Chapter Text
“Attention, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention please. This is the Captain speaking. Due to an urgent and unforeseen situation, we will be altering our course and returning to Monaco immediately. This decision has been made in coordination with the relevant port authorities and law enforcement, who are now involved in the matter. We understand that this change may cause inconvenience and disappointment, and for that, we offer our sincere apologies. Please be assured that appropriate compensation and assistance will be provided to all guests once we arrive at port. At this time, we ask for your full understanding and cooperation. There is absolutely no cause for alarm or panic. All onboard services will continue to operate as normal, and our crew is here to ensure your comfort and safety. Thank you for your attention.”
This is as expected. Ferrari would do anything and everything to ensure the safety of their sun and love of Maranello. They’re even faster than expected. All along, he knew one day it would come to this. There is no easy path and there is no route of lesser resistance. There will be war and Max will die for his mate if he has to.
Ferrari’s plan worked. They outsmarted his decoy plan or at least foreseen the risk of putting Charles on this cruise alone. Whichever it is, they were prepared and it pisses the Dutch Lion off that they cut his plan short with the mysterious man onboard and now even shorter because they’re heading back to Monaco. The hormone drug schedule he planned for Charles is void now, he can’t pump all of it at one go since it’s a health risk and Max would never risk Charles’ health no matter what.
Triggering the Omega’s heat with his rut cycle is the best he can do… and he has to hope whatever mental and emotional pull he has with Charles Leclerc is going to be enough for his mate to realize that they are indeed a fated pair.
Since Ferrari has a plan, he’ll make use of it too.
“...Do you hear that, baby? We’re going back sooner than intended.” Max caresses Charles’ reddened cheeks, staring deep into his eyes with a very solemn smile on his face.
“No. No. No. I don’t want to…Franz…” Charles immediately wraps his arms around Max’s shoulders, burying his face in the crook of his neck, shaking his head and denying the return of home.
“They say the authorities are involved…it must be a big case for the missing man.”
“I don’t want to go— not yet because….” Charles bites his bottom lip like there’s words he cannot admit. Max can take a good guess; his mate knows this Alpha-Alpha relationship would never work and once he returns to Monaco land, he’d be back to his role and far away from the one person who has brought him a new sense of comfort and safety.
“It’s okay, Charles. We can still see each other after this ends…” It’s fake reassurance but it is something Franz who is innocent and not at all a gang leader would say right now.
“What if… what if we can’t?”
Even Charles himself doubts Ferrari would ever allow him the freedom to love and choose whoever he wants. He knows the bounds and chains around him, the things he has to do for his family, his honour and more. He cannot simply choose himself especially when he currently believes that Franz is just some Alpha he met, not at all his mate.
“Why can’t we? I don’t understand, Charles. If you want me and I want you then of course we can continue seeing each other. I do not want our friendship or relationship to end just because we’re off this cruise.”
“It’s… complicated, Franz.”
Franz wouldn’t understand but Max does.
May Ferrari’s scheme against the Dutch Lion be their own downfall.
“I may not understand fully but… if our time together is short then let’s make the most out of it?” Max suggests with a slow and soft kiss on Charles’ lips. Since Ferrari is trying to speed up their return, then Max will use it to drive their beloved Sun of Maranello closer into his arms instead. He will poison that scheme and use it against them. Fuck Ferrari.
“If all you can do is give yourself to me while we’re here then… surrender yourself to me now.” Max coaxes with another delicate kiss, “No one has to know, Charles. Your family, your friends are all waiting back in Monaco but while we’re still out at sea, my heart will always be yours.”
Give in. Be mine. Obey me. Want me. Love me.
He isn’t playing fair and he never will. Max lays kisses on Charles’ neck, drifting lower to his chest, his toned stomach, his hips, his thighs, his calves and finally to the top of his feet. Anything for him. Everything for him.
Charles’ first heat is starting and he’s surrounded by his mate’s rut scent; this is the worst combination and he will not know how to handle his already conflicted heart. He willingly lets the Dutchman spread his legs again, Max lays another love bite on his inner thighs and he descends even lower. He said no just now. He didn’t want to. But the circumstances have changed.
Max doesn’t hear a no, he doesn’t receive a kick to the face so he boldly licks a tentative swipe across the fluttering entrance and Charles mewls in response. A second later, the Alpha is yanking his body towards him, hungry and demanding, immediately pushing his tongue to savor his mate. Charles whines and moans loudly, trashing a bit but never vocal about anything else.
There is nothing on the Dutchman’s mind except breeding his mate.
He fucks him on his tongue until Charles is a panting mess again. Max lubes his fingers up, the first one in easily, the second soon follows. He’s impatient because he doesn't want to give Charles any more time to doubt or question. While his Omega is blooming with heat symptoms, he’ll take whatever he can. There’s more resistance on the third finger but Max keeps praising Charles for being so good for him, for taking it so well, for being exactly what he needs.
“You want this, Charles. Your hole is sucking my fingers in, won’t let go. So tight and soft and sweet just for me. Your body feels hot, I can help you, baby. I can make it feel better, make you feel so good.”
“P-please… please… please… please…. P-please”
“...Make you mine. My Charles. Mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine, mine. Going to fuck you so good, breed you until you’re heavy with my pups… leaking with my cum… dripping everywhere…” Max lets his delirious thoughts plague his head, blabbering his wants while he prepares his Omega for something much bigger. Max pulls his fingers out when he feels a slight different texture on the digits.
That smell is unmistakable.
Omega slick. Charles’ slick.
Not a lot but it’s there. He’s producing slick now… he’s self-lubricating, his heat is starting… and something in Max growls out in salivating hunger He’s ready to be bred.
“Charles…” Max grabs his aching cock, nudges the head right against the puckered entrance.
One look at the Monegasque and he knows Charles is high off his own hormones now. It is all too much for him. The drugs, the scents, the rut, the heat, the touches, the mental games, everything. He isn’t even himself when he whines out “Alpha.”
Max thrusts his cock forward, grunting at the tightness but he’s relentlessly bullying his cock in until finally it gives way. Charles groans from the pain and stretches, immediately he tries to move away from the intruding feeling but Max grabs him by the waist and forcefully yanks his back down.
“N-no– no~ Hurts!! Franz— !” Charles sobs out but with the Alpha’s cock already penetrated inside him, he has nowhere left to run. Max uses his weight to sink the entire length inside his mate, moaning at the ecstasy pleasure running in his veins, his inner wolf howling at his success.
“Big. Too— full— Too much… Franz! Alpha- Alpha please please….”
So desperate, so beautiful.
Max slowly slides out, giving himself a pause to breathe, watching Charles’ face go from high tension to relaxation but it’s only momentarily because the next second he slams back in and Charles’ entire body jerks from the movement. A scream is ripped out of him, hole squeezing and fluttering around the large width.
“Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine. Mine.” Deranged and out of his mind, Max fucks his mate while chanting those words like a mantra. It gets easier with each second passing, molding the insides of his lover to fit the shape of his cock. Charles gurgles and chokes, pleasure shooting right up his body like fireworks, the more he denies it, the harder the wave of pleasure hits him.
The heavy squelch starts becoming louder and wetter, Max grins to himself, feeling his entire dick soaked from Charles’ slick. This is an Omega’s first time. He got wet from his mate fucking him. He’s dripping and coating the entire length.
“W-w-what….” Charles is confused, it must feel so wet and slippery, he must hear the sound of skin against skin, and he must be feeling the wet dribble of sticky texture dripping right down the curve of his ass and to the bed.
“Perfect.” Max leans down to kiss his lips, putting their foreheads together, smiling in contentment while his hips continue to thrust forward and out. “Focus on me, Charles. Feel me. Feel this…” Obediently, Charles closes his eyes, mouth falling open in a loud moan while being fucked into the mattress.
The pace gets faster, harder, deeper.
“Fuck… so good… Franz… fuck fuck fuck….”
The Dutchman agrees mentally, unable to reply with his efforts all in his hips to piston in and out of his mate, ensuring he draws the other close to his orgasm with each thrust. His large hands would play with his nipples, mouth often occupied with his lips or neck. This is everything he wants and the flushed body under him is reacting perfectly.
“Ah-!” Charles’ eyes fly open, breath caught in his throat when Max slams deep and holds his position. Clarity dawns on him at the last moment, knowing what comes next “No… No, no, no, no, no, no, no.” he claws Max’s arms, digging his nails into the skin, close to drawing blood. “I can’t. Franz. I’m… I’m not an Omega, I can’t take your knot, please. It’s going to break me. Franz… please… please. I can’t- I can’t– I can barely take your cock, I can’t! P-pull out…. Pull out…. Fuck—”
Empty begging, useless words even though it sounds so sweet.
Charles is going to take his knot whether he wants to or not.
For once, Max doesn’t look at his mate with soft gentleness, he stares with an objectively icy gaze instead. He doesn’t budge, his movements still, doesn’t shower him with any kisses nor does he even persuade with any words.
There is nothing Charles Leclerc can do.
“I am an A-Alpha….” the other reminds, Max wants to laugh loudly but instead he just smirks, “An Alpha? I’ll bitch you to become my Omega then.”
He swears he feels Charles clenching even tighter around him, tipping him close to the edge and his knot starts to properly swell.
Pretty fat tears fall down red cheeks, Charles’ green eyes glossy and dazzling under the low room lights. His mouth opens to a breathy moan, something inside his eyes goes out like a light, head falling back to the pillow, body twisting up against Max’s.
Even with his strength he can’t do a thing but take the expanding knot. He cries, he sobs, he whines, pleading, begging, screaming, shouting, but Max shows him no mercy. It locks them in place, Max starts slowly thrusting in and out, as much as he can before it hurts. Shallow but efficient, the knot tugs against the sensitive rim, cock head nudging the abused sweet spot.
Charles cums, cock weakly spurting against their chest, making a mess of his stomach which now that he looks at it, he can see the prominent outline of the Alpha’s dick.
The knot inflates to its maximum, no words to describe this feeling. Max grunts when his orgasm hits him, his dick starts pumping fresh warm seed into the Omega.
“Mine. Always mine. Always.” He mutters in an out of body state, nuzzling his mate and licking the tear tracks off his cheek. “My Omega.”
Charles blinks tiredly, he fights his closing eyelids but eventually loses the battle; entire body going slack and his mind going blank.
-O-O-O-
It takes a long while for his knot to deflate, Max takes all the time in the world to map out every freckle and skin texture on Charles’ face. When he has finally empty his balls, he pulls out slowly, watching every inch slide out before his cum starts pouring out just the same. They spent their heat and rut together, how perfect.
The Alpha briefly cleans his sleeping mate and himself before he exits the suite, back to his own room for sufficient supplies and then back to Charles’ place again. He opens up the briefcase with the drugs, he takes out a syringe and vial, ensuring the very strong heat inducer is secured before he paces back to the bed.
Max sits by the side, cradling Charles’ head in his hand, angling it to tilt so he has a good view of the vein on his neck.
“I love you.” he whispers before he jabs the needle through and injects the liquid inside the Omega’s bloodstream.
Everything he does is out of love. Everything. He doesn’t need anyone to understand him, not even Charles himself.
Max returns to the open briefcase, sets the next syringe up and ready but this time with heavy rut inducers. He doesn’t even need to look in the mirror, stabbing the needle in his vein and pushing just the same.
This is the strongest drug in the market, activated through the bloodstream and only possible after a heat or rut starts. When Charles wakes he will be clouded by lust, Max will be blinded with the same.
The Alpha returns to bed, cuddling his lover in his arms, kissing his forehead. He needs to do it again, fuck him, claim him, breed him, own him— Max squeezes Charles in his tight embrace as if someone is out to harm them. “...I hope it takes, Charles. I hope you get pregnant with my pups… so that no one… can ever take you away from me ever again.”
-O-O-O-
When Max wakes up, he feels something wet on his neck. His entire body feels sluggish and his vision is dizzying; he hears a whine, immediately looks down to see Charles marking his neck with kisses and bites.
“Baby.” he calls and the Monegasque looks up with puppy eyes.
“Franz. Franz…” He gets a wet messy sloppy kiss.
“Feel so… empty. Want… you.” Charles grinds his cock against Max’s thigh, “Fuck me… now… fuck… now… now.” He pouts, weakly moving his body above Max’s, attempting to ride him if the Alpha doesn’t do what he says.
Max Verstappen is a weak man, he cannot deny a needy Charles Leclerc.
The days go by in similar blur; they would have an intense amount of sex, always ending with Max’s knot swelling and cum dumping inside his mate. In certain moments of clarity, he would order room service and ensure his mate is drinking enough water and whatnot. Only one day, he went out of the room to speak to the staff member, asking roughly when would they arrive in Monaco and the answer was in a couple of days since the ship is moving at full speed.
Inside their safe space, Max creates a little nest for his Omega. Charles does not know how to do it and it is expected since he did not grow up as an Omega but Max has read articles and even spoken to the Omegas in his gang to get the gist of it. Unfortunately, the brunette is not very conscious of his own actions, getting led on by hormones and lust since it is his first heat and it is hitting him terribly after years of denial. Still, Max tries his best to make it a good experience.
He gives in to whatever Charles wants. Being fed by hand? Ok. Water through kissing. Sure. Cock-warming after sex? Of course. Waking Max at odd hours of the night to be fucked again and again? At his service.
Since his rut started first, it made sense that it ended first. He gets the pleasure of being fully in control to witness his mate being in heat. He gets to take him apart on the bed in the most pleasurable means and remember it all.
The painful part? Knowing Charles barely has any real clarity in all of it.
On the final night of Charles’ heat, Max fucks his beloved slowly, cherishing every final moment together. He lays words after words of promises and affection, praying his words go through no matter how clouded Charles’ mind is. By the next sunrise, war would be by the docks in Monaco and Charles would once again be taken away from him.
-O-O-O-
Watching the flutter of Charles’ lashes, Max feels a pang in his heart, well knowing that their best days are now behind them. Consciousness slowly returns to his mate and Charles’ first instinct is to look at him and call out his fake name. The Dutchman sits by the edge of the bed, reaching out to hold Charles’ hand, lightly rubbing his palm, dulling his senses.
“Finally awake, love?”
“...What's ...going on…? Why can’t I move? My body feels so… heavy.”
“The effects are just temporary, you’ll be able to move like normal soon.” Max says with a light smile but Charles’ expression is nothing calm or happy about it. “Truthfully, I don’t know how much you will remember of our shared days and nights together but I’m… grateful that it’s with you.”
“What are you talking about, Franz?!” He raises his voice, body weak and bruised but he still fights the new drugs in his system.
“...I never wanted to keep this from you forever but where should I start? We don’t have much time.” This time when Max looks at Charles’ eyes, there is no more love, care or affection and it hurts.
He reaches for his pocket and pulls out a USB drive and slides it in Charles open palm before moving his fingers to close on it. “Everything inside here… are all the detailed records of what Ferrari is doing to you. How they’ve slowly drugged and changed your secondary gender. You have all the rights to hate me, but please hate them too. You were never an Alpha. You were born an Omega but they wanted to hide that… and you are… my …” Max cannot finish the words, not when Charles looks at him with a look of betrayal.
“What kind of nonsense are you saying, Franz?! How do you know about Ferrari— How do you even…..”
“My name is Max Emilian Verstappen, you only know me by my work alias… The Dutch Lion.”
If hate and betrayal was painful, the look of his eyes hiding tears is even worse. Charles chokes and his body twitches because he wants to move, probably to grab Max by the collar and fight him or something.
“Franz… What do you mean?!! What are you saying?!? This whole time… you… you set me up? You… you made me sleep with you and— was it….”
“Charles. I’m your mate. I’m your fated one. They took you from me and I….” Max knows he did what he had to, he holds no regret or shame but of course he knows the circumstances are less than ideal “...and this is the only way I know how to get you back to me.”
“My mate would never do this to me!!! You liar!!! You fucking deceitful liar!!!” He screams, face red with anger, tears threatening to fall.
“There was no other way. Ask yourself when you’ve calmed down if you would’ve believed me if I walked up to you one random day and told you the family that raised you had been drugging you all along, and the life you led was an entire sham. Tell me you would’ve believed me if I said I was your mate… if I was just a stranger who didn’t smell any different to you, would you have listened to me?” Max attempts to reason despite knowing he cannot justify any of his actions. .
“...The fuck are you saying?!”
“Charles.”
“Do not fucking call my name- you have no rights to!”
“I love you.”
Tears really fall from Charles’ eyes, down his cheeks.
“No. Do not say that you love me, do not fucking pretend that you care because you lied to me!! You used me!!! You do not love me– my mate would never do this to me—”
“Every moment we shared was real, I promise–”
“Were they real or did you fabricate it? You knew. You… bumped into me, you talked like you knew me for a long time… you played against my will and you manipulated my feelings! Those are not real!!!!!!! And even now you’re drugging me here… even now you cannot face me for real!”
“Keeping you like this is for your safety, Charles.” Max sighs, standing up from the edge of the bed, he walks to Charles’ luggage “I don’t need anyone to understand me… you do not need to forgive me either.” The Dutchman reaches for Charles’ gun inside and checks the bullets to ensure it’s well loaded. He returns to the bed and drops the gun by Charles’ hand even though right now the Monegasque cannot reach it.
“...There’s so much I want to say but we’re out of time. I’ll bring you up to speed. We docked at Monaco 3 hours ago, the passengers and crews are all out of harms’ way. The entire cruise is empty except for us… outside at the docks, your gang and mine are having a standoff. Your family is here for you… I do not expect you to choose me, in fact, you can kill me, Charles. I would gladly die by your hands… your hands only.” Max smiles sweetly, genuine in his final words.
“When the drugs wear off, take the gun and go home. They’re waiting for you.”
“Franz! This is not fucking over! Do not walk away from me!!!!”
“No matter what you believe right now… I’ll always love you. You are my precious Omega and until I am dead I will never stop seeking revenge on Ferrari and all the people who took you from me… so with that loaded gun, Charles… you should kill me.”
“Dying is merciful— you deserve to fucking be tortured and–”
“Nothing hurts more than losing you.” Max cuts him off and Charles finds himself speechless to continue; his feelings everywhere and he is too weak to really fight.
“Like I said… you can hate me, Charles but hate them too. Hate them, doubt them, question them. Ask yourself what you would do if your mate was taken away from you…?”
Max wants to kiss him one last time but he knows from that glare and the boiling rage that it will do more harm than good. He has 5 more minutes before the drug wears off, the Dutch Lion gives a final smile before he turns and leaves for the door, ignoring the angry screaming of pain and anger directed at him.
“Franz! This is not fucking over! You hear me!! Get back here!! Fuck!! Franz!!!!!!!!”
His heart truly hurts but this is all he can do.
Stepping out to the evening Monaco skies, the breeze hit the same when he first got on. There is a large crowd waiting for him, on the left, he sees Lorenzo Leclerc leading the charge with all of his men, guns ready to shoot and kill. On the right, he sees his own gang, also armed and ready for a shoot out.
“Good evening, gentlemen.” He greets with a smug look on his face, hiding all the pain and hurt, being the man that ascended his throne of blood and guns.
“Where is he?!” Lorenzo shouts angrily.
“Your brother is well, I would not hurt him.” He replies easily but the other isn’t buying it.
“...Where is Charles and what have you done to him?!”
“He is inside safely and I didn’t do anything… in fact, he is his true self now.” With that statement said, there’s a twitch in Lorenzo’s eyes, probably irritation or just anger.
Max descends the long flight of stairs, finally on Monaco grounds and casually shrugs his shoulders, knowing they can’t shoot him and risk a fight right now.
“Caring about your brother when you have done more harm is laughable…” The blonde chuckles at the face of his enemy, daring Lorenzo to shoot at him but the elder Leclerc remains his ground. It is the youngest who gets mad first “Fuck off, Verstappen! You’re playing these mind games again! You think we don’t know you made a fucking decoy here just to get Charles to yourself! You’re a sick motherfucker!!! I’d kill you myself if—”
“Arthur!” Lorenzo scolds and only then does the youngest stop.
Max shakes his head at the stupid display of family bond, he turns his head to see his team; Christian, Daniel, Yuki, Gabriel, Kimi, Sebastian, and the rest are all alive. He expects nothing less from his team.
Knowing everyone is alive, the Dutchman leans closer to Lorenzo, whispering by his ear “You could shoot me now and risk the death of both your brothers but you won’t.” He reads his enemy, smiling as he straightens his back and turns, showing how he knows that even with his back to the enemy, Max Verstappen is still the superior one.
Lorenzo would not risk the life of his brothers—
Just as that thought solidifies, a gun shot rings into the air. Max hears it before he can feel the aim right beside his head. It doesn’t aim for him, but it does hit someone.
“Christian!” He hears Daniel shout as the body flops to the ground. .
Max doesn’t even look at his team, simply turns to where the shot came from and on top of the stairs of the cruise stands the most beautiful and charming man he’s ever laid eyes on. Charles Leclerc stands in his rumpled button up shirt and slacks, a gun in his hand and his body leaning towards the side because he can barely stand but that won’t stop him from hitting his target at a range.
Impressive killer instincts, as he expects from his dear mate.
“Charles!!! Are you alright?!” Lorenzo is quick to ask but he gets no reply.
Charles looks worn, he looks tired, eyes bloodshot from crying and body so weak he can barely stand but he remains the most deadly man right now. Max hopes his mate will take his advice and shoot him, he would gladly peacefully go if Charles kills him, otherwise, there will be hell to pay and Ferrari is the one receiving the bill.
“...I want to go home. Let them go… just….j-just take me home now.” Charles mutters weakly, limping down the stairs until his brother meets him half way and supports him down the steps.
Max looks at his mate but Charles will not meet his gaze.
The Dutch Lion huffs, “Always on the side line, Leclerc.” he taunts Lorenzo, walking towards his team and luckily they’ve already carried Christian's’ wounded body to the back of the car, ready to drive off at the boss’ orders if he’s safe.
“Verstappen. This isn’t over! I’ll kill you myself! Don’t you ever think of hurting my brothers ever-”
“… Enough…” Charles says weakly to his brother, turning to get into the car, he gets surrounded by Ferrari men ready to be his body shield in case anything happens to their Sun of Maranello.
Max doesn’t look at them, he just continues walking ahead but his voice is loud when he arrogantly says “Always taking orders, Lorenzo. Always.” He laughs in the darkening skies, knowing the one who is meant to hear it, understands his message loud and clear.
The second gun shot rings in the air like lightning piercing through.
He sees the shock in Yuki’s eyes and barely a shout from Daniel.
All he hears is Charles’ sweet voice, finally… finally….
“Max!!!”
-O-O-O-
Everything feels distant, familiar but distant. Blinking his eyes open, the ceiling is familiar though he hasn’t seen it in awhile. He pushes himself up with his elbows, barely looking around his own room before a pounding headache makes him groan softly. What happened? He tries to jog up his memories.
The cruise. The pool. The kid. The padel. The jacket. The piano—-
“Charles…? You’re awake!” Someone opens the door and rushes in.
“B-bryan….”
“I’ll call the doctor-”
“Wait! What happened… at the docks… I remember….”
“You came back to us…that’s all that matters.”
“No! Tell me what happened….”
“...Lorenzo shot the Dutch Lion. He won’t hurt you anymore, Charles.”
Something inside him breaks, something he cannot yet explain. He remembers now, hearing the sounds, whipping his head, watching Max’s body fall against one of his subordinates’. Instant chaos. Automatically he tries to run to him but he’s held back by his bodyguards, they try to protect him, shoving him into the car, driving off and the opposite party does the same for the Dutch Lion.
“...I-Is he…. Is… he…. “ the words are stuck in his throat “... dead?”
“I hope so.” Bryan says flatly and Charles flinches.
“Get out.”
“Charles-”
“Get out!!! Now!!!”
The other male follows his orders, giving the Monegasque the space he requested.
Charles tries to wreck his head if he remembers seeing Max’s body move or something but from his blocked angle he doesn't know. Lorenzo would not miss at such close quarters, if he aimed from his heart or any of his vitals, Max would not survive.
His hands are shaking, he has yet to really process anything but everything hurts; his mind, his body, his heart, every fucking thing.Charles grips the sheets below him until his knuckles go white, Max’s voice rings loudly in his head, dooming him for the rest of his days, a simple question ‘Ask yourself what you would do if your mate was taken away from you…?’