So little darcy's I recognize it's been awhile since I updated this story which is why it's on the longer side. Also I need to know: Do we want a couple close calls and then Lola's birthday? Or do we want the next chapter to go straight to her birthday? (And subsequent ability to…. Errr… who are we kidding, Victor's gonna bang that girl like a screen door on a windy day.

Chapter 21: Fear

When Lola finally removed herself from the tank, she was sheepish but also a bit pleased with herself. After all, she'd survived her first heat, sans mate and on top of that had been practically rolling in pleasure the last three days.

Now, she set off to clean up and make herself sweet smelling for Victor. Even in her heat-addled brain, she and Vixen had clung to his message: three days and he'd be home. There was a cut in the palm of her hand where she'd been clutching his necklace but Vixen was pleased. Until their next birthday, they could be marked this way.

Lola showered, rubbed Victor's favorite peach scented lotion well into her skin, and put on one of his particular favorites: her white sundress with the spaghetti straps. She knew a part of him would be worried to see the cut in her hand, but Dr. McCoy had assured her it would heal. And in the meantime, Victor would kiss away any discomfort.

The attitude towards her mate was decidedly different than it had been a few days ago. The respect he'd shown her by gifting Lola with the necklace, the restraint he exercised to keep her virtue intact and her comfort maintained…. Had she not been in love with the man already, her heart would have been lost to him right then and there.

This was the morning of the fourth day and so of course, she expected the older feral to be in his rooms. She went up and knocked, then knocked again when there was no response. Thinking he may be in the shower, she let herself in but it was immediately apparent he'd not been here in several days.

Wondering if he'd taken a job to work off his extra energy, she went in search of Logan or Marie. She ran into the latter first, who said she hadn't heard anything about a mission or job, but maybe Logan had. He was on his way to the danger room when Lola managed to catch up and tug at his sleeve.

"Logan? I need your help please."

He looked down at the little hand clutching his shirt sleeve, which was hastily removed. Logan had been fairly welcoming, (or as welcoming as Logan Howlett could be) even going so far as to christen her with the nickname hazel eyes. Since Marie had been the first to use it, she approved wholeheartedly and the little pack got along fairly well.

Having been in almost the exact situation his brother was currently in, Logan had sympathy for what both went through though he would never admit to it. The only hitch was that he was still one of Lola's teachers and anytime he scolded her in class Vic was sure to take a chunk out of him later.

Victor had completely lost his head over the little feral and he wouldn't have left without ensuring she wouldn't worry. Logan said as much.

"Then where could he be? I already peeked into the kitchen and I was up in his rooms, nothing. And Marie hasn't seen him either! Plus I tried calling but no answer. Logan-"

"Calm down Hazel eyes. You checked outside?"

"No."

"Come on. We'll go look on the grounds. If he did take a job, he wouldn't answer, right?"

Slightly mollified, she nodded and hugged her pack brother. He grunted but returned the hug and headed outside with the girl.

"You take the left half, I'll do the right. You find him, just yell. Could be he's running."

"Okay."

He kissed her forehead and headed off in the opposite direction.

Lola tried to emulate the calm Logan seemed to exude. Victor often went running on the grounds, it was entirely possible he was out now just like Logan said.

Where is our Victor Mate?

I dunno Vixen. He wouldn't just leave us would he?

No never! Never think that again.

Alright alright, calm down.

You calm down, do not tell us to calm down.

Panicking won't help.

Something is wrong. We feel it human.

Lola couldn't argue with that. She figured if anything, he would have gone into the woods close to the school and so made her way there. After twenty minutes of searching, she had bloody scratches from the bushes, and a sick knot of worry in the pit of her stomach.

Still, she continued to look, even going so far as to climb a tree, hoping to get a better vantage point. The new difference in height brought a most welcome sight and she was flying down the tree, headed in her beloved direction.

She ran full out, yipping joyfully and arms outspread.

"Victor!"

He turned and she skidded to a stop. Her mate's eyes were so black the pupils had disappeared and his fangs were fully extended. He was a mess of dirt and leaves and the outdoors, clothes shredded.

"Vic… Victor?"

"Mine."

The human side immediately began to fight the urge to run. Lola knew the feral grin he was offering. And though the eyes said Sabretooth, the hunger in his smile was purely Victor.

Don't run.

He's scaring me.

If we run, he will give chase. We will be prey.

So what do we do?
Do not meet his eyes. Be still and keep your head down.

Lola did as told, trying to make herself as small and unimposing as possible. The alpha feral stalked forward, eyes piercing through her clothes. Roughly he jerked her to him, burying his nose in her neck and hands cupping the round of her ass cheeks.

"Peaches." Came the muffled growl.

"Y.. yes. Your favorite."

He lay her back into the dewy grass of the morning, the air clean and the sky above them a dreamy sort of blue. The ground was cool underneath her back and Victor's weight settled over her, pressing in closer than he'd ever dared.

"Submit."

"What?"

He snarled, attempting to force her head back until she understood. Her neck bared now his tongue lapped at her skin hungrily.

"Sweet young mate. Never been touched have you?"

Any other time she might have been pushing for more. But she'd never seen Victor behave like this and truthfully, she wasn't sure how far he intended to take them. With the older feral distracted by her throat, Lola slowly reached for the phone that dropped nearby them.

"What are you doing?"

Abruptly, any chance to call Logan for help was ripped away when Victor snagged it and chucked the device somewhere behind him.

"I.. I was just-"

"I don't want any interruptions. Been waiting a very long time for this. Makes my mouth water just thinking about being face deep between your thighs."

Let him.

Something's wrong Vixen. He isn't-

But his need smells so gooood-

Vixen. Behave.

And he's touching us. Love mate touching us.

Vixen don't you dare-

Now plainly ignoring her human, Vixen took over long enough to pull their mate down for a bruising kiss. As their tongues began to duel she whined, pushing at his shirt. Despite her best efforts to be strong, Lola was done in. Victor like this was terrifying and dominating and beautiful.

"Patience little girl."

"Victor-"

"Shhh."

He pulled his shirt over his head, tossing it away and hiking her dress up. Without hesitation he gave a quick jerk that had her level with his mouth. Her legs parted willingly and Lola's hands went to Victor's hair, tugging him to where she needed his tongue most.

"Ah.. Vic.. Victor…"

He gave a hard suck that had Lola mewling and almost tearing out her mate's hair. By the time his hands went to his belt, she was flushed from head to toe and almost willing to strip down.

"Let me."

His large hands were warm as they ran over her body and removed the sundress. She tried to shy away, the loss of clothing reminding her why they hadn't already done this.

"Victor we can't. It's illegal."

"I don't give a fuck about legal or not. Want you."

He pinned her arms above her head, ignoring protests and taking a nipple into his mouth, suckling the way he knew she liked best.

"Victor.. We.."

"Tell me to stop."

He bit down, quickly lapping away the sting and giving her other breast the same treatment. When she struggled against the his grip, he put a hand between her legs.

"Unnggh.. Victor.."

"Wanna be inside you."

"P-please… "

"Ride you hard, make you scream."

Her body was responding, hips rolling with every crook of his fingers and legs already wrapping around his waist. It took every bit of willpower in her body and thinking of her great aunt Lucy swimming to get herself under control.

"Victor. No."

"What?"

"She said no Vicki."

What sound like several darts being thrown in succession alerted them to another presence. The pair froze, Victor slumping forward before having any chance to turn. Underneath the dead weight of her would be lover, Lola blushed as Logan tossed her dress at her.

"I'll get him off. Get dressed hazel eyes."

Grunting in exertion, he dragged his brother off Lola's much smaller body but kept the darts in.

"What.. what did you do to him?"
"Just tranqued him. He'll sleep it off."

"Was that many necessary?"

Averting his eyes, he began to tie ropes around Victor's ankles.

"Maybe. Maybe not. He's not in his right head."

She hurried to pull her clothes back on, worry returning.

"What's wrong with him?"
"My best guess? Your heat. He wanted to be sure he wouldn't hurt you. So he just kept running till he couldn't anymore."

"Nobody can run 72 hours straight!"

"Goin on 96 and yes, we can. If it means our mate's are safe."

"So.. so he went full feral?"

Logan shrugged, having tied the ropes in an X over his chest and then double knotted around his waist.

"We'll take him to Hank. Might be awhile before he comes back."

"But what does that mean?!"
"Means he's running on instinct and we've got a killer in our midst. Plus you got hickey's. "