Content warning: This chapter covers suicide. Reader discretion is advised.

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Aiden

The elevator hummed, amplifying Aiden's excitement as he checked the tote bag at his feet, filled with pasta and Chianti─weapons in his arsenal of seduction. The quiet office promised an intimacy the break room hinted at earlier.

He flushed, recalling Delilah's laughter and the palpable sexual tension between them, awakening desires he'd never acknowledged. The mere notion of her gave him an anchor in his tumultuous life.

Aiden was aware that he already had an amazing companion, despite Aunt Edna's comments on the significance of finding a decent woman. Delilah was more than exceptional. She was… entirely different. Greater than anything he had experienced. Perhaps, despite his dismissal of Edna's fantastical stories about their family history as mere folklore, there might be some truth to them. Could fate, destiny, or whatever term everyone wanted to use truly exist?

He emerged from the elevator on the top floor, the weight of his tote bag still weighing in his hand, and a smile began to spread across his face. The fact that he loved Delilah may indicate that he was starting to believe in his aunt's stories.

The fluorescent lights emitted a soft hum, while the copier continued its relentless operation, producing an endless stream of documents. But Delilah? Nowhere in sight.

"Foxy?" The word escaped his lips, a hopeful question hanging in the sterile air. Silence.

Then, a distinct clack echoed from somewhere above.

Aiden's grin faltered. The roof? Had she concocted some rooftop surprise? He dismissed the idea with a scoff. Tempting as she was, braving the cold seemed... unlikely, even for her.

His pulse quickened with a mix of anticipation and unease as he navigated the narrow fire escape. The metal stairs protested with each upward step. Then, CRUNCH!

Under his feet, something splintered, and he glanced down. Glass. Shards littered the landing, glinting in the faint light. The unease solidified, a cold knot tightening in his stomach.

This wasn't her idea for a prank.

His eyes focused with predatory intensity, a low growl resonating deep within his chest. He tasted the metallic tang of frustration, a bitter self-reproach for his lapse in vigilance. Complacent. The word stung like acid.

The thought of his woman in danger ignited a glacial fury. With his eyes closed, Aiden wrestled with his wolf, its raw, protective instincts clawing for release. His quick inhalations probed the air for answers.

A subtle, metallic aroma teased his senses, a silent cry piercing the ordinary. Blood. His heart hammered against his ribs. He threw the door open, revealing the snow-swept roof. Her body on the right caught his eye.

Delilah lay still, a crimson thread tracing a path from her temple. Looming over her stood Lowell, a predator poised to strike.

Aiden's jaw clenched, every muscle tensing with restrained fury. Betrayal clung on his tongue like ash.

"Lowell...?"

Years of meticulous planning and steadfast defenses collapsed under the weight of an unexpected betrayal by his pack brother. The wolf within howled, demanding immediate, bloody vengeance. But Aiden held it back, a monumental feat of will. He wouldn't succumb to blind rage and would show Lowell the true power of an alpha─controlled, precise, and lethal. 

Lowell's crimson eyes burned like embers in the moonlight. He quivered, a subtle tremor coursing through him. His spittle flew as he snarled, his head whipping back and forth like a trapped animal fighting its restraints.

"She doesn't belong here," Lowell choked, the words ragged. "The process has already begun. It's beyond our grasp."

Aiden felt his muscles tense up, and he could sense that inner beast of his pulling at its leash. He tasted metal─the sharp tang of blood where he'd bitten his tongue. Another breath. Losing control meant losing both of them.

"Talk to me, Lowell," he forced out, each syllable raspy. A low growl rumbled in his chest. "Give me something to work with. I can pull strings with the Embassy. They'll listen to me and pardon you."

Lowell's head shook, giving Aiden hope that the man he knew was still battling.

"Too late!" he shrieked, the sound brittle and laced with hysteria. "Delilah's death... it's just one part of the plan! We'll all understand soon!"

A whimper broke the night's silence, and a dry, rattling laugh escaped him, a sound that scraped against Aiden's soul.

Delilah stirred, her body a crumpled heap on the roof's gravel. Both men snapped their heads toward her. Lowell squeezed his eyes shut, his face contorted in a silent battle.

"Fight it, dammit, fight!" Aiden pleaded. He'd choose her without hesitation, but Lowell's hope persisted. The idea of Lowell hurting her triggered a deep ache in his chest that threatened to drown him. "Don't allow your dark wolf to dominate."

"It's... too strong," Lowell said. "I can't... fight it... anymore."

The air tasted like electricity. Aiden's knuckles became pale; his hands clenched so tightly they trembled.

"You must fight," he growled, each syllable a controlled trembling. Aiden took a step, the glass scuffing under his boots, a silent warning of impending violence. A vein pulsed in his forehead, a frantic drumbeat against his skin. "Don't make me hurt you." He stopped, his body rigid. "I'm your Alpha, and you listen to me." The declaration wasn't a statement but a guttural challenge, ripped raw from his chest. "Release her!"

Lowell watched, his face an impassive mask. The wide-eyed admiration Aiden remembered had vanished, replaced by something darker. "Your leadership holds no sway with me." He tilted his head, a faint, almost regretful smile playing on his lips. "I belong elsewhere now." He looked at her with a cold stare, his voice coming out in a slow, rough whisper. "There is no way to stop it. We've already figured out what the future holds."

Aiden's response was a harsh, dismissive bark of laughter. "Bullshit!"

The air shimmered around them. A sickening crack echoed through the space. The seams of Aiden's fitted shirt ruptured as his shoulders and spine grew. The aroma of damp fur and unrefined muscle permeated the atmosphere, overshadowing the fresh fragrance of his cologne. He was no longer a man; he was a monstrous shadow, his teeth bared in a silent snarl.

He dashed forward, a brown streak in the dim light, hoping his raw anger would catch Lowell off guard before he could react. It was a risk; a desperate appeal battled claws and fangs, and it was all he had left.

The power of Aiden's body sent Lowell sprawling, a tangle of limbs rolling away from Delilah's prone form. An instinctual need writhed in Aiden's chest. He fought his inner beast's dominance. He needed its strength, not its insane rage.

Once more, with a growl and a lupine expression, Lowell struggled to regain his balance, his eyes wide and filled with a chemical tang. Aiden remembered their earlier fight, the way Lowell moved, and his unpredictable lunges.

Aiden ran and nipped his leg. A painful wail rang forth. He tasted blood that was both metallic and raw, and he released his grip in the hopes that the pain would buy Delilah some time.

He staggered toward her, aching, and tugged her hand with his wet nose. Her eyelids fluttered, and her gaze met his, clouded with pain but registering recognition.

Relief washed over him, easing the fury inside.

The air vibrated with a savage roar, a sound that whipped Aiden around. He saw Lowell, a swirling mass of fur and muscle, with golden eyes before the physical force hit him.

As Aiden's jaws, which were thick with froth, clamped shut inches from his throat, a spray of spittle fell on his cheek. He bucked Lowell off; the scent of a wet dog and something feral stung in his nostrils.

Aiden pulled back, but Lowell was just a blur, like a dark shadow zipping by at an incredible speed. Pain flared in Lowell's shoulder, causing him to howl. His leg buckled beneath him, a hot, agonizing wave washing over him.

Then the darkness raced up to meet him. Aiden was on his back, pinned, the weight of Lowell a crushing force. He could only see his yellow eyes and the bared fangs, and he could hear the guttural snarls that foretold a symphony of pain. As he found himself trapped, the coppery tang of his own blood filled his mouth.

"Stop," Delilah moaned. "Please, stop fighting."

A bright light then surrounded her.

Aiden watched as twin streaks of liquid sliced through her face's dust from the dirt. Her breath hitched in ragged gasps. His bones shook as Lowell, a snarling creature of darkness, screamed into the air. Each flex of his fangs promised excruciating flesh tears.

His gut twisted; he knew that behind those wild eyes, any trace of the friend he once knew had vanished, consumed by a ravenous predator. Aiden fought to gain traction, to muster his strength, to awaken the instinct that lay dormant within him. He took a risk by surrendering to the beast.

Another expulsion of Lowell launched Aiden backward. He sprang to his feet, agony and all, and spotted his opportunity. Everything around him faded away, leaving just the intense anger bubbling inside.

Aiden charged ahead, a whirlwind of teeth and rage, letting out a loud roar that echoed around him. He crashed into Lowell, pinning him down. His fangs tightened down on Lowell's neck as a warning, giving the other wolf a chance to capitulate. However, his bloodlust remained unaffected. Lowell wouldn't break.

The next snap was lower, a bone-jarring crunch that rang out in the sudden silence.

Aiden could taste iron, that metallic tang of Lowell's blood blending with his anger. The building vibrated with the other wolf's desperate struggles.

A gentle touch followed. He whipped around, teeth showing, like he'd just been stung. But the snarl died in his throat. Delilah.

Her hand, resting on Lowell's bloodied form, trembled. Her voice, barely audible above the roaring in Aiden's ears, cut through the haze.

"No more," she murmured.

A tremendous heat rose in his chest, forcing him to close his eyes. When he ventured to open them again, the air shimmered and their wolf forms disappeared. In their place, two broken men lay gasping on the roof.

Delilah fell apart next to Aiden. He drew her in tight, feeling the shiver in her body match his own.

"It'll be okay," he murmured, his voice heavy with emotion. "I've got you."

He dared to gaze at Lowell once more, but his chest continued to rise and fall with shallow breaths. Alive. For now.

A soft groan slipped from the wolf's lips as he began to stir. Aiden tightened his grasp on her, preparing to leap. He saw Lowell blink, his furious, bloodshot eyes clearing. A wave of relief washed over him, knowing that whatever Delilah had done had quelled the beast. Behind the beast, Aiden hoped the man remained.

Lowell pushed himself up, his gaze sweeping between them, lingering on Aiden. The crimson madness had vanished, replaced by the familiar, softer brown of his eyes─a chilling reminder of who was almost lost.

Aiden released a shaky breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He murmured, "You did it, Foxy," his voice rough and thick as it brushed against her hair. "You brought the dark wolf back from the brink."

She shifted, her emerald eyes shimmering with unshed tears as she gazed up at him. "I hated seeing both of you fight and destroy yourselves."

Aiden pressed a kiss to her forehead, a silent expression of deep gratitude, a sharp contrast to the brutal instincts his wolf possessed.

Lowell swayed, his hand flying to his throbbing head. He choked out, his voice raw and tinged with horror, "I... I killed people." His boots scraped against the loose gravel as he stumbled backward, away from them. "Their blood is on my hands."

Aiden's brow furrowed with growing alarm as he saw the young man edging close to the precipice, his gaze fixed on the abyss. He eased Delilah to the floor, then rose, his movements slow and calm, an attempt to project a stability he hoped Lowell would understand.

"None of this was you, Lowell," he insisted, his voice measured, each word chosen. "Your wolf didn't perpetrate these actions. It was all Cynthia's doing... Whatever she compelled you to do, it's not your responsibility. You're not to blame for her actions."

The other man shook his head, his eyes wide with a dawning, terrifying realization. "You don't understand... it's far from over. This… this is just the beginning. And Cynthia won't stop. She will not stop until she gets what she wants."

He extended his arms, a silent plea as Lowell shuffled closer to the edge. All their planning and the pack's sacrifices meant nothing now. The chasm between them was wider than the rooftop, an impossible distance to bridge in time.

"We can find her together," Aiden said, his voice heavy with emotion. "Just… step away. We'll figure this out. It's not your fault."

Lowell's head wobbled. "You can't help me. No one can. The vampire... she broke me."

His voice, a ghostly echo of the vibrant youth Aiden remembered, caused a shiver to run down his spine.

"Lowell, don't you dare listen to her. The vampire's to blame for all of this."

Ignoring his Alpha's pleas, the younger wolf threw himself over. Aiden's feet found traction, legs pounding, anxious to catch him. But it didn't work.

He reached the edge, fingers grasping at the air, the void mocking his effort. His jaw clenched, teeth grinding together. Lowell fell toward the hard pavement below.

A sob choked Aiden's throat. All he could do was watch.

"Cynthia," he roared, the name a curse ripped from his soul. "Damn you to hell!"

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