out for you again?"

"I went to jail for like maybe two hours!" Jordon defended. 

"Yeah, because I bailed your ass out," Jorel snorted. "And you decided that you were gonna try and drive home!"

"In my fuckin' car, too, ese," Matt added. George snorted in amusement. 

"God, out of all of us, Jordy and Dyl have the most arrests, now right?" he asked. "Or am I remembering wrong?"

"Ruru! How many times have you been arrested?" Matt asked.

Aron rolled his eyes dramatically, trying to downplay his own 'troubled teen' phase. "Oh, gee, let me think... zero, actually."

There was a collective groan of disbelief. "Bullshit!" came the reply, a chorus of voices.

"Yeah, no, I call bullshit," Danny laughed, looking over at Aron. "There was that assault on an officer in 2014, right? You spat on them in Oregon."

"And didn't you get caught stealing from a fucking dispensary?" Dylan asked. 

"Oh, and don't forget that time in 8th grade when you brought a knife to school to be edgy!" Jordon supplied. 

"And you and Jeff totally got arrested for tagging King Don's bar in 2009," Matt added. 

"God, don't remind me of Jeff, that fucker is insane now," George groaned. 

"And you had that DUI in Florida in 2015," Jorel added.

Aron flushed at the sudden onslaught of his past misdemeanors and borderline felonies being aired out in front of him.

"Alright, alright, you got me!" he finally admitted, throwing up his hands in mock surrender. "I may have had a... checkered past. But I swear, I've turned over a new leaf!"

"New leaf my ass!" Matt laughed. "You just don't have a crew to bail your ass out anymore so you got careful!" 

Danny snorted, grinning at Aron. 

"I'd bail you out, Ruru," he said, waggling his eyebrows. 

"GAY!" everyone said at the same time, making the phone speaker crack.

Aron rolled his eyes, a smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "It’s not gay!"

"Nah, it's totally gay," Matt answered, cackling. "Danny's a fag! We all know it, he knows it, he's gonna be all faggy on you while you stay with him!"

"They're putting chemicals in the water that turn the Danny gay!" Jordon said in an impression of Right-Wing extremist and conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.

Aron couldn't help but laugh at Matt's comment and Jordon's impression. 

"Oh, yeah, totally," he retorted, mock-serious. "Danny's definitely gonna turn me into a big gay mess. I might even spontaneously grow a unicorn horn and start prancing around rainbows, singing show tunes."

"Kinky," Danny said, raising an eyebrow at Aron and smirking. He slid a hand around to squeeze Aron's ass gently, biting his lip as he thought back to the night before and Aron's voice begging him to fuck him harder.

Aron let out a small gasp, his face flushing as Danny squeezed his ass. The gesture was casual and friendly, but it sent a shiver through Aron's body, bringing back memories of the night before. 

"Watch it, Alpha," he warned, his voice low. He couldn't help but smile, though, the familiarity of their banter and Danny's touch making his heart race.

"Ooooooooh, Aron knows Danny's an Alpha now!" Matt laughed. 

"Oh, shit, Dan, you didn't tell him how you got turned into a werewolf, did you?" Jordon asked worriedly. 

"Nah, it hasn't come up," Danny replied, glancing over at Aron as he shifted the phone onto the kitchen counter. 

"Oh, good, okay," Jordon sighed in relief. 

"Jordon gave it to him," Jorel said immediately. 

"JOREL, THE FUCK?!"

Aron was definitely confused now. What was this about Jordon? And how had Danny ended up a werewolf in the first place? 

"So... Jordon turned you into a werewolf?" Aron asked, his brow furrowed. "Wait, how the hell did that happen?"

"Jordy got bi-curious and didn't know that shit could get passed around like an STD," George answered, receiving several loud slaps from Jordon in the process. 

Danny rolled his eyes, shaking his head in exasperation. 

"It wasn't a fucking STD, that makes it sound like we had sex," he groused. "Jordon asked me if he could try kissing a guy because he knew I'm bi and he didn't want to be weird with a stranger. He bit my fucking tongue and I caught Lycanthro. It's not that big a deal."

"I said I was sorry so many fucking times, bro," Jordon whined. 

"It's fine, Jord, I'm not mad," Danny laughed. "Honestly, I like being a wolf, it's so much easier to bulk."

Aron was both fascinated and amused by the story. He'd always known Danny was bisexual, and Jordon was painfully heterosexual. It was a little surprising to hear that Jordon had initiated something like that. 

"Damn, bro," he chuckled, shaking his head. "That's actually kind of impressive. Accidental werewolf-creator Jordon Terrell."

"I said I was sorry!" Jordon protested, whining. 

"Anyway, Ruru, how have you been handling shit with the wolf stuff?" Jorel asked. "Did you find another pack?"

Aron's expression clouded, all the anger and hurt he'd been feeling before coming back in the wake of the reminder. 

"No," he said shortly. "I mean, I haven't even tried." 

He didn't want another pack. He wanted Danny's pack. He wanted to be a part of something Danny was a part of. He wanted to be close to Danny again.

"Well, now that you're out of the cult and you're not a fucking piece of shit bastard anymore, we got room," George offered, chuckling. "We only kicked you out because you were treating us all like SPs because we left the church and you didn't."

Danny glanced at Aron as the others let out various forms of agreement over the group call. 

"Yeah, I only joined the band because you weren't the singer anymore," he said quietly. "And I only joined the pack because Jordon made me a wolf on accident. No one replaced you in the pack, Aron."

No one replaced you in the pack. 

Aron felt a wave of emotions roll through him. They hadn't replaced him. They hadn't forgotten about him. All this time away, they'd kept a space open for him. 

"You...you're serious?" he said, his voice faint. "You'd really...I could join your pack?"

"Re-join," Dylan corrected, the sound of a car door shutting in the background. "And hell yeah, man, you're our bro! Our familia!"

"Vamos, Papi, we have a plane to catch!" Lex said in the background, ushering Dylan along. 

"Speaking of planes, mine just started boarding," Jorel said hastily. "I'll be in LA in a few hours! See you guys soon!" Jorel left the call. 

"Goddamn, I have never wanted to be out of work so bad in my fucking life," Matt complained. "I can't drop filming here and fly out to LA like you guys can, this sucks."

"When are you done in Philly?" Danny asked Matt. 

"Tomorrow. Shooting wraps tomorrow and I can head that way the next morning," Matt explained. 

"Two days ain't bad," George tried to say comfortingly. 

"Yeah, I guess, but fuck, I miss Ruru! And you other bitches, I guess," Matt snorted. Danny rolled his eyes. 

"Love you too, Matty," he said sarcastically.

Aron couldn't hold back a smile at hearing everyone's familiar voices over the call. He'd missed them all so much. They'd been his brothers, his pack, and losing them had been hell. Now they were here again, and inviting him back into their group as though no time had passed at all. 

"I miss you all too," he said, feeling a little choked up. "I can't believe this is actually happening. Everything feels...unreal."

Danny put an arm around Aron's shoulders, pulling him into a hug. 

"Hey, don't start crying again, Ruru, you're gonna get dehydrated," he said soothingly, rubbing his hands down the Omega's back. "It's okay..."

"GAY!" Matt yelled again. 

"Matt, shut the fuck up, not the time," Jordon scolded. 

"Oh, shit, sorry."

Aron let out a watery chuckle at Matt's yell, leaning into Danny's embrace. His chest was tight with emotion, overwhelmed by the kindness and acceptance he was getting from his former friends. 

"It's okay, Matt," he said, his voice shaky. "I missed your dumbass comments too."

"HA! I knew it! Da Kurlzz was always Deuce's favorite," Matt cheered, laughing. Danny rolled his eyes at the stage names, resting his chin on top of Aron's head. 

"God, you're lame," he said to Matt. 

"Yeah, at least I didn't name myself the Golden Beast, fuckface," Matt replied. Danny bristled. 

"I didn't! The fans made that my name before they knew who I was because my mask was gold!"

"Still dumb as fuck," Matt snickered. 

"Alright, we gotta board," George said, interrupting. "Me and Jordy will be there in a few hours. See ya soon, Dan, Ru."

Aron stifled another laugh, shaking his head at their banter. Those two were too damn alike for their own good. 

"Alright, see you soon, guys," he said, waving even though he knew the other wolves couldn't see him. "Safe flight."

Danny smirked as George left the call, taking Jordon with him in the process since they were next to each other. 

"So Dylan and Lex are coming from Texas," he started. "Jorel's coming in from Oklahoma, George and Jordon are coming in from Tennessee, and Matt's coming in a few days from Philly. Whole gang's gonna be here."

"Hey, we just got to security, we gotta head out," Dylan said. "Hasta luego, homies!" Lex yelled bye in the background seconds before Dylan left the call, leaving Matt as the only one left in the group call with Danny and Aron. 

"Yeah, I'll wrap up filming here and head that way as soon as I can, I swear," Matt said, answering Danny. "I just gotta finish the reshoots and pick ups and they'll let me come home."

"How many reshoots are they making you do?" Aron asked with a frown. "I thought you were done filming."

"Apparently I need to act less like a dick, which is just bullshit because I'm awesome," Matt grouched. There's my boy, Aron thought fondly.

"You're doing that new Marvel show, right?" Danny asked, scratching at his neck, nails leaving white lines over the rose tattoo on his throat that faded quickly. 

"Yeah, it's the new Vision show," Matt said, sounding annoyed. "I'm playing one of the bad guys and they want me to be less of a dick. How does that make sense?"

"Probably because you'd kill half of Hollywood if you were allowed," Aron said, grinning. Even through the screen, he could see Matt rolling his eyes, flipping him off without hesitation.

"I'm not a psycho!"

"Anymore," Danny added for him, smirking. 

"Yeah! Wait, hey!"

"You were always the one getting into fights," Aron said with a laugh. "It's still a miracle you didn't get kicked out of school, you hothead."

"Yeah, well, maybe if you were less of an emo twink, I wouldn't have had to fight so many people for insulting you, Ru," Matt grumbled. Danny laughed, throwing his head back. 

"Aron? The emo twink? Oh, please, we all know Jorel was the most emo out of all of us," he said.

"Yeah," Matt said, his voice dripping with faux pity. "It's a shame he turned out straight."

"Not helping," Aron said, smacking his forehead.

"Straight and fucking married with kids," Danny said in mock amazement. "Seriously, bastard has a fucking ranch now. Who would have thought?"

"I seriously still think that ranch is a cover up for a weed farm," Matt replied.

"Nah, Jorel's too by the book for that," Aron said with a laugh. "A wife, three kids, and a ranch? Perfect suburban white picket fence life."

He snorted and shook his head. "That man could live on plain water and granola, I swear."

Danny barked out a laugh, grinning at Aron as Matt guffawed over the phone. 

"That's the Ruru I missed!" Matt yelled. "The snark and the insults! Fuck, I missed you, man, you changed so much after we left the church and you didn't."

Aron flushed at the praise, ducking his head. He knew Matt and the others had missed him over the years, but hearing it said so bluntly still surprised him. 

"Yeah, well..." he mumbled, not sure how to respond. 

"You got all...broody," Matt said, his tone turning teasing. "And angsty. You probably spend all your time crying over The Used records and black eyeliner."

"Emo, emo, emo," Danny chanted playfully, grinning at Aron. "Nah, but seriously, you turned into a Grade A asshole. Worst years ever, I swear."

"Yeah, and then you fucking threw bottles at Danny when we asked him to take your spot in the band and we genuinely thought you were gonna try and kill us," Matt said sadly. "We didn't want to cut you off, but you were so threatening and we were scared you'd send the cult after us, man..."

Ouch. 

Aron flinched at Matt's blunt honesty, hurt flashing across his face. He didn't blame them, not really, he'd been awful to them back then. That didn't mean the reminder didn't sting. 

"I...yeah," he said quietly, staring down at the sheets. "I was...not in a good place back then."

Understatement of the century.

"But hey, it's cool now," Danny assured, glaring at the phone like he could glare at Matt through it. "Water under the bridge and no hard feelings. Right, Matt?"

"Huh? Oh, shit, was I being a dick again? I'm sorry - yeah, no, we're cool, Aron, we're cool! No hard feelings, just some therapy and maybe bad jokes, I promise."

Aron snickered at Danny's glare, appreciating the Alpha's protectiveness.  He knew Matt didn't mean to be a dick, but the Beta was often insensitive. 

"It's okay, Matt," he said, trying to sound as sincere as possible. "I was an idiot back then. I get why you did what you did...even if it hurt like hell."

Danny put a hand on Aron's back comfortingly, still glaring at the phone. 

"And we're sorry," he said firmly, like he was both assuring Aron and scolding Matt. "And it won't ever happen again."

"Yeah, we're sorry, Aron. And... I'm sorry. I said some pretty shitty things to you when it all went down and... I swear, I didn't know you were autistic and I didn't know it was a slur and... I'm sorry I called you a retard. You're not. You're one of the smartest people I ever met and you're a fucking genius with music and... I'm real sorry, bro, honest."

Aron felt his throat tighten at Matt's apology, the sincerity in the beta's voice more than he deserved. He'd been horrible to them, lashing out and saying the shittiest things to them as he'd pushed them all away. 

"It's okay, Matt," he said softly, his voice wavering. "I know you didn't mean it the way it came across, and...well, I said and did terrible things too, so...I'm sorry. For all of it."

"Hey, I forgive you," Matt said, his voice more serious than before. "I forgive you and I love you, brother. You're still one of my best friends and I never stopped giving a shit. None of us did, I promise. I'm... I'm glad you're safe now. I'm glad you're safe and you're you again."

Tears stung the corners of Aron's eyes at Matt's words. He'd convinced himself that the guys all hated him, that they were better off without him, but hearing Matt's sincerity was making that harder and harder to believe. 

"I...I'm glad I'm me again too," he murmured, still finding it hard to believe. "And...I love you too, man. You guys were my life back then, you know?"

"Yeah, I know," Matt said quietly, the emotion thickening his voice even through the phone speaker. "I know... Fuck, I'm gonna cry, shit. I swear I'm not a pussy."

Danny snorted, leaning on the kitchen counter beside the phone and Aron and rolling his eyes. 

"Emotions don't make you a pussy, Matty," he said soothingly, reassuring the Beta. "You're human - well... sorta human. You're allowed to have feelings."

"Fuck that, I'm a big bad wolf, I don't need feelings," Matt retorted, the humor back in his voice even if only as a distraction.

Aron couldn't help the laugh that escaped him at Matt's words. It was so reminiscent of their old banter, before everything had gone to hell. The memory hurt, but it also made the ache in his chest lessen. 

"Bullshit," he said, grinning. "You cry at sad commercials."

"Sarah McLachlan is a goddamn angel and those SPCA commercials are sad as fuck!" Matt replied defensively. Danny outright laughed. 

"In the aaarrrrms of an angeeelll," he sang. 

"NO! Stop! I can't cry I just sat in hair and make up for three hours!"

Aron joined in, singing the opening line in his best, mockingly angelic voice. "In the arms of an aaaangeeel..."

"You're an ass," Matt muttered. "I regret every decision I've ever made in my life that lead to you being my friend."

"Oh, ouch," Danny snickered. "You regret dating my sister? Damn, that's cold, she loved your dumb ass."

"I...yeah, okay, fair," Matt admitted begrudgingly. "I don't regret dating your sister."

Aron laughed. "That's the smartest thing you've ever said," he teased.

"How is Dayne anyway?" Matt asked curiously. "How's she doing?"

"She's good! She's in Africa right now doing a new documentary on... I think it was elephants?" Danny said, scratching at his neck again as he tried to remember what exactly his big sister was doing. "Yeah, either elephants or like a specific area in the reserve. I can't remember if she's doing the elephant migration this year, or if that's next year's plan."

"Damn, she's just go go go, huh?" Matt mused. "Is she still with the same team?"

"Nah, Disney moved her over to a fuckin' long-term documentation project so she's got a whole new team of people working with her," Danny explained, shaking his head. "Last time we talked she was having issues with one of the new camera guys always trying to touch the animals, I think. I don't think he's gonna last very long on the project."

"Jesus, that guy's an idiot," Matt laughed. "Everyone knows not to touch the animals, don't they? Isn't that, like, rule number one in wildlife documentary 101?" 

Aron snorted, rolling his eyes. "Apparently not. Probably just some guy trying to get some kind of clout by claiming he touched a wild elephant or something."

"He's gonna get eaten by a lion, I swear," Danny snickered. "Hang on, I have what she's working on written down, she sent me her schedule so we could plan holiday calls."

Danny pushed off the kitchen counter to go over to the calendar hanging beside the back door, looking through the things written on it. 

"Oh! Okavango Delta documentary, from November to April, then elephant migration from May to September. I guess the elephants go through the Okavango?"

"Oh, the Okavango Delta? Isn't that in Botswana or somewhere?" Matt asked, sounding interested. "Wait, they film the elephants migrating? I never knew that, that's so cool."

Aron chuckled. "You're such a nerd," he teased. "You're getting excited about elephants."

"They have the best memories on the planet!" Matt said excitedly. "And their matriarchal!"

"And this is when we find out Matt is autistic too," Danny snickered, walking back over to Aron and the phone on the counter. 

"I'm not autistic, I checked! I just have ADHD and I hyperfixate on random ass shit - oh, fuck, I'm getting called for the next scene. Gotta go, fuckers, love you bye!"

"Yeah, bye, idiot, love you too."

Aron was still chuckling as Danny hung up the phone. It had been so...normal. Easy. Like they were back in the old days. It shouldn't have been so easy, but it was. He sighed, looking up at the Alpha. "That was...good. It felt like old times."

Danny smiled at Aron, lifting a hand to mess up his hair. 

"Told you we never stopped caring," he teased. "And hey, you can come with me to pick up the guys from the airport! We can hit up Costco and get you a bedframe and curtains like I said last night, and you can pick out your decorations and shit for your room."

The thought of buying furniture to personalize his new room made his chest feel warm. He'd never had a choice in his own things, his own space. 

"Yeah," he said softly, smiling. "Yeah, that sounds good. I...I don't really have any stuff with me, though. Just the clothes on my back."

"You can borrow some of mine," Danny said easily, grinning. "You'd look good in my skinny jeans. Come on, let's get you dressed, we got a busy day and I need to shower after my run this morning."

Danny put a hand on the Omega's back, leading him out of the kitchen and up the stairs to Danny's bedroom. Aron's new room - with all of his stuff taken from his old apartment - was still wide open across the hall from Danny's, having been left like that by Jeff, b.Lay, Gadjet, Truth, and Yuma last night after they had helped emergency move Aron from the cult apartment to Danny's house.

Aron followed the Alpha up the stairs, his heart fluttering. Being surrounded by Danny's scent and in his space was almost intoxicating.  

Danny's room was a mess, clothes strewn everywhere. The bed was rumpled and messy, and the curtains were half closed, letting in beams of sunlight. 

Aron glanced into his own room, his eyes wide. It was odd to see all his belongings in a different location, all his stuff scattered around the place.

Danny muttered to himself at the mess, thinking about how quickly things had gone from Aron not wanting to be alone his first night away from the cult to Danny knot deep inside the Omega. 

They still needed to talk about it, really. About Aron practically begging Danny to Mate him, Claim him, Mark him. Danny glanced at Aron, eyes drifting to the unmarked scent gland on his neck as he opened the closet door. He had said no, not because he didn't want to - shit, he would love nothing more than to have Aron for the rest of his life, he'd been in love with him for decades - but because he didn't want Aron making a permanent decision like that in the heat of the moment. He didn't want Aron going from the cult straight into a lifelong commitment. That was a recipe for a trauma bond and Danny would rather die than be the reason Aron was stuck in something he didn't want again. 

"Here, you can try these on first," he said, tossing a pair of black jeans onto the bed. "And I have some old HU shirts from your era as the singer if you want. Or if you'd prefer, I have some ACDC or Led Zeppelin. You still wear band shirts and graphic tees, right?"

"Yeah, I still wear band shirts," Aron said, holding up the jeans. "These are... really skinny."

He gave Danny a skeptical look, eyeing the jeans with trepidation. He'd been wearing oversized and too-loose clothes for too long. The idea of wearing something skin-tight was a bit daunting, even if Danny was right and he would look good in them.

"Yeah, but my legs are thicker than yours, so they shouldn't be too bad," Danny said offhandedly, thinking about Aron's insane metabolism and how thin he was naturally and his own bulking up since becoming a werewolf and presenting as an Alpha.

Aron was surprised by the sudden mention of Danny's leg muscles. It was a casual comment, but it drew his attention towards the Alpha's physique. He flushed slightly, his heart thudding in his chest.

Danny was broader, bigger, with a muscular frame that could easily overpower him. The thought sent a shiver down Aron's spine. 

"Right," he said, his voice cracking a little. He cleared his throat, looking away. "Yeah, your legs are...definitely bigger than mine."

Danny ignored the crack in Aron's voice, actively trying not to think about whether or not the Omega would let Danny touch him again. He took an older Slipknot shirt off the hanger and held it up, checking it for holes. He didn't mind wearing shirts with holes in them, but he didn't want Aron to think that he was giving him shit clothes to wear. 

"Here, try this one on. I haven't worn it since I presented, it's too small for me. It should fit you, though, we used to be the same size," he said, tossing it to Aron.

Aron caught the shirt, holding it up to his chest. It was worn and soft, the fabric thin and faded. He remembered that shirt, remembered seeing Danny wear it. He'd always tried not to stare, not back then. 

He pulled the shirt over his head, the fabric fitting his lithe frame snugly. The neckline was wide, exposing his collarbones and the unmarked scent gland. He flushed, feeling almost unbearably exposed.

"It...fits," he said, his voice quieter than he'd intended.

Danny looked over and froze, his eyes widening slightly. Aron... In his shirt... In his bedroom... Wearing his clothes. 

Danny's eyes locked on Aron's neck, his gland, unmarked and still slightly bruises from Danny's kisses last night. He swallowed, hard, around the lump in his throat. 

"Uhh... It-It looks good," Danny mumbled. "Do the... Do the jeans fit?"

Aron's eyes flicked to the jeans, folded up on the foot of the bed. He picked them up, eyeing them nervously. 

He usually wore baggy jeans, stuff he could hide in. Tight clothes made him feel exposed. Too exposed. 

But these jeans… he'd seen Danny wear them a million times. They were black, faded to a washed-out grey in places. He remembered seeing them on Danny, remembered wanting to touch-

Shaking his head to clear it, he pulled the jeans on. They were tight, hugging his thighs and ass like a second skin.

Danny bit down on his knuckle, leaning back against the closet door as his eyes trailed over Aron's legs and ass. A small, strangled noise escaped from the back of his throat and he covered it with a cough, turning around quickly to pretend to be digging through the sock drawer. 

"You look good," he managed to choke out, trying to sound casual. "You should wear shit like this more often, you have a great body-"

Aron flushed hard, his cheeks hot. God, he felt like every inch of his body was on fire. 

Danny's jeans felt like a second skin, the denim tight and clinging. He could feel Danny eyeing him, his gaze hot on his skin, and God, it was making him squirm. 

"I..." He paused, feeling his face burn even hotter. "I… usually hide. These jeans are..." 

A strangled noise left his throat, his eyes flicking to Danny. He suddenly felt way too hot, the jeans way too tight.

"You look hot as fuck," Danny said, turning around with a pair of black socks in his hand. "You look incredible. You shouldn't hide, Ruru, you're..."

Danny paused, swallowing as he locked eyes with Aron - those beautiful brown eyes. 

"Beautiful," he finally finished, breathy and quiet.

Aron's heart beat faster, his hands fidgeting with the hem of the shirt. The shirt that smelled so good, the shirt that was Danny's. 

He couldn't stand it, the tight jeans, the way Danny was looking at him. He shifted, suddenly feeling way too hot. 

"I… I feel too exposed," he muttered, looking away. "The jeans-"

Danny stepped forward, dropping the socks on the bed and cupping Aron's face. 

"Hey, hey, breathe," he murmured. "It's okay. You don't have to wear them if you don't want to, baby, I got sweatpants too. But you look good. I know it's uncomfy, but you look good, Ruru. You look hot. Like... Like a rockstar again."

A shaky laugh escaped him, his eyes closing for a moment. He leaned into Danny's hand, the touch grounding him. 

"I...always feel so exposed," he said softly, his hands clenching the loose fabric of the shirt. "I like hiding in hoodies and baggy jeans." 

He took a shuddering breath, his heart still racing. "But...it feels good, knowing you like them on me," he added, opening his eyes to meet Danny's. "It feels good knowing you think I look hot. I-"

Danny let out a shaky breath that sounded like he was struggling to remember to breathe at all. 

"I do," he murmured. "I think you look hot in anything, Aron, I-"

He let out a shaky laugh, his body trembling. Having Danny so close was overwhelming, the heat from his body radiating off of him in waves. He could smell him so strongly now, the alpha scent making his head spin.

"I-" He paused, trying to find his words. His mind had turned to mush, his brain a mess. "I...God, you can't say things like that-"

"Shit, I can't fucking help it, Ru, you-"

Danny cut himself off with a groan, leaning his head down a bit to press his forehead to Aron's, his eyes screwing shut. 

"Jesus, I'm sorry, I can't- We still need to talk about what happened last night, and here I am being fucking horny after you like a creep, I'm sorry-"

"I-"

Aron was blushing, his breath catching at Danny's words. His heart was pounding in his chest, his mind still trying to wrap around the fact that Danny was actually attracted to him, that he'd wanted him for years. It felt like one of those fever dreams you'd never fully get over.

"Y-you're not a creep," he mumbled, his hands clenching on Danny's shirt. "I...I like it, Danny, I like that you want me-"

"So bad," Danny interrupted, breathing a bit harder. "You have no idea how fucking bad-"

A shudder ran through him at those words, his breath leaving him in a sharp huff. He could feel Danny's desire, the scent of alpha arousal thick like musk in the air. His thoughts were spiralling, his mind suddenly flooded with all sorts of filthy scenarios.

"Danny-" 

His voice was breathy, his eyes wide as he stared at the man above him. He looked so good, muscles flexing under his shirt as he held Aron trapped in place.

"Aron-" 

Danny let out a strangled, struggling groaned, finally moving and capturing Aron's mouth in a desperate, heated kiss that tasted like protein shakes and coffee and a bit of Aron's oatmeal. Danny moaned, his hands cupping Aron's face sliding into his hair and pulling him closer.

Aron practically melted, his arms snaking around Danny's neck to pull him closer. He'd dreamed of this moment for years, of having Danny's lips on his. The kiss was everything he'd imagined and more, the taste of coffee and protein shake filling his senses. 

He'd never been kissed like this, never been held with such need. He could feel Danny's hunger, could taste his desperation. It made his head spin and his body ache.

Danny slanted his mouth over Aron's, his tongue pressing to the seam of Aron's lips to ask for permission. 

He was shaking, the effort it took to not throw Aron down on the bed beside them and fucking ravage him was monumental in that moment.

Aron's lips parted easily under the pressure, a soft moan escaping him as Danny's tongue pushed into his mouth. The sound was swallowed by the kiss, his body arching up towards the alpha's as desire washed over him. 

His mind was fuzzy, his thoughts swimming as he clutched at Danny's shoulders, his body on fire. He needed to be closer, needed to feel skin-on-skin.

Danny slid his hands down Aron's body slowly, every inch savored, until he reached Aron's hips - his a-bit-too-wide-for-a guy hips that were wide because he was an Omega and made Danny's brain go stupid every time he looked at them too long. His hands gripped Aron's hips and pulled him flush against his body, one hand slipping around to grab a fistful of Aron's ass.

Aron gasped, his body arching at the touch of Danny's hands on him. He could feel Danny's hardness pressing against him, the heat of it making his head spin. His hips rocked into Danny's touch, desperate for more.

He was trembling slightly, overwhelmed by the sensations flooding through him. The Alpha's touch was electric, leaving his skin tingling and his heart racing.

"Danny-" 

His voice was breathless, a soft whine escaping him as he pressed his face into the alpha's neck.

"Fuck," Danny groaned, burying his nose in Aron's throat and lapping at his scent gland. "Fuck, Ruru..."

Danny squeezed Aron's ass gently, pressing him harder against himself until his erection pressed against Aron's own.

Aron gasped, his body trembling at the touch. His mind was going blank, his thoughts dissolving as he felt Danny's cock against his own. 

"Please," he whimpered, his hands clutching at Danny's shirt. "Please, I-I..." 

He couldn't think, couldn't focus on anything other than the way Danny's hands felt on him, the way his body felt pressed against him. It was like everything else faded away until there was nothing left but the two of them, and then even that wasn't enough.

"Tell me what you want, Omega," Danny growled, his brain going fuzzy with the instincts that were starting to take over. "Tell me what you want."

He nipped at Aron's ear, grinding against him.

A low, needy whine escaped Aron's throat, his body shuddering at the sound of Danny's voice. He arched up against him, desperate for more contact, more warmth, more of Danny.

"You," he panted, his voice choked and desperate. "I want you, Alpha. Please. I want..."

His words trailed off into a moan, his legs trembling as he ground his hips against Danny's.

Danny growled, pushing Aron back toward the bed. His hands ripped the borrowed shirt off the Omega tossing it aside before returning to skim his palms across the beautifully tattooed chest, pushing Aron down onto the mattress. 

"Spread your legs," Danny ordered, dropping to his knees in front of the bed and taking off those goddamn jeans.

Aron complied without hesitation, his body moving to follow the Alpha's command as if his mind had shut off completely. He felt lightheaded, his breaths coming in quick pants as he looked down at Danny. 

"Please," he whispered hoarsely, spreading his legs. "Touch me. Please. I want you so bad, Danny. "

Danny pulled Aron's briefs off and hooked his leg over his shoulder. 

"God, you tasted so fucking good last night, I've been thinking about it all morning," he admitted before spreading Aron open and burying his tongue in the slick he found there with a heady moan.

A broken moan tore from Aron's throat, his head falling back against the bed as he felt Danny's tongue there. His fingers clawed at the sheets, his mind a wash of sensations and pleasure.

"Oh, God," he gasped, his breath catching as the Alpha's tongue worked him over. "Danny, it's-"

He tried to form a sentence, but his mind was a fog of want and need and Danny, and the only thing he could manage was a desperate whine.

Danny groaned, licking and lapping and curling his tongue inside Aron, his hand coming up to stroke Aron's cock as he licked. He tasted like honey and sweetness and saltiness and a little bit of Danny's cum still inside him from the night before. 

"Fuck, I could live off this," Danny groaned, licking a long stripe across Aron's opening.

Aron let out a choked sob, his back arching up off the bed. "Danny, please-"

Every nerve-ending felt like it was on fire, his body trembling with need. He wasn't even in Heat, but the way that Danny was touching him, the way that his tongue felt inside him, it was like they were already one in every way that mattered.

"I need you," he panted, desperation leaking into his voice. "Please, I need you so badly-"

"In a minute, babe, I wanna taste you cumming on my tongue," Danny muttered, latching his mouth over Aron's opening again, his tongue pressing inside and curling up as his hand stroked a bit faster.

Babe.

The simple word made something inside Aron's chest crack, the affection in it almost too much. He wanted that, wanted to be Danny's babe, wanted to belong to him. 

"Danny, I'm- ah, I'm close, please-"

He was teetering on the edge, teetering on the edge of some cliff, but he wouldn't jump over it without the Alpha.

"Come on my tongue, Ruru," Danny growled, licking harder, deeper, his thumb swiping over the head of Aron's cock.

It happened so fast, so sudden, that it felt like being thrown off a cliff.

When it hit him, his whole world shattered, everything but Danny vanishing. Something in his core snapped, a deep and primal feeling surging through him. A sense of belonging, of home, of mate.

Danny moaned as the slick hit his tongue, fresh and sticky, and Aron twitched in his hand, hot and thick jets of white spilling onto his hand and Aron's stomach. 

Slowly, Danny lapped up Aron's spend before pulling away and moving to clean his stomach with his tongue too, groaning. 

"God, even your jizz tastes good," he murmured. "You're fucking perfect, you know that? I don't think I've ever liked the taste of a guy's cum, goddamn."

The praise from Danny made Aron shiver, a soft noise in the back of his throat. He was overwhelmed, a jumble of sensations, his mind still reeling from his orgasm. He felt boneless, helpless, the world hazy and soft around the edges. 

"Please," he murmured, reaching out for Danny. "Please, I...I need you. I need you so much."

Danny kissed Aron's stomach before standing from his knees and taking off his sweat dried shirt and running shorts from his morning run. 

He pushed his briefs down, dropping them to the floor, and looked down at Aron for a minute. Just... savoring the vision of him laying naked on Danny's bed, sweaty and disheveled and covered in spit and cum and legs spread and a wet spot on the sheets between his thighs. 

Danny's cock twitched at the sight and he groaned. When Danny looked down at him, Aron's breath caught in his chest. The Alpha was a vision, all lean and taut muscle. There was a light sheen of sweat on his golden skin, his dark hair tousled and damp with perspiration. 

As his gaze flicked down, Aron's mouth went dry, his eyes widening. 

Well, damn.

Danny moved slowly, pulling Aron to the edge of the bed by the ankle and stepping between his legs. 

"Knots break condoms," he murmured. "We didn't use one last night, but if you want me to pull out this time, I can."

Last night. 

The memory of the previous night's events was hazy, but God had it felt good. 

He swallowed, his heart hammering against his chest as he looked up at Danny. "I...I want you to claim me," he murmured, his voice a little raw. "I want to be yours."

He didn't care if it was irrational, or needy, or dependent - he'd spent 13 years dreaming of this, of belonging to Danny.

Danny paused. There it was again, Aron saying he wanted to be claimed by Danny. They hadn't talked about it - shit, they hadn't talked about it... Danny had gotten so caught up in the moment and the phone call with the guys earlier that he hadn't had the chance to talk to Aron about it yet and now-

"Aron, wait, hang on," he said reluctantly, stepping back a bit. "We need... We need to talk about that shit. I said... We gotta talk about that."

Aron sat up, looking at Danny with wide eyes, confusion and hurt mixing in his chest. "Wh-what do you mean? Talk?"

The thought felt like a cold knife in the gut. He thought Danny wanted to claim him, that he wanted him, but...maybe not?

Anxiety clawed at his heart as he looked up at Danny, desperately searching his expression for any hint of his thoughts.

"Last night, you wanted me to bite you," Danny said, getting back on his knees and sliding between Aron's legs as he sat on the bed, looking up at him with nervous and anxious eyes. 

"I... I didn't want you to just jump into that kind of commitment right after finally getting free of the cult - and I still don't - because you could end up regretting it. And I don't want you to regret it, me, us... If there is an us..."

He paused, lifting a hand to cup Aron's cheek. 

"I said we'd talk about it today and we didn't and I'm sorry, that's on me. I should have been more proactive about making sure you were okay and not jumping your bones the second I saw you in my clothes. I'm sorry. So, let's talk okay?"

Aron stared at Danny, his mind grappling to process the words. The Alpha he'd always loved, wanted, needed, was sitting right in front of him, begging to talk. 

And even though every instinct was screaming for him to just throw himself at Danny and let him bite him, claim him, have him, he forced himself to take a deep breath. 

Because this was Danny, and Danny was right. They needed to talk. 

"Okay," he breathed. "Yeah, let's talk."

Danny's shoulders relaxed in relief and he nodded slowly. 

"Yeah... Okay. You first. Why do you... Why did you want me to bite you?" Danny asked. "Was it instincts, like hindbrain doing the scream thing? Or was it..."

He couldn't bring himself to ask if it was more than that, because he had been secretly in love with Aron since they were kids but had never acted on it or said anything because Aron had been obsessed with Jorel right up until the day he got kicked out of the band and then everything went to hell for thirteen years and the day before was the first time they'd seen each other since 2009.

Aron chewed on his bottom lip, torn between wanting to be honest and his own insecurities. 

I've been in love with you for thirteen years.

The words were right at the tip of his tongue, begging to be said. 

But he couldn't.

"I..." he paused, his eyes darting away from Danny's. "I-It was...instinct, I guess. My Omega was-"

He stopped, his throat tight. God, he was such a coward.

Danny's heart sank and his hand on Aron's cheek went limp, falling from his face to the bed by his thigh. 

"Right," he croaked, looking away. "Right, of course. Instinct. Obviously, yeah, that... that makes sense."

Danny stood, reaching for his briefs again to put them back on. 

"Well, then, I guess it's a good thing I didn't do it, huh?" he asked, his back turned to Aron as he got dressed again. "Wouldn't want you getting stuck in a mating you don't want, right?"

Aron felt like someone had sucker punched him in the stomach. Danny's words hurt, more than they should have, more than they had any right to. 

"Yeah. Yeah, of course," he echoed, but the words sounded hollow in his ears. 

Was this it? Was this where they said goodbye? 

The thought made his chest ache and his eyes sting. The pain was sudden and sharp, like a wound being reopened. He swallowed thickly, forcing the tears back. No, dammit. He wouldn't cry. Not over this.

"Well, hey, in case your anxiety is going nuts," Danny continued, pulling up his jeans and buttoning them. "You don't have to fuck me to be able to stay with me. You're welcome here as long as you want to be here, no strings attached. I don't expect anything from you and you don't have to have sex with me to keep a roof over your head."

He didn't think that was what Aron was thinking, but he wanted to make sure he knew that Danny wasn't going to kick him out just because Aron didn't want him.

Aron's eyes widened, stunned by the words. 

"I..." He shook his head, unable to believe that Danny thought he was so callous. "I wasn't... I didn't think... I wouldn't..." 

He trailed off, his throat tight with emotion. Why did those words hurt so much? Why did he feel like crying? 

"I wouldn't do that," he finally managed, his voice shaky. "You...you know I wouldn't do that, right?"

Danny shrugged, reaching for a new shirt since he didn't want to put on the one he'd run in before. 

"I really don't think you would, but I don't know what that anxiety riddled brain of yours is saying right now about me. I'm not the kind of person to toss someone to the curb because they won't fuck me, Aron, but you haven't seen me in thirteen years and... Well, you don't know that, so I thought I'd make sure you knew."

Danny turned around, slipping the new shirt on and facing Aron. 

"Now come on, let's get you dressed again. We can go pick up the guys from the airport and then head to Costco and get you furniture like I promised."

Danny tried to smile reassuringly, but he was sure it didn't reach his eyes.

Aron sat quietly as Danny changed, his mind a tumble of thoughts and feelings. He knew Danny was being kind, that he was just trying to protect himself from future hurt. 

"I-" His voice caught, and he swallowed hard, forcing the words out. "I haven't seen you in a decade, that's true, but you-" He took a breath, unsure if he should expose himself like this. "I have watched videos. Interviews, concerts, documentaries. I know what you've been up to."

Danny paused from grabbing the jeans he was letting Aron borrow from the floor, looking up at Aron again with his eyebrows nearly in his hairline. 

"You did?" he asked, straightening and handing the jeans and his briefs back to Aron. "I... I thought you fucking hated us, Aron, I never thought you'd pay any attention to us."

Aron accepted the clothes, slipping them on and avoiding Danny's gaze. 

"I... I couldn't help it," he admitted, his voice quiet. "I know I said I never wanted to hear your voices again, but... I just... I missed you. All of you." 

He clenched his hands in the fabric of the jeans, refusing to look up at Danny. He already felt so vulnerable, so exposed.

Danny immediately wrapped his arms around Aron, ignoring how much it hurt to hold him after Aron had said that it had just been instinct pushing him to be with Danny. 

"We missed you too," he breathed, running his hand over Aron's bare back. "So fucking much. That's why they're all flying in to see you. We missed you."

Aron sighed, his body relaxing into Danny's touch. The Alpha was warm and solid around him, his arms strong and steady. It felt right. It felt...safe.

"I missed you more than I can say," he murmured, burying his face in Danny's chest. "I thought about you all the time. The others too." 

He closed his eyes, his hands fisting in Danny's shirt.

The others too. 

Meaning Aron meant Danny. He missed Danny. Danny, the one Aron had thrown beer bottles at and screamed at and bullied and called 'American Idol reject' in songs. He missed Danny. 

Danny tightened his hold on Aron, letting out a shuddering breath and closing his eyes. 

"I missed you too, Aron," he whispered. "More than anything."

Aron's heart hurt just hearing the pain in Danny's voice. For so many years, he'd thought the others had hated him just as much as he'd hated them, had told themselves he deserved their treatment, their anger. 

But here was Danny, holding him close, like he was something precious, something loved. 

"I'm sorry," he blurted out. "I'm sorry for everything, I just... I was angry and hurt and-"

He broke off, biting his lip to keep from crying.

"I forgave you a long time ago," Danny assured him quietly, his hand sliding through Aron's hair gently. "I forgave you years ago."

He wouldn't say that he had never actually held it against Aron. He wouldn't say that him dealing with the situation in therapy had been entirely just processing his guilt over what had been done to Aron and the guilt of Aron being the only one that had stayed in Scientology when the rest of them had left.

"You...you did?" There was a hitch in Aron's voice, a hint of wonder and disbelief. Even after everything he'd done, Danny still forgave him? 

His breath hitched as Danny's hand threaded through his hair, his heart seeming to swell in his chest. How many times had he dreamed of something like this—Danny's hand in his hair, Danny holding him close...?

"Why?" he choked out. "Why forgive me? After everything I did-"

"Because I love you," Danny whispered, pressing his nose to the side of Aron's head and squeezing his eyes shut. He knew it would sound like he was just telling a homie he loved him - the way that Matt had earlier on the phone, the way that George did all the time after getting out of rehab the first time, the way that Dylan and his wife would say it to make sure everyone knew they were loved and cared for. He knew it wouldn't be taken the way he meant it, but he couldn't not say it.

Danny loved him.

And, yeah, he probably didn't mean it in the way Aron wanted him to. He probably meant it platonically, like he loved the rest of the guys. But Aron still couldn't stop the way his heart leapt into his chest or the way his breath hitched at the words.

He wanted—no, he craved to hear those words spoken differently...romantically. With Danny's voice going low and thick with desire... 

Aron swallowed, forcing those thoughts down. He was pushing the line as it was.

Danny took a deep breath, Aron's silence was answer enough. He knew that Aron didn't love him, or probably even care about him in that way, but he had hoped... No, he was just being stupid, again. 

Danny pulled away from Aron, letting go of the hug to hold him by the shoulders instead, smiling at him even as his heart shattered in his chest all over again. 

"You don't have to apologize to me anymore, Aron," he said quietly, squeezing the Omega's shoulders gently. "We're good. All good."

Why did those words feel like a punch to the gut? 

We're good. All good.

No, they weren't good. At least, not the way Aron wanted them to be. But he forced a smile on his face, hoping it looked more natural than it felt, like the words he forced past the lump in his throat. 

"Yeah," he said quietly, "All good..."

Danny didn't think about why Aron's smile looked strained. He probably just still felt guilty. Danny reached over and picked up the discarded Slipknot shirt he was lending Aron until they found his clothes in all his things in his new room. 

"Come on," he murmured. "Let's head to the airport. Jorel should be landing first, I think."

The idea of being face to face with Jorel made Aron's stomach twist. It had been so long since he'd seen any of the guys. But Jorel, in particular, held a special place in Aron's heart.

"Yeah...yeah, okay," he said, pushing himself upright with a soft grunt. He needed a distraction from his tumultuous thoughts, and meeting with the guys was certainly that. 

"Lead the way."

Danny nodded, grabbing his shoes and tossing socks to Aron so he could put his boots back on. He mentally made a note to get Aron new sandals so he wouldn't have to wear "big shoes." Aron hated wearing shoes, Danny remembered. He would always walk around barefoot whenever he could. Sandals. He needed sandals. Maybe a pair of Gucci slides. 

Danny walked down the stairs, the quiet house feeling less big and empty with Aron there with him now, though it still lacked Roman's laughter since Reese had custody. He tried not to think about it as he grabbed his phone from the kitchen and his keys from the table by the door, leading Aron out to the driveway and his car. 

Chapter 6: The Natives

Summary:

Picking the Pack up from the airport.

Notes:

This is where I started taking elements of the comic and adding them in. Also, things are about to kick off into overdrive. Be warned.

Outside, Danny paused, looking between the Jaguar and the Land Rover Range. He pursed his lips, heading for the Range - he'd have to figure out where the one extra would have to sit when Matt showed up in a few days since the car only sat seven and with Dylan's wife coming too they were eight in total.

When they stepped outside, Aron's gaze lingered momentarily on the Jaguar. His heart was still thumping from Danny's earlier words, his thoughts a constant stream of he loves you, he loves you... 

But that wasn't right. It wasn't the kind of love he wanted. It wasn't romantic love, it was the love of a friend.

He was suddenly grateful for the cold as they walked to the Range, the chill biting at his skin and forcing him to focus on something other than the ache in his chest.

Danny squinted in the morning sunlight as he unlocked the Range and opened the passenger door for Aron, helping him in instinctively before shutting the door and walking over to get in the driver's seat. 

He pulled out of the driveway of his  - way too big for one person, god he missed his son - house and started for the LAX airport.

As soon as Aron settled into the Range Rover, he let himself look at Danny for a long moment. With the sun shining through the windshield and casting a soft glow over the Alpha, the sight stole his breath. 

He looked so young, almost like the boy from Aron's memories. The same sharp features, the same soft eyes. Just taller and wider and, somehow, so much more male. 

Aron tore his gaze away, looking out the window as the city moved past them.

Danny turned on the radio, one of his playlists on Spotify playing over the speakers. He was filling the silence because he couldn't fucking stand it, but he didn't know what to say without going back to the previous topics and he didn't want to talk himself in circles. 

So he just drove, singing along to the music that they had listened to as kids and trying not to think about how he was still hard and how Aron had looked on his bed covered in cum and how bad he wanted to see that every day for the rest of his fucking life.

Aron tried to focus on the music, tried to let it distract him. But it was no use. Every time Danny's voice rose to sing along, the knot of need flared to life low in his belly. 

How could he feel like this? Why did Danny affect him so goddamn much? Every time he looked at the Alpha, he wanted to climb into his lap. He wanted to curl up against his chest, to be held and protected. 

He bit his lip as he curled into the seat, trying to ignore the ache between his thighs. Why did everything have to be so damn difficult

Once they made it to the airport, Danny parked in one of the waiting lots and they got out. Jorel was set to land first, then Dylan and Lex, then George and Jordon. They'd basically be at the airport all morning and into the afternoon waiting for everyone. 

But they came to the gate easily, Danny knowing his way around from all the times they'd gone on tour and taken planes instead of buses to locations. Danny leaned on the rail outside the gate for domestic arrivals, hands in his pockets as he looked over at Aron. 

"You excited?" he asked, smirking.

Aron leaned on the rail beside Danny, letting their shoulders brush. Being this close felt like electricity sparking through his veins, every point of contact sending a jolt of desire through his body. 

"Excited?" he huffed softly, his tone more amused than anything. "More like nervous as hell."

He looked up at Danny through his lashes, his fingers tapping out a nervous rhythm on the railing. "What if they're all pissed at me?"

Danny snorted, nudging Aron's shoulder with his own. 

"Come on, you heard them on the phone earlier," he said. "They literally dropped everything to come and see you from different parts of the country because they missed you, Aron. They ain't pissed at you, I promise."

Aron nodded absently, unable to tear his gaze from Danny's face. The sun glinted off his hair, turning it to liquid gold. 

"Yeah," he agreed softly, "you're right."

He swallowed, the familiar ache of guilt making a home in his chest. "I don't deserve them. After everything I did, I really don't deserve their loyalty."

Danny sighed, looking out the windows of the airport and leaning back on the railing again. 

"You know," he murmured. "I learned something a few years ago when Reese left with Roman. She handed me the divorce papers and she said 'Danny, you're a good man and I'm not a good woman. You deserve better than what I can give you' and I thought it was bullshit, ya know? I thought she was doing that whole ‘it's not you, it's me’ shit. But she was right. I deserved better than what she was able to give me."

Danny paused, frowning out the window. 

"But I still adore her. Not the same way, obviously, but she's the mother of my kid. I'll always love her and I'll always be there for her if she or Roman need me."

He looked at Aron, a soft smile on his lips and his sweet, angelic face open and kind. 

"We deserved better than how you treated us, yeah," he said simply. "But that doesn't mean we love you any less. That doesn't mean we won't be there for you no matter what. And shit, you deserved better than what we could give you at the time too."

Aron tried to protest, but his voice died in his throat. Danny's words rang with deep truth, hitting a nerve. He knew that they'd all been assholes. But deep down, part of him had always believed that he deserved the treatment he'd received. 

"I...I don't-"

He took a deep, shuddering breath, fighting back a wave of sudden emotion. "Danny, I'm not a good person. I'm not. I'm selfish and vindictive and arrogant and-"

"And George went to prison for drugs, Matt went to prison for assault and battery, Jorel is a felon, and I almost killed someone in 2023," Danny listed off with a snort. "The only ones without a record like that are Dylan and Jordon and that is only because Dylan never got caught and Jordon got the charges dropped because of a mistrial. Aron, none of us are good people. It's not about being good."

Danny lifted a hand from his pocket, putting it on Aron's shoulder comfortingly. 

"It's about being together."

Aron's shoulders sagged as Danny's words struck a nerve in him. They'd all been flawed, all made their share of mistakes. And yet, despite it all, they still had each other. 

He leaned into Danny's touch, needing more than he cared to admit. 

"Being together," he murmured. "Is that... is that enough?"

He looked up at Danny, his eyes pleading for reassurance.

"Exactly," Danny said, grinning and squeezing Aron's shoulder. "We're Pack. No matter where we are in the world, we're Pack. Even before we all got the Lycanthropy shit, we were family, and the wolves just made it more instinctive."

Danny looked up and his grin widened, his eyes turning mischievous. 

"Hey, don't look now, but I think you're about to get tackled."

Tackled?

Aron's eyes widened, wondering what the hell that could mean. He darted an anxious glance around the airport, hoping to see something. 

But before he could even blink, someone slammed into him from behind with a joyful yell.

"Aron!" Jorel yelled, picking up the Omega and spinning him around in a tight hug. "Fuck, Aron, I missed you so much!" 

Jorel squeezed Aron like he was afraid he'd disappear and Danny smiled. Aron had always been obsessed with Jorel in high school. Everyone knew Aron loved him. Well, everyone knew it but Jorel, honestly. Danny was positive that if Jorel hadn't been straight, he and Aron would have ended up together as some fairytale love story.

Aron barely had time to react before he was being spun around in Jorel's arms. He let out a yelp, clinging tightly to the Alpha for balance. 

"Jorel!" he gasped, feeling a wild rush of emotion at the sight of his old friend. "Holy shit, I missed you too!"

He buried his face in Jorel's shoulder, his arms around his neck. It felt so good to be enveloped by the familiar warmth and strength of the Alpha, like being wrapped in a comforting blanket.

Danny leaned back on the railing, smiling sadly as Jorel and Aron reunited after thirteen years apart. He tried not to be jealous, he really did. But with Aron's earlier admission that his begging to be mated by Danny the night before had just been instinct instead of something he actually wanted, Danny was still raw and a little too broken to self-talk his way out of the jealousy. 

Jorel put Aron down, still hugging him tightly. Their embrace was one of long lost brothers, of reconciliation and relief. Danny knew that Jorel was married, had kids, had a ranch back in Oklahoma, and that he wasn't going to swoop in and steal Aron away like some kind of fantasy romance rival. But it still hurt seeing Aron in the arms of another Alpha.

Jorel laughed, his voice booming through the room. He ruffled Aron's hair affectionately, a huge smile lighting up his face. 

"Damn, it's good to see you Ruru," he said, giving his friend a warm squeeze. "You look like you've been through it, but you look good."

Aron grinned, his heart swelling with happiness. It felt so good to have Jorel back in his life, to have the warmth and comfort of their friendship again. 

Danny's presence was a muted background noise, as he stood off to the side.

"Yeah, I've...had a rough time," Aron muttered, his face falling a bit at the memory of the last thirteen years. 

"But I'm doing better now," he added quickly. "I..."

He trailed off, not sure how to continue. Jorel's return had caused a sudden rush of emotions to bubble up to the surface, and now he felt overwhelmed.

Jorel grinned, clapping Aron on the shoulder. 

"Yeah, and you're just gonna keep doin' better," he assured with a laugh. "It's all up from here, trust me. The hard part's over now that you're out of that damn cult, and now you can focus on the shit you wanna do. Better late than never, right, D?" Jorel looked over at Danny and his smile faltered slightly.

Danny forced a smile on his face, nodding. 

"Yeah, the hard part is over," he echoed.

Aron's face split into a huge smile at Jorel's words, feeling a sense of hope and relief wash over him. Jorel had always been the optimist, the one who kept everyone else going through rough times. 

Danny's smile looked forced, but Aron noticed how his gaze lingered on Jorel. 

Is Danny jealous?

Aron shoved the thought aside. Impossible. Why would he be jealous of Jorel?

But the question kept nagging at the back of his mind, like a persistent fly he couldn't swat away.

Jorel frowned at Danny, his brow furrowing in suspicion. 

"Why do you look like someone just pissed in your Wheaties?" he asked. Danny looked away, shrugging. 

"Bad morning, I guess," he said dismissively. "I'm just tired. I'll get over it."

Jorel's frown deepened, his gaze flickering between Danny and Aron. 

"Bullshit," he said bluntly. "Something's going on with you and Ruru. Spill it."

Aron's heart skipped a beat. He'd hoped (and also feared) that Jorel would pick up on the tension between him and Danny. But now that it was being confronted, he felt a wave of anxiety wash over him.

Danny stiffened slightly, his eyes flicking between the other Alpha and the Omega. He wanted nothing more than to pull Aron into his arms and away from Jorel and sink his teeth into that pretty, unmarked neck and keep him forever and ever, but he knew he couldn't. 

Aron had made it very clear that morning that it had all been instinct. They'd had sex last night, Danny had eaten Aron out that morning - that was all. It was just releasing tension, it was just instinct, it was just-

"It's nothing," Danny said, his voice a bit more firm even though it was hoarse. "Just something I need to talk about in therapy, I guess."

Jorel didn't look convinced. He knew Danny well enough to know when he was lying. 

"Bullshit," he repeated, his eyes narrowing. "You're telling me that you're this pissed because you need to talk about something in therapy? Come on, D, don't play me for an idiot. You only get this upset when it comes to-"

Jorel trailed off, his gaze flickering to Aron. The gears in his head were turning, putting pieces together.

Shit, shit shit, no no no-

Danny pushed off the railing of the airport arrival gate and took a few steps until he was practically nose to nose with the other Alpha, his lip curling and his eyes glaring daggers. 

"I said it's nothing, J-Dog," he growled. "Now drop it."

Jorel's eyes widened slightly, surprised at Danny's aggressive reaction. But he was an Alpha too, and he wasn't going down without a fight. 

He took a step forward, squaring up like he was about to go for a round of fisticuffs. 

"I know you, Danny," he said through gritted teeth. "I know when something's eating at you. And I know it's something to do with Ruru. So spit it out or we can take this outside-"

"Then get the fuck outside," Danny snapped, growling. "Because I said to fucking drop it, and if you wanna challenge me again, J-Dog, I will put your ass on the ground faster than pausing on fucking TiVo. You and I both know what happened last time you got cocky, don't make me do it again."

His fists clenched, his lip curled, and despite it not being near the full moon at all, his canines were sharper than normal.

Jorel's eyes widened, recognizing the signs of a wolf on the edge of shifting. His canines had sharpened too, his own instincts starting to override his common sense. 

"Damn, Danny, chill the hell out," he said, holding up his hands in a mock gesture of surrender. "I'm just worried about my friend. You don't have to get all animal kingdom on my ass--"

And then it clicked. Jorel's face fell, his expression shifting from anger to realization.

"Oh... Oh." Jorel breathed out, his voice low. "Oh... Shit." 

Suddenly all the pieces he'd been trying to fit together finally clicked into place. The anger, the irrational behavior, the possessiveness- 

And just like that, all his own anger and aggression towards Danny melted away. Because it all made sense now.

Danny flinched, realizing he'd given himself away. Jorel was a lot of things, but he was no idiot, and Danny's reaction had just confirmed his suspicions. 

"I said drop it," Danny repeated, quieter, less aggressive and more begging this time. "Please, man, just... I can't right now, okay? I don't... Please, just drop it."

Jorel's expression softened, his own anger and instincts fading as he saw the desperation in Danny's face. He let out a heavy sigh and ran a hand through his hair. 

"Damn it, Danny," he murmured. "You... You could've told me, you know." 

He paused, a heavy, almost crushing feeling in his chest. Danny had been holding this in for how long? And Jorel had been too wrapped up in his own bullshit to even notice.

"What was I supposed to say?" Danny asked desperately, glancing at Aron who had moved away from them when things had threatened to get physical. "That I've been in love with the guy who almost ruined our lives? That I've been pining after the guy that would hang all over you and obsess over you and sit in your fucking lap for years? Jorel, c'mon, what the hell was I supposed to do, man? He... He was in love with you for years and then all that shit went down when we left the church and he didn't and-"

Danny cut himself off, running shaking hands through his hair and letting out a ragged breath.

Jorel's heart sank as Danny's words hit him like a truck. He'd known that Aron had always been unusually tactile with him, more so than with the others, but he'd always assumed it was just Aron being... Aron. He'd never realized the true depth of his friend's feelings. 

And now Danny was confessing to having feelings for Aron too, feelings he'd probably harbored for years. Feelings that Jorel had been oblivious to.

"God damn it," Jorel muttered, feeling like the shittiest friend in the damn world.

Danny shook his head, swallowing hard. 

"I just... I got so close, last night, J, I almost... We had... Look, you can't tell anyone, okay?" he begged, grabbing Jorel's elbow. "You can't - you can't tell anyone! Please."

Jorel's expression softened as he looked at his friend's desperate face. The anger that had filled him earlier was all but gone, replaced by a heavy sense of guilt and sympathy.

"Jesus, D..." he sighed, shaking his head. "I'm not... I'm not gonna tell anyone, okay? I'm not gonna do that to you. But... Jesus Christ, man, you've been carrying all this weight for how long? And you never said a damn thing?"

Danny let out a pathetic whine, his head dropping and his hands covering his face. 

"I know, I know, I just... Fuck, I felt so guilty and like an idiot for still having feelings for him and I married Reese and I still loved Aron more and I felt so fucking bad and I tried to forget and I just couldn't... And now Reese is gone, my son is gone, and Aron's back and he wanted me to bite him last night but I didn't because I didn't want him to regret it because it was so fast after getting him out of the cult and-"

Jorel couldn't take it anymore. He pulled Danny into a tight embrace, his arms wrapping around him and holding him close.

"Danny, hey, stop," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "Don't do this to yourself, man. You're not a bad person for having feelings, okay? You can't control who you love. And you're not an idiot for still having feelings for Aron. Feelings don't just go away because you want them to."

Danny clutched at the other Alpha desperately, clinging to his friend like a lifeline. 

"Fuck, I feel like such an idiot, Jorel," he croaked. "We talked about it before coming to pick you up and he said it was just instincts making him want me like that... I thought... I thought I finally had a chance..."

Jorel's heart ached. Danny sounded like a lost, wounded animal, and it was tearing him apart to see his friend hurting like this. 

"Hey, listen to me, Danny," he said, pulling back so he could meet his eyes. "Aron's been through a lot in the past decade, okay? I wouldn't take what he says at face value right now. He's probably just as confused and scared as you are right now, and he probably doesn't even know what he wants."

Danny took a shaking, thick breath, blinking back the tears. He was an adult, he wouldn't cry in the middle of an airport arrival gate, goddammit. He could at least wait until they got home.

"I just... Fuck, I thought..." His voice broke. Danny, the lead singer of Hollywood Undead who sang like an angel and never even cracked under the pressure of constant concerts and recording schedules. His voice broke.

Jorel's heart broke all over again at Danny's broken voice. He wrapped his arms around him again, holding him tightly.

"I know, I know," he said, his voice low and soothing. "It's gonna be okay, man. It's gonna be okay."

He wished he knew what to say to make everything better, to take away Danny's pain, but the words just wouldn't come. So instead, he just held him, hoping that maybe his presence alone could provide some small comfort.

Danny leaned his head against Jorel, arms around him like a lifeline, like he was trying to hold himself together by holding his friend. His heart was breaking all over again. 

All he wanted was Aron. But Aron would never want him and Danny had tried for over a decade to come to terms with that and he just couldn't.

He knew that Aron was probably wondering what the fuck was going on, standing a few feet away from them and watching, but he couldn't bring himself to do anything but just seek comfort in his friend at the moment.

Jorel held Danny tightly, his own heart heavy with guilt and helplessness. He could feel Aron's gaze on them, no doubt wondering what was going on, but right now, his focus was on Danny.

After a few moments, he pulled back slightly so he could look into his friend's face. "You good?" he asked quietly, his eyes full of concern.

Danny wiped a hand down his face, sniffing hard and blinking to clear his blurry vision. 

"Yeah," he said, a bit calmer and a bit more steady. "Yeah, I'm good. Thank you. I'm sorry I was a dick, I didn't mean to go all Alpha macho on you."

Jorel couldn't help but smile a little at the self-deprecating joke. He knew all too well the effects of the Alpha's instincts.

"You don't have to apologize," he said gently. "I get it. We all have our moments. Besides, it's not like you haven't seen me lose my cool a few times."

He chuckled, trying to lighten the mood even further.

Danny snorted, nodding. Before he could speak more, though, Aron walked over.

Aron approached, his gaze flickering back and forth between Jorel and Danny. His cheeks were still a bit flushed, but he looked much more collected than he had earlier.

"Is everything okay now?" he asked cautiously, his voice a little strained.

"Yeah," Danny said, nodding and shoving his hands in his pockets. "Sorry I got all... That. I uh... I got some shit going on in my head and I wasn't thinking. I'm sorry if I scared you, Ruru."

Jorel looked between Aron and Danny, but he just threw an arm over Aron's shoulders like nothing was wrong and smiled widely. 

"Yeah, we had Alpha shit," he said, his tone casual and teasing. "Nothin' an Omega would get, bud, don't worry about it. All good. Hey, when's the next fucker showing up?" Jorel looked at Danny, changing the subject. "Is it Dylan or is it Jordon and George?"

Danny looked down at his phone, doing some mental calculations. 

"Uh... Dylan and Lex should be landing soon," he said. "Then Jordon and George. Tennessee flights take longer than Texas, I think."

Aron nodded in understanding, though there was a hint of curiosity in his gaze. He seemed tempted to ask what Danny's "shit was" but held back, knowing better than to push.

Jorel's casual dismissal of the whole Alpha/Omega thing grated on Aron a bit. It made him feel once again like outsiders, like he didn't belong. But he tried to shake the feeling away, focusing on the conversation at hand.

"Got it. Dylan and Lex first, then Jordon and George," he repeated.

"Yeah, they should-" Danny started, looking up at the board full of digital letters listing the latest flights arriving.

"Flight 204 from Dallas-Forth Worth" flashed up to the top and he grinned. 

"Ah, there they are," he said brightly, pointing. "Should be out any second from baggage claim."

"Do you think Dylan actually remembered to pack this time?" Jorel asked with a snicker, arm still around Aron to keep both Aron and Danny distracted from the earlier conversation. He was good at that, at distracting. 

"Lex definitely packed for him," Danny laughed, shaking his head. "You'll love her, Aron, she's great. She's always wanted to meet you."

Aron managed a small smile at that. It was nice to hear that someone out there actually wanted to meet him, even if he didn't know this Lex personally.

"I look forward to meeting her," he said, his voice a little soft. 

He was about to say more when a familiar smell caught his attention. It was subtle, faint, but it made his nose twitch.

"You smell that?" he asked, looking around. Jorel raised his nose, sniffing. 

"Smells like tacos," he mused. Danny rolled his eyes, inhaling deeply to catch the scent. 

"That's not tacos, dumbass, that's Dylan," he said, grinning and turning to the gate entrance. Just as he did, big burly Mexican Dylan and his tiny white Latina wife strolled into the receiving area with their bags and the rest of the passengers from their flight. 

However, as soon as Dylan saw them, he dropped his bag and sprinted over, grinning like mad. 

"RURU!" he yelled. Jorel jumped out of the way as Dylan barreled over, scooping Aron up into a massive hug. The Beta laughed, talking a mile a minute in Spanish excitedly.

Aron let out a surprised noise as he was suddenly enveloped in Dylan's massive arms. The Beta was practically shaking from excitement, his words a rapid-fire stream of Spanish that even Aron had trouble keeping up with.

Laughter bubbled up in his chest as he returned the hug, the familiar scent and warmth of Dylan a strange comfort he hadn't expected. 

"Hey, Dyl, hey. Slow down. I can't understand you when you talk that fast," he protested, grinning.

Dylan kept a hold of Aron, the Omega's feet dangling off the ground as Dylan jumped around excitedly. 

"¡Te extrañé mucho! ¿Estás comiendo? ¿Estás bien? ¿Cómo estás? ¡Te extrañé mucho, Dios mío!"

Danny laughed as Lex finally walked over, grumbling slightly as she had to carry both bags since Dylan had just dropped his without a care. Jorel took one of the bags from Lex with a grin. Aron held onto Dylan tightly, his feet dangling off the ground as the Beta kept him securely in his arms. It was honestly a wonder Dylan could carry him so easily, considering just how goddamn big he was compared to Aron's scrawny frame. But then again, Dylan was like a bear in human form. He could probably carry Aron without even trying.

He chuckled at Dylan's rapid-fire questions, shaking his head and patting the Beta's arm. "I'm fine, Dyl, I'm fine. Chill out."

"Papito, put him down!" Lex scolded. Dylan immediately put Aron back on his feet, rushing over to Lex and pulling her by the arm over to Aron. 

"Ruru, this is my wife, Lex," he said excitedly. "My wife, can you believe it? She let me marry her! Lex this is-"

"It's nice to meet you, Aron, I've heard so much about you," Lex said, cutting off her husband's excitement with a much calmer, sweeter voice. She pulled Aron into a hug, not bothering to just shake his hand. As soon as Aron was close, he could smell the Omega in her.

As Lex pulled him into a hug, Aron caught the scent of omega - sweet and soft, like cotton candy. His eyes widened as he inhaled deeper, his gaze flickering to Dylan.

So, Dylan had married an omega.

Aron's head tilted to the side, his gaze moving over the smaller woman. "You're... You're an omega," he said, his tone a mix of surprise and curiosity. It was rare for an Omega to marry a Beta. Not unheard of, but certainly unusual. Lex smiled brightly. 

"Yeah, I am," she said. "So are you! It's so good to have another Omega around. These boys are all so macho y alfa it's so annoying."

Dylan pouted, tugging on Lex's jacket. 

"I'm not macho and Alpha," he whined. Lex patted his hand, rolling her eyes. 

"Si, Papi, you're not," she soothed. Danny and Jorel snickered from behind Dylan, laughing at the absolute absurdity of party animal Dylan being pussy whipped by his wife.

Aron smirked, watching Dylan pout like a child as Lex soothed him. It was a sight to behold, the big, burly Beta completely smitten with the little omega.

"Macho and Alpha," he echoed, amused. The two words were a nice way of describing the other guys. He chuckled, rolling his shoulders back and shaking his head. "Yeah, this pack is definitely an interesting one. So, how long have you two been married, anyway?"

"A year and a half," Lex said, proudly raising her hand to show the ring on her finger. "He asked me on the side of the road like an absolute idiota, how could I refuse?" 

Danny chuckled, shaking his head and shoving Dylan's shoulder. 

"Fuckin' loser," he teased. 

"Nerd," Jorel joined in, making a face at Dylan. 

"Jodido putas," Dylan shot back, glaring playfully.

"On the side of the road?" Aron echoed, his eyebrows raising. "What, did he just pull over and proposed on the spot?" He couldn't help but chuckle, imagining Dylan pulling over to the side of the road, getting down on one knee and proposing. It was a rather comedic mental image. Jorel and Danny joined in, teasing Dylan playfully. The Beta shot back with his own retort, and a string of insults in Spanish.

"Yeah, exactly!" Lex said to Aron, actively ignoring the others as she looped her arm with the other Omega. "How romantic, right?" Her sarcastic tone and following giggle made Jorel and Danny tease Dylan even more.

"Real romantic," Aron agreed with a smirk, joining in on the teasing. "Very suave, very smooth." He could picture it. Dylan pulling over on the side of the road, probably in the middle of nowhere with the sun setting. It was almost too cheesy to be real, but somehow Dylan had managed.

"A true fairy tale," Aron joked, unable to help himself. "I bet you swooned right into his waiting arms."

"More like yelled at him to get up off the side of the highway," Lex snorted, rolling her eyes. 

"You said yes, though!" Dylan protested, glaring at Danny and Jorel as the Alphas clung to either one of his arms and spun him around in a circle, singing 'Highway to Hell'.

"Because you were being a pendejo," Lex retorted, her eyes sparkling with affection. Danny and Jorel continued with their teasing, spinning Dylan around and singing "Highway to Hell". It was all in good fun, of course. 

Aron rolled his eyes and tried to muffle his laugh as he watched the scene. "You're all terrible," he said, shaking his head.

"You missed us and you know it!" Jorel shot back with a grin. Danny and Dylan glanced at each other before Danny threw his hands up and Dylan tackled Jorel with a mock roar.

"I did not!" Aron protested, even though Jorel was right. He had missed them more than anything. Danny and Dylan exchanged grins before Danny threw his hands up in mock surrender. Meanwhile, Dylan tackled Jorel, both of them laughing as they rolled around on the ground, roughhousing like a bunch of kids. 

Aron couldn't help but laugh at the scene, shaking his head in disbelief. "You all still act like teenagers," he said, but there was a fondness in his voice.

"Stop it, both of you!" Lex scolded through her laughing. "You're going to get us kicked out of the airport!" 

Dylan got off Jorel, helping him up before coming over to Lex with a smile. 

"Lo siento, mami," he said, pulled his wife into a hug and burying his face in her neck. Lex rolled her eyes. Danny chuckled, but Jorel subtly pushed the other Alpha toward Aron. Danny stumbled slightly, ending up bumping into Aron a bit as he was pushed beside him.

Lex's voice cut through the roughhousing, scolding both Dylan and Jorel like a mother scolding her children. It was amusing to see, but it seemed to have the intended effect as both Dylan and Jorel sheepishly let go of each other.

Danny chuckled at the scene, but Jorel took advantage of the moment to shove him toward Aron, causing the other Alpha to stumble and accidentally bump into him. Danny let out a surprised yelp as he crashed into Aron. 

Aron chuckled, steadying Danny and making sure he didn't fall over.

Danny instinctively wrapped an arm around Aron's waist to keep him steady as he stumbled back. His face immediately flushed and he pulled away, looking away awkwardly.

The feeling of Danny's arm around his waist made Aron's breath hitch, his heart skipping a beat. When Danny pulled away, it felt like a cold wind as his warmth disappeared. He tried to ignore the fluttering in his stomach, the way his skin tingled where Danny had touched him. He cleared his throat, his voice a little huskier than usual. 

"You good?" he asked Danny, trying to keep a nonchalant tone.

"Yeah, sorry, I got shoved," Danny said, shuffling his feet and shooting a glare at Jorel. Jorel and Dylan shared a smirk as they watched Danny's and Aron's interaction, unable to resist the opportunity to mess with the two.

"Smooth move, Casanova," Jorel teased, his eyes glinting with mischief. Danny glared at Jorel, his cheeks still flushed bright red. 

"Piss off," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. 

Dylan couldn't help but chime in, the smirk still plastered on his face. "Yeah, real slick there, Romeo."

A small laugh escaped Aron's lips at the guys' teasing. He shot a smirk at Jorel and Dylan, enjoying their banter. 

"Leave him alone," he said lightly, rolling his eyes. "Not everybody can be as charming as me."

He turned back towards Danny, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Danny met Aron's eyes and his stomach flipped. Everything from the last 24 hours felt like a dream and a nightmare all in one, and he didn't know how to feel about how Aron smiled at him. But he knew that he wanted that smile forever, and that only made him feel worse. 

"Yeah, real charming," Dylan snorted, messing up Aron's hair. "Charming like a cactus maybe."

"Hey!" Aron protested, swatting at Dylan. "Watch the mane, dude."

He reached up to smooth out his messy hair, shooting Dylan a mock glare. 

"At least I got game," he shot back, a hint of a cocky smirk on his lips.

"You got game? I got a wife," Dylan said proudly, puffing out his chest. Lex, said wife, rolled her eyes. 

"Dios mio, you're ridiculous," she sighed.

Aron chuckled, shooting Lex a sympathetic look. "Don't worry, Lex. I'm sure there's a cure for him being a dick out there somewhere."

He shook his head, unable to stop himself from ribbing Dylan.

"Maybe the cure is kids," Lex mused, raising an eyebrow at Dylan. Dylan's face immediately paled and he looked at Lex like she had just suggested cutting off his dick. 

"Mami, no no no, we can't have kids yet, we've only been married a year and I gotta tour and-"

Danny snickered as Dylan kept going, listing all the reasons why they shouldn't have kids even as Lex's smirk only widened. 

"Oh, you gave her ideas," Danny murmured to Aron, dipping his head to speak into the Omega's ear.

Aron's heart skipped a beat as he felt Danny's warm breath against his ear. He couldn't help but shiver, the proximity to the Alpha making his stomach flutter with nerves.

He forced himself to focus on the conversation between Dylan and Lex, suppressing the urge to lean into Danny's touch. 

"Looks like Dylan's in for it," he whispered back, his tone light. "Lex's got that gleam in her eye. Poor guy."

"He's gonna be a daddy in no time," Danny agreed, subtly turning his head a bit more toward Aron and inhaling slowly, taking in his honey and coffee and tang scent like it was the sweetest perfume in the world. As Danny inhaled, Aron felt a prickle of awareness crawl across his skin. He had to resist the urge to push his throat against the Alpha's nose, to let him breathe deeper. He cleared his throat, his attention divided between Dylan and Lex's conversation and the way Danny was scenting him. 

"I can't imagine Dylan as a father," he mused, a slight smile on his lips. "He's barely responsible enough to take care of himself."

"He's not so bad anymore," Danny murmured, not really paying attention to anything but Aron anymore. "Hell, he even helps with equipment nowadays. Lex's really changed him for... the... better..."

He trailed off, his brain going a little fuzzy as he smelled the subtle change in Aron's scent. Sweetening, thickening, blanketing. Pheromones. Aron's eyes widened when he felt the change in his scent. He was emitting pheromones, a natural response to having an Alpha so close. He tried to compose himself, but it was difficult. Danny's gaze was focused solely on him, the Alpha almost entranced by his scent. As the other guys' conversation continued around them, Aron couldn't help but feel vulnerable, his instincts taking over.

Want. Need. Claim.

Jorel, an Alpha like Danny, caught the change in the air and turned to look over at them. Danny jerked away from Aron like he'd been burned, meeting Jorel's eyes slightly panicked. Jorel, now fully aware of Danny's secret feelings for Aron, immediately stepped in and walked over to them, dragging Aron away with an arm around his shoulders. 

"Hey, Ruru, have you heard about Dyl's new in laws yet?" he asked, pulling Aron away from Danny. "Lex's dad's in a biker gang!"

A whine escaped Aron's throat, his omega side protesting at being separated from Danny. But he shook his head, trying to focus on Jorel's words. Trying not to think about the lingering scent of pine and wood that invaded his senses.

"Lex's dad is a biker?" he repeated, his thoughts still a bit fuzzy. "That's... interesting." 

He cast a brief glance back over at Danny who was now watching them with a mixture of longing and resignation. 

Danny took several deep breaths to calm himself down. He had to get his shit together. They were stuck at the airport until George and Jordon's plane landed, and then they'd be stuck in a car, and then - 

And then Aron would be living with Danny for the foreseeable future as he got back on his feet after leaving the cult. Jesus, Danny was screwed. So screwed. So so so so screwed. 

Aron had said it was just instincts. Aron had said that them having sex, that him wanting Danny to mate him was just instincts. Danny couldn't get his hopes up that there could ever be something more between them. 

Jorel, an Alpha but mated and married with his own kid back home, wasn't nearly as affected by Aron's scent as Danny and he was able to keep the Omega occupied until Danny was able to calm down.

Aron tried to focus on Jorel's words, but he couldn't help but steal glances back at Danny. He felt...disoriented, unbalanced. Being away from the Alpha made his instincts go crazy, even if it was just for a few minutes. But Jorel was a good distraction. He kept him engaged in conversation, talking about everything from Lex's dad to the weather. But he couldn't shake the feeling of wanting to be back at Danny's side, the scent of pine and wood still lingering in his nose. Finally, after what felt like forever, Jordon and George's plane landed and the two other wolves walked into the arrival gate with the rest of the passengers from their flight. Once again, as soon as they spotted the group, the two were running. 

"Aron!" George shouted. 

"Ruru!" Jordon yelled. 

Both of them raced to get to Aron first, Jordon winning by a heartbeat as he pulled Aron into a tight hug. 

"Jesus, man, I haven't seen you in thirteen years, I missed you so fucking much," Jordon said, holding Aron tightly. George ran up a second later, wrapping his big arms around both Aron and Jordon. 

"God, it's so good to see you, Aron," he said.

Aron's chest ached as Jordon and George smothered him in a tight embrace. It felt good to be hugged, to be surrounded by people who cared about him, who had missed him.

"I missed you guys too," he mumbled, his voice thick with emotion. "It's good to see you."

But his eyes kept darting back to Danny, who still had a slightly stricken look on his face. 

It was ironic, in a way. Aron had just left a tight-knit cult, and now here he was, being smothered by his old friends.

"We have so much to tell you," George said, pulling away. Jordon did too, letting George pull Aron into a proper hug. "We have so much to fill you in on!"

"Yeah, man, the real world is crazy," Jordon said excitedly. "You have no idea the shit we got up to while you were stuck in the church! Oh, we should take you to Jumbo's!" 

"The stripper clown place?" Jorel asked, wrinkling his nose. "Hell, no."

"We can't anyway," Danny offered, walking over. "It's closed because of the fires around LA. But King Don's is still open."

"Yooo, King Don's? We used to go there all the fucking time!" Jordon said, grinning. "Hell yeah!"

Aron let out a small sigh as he leaned against George. His senses were still a mess, and he could feel Danny's gaze on him. It was too much, being this close to Danny but not being able to touch him. He wanted to crawl into his lap, bury his face in his chest, and drown out everything else.

"King Don's sounds...good," he said quietly, his gaze flickering to Danny again.

George rubbed Aron's back, soothing and caring and like the good dad he was. 

"I have so many pictures to show you," he said, smiling down at Aron. "You remember Asia? We got married. I have three girls now, Ava, Chloe, and Madelyn."

"Oh! Me and Randi got married too," Jordon said, grinning. "I got two kids, Jack and James. You'd love them, they're little shits."

"Me and Vanessa broke up, but I'm married too," Jorel offered, grinning at Aron. "Me and Erin got that ranch down in Oklahoma."

Aron's eyes widened as his friends shared their updates, a mix of surprise and genuine warmth. Married. And with kids. It was a surreal feeling, a moment he'd never thought he'd see. 

"That's... That's amazing," he said sincerely, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I'm so happy for y'all. Really."

His gaze flicked towards Danny, wondering if he would share news of his own.

Danny smiled ruefully at Aron. 

"You already know about my shit," he said. "Reese and I got married in 2013, divorced a few years ago, she took Roman. Haven't seen them in a while now... But hey, it's fine, right? Co-parenting and shit."

Lex looked over at Danny sympathetically. 

"I never liked Theresa," she said with a frown. "She was a bitch to me when we first met and she stayed a bitch the whole time."

"Babe," Dylan said with a sigh, putting his arm around his wife. "You know she wasn't tryin' to-"

"No, don't start that shit," Lex interrupted. "He isn't with her anymore, I don't have to be polite anymore. Theresa was a cunt."

A small spark of joy flared in Aron's chest as Danny mentioned the divorce. It was wrong of him to feel even a hint of happiness about Danny's marriage failing, but he couldn't deny the relief that he felt. 

"I'm...I'm sorry things didn't work out, Danny," he said sincerely, his voice soft as he looked at his friend. "But I know you'll get to see Roman again. She won't keep him from you forever."

Danny shrugged, turning his head away. He scratched at the tattoo of his son's name on his face awkwardly. 

Jorel, sensing that Danny needed a second, immediately did what he did best - be an idiot to get attention. He swung an arm around Aron's shoulder and planted a big wet kiss on the side of his head. 

"Alright, enough bitching and switching, let's get the fuck out of this airport and party!" he said, grinning. 

Danny, both grateful for the distraction and annoyed that Jorel had kissed Aron, rolled his eyes. Aron yelped as Jorel kissed the side of his head, a mix of annoyance and affection. 

"Ugh, Jay," he complained, shoving at the other Alpha. "You could at least warn me first." He tried to keep his gaze off Danny, but found it hard. He could see Danny's annoyance at the kiss, and a part of him felt a strange satisfaction. Deep down, he wanted Danny to be jealous.

Danny led the group of seven out of the arrival gate and toward the waiting lot where he and Aron had parked the Range. As they all piled into the car, George and Dylan argued over who got to sit next to Aron and who had missed him more. Danny, while they were distracted, bundled Aron into the front seat to be next to him rather than the others with a grin.

As Danny ushered Aron into the front passenger seat, Aron couldn't help but chuckle at the childish bickering in the backseat. 

"Wow, y'all are actin' like you're back in high school," he teased, a hint of amusement in his voice. "Can you two please act like grown men for two seconds?"

He settled into the seat and buckled up, stealing a quick glance at Danny, who was clearly suppressing a smirk.

"Never!" George and Dylan said in unison, finally getting into the car. Danny glanced in the rearview mirror at everyone with a smirk. 

"So, King Don's?" he asked. 

"HELL YEAH!" 

Danny laughed and started the Range, pulling out of the lot and heading out of the airport toward West Hollywood.

Aron shook his head, unable to hold back a grin. He leaned back in his seat, taking in the familiar sights of LA as they drove through the city. 

"I swear, you guys never change," he said with a sigh. "Still acting like a bunch of kids, huh?" 

He turned to look at Danny, raising an eyebrow. "King Don's, though? Really? You guys still eat there?"

"Not as much anymore," Danny admitted, shrugging. "I'm the only one that actually still lives in LA and it's not as fun by myself."

The car went quiet for a moment as the other guys shared guilty looks. They hadn't meant to leave Danny alone in Los Angeles, of course. Jordon and George had both moved to Nashville to be closer to the country music scene and Asia's family respectively, Dylan had moved to Texas after marrying Lex to be near her family, and Jorel moved to Oklahoma to start his ranch and because the laws on growing and cultivating weed weren't as strict as California and his entire business was in weed.

Aron's gaze softened as Danny's words sank in. He hadn't truly realized how the guys' individual journeys had scattered them across different states and cities. They had all made decisions for their own personal lives, but in the process, they had inadvertently left Danny behind.

A faint sense of guilt tugged at Aron's conscience, realizing that he hadn't given much thought to Danny's living situation during their time apart.

"It's alright though," Danny continued, his tone more airy and relaxed. "I don't mind. Just real quiet now that Roman isn't in the house anymore. I'm glad you're staying with me though, Aron, you'll make that big ass house less lonely for sure."

Danny shot Aron a grin as he drove, his big brown eyes genuinely happy. 

Jorel elbowed George, nodding toward Danny. George frowned, glancing between Jorel and Danny in confusion before his eyes widened and he looked at Jorel, pointing toward Aron. Jorel nodded. George made an 'O' with his lips in understanding and nodded, looking like he had just been told the secret of the universe.

Aron couldn't help but notice the subtle looks shared between Jorel and George, as if they were communicating something that only the two of them could understand. He couldn't shake the feeling that they were discussing him and Danny, but what exactly they were thinking, he couldn't be sure.

"I promise I won't be a nuisance," he responded to Danny's comment, his voice tinged with both amusement and a touch of insecurity. "I'll do my best to keep you company."

"Just don't eat my leftovers," Danny joked, chuckling. He subconsciously reached over to put a hand on Aron's thigh, squeezing gently before returning his hand to the steering wheel. 

George's jaw dropped. Jorel made a YOU SEE?? gesture with his hands. Jordon frowned at the other two. Dylan, of course, didn't even fucking notice. Lex, however, flicked her eyes between Danny and Aron, an interested glint in her blue eyes.

Aron forced himself not to focus on the feeling of Danny's hand on his thigh, trying to ignore the fact that he craved more contact. He nodded with a smirk and said, 

"No promises." 

He couldn't help but wonder what was going on with the guys in the backseat. He could feel Jorel's stare on him, and George and Jordon kept stealing glances. Something was up.

Danny pulled up to King Don's a few minutes later, parking in the nearly empty lot. Across the old sign was a hand scrawled spray painted message "THE HOME OF THE UNDEAD."

Jordon laughed as they piled out of the car, looking up at the sign. 

"Damn, that's still there? Old man Don never got rid of it?" he asked. Dylan grimaced, looking up at it. 

"Not my best work," he admitted. "It's all crooked."

"I think it looks perfect, Papi," Lex soothed her husband, leaning against his arm.

"It looks like it was written by a five year old," George said bluntly. 

Aron smirked faintly and looked away. He could tell they were teasing Dylan, but the idea of being anywhere near this place brought back old memories; memories that he'd buried for a reason, but now felt like they were coming back to life.

Danny locked the Range and stepped up to Aron with Jorel beside him. 

"You're gonna love this, I promise," Danny said, putting a hand on Aron's shoulder. "He's missed you just as much as the rest of us." King Don had basically been their surrogate uncle in the early days - even back in high school he had let them come hang out in the bar and do their homework when they didn't want to be around the church. He'd been the one to help Jordon and Dylan leave first, which prompted the rest of them to escape too. Aron had chosen to stay, which had been the first cause of the initial rift between them all.

The memory came back suddenly; he and Jorel sitting at the bar doing calculus homework as Danny and Jordon practiced riffs together. 

Aron swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded, his shoulders tense.

Danny's hand on his shoulder was a grounding force, a steady pressure that kept him from drowning in all the emotions flooding him. The feeling of Jorel's gaze on him made him twitchy, his skin breaking out in goosebumps. 

He knew this was going to be a long night.

Chapter 7: No Other Place

Summary:

The Pack hangs out at King Don's and Danny plays for a kiss.

Danny followed after the rest of the group into the bar, leading Aron by the shoulder with Jorel on the other side of the Omega like a protective wall. Dylan pushed the doors open dramatically, his hands flinging into the air. 

"Honey, I'm home!" he called, making the few customers in the bar look up, either annoyed or confused. However, the large older man with a gray beard and a bald head and a black Cannibal Corpse shirt behind the bar looked up and grinned. 

"Dylan! Right on, brother, welco- Holy... Aron?" Don balked, staring at Aron with wide eyes as he entered with the rest of HU. "Motherfucker, I'll be damned..."

Don came out from around the bar, walking over to Aron with an almost reverent expression. He put his big hands on Aron's thin shoulders, looking him over like he was making sure he was real. 

"Aron... Little Aron, you're..." Don's voice choked and he pulled Aron into a tight hug. "I missed you, son."

A lump formed in Aron's throat. Don's embrace was tight and strong, and despite himself, Aron melted into it. 

"I... I missed you too, Don," he murmured, his hands coming up to grab the back of the old man's shirt, returning the hug. 

Don smelled like pine, tobacco, and old spice, the smell making familiar sensations rush through Aron's mind; long nights spent at the bar doing homework, stealing shots, and working with the guys on their music.

Don hugged Aron tight, like a long lost son finally coming home. The others watched on with smiles, nostalgic or sad, but Danny just... 

He was so fucking happy Aron was back, that he was safe, that he was finally finally out of that damn cult. 

Don pulled back to look Aron over again, his hands on his shoulders both firm and gentle. 

"Are you okay?" Don asked. "Are you... Did they hurt you? Are you still... You're not still in the church, are you? If you need someone to help you get out, I can-"

"I got him, Don," Danny interrupted, reassuring. "I got him out last night and he's staying with me."

The question made Aron's shoulders tense and his eyes flickered away, a small sense of shame rushing through him. 

Of course, the question about his time in the church was bound to come up. Of course. Who wouldn't be curious? 

Aron opened his mouth to respond, but was saved by Danny answering for him. He was grateful for the interruption, relieved to not have to talk about the thirteen-year hell he'd been in.

"I'm so glad you're out, kiddo, I've been so fucking worried," Don said, relieved. "Come on, have a seat, have a shot, you still like nachos?" 

Don ushered Aron toward the bar, putting him right in his old seat at the very end - closest to the emergency exit and able to see the whole bar from that one seat, just like he liked. 

"Fuck yeah, nachos!" Dylan cheered, taking his own old seat a few down from Aron, the seats between them filled by Jordon and George. Jorel let Lex sit beside her husband, taking Matt's seat since he wasn't there yet. Danny - who had been the last to join the friend group and the last to join the band after Aron left, hesitated for a moment. He... He didn't have a normal seat, he had always just bounced around to whoever would let him sit beside them. For a second, all those old insecurities from when he had first joined HU as "Deuce's replacement" came back and he felt like an outsider. 

Until Don pulled a bar stool from down the other side of the bar over and set it between Jordon and Aron. 

"Pop a squat, Dan, you look like a nerd," Don said cheerfully, putting a guiding hand on Danny's back to give him the push he needed to sit down.

Aron's heart fluttered as he settled into his old seat at the bar, still in awe of being surrounded by his former bandmates. The sense of comfort and familiarity he felt being back in this little dive bar was overwhelming.

He couldn't help but glance over at Danny as he took his seat beside him. There was a time when Danny would sit as far away from him as possible, always trying to prove his worth, but now... he was right beside him. He was welcomed, wanted even.

Don opened a few bottles of tequila, putting an order for the kitchen to make a party sized plate of nachos with all the fixings. 

Jordon and Dylan were already arguing over who still had the record for most shots without puking. Lex reminded them that they were all in their 40s now and couldn't take shots like it was water anymore. George, being George, immediately challenged Jordon and Dylan to do exactly that and prove who still had the iron liver. 

Danny leaned against the bar beside Aron, smiling to himself as the bickering continued. He glanced over at Aron, his breath catching as he met Aron's stare. 

They just stared at each other for a moment, not saying anything, just... existing in the moment with all the tension and all the uncertainty and all the what the fuck is going on that was between them.

The sounds of bickering and laughter filled the air, but Aron was only barely aware of it. 

He was completely captivated by Danny, their gazes locked in a silent moment of tension. It was overwhelming, intimate even. 

His stomach twisted and his heart raced under the intensity of Danny's gaze. It was a mixture of nostalgia, anticipation, and want.

He wanted this... He wanted Danny.

Danny swallowed hard, his heart breaking all over again as he looked at Aron. 

Aron's words from that morning still echoed in his head. It was just instinct. Everything between them had been instinct. The sex last night, the almost-sex that morning, Aron asking Danny to claim him, mark him, mate him - it had all been instincts and not actually Aron wanting him. He had to remember that. He had to. But looking at Aron in that moment, Aron looking at him like that, made Danny want to forget everything and just... Try. 

But he couldn't. So he turned back around, forcing his eyes back to the others.

Aron watched as Danny turned away, his heart sinking in his chest. He wanted to reach out, to grab Danny and drag him back to face him. To tell him how he truly felt, not let him believe the half-truths and excuses of his instincts. But he couldn't. The words were locked in his throat, paralyzed by fear and insecurity. Instead, he turned to his drink, sipping quietly as he watched the others banter and bicker. Don set the plates of nachos on the bar in front of the group, putting an extra side of guac in front of Aron with a grin. 

"Hope you still like the good shit, kid," he said with a wink. "Welcome home."

Danny smiled, glancing at Aron again. It was good to have him back. It was good to have all of them back. He'd been so lonely after everyone moved out of LA and Reese had left him. It was good to be with his Pack again. 

"To Aron!" Jorel shouted, lifting his drink. "For finally leaving that goddamn cult!"

"To Aron!!"

"And to Danny for getting his ass out!" Jordon added, throwing an arm around Danny with a cheer. Aron's cheeks flushed at the sudden attention, a mix of bashfulness and embarrassment washing over him. But it wasn't entirely unwelcome. He'd missed this, their easy comradery and the sense of belonging to a pack.

As they toasted to him, he raised his glass in return, his gaze flickering to Danny again, a mixture of gratitude and longing in his eyes. 

"To uh- to being back," he said, his voice a bit shaky. "And to... being free, I guess."

Dylan whooped, throwing his glass in the air and spilling some over the side. "To freedom, homies!" he cheered. Lex squealed as her husband's drink landed in her lap. 

"Dylan!"

"Oh, mierda, I'm sorry, Mami!" Aron couldn't help but laugh at Dylan's antics, the man's carefree nature a contrast to his own.

Danny laughed, leaning back in the chair and resting his hand on the back of Aron's chair. Jordon still had an arm around Danny's shoulders and he grinned down at the Alpha. 

"Hey, you think that cute ass of yours still has game?" he asked, waggling his eyebrows at Danny. "Wanna play some pool?"

"Danny's always had game," Aron replied, his voice nonchalant. "You're just sour cause you can't keep up."

"Oooh, get 'im, Ruru!" Jorel laughed. Jordon rolled his eyes and smacked the back of his hand on Aron's shoulder lightly. 

"If he got so much game, why is he single, huh?" he retorted, smirking. Danny rolled his eyes, shaking his head. 

"Maybe because the bitch I married decided to return to the planet she came from," Danny snarked, lifting his glass to take a sip. As the banter continued, Aron found himself caught between a mix of laughter and discomfort. He knew the others were just joking, but each jab at Danny's single status felt like a jab at his own loneliness. 

"Maybe he just hasn't found the right one yet," he chimed in, his tone light but his gaze locking with Danny's for a brief moment. Danny caught Aron's eye and the comment at the same time, his stomach twisting. He looked away quickly, his cheeks slightly pinker. 

"Yeah, he's probably just waiting on some angel to fall from heaven into his fuckin' lap," Jordon teased, leaning on Danny and planting a wet, sloppy kiss on his cheek. "Like a pansy."

"Fuck you, Jordy, not everyone can marry their childhood sweetheart," Danny laughed, wiping his cheek off with a grimace. Aron forced a laugh, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn't let show. 

I could be your angel...if you wanted me.

"Yeah, some of us have to actually work for love," he quipped, taking a swig of his drink to mask his discomfort. The others laughed, completely oblivious to the internal struggle he was going through.

"Well, right now, you ain't workin' for love, you're workin' for a win!" Jordon laughed, dragging Danny out of his seat. "Come on, let's go play some pool! Aron, you wanna play? You can play winner!"

Danny stumbled out of his chair, cursing as Jordon almost made him spill his drink. 

"Jordy, watch your fuckin' hands, Jesus," he muttered.

Aron shook his head, his gaze flickering to Danny again. "Uh, no, I-"

He should play. Joining the game would give him a chance to be close to Danny, to watch him, to maybe even accidentally brush against him.

But the thought of having all their attention on him, of being the center of a game when he was so out of practice and bad at pool, it made his stomach churn. 

"You guys play," he said, his voice flat. "I'll just watch."

Danny looked back at Aron with a small frown. Jordon was already moving away, but Danny stayed.

"Nah, come on," he said, reaching a hand out for Aron with an easy smile. "It'll be fun. Play with me, Ruru."

Aron hesitated, his gaze locked on Danny's hand. Playing pool with Danny was tempting, but his own insecurities were holding him back. 

"I, uh...I suck at pool," he mumbled, his eyes flitting away from Danny's hand to stare down at the table instead. He wanted to, but he was terrified of embarrassing himself, of being the butt of their jokes.

"Yeah, so does Jordon," Danny laughed, grabbing Aron's hand and pulling him to his feet. "It's not about being good, it's about having fun. Come on, I'll show you some tricks if you want. It'll be fun!"

Danny pulled Aron by the hand over to the pool table to join Jordon who was already racking the balls. Danny took a sip of his drink before putting it on a high table beside the game and grabbed a stick. 

"Here, Aron, be my cheerleader while I kick Jordon's ass," he said, grinning. 

"Like hell! I've been practicing, fucker, I'm way better now!" Jordon insisted.

Aron found himself reluctantly dragged to the pool table, his cheeks flushed with a mix of nerves and excitement. As Danny and Jordon bickered playfully, he stood awkwardly to the side, unsure of what to do. But then Danny's words hit him, and he couldn't help but crack a smile. 

"Cheerleader?" he teased, raising an eyebrow. "You need me to wave pom-poms and shout 'Go, team!' or something?" Danny looked over at him with a smirk and flicked his eyes over Aron briefly. 

"Dunno, maybe," he said. "But you'd look good in a skirt." Jordon snickered. 

"I forgot you like femboys, Dan," he teased, pulling the rack away from the balls. "You got that Daddy kink thing goin' huh?" Danny shrugged, leaning on the pool stick in his hands. 

"What can I say? I like 'em small, I like 'em pretty, I like 'em femme."

Aron rolled his eyes at Danny's response, feigning annoyance. But in reality, he felt a mixture of nervousness and excitement at the way Danny was looking at him. 

"You're ridiculous," he muttered, but there was a hint of a smile on his face. 

Jordon snorted with laughter. "Small, pretty, and femme, huh? Careful, Dan, you're gonna give Ruru here a complex."

Danny glanced over at Aron again, smirking. 

"Good, he needs one, over there lookin' like a whole ass meal instead of a snack," he replied, chuckling. Jordon guffawed, throwing his head back. 

"Alright, fuck it, winner gets a kiss from Aron," Jordon announced, grinning. "Randi won't mind me doing fag shit with you guys like we used to."

Danny's eyebrows shot up in surprise.

Aron's heart skipped a beat at the suggestion, his cheeks flushing a deep shade of red. 

"Whoa, wait a minute," he protested, his gaze flickering between Jordon and Danny. "I didn't agree to be the prize in some kind of bet."

But a small part of him, a part he tried to keep suppressed, thrilled at the idea of being desired like that, of being the object of their playful competition.

"Oh, come on, you used to love being the prize," Jordon said, walking over to Aron and putting a hand on the pillar behind him. He leaned over the shorter man with a roguish grin, his Beta scent sweetening slightly. "Come on, Ruru, for old time's sake?"

Danny's eyes flicked between Jordon and Aron, his grip on the pool stick tightening slightly. 

Aron's heart pounded in his chest as Jordon leaned over him, his Beta scent making his head swim. He felt a wave of nostalgia crash over him, memories of their days back in high school flooding his mind. 

"I... I don't-" he started, his throat tightening. He couldn't deny the sense of excitement he felt at being the center of attention like this, of being desired and wanted. 

But then he saw the tension in Danny's grip on the pool stick, his gaze narrowing. He was...jealous?

Aron swallowed hard, his thoughts racing. It was one thing to be teased and desired by his bandmates, but it was another thing entirely to see Danny jealous. He'd never thought that the Alpha would care that much, that he would be so protective of him. Could it be possible that Danny...? 

Aron shook the thought away, unwilling to let himself hope. "Fine," he heard himself say, his voice a ragged whisper. "Winner gets a kiss from me. Happy now?"

"Atta boy!" Jordon cheered, immediately backing off to go back to the table. "Pucker up, pretty boy, papa's playin' for keeps!"

Danny's eyes narrowed and his stance shifted from a casual lean to be more focused. Jordon went first, breaking the rack but not getting anything in. Danny scanned the table for a minute, picking and choosing his first move. 

"Come on, Dan, I don't got all night," Jordon teased, stepping away from the table. Danny ignored him, not partaking in trash talk like he usually would, laser focused as he stepped up to the table and bent, taking aim. 

He lined up the shot and took it, immediately sinking the 7.

Aron watched nervously as Danny took his shot, his heart in his throat. He'd never seen Danny so focused, so dedicated to winning. His eyes widened as Danny made the shot effortlessly, the ball sinking into the pocket with a quiet thunk. "Damn," he muttered, his gaze glued to the pool table. "He's… serious."

Danny moved to the next ball, his turn continuing since he'd gotten a ball in. His eyes scanned, calculating. Then he sank the 2 in the corner pocket. Aron's breath hitched, his jaw dropping at the effortless way the ball disappeared into the pocket. 

"He... He's on a freaking roll," he murmured, his gaze darted to Jordon's expression. The Beta seemed unbothered, but there was a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. 

Danny kept circling the table, waiting for the cue to stop rolling before choosing his next shot. The serious expression, the lack of trash talk, it was so different from what Jordon had been expecting from a friendly game. 

"Oh, fuck," Jordon mumbled, leaning against the tall table that held their drinks with Aron. "I uh... I think I fucked up. I think I miscalculated."

Danny sank the 6. 

"I definitely miscalculated."

Aron's heart raced as he watched Danny effortlessly clear the table, his skill and experience clear with each shot. Jordon's words only heightened his nervousness, the Beta's voice tinged with a hint of fear. Aron found himself leaning into the larger man, seeking comfort. 

"He's... He's a lot more serious about this than I thought," he murmured. 

Jordon nodded, his gaze fixed on the table. "He looks like a damn shark, Ruru. This ain't a game to him anymore."

Danny went around the table again, the stick in his hands never once leaving the 'at ready' position. He didn't twirl it or spin it like he normally would, no, he kept his hands in the exact position he needed to shoot. 

"Yeah, I fucked up, I'm sorry," Jordon sighed, shaking his head. "I thought a friendly kiss would be something to loosen you up. I didn't take into account Danny's jealous streak. My bad, Ru. That's on me."

Aron felt a jolt of surprise at Jordon's words. Jealous streak? Since when did Danny get jealous?

"Jealous streak?" he echoed, his gaze darting back to Danny. "Danny doesn't get jealous. Hell, he probably won't even care if you win."

Jordon huffed a laugh, shaking his head. "Dude, he's got the tunnel vision of a sniper right now. He's not here for a friendly game, he's playing like his life depends on it."

Danny took his next shot and both the 1 and 4 spun into a pocket. 

"See?!" Jordon said, gesturing to Danny. "Bastard's playin' like this is the fuckin’ world championships! He- Wait, what do you mean he doesn't get jealous? Oh... Oh you weren't around for the Incident."

Aron furrowed his brow in confusion. "The Incident?" he repeated. "What incident?"

His curiosity was piqued. There was something about Danny's behavior that was different, something in the intensity of his focus and the cold precision of his shots. He'd never seen Danny like this before. Jordon ran a hand through his hair, grimacing. 

"So a few years ago, before Danny and Reese divorced, we were all in Vegas for vacation and Reese started flirting with this random fuckin' guy," he explained. "Danny was just coming off his old meds that weren't working for him anymore and he hadn't started his new ones yet because of some chemical shit - I don't know, I didn't pay attention to that shit - and he was off the fucking walls. When he found Reese with this other guy, Danny straight up beat this motherfucker so bad that George had to pull him off the guy. He was in jail for eight months."

Danny sank the 5, leaving just the 3 before he could go after the 8 ball and win the game.

Aron's eyes widened in shock. He knew Danny had been through some hard times, and had his own struggles with mental health and medications. But this- this was a side of him he'd never seen before. 

"Danny...did all that...because Reese was flirting with another guy? Just...flirting?" he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief. "Is that really it? That's all it took?"

"Well, to be fair, Reese had been cheating on him for a while at that point," Jordon sighed, shrugging. "We all knew, we all told him to get out, but he stayed for Roman. Said that she was in therapy and they were working on it. I... I don't think she was actually going to therapy. I think she used that as an excuse to go see her stupid boyfriends, but that's just me. And Jorel too, he thinks that too."

Danny took a step back from the table, eyes flicking over the entire thing as he decided his next move. There was a clear shot for the 3 from any direction.

Aron tried to wrap his head around this new information. He knew Reese had cheated on Danny, but the extent of the affair was news to him. 

"Jesus, man," he said, shaking his head. "I knew she was a piece of work, but...she was just using him, wasn't she? Lying to his face and seeing other guys behind his back."

Jordon scoffed, shaking his head. 

"Welcome to Theresa," he muttered bitterly. "I always hated her, she was a bitch. The only good thing she ever did was give birth to Roman, I swear."

Danny aimed, but he was aiming at the wall of the table, not the ball. For a second, Jordon sat forward excitedly, thinking Danny might be throwing his shot and ending his streak because there wasn't a good way to get the 3. Then Danny hit the cue and it bounced off the wall, spinning and curving around a cluster of striped balls to gently tap into the 3 and send it spinning slowly until - it went right in the side pocket. 

"Goddammit! How did he do that!"

Aron's mouth dropped open in shock. 

"Did he just- that was- what the- how?!" 

Aron had never seen a shot like that before. It was a mixture of skill, luck, and pure audacity. 

"I-I thought he was throwing his shot, but...he did that on purpose, on purpose and made it look like- god, that was insane!"

"Fucker really wants that kiss, I guess," Jordon grumbled, setting his stick aside and crossing his arms. 

Danny circled the table again, looking for the best shot for the 8 ball to win the game.

Aron's heart was in his throat as he watched Danny circle the table, his gaze flickering from the cue ball to the clusters of balls on the table. 

Oh god, please let him win.

"He's really going for it, isn't he," he murmured, his eyes trained on the Alpha. "He's gonna win, he's gonna-"

"If he scratches on the 8, I win by default," Jordon said, sticking his thumb in his mouth and chewing on the nail. "He can run the whole damn table, but it won't matter if he fucks up here. He really wants that prize kiss from you, Ruru, holy shit."

Danny was still looking for his shot, his brow furrowed and concentration lining his features. 

Aron's heart pounded in his chest, his hands clenching into fists at his sides. Don't mess up. He couldn't imagine the reaction from everyone if Danny did mess up and lose the entire game. The humiliation would be too much to handle. 

"Come on, come on," he whispered under his breath. "You can do this. Please do this."

"Damn, you could just say you don't wanna kiss me," Jordon joked, bumping his shoulder into Aron's with a smirk. "Or maybe you just wanna kiss Danny, huh?"

Danny leaned forward on the table, taking aim. Aron elbowed Jordon and shushed him, his entire attention focused on the Alpha. Danny's expression was steely, his eyes locked on the cue ball. He took a deep breath, then drew the pool cue back.

Aron's stomach somersaulted in anticipation. 

Please, please, please...

"8 to top left corner pocket," Danny said, calling the shot out as per house rules. 

Jordon frowned. 

"What? No fucking way, there's a whole ass ball in the way, you can't make that-"

Danny hit the cue ball and it shot across the table, bouncing off the wall at an angle and clacking into the 8 ball loudly at a weird spot. The 8 ball bounced, hopping over a ball blocking it and rolling across the table slowly, slowly until-

The 8 sank into the pocket.

"OH MY GOD," Aron yelled, his hands going up to cover his mouth. "HE DID IT!" 

Aron's heart was in his throat. He'd never seen a shot like that before in his life. The skill, the accuracy, the sheer audacity to even attempt such a thing left him breathless.

Danny had won.

"How in the fuck?!" Jordon shouted even as the others started cheering from the bar where they were watching. Danny put his stick aside and started around the table, breathing a bit harder than normal.

The cheers and applause echoed around the pool room, but all Aron could see was Danny. The Alpha moved with a purpose toward him, the look in his eyes nearly making him lightheaded. Aron couldn't believe this was happening. He'd never seen the Alpha look like that before, his eyes fixed on him like a predator with its prey. He felt heat pool in his belly, his mouth suddenly dry.

Danny stopped in front of Aron, his eyes locked on the Omega. 

"How the fuck did you jump the ball?" Jordon asked again, still hung up on the incredible shot. "Where did you learn to do that?!"

"Hey, Jordon?" Danny said, not looking away from Aron. 

"Yeah?" Jordon grumbled, his arms crossed over his chest.

Danny's intense gaze never left Aron as he replied, his voice low and calm.

"Shut up," he said simply. Then he took a step toward Aron. "You uh... Were you serious about that... kiss thing?"

Aron's breath caught in his throat, his heart hammering in his chest. He was pinned by Danny's gaze, his skin heating from the intensity of it.

He really just asked that. He really just-

Aron swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. He'd been the one to make that stupid bet, never expecting Danny to even want his kiss.

"I... Yeah," he managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper. "Yeah, yeah I was serious."

"'Kay good, I would hate to have done all that for nothing," Danny said, immediately taking another step toward Aron and cupping his face with his hands. 

Before Jordon or Aron and anyone could say anything, Danny leaned down and kissed Aron. It wasn't a friendly peck, it wasn't an exaggerated kiss or big and sloppy like the kisses the guys would give each other to gross each other out in high school, it wasn't even a sweet kiss. 

No, Danny pressed his lips to Aron's with purpose, his mouth pushing Aron's open and his breath hot and his tongue sliding into Aron's mouth hungrily.

Aron froze in shock, his brain unable to process the fact that Danny was kissing him. Really kissing him.

He gasped against Danny's mouth, his hands instinctively gripping his shirt as their lips moved together. Every nerve in his body felt electrified, heat rushing through him. 

Dimly he was aware of Jordon's confused protests, but he found he didn't care. All that mattered was this, Danny, the pressure of his mouth, the taste of coffee and mint.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! This isn't what I meant when I said Aron had to kiss the winner!" Jordon protested, staring at the pair of them incredulously. Dylan and Jorel were staring, wide eyed and open mouthed. George and Lex clinked their glasses together, both smirking. 

"You called it," George said to Lex. 

"Omegas always know," Lex replied, chuckling. "Jordon never stood a chance."

Danny slid his hands into Aron's hair, slanting his mouth more firmly over the Omega's and groaning quietly. Aron clung to Danny, his body reacting to the Alpha's touch automatically. He wasn't even aware of their surroundings anymore, the game and the bar and their friends forgotten. 

There was only Danny, the taste of his lips, the feel of his hands in his hair.

Aron's mind was completely blanked out, his omega instincts kicking into overdrive. His entire world had shrunk to this moment, the feeling of Danny's mouth on his, the scent of pine and cedar surrounding him. When Danny groaned, Aron let out a quiet whimper, his body pressing closer. Wolf whistles and catcalls went up from their friends, but Danny ignored them. All that mattered in that moment was Aron. When he finally pulled away, there was a thick string of spit connecting their tongues for a moment before it snapped as Danny licked his lips to savor the taste of Aron. 

"Thanks for the prize," Danny growled quietly, his thumb stroking Aron's cheek a bit rougher than necessary before he dropped his hands.

Aron's eyes blinked open slowly, dazed and flushed. He stared up at Danny, his lips parted and his breath coming in ragged gasps.

His body was thrumming, heat rushing through him. Every point of contact felt like an electric shock, and a whine escaped his throat as Danny's hands withdrew.

He wanted to pull him back, to keep that connection, to touch him. 

"You- you're welcome," he managed to say, his voice coming out a breathless croak.

Danny swallowed, Aron's glazed and dazed eyes looking like a goddamn invitation. But he knew better. He couldn't. 

"Just instincts," he said quietly, repeating Aron's words from that morning to himself as a reminder that Aron didn't want him, he was just reacting to an Alpha. 

Danny turned away and went back toward the bar, his hands shoved in his pockets.

Aron was left staring after him, his heart sinking. 

Of course. Danny believed him. He believed the lie, he believed that it was just instincts, that Aron didn't actually want him. 

Panic rose in his chest, his eyes darting back to Danny, who was now perched on a barstool again, talking to the others. He wanted to run after him, to grab him, to tell him. But he couldn't. Aron wrapped his arms around himself instead, trying to stop the shaking, to push back the tears gathering in his eyes.

Jordon walked over and put a hand on Aron's shoulder worriedly. 

"Hey, you okay?" he asked. "What's wrong? Did Danny do too much? I'll kick his ass."

Aron bit his lip, keeping his gaze fixed on Danny down the bar. 

"I'm fine," he said quietly, his voice lacking conviction. 

Jordon's concern made his stomach twist with guilt, because the truth was he wished Danny had done more. He wanted more kisses, more touches, more Danny claiming him.

But... Danny thought it was instincts, that Aron didn't want him.

"Seriously, Ruru, if he made you uncomfortable kissing you like that, you can tell me. I'll beat him up for you," Jordon assured, squeezing Aron's shoulder and stepping closer with a concerned look on his face.

"N-No," Aron said quickly, looking away from Danny to focus on Jordon. "It... It was fine, really. I just-"

He stopped, realizing how pathetic he was. It was just a kiss. A simple kiss that he'd begged for. But it felt like so, so much more. 

"I'm just tired," he amended lamely. "I'm... I'm gonna head outside, get some air."

Jordon frowned, but backed off. 

"Okay... If you need someone to come with you, I can-"

"No, no, you're fine," Aron assured him with a small smile. "Just- I'll be back in a bit."

He turned to leave, his eyes darting back to Danny, who was engaged in what appeared to be a playful argument with J-Dog. It was a normal sight, one he'd seen countless times over the years. Aron looked away and exited the bar, pulling his jacket tighter around himself.He shivered as the door closed behind him and the cold night air hit him. 

Aron leaned back against the brick wall, trying to steady his breaths, but the tears started to fall silently down his cheeks. He'd had a taste of what he'd always wanted, only to have it ripped away before he could even fully enjoy it. Aron buried his face in his hands, his shoulders shaking with stifled sobs.

Before he could register what was happening, a screech of tires filled the air as a black SUV peeled into the parking lot of King Don's. It squealed to a halt a few yards from him and the back door swung open, a big burly man in black jumping out and beelining for Aron.

Aron's eyes widened as the SUV came to an abrupt stop, his heart jumping into his throat at the sight of the man heading straight for him. His mind was still fuzzy from Danny's kisses, dazed from his instincts still running wild, but adrenaline immediately kicked in and his mind began to race. Before he could react to what was happening, the man was on him, large hands grabbing his shoulders and roughly shoving him inside the SUV. Panic filled him and he let out a strangled cry.

The door to the bar burst open and Danny ran out, looking around frantically as George and Jorel followed behind him. 

"Aron!" Danny yelled, sprinting toward the car. The man in black cursed and hauled the door shut seconds before Danny got there. 

Chapter 8: Bleed

Summary:

The Cult came for Aron, the Pack retaliates.

Notes:

CONTENT WARNING: TORTURE, MENTIONS OF BREEDING PROGRAMS, HUMAN EXPERIMENTATION, OVERT THREATS OF CANNIBALISM.

DEAD DOVE: DO NOT FUCKING EAT

Note: Lex's religious beliefs are Hellenic Paganism. The Pack has different religious beliefs - each one moved away from Scientology and Christianity on their own. I am not Christian and I have a lot of trauma with that church so I avoid it in my writing, so I changed their beliefs. More info on that in next chapter.

Danny's fist collided with the window of the SUV, shattering it. 

"Aron!" he yelled again as Jorel and George went for the driver of the car. Danny grabbed the collar of the man in black and yanked him toward the broken window, snarling as he slammed the guy's head into the shattered glass over and over. The guy let out a shout of pain, trying to get away, but Danny's other hand came up with a shard of glass and stabbed it right into the guy's throat.

Aron sat frozen in the backseat of the SUV, staring wide-eyed at the scene playing out outside the broken window. Danny was vicious as he slammed the man's head into the glass, eyes hard and face twisted with rage. Aron had always known that there was an underlying violence to Danny, that beneath the playful demeanour and charming smile, a feral, dangerous creature lay in wait.

It was, at that moment, the most attractive thing in the world.

The guy slumped over as Jorel and George broke the locks on the front doors of the SUV and hauled the screaming driver out. Danny reached into the car and opened the back door, blood all over his hands and arms as he reached for Aron. 

"Ruru," he said urgently. "Come here, come to Daddy, I got you-"

In that moment, all thought left Aron’s mind as he simply obeyed the command. 

He reached out, grabbing Danny’s hand without hesitation. Adrenaline and instincts urged him forward, towards the safety of the Alpha’s presence. 

"Danny," he gasped, his hand clutching at Danny’s, his fingers trembling. 

He wanted to tell Danny the truth, how he wanted him, needed him, but the words got stuck in his throat, smothered by his own cowardice.

Danny wrapped his arms around Aron and pulled him from the car, taking him a few feet away and holding him tightly. He started checking Aron for injuries, cataloguing every scratch. 

Jorel and George hauled the screaming driver back into the bar, both snarling and pissed. 

Danny ran his bloody hands over Aron's face. 

"Are you okay? Did they hurt you?" he asked.

Every touch sent tingles down Aron’s spine, the heat from Danny's body seeping into his own. 

"No," he replied quietly, his eyes fixed on Danny. "No, they didn’t hurt me." 

The driver's screams rang out, the sound only making Danny look that much more attractive to him with the blood on his hands. 

Aron reached up, his fingers tracing a path over Danny's arms, feeling his muscles tense beneath the skin. He shivered, unable to stop himself from leaning into the Alpha.

"I'll kill them," Danny whispered, a promise not a threat. "I'll kill them all for touching you. But we gotta know who they are." 

Danny cupped Aron's neck, stroking his thumb across his throat soothingly. 

"Don't question what we do, Ruru," he murmured. "You never got to see what we had to turn into when we left the church. Don't be afraid, we would never hurt you. But don't question us, okay?"

Aron nodded, trusting Danny completely. "I won't question you," he promised, his gaze fixed on Danny's face. 

It was both thrilling and terrifying to see the feral side of the Alpha, to know just how much violence and brutality Danny was capable of. Despite his fear, Aron found it incredibly attractive. 

"I trust you," he said, his throat tight. "I trust you all, no matter what you have to do..."

"Good boy," Danny murmured instinctively, pulling Aron closer. 

The door to the bar opened again and Dylan poked his head out. 

"Aye, Dan, we need you," he said. "He ain't talking." 

Danny growled, his lip curling over his extending fangs and his eyes flashing yellow. 

"I'm coming," he said. Danny guided Aron back to the bar, handing him over to Dylan. "Keep him safe." 

"You got it, boss," Dylan said easily, the Beta throwing an arm around Aron and leading him over to where his wife was sitting across the bar. 

King Don, someone you would think would be against violence in his bar, locked the doors behind them to keep anyone else from coming in.

The contrast between Dylan's easygoing nature and Danny's current bloodlust was stark. It gave Aron a clear understanding of just how much an Alpha's instincts could change them. 

He let himself be led by the beta, his eyes flickering over to where Danny's bandmates had dragged the SUV driver. 

A part of him felt like he should look away, that it was wrong to see what they were about to do, but he couldn't bring himself to pull away. Watching them was just... satisfying.

George and Jorel were holding the driver down on a table, Jordon off to the side going through the driver's wallet. 

"His name's Dave Kingston," Jordon said as Danny walked over. "35, US citizen, license from Utah." 

"Anything on affiliations?" Danny asked. "Is it a rival gang? A different Pack?" 

Jordon held up a business card, face grim. 

"Worse. Scientologist."

Danny cursed. 

Aron's heart sank as the words "Scientologist" left Jordon's lips. His parents were still devout Scientologists. His whole family was. Were they behind this? Aron's stomach twisted, the thought of his parents being involved in any way making him sick to his stomach. He shifted, the sound of Danny cursing drawing his gaze back to the group around the table.

"Great," Jorel snarled, tightening his grip on Dave's arms. "Just what we need, goddamn Scientology assholes." 

Danny let out a low hiss, his eyes flashing a darker gold. "They couldn't even give him one fucking day?" he asked, his voice sharp. "Not even a full day out of their control and they're sending goons? I hate these bastards."

"I really hate to say it, man, but Aron's important," Jordon sighed. "His mom's an auditor, his dad's an enforcer, his sister is a fucking fisher. Aron's important to the cult, they aren't just gonna let him go."

"Well, then we better make them," Danny said, turning to the driver and cracking his knuckles. "Don, get the bleach."

Aron watched as Jorel and George held the driver down, his heart in his throat. 

They were going to... torture him. 

He'd never seen anything like it before, never even been in a proper fight. Hell, he wouldn't have been a stranger to the term "pussy" being thrown his way in his younger days.

But even through the terror and confusion, he felt a thrill of excitement at the knowledge that Danny and the rest of the Pack were willing to do anything to protect him.

Don handed Danny the bleach and Danny uncapped it, walking over to the driver. He set the bottle next to his head as George and Jorel held up down on his back on the table. 

"We can do this the easy way, or the hard way," Danny said, looking down at the guy. "Either I can use this bleach to clean up your blood after we get through ripping you to shreds for every piece of information you have, or you can tell us what we want to know without a fight and you can drink it yourself and go out with some dignity. Your choice."

The driver stared up at Danny, his face set in a defiant glare. He spat at him, a dark gleam in his eyes. 

"You think you can scare me? You think I don't know how this goes? You gonna torture me? Break me?"

He let out a strangled laugh, his shoulders shaking. "Good luck with that, you little mutts."

"Oooh, he called us mutts," Dylan said from beside Aron and Lex. "Bad move."

"Mutts," Danny repeated, nodding. "Well, you know what mutts are good at, kid? Eating."

Jorel snarled, baring his fangs at the driver. 

"It's been a long fuckin' time since we had human meat," he said, adding onto Danny's threat. "And werewolves aren't known for our patience."

The driver's confident smirk started to waver as Dylan and Jorel threatened him, his face turning grey.

"You're... You're bluffing," he gasped. "You wouldn't-"

George chuckled, a dark sound. "Wouldn't we? It's been a long time since we had a nice piece of human meat on our plates. You're a fine young man. Good, lean muscle-" He leaned over the driver, his eyes dark with an almost feral gleam. "And we're real hungry."

"You're gonna eat me?! That's cannibalism!" the driver yelled, starting to struggle. 

"Nah, bitch, that's the food chain," George snapped, growling. "We ain't human anymore thanks to Ruru over there. So why the fuck would we care about a meat sack like you?" 

"Yeah, bro, you're just food," Jordon added, tossing the wallet and identification into a trash can and pouring liquor into it. He took out a lighter and lit it, tossing it in to burn the identification. 

"You think we haven't done this before?" Danny asked. "You think we haven't made a meal out of a cultist that came to try and drag us back to that damn church? Newsflash, that's what we've been doing for 16 years, bud. Every time one of you pricks comes for us, we feast. And this time? This time you came for Aron. You came for our Omega. You came for our creator."

The driver paled, his eyes wide with terror. 

"Omega? Creator? You're... You're the-"

Dylan let out a sharp bark of laughter. "Did you not know who you were messing with, sunshine?" he said with a mocking smirk. "Did you not do the research? Because you're in over your head."

"You messed with the wrong Pack." Jorel growled. "And you'll pay for it."

Danny leaned down, snarling in the driver's face. 

"I killed your little buddy quick because I needed to get to Aron fast, but you won't get the same treatment. So, either you tell us what we want to know and you drink the bleach and we eat you after you're dead, or you try to be tough and we eat you alive. Your. Choice."

The driver whimpered. His expression was one of terror, his face ashen. 

"What the hell do you want to know?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

"There we go," Jorel chuckled. "Now we're cooperating."

"Who sent you?" Danny asked. "What branch of the church? Was it his parents? Was it the research department?"

The driver clenched his jaw, his gaze darting around at the surrounding area, as if he thought he might be able to escape. He clearly didn't want to answer, but he also didn't want to be eaten alive. 

"It... It was the research department," he said eventually, his voice trembling.

"Fuckin' called it," Dylan muttered. Lex, Dylan's wife, plastered herself to the Beta's side with a shiver, hiding her face in his arm. 

"The research department," Danny repeated. "Was it Book? Did that bastard send you?"

"Dan," Jordon said warningly, but Danny waved him off.

The driver nodded, his expression turning more wary. "Yeah, it was him," he said. 

Lex let out a soft whimper and buried her face further into Dylan's arm. She obviously had unpleasant memories of the research department, ones that were being stirred up by this whole situation.

Jorel and Geoge kept a hold on the driver even as Jordon immediately grabbed Danny by the arms to keep him from just killing the driver. 

"We need more info," Jordon warned. "Take a breather, Dan."

Danny snarled but stepped back, letting Jordon take over. 

"Alright, fucker, my turn. Where were you meant to take him?" Jordon asked. "Back to a church compound or straight to Book Industries?"

The driver swallowed hard, his hands clenching in the ropes tying him down. 

"Book Industries," he said. "Book wanted him at the main compound. He wants him... studied."

Jordon nodded, his eyes narrowed. "Okay, good, we're getting somewhere."

Lex whimpered softly, her grip on Dylan tightening. The Beta rubbed his wife's back, his expression grim. Danny looked over at them. 

"Dylan, take Lex and clean up the mess in the parking lot," he ordered. "Get her out of here."

"Yes, boss," Dylan said, instinctively following the Alpha's orders. He took Lex's hand and led her out the front door, Don opening it for them and locking it again behind them as they left to deal with the SUV and the body left inside. Danny met Aron's eyes from across the bar, checking him to make sure he was still okay as Jordon continued. 

"Does this have anything to do with the 'Happy People' project?" Jordon asked. "Or is this a different thing?"

The driver started at that, a look of shock crossing his face. "You... You know about Happy People?"

"Who do you think blew up the fucking labs?" Danny snarled, coming back over to the table. Jordon put a hand on his chest to keep him from getting too close. "Who do you think blew up the fucking labs, huh? Who do you think had to get J-Dog out of there before they turned him into a zombie like half the fucking city?" 

"Danny," Jordon warned. 

"Who do you think was under those fucking masks, asshole?" Danny shouted.

The driver went still, his eyes wide. He was starting to tremble now, the full extent of his situation beginning to sink in. Danny and the Pack clearly knew a lot more than he'd originally believed.

"You... You're the ones who blew it up?" he whispered, his voice cracking.

"You believe us yet?" Jorel sneered. "Come on, Danny, lemme take a bite, I'm so fuckin' hungry..."

"I got some BBQ sauce in the back," Don offered grimly, crossing his arms.

The driver looked around at them all, his expression panicked. He was out of his depth, caught in the middle of a situation he wouldn't have believed even a few hours ago, and the Pack closing in around him did nothing for his nerves. 

"I..." he shook his head mutely, a cold sweat breaking out at the back of his neck. He was going to die here, wasn't he?

"I ask again, were you kidnapping Aron and taking him to Book Industries to be zombified by the Happy People project, or is this something different?" Jordon asked again, his tone hard and annoyed. "I don't like repeating myself."

"I...!" 

The driver's mouth snapped shut with an audible click. He'd been trained to die rather than reveal information to the enemy, and he'd be damned if they'd catch him betraying the people who'd put him in this line of work. If he was going to die, he might as well go out with some dignity.

"Don," Danny hissed. "Get the sauce."

Don immediately started walking behind the bar, grabbing a big ass bottle of BBQ sauce. 

"Oh, fuck yeah, food," Jorel growled, baring his teeth at the driver. "God, I've been fucking starving for some human meat. This is a real treat, just a real treat."

The driver tensed, pressing himself back against the chair. His breathing was ragged, his face pale. The Pack was circling him like a pack of sharks and he was in no position to defend himself.

He swallowed, his throat dry. "I... Wait!" he finally gasped, struggling to sit forward.

Finally, they thought. "I... I have information!" 

He looked around at them again with wide, panicked eyes. "I-I have valuable information."

"You better start talkin' then because J-Dog's about to go nuts," Jordon warned. 

"Fuck you, Charlie, lemme eat," Jorel said, drool dripping from his mouth as he stared at the driver. "I'm fuckin' hungry."

"Talk," Danny hissed at the driver. "What do they want with Aron?"

The driver hesitated, his mind racing as he tried to figure out how much he could safely tell them without giving everything away. "It... It's not just Aron," he finally said. "They're looking for any person with an Alpha or Omega designation."

Danny's eyes widened in horror, snapping up to look at Aron. 

"Breeding," he whispered. "It's a breeding program."

A horrified silence descended on the room, the other Pack members looking just as appalled as Danny. A breeding program... That was beyond just unethical, it was downright evil.

"They won't-" Danny insisted, snarling. "They won't fucking touch you, Ruru, I swear."

George leaned down to get in the driver's face, inhaling deeply. He leaned back. 

"Human, for sure," he said. "But there's wolf stink on him too. Traces. They got wolves wherever he was taking Aron."

Jordon's eyes widened in realization and horror. 

"Aron," he said. "Aron, where did you step on that nail back when we were kids? The one that gave you lycanthropy? Was it in your neighborhood or-"

Aron's eyes went wide as he caught on to what Jordon was implying. "I... It was in my neighborhood," he croaked, his throat tight. "How... How did you know?"

Danny turned to Jordon, brow furrowed. 

"What're you getting, Charlie?" he asked. 

"Aron's folks are high up in the church," Jordon said, slightly panicked. "They knew he never wore fucking shoes because he's autistic. They knew-"

"Holy shit, they set him up to become a werewolf," Jorel finished, eyes widening. "His parents set him up and-"

"And he is the reason we all got lycanthropy too," George continued. "Jorel, you had him infect you so you could be with him on full moons. Dylan was an accident and an STD-"

"My blood got in George's eye after a bar fight and infected him," Jorel supplied. 

"And I infected Jordon to keep his ass alive," George continued. 

"And I infected Danny on accident," Jordon finished. 

"Shit, even Matt got infected by Dylan when we forgot when the full moon was on tour!" Jorel hissed. 

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, they set him up and we were all accidents ," Danny groaned.

Aron's face was pale as the color drained from his skin. His parents had used him. They'd used him as bait, made him into a wolf against his will, used him to lure in others. The world was spinning. His breathing had gone shallow, the sound of it filling his ears. He was vaguely aware of the Pack talking, but it all sounded like white noise, too distant to make out.

Danny slammed a fist into the wall, growling. 

"Those pieces of shit set up their own kid-" Jordon said in horror. Jorel was breathing hard, his own brain starting to panic and lose control of his anger. 

"We gotta warn Matt," George muttered. "They could be after him too."

"Deal with this first, then Matt," Danny growled. "Where is the breeding program?"

The driver winced at the snarling and growling, his face set in a grim line. "They have two facilities..." he said, licking his dry lips. "One is a research facility outside of Los Angeles. The other is a...breeding facility near Santa Fe."

"How many do they have at the breeding facility?" George asked, tightening his grip on the driver's arm.

"They have...two hundred captives," the driver admitted, his eyes flickering around the room. "But most are Betas, not as many Omegas and Alphas. It's hard to find viable stock."

"Viable stock," Jorel growled, snapping his jaws in front of the driver's face. "Those are fucking people, you sick fuck-"

"J-Dog," Danny snapped, his Alpha voice booming and even forcing Jorel, also an Alpha, to back down. "You bite when I say you bite."

"Sorry, Dan," Jorel muttered, backing off slightly. 

"Two hundred," Jordon breathed, shaking his head. "We... We gotta help them, Danny."

"We help our own first," Danny growled. "Then we worry about the others. We need Matt here now."

"I-I'll call him," Jordon said, moving off to call Matt, who was still in Philly filming for his show.

The driver remained stiff, his heart pounding in his chest as he watched the Pack members move to action. He was an outsider to them, one that they had no reason to trust. 

"If I… help you, will you let me go?" he asked, his voice shaking. "I won't tell them anything, I swear."

"No," Danny said instantly. "You're a liability and you're a fucking Scientologist. There's no way in hell you're walking out of this building alive, even if you had the cure for fucking cancer in your pocket."

"Not like you could be much help anyway, human," George grunted, sneering. "You're weak."

The driver's face paled, his breaths coming out in quick pants as he realized that his life was really at risk. It was ironic that the people he'd hunted now hunted him, forcing him to realize that maybe he wasn't the top of the food chain after all.

"P-Please..." he whispered. "You're... You're just animals. You don't... You don't understand..."

"And that's why you're gonna die," Jorel said. "We aren't animals. We have a disease. We were human before we got lycanthropy, and we're still fucking people. It's thoughts like that that are the reason you're gonna be in our stomach at the end of this conversation."

The driver shook his head, his eyes frantic as his mind played image after image of his body getting ripped apart. 

"Please-" he repeated, his voice cracking. "Please, just... I'm begging you. You..." He trailed off, trying to come up with a way to appeal to them. "You don't have to treat me like an enemy. I can help, I can-"

Danny walked over, leaning his head over the table to hover right over the driver's face. 

"Let me put it to you this way, in a way your bigot brain can understand," he said slowly. "I don't care if you were the key to toppling the entire church. I don't care if you were the only chance we ever had to take them down once and for all."

Danny grabbed the driver's hair and forced his head off the table to look across the bar at Aron. 

"You see him? You see that man over there?"

The driver nodded as much as he dared with Danny's grip on his hair, his gaze darting over to where Aron sat. 

Aron's face was blank, his body tense as he watched the scene unfold.

"You touched him," Danny growled into the driver's ear. "You touched our Omega. Our friend. Our Pack. Our brother. You touched my Omega."

Danny slammed the driver's head back to the table, hard. 

"You touched my Ruru. So I don't give a shit if you're the second coming of Christ, pal, you're dead fucking meat and I'm gonna let J-Dog suck the marrow from your fucking bones."

The driver swallowed hard, his heartbeat a steady drone in his ears. Danny's words rang in his ears, filling him with both terror and confusion. 

"Your… your Omega?" He repeated numbly, his mind trying to comprehend what the hell was going on.

"Wolf packs in the wild aren't like Werewolf Packs," George said, almost educationally, too calm, too steady. "We got our own hierarchy. Yeah, there are secondary genders and designations - Alpha, Beta, Omega - but in a Pack, those things are second to what really matters, and that's status. The Pack Alpha is the leader, the one who calls the shots - and they're decided on strength in leadership, not size or raw power. If it was raw strength, I would be Alpha. But I'm not. Danny is."

"And the Pack Omega?" Jorel continued, snarling at the driver. "Sure, Packs can have multiple Omegas. We have five, technically. But Omegas are the birth givers, the creators. So the Omega of a Pack, the true Omega, is the one that either created the Pack itself or infected the majority of members. And Aron? He did both."

The driver's eyes widened, realization dawning. The pieces were falling into place. 

"Wait, so… you're saying that Aron-" He stopped, his gaze darting towards where the omega sat, pale and tense. "He made you?"

"Every single one of us is a Werewolf because of Aron," Danny said firmly. "He got infected first, then he gave it to J-Dog. Then J-Dog gave it to Johnny-" He pointed to George. "Then Johnny gave it to Charlie-" He pointed to Jordon. "Aron gave it to Funny Man-" He pointed toward the door where Dylan and Lex were still outside cleaning up the body and the SUV that had tried to kidnap Aron. "Funny gave it to Kurlzz. And Charlie gave it to me."

"We wouldn't be like this if you freaks hadn't infected Aron to begin with," Jorel growled. "You only have yourselves to blame."

"Don't mind me," Don piped up from behind the bar, still leaning on it next to the bottle of BBQ sauce. "I was a 'Thrope back in the 80s, I just gave these kids a place to be safe."

"And we love you for it, King," Danny replied instantly, smirking over at the old wolf. "But we ain't kids anymore."

"Nah, 40 years old or not, you're still my pups," Don said, chuckling.

The driver swallowed hard, his skin paling. It was like a sick joke. 

"So what, so Aron's like the creator of your Pack or something?" he asked.

"Yeah," George said, chuckling and looking over at Aron fondly. "Hollywood Undead wouldn't be a fuckin' thing without him and Shady and J-Dog."

"Shady might not be in the band or Pack anymore, but he's still one of us," Danny said, crossing his arms. "Enough that he dropped everything last night when I called him to go get Aron's shit from his old apartment in the cult and get him away from you pricks. So yeah. Without Aron? None of this would be a thing."

The driver gaped, his mind racing. He couldn't believe this. 

"And you? You're his Pack Alpha?" He asked Danny, disbelief written on his face.

Danny leaned over the driver, sneering. 

"You ask a lot of questions for a dead man," he growled. The driver shivered, realizing that the situation was getting more dire with every passing moment. 

"W-wait, please," he said desperately, his voice shaking. "We can… we can negotiate. I-I have money, whatever you want, just-" He swallowed hard, his gaze darting to Aron.

"You think we need money?" Jorel scoffed. "Dude, we're the most long lasting and successful metal and rap band in the world, we don't need fucking money."

"And even if we did? Not a chance," George continued. 

Jordon walked back over, hanging up the phone. 

"Matt's on his way. He got out of filming the rest of the reshoots by saying there is a family emergency. He's getting on a plane and should be here in a few hours."

"Good work, Charlie," Danny said. Jordon preened under the Alpha's praise, grinning and puffing his chest out. 

"I'm a good Beta," he said, praising himself as he walked over to Aron and threw a protective arm around the Omega.

The driver was visibly shaken, realizing that he was in over his head. He looked from one member of the pack to the next - all of them clearly protective of Aron, and much more powerful than they seemed. 

"Please," he said, desperation creeping into his voice. "You don't understand. My people will come for me. They'll kill me."

The door opened and Dylan and Lex walked back in, hand in hand. 

"SUV is on fire in a ditch," Dylan said. 

"Body is chopped up and currently being eaten by the stray dogs on West Palms," Lex continued, smiling brightly. "I got to learn how to use a bone saw!"

"Nice, Lex!" Jorel grinned at the female Omega.

The driver's eyes widened, horror and disbelief taking over at the sight of the cheerful female omega who was cheerfully talking about murdering someone. 

His mind began to spiral, searching for any possible way out of the situation he was in. But he was outnumbered, and clearly outmatched. These five were a tight-knit pack, and they clearly had their own ways of doing things.

"So what was that you were saying about them killing you?" Danny asked casually, raising an eyebrow. 

"Yeah, bold of you to assume you'll get the chance to ever see outside this bar again," Jorel snorted. 

"Oh, are we killing him?" Lex asked excitedly. "Can I use the bone saw again, Papi?" 

Dylan grinned at his wife, wrapping his arm around her shoulders. 

"That's my little psycho."

The driver's face paled, a sense of dread and despair taking over him. This was it. This was how he was going to die. He was going to be murdered by a bunch of feral werewolf rock stars and the woman they'd married.

"Please," he finally managed, his voice thin and reedy. "I have family. I have a daughter."

Danny paused, frowning. Jorel's brow furrowed and he looked up at George, who was also frowning deeply.

The driver's eyes darted around desperately, looking for any sign of sympathy or mercy in their faces. They all looked at each other, an uncomfortable tension suddenly filling the room. 

"Please," he said again, his voice cracking. "She's just seven."

Jorel and George looked over at Danny, looking for direction. They didn't usually hurt kids, but parents were a grey-area that they hadn't had to deal with before. 

Danny scowled, crossing his arms as he considered the options.

The driver's eyes landed on the other omega in the room, hoping he might be the only one with some humanity. 

"Please," he whispered, his eyes fixed on Lex. "My little girl is only seven. She- she doesn't understand any of this. Please."

Lex bristled as he immediately looked at her. 

"What, are you begging me because I'm a woman, or because I'm an Omega and you think I have maternal instincts?" she snapped.

The driver seemed taken aback by her reaction, as if he'd honestly thought she would sympathize. 

"I-" He faltered, looking around the group of werewolves again. "I just... You're an omega... Aren't you supposed to... I don't know, have compassion?"

Lex outright laughed and Dylan had to hold her back. 

"Maybe if I wasn't a fucking experiment, I would have some!" she shot back.

"Ego," Danny snapped, using Lex’s own alias and making her shrink back. "Calm the fuck down and let me think."

The driver flinched, as did the other werewolves. The alpha's voice was commanding and powerful, and no one argued with him. 

The driver swallowed hard, his eyes darting from one pack member to the next. They were all strong, and clearly dangerous. This was not a group to be messed with.

Danny finally shook his head, growling. He rounded the table where the prisoner was being held down and stalked over to Aron. His face was thunderous, but he softened when he stood in front of the thin Omega. 

Danny was the Pack Alpha. He was the one who made the decisions for the Pack, he was the one who had a final say in everything. But Aron was back now. He'd been out of the Pack for thirteen years, but now he was back. 

Danny sank to his knees in front of Aron, lowering his head in submission.

"What do you want us to do, Omega?" he asked quietly.

The question sent a jolt through Aron's whole body. 

Danny was submitting to him. Danny, who was strong and powerful and commanding, was submitting. 

Aron took a shaky breath, his eyes roaming over the rest of the Pack. They were all staring at him, waiting for him to say what he wanted. 

It was a heady feeling. 

"Release him," he said softly, his gaze flickering back to the driver. "Let him go."

"What?!" Jorel shouted immediately. 

"No, Aron, no!" George growled. 

"Are you fuckin-"

Danny stood and whirled on them all, letting out a roar so loud it shook the windows. 

"Omega has spoken!" he yelled. "You do as your fucking told!"

The other werewolves all shrank back from the loud roar, lowering their heads instinctively. Aron's eyes were wide, his breathing ragged. He had never thought he'd see the day when Danny would protect him, let alone defend him in front of everyone. 

"Danny," he whispered. "You don't have to-"

"When the Pack Omega gives an order, you fucking listen," Danny roared. "He is our creator! You respect his fucking authority or I will rip you apart, you understand me?"

"Yes, Alpha," Jorel grumbled, twitching as his own Alpha instincts warred with the hierarchy of the Pack. 

"Yes, boss- Alpha," George muttered. 

"Good. Now finish the interrogation and then let him go," Danny growled.

The other werewolves immediately leapt to attention, their heads dipped in submission. Aron watched in a daze as Jorel grabbed the driver, hauling him to his feet and forcing him into a chair. 

George prowled up beside Danny, a frown on his face. The older man was clearly unhappy with the order, but he didn't argue. 

"This is a terrible idea, Danny," he murmured.

"I know," Danny snapped back quietly. "But I'm not going to undermine Aron. And if you try, I will rip your arm off."

Danny stalked away, back to the driver. He took the open bottle of bleach and held it up. 

"You already said that the church will kill you if they find out you told us anything," he said. "We will let you go, like our Omega has ordered, but you know your fate with the church will be worse than what we could do to you. You'd likely end up in the breeding program yourself as punishment. So here is my offer. Tell us everything you know, and we will let you go. And I will give you this bottle of bleach. What you do from there is your choice, but if I were in your position, I'd drink it."

The driver's face paled as he stared at the bottle of bleach in Danny's hand. 

The church was a powerful organization, and he knew exactly what the breeding program entailed. He'd seen the Omegas that came out of it and even he was disgusted by what they'd done to them. 

With a strangled sob, he nodded, his shoulders slumping in defeat. 

"Fine," he croaked. "I'll tell you everything."

"Atta boy," Jorel growled, pulling out his phone and hitting the record button on his voice notes app. "Start talking."

"Start from the beginning," Danny said, setting the bottle in front of the driver as Jorel released him and allowed him to sit up on the table. "And don't stop until you have nothing left to say."

The driver took a deep, shaky breath, the words spilling from his lips in a rushed torrent. 

He started with the church's origins, their beliefs, the practices they enforced. Then he moved on to the breeding program, the facility, the Omegas. 

He spoke of cells, cages, and isolation. Of physical abuse, mental abuse, indoctrination. Of how no one was allowed to leave, and the brutal means the church used to ensure compliance. 

It was all horrific, but they listened in silence, their faces darkening with every new truth.

When the driver finally finished speaking, Jorel looked down at the voice note. Three hours and twelve minutes of recording. 

Danny nodded slowly, taking a deep breath. He didn't want to question Aron, especially not after his own display of defending the Omega's decision, but with the new information... He turned to look at Aron. 

"You still want us to let him go?" he asked quietly. "After all that?"

Aron winced at the question, his eyes fixed on the floor. 

He knew they were right to be concerned. What had been done to him was horrific, the scars still fresh and deep. Part of him didn't want the driver to go—wanted to lock him away and make him suffer as he had. 

But... 

"I..." He swallowed hard, his chest tight. "I-I don't want to be like them," he said finally. "I don't want to be cruel."

"There's a difference between cruelty and justice, Ruru," Danny said, putting a hand on Aron's shoulder. "There's a difference between being cruel and destroying those who are cruel to others."

Aron sighed, closing his eyes. 

He knew Danny was right. On some level, he craved revenge, craved the chance to make the driver suffer for what he'd been through. 

But he didn't want to stoop to their level, to become just like the people who had hurt him so much. 

"You're right," he murmured, his eyes opening to meet Danny's. "But it doesn't make it any easier. I just...don't want to be another monster."

"Think of it this way, Aron," Jordon said, nudging Aron's shoulder from where he stood beside him. "The Punisher cleans up the streets by killing and taking down the bad guys, right? Is he a monster?"

Aron considered this, his brow furrowing. 

The Punisher was a hero, someone who took down the bad guys with extreme prejudice. 

"No, he's not a monster," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. 

He hated to admit it, but the analogy was logical. If the world considered the Punisher a hero, then maybe getting rid of the driver wasn't monstrous. Maybe it was justice.

"But I..." he swallowed hard, the words like gravel in his throat. "I'd want him to suffer," he confessed, his voice almost too quiet to be heard. "I'd want him to feel just a fraction of what I've felt. I'd want him to hurt."

"That's not a bad thing," Danny said soothingly, stroking his thumb over Aron's shoulder. "That's the wolf in you. That's retribution."

Lex walked over to Aron, pushing Danny aside and taking the other Omega's hands in hers. 

"Aron, I'm pagan," she said. "And I worship the ancient Greek pantheon. In that pantheon there are two different goddesses, one named Themis and one named Nemesis."

She pulled Aron to sit at one of the tables, holding his hands gently. 

"Themis is the goddess of justice, divine and human. She is a goddess of laws and order and she punishes those that break those laws. But Nemesis? Nemesis is the goddess of Retribution. She is the divine balance between woe and joy. She metes out punishment just like Themis, but it isn't based on the law of the land, it's based on what is deserved. Themis would hand this man over to the authorities, who would bow to the church and let him go. Nemesis? Nemesis would feed him to her hellhounds and torture his soul in the Underworld for eternity for what he has done."

Aron's hands trembled in Lex's grip, her words sinking in. 

Nemesis... 

He had never thought of his desire for the driver to suffer as divine retribution. He had always considered it as a weakness, as a way he was no better than the people who had hurt him. But the way she explained it...

It sounded almost holy; his own vengeance a gift from a goddess who understood his pain and suffering. Something he deserved to have after what he had endured.

"Lady Nemesis is the embodiment of Retribution," Lex continued, her hands gentle as she held his. "And she blesses those that mete out vengeance and retribution in her holy name. She is a daughter of Nyx, the primordial Night, birthed not by the loins of another divine entity, but from the need of balance in the universe. Her and her sisters, the Furies, enact and mete out retribution upon those who have unbalanced the scales of the universe, but they also bless those that are deserving and need it. She is not cruel. She is balanced."

Aron's heart pounded in his chest, her words sparking something deep within him. He'd never heard of Nemesis before, but it felt oddly...comforting, knowing that there was a goddess who understood his need for vengeance. 

"How..." he struggled to find the right words. "How do I know if I'm worthy of her blessing?"

Lex nodded toward the driver, her eyes gentle and her smile soft. 

"What you choose to do here will not affect your worthiness," she said. "You have lived a hard life, your scales are imbalanced as they are now. She will bless you either way. But if you want to be her Hand in retribution? Then as her devotee, I would tell you that she has given you the perfect opportunity to mete out vengeance in her name."

The words sent a thrill down Aron's spine, the idea of being Nemesis's hand in retribution...

It felt empowering. Righteous. Validating. 

"If I do this...if I do this, will she...will she protect me?" He asked, his eyes wide. "Can she keep me safe?"

"The same way that she protects me," Lex said, certain and sure. "And the same way that Lady Artemis protects our Pack."

The idea of being under her goddess's protection gave him an odd sense of security. If he did this, he would be protected. 

Aron's gaze turned back to the man, his anger flaring once more. He wanted...he wanted to hurt this man. He wanted him to suffer for what he did. 

"I want her protection," he said quietly, his voice firm. "I want to enact her vengeance. For my...my scales to be balanced."

Danny put his hand on Aron's shoulder again, squeezing gently. 

"It's your call, Omega," he murmured. "We'll do what you tell us to. This man tried to kidnap you. He tried to take you from us, tried to bring you back to the church. It's your call. Do you still want us to let him go?"

Let him go.

The thought made his stomach churn. 

No. He deserves to suffer.

The words flashed through his mind, an instinct he'd never listened to before. But now, with Nemesis's blessing...

"No," he whispered, his voice barely audible. "I… I want him to suffer."

Danny nodded, looking at Lex gratefully. Lex smiled at Aron and put her hand on his cheek. 

"I just met you today, Aron, but you are a good man," she said. "Retribution doesn't make you evil or bad. It makes you Hers." Aron felt a strange sense of… validation at Lex's words. She didn't think he was bad or evil, that he was still a good person despite wanting the driver to suffer. He focused on Danny, his stomach clenching as Jorel moved to join them. The tension was thick, everything hanging on his order. 

"Jorel," Danny said, straightening and looking over at the other Alpha. "Dinner time."

"Of fuck yeah, finally!" Jorel growled, spinning to face the driver. "Don, gimme that BBQ sauce, I'm fucking starving."

"Do it," Aron said quietly, his gaze flickering between the two Alphas. "Make him suffer."

Don tossed the bottle of sauce over to Jorel as the driver started screaming and trying to scramble away. The werewolf stalked toward him, growling with fangs bared as drool started to gather at his lips. 

"Dibs on the legs," Jorel growled, opening the bottle. 

"Oh, are we calling parts? Fuck yeah, gimme that liver," Jordon said, shooting across the room to join Jorel. 

Danny knelt beside Aron, cupping his cheek and turning the Omega's head to look at him. 

"You're not gonna wanna see this, honey," he said gently. "They get messy."

Aron leaned into Danny's touch, his eyes locked on the driver.

"No, I want- I want to see it..." he said quietly, his hand reaching out to grasp at Danny's shirt. He was curious, wanting to see if the wolves would actually tear the guy apart the way he'd said. His heart was pounding, his breath ragged. "It's... It's okay... I want to see..."

"Well... Alright," Danny said, shrugging. "If you want to try some, you can have some, but you're gonna have to-"

"Hey, Aron, you want a piece of his kidney?" George asked, cracking his neck and joining Jordon and Jorel to surround the human. "I love kidneys. Taste like chicken."

"Bitch, you don't get both of his kidneys!" Lex said, standing up and sprinting over, barreling past her husband. "I want one!"

"Hey- hey! Lex! The fuck, watch it!" Dylan protested, following his wife.

Aron felt his heart rate climb, his breath coming in short, quick gasps. The guys were arguing over which pieces of meat they wanted and...

Aron's stomach growled, his mouth watering just imagining what it would be like. A voice, an ancient, animal part of his brain was screaming to get some for himself, to join them, to feast on the kill and mark his territory.

"I..." he swallowed hard, his tongue darting out to wet his dry lips. "I..." he paused, the words refusing to escape.

"You ever had human meat before?" Danny asked quietly, his own mouth watering. "After you left the band and went back to the church, we started getting a bit desperate to find you and... They kept sending people after us. It wasn't on purpose, we just kinda... Lost it one day. And since then, we've been eating whoever they send after us. It's easier to dispose of bodies like this."

Aron's eyes widened. Oh.

He hadn't realized they'd killed before, much less… eaten people. He didn't understand how he hadn't realized they'd done such a thing.

"I..." he started, his mind racing. Did he want to try it? "N-No, I haven't..." 

He paused, letting out a shuddering breath. "Have you?"

"Yeah," Danny breathed. "Just cultists, though. We don't hurt innocent people. Just the ones that come after us and try to take us back to the church."

Aron leaned into Danny, taking comfort in his presence. The Alpha was big and strong, warm and safe. He was everything Aron needed right now.

"Will it...Will it change me? If I do this?" he whispered, his hand still clenched in the front of Danny's shirt.

"You might get cravings, but no," Danny assured him. "It's natural for werewolves like us to do this, Ruru. We aren't monsters, this is just the food chain."

The first scream ripped through the bar as Jorel sank his jaws into the leg of the driver.

You might get cravings.

He almost shuddered at the thought. The idea of wanting to do this, of wanting to hunt, of wanting to tear flesh with his teeth...

He swallowed hard, his eyes glued on Jorel. He was a terrifying sight to behold--fangs gleaming and covered in blood, his eyes wild with bloodlust. But God, was it a beautiful sight.

"Danny..." Aron whispered, his hand gripping the other Alpha's shirt so it was a miracle it didn't tear. "Danny, I want..."

"Okay," Danny said, rubbing his hand over Aron's back. "Come on, then."

Chapter 9: Pray - put em in the dirt

Summary:

Aron has his first meal and gets a lesson in consequences.

Notes:

CONTENT WARNINGS: CANNIBALISM, GORE, BLOOD, VIOLENCE

Danny led Aron across the bar to the Pack crowded around the screaming human. 

"Back up," he said, snapping his jaws to get the more hungry wolves to listen and back up. "Ruru wants a taste.

Jorel tore a chunk of meat from the human's leg, growling as he backed up and chewed. 

"Fucker tastes like cough syrup," he complained after swallowing. The human was screaming, crying, holding his injured leg and cowering against the wall. Danny pressed a hand to Aron's back. 

"You want to take a bite or do you want me to get you a piece?" he asked softly.

Aron's heart was pounding, his breaths coming in harsh, ragged gasps. The scent of blood filled his nose and oh… He swallowed hard, his teeth itching in his gums. Every instinct in his body-- his inner Omega, his wolf --was urging him forward. He took a shuddering breath, a sound like a broken whimper escaping him as he stepped forward. He could feel the Pack surrounding him, Jorel's eyes on him, and for once, he didn't care. He was hungry.

Danny was about to ask again when Aron lunged, surprising him. Danny's eyes widened as Aron's jaws tore at the human's throat, blood pouring onto the wood of the bar floor as Aron ripped a hunk of flesh off. 

Danny's jaw dropped, his cock twitching in his jeans as he watched Aron eat and his legs almost gave out. 

"Holy fucking shit..." he whispered. 

The taste of flesh and blood, the coppery tang of it in Aron’s mouth, it was-- It was good . Aron growled, tearing away another chunk of meat, his hands stained with blood. He hadn't felt this alive before, the primal urge to feed and hunt thrumming through his veins. His packmates surrounded him, Jorel's eyes on him, the scent of satisfaction and approval coming from them. But one's attention stood out above the rest.

Danny's.

Danny took a shuddering breath before he reached out and pressed a hand to the back of Aron's neck, pulling him away from the dying human slightly. 

"Alright," he said, slightly wavering. "Have at it, guys."

The rest of the Pack fell on the human, eager for their pieces while he was still alive and full of blood. 

Danny knelt beside Aron, looking into his feral eyes as he swiped a thumb across his chin to gather some blood and licked his thumb clean. 

"Next time, avoid the jugular unless you're eating alone," he said quietly. "The meat spoils faster without blood in the body and if you're sharing, you gotta make sure everyone gets a good piece."

Aron growled low in his chest, his chin tilting up and his eyes narrowing. He felt feral, wild, high on blood and adrenaline. Danny's hand was warm on the back of his neck, controlling, and for once, he didn't care. He leaned into Danny's touch, a low whine escaping him as he licked at his lips. He could still taste the coppery tang of blood, and he craved it. 

"Danny," he croaked, his voice guttural and ragged. "Danny...I...need..."

"I know," Danny said soothingly. "I'm not stopping you, just giving everyone else a chance to get a bite, okay? Just give them-"

"Alpha, you want the heart like always?" George asked, raising his bloody hands, holding a kidney and a heart. Danny looked over and nodded. 

"Yeah, and the appendix if he still has one. Shit's good."

"Yeah, boss," George said, going back to dig through the body for the requested organ.

Aron shuddered, Danny's hand on his neck the only thing grounding him. The Pack was tearing into the body, ripping it apart, and the scent of blood was overwhelming. 

He could hear the sounds they made, feral snarls and guttural growls, and if it was any other situation, he'd shrink away, but...but not here. Not with Danny's hand on his neck. 

He leaned into the touch, his breaths coming in heavy and labored pants. He felt like he was dying from need, the hunger and desire and need. Lex was the first to leave the body, chewing on a kidney. Dylan soon followed with an arm, taking a bite out of it like a drumstick. 

Soon, Jorel had a leg in the corner, tearing into it and growling at anyone who got too close. George had a kidney and a thigh, Jordon had the other arm and the liver. 

George handed the heart and the appendix to Danny before moving over to a table. Even King Don got the calf from the thigh that George had taken. 

Danny sat back on his heels, letting go of Aron's neck. 

"Alright, Ruru, the rest is all yours," he said. "Since its your first real meal, you'll need to have more than the rest of us anyway."

The sight of everything being torn apart, ripped apart, made Aron's stomach flip. It...it shouldn't be appealing. The blood, the flesh, it should have made him sick. Instead...

Instead he found himself hungry.

Aron took the heart and the appendix, hesitating for a moment before he pressed a bloody finger into the heart. He lifted the finger to his mouth, wrapping his lips around his finger and sucking the blood off. It...it was good. 

No.

It was delicious. Danny's jaw dropped slightly, but instead of immediately getting defensive of his own portion and his own food, all he could think was...

Mate gets the best parts. 

He growled, trying to push those thoughts from his head. Aron wasn't his mate. Aron had made it clear that morning that anything he felt for Danny was just instincts - an Omega reacting to an Alpha. But God, Danny wanted to change that. 

"Do you... Do you want the heart?" he asked. Jorel and George's - both Alphas - heads shot up and they stared at Danny in surprise. Offering your food to another wolf was courtship, but they weren't sure if Aron knew that since he had been in the church and hadn't learned anything about wolf dynamics from Don like they had after he'd left the band.

Aron noticed the odd look George and Jorel gave Danny, but he was more focused on what Danny had said. He...was offering him the heart? 

Why? Aron paused for a moment, his finger slipping from his mouth. His omega was practically vibrating with pleasure, knowing that Danny was offering.

But...but he wasn't an idiot, and he had read enough fantasy werewolf romance novels in the past to know that an Alpha offering the best piece of the kill was like courtship in the stories, but he didn't think that was real. It wasn't really a thing, right?

He could hear his omega practically preening, demanding he accept the heart, begging him to let his Alpha show him just how good he could be. 

"Yes," he said quietly, his voice steady despite the overwhelming feeling of euphoria. He wanted that heart. 

Danny beamed and pressed the heart into Aron's hand immediately. He wasn't sure if Aron knew what he had just been offered, but Danny wasn't about to question it just yet. 

"It's high in iron," he said. "And protein and zinc and vitamin B." It was one of the most nutritional organs in the human body, really, but he felt like listing all of the nutritional aspects of eating human flesh would kill the mood.

"Thank you."

Aron's smile was soft, tentative. There was something in the way Danny beamed at him, something in the way the Alpha seemed almost proud to give him the heart, that made his omega howl in joy. 

Aron's gaze dropped to the heart in his hand before he leaned in, taking a bite out of it. The sound he made was almost obscene. It was so good, his eyes fluttering shut.

Danny bit his lip, his body tense as he watched Aron eat. His own hunger was forgotten for the moment as he just watched the other wolf feed. But then Dylan got too close to the ever food-aggressive Jorel and Jorel's answering snarl snapped Danny out of his daze. 

Danny stood, jogging over to the corner to break up the fight before it could get worse.

The fight between Jorel and Dylan was enough to pull him from the almost trance he'd been in while eating. His omega, however, was a bit miffed at the interruption. He'd been enjoying his Alpha's attention. Aron watched as Danny broke up the fight, his heart pounding. He could see how strong Danny was as he dragged Jorel and Dylan apart from one another.

Danny's powerful enough to pin me down with barely any effort, his omega whispered in the back of his mind. Danny snapped at Jorel, teeth clacking as he forced the aggressive Alpha back into his little corner. 

"Dylan, you know better than to get close to him when he's eating," he scolded, glaring at Dylan. 

"Sorry, I just wanted another bite of the body," Dylan said, ducking his head. Danny growled, walking over to the corpse and hauling it up, tossing it onto a table further away from Jorel. 

"I gave Aron my piece, let me get more before you take the rest of it," he muttered, digging a hand into the body to fish out a lung. It wasn't much or as nutritional as the heart, but it would do. Plus he still had the appendix.

Danny gave me his heart...

Aron found that he was unable to tear his gaze away as Danny dug into the body. The Alpha's powerful hands ripped at the flesh effortlessly, pulling out the lung with ease. 

He should be disgusted, sickened. He wasn't. Aron's omega was preening, filled with a sense of pride and satisfaction as he watched Danny provide and protect.

"Hey, boss man," George called from his spot. "What're we doing once we're done eating?"

Danny took a bite of the lung, tearing the thin tissue with his teeth as he considered. 

"We help Don clean up," he said, nodding to the pool of blood on the floor. "And then we head back to my house. I still have your shit there for when you guys stay over, so we can shower and change. Then we pick up Matt from the airport and start moving your families back to LA."

"Wait, what?" Jorel asked, head shooting up. "What are you talking about? Shouldn't we leave them where they are, ya know, away from the crazy church cult and the breeding program?" 

"You want to leave your mates and pups unprotected?" Danny asked, glaring at Jorel. Jorel bristled at the question, his pride as an Alpha wounded by Danny's words.

"Of course I don't!" he snapped. "But I also don't want to bring them into a city swarming with Cult members."

"As things are now, your mate is alone in Oklahoma, Jorel," Danny snapped, glaring at him. "And George and Jordon's mates and kids are alone in Tennessee. We need to be together, not separated. It was a bad idea for you all to move across the country to begin with, but I didn't stop you because I didn't want to control your lives. But this? They just tried to kidnap Aron right in front of us, imagine what they would do if they find out your fiancé is alone!"

Aron bit back a whimper, his omega bristling as he listened to Danny and Jorel argue. 

He couldn't disagree with Danny's reasoning though. It was better for them to be together. Their family was stronger and safer that way. And, as much as he hated to admit it, Danny was the strongest and most capable Alpha in the pack. He was the most powerful fighter. 

Danny will keep us safe, his omega decided with finality.

"Is your house even big enough for all of us to stay with you?" Dylan asked nervously. 

"I have six unused bedrooms, a big ass living room, and a basement," Danny said firmly. "If that's not enough room, we can make room. Besides, Aron's already staying with me and we were going to go to Costco to get him new furniture anyway. We have the money between us all from the merch and touring that we can refurnish my entire fucking house and it wouldn't be an issue."

"You'd let us fuck with your basement, then?" George asked. "Cuz my girls need their privacy. Ava's 16, she can't be sharing rooms with a bunch of kids."

"Yeah, James is like 12, he's just starting puberty," Jordon said worriedly.

Aron's anxiety was spiking, his omega reacting to the tension in the air. He knew all the guys were worried, and he really couldn't blame them. It was a lot to up and move their families, to bring them into a new home, leaving their own behind. 

But Danny was right. 

Danny's always right, Aron's omega assured him. Danny was a good Alpha. A strong, capable leader who would always put his pack first. They'd be fine as long as they were with him.

"Look, I know it's a lot," Danny said, trying to calm everyone down. "But with six bedrooms and a basement the size of the entire first floor, we can easily put up walls in the basement and make new rooms. We can convert the attic into a lost too, so Ava can have privacy. We can make this work, I promise."

"And you think all of us in one house will keep them safe?" Jorel asked, finally standing and tossing the leg he had been eating on the ground, the meat gone cold. "What if they find out where you live? What then? Where will we go then?"

"They won't," Danny said calmly. "But if my house becomes unsafe, then we have the resources to find somewhere else. Hell, Jorel, we could all move to your ranch in Oklahoma. The only reason I'm suggesting we stay in LA is so that we can take down the breeding facility here and keep our families safe at the same time."

Aron wanted to add his own two cents but held his tongue. Jorel had always taken a more cautious approach to the whole cult situation. Aron could understand his hesitation, but Danny had a point. With multiple people, they'd be better equipped to handle any situation, and it would be easier to keep the pack's kids safe.

But Danny was the leader, and his word was final. That was what Aron's omega focused on. Not even Jorel questioned Danny's decisions. The thought made him shiver.

"Danny..." George said quietly. "What... What about Reese and Roman?" 

Danny stiffened at the mention of his ex-wife and son, turning his head away and shutting his eyes. His fists clenched at his sides. It was time to come clean. 

"They're... They're safe," he said slowly. "They won't be in danger."

"How do you know?" Jorel asked. "You're forcing us to move our kids in with you, but you won't even move your own?"

"I can't," Danny snapped angrily. "Reese took Roman and moved to fucking Europe, okay? I haven't seen him in two years!"

There was a long, chilling silence. 

Danny never talked about his family, he was always vague and avoided the subject, but now they knew why. 

Aron's omega was on edge, wanting to reach out to the emotional Alpha, comfort him, but he didn't know how. Danny was normally so strong, so in control. This vulnerability was new. Danny took a breath, trying to calm down. 

"They're safe," he repeated. "Roman's safe. Reese is... Reese is with her new husband and he's a good step-dad to Roman. That's... That's all I ever asked of her in the divorce. Just keep him safe. And that's what she's doing."

Aron was stunned. He knew Danny hadn't wanted to get married the first time, that he'd only done it cause he'd knocked up his high school sweetheart and didn't want to be viewed as trash. But he hadn't expected that.

"You...never see him," he said softly. "But you still pay for him. For their life in Europe."

Of course he does. 

Danny was a good alpha, a good male. He wouldn't abandon them, even after the divorce. Even if they left him behind.

"Yes," Danny muttered. "Alimony wasn't ordered by the court, but I send them money every month. The reason I'm not as well off as the rest of you is because I send most of it to Reese and Roman."

George grimaced, looking guilty. 

"Jesus, and here I thought it was because you were just bad at money," he muttered. 

"Dan... When were you gonna tell us?" Jordon asked, sounding hurt that Danny had kept this from them for so long. 

"I wasn't... I wasn't trying to hide it from you guys, I just... I didn't want to be reminded that I'm a failure of a father and husband when all of you are doing so fucking well in your relationships," Danny said.

Failure.

The word shocked Aron. Danny, fail? Impossible. 

"You're not a failure," he said softly. "You were a great husband, and an outstanding father, and you have been for years!" He paused, a strange idea creeping into his head, one that wasn't entirely his own, coming from somewhere deep in his subconscious. He felt his cheeks flush, knowing it was a dumb idea, but his omega pushed him anyway.

"I bet... I bet you're a pretty good mate too," Aron blurted. He knew it was stupid the second the words left his mouth, but he also knew it wasn't a lie. Sure, Danny was married, but he wasn't claimed. Not by his wife, or anyone else. 

You could claim him, a sly voice in his mind said, his omega pushing him, he'd be good to you.

Danny looked over at Aron with a twist in his chest, an almost pained look on his face. I could be such a good mate to you, if you'd let me, he wanted to say, but he didn't. He couldn't. 

"Yeah, Aron's right," Jordon said, stepping up to Danny and putting a hand on his shoulder. "Reese was a lying, cheating bitch. You're not the one who failed, she is."

Jorel came up on Danny's other side and grabbed his other shoulder, giving a comforting squeeze to both. 

"She's the one who cheated on you and ran out on Roman," Jorel said softly. "And you're sending them money for Roman. Dude. You're not a bad father. You're a fucking great one."

Danny's hands were shaking and he took a hesitant, shuddering breath. Slowly, he nodded. It was a little hard to reconcile the image he made now, emotional and shaking, with the one a few minutes ago where he had been interrogating a human and ripping out organs to eat with his bare hands. 

"Thanks, guys," he mumbled. "I just... I just want everyone to be safe. Can we... Can we just make sure everyone is safe? Please?"

"Yeah," Jorel said finally, nodding. "Yeah, your plan is a good one, Dan. I'll call Erin and have her fly in."

"I'll have Randi bring the boys," Jordon said easily. 

"Asia and the girls can be here in a few days," George supplied, nodding.

Aron was the last to step forward, coming to a stop in front of Danny. He wanted to hug him again, to hold him and let him know everything would be alright. 

You could hold him, his omega whispered, you could kiss him . 

His face burned hotter, embarrassment filling his chest. Stop, he scolded it. Stop telling me these things. He cleared his throat awkwardly, looking up at Danny and forcing a small smile.

Danny looked down at Aron, at the Omega he had given a human heart to, his food to, and swallowed hard. 

"Thank you, Ruru," he said quietly. "I... I needed to hear all that."

Aron's heart thudded in his chest, a warm flush of pride spreading over him at the thanks. 

"No need to thank me," he mumbled. "I'm just saying what's true."

His eyes flickered to Danny's neck, and he couldn't help but feel his omega rear back.

You could claim him. He'd be good to you. 

He swallowed, forcing the stupid thoughts away.

Danny hesitated for just a moment longer before stepping forward and wrapping his arms around the Omega. He didn't care that they were both covered in blood, he didn't care that they still had shit to do and things to talk about as a Pack. He was just glad that Aron was okay. 

"I was so fucking scared," Danny whispered hoarsely. "When I heard you scream and I came outside and you were being shoved into that car, I was so fucking scared, Aron, I-"

Aron melted into Danny's touch, burying his face in his chest and breathing in his scent. Danny smelled like pine trees and musk and Danny. He inhaled, his eyes closing as a shudder of relief went through him. He'd been so scared in those woods, but now, in Danny's arms, he felt safe again. Secure. Whole.

"I was scared too," he said softly. "I don't-" he stopped, his throat tight. "I don't wanna go through that again."

"As cute as this is, we gotta start cleaning this shit up," Jorel said, gesturing to the body they had eaten from and the blood on the floor. 

"How do you get blood off of wood?" Dylan asked, frowning. Lex patted her husband's arm with an indulgent smile. 

"You deal with the body, Papi, let me handle the floors," she said. Danny let go of Aron reluctantly, stepping back and nodding, sniffing.

"Right. Yeah, we got... We got shit to do. Alright, all hands on deck, let's make this bar fucking spotless for King Don!" Danny said loudly.

"Yes, Alpha!" Jordon and George said in unison, saluting and then heading to the back room to find the cleaning supplies. Jorel patted Danny's arm again and headed over to help Dylan with the body. Aron watched the others bustle around him, each with a sense of purpose and confidence. He couldn't help but feel a little useless, standing idly by and waiting for people to give him orders. It wasn't anyone's fault but his own. He was the one who always tried to fight his omega instincts. 

He has a point, you know, his brain taunted him. You're just a useless omega. You're good for nothing.

"Hey, Aron, come over here and help me with this," Lex called, waving the other Omega over to her. "Lemme teach you how to get blood out of hardwood!"

Aron's attention jerked to Lex, and the command, however benign, had him moving before he could think twice. 

His omega instincts pulled him towards her, obeying another Omega's call with no hesitation. 

He stopped in front of her, giving a small, nervous smile. "Y-Yeah?" he asked. "What do you need me to do?"

Lex grinned, holding up a bottle of bleach and a scrub brush as she started explaining the ins and outs of clean up after a Pack meal. 

Danny smiled, watching Lex effortlessly reintegrate Aron into the Pack like he'd never been gone for a decade, even though she hadn't been around when he'd been with them before. She was a good person. He'd have to remember to thank her. 

As they all worked, Don made calls for them, calling the wives and making travel plans. He even called Aron's old rap group, the same ones that Danny had called the night before to help him get Aron out of the cult controlled apartment he had been living in. Don called them to make sure they were aware of the cult coming after Aron, but didn't give details because they were humans and didn't know about werewolves. It took several hours, but eventually the body had been disposed of and the bar was clean.

Aron's arms ached and his head throbbed. They'd spent hours cleaning, and while it had been exhausting, the omega had been glad to be given something to do. 

"That everything?" he asked, his voice weary. God, he was tired. All he wanted to do was bury himself in a soft bed and sleep for a week.

"Just about," Danny replied, tossing the last of the rags they'd used to clean into the fire they'd started in a trash can behind the bar, taking out the evidence. 

"Any word on when Matt lands?" Dylan asked. 

"He should be here in another hour," Jorel said, checking his phone. "We have time to head back to Danny's and change so we don't show up to an airport to pick him up covered in blood."

"Let's get going then," Danny said, stretching. "Don, you good here?"

"Yeah, you guys head home, I'll finish up," Don replied. "Take care and keep me in the loop."

"Will do, thanks, man," Danny said, shaking the older wolf's hand. King Don had given them all a place to be themselves when they'd been kids in the Scientology cult, had been a surrogate parent to all of them over the decades. He was grateful that even after all this time, he still had a place for them.

Aron yawned, exhaustion weighing down every bone in his body. All the adrenaline from the kidnapping had long since faded, leaving him feeling like he'd been hit by a truck. 

His eyes flickered over to Danny, an unexpected wave of anxiety hitting him. He wanted to go back to his house. He wanted to feel that feeling of safety he got in Danny's place. He wanted Danny nearby. 

The thought hit him like a ton of bricks. He was clingy.

Danny, oblivious to Aron's inner thoughts, unlocked the 7 seater Range and helped Aron into the front passenger seat as the others all piled into the back. He got into the driver's seat and started the car, pulling out of the small parking lot of King Don's Bar and heading back toward his house. 

"I'm fucking stuffed," Jorel complained from the back. "Man, I could hardly finish that leg. He had so much fat!"

"Shouldn't have gone for the entire leg," George said, chuckling as he texted Asia on his phone. "That's why I just took the thigh and a kidney."

"Guys, try not to get blood on the seats, please, I just had her detailed," Danny sighed from the front.

Aron felt his eyes flutter, his head lolling against the window as the others talked around him. He was so tired, his mind starting to shut down a little bit. 

He was half-asleep by the time Danny's house came into view. He had no idea how he was going to get up the stairs to the garage apartment, but that was a problem for future Aron.

Danny pulled into the garage and parked, everyone piling out of the Range and up toward the door to the house. Danny paused, looking over at Aron. He smiled slightly and slipped out of the car, going around to the other side and opening the door. 

He unbuckled Aron's seatbelt and before the sleepy Omega could protest, he pulled him up into his arms. Danny carried Aron into the house, ignoring the others as they all started arguing over who got to shower first and where. 

"There are five bathrooms," he said over his shoulder. "The clothes I keep for you guys when you come visit are in the closet in the last room on the left."

Danny carried Aron up the stairs and didn't even bother going to Aron's room - it was still not set up since they'd spent all day dealing with the shit at King Don's and picking up everyone from the airport. He instead went into his own room and carried Aron to the bathroom.

This...this was what Aron had been craving for twelve years. Danny's arms around him, the Alpha's intoxicating scent filling his senses. He buried his face in Danny's neck, his nose pressed to the sensitive skin, his lips brushing against the pulse point at Danny's throat. 

A shiver raced down his spine, his instincts begging him to just sink his teeth into Danny's flesh, to Claim him.

Danny set Aron on the bathroom counter and started pulling off his bloody clothes gently. He was careful, making sure that he didn't pull too hard on any of the places where the blood was sticking the clothes to Aron's skin. 

The shirt and jeans that Danny had lent to Aron that morning were ruined, so he just tossed them onto the floor to deal with later. When Aron was undressed, Danny turned on the faucet and the warm water and took a washcloth from the cupboard. He wetted it and started cleaning the blood off of Aron's body gently. 

"You did really good today," he murmured. "I'm so proud of you. You had your first real meal as a werewolf after decades of being one. I'm so proud of you, Ruru. You were so brave and strong today."

Aron shivered as the warm cloth danced over his skin, goosebumps covering his body that had nothing to do with the temperature of the water. Danny's voice was low and soothing, his words washing over him like a caress. 

He felt...safe. Protected. Treated with care and reverence. 

It was a sharp contrast to the years he'd spent in Scientology, where every aspect of his life had been controlled. He'd been denied food for days at a time and thrown in isolation. 

But not here. And certainly not with Danny.

"Thank you for letting us kill that guy," Danny said. "I know Lex talking about Nemesis and gods and shit can sound real crazy sometimes, but she's right. Justice isn't the same as retribution. Thank you for letting us take retribution on the one that tried to kidnap you."

Aron bit his lip, his gaze dropping to the floor. 

He'd always thought his need for revenge had been a weakness, a desire that showed he was just as monstrous as the people who had hurt him. 

Lex had said it differently. She had called it retribution, a gift from Nemesis to reward him for his suffering. 

His brain was still trying to wrap itself around the idea that his desire for vengeance was an instinctual reaction to being an omega.

"We learned a lot about being werewolves after you left," Danny continued quietly, moving his ministrations from Aron's arms to his chest. "There's a lot to it, you know. Hierarchy, Pack dynamics, respect - all that sure. But there's a spiritual part to it too. We don't really do much in the way of spiritual shit, but Lex does and so does Dylan since he married her. But the majority of werewolves believe in the old gods. Like, the old old gods - Greek, Norse, Mesopotamian."

Danny shifted, rinsing the blood from the cloth in the sink before returning to wipe more from Aron's abdomen. 

"Sometimes I give offerings to Selene," he continued, shrugging. "Usually on the full moons when I shift though. I've been looking into Nemesis and Dionysus recently."

Aron's breath hitched as Danny wiped the blood from his abdomen. The cloth was warm and soft, his touch light but sure. 

His eyes widened at Danny's words. 

Offering.

His mind immediately went back to the church, the years spent praying and pleading and begging for something good to happen.

But what if it had been a goddess he should have been praying to, instead of an imaginary man in the sky?

"An...offering,” he repeated carefully. 

His mind flitted to images of animal sacrifices, of burnt food and drink, and chants in the night. None of it sounded like him, not really. But maybe... Maybe he could give Nemesis something she would appreciate.

"Yeah, just small stuff," Danny said, shrugging. "Usually a set it up before the moon rises so I don't get interrupted by shifting. I give Selene honeyed milk and bread usually, but this last month I gave her some fried chicken because I was out of bread and I swear it was the easiest transformation I've ever had."

"An offering of food..."

An image of a woman flitted through Aron's mind; pale skin, long black hair, lips painted a sharp red. 

She was beautiful, her features sharp and angular. The dress she wore was made from black silk, one long arm draped gracefully over the back of a lounge couch. 

His thoughts trailed back to earlier, when he was waiting for Danny and Lex to return.

A goddess who punished men for their hubris.

"And...you felt better afterwards? When you gave an offering?"

"Oh, for sure," Danny replied, nodding as he moved his cleaning efforts to Aron's legs. "And the nice part about Greek gods is that the offerings can be anything as long as it's done with intent."

Danny wiped the blood from Aron's thighs and calves carefully, taking his time and trying to keep his mind focused on the task and not the feeling of the Omega's skin under his palms.

"Anything..."

Aron's heart skipped a beat, his thoughts racing. 

It was a concept he'd never considered before. In the church, it had always been prayers and pleasing Sky Daddy, which had always fallen flat. 

But a goddess... 

She would listen to offering; things given freely in exchange for favors. 

But what did an omega werewolf have to offer to a Goddess of Retribution?

"Anything," Danny repeated. "Lex gives Nemesis flowers she finds on the side of the road. It's adorable. One time she had the tour bus pull over so she could pick fucking dandelions."

Aron managed a small laugh at the mental image of Lex picking dandelions from a dirt patch by the side of the road. 

It was endearing, a bit ridiculous, and adorable. 

Danny's words played on a loop in his head, the thought of giving something other than prayers for the first time in almost twenty years making him feel oddly lightheaded. 

"And it actually works?”

"Oh, yeah," Danny said, nodding. "Lex and Nemesis are super close. She gets her prayers answered all the time, it's fucking nuts."

Danny wiped the blood from Aron's calf and rewet the cloth. He started on the other leg.

Answered prayers.

The thought was almost alien to him, so foreign that it made him feel almost daring; as if he could ask for anything and it would be granted.

Please. Let me kiss Danny.

He shook the thought off, his eyes narrowing. 

Not like that.

He shouldn't ask for something for himself. Only a selfish fool would ask that of a Goddess. Danny glanced up at Aron, making sure he was still awake. He paused. Aron looked... different. Good, but... different. 

"That human meat really did wonders for you," Danny murmured in amazement. Aron's perpetual dark circles were gone, his normally sallow skin rosier and healthier looking. Danny straightened, tossing the towel away and into the sink. He swallowed.

Aron's cheeks warmed, his gaze flickering to the mirror, to his reflection. 

Danny was right; he did look better. The bags under his eyes were gone, the colour in his cheeks no longer pale, but flushed. The change was almost startling. 

"I feel...better," he admitted, his gaze returning to Danny. 

"Stronger."

"I swear to god if all the health issues you've ever had over the last twenty years were because you weren't eating human meat..." Danny said, shaking his head in amazement. 

"I remember my first time eating it after you left the band and I replaced you as singer. I felt like I could bench an elephant. Me and Jorel and George started going to the gym literally the next day and we all lost so much weight that we had gained from drinking."

"Wait-"

Aron's eyes bulged, his jaw going slack as the puzzle pieces clicked into place. All those years of struggling, the doctors' visits, the exhaustion… It all made sense now. He hadn't been getting the nutrients he needed, hadn't had the right sustenance. 

It was almost laughably obvious now.

"Yeah, Ruru, we're wolves," Danny said, putting a wet hand on Aron's cheek. "Humans are our natural food source. Of course, we gotta be ethical about it, we can't just go around eating everyone and their fuckin' mother, but those bastards that the cult sends after us? Free game. Jorel calls them DoorDash."

Aron leaned into Danny's touch, his eyes fluttering shut, a wave of exhaustion washing over him. 

"We're monsters," he breathed, his voice barely a whisper; almost reverential. It was in his nature to hunt, to kill and devour. 

There was something... liberating about the thought.

"No," Danny murmured, leaning a bit closer. "We eat the monsters."

He couldn't help himself, stroking Aron's cheek. The memory of the night before, fucking Aron like his life depended on it, that morning and Aron's rejection, then their passionate kiss at the bar when Danny had won Aron's kiss as a prize for winning pool... He couldn't help himself anymore.

Danny leaned forward and pressed his lips to Aron's, soft and chaste, and the only thing that went through Aron's mind was Nemesis works fast.

She heard me.

The thought flashed through his head, his heart thundering in his chest. Danny's kiss was gentle, so different from the rough passion of the night before, and it made something twist in Aron's stomach, an odd fluttery warmth that made his head spin. He reached up, his arms circling Danny's neck as he deepened the kiss.

She answered me.

Danny's hand slipped into Aron's hair, his other arm wrapping around the Omega's waist as Danny stepped between Aron's bare legs. Danny was still covered in blood, his clothes soaked with it. He had been so focused on cleaning Aron that he hadn't even considered his own bloody state after dealing with the driver of the SUV that had tried to kidnap Aron from the bar and the subsequent meal that the Pack had made of him. 

But he didn't care. 

Right now, all he cared about was how Aron tasted better than he had the night before, how he tasted less like too much sugar and energy drinks and more like peppermint and sweetened milk.

Aron didn't care, either. He didn't care that Danny was covered in blood, or that he was probably getting some on him as well. He just needed this, craved it. 

He pressed himself up against Danny as best he could, his legs spreading to wrap around his hips, bringing them even closer together. He nipped at the Alpha's bottom lip, his head spinning at the familiar taste.

Danny slanted his mouth over Aron's, pressing his tongue into the Omega's mouth almost urgently. His hand on Aron's back slid up and then down again, fingers dipping under the waistband of Aron's underwear at the back. 

"Fuck," Danny muttered against his mouth, lapping a Aron's cheek and cleaning a bit of the blood that he had missed earlier off.

Aron gasped at the touch, his skin sensitive, every nerve ending on fire. It was insane how just one touch could flip a switch in him, make his body come alive and burn. 

"God, Danny-" he arched into the touch, craving it. "Please-"

He could feel himself getting hard in his underwear, the fabric suddenly too tight. One hand fisted itself in Danny's blood-soaked hair; his claws digging into the Alpha's scalp.

Danny growled quietly, dipping his head to Aron's neck and mouthing at the unmarked scent gland there.

"Aron," he groaned, his nose filling with Aron's raw scent and the lingering scent of blood and food. He slid his hands down to Aron's thighs, spreading them wider. "Fuck, why do I keep fucking doing this to myself? You said it's just fucking instincts for you, but it's not for me and I can't keep fucking doing this-"

A loud knock on Danny's bedroom door echoed through the room and Danny jerked away, breathing hard. He stared at Aron for a minute before he rushed out of the bathroom and across the bedroom to answer the door and leaving Aron sitting on the bathroom counter.

Aron let out a frustrated whine as Danny pulled away, the cold air assaulting his skin, making him shiver. He clenched his thighs together, his head thrown back against the mirror as he panted, trying to think. But it was hard when his brain was screaming at him to drag Danny back to the bathroom and shove his head between his thighs. 

A whimper tore from his throat as Danny left the bathroom, the knock at the door going right through his already ragged nerves, and he bit down on his own hand to muffle another needy sound.

Danny ripped the bedroom door open, breathing hard. 

"What?" he asked. 

"Matt's plane lands soon," George, freshly showered, said, glancing behind the still bloody Danny toward the bathroom. "We need to pick him up.

"Fuck," Danny cursed, digging through his pocket and shoving the car keys into George's hand. "I-I haven't showered, I can't. Go get him - take the Jag. Be careful."

"Yeah, sure," George muttered, frowning. "You okay?" 

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, just fucking fine," Danny replied before shutting the door in George's face and thudding his head against it with a sigh.

Of course. It made sense to go get Matt first, but the interruption just frustrated Aron more. He wanted to scream. He slid off the bathroom counter, his knees shaking as he stumbled forward and opened the door to the bedroom. As soon as he saw Danny, it was as if something short circuited. A strange, primal feeling washed over him at the sight of the blood all over him. The smell of pine and fresh earth suddenly seemed stronger in the air, mixing with the scent of blood and sweat to create something entirely new.

Danny turned his head to look at Aron standing in the bathroom doorway. He was just in his underwear and there was still blood in his hair, but Danny had gotten most of it off his body. He was gorgeous and Danny had to shut his eyes. 

"You should shower," he said hoarsely. "Your room has a bathroom connected - you should go shower."

He could see the way Danny's nostrils flared, inhaling more of his scent. It was as if the Alpha was barely holding himself back. 

Aron bit his bottom lip, his own instincts on full display. He was being pulled toward the other man, compelled by biology to be closer to him. 

"Are you coming?"  He asked without thinking. The words were meant as an invitation.

Danny's fist clenched on the door and he forced himself away from it and toward the closet across the room. 

"No," he said, trying to keep his voice steady. "I have my own shower."

Danny's resistance only made his instincts stronger. He could feel the urge to submit beginning to rise up inside him. 

He wanted to get on his knees and bare his throat, offering himself up to the Alpha. 

"I could go to your room and wait for you," he suggested, the words spilling out before he could stop them.

"Aron, stop," Danny pleaded, almost sounding broken. His head dropped, his back turned to Aron. "I... I can't keep doing this. Last night, I thought you wanted me, I thought that you wanted me the way that I want you, but this morning you said it was just instincts. You said it was... You said it was just your Omega instincts and I... I can't keep getting my goddamn hopes up. So, no. No, don't wait for me in my room, don't... Just... Just go. Please."

Aron froze, instantly sobering. Those words... That pain in Danny's voice. It was like a knife to the gut. 

"Danny..." he began, his voice small as reality set in. 

He had spent thirteen years in love with Danny, silently pining after him from the sidelines. And now that he actually had him within reach, he was letting his own fears and insecurities push him away.

Danny took a shaking breath, his shoulders and hands trembling. He'd given Aron the heart of the man they had killed for him. Danny had given the best piece of the kill to Aron, hoping that he would understand the gesture, but he'd been wrong. He'd been a fool.

"Just go, Aron," Danny pleaded. "Please."

Anger. Despair. Heartbreak. They all swirled together in Aron's chest, tearing him apart like feral beasts tearing their prey. 

He'd ruined it. He'd ruined it. 

He stumbled back, his legs trembling too hard to hold him up properly as he slumped against the wall. All he could see was Danny; the one person he had wanted for so long, now lost to him because of his own cowardice. Because he was too weak to just tell Danny the truth.

He needed to get away. He pushed himself off the wall and almost stumbled into his bedroom, shutting the door behind him so hard the hinges creaked. He was angry with himself. He was hurt and frustrated and confused but most of all he was furious with himself.

Chapter 10: Nightmare

Summary:

Danny has two very important talks - neither go the way he wanted.

As soon as Aron was out of his bedroom, Danny collapsed onto his knees with a strangled sob. He'd tried so hard. He'd done everything he could. He'd been kind to Aron when they'd run into each other after 13 years of Aron being absolute bastard to him, he'd gotten him out of that cult controlled apartment, he'd held him through meltdowns and stood up to his stupid old rap friends about using his old stage name, he'd given Aron a place to stay and live, he'd protected him, he'd killed for him, he'd given him the heart of the man that had tried to kidnap him... And it wasn't enough. It would never be enough. 

Danny felt like his entire heart was breaking, shattering, obliterated. He stripped off his bloody clothes and climbed into the shower, sobbing under the noise of the hot water to hide his agony from the others in the house.

The sound of the shower made Aron ache. 

He threw himself down on the bed, burying his face in the pillow to muffle the sob that clawed its way out of his throat. How foolish he'd been, thinking his instincts were to blame for his urge to seek Danny out, when it had always truly been his heart, leading him to the one man he had always secretly loved.

It took hours for Danny to stop crying, long after the water had gone cold and he had surely been tagged for a fine from the California Water Distribution Department. But he didn't care. He was clean and he had cried until the tears had stopped. By the time Danny had finally gotten dressed in a pair of sweats and a loose t-shirt, George had come back with Matt and there was news from the others that the wives would be there the next day. 

Danny pushed Aron from his mind, forcing himself to focus on prepping the house to hold upwards of 17 people - including kids. They needed furniture for the unfinished bedrooms, they needed room assignments, they needed to finish the basement, they needed to get groceries and supplies, they needed vehicles. 

Danny came downstairs and hugged Matt, but then immediately started barking orders. He sent Matt and Jordon in the Jag to find some trucks, he sent Dylan in the Range with Lex to get beds, and he had George and Jorel help him start moving things out of storage in the basement to make room.

Aron spent his day helping out as much as he could, his omega instincts demanding that he make a den for the pack. He had never been good at interior design or decorating, but he made himself useful as best as he was able. He helped put together chairs, desks, and even helped pick out some of the furniture. 

But he didn't see Danny much. The Alpha was avoiding him, his actions cold and professional. Aron tried not to think much of it, but found his heart clenching a little every time Danny brushed past him without so much as a glance.

If anyone noticed the sudden distance between Danny and Aron, no one mentioned it. Maybe because they were too busy, maybe because they knew better. Either way, the day ended with most of the basement being cleaned out and at least one bed in every bedroom upstairs being finished and put together. 

Danny let the others handle the busy work for a moment, sitting at the kitchen table with his computer and a floorplan of the house pulled up as he started working on room assignments. He had to make sure that everyone had their space, that everyone had enough privacy, that the kids had enough room and were safe - It was so much. 

It was obvious that the couples would share rooms, which he was grateful for. It basically cut the amount of space needed in half. There were seven bedrooms total in the house, two of which were occupied by Danny and Aron. The other five could be given to the couples - George and Asia, Jorel and Erin, Jordon and Randi, and Dylan and Lex. That left Matt as the only adult without a room, but Danny wouldn't mind sharing his with the Beta. They'd been roommates for a while back in the day. As Aron helped put together a bookshelf in one of the upstairs bedrooms, he tried not to focus on Danny. He tried so hard to ignore his instincts telling him to find the Alpha, to make sure he was pleased and to know that he was safe. 

His omega was an idiot , he thought dryly. But it didn't change the way his chest ached as he worked, the way he found himself constantly looking up to see if Danny was nearby.

Danny rubbed his eyes. There were six kids that needed rooms too, and the basement could be converted into maybe four. He didn't mind putting Chloe and Madelyn together since they were young and sisters, but Ava was 16, James was 14, and Marley was 16. They needed their own spaces. So that left Jack having to share with two girls, one of which was 5. He might be able to get away with putting Marley and Ava together, being both girls and the same age, but he wasn't sure if they got along. 

Maybe he should think about converting the studio into a bedroom instead. They needed it for recording, sure, but Pack safety came first. He'd have to move all the equipment out and it might be better to have Madelyn up in the main house with the adults anyway since she was so little...

"Hey." Jorel's voice made Danny look up, his expression guarded and closed. "Everyone wants to order some pizzas. Do you know what you want?"

Jorel looked at Danny for a moment, studying him with a frown. "...you okay, man?"

Danny rubbed his eyes with the heels of his hands. 

"Yeah, yeah, I'm fine," he muttered. "Uh... Just... Just cheese I guess. And a Coke."

"You've been glued to your laptop for hours," Jorel pointed out, crossing his arms over his chest. 

He looked around, noticing that Aron wasn't in the room. "I haven't seen Aron all day either. What happened between you two?"

Danny sighed. He had told Jorel everything at the airport that morning, so he knew that the other Alpha would understand. But saying it out loud...

"I kissed him again," Danny muttered. "In my bathroom after cleaning him up. And... And then George interrupted and I came to my fucking senses and I told Aron that if what he feels for me is just instincts... I can't do it. So I sent him away and I haven't talked to him since."

Jorel winced for his friend, sympathy flashing in his dark eyes. 

He knew how much Danny had wanted Aron for years, but it sucked that this was the way it was all happening.

"Can't say I blame you," he finally said. "I wouldn't be able to handle that either."

"I just... I can't keep putting my heart on the line if all he feels for me is instinctive Omega and Alpha shit," Danny said, voice strained and hoarse as he rested his head in his hands. "I can't keep doing this man, I've been holding a fucking torch for this guy for twenty years, even when I was married."

Jorel winced again, his shoulders slumping. 

He felt for his friend, having been on the receiving end of Aron's attention himself once upon a time. 

"I don't know what to tell you," he said, his voice quiet. "It sucks, but... But you have to do what's right for you. You can't keep hurting yourself to keep someone else happy."

Danny sighed again, ragged and exhausted. 

"I know," he whispered. "I just... I love him so fucking much, Jorel, I don't know how to not love him."

Jorel let out a long breath, his expression sympathetic again. 

"No, I get it," he said, glancing back over his shoulder to make sure none of the kids were nearby. "But... But I think you have to start thinking about doing what's right for you. And if that means distancing yourself from him..."

He paused, his eyes returning to Danny. "You might have to accept that he's never going to love you back."

Distracting himself from Aron... That had been his entire relationship with Reese, and look where that had gotten him. An ex-wife and a son that he never saw because she'd taken him to fucking Europe. 

"Yeah," he sighed. "You're right. I just need a distraction. Here, look at this with me. You think we can fit two of the kids up in the attic if we convert it to a loft?"

Danny turned the laptop toward Jorel, trying to find that distraction.

Jorel studied the room, squinting as he tried to imagine what they could do to make it liveable. 

"I mean, maybe?" he said with a shrug. "We can't do Marley and Ava though. That room's too small."

He pointed at the space. "I'd say Jack and Madelyn, but the only issue is that she's so little."

"You think we could convert it to a recording space then? Turn the studio we have now into another bedroom?" Danny suggested, leaning back as he tried to force his brain away from Aron. Jorel hummed, leaning back beside him. 

"That's not a bad idea. We'd have to move everything from the studio though. And soundproofing the attic would be hell. But... It could work."

"We'd have to put AC up there, so that the computers don't overheat," Danny muttered. "Maybe this was a bad idea, fitting 17 fucking people in one house..."

Jorel huffed out a laugh, shaking his head. 

"Yeah, we might be biting off more than we can chew here, but... I feel like it might be worth it in the end?"

"I hope so," Danny muttered. He ran a hand through his hair, frowning at the floorplans. 

"Maybe... Actually, what about that fuckin' pool shed that's connected to the back of the house? It's indoors, ventilated, has AC, and it's a pretty decent size."

Jorel sat up, his eyes brightening. "Yeah? You think we can fit some beds in there. Maybe a couch or two, a table?"

He leaned back, eyes glued to the plans. "How many rooms do we need? Marley and Ava need their own but... Jack and Madelyn could probably share..."

"Chloe could probably share with Jack and Madelyn could have her own since she's the youngest and I don't think a ten year old boy wants to share a room with a five year old girl," Danny said, sitting forward to zoom in on the pool shed. 

"If we make this into a little room for Maddie, she'd be closer to the grown ups and safer, too."

Jorel hummed, nodding in agreement. "Yeah, I just don't want them to feel like we're playing favorites even if we are."

He glanced at Danny, grinning. "A ten year old boy is going to be just as bad as Madelyn if they shared anyway."

"Jesus, don't get me started on Jack's attitude, Jordon will kill me if I shit talk his kid again," Danny muttered, but he was grinning. "Kid's wild, I swear. Absolutely feral."

Jorel laughed, pushing at Danny's shoulder. "He's a good kid though. He just gets that Alpha attitude sometimes."

He shook his head fondly, remembering the time Jack had kicked someone's ass when he'd tried to mess with Marley.

"Jesus, kid hasn't even presented yet and he's so obviously an Alpha," Danny chuckled, shaking his head right along with Jorel. 

"Alright, so we can convert the basement into four bedrooms, the pool shed into one for Madelyn... Ava, James, and Marley get their own rooms down in the basement, Jack and Chloe share. Dylan and Lex share, you and Erin share, Jordon and Randi share, George and Asia share, and me and Matt share. That leaves Aron as the only adult with his own room, but since he's an Omega that's probably for the best..."

Jorel nodded as he mentally checked all of that. "Yeah... Yeah, I think that'd work. The pool shed is bigger than it looks too. It'd probably work for a bedroom."

He paused, a smirk working its way across his face. "You and Matt sharing? Sounds intimate."

"Gross," Danny said immediately. "It's either he shares with me or he shares with Aron, and Matt and I were roommates for a while back in the day so we know how to deal with each other."

Danny didn't want to admit that the thought of anyone - even a Beta like Matt - sharing a room with Aron made his teeth ache and his inner wolf growl.

Jorel raised an eyebrow, his smirk still in place. 

"Aw, come on. You and Matt? Sharing a bedroom? I'd love to be a fly on the wall to that show."

He laughed, poking Danny in the side. "What, you worried about Matt and Ruru bunking together?"

Danny shot him a glare that said it all, turning back to the laptop. 

"Right, so we got a lot of work to do to get the basement ready," he said, changing the subject.

Jorel snickered but took the hint, switching gears to the basement plans. 

"Yeah, we'll have to soundproof a couple of walls, probably put up some drywall on others... It'll be a pain in the ass, but it'll be worth it once it's finished."

"A real Pack house," Danny said quietly, almost reverently. He could help the grin that slowly spread across his face. "We're gonna have a real Pack house."

Jorel huffed out a laugh, grinning right along with Danny. 

"It does sound pretty cool when you say it like that, huh? A Pack house. We're going to be a proper Pack with a proper house."

"Hell yeah," Danny said. "This is gonna be great. A little elbow grease and some growing pains, but this'll be great, I just know it."

Jorel nodded, mentally running through a checklist of what they'd need to do to get the house up to Pack specs. 

"Definitely a lot of elbow grease. And we're probably going to get on each other's nerves more than we already do," he chuckled.

"It'll be like the tour bus, only bigger and more people. And kids," Danny said, smirking. He closed the laptop and stood from the kitchen table, feeling more energized and ready to start making plans. 

"Alright, Mr. 'I build weed cultivation warehouses for a living,' time to put your skills to work in the basement."

Jorel rolled his eyes, but the smirk stayed in place. 

"Alright, alright, give me the day to make some phone calls and put together a list of supplies we'll need, then I'll get to work down there."

"Sounds good. The girls and the kids get here the day after tomorrow, so we can put them up in a hotel until the renovations are done," Danny replied. He patted Jorel on the shoulder, walking past him to leave the kitchen. 

"Thanks for the talk, man, I really needed it."

Jorel nodded, his eyes lingering on Danny's retreating form. 

"No problem, anytime. That's what Pack is for, right? Supporting each other, talking out our issues... Not just being a group of idiots who yell at each other," he chuckled dryly.

Danny snorted, but kept walking, heading upstairs. He paused outside his room, looking at the door directly across the hall from his. 

Aron's room. Aron. Aron. 

Danny turned to go into his own bedroom, but his hand froze on the knob.

Aron heard Danny pause outside his door, his heart fluttering. Had... Had Danny come to talk to him?

When Danny didn't knock or open the door, Aron's heart sank. Of course not. Danny probably hated him. After all the mixed signals, the push and pull for the past decade, and the meltdown this morning, it was a wonder Danny was still putting up with him. He slumped back on his bed, burying his face in his pillow.

Danny's grip on the doorknob of his bedroom tightened. He should go to bed. It was late and it was a long day and he had another long day in the morning. He should go to bed. He should sleep. 

Danny turned around and knocked on Aron's door.

When Aron heard the knock, he sat up with a jolt. Danny.

He considered ignoring it, pretending to be asleep. But his desire to see Danny, touch Danny, be near Danny, won out. He stood, straightening his clothes and running a hand through his hair. 

He took a deep breath before opening the door. He smiled shakily, his heart racing as soon as he saw Danny standing outside his door.

Danny swallowed hard and clutched his laptop to his side like a shield. He stared down at Aron for a long moment before he spoke. 

"Do you... Can we talk?"

Aron nodded immediately, trying to hide the way his heart was racing in his chest. 

"Yeah, of course. Come in, please."

He stepped back, letting Danny into the room. He shut the door behind him before sitting awkwardly on the edge of his bed.

Danny sat on the bed beside Aron, setting his laptop aside. He didn't know what he was doing. This was the opposite of distracting himself from Aron. He should just go to bed. He shouldn't be doing this.

"I'm sorry I snapped earlier," he said quietly. "I'm... I'm sorry I gave you that heart, too. You didn't... You didn't know what it meant and I shouldn't have... I'm sorry."

Aron was silent for a moment, processing Danny's words. The apology took him by surprise, but also made his heart flutter. 

"It's fine," he murmured. "I shouldn't have... I-"

He stopped, searching for the words. How could he explain to Danny how badly he wanted that? How much he'd longed for this for over a decade? 

"It's fine," he repeated, quieter. "I...I'm sorry too, for... For all of this, for-"

He gestured between them, his cheeks burning.

Danny sighed, leaning his elbows on his knees and clasped his hands. 

"No, I shouldn't have just assumed you wanted me like that," he said quietly. "I thought that... I that you wanting to sleep with me last night, what we did last night... I that that meant you wanted me. I should have known better, I guess, or at least asked in the moment instead of just... Going with it."

I do want you.

Aron bit his tongue, the words sitting right there on the tip of his tongue. He wanted to scream them, but he couldn't. They were stuck in his throat, buried under years of repression and fear.

"I... I'm complicated," he said instead, his voice quiet and rough. "I'm... I'm messed up, I'm... I'm-"

His words were coming out in short, halting bursts. He was struggling more and more to keep the dam from collapsing.

"You need therapy," Danny said, shaking his head. "You aren't messed up, you're traumatized. And we're gonna get you therapy and help, okay? I'm... I'm not gonna abandon you over this shit. You're still Pack, you're still my friend, no matter what happened between us."

Danny looked up, putting a hand on Aron's knee and squeezing gently. 

"I still care about you and I'm going to do everything I can to protect you from those bastards at the church, okay?"

Aron's heart ached. Danny was offering him more kindness and care than anyone else ever had. He didn't deserve it. Not after everything.

"Why?" he whispered, his eyes filling with tears. "Why... why would you do all that for me? We... We barely even used to be friends, and now... now you're-"

He swallowed the words offering your life to protect mine. He didn't deserve any of this. He was damaged, broken. Broken.

Danny took one of Aron's hands and brought it up to his lips, kissing his knuckles gently. 

"Because you're you, Ruru," he murmured. "And nothing, no cult, no instincts, no Pack, no nothing is gonna change that."

Aron's breath hitched, the feeling of Danny's lips against his skin sending his heart racing. 

"But... But I'm broken," he said, his voice shaking. "I'm... I'm broken, I'm-"

He couldn't bring himself to look up at Danny. He couldn't see the look in his eyes, the pity or worse, the disgust. 

But Danny was holding his hand, his grip gentle but firm. He didn't seem repulsed by his touch. Danny let out a soft chuckle, shaking his head with a small smile. 

"What's love?" he sang quietly. "It's true. Dark hearts don't break, they bruise..."

"You're not broken, Aron," he murmured. "You're bruised. It takes more than life to break a man like you." Aron couldn't help the snort that escaped him. He recognized the lyrics immediately, though he would never admit that he had always kept listening to Hollywood Undead even after Danny replaced him, and for a moment, some of the tension in his shoulders eased.

"You are such a sap, you know that?" he mumbled, his thumb rubbing against the back of Danny's hand almost without thinking.

"Yeah, I know," Danny chuckled, nudging Aron's shoulder with his own. "But hey, someone has to be, right? We can't all be hardened gangsters all the time, right?" 

Danny stood from the bed, picking up his laptop. 

"Night, Aron. Get some sleep, you look like you need it."

Danny walked toward the door, feeling a bit better about the situation.

Aron's hand shot out without thinking. He grabbed Danny's wrist, his hand closing around Danny's with surprising strength. He didn't want him to leave. As soon as he realized what he'd just done, he quickly let go, his face burning red. 

"I..." he muttered, his eyes darting back up to Danny's face. "I...I'm sorry. I'm-"

Aaaaand there goes that whole "feeling better about the situation" thing... 

"Aron, I-" Danny stopped, taking a deep breath. He couldn't do this, not again. He couldn't keep going back and fucking forth about this. Either Aron wanted him or he didn't, and he had outright said he didn't. 

"Goodnight."

Danny left Aron's room and crossed the hall to his own, closing the door quietly.

Watching Danny leave was like a physical blow. No, no, no. Aron was such a goddamn idiot. He always had to go too far, always had to screw things up. 

He wanted to chase after Danny, make him stay, make him understand.

Danny's words from earlier came back to him, making him flinch. You said it was just your Omega instincts and I... I can't keep getting my goddamn hopes up.

Danny was only alone in the room for a moment before Matt came in and they worked out sleeping arrangements for the night. They still needed to put the extra bed together and figure out how to fit it in the room so they could share. Finally Danny just gave up and flopped onto the bed, mumbling about how there was enough room for both of them for one night and don't fucking cuddle him. 

Matt scoffed but joined Danny in the bed, staying on his own side without issue. 

Danny couldn't sleep much, but he at least tried. It was going to be a long fucking week.

Back in his own room, Aron curled up in bed. He could still smell Danny on his skin, could still feel Danny's lips against his throat, could still hear him singing in his ear. 

He couldn't sleep, his thoughts racing. Danny's words kept playing over and over in his head.

I can't keep getting my goddamn hopes up.

Chapter 11: Circles

Summary:

Danny keeps running in circles, he hurt himself...

The next morning, Danny woke up before anyone else in the house and went for his morning run like usual. He stayed out longer, breathing hard as his feet hit the pavement over and over as he tried to work through his thoughts. But nothing helped and his legs hurt. 

When he got home, the house was bustling as Jorel and George got to work renovating the basement, Matt and Lex were putting beds together, Jordon and Aron and Dylan moving shit out of the pool shed to convert it into a small bedroom for Madelyn. 

The changes in the house were going well, and for a moment, Danny just watched. His Pack, his family. All together again, soon to be even more so when the wives and kids got there. If he had to trade privacy and his own home for this, he'd do it all over again in a heartbeat.

Aron was working in the living room on packing books into boxes when Danny came back. He looked just like he had when they were teenagers, hair damp from sweat and wearing a loose tank-top. There was a flush to his skin, the morning's run having done wonders for his mood. 

Aron tried not to stare, he really did. But it was hard not to notice the way Danny's muscles moved under his skin, or how the shirt clung to him in a decidedly unfair way.

Danny didn't bother to take a shower or change, he just threw himself into helping. The needed to get the house ready before the girls got there the next day and there was still so much to do. Thankfully, being werewolves, they didn't need many breaks and they were able to make quick work out of building up walls. With all the sound proofing from the recording studio, they were even able to make the new rooms more private for the teens. 

The entire day was spent working and at the end of it, they had done the majority of the renovations and only had some furniture and painting left to do that could easily be done later. Converting a 7 room house into a 12 room house that could comfortably fit 17 people was a feat, but they had done it.

By the time they'd finished, Aron was beyond exhausted. His back ached, his shoulders groaned in every direction, and he was fairly certain his neck had snapped an hour ago. He collapsed onto the couch with a groan, one arm slung over his eyes as he tried to get his lungs to work. He was never helping with something like that again. 

"I think I broke my body," he groaned weakly.

"I'll break your body," Jordon said half heartedly, slumping into the armchair beside the couch. 

"Gay," Matt said, too tired to yell like he always did. 

"Jesus, I think I discovered a new muscle just for it to be fuckin' sore," George groaned from where he was laying face down on the carpet. Jorel looked over at them from where he was sitting in a cardboard box. 

"You're all pussies," he said. Danny threw an empty water bottle at Jorel and he caught it before wincing. 

"Ha! You're sore too, fucker," Danny said, laughing. "Don't call us pussies if you're a pussy too!"

"Jesus Christ, do you guys never shut up?" Lex asked from under the blanket pile on the floor by the back door. 

"No," Dylan replied to his wife, using said blanket pile as a pillow.

Aron chuckled breathlessly, his arm still over his eyes. Danny's laugh filled the room, loud and unapologetic as ever. 

"This is your fault," he mumbled, flicking his free hand in Danny's direction. "You had to turn this into a damn compound and make sure the walls were soundproof. This would've been a lot easier with a hotel."

"Are you complaining about living with me?" Danny asked, throwing a pillow at Aron. "I'm hurt."

"Cry about it," Jorel muttered from his box fort.

Aron grabbed the pillow and promptly returned fire, chucking it at Jorel's fortress. It smacked Jorel right in the face, drawing a round of snickers from the room. 

"Shut up," Jorel grumbled, poking his head out of his box. 

"I can complain about everything I want," Aron said, rolling his eyes. "Someone needs to keep you from getting too cocky."

"I'll cock that ass," Jordon said tiredly. 

"Gay," Matt repeated from the ground. 

"You guys are so fucking annoying," Lex muttered.

"God, you guys never stop," George complained from the ground. "Don't you ever get tired of it?"

Aron rolled his eyes. This wasn't unusual. Years of living in each other's pockets meant banter was practically a default state for all of them. 

"I think they get off on it," he muttered quietly, making sure only Danny could hear him.

"Still fucking gay," Matt said, louder this time. "Why are you all so fucking gay?"

"Shut up, Danny's the only gay one here," Dylan said, throwing his own water bottle at Matt. "And you're fucking single, Matt, shut the fuck up."

"Yeah, at least most of us are married," Jordon added. 

"To women!" Jorel chimed in. 

"I'm not the only one that's fucking gay, holy shit," Danny groaned.

"You're the only out gay," Aron said, throwing yet another pillow at Jorel's cardboard pile. It didn't quite make it across the room, landing sadly on the floor. 

"And being the only out one means you're the only one I get to harass," Jordon said tiredly, lifting his head to smirk at Danny. "Sucks to be you."

"Who the fuck isn't out?" Matt asked, raising his head to glare at the others. "Which one of you fucks is hiding your gayness? I bet it's George. Asia's a beard for sure. George, are you gay?"

"The fuck? No!" George huffed. 

"I dunno, you made out with Jordon a lot in the 2000s," Danny said just to stir the pot, grinning.

"Oh yeah," Jordon said, his eyebrows raised. "You did kiss me a lot. Maybe you're hiding something?" 

George rolled his eyes. "It was a teenage boy-band, I was high out of my damn mind like seventy percent of the time, none of it counts."

"I'm hurt, I thought we had something special," Jordon retorted, sticking out his tongue. 

"So Jordon's gay and in the closet?" Matt asked, frowning in confusion. 

"What? No!" Jordon said, scoffing.

"If we're just throwing out random accusations," Jorel piped up from his box pile. "I think it's Matt."

"Yeah," Lex chimed in from her blanket pile. "Matt totally has bottom vibes."

"What?!" Matt screeched, sitting up with a glare. "I'm not gay, you're all idiots."

"Nah, it makes total sense, that's why you're always making gay jokes," Danny said, snickering. "To cover your ass."

"Oh shit, that makes so much sense," Jorel said.

"Yeah! You always joke about your balls touching, too," George said, nodding. "You're definitely hiding something, dude."

"I'm not gay!" Matt screeched.

Aron couldn't help himself. He started laughing, clutching his sides. It was so hilarious that Matt couldn't seem to realize the rest of the band was joking.

Danny glanced over at Aron, the actual closeted gay one, with a smirk and a raised eyebrow. Aron wasn't exactly in the closet, he just had been gone for thirteen years and none of the guys knew that he was into guys. Except Danny, for obvious reasons (cough cough, they fucked, cough cough).

Aron met Danny's gaze with a smirk of his own, fighting back a laugh. 

It was really, really funny to watch Matt freak out about someone accusing him of being anything less than straight. 

"Hey, Matt," Aron piped up, turning his gaze to the bassist. "If you were gay, who would you date in the group?"

Matt looked over at him with a horrified expression. "What?"

"Oooh, I love this game," Danny said, grinning widely. "Yeah, Matty, who would you date? I bet it's George, you look like the kind of bottom that wants a big strong muscle daddy top."

"Danny, I love you and I accept you as you are - sexuality included," George said, lifting his head to look at Danny. "If you ever call me that again, I will commit a hate crime."

Matt groaned, burying his face in his pillow. Danny's comment seemed to hit a nerve in Matt, the bassist hiding his face and mumbling something unintelligible. 

"I'm sorry, what was that?" Jorel asked, raising an eyebrow. 

"I said I'm not gay!" Matt shouted, looking up from his pillow. His cheeks were a little flushed, as if he was actually taking the conversation seriously.

"Really? Because I heard 'Any day'," Danny teased, crossing his ankles as he propped up his feet on the coffee table. 

"Yeah, I did too," Jordon said, grinning. 

"Mmhmm, same," Dylan added.

"I hate you all," Matt groaned, burying his face back in the pillow. 

Aron chuckled, shaking his head. "It's just a hypothetical, dude, just answer the question."

Matt lifted his head once more, his expression a mixture of reluctance and dread. "I-I...if I was forced to..."

The entire room seemed to hold their breath in anticipation, waiting for Matt's answer.

"...I'd say Aron."

The room fell completely silent for a few moments, the guys staring at Matt with wide eyes. 

That had not been the answer they expected.

Danny sat forward, eyes widening. 

"Aron?" he asked. "You'd date Aron? He'd eat you alive, motherfucker, oh my god."

"What are you talking about? Ruru's a sweetheart, he'd make a great boyfriend," George said a bit defensively on Aron's behalf. 

"No no, you don't fucking get it," Jorel said, looking just as horrified as Danny. "Aron's a fucking savage. I've seen the fucking aftermath, dude, he's a goddamn tiger."

"In bed?" Lex asked, suddenly interested. She sat up, pushing Dylan and the blankets off herself as the tea got hot about her fellow Omega. 

"Nah, I mean like period," Jorel said. "Y'all remember Sigh?"

"Ruru was a different person in high school," Dylan said with a shudder. "He went rogue."

"He was a menace," Matt added, shuddering dramatically.

Aron was just sitting back with a little smirk on his face, enjoying their reactions. He couldn't believe they'd forgotten how feral he'd been in high school.

"Absolute goblin," Jorel added. 

"Gremlin after midnight energy," George sighed. "A terror to all Hot Topics."

"A terror to everything," Danny corrected, pointing an accusing finger at Aron with a small smirk. "This bitch is a goddamn lunatic in the body of a femboy and I will die on this hill."

"Oh, please, I wasn't that bad," Aron protested with a smirk. 

"You broke a guy's nose and left him sobbing in the parking lot of the Denny's," Matt reminded him. 

"He grabbed me in the club, what the hell else was I supposed to do, let him?" Aron rolled his eyes.

"God, that was a good fucking night," Danny groaned, leaning back. 

"Man, I remember that night so vividly, it was the first time we ever did cocaine," George sighed wistfully. "Man, I wish I wasn't sober."

"I think that was the night Matt got his tooth chipped too," Jorel said thoughtfully. 

"Oh yeah! We mentioned it in a song!" Jordon said, laughing. "God, we had no caution back then with our music. We straight up said our fucking apartment numbers and cross streets in public songs."

"You had no sense of self-preservation, none of us did," Matt said, grinning. "How we've all made it to 40 without dying...is a mystery."

"We're like cockroaches, hard to kill," George snickered. "Like a band of feral cats."

"Speak for yourselves, bitches, me and Funny are still in our thirties," Jordon said, grinning. 

"Yeah, we still got time to die," Dylan said. Lex smacked her husband with a glare. 

"Don't even joke like that."

"Ow, ow, ow! Sore, mami, sore!" Dylan protested. 

"I'll show you sore, pendejo," Lex said, glaring.

"Lex, he doesn't mean it, don't hurt him," Danny said, grinning. 

"Don't defend him, he should know better," Lex huffed, turning her glare to Danny. He held his hands up in mock surrender. 

"Don't look at me," he said with a snicker. "Talk to Jorel, he started it." 

Jorel sputtered in protest. "Me?! What-"

Danny was watching the interactions with a grin on his face. 

This, this was his kind of scene. A room full of people, talking and laughing together, his pack, his family all together, safe and happy. He hadn't realized how much he'd missed this, the chaos of a bunch of friends all trying to speak at once, drowning each other out. 

He turned his head to look at Aron. The only thing that could make this better was if the Omega actually fucking wanted Danny, but he supposed beggars can't be choosers.

Aron's eyes flickered over to Danny and a small smile played on his lips. He could feel Danny's gaze on him, the Alpha's attention like a physical weight. 

He shifted a bit, suddenly feeling warm. It was strange, the way his body reacted to Danny's presence. A subtle thrill rushing through him whenever their eyes met, a strange awareness of the Alpha's every move. 

He shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts, and turned back to the conversation.

"Wait, wait wait, I'm so confused!" Matt suddenly interrupted, sitting up fully. "So who's the closet gay?"

"You're still on that?" Lex asked, rolling her eyes. 

"No, I'm being serious!" Matt said, sounding actually distressed. "Who here thinks they can't trust us with something like that? I know I make a lot of dumb jokes, but I swear I'm not a bigot! I'm so sorry if I ever made anyone feel like they can't be themselves with us because of my fucking jokes."

The group got quiet, the words 'who feels like they can't be themself with us' hanging in the air. 

Danny's eyes flicked to Aron.

Aron fidgeted under the spotlight, his eyes darting around nervously. He wasn't used to anyone paying attention to him, much less everyone. 

The idea of coming out to the band was...terrifying. 

But Matt looked so sincere, so genuinely distressed at the idea of any of them not feeling safe with the group. 

Aron took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. "I...I am," he said softly, his voice almost a whisper.

Every head turned to look at Aron, a few of them less surprised than others - particularly Jorel because Aron had been in love with him for years when they were younger. 

"Holy..." Matt scrambled off the armchair and over to Aron. "Ruru, I'm so sorry if I ever made you feel like you weren't safe with us, I swear it was just stupid jokes and I didn't mean it-"

Danny grabbed Matt by the collar of his shirt as the drummer passed him, pulling him back. 

"Hey, hey, easy," Danny said. "Don't crowd him. Autism, remember? Just chill, relax, keep your voice down."

Jorel snorted, a smirk on his face. Trust Danny to remember those things. The Alpha was annoyingly perceptive. Aron watched Matt stumble back, his cheeks flushed pink from the sudden attention. He appreciated Matt's apologies, but the thought of the entire band knowing... knowing he was gay was terrifying. A million 'what if's' ran through his mind, and he hated how his heart raced and his palms sweat. George rolled onto his back and sat up, looking over at Aron. 

"You're still you, and we love you," he said simply, nodding like nothing was wrong. 

"Yeah, Ru, ain't no thang," Jordon said, grinning like mad. "Besides, after the other night and you and Danny making out instead of an innocent little peck on the lips for the 'prize kiss' I kinda figured."

"Honestly, I thought we all knew and just weren't sayin' shit," Dylan said, shrugging. "I guess congrats on coming out? Is that what people say?"

"I think it's more ' we accept you' or some shit," Jorel replied, frowning. "So uh... We accept you, or some shit, I dunno."

Danny snorted in amusement. 

"And this is why I came out in a text," he said. "You all sent me fucking memes and dick pics and it was way less awkward."

Aron's cheeks flushed bright red, his head spinning. The guys were...they were just accepting it? Just like that? Not a single one of them looked at him with disgust or judgement. And Danny... Aron's gaze darted to the Alpha, the man still leaning against the wall. He suddenly had flashbacks to their night spent together, the kisses, the almost sex in the morning. 

He quickly turned his head, looking at Lex to avoid the Alpha's intense gaze. Lex blinked in surprise, realizing she hadn't said anything yet. 

"Oh, shit uh... Well, good a time as any, I guess," she said, scratching her head awkwardly. "So uh... I'm trans."

Dylan looked at his wife in surprise. 

"Babe, you don't have to-"

"No, no, it's fine. I trust them," Lex said, patting Dylan's hand. "I'm transgender. I uh... I was born male."

The room was deathly quiet for a moment, a stunned silence. Jorel's mouth was hanging open, his eyes wide. Matt looked like his entire worldview had just been completely turned upside down. George was looking at Lex, a sort of 'oh my god' look on his face. 

Danny...Danny was looking at Lex like it was the most normal thing in the world. 

Aron just sat there, staring. He was torn between being shocked and being relieved.

"Holy... Shit," Jordon said, staring at Lex like she had just said the world was backwards. "You... You have a damn good surgeon, what the fuck, the tits look so real."

"Dude, stop looking at my wife's tits!" Dylan yelled, throwing a bottle at Jordon. 

"No, no, not in a weird way!" Jordon protested, ducking the bottle and throwing his hands up to defend his face. 

"Lex... Holy shit," Jorel breathed. "Thank you for trusting us with this, it changes nothing, but I am flabbergasted so like give me a minute."

Jorel's words hung in the air for a moment. 

It changes nothing.

Aron's heart twisted, hope growing in his chest. 

"Can I ask the question that we're all fucking thinking?" Matt asked. 

"Be very fucking careful about your next words, homie, I will break every bone in your body if you are insensitive," Dylan warned, glaring at Matt. Danny just smiled, amused by Dylan's threatening of Matt. 

"And just what do you think we're all thinking?" George asked, narrowing his eyes at Matt.

"Do you like... Did you get bottom surgery?" Matt asked carefully. Lex's face flushed red and Dylan stood up, ready to beat the hell out of Matt. "Cuz if not, does that make Dylan technically gay?" 

Lex burst out laughing, her body shaking from the sheer ridiculousness of Matt's question. Dylan froze, jaw dropping. 

"Anal isn't gay exclusive!" George yelled, throwing a pillow at Matt. 

"Yeah but if she still have the joystick, then-" 

Dylan tackled Matt.

"That is the dumbest thing you could have possibly said!" Jorel yelled, tackling Matt now because why not. 

Lex was cackling, clearly just amused at the whole thing. Danny was laughing, his head thrown back as he watched the guys dogpile Matt now. Aron was grinning so hard his cheeks hurt, the room filled with the sounds of the guys yelling and roughhousing.

"I JUST WANNA KNOW IF I’M GAY FOR FINDING GIRLS WITH DICKS HOT!" Matt yelled from where he was being pummeled. 

"Oh my God, I'm dying," Lex wheezed, holding her sides. "I'm dying, I'm dead, I'm deceased.

"You fucker! You killed my wife!" Dylan roared, picking Matt up bodily like a wrestler.

"I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY ASKED THAT!" Jorel shrieked, landing a kick to Matt's ribs. "AND THE ANSWER IS NO!"

George was cackling, landing a punch to Matt's kidney as Dylan tried to throw him. 

"Jesus Christ, Matt, you really need to work on your goddamn filter-"

"HELP!" Matt screamed, reaching for Aron. "RURU SAVE ME!"

Danny stood up from his seat beside the coffee table and did a very flouncy walk over to Matt where he was being held up by Dylan so the other two could punch him. Danny struck a sexy pose, flamboyant and much more effeminate than he usually was.

"Do you think I'm hot, Matty?" he crooned. "You think I'd look good with titties?"

Jorel and George both stopped the second Danny posed, the sight of an Alpha wearing leather and tight jeans doing a very gay fashion show making both of them freeze. Jorel just stared, his brain malfunctioning. George was beet red, his mouth hanging open. Danny winked at the both of them before strutting back over to his spot. Aron was bright red, trying not to bust out laughing again. Danny dropped the pose pointing his finger around the room at them all. 

"And that's how I know that every single one of you fucks is queer is some fucking way," he shouted. "You all thought about fucking me just now, admit it!"

That got all of the men in the room to freeze again, falling silent, the guys all looking guilty. George was blushing furiously. Jordon looked more like he’d just discovered a new rock he’d never known existed. Jorel couldn't meet anyone's eyes. Matt and Dylan both looked at each other, then back to Danny with terrified looks. Aron was trying not to die of laughter.

Danny threw his hands up, striking another pose that made his ass pop just a bit more. "Admit it, bitches, you want me."

"I-I-" Jorel stuttered, unable to form a damn word. George was red as a tomato, unable to do anything but stare. Dylan and Matt were both staring at Danny's ass, jaws dropping. Aron had to physically cover his mouth from how hard he was holding back a snicker. Danny snickered, dropping the pose again and crossing his muscular arms, leather jacket pulled tight over his arms and his feet spreading apart a bit in a much more masculine way of standing. 

"Too fuckin' bad, guys, I'm a top and I'm a goddamn Daddy, so don't think I'd let any single one of you up my ass," he said, sticking his tongue out and turning around. He gave a wink at Aron before going back to his seat.

"What do you mean, you're a Daddy?" Jordon managed. 

George was now on the verge of spontaneous human combustion, his face redder than could be possible. 

Dylan and Matt looked utterly horrified, looking between one another like they'd made a massive mistake. 

Aron was shaking with silent laughter, tears in his eyes.

"You want an example?" Danny asked, sitting in the armchair, legs spreading a bit and leaning back, the picture of masculine power and confidence. Jorel swallowed once, his Adam's apple bobbing. George just gave a jerky nod, Jordon’s nod much more enthusiastic. Dylan and Matt stared in silent horror. Aron hid his face in his hands, trying not to crack up. He was so going to make fun of the guys for this later.

"Ruru," Danny said, holding a hand out toward the smaller man. "Be my femboy for a sec and come sit in Daddy's lap."

Aron didn't hesitate for a second, biting his lip to hold back his smirk as he got up and crossed the room to the armchair. He made sure to make an even bigger show of it, dropping to his knees a few feet away before crawling up and into Danny's lap. 

Jorel and George were both watching silently, stunned. Dylan and Matt were terrified, but clearly turned on, their pants a little tighter than they'd been a few minutes ago.

Danny pulled Aron tight against his chest, hands rough and possessive for a moment as he settled Aron in his lap, facing the guys. He kept eye contact as he turned his head slightly, lips brushing Aron's ear. 

"Good boy."

The praise, the rumble of his Alpha voice sent shivers down Aron's spine. His body was flush against Danny's, leaning back into the chest behind him. 

Jorel and George both stared, jaws dropped. Jordon had definitely just discovered something about himself.

Dylan and Matt's pants were practically tented at this point, both letting out quiet whines. 

Aron just smirked. He was enjoying this far more than he probably should. 

Danny smirked, eyes flicking down to the tents with a raised eyebrow. 

"Damn, y'all more queer than I thought," he teased, patting Aron's leg to tell him he could get up now.

Jorel flushed red, trying in vain to cover the tent in his jeans. 

"S-Shut up."

Matt was trying to cross his legs to hide his issue, but it was pretty useless. George was still as red as a tomato, blushing even more furiously. Dylan just gave up, throwing his head back and groaning when Danny looked at him. Danny laughed, shaking his head in amusement as he pushed Aron to stand from his lap. 

"Thanks for the demonstration, Ruru."

"Any time," Aron said, winking at Danny. 

He was grinning like the cat who caught the canary, knowing the boys in the room would get teased nonstop for this. Jorel and George were both blushing hard, refusing to meet Danny's gaze as they avoided eye contact. Matt and Dylan both looked like they'd seen a damn ghost.

"So whichever one of us you wanted to fuck more, that's your tell," Danny said grinning. "Aron? You're a top, cuz that boy is the bottomest bottom to ever bottom. Me? You're my bitch." Jorel flushed, his gaze dropping to his lap. George's face was so red, he'd probably explode. Dylan let out a whine, his pants obviously tight. Jordon looked between the two, before his gaze almost fixated on Aron. Matt looked like he was having a crisis of identity, his gaze darting from Aron to Danny.

"Oh, looks like Matt wants both," Danny said, snickering. "And that, kids, is what we call a switch."

Matt opened his mouth to reply, his eyes narrowing. But he was cut off by Dylan. 

"Don't you mean vers?" The rapper asked, still sounding a bit frazzled.

"I KNEW YOU WERE QUEER!" Danny shouted, standing and pointing accusingly at Dylan.

"You say that like it wasn't obvious before this!" Dylan protested, rolling his eyes. 

Jorel looked pale now, like he might pass out just from embarrassment. 

Matt's face had just shifted to a different realization, his expression changing to shock. George just kind of looked like he wanted to disappear into the couch cushion.

"Waaaaiiiitttt, is that why you married a trans?" Matt asked. Lex, Dylan's wife, choked on her water. 

" A trans?" she asked, coughing. "The fuck? I'm trans, not a trans, what the fuck!"

George winced at Matt's words, knowing that calling a person 'a trans' wasn't great. Danny had taught him a few things in regards to the LGBT community, so George was usually the first to correct them on something like that. 

But he was still too embarrassed to say anything. 

Dylan, on the other hand, seemed far less bothered. He just smacked Matt on the back of the head. "You moron," he said, rolling his eyes. "You're supposed to say 'a trans person, dummy. Not 'a trans.'"

"Yeah, that's like calling me a gay," Danny said, scoffing. "Come on man, it's 2025, not 2005."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm not good at words," Matt said, rubbing his head.

Dylan grinned, slapping his friend on the back with a laugh. "You're a damn idiot, y'know that?"

Jorel cleared his throat, finally finding his voice. "So.... Everyone's gay?"

Dylan scoffed, rolling his eyes. "I'm just bi, man. But yeah, that basically sums it up. You got George who's mostly straight, but not really."

"Mostly?!" George asked incredulously. "I'm entirely straight!"

"Not after how you just looked at my ass you ain't," Danny snorted. 

"S-shut up! I have a wife and three kids!" George protested. 

"Yeah, so do I, but I can still admit that I would absolutely fuck Aron," Jordon said, shrugging. "And probably Matt."

"WHOA! What? Nononononono-" Matt protested, scrambling away from Jordon like he might get groped.

The whole room erupted into laughter. Everyone but Matt. The poor boy was bright red, looking seconds away from a panic attack. 

"It's a joke, dude," Jorel said, grinning widely. He was clearly enjoying this a little too much. "No one's gonna jump you."

Matt just let out a strangled sound, burying his face into his hands.

"Nah, I might," Jordon said, making creepy fingers at Matt with a salacious grin. 

Matt screamed. Jorel threw his head back and laughed, clutching his stomach. George let out a giggle, covering his mouth with his hand. Dylan was also laughing, his usual carefree grin on his face. Matt, on the other hand, let out another screech. His whole face was beet red, his eyes wide. He was backed all the way up into the arm of the couch.

As Matt toppled onto the couch near Danny, the Alpha took the opportunity to stand up and plop himself in Matt's lap, batting his eyes like a girl. 

"Hi, handsome, you wanna play a game?" he asked in a high pitched, overly femme voice.

Matt let out another shriek, the sound nearly ear-piercing. He looked like he was torn between dying from embarrassment and trying to knock Danny off of him. 

"Get off," he protested, shoving half-heartedly at Danny's shoulders. "Get the fuck off, god damn it!"

Danny fell off Matt, his head landing on Aron's lap as he roared with laughter.

Jorel was laughing so hard that he was nearly crying. George had to lean into him, wheezing. Dylan was on the floor, cackling hysterically. Matt was still sitting on the couch, his whole face bright red. 

Aron was the only one not laughing, but that was only because he was busy staring down at Danny. The Alpha's head was in his lap, his laughter warm and low. 

Aron felt a sudden sharp ache low in his gut.

Danny cackled like mad until he opened his eyes and saw Aron looking down at him. The laughter died in his throat, though everyone else was still laughing. 

Danny stared up at Aron, feeling a twist in his gut. God, if only... 

And then he caught the change in Aron's scent and his eyes widened.

Danny's change in expression was so comical that the rest of the guys quieted down, too. Jorel and the others watched the two of them curiously. 

Aron squirmed under their gazes, the sharp ache from before now a heavy throb. 

He was getting wet. It was embarrassing, knowing that the others were sitting right there- God, this couldn't be happening. This couldn't be-

Jorel's nostrils flared and he inhaled sharply, the Alpha's eyes locking on Aron. George's head whipped around, the Alpha's pupils narrowing. Dylan's breath caught in his throat, Jordon's head snapped up, and Matt's eyes swept over the room, landing on Aron - the three Betas all hunching slightly. Lex's head lifted from the blanket pile, her nose high as she scented the other Omega.

Danny's eyes darkened as he looked up at Aron from where his head was still in the Omega's lap.

Aron was bright red, his skin absolutely burning. He could smell the others shifting, could hear them moving and breathing. He could feel Danny's head still in his lap, the soft leather of his jacket warm against his thighs. 

He opened his mouth to protest, to try to explain himself, but he only managed a soft, quiet whimper.

Danny moved then, as soon as the small noise escaped Aron. He sat up and cleared his throat. 

"Come on, guys, don't be assholes," he said, getting to his feet and trying to ignore the instinctive urge to bury his face between Aron's legs. "It's a biological reaction, don't be dicks about it."

Jorel was still red, but he nodded, the tense set to his jaw relaxing a little. George was still looking a bit shocked, a soft blush still on his cheeks. Dylan was still hard as a rock, his gaze darting to Aron every few seconds. Matt still looked like a damn tomato. And everyone was watching them.

Aron swallowed once, trying to keep himself under control. If he could just ignore Danny's scent, he'd be okay.

Danny sighed, glaring at Jordon and Dylan. He reached down to pull Aron to his feet. 

"Yeah, staring at him like that? That's being assholes about it," Danny snapped, pushing Aron in front of him toward the stairs to get him away from the others. "Don't worry about them, Aron, they're just fuckin' children about bodily functions apparently. Come on."

Thank God.

Aron followed Danny's gentle push, practically running up the stairs, eager to get away from the others. 

"It-It wasn't my fault," he protested, his breath coming out in a heavy pant. "I didn't think they'd be able to- I didn't expect-"

He had no idea what to say. He was still burning with shame, his face flushed pink and his legs shaking.

"Hey, they'd probably still laugh at a fart joke, it isn't your fault," Danny soothed quietly as he followed Aron up the stairs to his bedroom. "Don't think about it, don't worry about it, it wasn't your fault."

Danny put his hands on Aron's shoulders, trying to get the Omega to look at him. "Breathe, Ruru."

Danny's hands felt warm on his shoulders, his touch gentle. Aron sucked in a sharp breath, slowly forcing himself to exhale. 

He closed his eyes, tipping his head back in an attempt to steady himself. 

He was still throbbing, slick between his legs, his skin hot and sensitive. He could still hear the others downstairs, talking and laughing and joking around. 

Aron swallowed. "It's-it's embarrassing," he whispered.

Danny's nostrils flared and for a moment, he lost himself to the instinctive need to comfort the Omega - his Omega. 

No, no, Aron wasn't his. He'd made that clear. He'd made that so clear... But fuck....

Danny cupped Aron's face and forced him to look at him. 

"It's natural," he murmured, leaning just a bit closer and pushing out his scent to cover the scent of slick and to soothe. "You have nothing to be embarrassed over."

Aron let himself lean into the contact as Danny's scent surrounded him, his body relaxing automatically. 

He opened his eyes to look at the Alpha, his eyelids fluttering. He felt strange, like something was tugging him forward. He felt like he was weightless, drunk, his head spinning.

His breathing came heavier, and he swallowed again. "Danny," he murmured, leaning just a little bit closer. "Danny, I-"

Danny thought back to kissing Aron, fucking him, holding him. He wanted nothing more than to hold him again. God, he had wanted him for years and now he was back and... He'd gotten a taste, but a taste was all Aron had wanted, he was certain of that. 

Jesus, why did this have to be so hard? Why did Danny have to be so hard right now? His jeans hurt and all he could think about was the scent of slick and the bed right there that smelled like Aron. 

"Ruru," he murmured, his eyes closing slightly, hooded and dark.

Too close, too close, too close.

Aron's brain was working on autopilot now, the sharp ache from before nothing compared to the throb of pure need that was pulsing through his entire body.

He didn't know what possessed him to do it, but he slowly brought up his hands to grip Danny's wrists, holding the Alpha's hands to his face. 

His pupils were dilated, the edges of his irises barely visible. 

"Danny," he said again, his voice quiet and strained, "Danny, Alpha-"

The designation did it. Danny's control snapped like a dry twig underfoot and he groaned, dragging Aron forward into a sloppy kiss that was all tongue and desperation.

The kiss was desperate, sloppy, and delicious, and Aron let out a soft whimper of relief as his aching need was finally, finally getting attention. 

He tilted his head into the contact, pressing his tongue against Danny's. He didn't even think, giving into his instincts completely. Danny wasn't the only one who'd been desperate for this.

He let go of Danny's wrists, using his hands for more important things. Like burying them in Danny's hair.

Danny slid one hand from Aron's cheek to wrap around his lower back, grabbing a fistful of Aron's ass and dragging him flush against Danny's hard body. 

Danny tilted his head, forcing his tongue deeper into Aron's mouth with a growl. 

God, he had wanted this for so long. What if Aron rejecting him was just a misunderstanding? That would be so dumb but so good because then Aron would still want him and-

Danny froze, pulling his mouth from Aron's, panting. Aron had rejected him. And he was kissing him again. Fuck, he was fucking up again. Fuck, shit, fuck fuck fuck-

God, yes.

The hand gripping his ass sent jolts of delicious pleasure shooting through Aron, and he moaned into the kiss, his hips bucking up against the Alpha. 

Everything felt right, like he was where he was supposed to be, the tension that had been building in his shoulders for months finally evaporating.

And then Danny suddenly froze, pulling back. 

Aron's eyes flew open, his gaze confused and hurt. He had just been about to lose himself, but now-

"What-what's the matter?"

"I'm sorry," Danny panted, backing away and releasing Aron entirely. He backed toward the door to Aron's bedroom, shutting his eyes to try and get control of himself again. 

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have- I shouldn't.... Fuck," Danny hissed, spinning on his heel and bolting from the room.

No!

Aron let out a frustrated groan, his need still throbbing heavy in the pit of his stomach. He could still feel Danny's hands on his skin, could taste the Alpha's mouth and tongue. 

And then Danny was gone, suddenly, without a word, leaving him cold and empty. 

Aron let out a frustrated yell, running both his hands through his hair and yanking on the strands, almost painfully. 

"God damnit, Danny," he hissed, his entire body still aching.

Danny slammed the door to his own bedroom, sinking to the floor with his head in his hands as he leaned against the door. 

"Jesus fucking Christ," he muttered, tears pricking his eyes. 

Danny hated this. He hated feeling like this. He hated existing like this. 

Aron had said that them having sex was just instincts. That he hadn't meant it when he said he wanted Danny to mate him. He was trying so hard to believe that, but every time he was alone with Aron, it got harder and harder to keep his own desires in check.

Aron sat on his bed, his eyes glassy with frustrated tears. The ache in his stomach was still throbbing, now sharp and painful. 

He couldn't stop thinking of Danny. Of the way Danny smelled, of the way Danny's touch felt, of the way his name sounded when Danny spoke it.

Aron had never been so confused in his entire life. He wanted Danny, needed him, but Danny just kept pulling away, and he felt lost. Was he doing something wrong? Did he say something wrong?

He groaned to himself, burying his face in his hands. "Jesus, Jesus....." 

Aron felt sick. He was exhausted and frustrated and he didn't know what to do. He just wanted Danny, but every time he got close, the Alpha pulled back. Was it all in his head? Did Danny even want him?

Danny clutched at his head, breathing hard through his nose as the tears started falling. He felt stupid. He felt so fucking stupid. 

He couldn't keep doing this to himself. He couldn't keep getting his hopes up. He couldn't keep hurting himself like this. 

Danny let out a ragged sob, curling in on himself on the floor of his bedroom like a little sissy bitch with a broken heart, because he was a little sissy bitch with a broken heart.

Chapter 12: Ghost Beach

Summary:

Danny finally has a crash out - and no one was prepared for it.

Notes:

CONTENT WARNING: SUICIDE ATTEMPT

Aron couldn't bear it anymore. 

He shoved himself to his feet, storming out of his room and into the hall. His whole body was trembling with need and frustration, and he desperately needed Danny to fix it. 

He didn't know if Danny wanted him. He didn't know if Danny wanted a mate. 

But if Danny was going to keep teasing him like a damn prick, then he needed to put an end to it right goddamn now.

He all but slammed into Danny's bedroom door, his body shaking with pent up emotions. 

"Danny," he growled, shoving the door open, "I need to talk to you."

Danny looked up, face red and wet with tears and snot and his hair messed up and all the composure he had as the Pack Alpha fucking gone. He looked like a broken hearted schoolboy crying over a lost date to prom and he felt like one. 

As soon as he locked eyes with Aron, he let out another broken, choked sob, burying his head in his knees again. 

"Are you here to yell at me?" he asked.

"What?" Aron asked, blinking in confusion. He looked nothing short of a damn mess, his eyes still glassy with tears. But seeing Danny, his face wet and his shoulders shaking...

It made Aron's heart ache. 

"No, I'm not here to yell at you," he said softly, his entire being softening. "I'm..... Danny, are you okay?"

Are you okay?  

What kind of fucking question was that?

Danny finally snapped, not caring that everyone would be able to hear him yelling. Danny crashed the fuck out. 

"No! No, I'm not fucking okay, Aron!" he shouted. "No, I'm not okay! I'm not fucking okay! Nothing about this is okay! I'm hurting and I'm fucking broken, okay? Are you fucking happy now? Is this what you wanted? Did you come back and be nice to me just to get under my skin and make me love you all over again just so you could break me like you used to?!"

Aron actually took a step back, the Alpha's outburst catching him completely off guard. He'd never seen Danny like this before. Never. 

"I-no!" he stammered, his hands shaking. "That's not why I- I- Danny-"

It felt like his heart was breaking in his chest. Danny was suffering. God, he was in pain, and Aron had never seen the man look more broken before. He didn't know what to say, how to help-

Danny got to his feet, eyes squeezed shut and teeth bared. 

"Well it fucking worked! Congratulations, Deuce, you finally fucking won! Good for you, you sure showed me! You sure showed your replacement who the real fucking man is!"

Aron actually gasped with genuine hurt as Danny used his old nickname against him, his hands clenched tightly against his side. 

It felt like a kick in the chest. Aron stumbled backward, his back banging into the wall as he stared at the Alpha in shock. 

"D-don't call me that," he choked out, hot tears pricking the corners of his eyes. "Danny, p-please-"

"Fuck you!" Danny roared. "Fuck you! You have sex with me, you ask me to mate you, then the next day you tell me it meant nothing! Fuck you, Aron! I gave up everything for you! I gave up American Idol to cover your ass at shows, I gave up Reese and my son because of you, I killed for you, I gave you the heart of my meal for you and it still meant fucking nothing to you! I loved you for thirteen fucking years and all you ever gave me was disdain and you've been leading me on ever since you got back! Fuck you!"

"I-" Aron didn't even know how to respond, completely stricken by Danny's accusations. Every word hurt. Every last one ached. Because the worst part was that it was true. All of it. 

He had led Danny on, by lying about his own feelings, by being too scared to even hope that Danny was serious about him. He had pushed the Alpha away, and he couldn't even bring himself to apologize, because he still... he still couldn’t bring himself to admit the truth.

"But it's fine right?" Danny laughed bitterly, grabbing a pillow and hurling it at Aron. "Because you're an Omega and I'm an Alpha and Alphas don't get hurt, right? And you can do whatever the fuck you want and call it instincts and I can't say shit about it even when it breaks my fucking heart? Do you know what it's like to love someone that fucking hates you, Aron? Because I do!"

"I-I don't hate you!" 

Aron's voice was trembling. He wanted to reach out to Danny, wanted to comfort him, but he couldn't. The hurt and anger in the Alpha's voice was too raw.

Aron desperately needed to say the right thing, to tell Danny that he was important, that he wasn't some tool, that the night they'd shared meant something, but all he could do was stand there, his throat raw with tears.

"Don't lie to my face!" Danny roared, turning and punching a hole through the wall beside his bed, shoulders heaving with his heavy breathing. Aron flinched, his eyes wide and shocked. Jesus, he wanted to comfort him, wanted to take the Alpha in his arms and hold him, wanted to-God, he didn't even know. 

"I'm not stupid, Aron! I know I mean fucking nothing to you! But let's all laugh at the American Idol reject, right?"

It was petty, throwing Aron's words from the diss tracks from twenty fucking years ago back at him, but Danny was crashing out and didn't care at the moment. 

"Let's all laugh - funny Ha Ha - at the stupid bleached bottle blonde bimbo Alpha that no one takes fucking seriously, right?"

Aron’s entire body went rigid as Danny threw his old words in his face, those nasty, hateful insults that had come so easily before he left. 

He'd called him a Reject and a Bimbo. 

Aron's hands curled into shaking fists.

The door to Danny's room slammed open and Jorel and George barreled in, Jorel immediately grabbing Danny's arm to keep him from punching more things and George standing protectively in front of Aron. 

"Dan, that's enough," Jorel said desperately. "Stop, you're gonna burn the bridge and we just got him back!"

"Yeah, you got him back," Danny snapped, glaring at Jorel and yanking his arm out of the other Alpha's grasp. "I never fucking had him."

Aron clutched at the sleeve of George's shirt, using the other Alpha for support. 

Danny's words were screeching in his ears, every single insult burning itself into his brain, and it took serious effort not to start sobbing. 

He had never wanted Danny to think of him that way. Never. 

He wanted to tell the Alpha that, but he couldn't bring himself to speak, his throat tight with tears. 

Jorel turned to glare at Danny, his jaw clenched. "You're acting like a goddamn lunatic-"

"Maybe it's about fucking time I did!" Danny yelled back, turning on Jorel. "You all get to have your fucking fits and your crash outs, and I have to pick up the pieces of your lives and put you back together! Who does that for me, huh? Where were you when Reese took Roman? Where were any of you the last year? You left LA and you left me fucking alone!"

Jorel opened his mouth, but nothing came out. 

He looked shocked, the color draining from his face as Danny accused them all of abandoning him. 

He closed his mouth, his shoulders sagging. "I-I....."

He couldn't find anything to say.

"You're all so happy with your mates and your fucking kids, and I've been here alone, for two fucking years! Alone! Some fucking Pack you are!" Danny roared. He shoved Jorel back, snarling at him. 

"I was there for you when Vanessa left!" he snapped. "I was there when she left your ass on the side of the road, Jorel! I drove for twelve hours to get to you and make sure you were safe! Where were you when Reese shoved divorce papers in my face with my morning coffee and hopped on a plane to Europe with my son?"

Jorel stumbled back, his face a mixture of shock and guilt. 

Aron felt his entire being crumple with guilt, his hands beginning to tremble. 

He'd had no idea that Danny had been struggling like this, that the Alpha had been dealing with so much for so long...

He'd only added to Danny's suffering...

"Fuck you!" Danny yelled, shoving his finger in Jorel's chest. "And fuck all of you! This isn't a goddamn Pack, this is just a stupid fucking band! And I opened my home up to you and your families, I'm renovating my entire fucking house to fit your families! And what have you done?"

Danny shoved past George and Aron, stalking out of his room and past the audience of the others in the hallway.

The entire Pack just stood there, speechless, stunned. 

The sheer level of anger and heartbreak coming from Danny was overwhelming. Every word he spoke was like a knife in the gut, every accusation painful and true. 

Aron felt physically sick, his skin cold and clammy. 

He could hardly bring himself to look at the Pack, his eyes glued to the floor.

Danny left the house, slamming the door so hard the pictures on the walls shook, one of him and Roman at a water park falling and shattering on the floor. 

Fuck this. Fuck them. This wasn't a Pack, it was a problem. Fuck it, let the cult take him at this point, Danny didn't even care anymore.

The entire Pack just stared at the front door, the silence in the house deafening. 

No one spoke. No one moved. 

But Aron felt a surge of panic rising in his chest. 

Danny was hurt. Danny was alone. And it was all his fault. His eyes flew to Jorel, pleading and terrified. 

"We... We have to go after him," he whispered. Jorel looked shocked, blinking rapidly as if only now coming back to himself. 

"Yeah," he said quickly, his face pale. "Yeah! Come on, we need to go-"

"Who's driving?" Matt asked gruffly, his face still tight from Danny's outburst.

Everyone looked to George, who swallowed hard. George knew Danny better than most of them. He rubbed the back of his neck. "Fine! Let's go!"

They went out to the garage together, George taking the keys from Danny's Jeep. Everyone piled into the Jeep, all of them tense and silent as George started the engine.

Danny didn't even know where he was anymore. He'd been walking for over an hour, too angry and pent up to think. 

He finally stopped and looked up to see where he was and... The Moscow. He sighed. He used to come here all the time with the others back when the band had just started. He wasn't even in the band at the time, Aron was still the lead singer. But... 

Danny walked into the club, pushing through the doors into the smokey, dark, loud club to try and find something familiar to cling to.

It took a moment for everyone to realize where George had driven to, and when they did, Matt grumbled in annoyance. 

"Jesus Christ, George-"

"Relax-" George said, parking the car and cutting the engine. "He's an Alpha - they get pissed, they go to a bar. This is the nearest bar to where he was." 

The Pack piled out of the Jeep, glancing up at the flashing neon sign over the building that read The Moscow.

Danny felt his heart sink as he looked at the crowd. Everyone looked young. Younger than him. Much younger. 

He was an almost 42 year old man in a club packed with twenty and thirty somethings. 

He suddenly felt out of place. But he didn't care. He needed a drink and the Moscow always had decent prices. 

So he walked up to the bar and leaned on his elbows, waiting to be served. 

"Hey there, sexy," one of the younger girls said, batting her eyes as she sidled up to Danny. Danny wrinkled his nose. She smelled human. 

"Hey," he replied, trying to smile.

The Pack entered the club, the atmosphere completely foreign to them. 

The bar was mostly packed with twenty- and early-thirties somethings, all of them young and clearly out having fun on a Saturday night. 

Danny was nowhere in sight, but when George caught sight of the older Alpha leaning on the bar, his brow furrowed. 

"There he is," he said, nodding towards Danny's familiar form.

"How are you? Are you here alone?" The girl asked sweetly, her eyes wide.

She put a hand on his arm lightly, her eyes sweeping over Danny.

From his appearance, Danny didn't look anywhere near forty, and he was damn easy on the eyes. That didn't go unnoticed.

Danny shrugged. 

"Yeah, I came alone," he replied, not really interested in flirting. He didn't come here for a hookup, he came for a drink. However, it seemed his detached and aloof attitude only spurred her on.

Matt gave a long-suffering sigh, leaning in to George and whispering. 

"I knew this was gonna go well.... he's brooding and angry, and we've walked straight into a meat market with a bunch of horny humans. This is gonna go great."

"He looks kind of miserable," Jorel pointed out, frowning as he caught a glimpse of Danny's expression. "Maybe we should get him out before some drunk chick tries to crawl on him-"

"Come on, baby, dance with me," the woman said, tugging on Danny's arm. "I can turn that frown upside down..."

Danny grimaced, pushing her hand off of him. 

"No offense, but you're way too fucking young for me," he said, shaking his head. "I'm not here for friends, I'm here for a drink and music."

"Oh come on, I got two friends right here for ya, big guy," she replied, shoving her tits against his arm. Danny stiffened.

"I hate this," Matt muttered. "Someone needs to go over there before he bites the head off of some poor girl's shoulders. He's pissed, I'm surprised he hasn't yet-"

"I'll go," George said quickly, starting towards the bar before the others could protest.

The girl just wouldn't give up. Danny rolled his eyes and turned to face her, grabbing her by the hips and hauling her up onto the bar. He leaned over her, trapping her there with his hands on either side of her hips. 

"You want me that bad?" he purred. 

"Yeah..." the girl breathed, grinning. 

"Close your eyes," Danny murmured, leaning closer. The girl closed her eyes, tilting her head expectantly for a kiss. 

As soon as her eyes were closed, Danny backed up and walked away, just... leaving her there.

George almost laughed, the corners of his lips tilting up as he watched Danny leave the girl there on the bar, confused and humiliated. 

She'd been too young for him anyway, George thought. Even if Danny was in the mood for hookups, the girl was just too young. 

Danny looked pissed though. And kind of miserable to boot. 

He walked up behind Danny, his hands shoved into his pockets. 

"You look like hell," he observed.

Danny turned, already glaring at George. 

"Yeah, cuz I am," he said angrily. "How the fuck did you even find me?"

"We just drove around until we found a bar," George answered truthfully. 

There was no point in lying, and, right now, Danny looked like he was ready to bite the head off of anyone who pissed him off. 

"And, for the record, we were getting worried about you," George added, moving to lean against the bar beside him.

"Sure," Danny snorted, rolling his eyes. "You were worried about your fucking meal ticket."

George stared at him for a moment, the silence between them tense. 

Danny was being a dick on purpose, and for some reason, it didn't bother George that much. 

Maybe it was just that, he was pretty sure Danny was a little justified in feeling so angry. 

"Don't give me that crap, Dan," George said quietly. "Yeah, we were worried. The whole Pack was."

"Some Pack," Danny muttered, looking away angrily.

It would've been so easy for George to just let Danny lash out like that and leave, to walk out and let Danny cool off on his own. 

But George was a patient man. And Danny was one of his packmates. 

A member of his family. 

George leaned into the bar, letting Danny look away if he damn well wanted to. 

"Wanna talk about it?" George asked.

Danny tried to stay angry, tried to stay standoffish and defensive. But all he wanted was to scream and cry and throw something. 

"No, I don't want to fucking talk about it," he snapped. "I don't want to talk about my friends abandoning me to move across the fucking country and not bothering to check on me when my wife left me and took my only son. I don't want to talk about Aron having sex with me and begging me to bond with him just to take that shit back literally the next day and then keep sending me mixed fucking signals about whether or not he wants me. I don't want to talk about the fact that I've been getting led on by the bitch I've been in love with for over a decade, George, so fuck off."

George flinched as Danny started, almost wincing. 

Danny had laid on that guilt like a sledgehammer and George could do little more than sit there and take it. George could count the number of times he'd seen Danny this heartbroken on one hand. His heart ached. 

Danny was crumbling, and everyone could see it. 

George took a deep breath. 

"What can I do to make it better?" he asked quietly.

"Go the fuck home," Danny snapped. "Take your perfect wife and your perfect daughters and go back to Nashville. This isn't a Pack, George, it's me picking up all of you guys' pieces and putting your asses back together and no one being there for me when I need them."

George winced again, looking down. 

"You're right," he admitted, swallowing hard. "You're right, and I'm not gonna try and explain myself. Yeah, you do take care of everyone, you look out for us. You've been getting your ass kicked in the last few years, and the Pack was selfish. None of us really noticed you struggling-"

"You never do," Danny scoffed, shaking his head. "Never once. I left that goddamn cult first, George. I walked out and you guys SPed me for a fucking month. You only started thinking I was right when Jorel wanted to leave too."

"I know, Danny, I know, okay?" George said, reaching out to put a hand on his shoulder. 

"The fact is, you've taken way too good care of us, and we've forgotten to pay you back. You did the work, and you still are, picking up after us and saving our asses from burning bridges or putting ourselves at risk. We should've been looking after you. And it sucks, because you're breaking down right in front of our eyes, and we didn't even bother to notice-"

Danny laughed bitterly, shaking his head. 

"You only notice when I yell," he said quietly. "You don't notice when I get quiet, or when I stop eating. You only notice when I yell."

George hated it when Danny was right. 

He hated the way Danny laughed, like the way a drowning man laughs, like the way someone laughs as they've given up all hope. 

George swallowed hard, his stomach twisting. 

"Maybe you should yell more," George said quietly. "Maybe that would get our attention."

"And what, be like my dad?" Danny asked, shaking his head again, more firmly. "I don't wanna be like that. I don't want to be like him. It's not my fault that you guys never cared to learn my tells."

"Yeah, and whose fault is it, Danny?" George asked, his voice growing cold. "Maybe some of us would've learned your tells if you weren't always so damn busy taking care of us. Maybe if for once in your damn life, you'd just let someone look after you-"

"So it's my fault that you're shitty friends too?" Danny snapped. "Your failures are my fault now too?"

"Maybe!" George snapped back. "Maybe if you'd stop being such a people-pleaser, you'd stop caring so much about what the Pack thinks that you'd start caring about yourself a bit more, for a change!"

Danny stared at George for a long moment, quiet and face blank. There wasn't anger there, or hurt. Just... nothing.

George waited for Danny to explode, or start screaming, or something. He didn't, he just stared. And for some reason, it put George on-edge. He was waiting for an emotional outburst, because Danny was practically a bomb of pent-up feelings about to go off. 

And all George got was an eerily calm, quiet, blank face.

"I'm not a people pleaser," Danny finally said, quiet and soft. "I just love my friends."

"And you're better at showing it than you are at loving yourself," George pointed out, swallowing hard again. "And the day you start taking care of you the way you take care of all of us, Danny, is the day Hell freezes over-"

"Consider it frozen," Danny interrupted, standing up. "And my first act of taking care of me?" Danny ripped the HU patch off his vest and tossed it at George. "Leaving this dumbass band."

George wasn't expecting the patch to come flying at him, and it almost hit him in the face before he caught it. He stared at it for a long moment, his heart sinking into his stomach. 

He looked back up at Danny, shocked by the resignation in Danny's face, and the finality of his tone. 

"You're... quitting," he said quietly, disbelieving. "You can't-"

"Aron's back now," Danny said quietly, shaking his head. "You don't need his two bit replacement anymore."

Danny turned and started to walk away before he paused. Then he ripped the wolf paw patch off too and let it drop to the ground. "Fuck this Pack."

George didn't know what bothered him more. The fact that Danny was abandoning them so easily, or the way in which he did it. George was almost offended that Danny seemed so.... unemotional about leaving. 

"That's it? That's all you have to say?" George asked incredulously. "After all these years, you're gonna just drop your vest, walk out the door, and call it a day? Just like that?"

Danny stopped walking, his back still turned to George. 

"I got nothing left to give, George," he said, barely audible over the club music. "I've burned out. I've faded away. All those times Jorel sang 'I'd rather burn out than fade away'? I've done both. I have nothing left to give."

"Then what the hell are you gonna do next?" George asked sharply, feeling the anger rising within him. "This isn't just a decision that only affects you, Danny! This isn't some hobby you can just quit, we're supposed to be a family, and by the sounds of it, you're just gonna go off and disappear-"

"Yeah, we're supposed to be a family," Danny laughed bitterly. "Hey, George, when's the last time you talked to your mom?"

George didn't speak for a very long moment. Then, he swallowed hard and forced himself to reply. 

"Almost eight years ago," he admitted quietly.

"Seems like family doesn't mean much after all, huh?" Danny mused, shaking his head. "Take care of yourself, George. You can keep staying at my house. I... I need to get away for a while."

Danny walked away, not bothering to stop as he passed the rest of the Pack who had been hovering at the edge of the bar. He didn't look at any of them. Matt, Jordon, Dylan, Jorel, Lex... Aron. He actively avoided looking at Aron, keeping his head down and shoving his hands in the pockets of his now torn vest.

George, for once, was speechless. He just stood there, watching Danny walk away, his heart and mind racing a mile a goddamn minute. A million questions, half-protests, and emotions swirled around his brain like a damn tornado, but he didn't have the words to say any of them. 

The others were all speechless as well, standing around with their hearts in their throats and shock on their faces, watching Danny leave. Aron looked especially shaken, speechless and frozen, watching the man he loved walk away-

And suddenly, for the first time in a long time, Aron felt a rush of panic. He knew Danny. And Danny could be reckless, in his heartbreak. He'd just walked away from his friends, from his band, from everything that gave him a place to belong. Aron wasn't going to let him do what he so clearly was planning on doing. He wouldn't. Without thinking, without even a hint of hesitation, he ran.

Danny made it to the curb outside before Aron hit his back, thin and boney arms wrapping around him and the Omega's face burying in his back. Danny stiffened, lifting his head and staring at the fading sun as fresh tears pricked his eyes.

Aron didn't stop. He didn't say anything, he just held on tight, burying his face into the back of Danny's vest and sobbing silently, clinging to him with everything he had. 

Aron knew Danny's self-destructive tendencies. And he was going to do what everyone else failed to do, and actually stop Danny from hurting himself-

Danny could feel the Omega clinging to his back, desperately, like a drowning man clinging to a lifeboat. Danny could feel the panic coursing through the omega's body, could scent the anxiety on the air. He swallowed hard, closing his eyes. 

He'd wanted to keep himself from feeling the pain. And suddenly, it was being shoved in his goddamn face. He'd wanted to make it all stop, and now the object of that pain was clinging to him like a limpet. Danny took a shaking breath. 

And then he pushed Aron's arms off of him.

The rejection was like a punch in the chest, and it actually made Aron gasp, staggering back. He just stared at Danny with wide, tear-filled eyes, his body shaking with his sobs. He couldn't even force himself to speak, just stand there and clutch the spot on his chest where Danny's rejection felt more like a stab than a push.

Danny swallowed, and stepped off the curb, crossing the street without looking back.

The others had followed after them, and the Pack was now all standing at the curb, watching Danny walk away. 

For some reason, the Pack remained frozen, staring silently as Danny walked away without even looking back. And that was it for Aron. He couldn't take it any more. He didn't care that they were in public. He didn't care if there were strangers around. He couldn't just let Danny walk away-

Before he could let himself overthink it, Aron bolted. 

He sprinted right out into the middle of the street, straight towards Danny's back, not even bothering to look for oncoming cars.

It was Jorel's panicked shout of Aron's name that had Danny turning. His brain didn't register what was happening right away, but his eyes saw the truck, saw Aron, saw the impact before it could happen and then-

Danny sprinted, tackling Aron and rolling just as the truck barreled by with a loud honk of its horn. He panted, eyes gold with his inner wolf as he crouched over Aron protectively in the street. 

Aron was stunned for a moment, shaken to the core by his near miss. And then, he realized Danny was right there. He could feel the panic leaving Danny, replaced by something wild, something very wolf. Aron's body was still shaking, his limbs trembling like a leaf in the wind. And he was still crying, tears pouring down his face and soaking Danny's vest. 

Aron lunged, throwing himself at Danny and wrapping around him, burying his face into Danny's chest and clinging for dear life.

Danny - the wolf in him, honestly, the human was long gone - wrapped his arms around Aron and lifted him up off the ground, standing. He walked back over to the Pack on the sidewalk and let out a low growl. No words, just a growl. And then he held Aron out to George. 

George took Aron into his arms without a second of hesitation, wrapping his strong arms around the trembling Omega and holding him tight. The other Pack members could do little more than stand there, speechless. Danny-wolf turned around again, not saying a word, just walking away. And seeing the wolf in Danny do it this time felt a lot less like Danny was just spiraling and a lot more final.

Aron made a strangled, pitiful noise as he watched the wolf walk away again, twisting around in George's grip. 

"Danny, please!" Aron begged desperately, reaching out towards Danny and grasping at air. George tightened his hold and pressed Aron's face against his shoulder to muffle his sobs.

"Aron," George said firmly, his voice soft yet stern, "Stop. Breathe. Please."

But Danny didn't turn. He didn't stop. He didn't come back. He just kept walking until he was out of sight, and with Danny's disappearance, Aron just... fell. 

He went completely and utterly limp in George's arms, his eyes wide and blank, his sobs quiet. For the first time in a very long time, Aron's mind was an utter blank, completely and utterly silent. That was... until the pain hit. The pain of Danny's goodbye, of his rejection, and realization that Danny wasn't coming back and that would be the last time he saw the man he loved. All that pain hit at once, and it hit hard. The sheer intensity of the emotional agony that hit him caused Aron to flinch and twist, trying to claw his way free of George's grip as a strangled whimper slipped from his throat. It was as if his heart was being shredded, every muscle in his body jerking and spasming, his entire body seized by grief so intense it was physical.

Danny walked until he stood alone on the Vincent Thomas Bridge, on the sidewalk beside the railing overlooking the water. The night was young, the moon was high and nearly full, the sky was clear. It was a beautiful night. Danny took a step forward, toward the railing, and leaned on it, looking out over the water. 

" Tell my mother, my brothers, my father, and others. I'll be gone till November with LA, my lover, " he sang quietly, his voice carried on the wind as he sang the final bridge of Ghost Beach - one of the only songs in the Hollywood Undead catalogue that was just him singing on it. " Tell my mother, my brothers, my father, and others. I'll be gone till November with Los Angeles, my lover. Hold your sons, your daughters, the sand, the water- We are California, like no other... "

He looked down at the water, wondering what it would be like to just... jump. The impact would probably kill him. But Danny didn't want to die, he just... He just didn't want to live anymore.

The song was a whisper on the wind, a broken echo. Aron could hear it. And it seemed as if the others felt it. Every Pack member tensed, like they could feel that something was very wrong. And George, who was still holding Aron, suddenly stilled. Suddenly, he wasn't thinking. He couldn't think. He was just acting on pure instinct.

Danny heaved himself up, sitting on the railing and kicking his feet out over the water, holding on to a support beam loosely.

The others all reacted at the same moment, gasping and bolting into action all at once. But George was the fastest. 

He wasn't thinking - he could barely even hear himself. 

He just took off sprinting towards the Bridge, his grip on Aron tight as he ran.

" Where's LA? Where's LA? Where's LA? Whatever happened to the city we knew? Where's LA? Where's LA? Where's LA? Whatever happened to the city we knew? " Danny sang, lifting his voice a little higher. His clear, sweet singing always sounded angelic, but in that moment, he was singing with angels. And then he sang something they hadn't heard before, something he'd written just for himself, just for the darkness of his own mind. 

" Open air, open eyes, open wounds. I sitting at the mouth of an open tomb. In the bottom of a flask of - Somebody's drink cuz - I can't follow a dream if I never fuckin' sleep. I'm, Watching from the shadows - Of my reflection, As someone else steals - My redemption. Another spotlight, another lost fight, Another broken mirror, remnants of a lost time, Another memory of a broken mind. Hope's not a thing that I can find. You grow up hard and you grow up fast, with blood on your knees and some dirty cash - but the ocean of whiskey that you drown yourself in, is just another reason that you'll never fit in... "

George ran. He didn't have time to think. He just ran, as fast as he could. The sound of Danny's voice drifted through the air. It was strangely beautiful. Which only made the growing dread in George's heart worse.

" And when I say goodbye," Danny sang out, holding the note. "You'll never ask me why. Because the reasons for my treason - Are written in my skin. And if I might survive - I will turn back time. Because the reasons for my treason - Are heavier than sin. So etch my name into my gravestone, Lay a flower upon my lost soul, Sing my praises at my funeral - Know that I loved you, however futile. "

Danny started to lean forward. George lunged. He launched himself at Danny, shoving the other Pack members aside. His arms closed around Danny's chest, knocking them both to the ground, the wood of the bridge creaking under their weight. The breath was knocked out of Danny as he was hauled back from the railing roughly. For a moment, the world spun, and then the tears started. 

Danny cried. Not yelled or screamed or raged. He just... cried.

George was crying too. He was on his knees, his arms wrapped around Danny's shaking form. He was sobbing, blubbering nonsense in between gasping breaths, repeating that he was sorry over and over again as he clutched Danny to his chest.

The others stood frozen, staring at the scene on the bridge in utter silence, speechless. They'd almost lost Danny. And it was so overwhelming to process that it didn't seem real.

Danny didn't fight it when they got him back into the Jeep. He didn't fight it when they drove him back to his house - where they were all staying and turning it into a pack house. He didn't fight it when Jorel bundled him in his room and got him undressed. 

He didn't fight it when Matt turned down the covers of the bed and pulled every blanket in the house onto it. He didn't fight it when Dylan made popcorn and George and Jordon moved the TV from the guest room into Danny's room. 

He didn't fight it when Lex put on old Star Trek episodes. He didn't fight it when the entire pack bundled onto the bed around him in a massive snuggle puddle that they had used to do when they were kids. 

He didn't fight it when Aron sat in his lap. 

He just wrapped his arms around Aron's waist, leaning against George's shoulder, put his feet over Dylan's back, and let himself be not okay. For the first time in years, his Pack was there for him. So he let them be there for him. And for a long time, it was just them existing. 

Sitting in silence, watching old Star Trek episodes play, huddled together under thick fleece blankets. Aron was sitting in Danny's lap, wrapped up in his strong arms, resting his head against Danny's broad chest. The Pack was quiet, still too choked up by what had almost happened to say much. All of them just wanted to be there for Danny, to comfort him - to let him know it was going to be alright.

Chapter 13: Gravestone

Summary:

In the aftermath of Danny's attempted suicide, the Pack is on eggshells around the broken Alpha. But when Danny loses his goddamn mind on a few cultists that managed to follow them home, something shifts. And Aron makes his move.

Notes:

WARNINGS FOR THIS CHAPTER:

It's very lightly mentioned, but there is cannibalism in this chapter. Also fighting, yelling, and shouting in front of children.

It took four days for Danny to start being alright again. 

The Pack's wives and kids showed up the morning after the incident. The rooms were divided out like how Danny and Jorel had discussed the day before it had all gone south. Danny, the Pack leader and usually so hands on, just... let them handle it. He was quiet, he was withdrawn, but he was present. And when the fourth day rolled around and Madelyn, George's youngest daughter, said something out of pocket and funny, Danny chuckled. It was small, but it was noticed. And it was progress.

Aron breathed. The soft, quiet sound of a laugh. Danny had been so broken and lost, that even a chuckle seemed like a miracle. Aron looked over at Danny, his heart clenching at the sight, drinking in his every feature. He could feel the tension leaving the Pack as Danny's quiet laughter seemed to lift a weight off the house. Danny wasn't exactly over it, though. Aron had broken something in him that he wasn't sure would ever be healed again. 

Everything that had happened between them over the last week was enough drama for a lifetime and Danny was tired. He was so tired. He avoided being alone with Aron. The distance cut Aron deep. He could feel Danny holding back, avoiding him, avoiding being alone with him. His chest ached every time he caught sight of the other man, watching from a distance as Danny clung to George or one of the others. Every moment they weren't talking, every moment he didn't have Danny's arms around him, cut like a knife. Aron had ruined them with his stupidity.

It took two weeks for Danny to be okay enough to start talking again. Slow and short sentences, but talking. It was better than the silence before.

Danny's slow, slow recovery was agonizing. Every time he spoke, said something funny, even smiled- it was an absolute blissful relief. Aron missed the way Danny used to talk, the way he used to laugh, the way he used to smile. The Pack was improving, slowly getting back into the groove of being what they were supposed to be. But the relationship between Aron and Danny was still in the balance, teetering on the brink of collapse.

It was an average day with the new routine when it happened. 

Danny, Jorel, and George were out at the grocery store to pick up supplies - it was a new rule that no one left the house alone now that it was known that the cult was after them for their fucked up breeding program - and it had seemed like it was going to be fine. 

But then a black van rolled up behind them as they got back, three Scientology cult thugs running out to try and grab one of them. 

Danny snapped. 

Danny had never been a particularly violent person, even when dealing with the cult or eating human meat. He was meticulous and cruel, but he wasn't overly and unnecessarily violent. 

So when Danny beat the guys into stains on the pavement with his bare hands, it was... shocking. To say the least. But he felt better once he had done it.

The others had watched. 

They'd watched as the three men stepped out of the van, they'd watched as Danny lost it, they'd watched him turn into an absolute berserker. 

And they'd loved it. 

The sight of Danny defending his Pack, defending his family with brutal force had left them all silent and speechless, staring at the scene with wide eyes.

"I'm sick-" Punch. "Of you fucks-" Punch. "Coming after-" Punch. "My family!" Rip.

Danny panted, blood dripping from his knuckles and spattered across his face as he stood over the unrecognizable bodies in his driveway. His shoulders heaved and his eyes were yellow and his body was hunched slightly. 

He turned his head to look over his shoulder at the watching Pack, his eyes practically glowing with rage that was no longer repressed. 

The Alpha was back.

The others were still staring at Danny, their shock starting to fade, their expressions slowly shifting into respect and awe. Jorel was the first to recover, a pleased smirk slowly spreading across his face as he looked at the bloodied, exhausted man on the driveway. 

"Welcome back."

Danny wiped the back of his hand on his cheek, spreading the blood. He licked his hand. 

"Thanks," he growled. "Asia, Randi, clean this shit up before the pups see." The two women nodded, turning to go and start cleaning. Jorel's amused expression hadn't faded as he stepped forward and gave Danny's shoulder a light smack. 

"Good to have you back, Alpha."

Danny growled to Jorel, but it wasn't aggressive or hostile, just acknowledgement. His eyes were still yellow as he stalked back into the house. 

"Jordon, George, get the groceries inside. Lex, Dylan, start on dinner. Erin, get the pups ready for the meal. It's time these kids had real human meat."

The others exchanged delighted looks, the atmosphere in the house immediately becoming lighter and almost buoyant as they rushed off to obey Danny's orders. 

Aron stayed silent, staying in the background, watching Danny as an unbearable ache filled his chest. Danny walked right past Aron, not looking at him. 

"Jorel, get rid of that van. They followed us from the store, but they may have GPS location tracking on the van. We can't have them finding our house." Danny started up the stairs toward his room to clean up.

"Got it, boss." Jorel nodded, clapping Danny's shoulder quickly before jogging off to get rid of the van. 

Aron's mind was spinning, trying to make sense of all the conflicting feelings going through him. He wanted to chase after Danny, hug him and comfort him, tell him how sorry he was for hurting him. But Danny was ignoring him. And it hurt.

Danny paused at the top of the stairs, taking a deep breath. 

"Aron," he called down. Everyone froze as he addressed the Omega directly for the first time in weeks. "Come with me."

Aron stopped. Dead still, like a rabbit caught in headlights, his eyes wide and his ears straining to hear the Alpha. The others glanced his way, exchanging silent looks. But it was George who spoke first, his voice hesitant. 

"Danny, are you sure that's-..."

"Now." Danny didn't wait to be questioned again, he just walked to his room.

Aron flinched and bolted, obeying the command - not out of the desire to, but out of the biological imperative that the Alpha had just invoked. There was no question of not going after Danny. He was already half-way up the stairs before the words had even stopped echoing through the house. Danny opened his bedroom door to allow Aron inside, following after him and shutting it with a loud click. 

Danny went right past Aron and into the bathroom, taking off his shirt. 

"Come here," he said, a little less aggressive now, but still firm and detached.

Aron followed without hesitation. The feeling that something was off about Danny only seemed to deepen, twisting and churning in his gut like molten metal. But he couldn't ignore or fight the Alpha's commands, it was as if his entire body was vibrating with the need to obey. 

So, without a glance or a word, Aron walked over and waited quietly for Danny's next command. Danny sat on the edge of the tub, leaning forward. 

"One of them got me on my back pretty good," he said quietly. "I need you to make sure it's not too bad. First aid kit is under the sink. I'd... I'd rather it be you than Matt."

Oh God. Danny wanted his help. 

That thought alone was enough to make the knot of dread in Aron's chest slightly loosen, and he swallowed hard. 

"U-Understood, boss." He crouched down and reached under the sink, taking the first-aid kit and standing up again, his eyes flickering up to look at Danny's back. "Where... Where did he get you...?"

"Right about here," Danny said, reaching around to his lower back. A massive bruise was forming and a large laceration went from one side of his spine to the other, but it wasn't deep. "Hurt like a bitch."

Aron grimaced at the sight of Danny's injury, his heart twisting in his chest. 

He swallowed and took a step closer to Danny, reaching out to grab the rubbing alcohol, dabbing a cotton ball with it. 

"This'll sting a bit, boss." 

He pressed the cotton ball to Danny's back, wiping and gently cleaning the wound, his eyes focused on his work, though they flickered up to check Danny's face every few moments, trying to get a read on his expression. Danny was quiet, the occasional hiss of discomfort the only noise between them. Slowly, however, his eyes returned to their natural brown, the glowing yellow fading. Danny swallowed. 

"Don't... Don't call me boss," he whispered.

The command sent a stab of agony through Aron. But he swallowed down the feelings that threatened to rise, focusing on his work, the blood and dirt from Danny's wound being cleaned away, the skin around the wound slowly becoming visible. 

But when he spoke, his voice shook, his fingers trembling as they started to wrap Danny's wound with bandages and gauze. 

"Then... What do you want me to call you...?"

Danny swallowed again, trying not to think about all the things he wanted Aron to call him. No, he wasn't ready for that yet. He hadn't forgiven Aron yet. He wasn't sure if he ever could. 

"Just... Just Danny."

Aron nodded slowly, his eyes still focused on the bandage he was wrapping around Danny's body. 

"Danny..." He breathed out slowly, his hands moving slowly over Danny's skin, making sure the bandage was good and secure before he sat back on his heels, looking up to finally meet Danny's eyes. His eyes, though he was not able to help it, were watering, his expression almost desperate as he held Danny's gaze. "...Can I say something?"

Danny sighed, his head dropping and his eyes closing. 

"Say whatever you want, Aron," he murmured. "I won't stop you."

Aron didn't hesitate this time, swallowing down every bit of hesitation, doubt, fear, and nerves. 

"I'm sorry." His voice immediately cracked, a sob breaking from his chest, his eyes closing for a moment as he let it all out. "Danny... P-please... I'm so sorry, I didn't mean for it to happen like this... I never wanted to-..." He swallowed thickly, forcing himself to open his eyes, and meeting Danny's gaze with his own teary one.

"It's fine," Danny said hoarsely. "It's... It's fine. Just... Just don't lead me on anymore."

Aron swallowed hard, his eyes closing for a moment as his heart twisted in his chest. 

"I won't... I'll never do it again, I swear...!" He forced himself back to his feet, his hands trembling as he reached up and wiped at his face, trying to force his tears back, despite the way his entire body was trembling. "Danny... If..." He swallowed hard, steeling himself for the answer he knew was coming. "Do you... Still want me...?"

Danny stood abruptly, turning away from Aron and turning on the sink to wash the blood off his hands. 

"You should go back downstairs," he said, curt and direct. "Go help the kids eat their first bites of human meat or something."

That hit Aron like a sucker punch to the gut, his entire world tilting and spinning. He felt like he couldn't breath, he couldn't breath, he could hear the blood rushing in his ears like a tsunami. He stared at Danny's back for a long moment. Long enough that he was shaking and tears were starting to roll down his cheeks. He swallowed and turned, walking stiffly towards the door.

As soon as he heard Aron leave, Danny leaned on the bathroom counter and turned off the sink. His eyes were shut tight and his cheeks were wet with tears and his body was shaking from repressed everything. 

"Yes," he whispered, barely audible. And he hated himself for still wanting Aron, even after everything the Omega had done to him.

As soon as he stepped out into the hall, Aron lost whatever strength he'd been barely clinging to, his body simply giving out on him. He fell to his hands and knees in the hall, his tears pouring from his eyes, the gasping, ragged sobs tearing from his chest. The only thing he could think of was Danny's whisper and his heart crushed as he realized Danny still wanted him, after everything, despite him ruining everything between them. He stayed on his hands and knees in the hallway, just sobbing, his tears making a wet spot on the carpet. But his tears were drowned out by the sound of laughter and conversation. He raised his head, hearing the Pack downstairs talking and laughing, the smell of cooking meat filling the house. Aron swallowed back his tears, the need to go back to Danny, to comfort him and just be there for him almost too much to ignore.

Danny leaned his forehead against the bedroom door, listening to Aron cry. It hurt. It was agony to listen to him sob like that, but Danny knew himself well enough to know that if he opened that door, if he comforted Aron again, then it was just going to end up like last time. Danny's heart on a string and Aron fucking eating it. 

After a long, long moment, Aron's head raised, a small spark of determination filling his heart. He forced himself shakily to his feet, wiping the last of the tears from his face and swallowing down his hurt. He steeled himself, taking a deep breath, and starting down the stairs, his heart still pounding. As he started down the stairs, he heard Jorel's voice, loud and amused. 

"So... What was that shout I heard upstairs?" 

Aron swallowed a lump of cold, twisted dread in his throat as they all turned to look at him.

Danny walked down the steps behind Aron, in fresh clothes. 

"He got antiseptic in my mouth," Danny lied easily, walking past Aron to join the pack at the massive dining table. He helped himself to a plate of meat, throwing a few potatoes onto the plate as well before sitting at the head of the table. Jorel arched an eyebrow, clearly not quite believing Danny, as the others smirked or outright laughed. 

"That must have been a hell of an accident. I thought I heard something break too."

"Yeah, my dignity," Danny joked. "Marley, kiddo, could you bring me a beer while you're up?" 

Marley, Jorel's daughter from his previous marriage, nodded and pulled a beer out of the case with her free hand, passing it to Danny. 

"Here ya go, bossman!" she said breezily in that almost ethereally whimsical voice she had. Danny smiled at the not-all-there girl in thanks, cracking it open.

Aron swallowed, a small stab of jealousy hitting his heart as he looked at Danny and Marley, the girl calling him 'boss', the smile that Danny was giving her so easily. He swallowed back the emotion, a small spark of determination in his chest. He wouldn't give in. 

So he pulled his shoulders back and walked into the dining room, sitting down at the table, making sure to sit right across from Danny.

Danny glanced up as Aron took the seat at the other end of the table. Jorel and George, the only other two Alphas, both looked up in surprise, Jorel's mouth opening just a bit. 

Danny blinked. The two ends of the table, the heads of the table, were reserved for Pack Leaders. Jorel was the Second, but Danny didn't have a mate, there was no Luna of the Pack. Lunas were the Alpha leader's mate and the default leader when the Alpha was not around, above the Second. If the Alpha was the king of the Pack, then the Luna was the queen (for lack of more gender inclusive terms). The Luna was the only mate of the Alpha. Aron sitting there had basically just declared his intentions to vie for that position. 

Danny forced himself to look away, to not react. Aron hadn't realized what he had meant when Danny had given him the heart of his kill. In wolf culture that was a courting gesture, but Aron hadn't known. He couldn't assume Aron knew this part of the culture either.

Aron swallowed down his hesitation, looking from Danny to the others. There was a tense silence filling the room and Aron didn't know what he'd done. At least, he didn't know what he'd done until a long moment later, when Jorel suddenly arched one of his eyebrows, his gaze flickering to Danny for a moment before he looked back to Aron. 

"Trying to make a point there, huh, Ruru?"

Aron swallowed thickly, his eyes widening, his heart pounding. He'd made a mistake. A bad mistake. But it was too late to pull back now. He forced himself to lift his chin and meet Jorel's gaze head on, taking a deep breath. 

"Yes."

Danny's head shot up and his eyes locked on Aron. Did he know? Did he know that he had basically just declared his intention to bond with Danny, to become the Luna? Did he know or was the point he was trying make something else? The others were staring at him now, their expressions surprised, wary, and somewhat confused. It was Jorel who finally spoke a moment later, his eyes glittering with quiet humor as a smirk slowly spread across his face. 

"Do you even know what you just did?"

"Yes." Aron's voice was low and level, even though his heart was skipping beats, his hands trembling. He swallowed hard, holding the alphas gaze. "I know exactly what it means."

Danny's shoulders were tense. He didn’t believe Aron, not for a second. Of course he didn't know what it meant to declare something like that. Aron didn't understand Pack dynamics, or anything involving werewolves. He hadn't... He had gone back to the cult before the pack had started to actually learn about it and interact with other wolves when touring. Of course he didn't know. 

Jorel raised a hand, gesturing toward Aron. 

"So you know that you basically just told the whole pack you want Danny to fuck you brainless, bite your neck, and give you a bunch of puppies?" he asked, only half teasing. 

Danny's face turned bright fucking red.

Aron's cheeks flushed, his eyes widening. He hadn't known that part, the bond mark not having been explained to him. His face turned three shades of beet red, the tips of his ears burning. 

"N-no... I didn't know that..." 

Jorel's smirk grew, his eyes lighting up as he looked between Aron and Danny, his expression absolutely delighted with the turn of events.

"Well, you know now, buddy." Jorel winked at Aron, chuckling.

Crap.

Aron swallowed hard, hoping that his misunderstanding wouldn't piss Danny off any worse.

Danny was red as a lobster, his face flaming with embarrassment and shame. He swallowed hard, looking at Aron, his heart racing. 

Aron hadn't meant to do it. He'd just admitted that he hadn't known, hadn't realized. But... Danny couldn't help but look up, meeting Aron's eyes. 

Despite everything, despite the pain and confusion and the absolute devastation that came in the wake of Aron's continued rejections and toying with Danny's emotions - knowingly or not... Danny still hoped. It was stupid, it was useless, it was nothing but a fool's hope. 

But it was hope.

Aron swallowed hard, his mind racing a thousand miles a minute. He hadn't meant that. He'd just wanted to… He didn't know what he'd wanted, but it wasn't this. His heart was hammering in his chest, his eyes glued on Danny's. He swallowed down his nerves and licked his lips. 

"I... Didn't know..." He hated how his voice shook around the words.

"Well, now you know," George said helpfully. "So if you wanna change seats, Ruru, now's your chance."

It was an out. Everyone at the table knew it. An easy out for Aron to laugh off the mistake, without judgment, and move to a different chair and everything would be fine. 

Danny swallowed, looking back down at his plate of meat and stabbing the human thigh muscle with his fork.

Aron opened his mouth... And closed it. He... Didn't want an out. He didn't want to back down. 

He swallowed hard and leaned back in his seat, looking directly at Danny. 

"No."

At that moment, time seemed to slow down. Around him, Danny could hear the breathing, the heartbeats, of his Pack, the sharp inhales and the creaking of wooden chairs as people turned to look at him. Gauge his reaction. 

It was like he was in a video game as he slowly raised his head, watching himself in the third person stare across the table at Aron. 

Danny could hear his own blood in his ears, his heartbeat pulsing like a migraine onset. 

And then, all at once, he was back in his body, staring through his own eyes, and he could hear everything, including his own voice as he spoke without even realizing. 

"You said you'd stop leading me on, Aron."

Aron swallowed hard, the blood draining from his face. 

Danny's words were like a knife through his heart. But he wouldn't pull away. 

He wouldn't let Danny keep pushing him away like it was nothing. 

"I'm not," he said quietly, almost desperately. 

God, he was making a fool of himself.

I'm not.

God, why did those words hurt more than if Aron had said it was all a joke? Why did it hurt more than if Aron had started laughing and saying that this entire thing had been an elaborate fucking prank and he hadn't changed at all and he still hated all of them and--

Why did it hurt so fucking bad?

"Aron, I swear to God," Danny growled, his grip on his fork getting so tight that the metal bent. "If you are just fucking with me, I will never forgive you."

"I'm not!" Aron practically yelled, his voice cracking from the force. 

His heart was skipping beats, his stomach in knots. 

He could feel the others staring at them, watching them like they were some sort of drama show, but he ignored them. 

He couldn't take the distance between Danny and him anymore. He had to fix it. He had to, even if it killed him.

Danny almost snarled, but he managed to keep a lid on that reaction. Dylan raised his hands and stood from the table. 

"Okay, I think we need to set some fucking ground rules for this shit," the Beta said, glaring at Danny and Aron. "I don't know what's going on with you two, and I don't need to know. But if you're going to bring it to the damn dinner table like the Desperate Housewives, then you make it Pack business."

"Yeah, I agree," Matt said, nodding along with his fellow Beta. "And once it's Pack business, it's Pack business. So let's hear it. What fucking happened? Why are you two acting like a pair of high school pansies?"

Aron swallowed hard, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment and shame. 

He stared down at his hands, his heart pounding. 

God, he'd wanted this to be just between him and Danny. Not with the others listening in like it was some soap opera. 

He felt like a fool. 

But he couldn't pull back. 

"I... I messed up." He admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper.

"Messed up how?" Dylan prompted. Danny put his fork down. 

"Ava, Marley, James, take the kids and your food and go hang out down in your rooms," he said, his voice tired as he rubbed his hands over his face. "This isn't a conversation for children to hear."

Marley and Ava's eyes widened, their cheeks flushing. 

They stood up quickly, picking up their plates and their kids, herded the toddlers and little ones out of the room. 

Aron swallowed hard, the room suddenly feeling much smaller. It felt like all eyes were on him.

Dylan was about to prompt Aron again when Danny spoke. 

"We had sex." 

It was such a simple statement but the reactions were... varied. Matt looked a little green around the gills but it wasn't because he was uncomfortable with two men having sex. It was because- 

"Oh God, you fucked in the bed I'm sleeping in?!" 

Yeah, that. 

Danny sighed, rubbing his temples. 

"Anyway... We had sex, the first night he was here. Before you all came up. He asked me to bite him, mate him, and I didn't want it to happen in the heat of the moment because I wanted it to mean something so I told him to sleep on it. And the next morning, he said it was just instincts making him do all that and say all that."

God, saying it all out loud hurt even fucking worse.

"And since then, he has been fucking toying with me, it feels like. Like... He took the heart I gave him, and didn't know what it meant. We keep fucking kissing, but no it's all just instincts. And my crash out... It happened because I can't fucking get over him and he doesn't want me. So yeah. There it is."

Aron swallowed hard, shame twisting his stomach. 

He was toying with Danny? 

Was that how this had come off to him? 

He could never. 

His eyes were burning, his vision blurring as he swallowed hard, a lump in his throat. 

"I... Danny... I didn't..." It was hard to speak when his throat was so tight. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to make you think... I'm not just playing games. I'm just scared. I've never had anything like this before..."

"Yeah, I've been fucking patient, Aron," Danny muttered. "I know you don't know shit about how wolves work, hell we all know that. I've been fucking patient and I've tried to respect your boundaries and I've tried so goddamn fucking hard and I just--"

"Okay, calm down, take a breath," George interrupted, putting a hand on the table to get attention. "It sounds like you two have this toxic ‘will they, won't they’ and that shit ain't healthy."

"Yeah, I think you both need to just get all your feelings out in the open and then be honest about what you want," Asia added, her voice much gentler than George's.

Aron swallowed hard, nodding. 

Yeah, he wanted that. 

He couldn't just do this anymore. He needed to get it all out. And maybe... Maybe that would make things better. 

Or maybe they just wouldn't be on speaking terms ever again. 

But at least it would be over. 

God, his hands were shaking. He pressed his fingers to his thighs, trying to hide the shaking.

Jorel nodded, leaning back in his chair and chewing on a finger bone. 

"Alright, Dan, you first. You have a lot of feelings pent up, so get 'em out."

Danny swallowed and pushed his half eaten plate of meat away so he could rest his elbows on the table. 

"Fine. You want my feelings? Here are my feelings. I've been in fucking love with Aron since high school. I resented Jorel a lot back then because Aron was fucking obsessed with him, but I got over it. And I tried to get over him with Reese, but we all know how that fucking ended up. So yeah, when I got the chance to maybe have something with him, I went for it. Maybe I was too eager and too invested and he wasn't and that's on me."

Aron swallowed hard, his heart hurting as he listened to Danny. He wanted to look away, to hide his face, but now wasn't the time. He had to face this. He was the one that had created this whole mess. He was the one that had pushed away Danny's advances and pulled back. He had to own up. He wasn't going to make Danny a fool because of his own fears.

"Danny..." he mumbled, swallowing hard, his heart pounding. "I'm sorry. I should've... I should've just told you instead of... I don't know. I should've... I've been... scared. For forever. I've been scared of admitting... that I've always..." 

He couldn't think of the words. He couldn't think of anything when his eyes were burning like this. This was so damn hard.

Lex stood up and walked over to Aron, putting a comforting hand on his shoulder. 

"It's okay, Aron," she murmured. "We listen and we do not judge. Just express what you need to express, okay?"

Aron swallowed hard, forcing himself to keep talking. 

Every word was like broken glass in his throat. 

His whole life, he'd never said these words to anyone before. But he was going to try and he was going to say them. 

"I... I've always-..." He forced his eyes down so he didn't have to look at Danny, afraid of what he would see there. 

"I've always... loved you... even when... I didn't think that you loved me... or didn't want me..."

There was a moment of quiet, the Pack seeming to hold a collective breath. Erin and Asia exchanged a knowing glance, the two intimately familiar with dealing with Alphas in this particular Pack and how difficult it could be to get through to them. 

Danny, to his credit, didn't immediately react. He was stuck between wanting to flip the table because he didn't believe Aron for a goddamn second and just biting the shit out of his neck and tossing the entire situation in the fire. 

Danny sighed heavily, pressing his fingers into his closed eyes. 

"I want to believe you," he said quietly. "But fuck, Aron, how am I supposed to believe that when you've spent the last week being so fucking hot and cold with me? One minute you're trying to jump my bones and the next you're telling me that it's nothing but instinct. Which is it?"

"Both!" Aron's voice cracked, his entire body shaking with emotion. "Danny, both! It's both! Instincts, feelings, I want both of them! I've always... I've always wanted both of them! I'm just... terrified of both of them too..."

Danny stood abruptly, his chair clattering to the floor. 

"So what do you want then?!" he yelled, desperately. "Just tell me what you fucking want from me! I can't do this guessing game shit anymore!"

George stood up to put a hand on Danny's shoulder, to keep him from doing something but even George wasn't sure what he was preventing at this point.

"I don't know! I DON'T KNOW, DANNY!"

Aron exploded, the tears he had been holding back for years finally bursting from under his skin. 

He slammed his hands on the table, trembling as he panted for breath. 

He felt like his entire life had led up to this moment. He felt like everything he had been pushing back for the last twelve years was going to come bursting from inside him.

"I wish that I knew!" He sobbed, slamming his aching head down into the table hard enough for the dishes to rattle. 

"I wish I knew what I wanted! I wish I could just- just- I don't know what I want, but I know that I want you!"

"Jesus, fuck-" Dylan tried to go to Aron but Danny was already shooting across the table, pulling Aron's head off the table and dragging him out of the chair. 

"Stop hurting yourself," Danny murmured, hands rough but soothing as he wiped Aron's tears and cupped his cheeks. "Don't... Don't do that. Don't hurt yourself, please, baby, I'm sorry I yelled, I'm sorry."

Aron's entire chest spasmed as he choked back a sob. 

He wrapped his arms around Danny's neck, clutching him like a lifeline, practically shaking with desperation as every word felt like someone had stabbed him through the heart. 

"Danny-" He sobbed, pushing his forehead against Danny's, his entire being breaking as his shoulders shook with each gasping cry. 

"I love you..."

Danny's face crumpled, twisting in pain and desperation as he held Aron's face. He closed his eyes, taking a shuddering breath. 

"I love you too," he croaked. 

And then he was kissing Aron again. God, every time he kissed him, it felt like either a shot of dopamine or a shot to the heart. Danny couldn't tell which one this kiss would end up being yet as his hand slid into Aron's hair and his tongue pressed to the Omega's lips.

Aron's eyes slipped closed, his entire being shuddering as he returned Danny's kiss. 

God, he loved him... 

He didn't just love him. He loved him so violently, like Danny was the oxygen to his soul and Danny alone was responsible for keeping him alive and whole... 

Aron clung to him, fingers tangling in his hair as he opened his mouth desperately under his.

Danny only broke the kiss because Jorel cleared his throat. But the Alpha pressed his forehead to Aron's and didn't pull away, didn't move apart. 

"So, I think it's safe to say that you two are on the same page now," George said, smirking slightly. Asia smacked her mate's arm lightly, but she was smiling. 

"Okay, so wait, hang on," Matt said and Dylan groaned. 

"Matt, don't ruin this with your jokes, please," he muttered. Matt flipped him off. 

"Fuck you, I'm being serious," the Beta snapped. "Does this mean you two are dating?" 

Danny's soft brown eyes opened and they were yellow. 

"No," he said, low and growling. "It means he's mine."

Aron swallowed hard, his knees trembling with relief when Danny claimed him so fiercely. 

He could feel the eyes from the others but he didn't care. This was between Danny and him. 

Aron shuddered, Danny's growl doing something to his entire body, some deep, primal, Omega part of him that had been starving for the past thirteen years. 

Aron swallowed hard, his face still cradled in Danny's hands, his eyes glowing a soft, pale green back up at him. 

"Yours..." He agreed softly. His fingers slid into Danny's hair, nails scratching against his scalp as he nuzzled against him.

Danny growled low in the back of his throat, a rumbling noise of pure instinctive response. He slid his hands down Aron's back, those golden eyes flicking from person to person as if daring them to challenge the claim. 

"Omega," Danny murmured. "You get one last chance."

Danny didn't want any misunderstandings, any regrets, any moments of doubt. Not anymore. 

"You sat in that chair, you said you weren't leading me on again. So this is your last chance to back out, your last chance to run away again."

Danny stepped back, releasing Aron entirely. 

"You say the word and I won't hold back anymore."

No... No. He wasn't letting Danny go again. Not again. He had run away once. He wasn't doing it again. 

Aron grabbed Danny by the collar, not letting him back away, and slammed their lips together, trying to pour everything into the kiss. 

He wanted Danny. 

God, he had such a weakness when it came to Danny.

Danny growled into the kiss, hands roughly sliding up Aron's ass and back, pulling the Omega flush against him as his tongue forced its way into his mouth. D anny lifted Aron up by his waist, one arm going under the Omega's ass to support him. Aron wrapped his lean legs eagerly around Danny's hips as he gasped into the kiss. 

He tasted like mint and beer and... And just... Danny.  Aron pressed closer, his fingers tangling in Danny's hair as his mouth opened under his, surrendering himself completely.

Danny turned and walked out of the kitchen toward the stairs, his hands and mouth never leaving Aron but for a few seconds to find the railing for the stairs.  Behind him, the Pack was a mixture of smiles and wrinkled noses at the display of affection, but they settled back at the table to finish dinner without complaint. Dylan let out a wolf whistle, but Danny ignored him.

 

Chapter 14: Best of Me

Summary:

Aron and Danny finally stop fighting.

Notes:

WARNINGS FOR CHAPTER:

Danny gets ROUGH. Degradation. Angry sex. Daddy kink. Praise kink

Aron was more than happy to let Danny lead him around by the tongue, his head spinning from lack of air and the fact that Danny was carrying him. 

God, he would have never believed years ago that Danny was strong enough to just pick him up by his ass like this. 

Aron broke the kiss, panting, his eyes half-lidded, his body already aching and desperate to be filled. 

"Danny..." He murmured, nuzzling against him.

"My Ruru," Danny murmured, kissing along Aron's throat as he kicked his bedroom door open. It had been a week and a half since Danny and Aron had first slept together and it already felt too fucking long. 

Danny dropped Aron on the messy bed, already tugging off his own shirt and kicking off his shoes. 

"Tell me you want this, Omega," he murmured. "Tell me this isn't just another fucking game for you."

"I want you, Alpha..." Aron was just as desperate as Danny was, his green eyes dark and desperate, a needy whimper in his throat as he kicked off his own shoes and pulled his sweatshirt off over his head. He looked up at Danny, his fingers trembling as he reached out to fumble with Danny's belt. "It's not a game, Danny," he pleaded, panting for breath.

Danny grunted as Aron tugged his belt loose and his jeans down. He slid a hand into the Omega's hair, fingers curling. 

"I've waited for twenty fucking years to have you, Aron," Danny murmured. "I'm not waiting any longer. If this is what you want, then I'm going to take what I want."

"Take it, then, Alpha." Aron's head tilted back as Danny's hand gripped his hair, his entire body shuddering. God, he needed to feel Danny inside him. Aron was more than eager to let Danny take charge, to take whatever he wanted. "I want you, Danny..." He pleaded softly. "Please..."

"Open your fucking mouth," Danny growled, shoving his jeans and boxers down.

Aron swallowed hard, around nothing as he opened his mouth wide, whimpering quietly.

Danny pushed Aron's head down a bit before thrusting roughly into the Omega's mouth, groaning. 

"God, I've wanted to do this for years," he grunted, holding Aron's head in place as he moved his hips. "Every time you opened that bitchy mouth of yours to diss the band, to diss me, I imagined shutting you up like this, you know that?"

Jesus... Jesus Christ, how the hell did Danny know exactly what to say to drive him absolutely insane?

Aron couldn't have answered if he wanted to, his lips stretched obscenely wide to accommodate him. 

His eyes were wide, begging Danny for something the Alpha would have to give. 

Aron would have told Danny that he'd imagined the same thing, except he was a little... Busy at the moment...

Danny slid deeper. 

"Relax your throat," he ordered. "Don't gag. I want you to feel me in your goddamn vocal cords and know that I'm fucking that pretty singing voice of yours, Deuce."

Aron tried to stay relaxed, his hands flexing against the mattress. He didn't want to gag. He didn't want to disappoint Danny. God, he wanted to be everything that he wanted, that Danny wanted.

Danny moved harder, deeper, sliding past Aron's tongue and into his throat. Danny was by no means a small man. He was big in every aspect of the word, long and thick, and when his pelvis touched Aron's lips, he could feel his length bending to force its way down Aron's esophagus. 

"Fuuuuuuuuuck," Danny groaned, head tilted back as his hips started moving.

God, it was a good thing that he didn't have a gag reflex... Otherwise, he'd be gagging hard right now.

Aron made a strangled noise, his eyes watering as his jaw started aching.

Jesus, this was exactly where Aron had always dreamed of being. 

Under Danny, completely at his mercy.

He couldn't stop the whimpers and moans, his entire body trembling as Danny took control like he had always wanted. He loved it.

Aron's hips ground against the mattress, desperate for relief as pleasure spread from his mouth throughout his body as he started to slick.

"Yeah, that's it, baby, take my cock like a good boy," Danny growled, his fist tightening in Aron's hair as he held the Omega still and thrust into his throat. "Such a good boy for Daddy, aren't you? My precious little Omega bitch boy..."

That... Jesus. That was not fair.

Aron whimpered, his body trembling with desperation as he let Danny take what he wanted, to use him however he needed. 

He was Danny's. Aron was his "good boy." Aron was his "bitch boy." Aron was everything Danny needed and wanted.

Danny moved faster, hard, his cock bruising the back of Aron's throat as he fucked and used the Omega's mouth like a goddamn toy. 

"Yeah, you're my bitch now, Deuce," he growled, his other hand coming up to join the first in Aron's hair. "You talked all that mad shit about me being a little bitch and a reject replacement, but look who's the bitch now, huh? You like this? You like sucking my cock like a good little slut? How's it fucking feel, Big Deuce, to be my little whore?"

God, Danny knew exactly what buttons to push. Danny knew how to use every single one of his faults and insecurities against him. And the awful part was that Aron would be more than happy to do anything Danny needed if he was going to talk like that. 

Danny knew that, relished in it. And more importantly, Aron loved every second of it.

God, yes. 

He didn't care if he wasn't going to be able to speak tomorrow. He didn't care if he could still sing. All that mattered was that Danny wanted him. And that Danny was taking what he wanted. 

Aron was Danny's bitch.

His "little whore".

He was just a "little bitch." He was Danny's little boy, Danny's little whore, Danny's little Omega whore.

God, he was leaking all over the covers.

"Yeah, fuck, this mouth feels so fucking good," Danny groaned, his yellow eyes hooded as he watched his cock disappear over and over again into Aron's mouth with the gulping, slurping, gagging sounds like a backtrack to the entire thing. "Fuck, yeah, bitch, swallow my fucking babies--"

Danny came with a loud shout, thrusting hard forward as he shot his load down Aron's throat.

God, those sounds...those sounds! Jesus Christ, the things he would do if it meant that's how he was going to sound from now on... 

Aron shuddered, his entire body aching, pleasure and power coursing through his veins. He had never felt anything like this with anybody else before... And he hoped that he never would again.

He wanted Danny... Just Danny. 

Aron choked, his eyes watering as he swallowed desperately, swallowing more cum than he ever had before.

He was never going to be able to get the taste of Danny out of his mouth. And he didn't want to.

Danny panted as he pulled out of Aron's mouth slowly, careful not to cause damage. He wiped his thumbs over the Omega's cheeks, catching his tears. 

Danny leaned down, pushing Aron back onto the bed and licked his cheek, tasting the tears. 

"Good boy," he murmured. "Such a good boy."

Aron whimpered softly, nuzzling against Danny's hand. He wanted the approval, needed the approval, the praise. 

He was good.

He was a good boy.

"Danny," he whispered, sounding broken and needy. "Danny, please..." 

A whine escaped his throat, his hips rolling against the mattress desperately again.

Danny was already stroking himself to get hard again, his other hand finding Aron's inner thigh. 

"I know, baby, I know," he murmured. Danny dipped a finger inside Aron and licked it clean, groaning. "Yeah, you're fucking delicious... I'd love to have you sit on my face, babe, but maybe another time."

He shivered, clenching weakly around Danny's finger.

This was so damn good but it wasn't enough. 

And Danny knew it.

"Please, Danny... I need- I need you," he pleaded, his voice cracking at the end. "Please, Alpha, I want you inside of me."

"Then present for me, Omega," Danny growled, standing straight beside the bed, hand pumping his cock as he stared down at Aron with heady yellow eyes.

A whine of raw need broke through his throat as he rolled over, lifting his hips in the air and burying his face in the sheets. He felt so vulnerable like this, on all fours like an animal, completely at Danny's mercy. 

He shuddered as he felt Danny's hands slide over his hips, gripping him tightly.

"God, you're fucking hot," Danny growled. He got behind Aron on the bed, grabbing the Omega's thin hips and dragging him backward. Danny pressed against Aron's opening, breathing hard. 

"Last chance, Aron," he warned. "Tell me to stop, tell me you don't want this - my knot, my mark, my fucking everything - and I'll stop."

If there was any hesitation at all before, it was gone now.

He wanted this.

He wanted this more than anything.

"Don't stop," Aron begged. "I don't want you to stop. I want you. I want your knot, your mark, your everything. Please, Danny, don't stop. You're the only Alpha I want."

Danny snarled, wrapping his hand around the back of Aron's neck. 

"Then I'm the only Alpha you'll get," he growled before he thrust forward and buried himself inside Aron.

There was an agonizing moment when he felt himself stretch to accommodate Danny.

And then... It felt like his breath was punched out of his chest.

A cry ripped from his throat, broken and loud, his hands digging into the sheets.

"Danny-"

Danny's hand was still on the back of his neck, holding him down.

"Danny, oh please-"

Danny snarled, hand tightening around Aron's neck and pushing him face first into the mattress as the Alpha leaned over the Omega, thrusting hard and fast and deep. 

"You're mine now, Aron," Danny growled. "For real this time. No more changing your fucking mind, no more blaming this on instincts, no more fucking running from me."

Danny hooked his free hand further around Aron's hip, holding him by the pelvis as Danny slammed into him over and over.

A sharp cry tore from his throat when he tried to lift his head, only for Danny to push him back down.

He was completely trapped.

"I-I'm yours, I'm yours," he moaned, his words muffled against the sheets.

Danny was everywhere. His scent, his body, his voice. It was too much. He was too much.

Aron loved it.

"Damn fucking right," Danny growled, leaning further over the Omega as he rutted into him roughly. Danny's teeth ached, canines extending into fangs and drool started to gather under his tongue. 

He licked Aron's scent gland on his neck, moving his hand from Aron's pelvis to balance himself, fisting the sheets beside Aron's head. 

"Mine," he snarled, drool dripping from his lips and onto the back of Aron's shoulder.

God, this was so much better than any of his dreams.

Danny was everywhere, caging him in, covering him with his body, licking and sucking against his scent gland on his neck.

A whine ripped from his throat, high and broken, his entire body shuddering. 

"Yours, baby, I'm yours, I promise, alpha, please-"

Aron sobbed against sheets, his entire mind narrowing down to just the feeling of Danny, Danny, Danny.

Danny growled, a low and rumbling sound in his chest that wasn't conscious. The growl of an Alpha wolf overtaking the human mind entirely. Danny's blinked and in that instant, his eyes were pure yellow, pupils narrowed to slits, all traces of Danny gone. 

The Alpha thrust harder into the Omega, his knot swelling before he was even close to finishing.

Everything narrowed down to the stretch of Danny's growing knot, the way he was stretching him just to the point of discomfort. 

Aron could barely breathe, his thoughts scattered to the four corners of the universe. 

He let out another whine, high and broken, shaking with need. 

"Please-" he panted. "Please, alpha, I can't-"

He was on edge, balancing precariously on the knife's edge. Almost, almost, almost...

The Alpha roared, his knot swelling to a full tie as he came hard. But he didn't stop. No, he kept thrusting, kept coming, pumping seed into the Omega like his goddamn life depended on it. 

And then he sank his fangs into Aron's scent gland, bursting it in his mouth. Aron's sweet tasting blood filled the Alpha's mouth, dripping and leaking out from his teeth and lips an mixing with his drool as he held the bite, growling and thrusting brutally.

There was just a moment of sharp pain, hot and bright, when the Alpha bit him. It was like getting struck by lightning, the pain radiating out until it was dull and throbbing. 

And then there was the most exquisite feeling of fullness as Danny swelled even more, the knot locking him in the Alpha's grip. 

And the sensations were just too much like he was drowning in them. 

"Danny-" he whimpered, his voice broken. "Oh god-" Aron arched, his own canines extended as he came with a scream, clenching around the knot inside him and spilling himself onto the mattress under him.

Danny slowed his thrusts as he started to come back to himself, breathing hard around the hunk of Aron's shoulder in his teeth. 

He let go of Aron's shoulder, licking away the blood with a low rumbling hum. He stayed locked with Aron around his knot as he carefully maneuvered them to be laying on the bed on their sides. Danny wrapped his arms around Aron tightly, keeping him in place as he stayed buried inside him and lapped at his bleeding scent gland.

Danny was wrapped around him, inside him, cradling him like something fragile and precious. 

Aron trembled, his body burning with a mix of pain and pleasure. His eyes closed as he let himself bask in the overwhelming sensations, safe in the circle of Danny's arms. 

Even his thoughts felt soft and slow, a warm haze that was almost like being drunk. Aron let out a soft whimper, nuzzling instinctively against Danny's arm before biting down on the Alpha's lower arm.

Danny grunted, but he didn't protest. Instead, he hushed Aron soothingly, running his hand up and down the Omega's sweaty body. Carefully, he moved over Aron, trying not to pull out so much that the knot would catch and hurt. He bared his neck, guiding the Omega to turn as much as he could toward Danny. 

"C'mere, baby," Danny murmured, his voice raw. "Right here." He tapped a finger to his scent gland, red and puffy.

Aron's eyes slowly focused on the Alpha's pulsing gland with a needy whine. 

It smelled like pine, sharp and fresh... Like comfort. Like home. 

A low shuddering breath left him as the Alpha brought him forward, burying his face against Danny's throat. 

He opened his mouth, his tongue flicking out to taste the skin on Danny's throat before closing his mouth around the gland.

Danny hissed in pain as Aron's teeth sank into his neck, but the satisfaction of his Omega marking him back was better than any orgasm he'd ever had. 

"Fuck," Danny tangled his hand in Aron's hair, holding him in place. "That's right, baby, that's right. You're so good for me, Omega."

Danny groaned, his eyes closing as Aron started to bite harder.

His teeth sank deeper, biting and sucking. 

Aron's body relaxed into the Alpha's grip, shuddering with a wave of contentment. There was a primal satisfaction in knowing that the entire world would know that Danny was his as much as he was Danny's. 

He whimpered softly, his tongue licking over the wounds to soothe the irritation he'd caused.

Aron pulled away and Danny's eyes cracked open, his head resting on the pillow. He pulled Aron back against his chest tighter, lapping at the Omega's neck. 

"Aron?" he whispered.

His teeth were still extended, his eyes half-lidded as he slowly came back to himself. He hurt - everything was sore and sensitive and there was a dull throb in his scent gland - but he loved it.

He curled up against Danny's chest, whimpering softly. "...Alpha?" he whispered back.

"I'm sorry if I went to far with the whole... Deuce and being my bitch thing," Danny mumbled, nuzzling against Aron's neck. "I just... I got carried away."

Aron shivered, melting against Danny's body as the Alpha showered him with attention on his neck. 

And then the apology finally hit him. 

"Don't you dare apologize," he mumbled, sounding almost angry. "I... I loved that."

Danny groaned, licking the mating bite again. 

"It was still cruel."

"Maybe," Aron admitted, tilting his head to give Danny more access to the mark. 

He still couldn't believe it was real. He actually had a mate; a mate that wanted him. 

"But it... It made me feel things I didn't even know I was capable of." 

His mind was hazy. Was that the mate bond or just pure exhaustion?

Danny hummed, holding Aron against his chest tightly, still tied together with the knot. He smoothed a hand down Aron's stomach, feeling the ridges of ribs and muscle. 

"I love you," he whispered. "I should have told you that years ago. I should have told you that the first time we slept together that first night after getting you out of that cult controlled apartment. I should have done a lot of things."

It was like every time Danny spoke, his entire body responded. Every muscle relaxed, his mind going boneless. He wanted to melt into Dany's grip, to mold himself into whatever Danny wanted him to be. 

He'd always wanted that - to be molded and shaped into whatever would make his Alpha happy. 

"Why... Why didn't you?" Aron mumbled. "Why didn't you tell me back then?"

"For a while, I blamed it on you being obsessed with Jorel," Danny chuckled, pressing his nose to the space behind Aron's ear and shifting so that Aron could use his bicep as a pillow. "You were constantly trying to get on Jay's dick back then, Ruru. Like, after you were infected and Jorel had you infect him too and you both presented, you were a whore for him. It hurt, but I was still human and I didn't understand."

He shuddered, feeling Danny's words against his skin. The memory was a little humiliating, especially now. 

"God, I was a slut for Jorel, wasn't I?" The Alpha had always been so dominant, the perfect image of an Alpha. Jorel was all broad shoulders and strong jaw and an overwhelming presence. 

"I... I was so obsessed with him. He was everything I thought an Alpha was supposed to be."

"Still is," Danny admitted, nodding. "Jorel's a good Alpha, a good wolf, and a great guy. Erin's lucky to have him. Shit, Vanessa was lucky to have his ass too, but she was a bitch."

Danny paused, closing his eyes and just breathing Aron in for a moment before he continued. 

"After the band took off and I started working with you guys on tours as a roadie, I never told you because you seemed so erratic and nervous all the time. You were aggressive and angry all the time and I didn't want you to respond badly if I told you."

He swallowed, shivering against Danny. 

Danny wasn't wrong. Back then, Aron had been all rage and anger and no thoughts. He'd been so violent and he'd hated everything. 

He'd hated the world, and even his best friends.

"I wouldn't have," he whispered, nuzzling against Danny's arm. "I would have been..." He paused, shaking his head. "I was an idiot."

Danny kissed the back of Aron's neck, running his hand up and down Aron's side soothingly. 

"Yeah, and it got you thrown out of the damn band," Danny agreed. "Babe, you were a nightmare. Like, I'm shocked that the fans are still in the dark about what was going on. A lot of them still think you got kicked out because of Yuma."

"I thought Jay would have told them," Aron murmured as he relaxed into the Alpha's grip, eyes half-lidded from the exhaustion and the mating bite. 

"I hurt you. I was... such a dick to you, and to Jay, and to Jordon." He took a deep, shaky breath. "Hell, I didn't even remember the last time I'd seen Dylan. I was so lost back then."

"You didn't show up for a tour and that was the last straw," Danny sighed, licking the mating bite to soothe Aron, to show him that it was in the past. "And then I replaced you and how the fuck could I tell you I loved you when every song you released as a solo artist dropped my name and said how much you hated me?"

"God, I don't even remember writing that album," he admitted softly, cringing in embarrassment for his past self. "I was... I didn't even have a clue how to deal with all the anger." 

He shuddered, pressing back against the Alpha. 

Back then, he'd only felt anger and helplessness. Everything had boiled over and he'd taken it out on the people that loved him most.

Danny hummed again, nuzzling into Aron's neck. 

"It's over now," he murmured. "Everything's okay now. You're out of the cult, you're back in the pack, you're home. Everything's okay now."

It wasn't entirely true, of course. They still had to deal with Scientologist cultists following them, hunting them, trying to drag all of them back to a compound or Book Industries to shove them in a werewolf breeding program for whatever fucked up reason the church had. They were still basically as in danger as they had always been since all of them had left the cult. 

But at least now, Aron was with them again. He was safe. He wasn't living in that damn apartment in Inglewood that was controlled by his parents and the cult, he wasn't being controlled or manipulated anymore, he was safe. 

And that's all that mattered to Danny anymore. Aron safe.

"You're right," he mumbled, sinking against Danny's body. The words of comfort were soothing in a way he'd never realized he'd needed. 

He was safe.

They were both tired, worn out between the sex and the emotions that went with it, and so sleep was going to crash on them soon. 

But he was content, with his face pressed gently to Danny's arm and his nose full of the Alpha's pine and cedar scent.

Danny smiled against Aron's neck, wrapping his free arm around the Omega's middle and holding him as close as he could manage. 

Safe.

At least for now, in Danny's bed in his too big house that had felt so empty before but was now overflowing and too small, they were safe.

His eyes started to droop, exhaustion seeping into his mind. He'd never imagined that he would be here, so many years later like this. He'd never thought that this was how things would end up. But he was so, so thankful that they had. 

Aron sighed, nuzzling against the Alpha contentedly. The scent of his mate was everywhere, filling his every breath.

Chapter 15: Bang Bang

Notes:

I've been stuck on this story for a while so I wrote filth and trash to get it out of my system. I don't know if I'm going to continue this one at all. I might try to in the future, but honestly, it feels like this story started out great and I lost track of what I wanted to do with it for porn and now I don't know how to reel it back in.

Smut causes issues.

-Ra

Danny woke up the next morning with Aron sprawled across his chest, drooling and sound asleep. 

He blinked. 

Then he grinned, his face splitting into a smile that hadn't been present since his crash out. 

It hadn't been a dream. He and Aron had really, finally mated. 

Danny wrapped his arms around the Omega and rolled, waking Aron up in the process of rolling on top of him.

A muffled 'oof' left him as he was suddenly buried under Danny's large frame. A confused look crossed his face, his mind still soft with sleep as he lifted his head. 

"Wha-?" 

But then he saw Danny's face and it was like his heart squeezed in his chest again for the umpteenth time. 

"Danny, you're crushing me," he whined, feigning annoyance as he squirmed.

Danny ignored him, peppering kisses along Aron's neck and shoulders and cheeks and everywhere he could reach as he shifted to put his weight on his elbows instead of directly on top of Aron. 

"Good morning, baby," Danny breathed, licking at the mating mark on Aron's neck.

A shiver raced down his spine at the feel of Danny's tongue on the bite. 

Aron tilted his head back for the Alpha, whimpering softly. He wanted to just drown in Danny, in his scent and his touch. 

"Danny," he gasped, his cock starting to thicken against Danny's thigh.

"Someone's happy to see me," Danny mumbled, kissing his way down Aron's torso. He licked at his nipple with a groan, scraping his teeth against Aron's ribs.

A shaky whine left his lips, his hands clutching at the sheets as Danny slowly made his way down his body. Every touch sent a shiver through him, leaving a pool of fire in his stomach. 

"Fuuuuck," he groaned, arching up off the bed. "Don't you dare stop," he commanded as he felt Danny's teeth on his ribcage.

Danny just grinned, licking and biting his way down to Aron's hips. 

"Fuck, you're so wet already," he groaned, feeling the slick on his chest as he settled between Aron's thighs. "Spread em wider, baby, let me see you."

A flush raced up his shoulders, his cheeks burning with embarrassment as his body responded to Danny's words - and his Alpha's command. 

He spread his legs wider, his entire body trembling with need as he tried to control himself. 

"Danny, please, baby," he whined, lifting up to try and get more of Danny's attention.

Danny groaned, gripping Aron's shaft with one hand and licking from base to tip while his other hand slid into his slick heat. 

"Fuck, you're so hot..." he mumbled, kissing Aron's tip before wrapping his lips around the head and sucking as he curled his fingers.

A guttural groan left him as the Alpha went down on him, his legs spreading even wider without thinking about it. Every touch of Danny's hands and lips felt like fire against his skin, and it took every ounce of willpower he had to keep his eyes from rolling in the back of his head. 

"Oh god, baby, your mouth," he moaned, a shiver shuddering down his spine. "Please... Oh god, don't stop."

His eyes fluttered shut, his hips lifting off the bed to try and push deeper into the Alpha's mouth.

Danny couldn't help but smile as he pulled back just a bit, swirling his tongue around Aron's slit before sinking his mouth down Aron's cock until the Omega hit the back of his throat. Danny groaned, pumping three fingers inside Aron to match his speed as he started bobbing his head.

A ragged cry left his lips as Danny's fingers and mouth worked him, all of his muscles tensing and going loose at the same time as he gasped for air. It was all he could do to control himself, to keep his hands from grabbing Danny's hair and pulling, to try and push him even deeper in his desperate need for more.

His toes started to curl against the mattress and his legs started to shiver with the force of his impending climax. 

"D-Danny-" he whimpered, trying desperately to get the Alpha's attention through the fog of pleasure. "Danny, I-I-”

Danny wasn't listening, intent only on giving his mate pleasure as he relaxed his throat and took Aron as far as he could, nose hitting Aron's pelvis. He drove his fingers deeper, searching for that one spot that made Aron see stars with every brush of his fingers.

It only took three more swipes of Danny's fingers and he was done for.

The world went white as the edge of his climax overwhelmed him, leaving him writhing and whimpering on the bed. He tried to grab the sheets, to ground himself as wave after wave of pleasure rocked through him.

But it was all over before he knew it and he was left whimpering, his entire body jerking as Danny took him through his climax with his mouth and fingers. 

As he finally came down, his chest heaving and his body shaking, he managed to lift his head. There was a soft gasp on his lips as he saw the Alpha. He was sitting up, licking his fingers clean of Aron's taste.

Danny swallowed, licking at his fingers. The taste of cum and slick mixed on his tongue and he couldn't help but grin. 

"Mornin', babe," he said nonchalantly, sitting back on his haunches and grinning like a loon.

A shiver went down Aron's spine again as the Alpha sat back and licked his fingers clean, making a show of it. 

"God, you're an asshole," he hissed, trying to glare at Danny. It was difficult, though, when he was still shaking from his climax and his heart was racing. "You could have at least warned me."

"Nah, I like surprising you," Danny replied, swiping his palms over Aron's thighs. "Besides, consider it an 'I'm sorry' for fucking your throat raw and calling you Deuce last night."

Danny stood from the bed, cock hard and naked, but made no move to do anything about it, still grinning as he walked over to his dresser to find clothes.

A whine rose from Aron's throat at the sight of Danny's naked body, his already oversensitive body trying to react again. But he was still too worn out from his climax and he had to force himself to take deep, even breaths. 

"I-" he started, but cut himself off as he rolled onto his stomach, burying his face in the sheets. 

"You're a damn sadist," he mumbled into the sheets.

Danny cackled, shaking his head as he pulled on a pair of clean underwear. 

"Yeah, actually," he admitted. "Reese hated it. I think you'll be fine though, you fuckin' masochist."

A flush rushed up Aron's shoulders. Okay, yeah, it was true: he totally was a masochist. But Danny didn't have to be smug about it. 

"Shut up," he grumbled, refusing to lift his face from the sheets. "Just... You're so annoying. You know I'm not gonna be able to stand."

Danny looked over at Aron, sprawled in his - their bed. He licked his lips. 

You know, on second thought... 

"Hey, Ruru, do me a favor," Danny said, his voice lower and rougher as he stood there, eyes darkening by the second as he stared at Aron's bare back. "Stay right fucking there, okay? Don't move."

The sudden change in Danny's voice sent another shiver down Aron's spine as he lifted his head from the sheets, tilting it to look over his shoulder at the Alpha. He froze, his heart already racing as he obeyed Danny's command, pushing himself up just enough to watch Danny.

Danny walked over to his closet, pulling his clothes aside and going for a box hidden in the back. He opened it, frowning. What to use, what to use... He'd have to start small. He wasn't sure if Aron had ever done this before. 

He grabbed what he needed, tested it with a slap across his palm, and - satisfied - turned back to Aron.

A frown started to appear on his face as Danny disappeared into the closet. Aron couldn't see what he was doing, and the uncertainty was starting to fray his nerves. Despite his submission to the Alpha, he was nervous. He didn't know what Danny was going to do, what he had in the box or why he was taking so long. He wanted to turn, to crawl over and demand to find out what he was doing, but he hadn't been told that he could move. So. He stayed. And waited.

Danny stepped back up to the foot of the bed, eyes locked on Aron's bare, pale back and ass. He bit his lip. 

Then he let the crop fall with a light smack on Aron's spine.

A gasp tore from him as a small burst of pain raced down his spine, his hands automatically fisting the sheets as he tried not to move. He'd never done this before, and he didn't know what to expect and it was so good.

A whine came from his throat, his hips shifting and pushing back toward Danny.

"You like that?" Danny asked, low and quiet. He ran the tip of the crop along Aron's spine, grinning. His teeth were sharper, longer, and his nostrils flared with the scent of Aron's arousal in the air.

"Yes," he whimpered as the crop was drawn down his spine. He almost couldn't recognize his own voice as it hitched in his throat, almost sounded like a whine. 

His cock twitched against the sheets and he shifted his hips, trying to ease the need already starting to build.

"Noted," Danny purred, giving another testing smack across Aron's ass with the flat of the crop. "We'll have to explore this another time, for sure. My good little masochistic boy..."

Danny leaned down and nipped at the swell of Aron's ass, teeth catching skin just enough to leave a mark.

A gasp left him at the feel of Danny's teeth, his hips rocking back against the Alpha's mouth. 

"Danny-" he whimpled, his body rocking back against the bed, his legs kicking out weakly as he pushed back. 

His cock was starting to harden again against the sheets, heat and need pooling in his stomach again. "Fuck..."

"So needy," Danny murmured, tossing the crop away and licking Aron's spine. He spread Aron's cheeks with his hands before leaning down and swiping his tongue across the slicked hole.

A broken moan ripped from his throat as Danny's goddamn tongue pushed through his entrance. He tried to bite back the noises, to keep himself quiet, but he couldn't stop the gasps and whimpers that left his lips.

"Danny, baby, I - I can't-" 

He tried to spread his legs further, to push back against Danny's tongue. He was already desperate for more, for whatever else the Alpha would give to him.

Danny moaned, tongue delving deeper as more slick gushed from Aron. His head was spinning. It tasted fucking incredible, it smelled fucking good, and he felt like he could do this for fucking hours. 

Without warning, Danny shifted, laying with his back on the bed and pulling Aron up to sit on his face as he worked his tongue inside the Omega.

The change in position left him dazed, his mind going blank as his legs folded under him. But he was still desperate for more, still needed that feeling of fullness that only Danny could give him. 

He spread his legs, gasping as he sank down on the Alpha's face. His thighs were shaking as he tried to stay up right, his hands clenching in the bedding to keep himself from rocking back. 

"Danny, please-" he whimpered. "I need-"

Danny groaned, arms locking around Aron's thighs and tongue flicking and fucking into him eagerly. It was hard to breathe with Aron sitting on his face, but fuck, it was worth it because now it felt like he was drinking slick straight from the fucking tap. 

Danny's fingers flexed against Aron's thighs, nails digging into skin.

A ragged cry left his lips at the feel of Danny's nails on his thighs, the rough touch only making him want more. He was squirming, writhing in place, all control gone.  He'd never felt this good, never felt this desperate. 

"Danny, please," he whimpered, his knuckles white as he clung to the sheets. "Please, please, more-"

Danny finally couldn't take it anymore, his cock throbbing and leaking and purpled against his stomach. He released Aron, breathing hard. 

"Come on, baby," he said, scooting back until his back was against the headboard. "Ride me."

His body was trembling, his thighs straining as he climbed over Danny, his body desperate for whatever the Alpha would give to him. His brain was so full of fog and all he needed was for Danny to fill him up. 

He positioned himself over the Alpha's hips, sinking down as he braced his hands on the Alpha's broad shoulders, unable to do anything except hold on. He tried to keep his eyes open through the pleasure, to watch Danny's face as he leaned in and tried to kiss him, but just ended up panting against his mouth.

Danny gripped Aron's hips tightly, moaning against the Omega's mouth. "Yeah, that's it, baby, fuckin' ride my cock."

Danny lifted one hand and smacked Aron's ass hard, leaving a red handprint.

The sharp pain raced down his spine and made him mewl, his entire body shaking against the Alpha. 

"Danny, I can't - I-"

He was already overwhelmed, his body trembling as his head fell back and he dug his nails into the Alpha's shoulders to try and ground himself. 

"Danny, please, I won't last, I can't-"

"You don't have to last, baby," Danny grunted, thrusting his hips up to meet Aron's movement. "It's okay, Ruru, let go for me."

Danny's thick cock filled Aron, stretching him with every thrust that met his desperate bouncing.

It didn't take much, just a few more words from the Alpha and he was gone. A strangled cry ripped from his throat as his body seized, clenching tight around Danny as his orgasm rushed through him. 

He collapsed, trembling all over and burying his face against the Alpha's neck, whimpering against his pulse. His hands were shaking too much to even hold on.

Danny grunted, hips slowing as Aron collapsed, but not stopping. He kept going, fucking Aron through the orgasm even though his head was spinning from how tight the Omega was around him. 

"Ah, fuck, Christ, baby, you're so tight," he groaned, hands guiding Aron to keep moving.

He cried out as Danny didn't stop, as he continued to pound into him. He felt like his brain was going to turn to jelly, he felt like he was going to pass out as his hips kept moving on autopilot. The high of his first orgasm was only just starting to fade as a second one started to build, his entire body shaking all over again as he gasped desperately just to breathe. 

"Danny, I-I-I'm-"

"Yeah, that's it, baby, come for me again," Danny grunted, forcing Aron to bounce harder, rocking his hips with his hands while Danny thrust up into him harder.

It was all at once too much and not enough, he was still so sensitive from his first orgasm but all he wanted was more, needed to finish with the Alpha again. He tried to reach for his own cock but couldn't concentrate as Danny kept moving, pushing him again. 

"Danny, I can't - god, I-I-I-" He was on the verge of tears with how good it felt, how good it felt to be filled.

"Fuck, Aron, I'm getting close," Danny grunted, feeling the tingling in his spine and sack. He braced his feet on the bed, thrusting up deeper into the Omega. 

"Come on, baby, come on," he mumbled, sweat on his brow as his face twisted in concentration as he chased that feeling. He could feel his knot starting to swell.

It was like he could feel the swollen tip of the Alpha's knot against his entrance with every thrust and he couldn't even cry out anymore, couldn't beg because all he could think about was that pleasure, that feeling of being full when the Alpha's knot caught on his rim. 

"Danny," he sobbed, his face buried against the Alpha's neck, his teeth finding the mark he'd left there earlier. "Please, please, please, please, I-"

Aron's teeth on his mating mark made Danny see fucking white as he let out a roar, driving into Aron as hard and deep as he could manage as he came, knot swelling and locking as thick ropes of cum shot inside the Omega, coating his insides and womb with each pulse, throb, and twitch of Danny's cock inside him.

His vision went white and that was all it took, feeling the Alpha's release inside him, knot locking them together, and he let go with a silent, breathless cry as he tried to ride the waves of the orgasm that was crashing through him like a tsunami. 

It was a struggle to keep going, his body shaking and trembling as the Alpha's knots kept them locked together, tied together. "Danny," he whined softly, trying to nuzzle deeper against his neck.

Danny panted heavily, head spinning as he collapsed against the headboard of the bed. His arms wrapped around Aron limply, chest heaving. 

"Holy... Fuck," he managed to panted out, his eyes unfocused. "Christ... That... I think that was the best morning sex of my life."

The Alpha's arms wrapped around him were the only thing that kept him upright. His muscles were shaking, his entire body over sensitive and spent. He pressed himself close against the broad, solid chest beneath him, burying his face in the Alpha's throat. 

"I think... I think my brain melted," he managed to gasp, his voice ragged.

"Hot," Danny mumbled, closing his eyes and letting his head rest on the wall behind him.

"You're an idiot," he muttered weakly, shivering slightly as Danny's body moved. He couldn't stop himself, he was already scenting the Alpha even though there was absolutely no need to. 

His brain still felt like it was made of cotton, and all he wanted was to lie down on Danny with his nose against the Alpha's throat and fall asleep.

Danny chuckled, the movement of his chest making Aron shift on his cock in a way that made the laugh die off into a moan. 

"Don't be a dick," Danny groaned, turning his head to nip at Aron's cheek lightly.

The weak bite made him whine, but it was all he had the energy to do. His whole body felt like mush, and all he wanted was to cuddle down against the Alpha and take a three hour nap. He managed to lift his head, his hazel eyes hazy and tired as he managed a weak glare at Danny. 

"Don't tell me what to do," he grumbled, even as his body slumped, his limbs trembling faintly.

Danny hummed, smiling. 

Even overstimulated and with Danny's dick in his guts, Aron was a little shit head. 

"I love you," Danny murmured.

The unexpected words made a shiver run through him. He was too sated and exhausted, and the words hit too deep. He huffed softly against the Alpha's throat, trying to bury himself in Danny's chest. 

"You're... such an idiot," he muttered weakly, not even trying to sound angry anymore.

Danny just laughed. 

When they finally managed to get dressed and leave the bedroom, Danny had the biggest, most shit eating grin on his face. 

Matt looked a little green as he looked up at them, eyes flicking between the newly mated pair. 

"Please tell me I don't have to fucking sleep in that bed again," he said. Jorel laughed from across the living room. Danny snorted. 

"Matt, you can have Aron's room," the Alpha replied, slinging his arm over Aron's shoulders as he led his new mate toward the kitchen.

He leaned into Danny's side, pressing close against the Alpha and burying his face against the side of Danny's neck in a move that was becoming familiar and almost natural. He couldn't find it in him to argue the fact he was being led like a pup, not when he felt so sated and safe.  

"Matt, I'm sorry for your loss," he muttered, muffled against Danny's shirt. "But that room is ours now."

Danny practically preened. Ours. Theirs. Together. 

He ignored Matt dramatically sighing in relief, chuckling to himself as they went into the kitchen. 

He moved to the fridge, smacking Aron lightly on the ass to signal him to sit down.

The slap was soft, a far cry from the sharp sting from earlier. It didn't stop him from following Danny's instructions almost instantly though, all but collapsing into one of the stools at the kitchen bar. 

He leaned his elbows on the bar, resting his chin on his hand and watching the Alpha move around the kitchen. He was tired, but... Happy. He felt completely at peace in a way that he hadn't in years.

Danny hummed to himself as he dug through the fridge. Marley and Ava walked out of the basement, talking animatedly to each other. Jorel looked up as his daughter and George's oldest walked by, smirking over at Danny. 

Danny took the jug of almost expired milk out and uncapped it, chugging it. 

"So when are you adding to the pack now that you've got that alpha knot, Ruru?" Jorel asked, grinning. "Since I know for a fact you fuckers didn't use protection." 

Danny choked on the milk, coughing.

Aron's face blushed crimson, his mind automatically going to the possibility of the Alpha's cum still deep inside him. He knew he was going to be sore later, his body already starting to ache as he sat there and felt... full. 

"Jesus, Jorel," he managed, burying his face in his arms so the other Alpha couldn't see his face. "I- We're not... That's..."

Danny wiped his mouth, glaring at Jorel. 

"We aren't trying for pups yet, Jorel," he said firmly, though the reminder of the lack of protection did bring up the image of Aron... Pregnant. 

Fuck, why was that hot?

Jorel snickered.

Aron could practically feel Jorel's gaze linger on him, lingering on his stomach. He pressed his legs together, shifting nervously on the stool. 

He'd never... The idea of pregnancy had never even crossed his mind. He almost expected it to feel wrong, but instead all it did was make all the aches in his body feel good. Every mark the Alpha had left on him felt good. 

"Shut up," he grumbled, hiding his face. "You're so embarrassing."

Danny looked over at Aron, his eyes wide but dark, his body tense and the jug of milk in his hand crunching slightly in his grip as it tightened. 

Fuck, why was it so hot? 

He swallowed, eyes dropping to Aron's midsection.

Aron could practically feel the Alpha staring at him, staring at him like he was something to eat. It was unnerving and intense but it made him shiver in a way that he hadn't in years. 

He squirmed uncomfortably on the stool, shifting back. He wondered how much longer the Alpha would take before he was back on his kn-

"I'm getting water," he blurted, practically jumping off the stool and making a quick dash out of the kitchen. His face was burning and he refused to even look at Jorel's knowing stare.

Danny watched Aron go, his eyes never leaving his mate. Jorel smirked, looking over at the other Alpha. 

"How long you think it's gonna take?" Matt asked, leaning his chin on his fist. Jorel rolled his eyes. 

"If he isn't already knocked up, I'd give it a week. Tops." 

Danny slammed the carton of milk down and stalked after Aron, his fingers curled into claws. 

"Less than," Matt corrected, looking at Danny with mild curiosity.

Aron locked himself in the bathroom, leaning back against the back of the door and gasping. 

He could still feel it, that fullness. He ran a trembling hand over his stomach, unable to stop himself. He'd never even thought about being pregnant, the idea had never crossed his mind. But now... 

He closed his eyes and tried to picture it: his pale skin stretched around a growing belly, the Alpha's litter inside him.

Danny came into the bedroom, beelining for the bathroom. He pressed his forehead to it, barely resisting the urge to break it down and get to his mate. 

"Aron?" He called softly, knocking lightly on the door. "Ruru, baby, it's me. Can I come in? Are you okay?"

He jolted when he heard Danny on the other side of the door, his eyes still closed as he ran his palm over his still flat stomach. 

"Yeah," he called back, trying to keep his voice steady as his pulse raced. "Yeah, you can come in."

Danny tried the door after he heard the click of it unlocking and opened it slowly. Aron was leaning forward against the sink counter - the same one Danny had had him on weeks ago to clean the blood off of him, when they'd talked about religion. 

His hand was on his stomach. 

Danny's eyes locked on Aron's hand, his stomach, his fingers gripping his shirt, and a rumbling growl rose in his chest - low and primal but not aggressive. It was a vocalization of presence of assurance. Alpha was here. Alpha will protect. Alpha will provide. 

Danny stepped up behind Aron, resting his chin on the Omega's shoulder and his hands on his thin, wiry upper arms. Danny looked over Aron's shoulders to their reflection in the mirror, watching the Omega's face. 

"Are you alright?" he asked quietly.

He had to force himself not to turn around, not to bury his face against the Alpha's broad chest and whimper. The rumbling growl behind him was making every nerve in his body tingle. He could still feel the ache between his thighs, the fullness from taking the Alpha's knot. 

He swallowed, shivering. 

"I-I'm good," he managed, trying to keep his voice steady. He took a breath and tried to make a joke. "Just... Jorel's a jackass."

"Yeah, he is," Danny agreed, trailing his nose over Aron's neck, over the still fresh mating bite, up to his ear. Danny pressed a kiss to Aron's temple gently. 

"We don't have to have pups just because we mated," Danny murmured, trying to reassure. He wrapped his arms around Aron, around his middle, one hand splayed over his stomach. "We don't ever have to if you don't want to. I had Roman with Reese and... I may never see him again, but I think I satisfied the Alpha instinct to carry on my genetic line for the most part. He's human, but it's enough."

He shivered as the Alpha's hand moved down to his middle, his palm splayed over his stomach. It felt... good, more than just good. It felt right. Even though he'd never given the possibility of pups any thought before. 

He put his own hand over top of Danny's, covering the Alpha's hand on his stomach with his own smaller one. 

"I... I know," he murmured. "I'm not... I haven't even let myself think about it."

"Would you?" Danny asked softly, running his fingers over Aron's stomach and imagining him... Rounded. Heavy. Stretched. His.

He closed his eyes as Danny's fingers moved over his stomach, feeling the Alpha's hand moving in slow circles. 

The image it planted in his head - of himself, swollen and heavy, the Alpha's litter growing inside him, Danny's pups - made him whine softly, a shiver of pleasure going through him. 

He could feel him against his hip, the heat of his body, the thick bulge in his pants. Danny smelled so good, his scent thick and cloying in the small bathroom.

Danny growled again, quiet and low and rumbling, and pressed his nose to the mated scent gland on Aron's neck, his hand slipping under the loose shirt the Omega was wearing to touch his bare stomach. 

"I haven't thought about it," he whispered. "But now I am. And I like the idea of you... Of you with my pup. Of us making a family, like a real mated pair, like everyone else." The admittance tasted like honey on Danny's tongue, the anxiety of telling Aron erased with an instinctive comfort that came from touching his mate, from being with his mate. 

"It's okay if you don't want to," he murmured. "We can get you on a contraceptive or we can find condoms that don't break with a knot. I'm sure we can find a werewolf doctor somewhere in LA."

Another shiver ran through him, all his thoughts dissolving as the hand on his stomach shifted. He could feel the Alpha behind him, feel that thick bulge against his hip, the scent of the Alpha's lust heavy in his nose. 

He couldn't stop the whine that escaped his throat, the sound quiet and needy. He leaned back against the Alpha behind him, shivering as his mate's hand moved over his bare stomach, the fingers tracing patterns on his skin and leaving behind sparks of pleasure. 

"Danny..." he whimpered, the sound needy and desperate.

Danny shifted, pressing himself just a bit more firmly to Aron's back, the hand on the Omega's stomach cupping the slightly rounded bit of fat just under the belly button - a perpetual thing Aron had had since high school despite always being skinny as hell. Danny bit his lip for a second, imagining just for a moment that the fat wasn't fat but the rounding of a pup inside Aron. 

"It's okay," he whispered, shaking his head slightly to clear the image. He licked the mating bite, a slow and long thick stripe with the flat of his tongue. "We don't have to do anything you don't want to, baby boy, I've got you."

The Alpha's tongue against his skin was like sweet torture, the slick heat leaving sparks of pleasure that made him shiver and whine. He could feel his knees starting to tremble, the heat rushing through him and pooling between his legs. 

He whined again, his fingers curling around the counter as he tried to force himself not to melt against the Alpha's chest. The hand on his stomach was like a brand, the warmth seared into his skin.

"I...." He choked on his words, feeling the heat in his cheeks and the pounding in his chest. He shifted back, just a bit, his back arching as the Alpha's chest touched his back. 

His shirt, already rucked up from the Alpha's hand, was now riding up, baring almost his entire stomach as Danny pushed the shirt higher up over his soft skin. His body was so lean, but his stomach was just soft enough for it to be noticeable.

Danny growled, turning his hips to move where his erection was pressing against Aron's hip to right in the cleft of the Omega's ass, grinding just once before relaxing and just being there against him. 

"I won't love you any different if you don't want pups," Danny murmured. "I loved you when I thought you hated me, I'll love you till I die. It's up to you."

He whimpered, his head rolling back and landing against the Alpha's broad, warm chest as he rocked his hips back, pressing against his mate. He could feel the heavy length pushing against him, pressing against his sensitive, tender flesh. 

His eyes shut again, his mind racing. 

"I..." He swallowed hard and opened his eyes. Pups.

"I want them," he whispered, his voice trembling, his entire body shaking. "I want your pups, Danny."

Danny let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding, his shoulders relaxing their tension almost immediately. 

He wouldn't have minded if Aron hadn't... but knowing he did made something in the Alpha satisfied. 

"Then we won't worry about it," he whispered, pressing a kiss to Aron's temple and resting his nose against the side of Aron's head with his eyes closed. "We won't worry about it. If it happens, it happens. If not? That's okay."

He shuddered again as Danny kissed his skin, the touch almost too much for him. His thoughts were a mess, his brain almost entirely overwhelmed by the need and want that was building up inside him. He could feel the heat of his mate against his back, his thick length pressed against the cleft of his sensitive flesh. 

He nodded, his breath shuddering in his chest as he tried to calm himself.

"No pills," he whispered. "I don't want... to... We don't need pills."

Danny's hands tightened on Aron, pulling him closer until there was no space left between them, every inch of his mate's back against his front. 

"No pills," Danny agreed in a low growl. He nuzzled the side of Aron's head, a low rumble in his chest.

He gasped, his eyes fluttering shut as the Alpha pulled him impossibly closer. He was trapped against Danny and the counter, and he didn't want to be anywhere else. 

The rumble from the Alpha's chest against his back made his knees weak, the need between his thighs making him ache. 

"Danny," he whimpered, his head falling back against Danny's shoulder. "I need you, please. I need you now."

Danny made a sound caught between a growl and a groan. He rocked his hips forward once, grinding, Then he backed away just enough to press his hand to Aron's back, bending him over the counter top. Danny's eyes found Aron's in the bathroom mirror as he rocked his hips against the Omega's ass slowly. 

"Now?" he breathed, hooking his fingers in the waistband of Aron's jeans, but not pulling yet.

His breath stuttered out of him as his chest hit the cool surface of the counter. His arms trembled, barely able to hold him up as he looked at the Alpha over his shoulder. The look in Danny's eyes was intense and so, so hot. 

He nodded, his heart racing, his entire body a mess of need and desire, desperation. "Now," he repeated. "God, please, now."

Danny didn't ask further questions. He ripped Aron's jeans and underwear down with one smooth motion, immediately spreading his cheeks with one hand and unfastening his own fly with the other. Aron was hard and leaking, purpling cock weeping already in thick streams and his thighs wet with slick. 

Danny groaned, fishing himself out of his boxers and rubbing his tip through the hot slick between Aron's cheeks.

Aron bit his lip, whimpering and arching his back as Danny touched him there, rubbing against him in a way that left him trembling. He could feel Danny's eyes on him, watching every little reaction. 

He didn't care. He was well past the point of caring about anything except the aching need inside of him, the need that demanded to be filled with his Alpha's knot. 

His head dropped against the counter as he gasped, his thighs trembling. The thick, hot tip of the Alpha's cock rubbing through his slick, rubbing against his sensitive, tender flesh, made him shiver. He could hardly breathe, his entire body hyper-focused on the feel of Danny behind him, his Alpha, his mate.

"Please," he choked out, his voice tight and breathy, needy. He pushed back against Danny, eager and desperate. "Please, please, please. I need it. I need you."

Danny rubbed himself against Aron a few more times, coating himself in the slick, before he finally pushed forward and sank into his mate with a rough groan. He would never get tired of this feeling. The heat, the wetness, how tight Aron was around him, the way he squeezed just right... 

Danny couldn't help but let out a rumbling growl as his hips started moving of their own accord, hard but slow, thumping into Aron over and over and deep.

Aron was almost overwhelmed, the feeling of his Alpha inside him, filling him, was incredible. He couldn't describe it, the pleasure too deep and all-encompassing. He could barely breathe, his chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath. 

He managed to look up, catching sight of them both in the mirror and shuddered. "God, you're so good, Alpha," he whimpered, pressing back against Danny. "You feel so good, so perfect, so much better than anyone ever."

The reminder that Aron had other men, other Alphas, made Danny snarl, teeth bared and hands suddenly rougher as he grabbed Aron's hips hard and plunged into him faster. His hips snapped forward, cock buried deep inside his mate. 

"No one ever gets to fucking touch you again," Danny snapped, leaning over Aron's back. His fangs extended, the wolf in him roaring at the unintended challenge to his position as Aron's mate.

Aron keened, arching his back at the new, rougher pace, the words washing over him, into him as his mate took him hard and fast. His chest hit the cold stone of the counter as he pressed back against Danny, his thighs trembling. 

"Only you, only you," he managed, desperate to soothe the Alpha and convince him. "Just you, Alpha, I'd never want anyone else, no one else, just you, you're the only one I need, my mate, my Alpha, my everything."

"Mine!" Danny hissed, thrusting deeper and harder as he sank his fangs into Aron's shoulder - leaving a new and fresh bite behind.

He gasped, shuddering as he felt the sharp fangs sink into the still-sensitive skin of his shoulder, his mate marking him as his. 

His hands were curled into fists, the knuckles white as he arched back, pressing against Danny's chest, needing to be as close as possible. 

"Only yours," he choked out, his heart and mind and entire world filled with only his mate. "Only yours, Alpha, I swear, I'm only yours."

Danny reached around, teeth still in Aron's shoulder, to grab his mate's weeping cock. He stroked hard, hips working at a steady but rough rhythm. 

He growled around the flesh in his mouth, blood on his tongue. He could feel his knot starting to swell.

His breath stuttered, his eyes fluttering at the hand on his aching cock. Every nerve in his body felt alive, like he was on fire and the pain was the most exquisite pleasure he'd ever known.

His fingers curled tighter, the edge already starting to build at the base of his spine. He couldn't think, his mind a mess of pleasure, but the thought of his mate's knot filling him was all his brain could cling to, more instinct than consciousness. "Please," he whimpered. "Please, Alpha, please!"

Danny slammed into Aron and groaned, his knot swelling as he came, feeling his Omega's body clench around him as the knot pushed him over the edge. Aron's cock jerked in Danny's hand, white jets of cum hitting the cabinets under the counter. 

Danny released his bite of Aron's shoulder, breathing hard as he shifted. His hand slid from Aron's dick to his stomach and a deep seeded satisfaction thrummed through him as he licked the blood off his lips. 

Bred.

Aron lay slumped over the counter, trembling and boneless, his legs barely able to keep him on his feet. He was sore and over sensitive but completely satisfied, the pleasure and the feeling of being filled leaving him with a sense of deep contentment he'd never felt before. 

He was claimed, marked by his mate, and the thought made the omega in him preen with happiness. 

"I'm not walking anytime soon, you know that, right?" he mumbled, his voice rough and tired. "You did this to me."

Danny chuckled and kissed Aron's neck, his hand running over the Omega's stomach reverently. 

"Damn right."

A few hours later, Danny and Aron rejoined the rest of the pack downstairs, satisfied for the moment. As they walked together down the stairs, Jordon looked up from where he was sitting on the couch. He grinned. 

"Fuckin' like rabbits, huh?" he asked, chuckling. "Newly mated are always like that. Me and Randi didn't leave the nest for weeks." Jordon's wife and mate smacked his shoulder, glaring at him, but she didn't correct him. Danny snickered.

Aron gave a sheepish smile, his face still red as he glanced at the ground. He still felt like he was walking with jelly legs and like his brain was half-melted from the pleasure, the whole world still swimming around him. 

"Shut up," he mumbled, the bite mark on his shoulder still sore beneath his shirt. "You would have done the same."

"Sure would!" Jordon agreed, leaning back on the couch with a crooked smile. Danny rolled his eyes and put a hand on Aron's back to lead him through the house. 

"Hey, Dan," George greeted as they walked into the kitchen. "Hey, Aron."

"Hi, George," Danny replied, heading for the fridge.

"Hey." Aron gave the other alpha a small wave, shifting with each step and biting his lip as he felt how full he still felt, the dull ache in his ass. George raised an eyebrow at his movement. 

"You alright?" he asked, glancing back at Danny who was rifling through the fridge.

"Yeah," Aron said, his voice a bit more squeaky than he would have liked. "I'm... I'm fine." 

He swallowed, trying to ignore the aches and the full-ness and the way the shirt rubbed against the mark on his shoulder. George glanced back at Danny, who reemerged with two beers in his hands.

"Hey, Danny, I think we should go out tonight," George suggested with a smile. "Nothing huge, just maybe go to Don's and celebrate you two finally getting your heads out of your asses and making it official."

Danny glanced up and over at George, heading Aron one of the beers, and raised an eyebrow. 

"You think it's safe? Last time we were at Don's, Aron almost got kidnapped," he reminded. George shrugged. 

"Yeah, well, we protected him then, we can protect him now. Besides, it'll be the whole pack, not just a few of us," George replied.

Aron looked between them, a bit of unease welling up in his gut. They were right, he knew they were, that they would all protect him. But still... He glanced at Danny, then back at George. He couldn't stop a hint of worry seeping into his voice as he spoke. 

"You... You're sure it'll be alright? They won't... I mean, there won't..." He trailed off, glancing down. "Someone won't try anything, right?"

Danny put a hand on his mate's shoulder, pulling him closer. 

"Hey, it's okay," he murmured. "You're safe, we got you, it's alright."

"Yeah, Ruru, it'll be fine," George reassured with a smile. "And even if someone tries something, none of us are gonna let anything happen to you."

"I... I know," he said, his voice soft and a bit shaky as he leaned into Danny. His mate was warm and strong and he was safe. He took a deep shaky breath, trying to relax. He'd be fine. A bunch of other werewolves, Danny, George, the whole pack... They'd protect him. They wouldn't let anything happen. 

He'd be fine. 

"Okay, I... I'd love to go," he said, glancing up at the other two.

George grinned. 

"Then let's go," he said encouragingly. "Let's celebrate you and Danny finally getting together!"

Danny frowned, his brow furrowing as he looked at Aron, but he didn't say anything. He just rubbed his hand down Aron's back.

Aron smiled a bit, still leaning against Danny, his heart racing as thoughts of the past few hours flooded his mind. He could still feel Danny against him, inside him, his mark on his shoulder aching and his body sore. 

He would be okay. His mate was here. His mate wouldn't let anyone else hurt him, wouldn't let anything happen.

"Alright," he said, his voice soft but sure. "Let's go."