Omega

The power was incredible. But once the full moon passed, the rush ebbed away and what was left was... pain. Mostly. Realisation and agony.

He had chased them in that night, had completely tuned out the penetrating pain of the losses. But once the moon had disappeared beneath the horizon and the sun slowly rose, he had not been able to keep that up. Adrenalin was fading and the bitter truth of the events hit him.

He had stopped pursuing the other four and had returned to the Warehouse in Boston to find the massacre he had caused there. The blood, the devastation, the air of death hanging over the building. It would take a while for the police to find the bodies unless someone stumbled across it by accident and called it in. He had time. Time to come to terms with his own guilt, faced with what remained of his pack.

He stood there and stared for a long time before he fell to his knees. He felt like he was being torn apart, slowly, limb for limb. Could almost feel his flesh tear, the pain nauseating and all-consuming. He was sure he was crying out of blind eyes, the darkness harsher than it had ever been before.

What had he done? What had he become? No! No, they had betrayed him, it was their own fault! They had turned on him, they were all foul traitors! Why else would they run from him now? Waldorf and Liam and Statler, all traitors. And Lyka? No, Lyka just didn't know any better! That was it! That had to be it. Waldorf was manipulating her, he was sure, the old wolf was abusing her youth and inexperience as a wolf to make her believe that he would hurt her! That was the only possible explanation! She would never turn on him. Or would she? After what he had done? Did he even deserve her trust? He had ruined everything. It had all been perfect and he had ruined it because of a foolish power rush!

He had to get her back. That was the most important objective now. He had to find the traitors and get his mate back from them, everything else was meaningless now.

He left the warehouse and picked up the scent of his pack again. He would find them, even if he had to search the entire country. He would find her.

It was the fourth morning in a row. They had to pull over; Lyka stormed out of the car and somewhere into the bushes by the road and threw up whatever was in her stomach. Which usually wasn't much. And by now, it was out of the question for Waldorf. He knew what was going on and it was either the most wonderful news they had all year or – also quite possible – the most terrifying.

Lyka was pregnant.

And since he knew for a fact that she had not been with anyone other than Deucalion in the last month, that meant they'd have a born were-puppy on their hands probably eight months from now. The thought worried him even before he talked to her about it.

At some point during their travels, he sat down alone with her and they talked. The next day, to be absolutely certain, they stopped at a pharmacy and bought pregnancy tests (she insisted to buy five, just in case, because Liv had taught her that 'statistically, the test-retest reliability of these sticks is insufficient so you have to use like a hundred to be absolutely sure'). She was nervous in the bathroom, sitting on the closed toilet with the stick in her hand. And she was absolutely sure she heard her best friend yell at her from outside the cabin 'Pee on the goddamn stick I need to know if I'll be a fabulous lesbian aunt!'

And she burst into tears. It took her almost ten minutes to compose herself again before she could finally 'pee on the damn stick'. At some point, Waldorf knocked on the door.

"Cupcake, how you doing in there?"

"Fine, just a few more minutes," she replied and he could tell her voice was shaky.

"Hurry up, we don't want to stay too long."

"Yeah, I'll be out just… just a minute…"

She kept staring at the stick, waiting for the symbols to appear, to relieve her of the uncertainty. And then… two blue, crossed lines. Congratulations, you are pregnant! Tears welled up in her eyes, she tried to blink them away. A month ago, that would have actually been wonderful news. Back before Beacon Hills, she would have easily believed something like this to work out. She, a young mother. Starting a weird little family with Deucalion. But now… now there was just sheer panic. Really, what had she expected? It was not like they had been careful. Werewolves didn't suffer diseases; they didn't have to worry about getting sick with any nasty things. But they did get pregnant. How was she supposed to handle that? On her own? Raising a child? How was she supposed to explain to this child why the father was absent?

An abortion? Generally something she would have considered in a situation like this. her family had always been pretty clear about that, telling her that if something like this happened, she didn't need to worry, they wouldn't cast her out and they would help her through it, whether she wanted to keep the child or not. Now? Now they had cast her out for something entirely different and she was alone, she had no family, not even a pack. But this was Deucalion's child. The child of the man he had been, before he had turned into this monster. No, she could not terminate this pregnancy.

She wiped her tears, packed up the stick and rushed out of the bathroom to get back into the car. They were on the road again moments later. Waldorf turned to look at her.

"You okay?"

"Yeah, I'm okay…"

He waited, thinking she might share the news. But she didn't. She knew he wanted to know, knew the three of them would support her in any way they could, whatever she decided. But she couldn't tell them just yet, she needed to figure this out for herself, for now. In time she'd let them know. But it wasn't time yet.

They were about halfway through Nebraska, resting in a tiny town, when he caught up with them for the first time. They were staying in a motel that night, which was something they only rarely did. Mostly they slept in the car. But tonight, Waldorf had insisted, mostly because Lyka wasn't doing too well. Neither was Statler.

Waldorf knew what it was. Their status was changing. He was used to it, the slight shift in the feeling one had when they became Omega. So it was official. They were no longer a pack, they were rogues, on the run, bound by no one. It always sounded nice on paper, being Omega, being independent, not having to answer to an Alpha. Like a good old-fashioned road movie. But fact was, it was a terrible feeling. He knew it, he had been through this before, and Liam was doing rather well. But Statler and especially Lyka had been very attached to the pack and to their Alpha. Losing that feeling, that connection, that sense of belonging, was physically painful for them. And in Lyka's condition, that was the last thing she needed. She had not said it yet – he assumed admitting it wasn't easy, because that usually made it 'Real' – but she didn't need to. He knew there was an Alpha child growing in her and he could only half imagine how heavy that burden must weigh on her, with what had happened. They had not slept well the last few nights so tonight, they stayed at a motel, sleeping in real beds for a change. Waldorf didn't sleep much himself, he was up, listening for any changes in the air. He heard Lyka toss and turn, plagued by nightmares. She had kept them away well enough up until a few nights back but he knew sooner or later she'd have to go through this.

Nightmares of the red-eyed beast hunting them. Nightmares of all the blood that had been spilled, all the friends that had been lost. Of the future that had been lost. What a great future it could have been. She cried herself to sleep thinking of that, of what could have been. What it would have been like. Maybe, if she had realised her pregnancy sooner, it could have all been prevented. Maybe Deucalion wouldn't have done these terrible, terrible things if he had just known he was going to be a father, if there was a new life in the plan for them. Maybe, maybe, maybe...

In her sleep, she imagined the beauty of what could have been. Having seen Deucalion with little Cora Hale, she just knew he would have been a wonderful father. If they would have a daughter, he would be the most protective father, the poor person who would try to ask the young lady out one day, having the door opened by a man as intimidating as Deucalion... And if they had a boy, oh he would have so much fun with a little boy! A little boy who would wake them up in the morning because he wanted to play with his father. It was a perfect little world she dreamed up for herself, a world with a home and friends and a family, waking up next to the man she loved every morning.

But when she woke this time, she was alone. She sat up, brushed her hair back. Next door she heard Waldorf snore impossibly loud when she walked to the bathroom and poured a glass of water from the tab. She was tired, exhausted, hungry. Oh God pizza would be brilliant now. Pizza with lots of meat. Weren't there some menu's on the table, 24/7 delivery? She took her phone on the way, studied the menu's, listened for the rain drumming against the window.

When she thought she saw something in the corner of her eye, she looked up. Outside, it was almost perfectly dark. One lonely lantern cast a light onto the yard of the motel, that was it. There weren't many people around. Just two other cars parked outside and she hadn't talked to any of them. She hadn't talked to anyone other than the three wolves she was travelling with, and even with them, conversation had been rare in the past days.

There, again, something was moving outside. She felt uneasy all of a sudden. She knew that feeling, remembered it well from... oh from so long ago. The first full moon after meeting Deucalion. Back in the dorm. Intuitively, the hairs on her arms stood up. She put down the phone without having ordered anything, took her jacket and left the room. It was a cold night, she pulled her clothes closer around her against the chill when she walked over to Waldorf's room next door. She had an eye on the yard, trying to spot anyone nearby. She tried to pick up any scent, but the rain was washing everything away, making it impossible to distinguish even the familiar scent of the other wolves.

She knocked and the snoring immediately stopped. She heard Waldorf jump out of bed and then approach the door. He opened, looked surprisingly awake.

"Hey cupcake. You okay? Can't sleep?" he asked softly. She slowly shook her head.

"I feel like... I don't know... I thought someone was watching us but I guess I'm just tired, paranoid."

Waldorf nodded but he was worried. Her put a hand on her back and led her into the room where Liam was sitting on the floor and Statler had just opened a beer. Apparently she wasn't the only one who had trouble sleeping. Waldorf stayed outside for a moment, brows pulled down into a deep frown before he turned towards the others.

"We should pack it up and leave," he suggested.

"What? We hardly slept," Statler protested.

"I know, I'm sorry. But the fact that all four of us feel watched and couldn't sleep worries me. We should move, just to be on the safe side, you know."

Liam, wordlessly, rose to his feet and nodded. Statler sighed.

"Aw man... I hope this is not going to be our life from now on..." he mumbled, took a sip of his beer before leaving it on the table when he took his coat as well. They did not have any luggage anyways, all they had with them were a few bags of random things and most of it was in the car. Waldorf had an arm on Lyka's shoulder, led her downstairs onto the yard where he left her with Liam and Statler, while he returned the keys at the reception.

She yawned, Liam gently leaned against her shoulder.

"Hey. It'll be fine. Once we're with the Hale's, things will get better."

"If they help us..."

She still had reservations about it. She still wasn't convinced Talia would hear them out, would offer them help. Waldorf was convinced and she wanted to believe it. She wanted to believe that they were not completely alone, that there could perhaps be a place they could belong. But really, she wasn't convinced. She-

This time she saw the movement in time. Her head snapped around and there he was. Standing on the other side of the car, red eyes in the darkness, a low growl filling the air.

Lyka stumbled backwards, shock written on her face. Things happened fast then. Statler pulled her away and within a moment, Deucalion was attacking. Not her, she could tell he was very determined not to hurt her but pushed her out of the way by her arm. She lost touch with the ground, stumbled, fell, rolled through the mud, gasping surprised and saw the two other wolves engage the red-eyed Alpha in battle. Liam was caught by claws dragged across his face, the young man flew around, then dropped face first in the mud. Lyka saw Waldorf run out towards them, into the car before anything else. The engine was howling and he hit the gas. Deucalion was caught in the headlights, surprised for a moment before the car hit him, sent him flying over the car. Waldorf hit the brakes, kicked open the door.

"Get in!" he yelled. Lyka was numb, unable to react. She felt herself being pulled to her feet by Statler and dragged into the car. She saw Deucalion move, slowly, clearly he had been taken by surprise by Waldorf's determination. Liam on the other hand wasn't moving.

"We have to help Liam! We have-"

"We can't!" Waldorf declared and before they could protest any further, he had left the motel and was back on the motorway. Lyka was looking back, couldn't see anything through the darkness of the night and the rain and eventually she sat down facing forward, her face buried in her hands. Statler had his arm around her shoulders and Waldorf kept looking back at her through the rear-view mirror. "I'm sorry, cupcake. I really am. But we can't go back for him."

She shook her head violently.

"Shut up!" she yelled. Waldorf fell silent. She continued in a much smaller voice before she was half crying and half screaming again. "Shut up... this is not how it's supposed to be... Everyone said it would get worse before it got better... but it's not getting better! It just keeps getting worse! I... it doesn't stop hurting, I think I'm going insane! I can't breathe... I... I can't... I... How am I supposed to... what am I supposed to... what am I supposed to tell my CHILD when it asks me why we're always running? What if they ask me about their father? What am I supposed to tell them?!"

None of them responded and she was sure she was hyperventilating, her lungs unable to process the oxygen she was trying to force into them. Waldorf watched her carefully, hardly focusing on the street. She had finally said it. Her child. She had admitted it, she was facing the reality and he hoped that would help, hoped it would let her heal.

"Do you... want to terminate?" he asked after she had calmed down just a little. He knew it wasn't the most sensitive question to ask but it was something she would have to think about sooner or later. Surprisingly, it took her not even a second to shake her head.

"No, of course not... of course not... I just... I need a place to belong, Waldorf. I need a place for me and for this child to belong and not... I can't be scared for the rest of my life..."

He silently nodded. He really hoped the Hale's would have that place for them. They couldn't keep running, they all knew that.

"Try to get some sleep. We'll figure it out."

It wasn't a promise, she heard that. But it was the closest Waldorf could give to a promise right now. She nodded quietly, wiped the tears from her eyes and then leaned against Statler's shoulder, closed her eyes, hoping to get some sleep.

He was blinking. His face was in pain and there was mud and blood in his eyes. Liam rolled to his back, let the rain wash over his sore skin. There was a shadow nearby and after a moment he saw... red eyes glowing in the darkness. A weak smirk appeared on his lips and moving these muscles was painful. He wondered what he looked like. Face mutilated. But he could feel the healing set in. Slow, impossibly slow, so slow it was actually almost more painful than the wound itself.

"At least finish what you started, Duke..." he mumbled. The shadow moved closer. Liam saw claws drawn out.

"Where are they going? Where is he taking her?" the Alpha asked, his voice a growl. He wasn't even properly human anymore, Liam could tell. Still, he smirked.

"I'm not telling you. I won't let you kill them... So come on! Finish it!"

Deucalion leaned closer and... in a gesture that was almost gentle brushed the wet, dirty hair from the younger wolf's face. He didn't speak. Liam waited for the strike, waited for the pain, for death. But nothing happened. He opened his eyes and saw the Alpha had turned away. Slowly, he sat up, confused.

"Stay out of my way. Stay away from them. Stay away from her," the Alpha ordered. And then he was gone. Liam stayed behind, alone, wounded, confused. Truly lost. Because it meant there was no one left. Deucalion was gone, so were Lyka, Waldorf and Statler. What little he had left of a pack was gone. But...

Why hadn't he killed him? Why show mercy now?

Author's Note:

Sorry again about the delay. I moved and now it was my first weekend in the new place so I took a bit to finish this chapter. It's not my best, I know, but I need to get back into it after the long pause. From now on, I will most likely update every Sunday because I don't think I'll have time to write during the week. But you will get regular updates, I promise.

Thank you all for the patience!