By the time he and Emma arrived at the diner, Killian was practically vibrating with rage and worry. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that Neal was behind Ruby's disappearance. Whether she had gone willingly under persuasion, or had been taken by force remained to be seen.
Before making their way back into town, Emma had shared with him her suspicion that Neal was persuading at least one member of the packs. Knowing that Neal had been to the cabin just prior to their arrival, it seemed likely that he may have put Ruby under his thrall when she'd come to stock it with provisions. Emma had the presence of mind to grab her enchanted swan pendant necklace before they rushed out the door, so once they found Ruby they'd be able to break the persuasive hold over her.
Entering the diner, Killian was surprised to find only Arthur and Granny awaiting them. "Where's Graham?"
"He didn't want to wait, so I sent my Beta with him to begin the search." Killian ground his teeth over the slight of Graham not waiting on them to arrive before proceeding, though he could hardly blame him for not wishing to waste time. Not with his mate's life at stake. "Any ideas yet on where the bastard might be hiding?"
Emma shared the same stunned look as Killian when Arthur addressed the question to her and not him. "Maybe. There's an old abandoned silver mine about fifty miles west of here. Seems like the perfect place to hideout if you want to avoid werewolves."
"I already texted Graham the location," Killian informed him, and a notification sounded from his phone. "That may be him now."
Arthur asked Emma to show him where the mine was located on the map he had stretched across the counter as Killian pulled his phone from his pocket. He'd almost exclaimed that the text he'd received was from Ruby before reading:
Say nothing if you want Ruby to live. Call when you're alone. -N
Killian warred with himself. Emma had tried to do a search for Ruby's phone while they were still at the cabin, but it had been turned off. Now that it was clearly back on, they could run a trace, but Killian wasn't sure if he should risk it. There was no telling who else might be under Neal's influence, watching them even now, and he knew the man wouldn't hesitate to harm the woman Killian considered a sister.
"What did Graham say?" Emma asked, turning back to him from the map.
"It wasn't Graham." Killian began walking towards the back room, feeling Emma's speculative gaze track after him. "I have to make a call."
"To who?"
"I'll explain later."
"Killian, what-"
He shut the door on her concerned inquiry and locked himself within the sound proof room.
"I trust you are alone and where no one can overhear this call," Neal said upon answering.
"Aye. I want to speak to Ruby."
Killian heard a shuffling noise before the quiver of Ruby's voice came over the line. "Killian?"
"Are you alright, love?" He flushed with a surge of relief mixed with the gnawing anxiety already churning in his stomach.
"I'm okay. I'm so sorry. Tell Graham I'm sor-"
"Ruby?!"
"I think that's enough," Neal stated coldly.
"What do you want?" Killian growled, the coiling knot of worry in his gut now tightening with fury.
"I thought that would be obvious," Neal mocked. "Your misery is what I want. You took my family and the woman I love from me, so I plan to do the same to you." Killian heard Ruby's muffled sob in the background. "Only, unlike you, I'll let you choose which loss to suffer."
"What does that mean?"
"It's simple really. Ruby or Emma?"
"What?"
"Ruby," he drawled out tauntingly, "or Emma. Which are you prepared to lose? I could kill Ruby now, or... you can break your mate bond with Emma."
"How the hell do you expect me to do that?" Killian scoffed. "Mate bonds are for life."
"Not if an Alpha shuns their mate. Publicly." Neal answered in a calculating tone. "If you want Ruby to live, that's exactly what you'll do. Now."
"You expect me to walk out into the diner and publicly shun Emma?" Killian clarified.
"Exactly."
"And then what? She'll come running into your loving arms?" Killian mocked.
"You let me worry about what happens afterward. You just focus on making it convincing." Killian heard a pained sound from Ruby and his jaw tightened in rage. "Because believe me, if you don't… I'll know."
"So you do have someone else under your thrall."
"Once it's done, drive to the town line and wait for my call," Neal continued on as if he'd not heard Killian's accusation. "I'll give you further instructions once I'm convinced you've done your job. You've got just under an hour to get it done, or else."
The line went dead and Killian had to temper his desire to throw his phone against the nearest wall. The man's entire plan was ludicrous. He couldn't possibly believe that the bond he and Emma shared could be broken so easily. Or did he really think that what he felt for Emma was stronger than what Killian shared with her?
Killian swept a hand through his hair then down his face as he considered his next course of action, all the while aware that time was ticking against him. There was nothing for it. He'd have to play out the ruse if he hoped to save Ruby's life. There wasn't a doubt in his mind that he could make Emma understand what was really happening through their bond, but that didn't make the prospect of what he'd have to do or say in order to make it convincing any less painful.
~/~
Emma kept glancing towards the back room every few seconds trying to keep her cool as Arthur prattled on about his plan for how they should approach the silver mine. A plan that was ridiculous and would probably get them all killed. Curious anticipation gnawed at her insides everytime her eyes landed on the door Killian had sequestered himself behind. She let out a deep sigh of exasperated relief when he finally emerged, but the look on his face had her hackles raising.
"Killian? What's wrong? Who were you talking to?"
"No one. It isn't important," he deflected without so much as meeting her gaze.
"Like hell it isn't." Emma grabbed his arm to stop him from brushing past, only to have him yank it from her grasp.
"I said it isn't important." The force of his words and glowering look in his eyes were like a slap to her senses. He'd never spoken to her, or looked at her that way before.
"Killian," she began gently. "What's going on? Tell me who were you talking to?"
She took a startled step back at the menacing way he approached her, her heart slamming in her chest in a hurt rhythm at the change that had come over him.
"You seem to forget which of us is the Alpha here, Swan," he grit out through his clenched jaw. "I think I've been more than tolerant, so just for once could you mind what I say without all your incessant questioning?"
Emma swallowed and felt the pricking of tears beginning to form in her eyes, damn hormones. The reminder of that had her eyes welling further as she looked around and saw the few patrons within the diner cowering in the face of an enraged Alpha. Including a stunned Granny.
"Killian, I don't understand-"
"I don't need you to understand," Killian roared. "I just need you to close your mouth and listen!"
In her shocked and distraught state she'd almost missed it. The quiet undercurrent of desperation in his tone, the slight glimmer of intensity in his eyes that had nothing to do with the anger he was displaying. That's when she caught it. The faint whisper of their bond seeping into her, assuring her of his love and encouraging her to play along. There was a plan behind his words. She just had to trust him.
"Close my mouth and listen?!" Emma shot back. "Do you even hear yourself right now?" I trust you. "You sound like a-"
"Like a what?" Killian challenged, a brief flicker of relief making its way to the surface before the storm clouds behind his eyes took prominence once again. "Like an Alpha? Because that's what I am, Swan. I am the Alpha, not you."
"I've never made light of your position as Alpha, nor have I ever tried to usurp your authority. We're partners, remember?"
"How could I forget?" Killian snapped contentiously. "When any official mention of our bond, our partnership, is always as the Swan-Jones hybrids."
Emma's mouth gaped open in surprise. The sting of truth ringing in her ears as she could practically hear his wince through their bonded connection. She reached out towards him, but he stepped back, his hard facade firmly back in place.
"It's high time you started treating me with the respect and deference my position affords me, Swan."
Emma crossed her arms over her chest and raised her chin in defiance. "And if I don't?"
"Then you leave me little choice," he stated in a hushed and heavy tone, "but to shun you."
Gasps echoed through the diner and Emma's stomach dropped at the mere suggestion. Again their bond washed over her, but even its comfort couldn't hold back the tears that slipped down her cheeks.
"You don't mean that."
Killian's Adam's apple bobbed, but his expression remained resolved. "Actually… I do."
"Killian, don't do this," Emma pleaded, frantically seeking assurance through their bond that this was all still part of the plan. "I don't want to lose you."
"Then you should have considered that before you defied me." He spun around and began walking toward the door.
"Where are you going?" Her tone betrayed the hysteria that was starting to course through her. "What about Ruby?"
"My family is no longer your concern," he muttered harshly, still heading for the door.
"I am your family," she called out in despair, forcing him to turn and look at her. She placed her hands against her abdomen and reminded him, "We are your family." I love you!
His face gave not an ounce of mercy as he coldly stated, "Not anymore." The bell of the diner rang out overhead as he wrenched the door open and exited, leaving astonished and speechless townsfolk in his wake. None of whom were privy to the truth of his final sentiment; a sentiment that had Emma collapsing to her knees as it reached her through their bond.
I love you too, Emma.
~/~
Killian sat in his truck at the town line, the weight of anguish pressing down on him from all sides. It hadn't been real. He knew that, and he was confident that Emma knew that too, but it didn't stop the violent tremors of anxiety rolling through his stomach and chest every time he recalled the words he'd spoken. Words he hadn't meant, or at least… he hadn't thought he did. The words had carried more truth behind them than he'd realized they would. Not the declarations about him shunning her, he would never mean those words, but the others… the ones about how she'd chosen to label their relationship, their partnership, those words had held a seed of discontent long buried.
Agitated over the fact that Neal still hadn't called, Killian roughly ran a hand through his hair, and clutched the wisps in the back. Since the moment they'd arrived in town his Alpha nature had become more and more prominent. Primal instincts he'd once been able to bottle up were now spilling over, and while he was able to dismiss many of them out of hand, he could no longer deny that there were a few aspects of his and Emma's relationship that his Alpha had a difficult time reconciling. He hadn't meant to voice his grievances that way, if indeed he'd even intended to ever confess them at all.
He loved his mate. Valued and cherished her. Knew he was the luckiest bastard to ever exist because she had chosen to tie her life to his. What did a few concessions to his dominance matter in the face of their bond and the future currently growing inside of her? What difference did a name really make? The bond was the most important thing, the tie one had with the pack. Their child would make those ties even more binding, as its existence officially made them a pack by werewolf standards. Whether they were the Jones Pack or the Swan-Jones Pack the bond would remain eternal.
Despite Neal's attempts to make it otherwise.
Killian's phone rang as if on cue. "Well done," Neal praised over the line, forcing Killian to swallow back the bile threatening to make its way up his throat. "My source tells me you were quite successful."
"Aye. I held up my end of the bargain. Now, release Ruby."
"Oh, I will," Neal assured hollowly. "Why don't you head back to the cabin so you can witness her release for yourself?" Killian balked at the news that Neal and Ruby were at his cabin. In their rush to get back into town, he'd neglected to activate the perimeter alarm. " I hope you don't mind my being here. Ruby was kind enough to offer me an invitation inside." Killian couldn't contain the infuriated growl that rumbled through his chest over the knowledge that his cabin was now vulnerable to violation. A fact that had Neal smugly chortling on the other end of the line. "We'll see you at home in a little bit, Killian."
The line went dead and once again Killian's phone almost fell victim to his spiked temper. Fortunately, he was able to hold onto the shreds of his control before destroying it, slamming his open palm into the center of the wheel instead. Without knowing who Neal had enthralled and whether or not they might still be with her, Killian hadn't risked calling or texting Emma since he'd stormed out of the diner. Now he wouldn't have to in order to send her a message. The perimeter alarm would be able to do that for him. Killian opened the security app and toggled it to armed before silencing his phone and driving off toward the cabin.
~/~
Emma stared up at the ceiling, her phone clutched tightly to her chest as she lay on the bed in one of the B&B rooms. Tears still clung to her lashes, but the ache in her chest had lifted slightly since Granny had led her up the stairs to the vacant room. A task she'd thankfully chosen over shooting Arthur with her crossbow when he'd dared to wrap an arm around Emma in an attempt to assist her off the floor. He'd professed that no slight was intended given that she was no longer an Alpha's mate, a statement that had the older woman growling fiercely to the point the odious man had backed off.
No longer an Alpha's mate.
When Emma had asked Killian to come live with her, she'd thought she was offering him a chance to be a part of something. A community he could belong to that would accept him for who and what he was. It wasn't until their bond had felt threatened that she'd realized the truth; he was the one that had provided her a place to belong.
She had little memory of the Swans, the couple that had initially adopted her and had died at Neal's hand. Legally, the name had remained with her throughout her years in foster care, and she'd had no reason to change it. It wasn't a name she'd ever felt especially close to, not until Killian had called her Swan that first time on the side of the road. The way it had rolled off his tongue like an endearment had made it special. She was his Swan.
Vampire and werewolf ties were stronger than any vows of marriage, which was why most within those species never bothered with the mostly human tradition. As hybrids, Emma and Killian's bond was even stronger, so they had agreed that marriage wasn't necessary. Cleo had referred to them as the Swan-Jones hybrids from the very beginning, and neither she nor Killian had ever contradicted it. Emma wasn't sure it had even been an issue to Killian until he'd voiced it in the diner earlier. The truth of it seemed to surprise him as much as it had her.
Should it really, though? The two of them may not officially be a pack, but Emma knew the identity of a pack was tied to its name, and that name was a direct reflection of the Alpha and his authority over all its members. When Killian had growled at her his frustration over being referred to as Swan-Jones, it was like he was revealing a fact that hadn't mattered until that moment. Emma now understood why it had bearing now though, and she placed a hand over her stomach with a small smile pulling at her lips.
They were going to be a family. A pack. Bonds would be created that would extend beyond the two of them, giving them that sense of belonging to something greater that they'd both craved their entire lives. Having their community of human associates and friends had been a wonderful beginning, but ever since they'd returned to Storybrooke, Emma had felt that something had been missing. For all the acceptance and tolerance they'd received in their little community of bounty hunters, she and Killian were still outsiders. Given their unique nature she wasn't sure there was anywhere they could ever truly belong, but it was becoming more and more apparent that their current location and lifestyle wasn't going to be ideal for them in the long term. A pack needed space to grow and call their own, and Emma knew that Killian's territorial instinct would only intensify.
He was an Alpha. Her Alpha. Their Alpha. Being the Jones Pack wouldn't make her any less Emma Swan. If anything, it made her so much more. Killian gave her that. Like any good Alpha he allowed her room to flourish and push herself, to make mistakes and fight her own battles while always being there to back her up, or step alongside her so she didn't have to fight alone. He challenged her in the best ways and deferred to her when he knew she'd know best. He was her Alpha, and she was his mate. Nothing was going change that. Nothing.
Emma looked down at her phone willing it to display a message from Killian. She hadn't wanted to risk calling or texting him. It was apparent to her now that it had been Neal Killian had spoken to in the backroom, and that his demand for Ruby's safety was that Killian break their mate bond. Emma snorted at Neal's stupidity. Did he really think it would be so simple? What exactly did he think was going to happen now?
Actually, Emma wished she knew the answer to that, then she might have an inkling of where Killian had gone after he'd left the diner. Her gut churned anxiously at the thought of him facing Neal alone. If it was a simple showdown between the two of them, Emma wouldn't have any cause to worry, but with Ruby thrown into the mix…
She knew her mate well enough to know he wouldn't hesitate to put himself in harm's way in order to spare his family. She also knew that he wouldn't call for backup from Graham. Firstly, because they still didn't know who they could fully trust, and secondly, because he would feel it was his responsibility to face Neal without endangering anyone else.
Which left her to have his back. Problem was, she didn't know where his back was at the moment.
~/~
Killian approached the cabin cautiously. Every sense was on high alert for signs of an ambush or additional players in this sadistic game Neal was playing. The ridiculous notion of knocking filtered through Killian's mind for a nanosecond before he purposely pushed his way through the front door. There, standing in the middle of the living room, was Neal using Ruby as a human shield with a syringe jammed into the side of her neck.
"Nice of you to join us," Neal greeted amicably. "Close the door. Come in and have a seat."
Killian shut the door behind him, but made no move toward the couch or chair. "I think I'll stand." Killian shifted his murderous gaze from Neal and softened it when he met Ruby's eyes. "Are you alright?"
"She will be," Neal interjected without allowing Ruby the opportunity to respond. "So long as she does as she's told."
Killian clenched his fists and took a menacing step forward, growling, "You said you'd let her go."
"Careful there, mate," Neal warned. "This syringe is filled with a silver solution. One more step and I inject it straight into her bloodstream. Now… Sit. Down."
Grudgingly, Killian complied and sank down into his leather club chair, his hands tightly gripping the ends of the armrests. "What's the plan here, Neal? I've done as you demanded. I've shunned Emma." Ruby let out a surprised gasp then winced when Neal pressed the syringe further into her skin. "I've done my part, now let Ruby go."
"Oh, I will," Neal assured. "She's the last piece of the puzzle."
"What puzzle?"
"The puzzle I've began putting together since the moment I discovered Emma was your mate - how to break and reforge bonds." Neal's demeanor relaxed as he continued to explain things, and Killian was more than willing to keep him talking. It seemed he hadn't learned his lesson from the previous night. "It's a tricky thing, seeing as Emma is a mix of vampire and… werewolf," he sneered disgustedly. "The simplest way would have been for her to simply choose to leave you, but since she was unwilling to come with me, I had to put this plan into motion."
"Having me shun her?"
Neal nodded smugly. "That. And establishing a new bond quickly while she's vulnerable." Neal used his free hand to fish something out of his pocket before holding it out for both Killian and Ruby to see. Killian snarled at the object, and it took everything within him to not launch himself out of the chair and rip out Neal's throat.
"W-What is that?" Ruby questioned.
"A vial of blood," Neal replied. "My blood. And you're going to see to it that Emma ingests it."
"No. I won't do it!"
"I'm afraid you won't have a choice," Neal mocked before turning her to face him, the syringe still stuck in her flesh with his thumb at the ready on the plunger. "You're going to go back to the diner and find Emma," Neal instructed. Killian didn't need to see Ruby to know that her eyes had started to haze over. The persuasive command taking its hold over mind, will, and emotions. "She's going to need someone to lean on, someone to offer her some comfort. A nice cup of hot chocolate just might do the trick." Neal placed the vial in her hand and closed her fingers around it. "You're going to put my blood in her hot chocolate and make sure she drinks it. Then you're going to tell her that Killian left and offer to drive her here so she can collect her things. I'll be waiting for your return. Do you understand?" Ruby nodded compliantly and Neal's grin made Killian's stomach turn. "Good girl."
"Sound like a lovely plan, mate," Killian grit out through his clenched teeth. "Just one problem."
"Oh? What's that?"
"What's to keep me from ripping your head off your shoulders after Ruby leaves and it's just the two of us left here?"
Neal's smug grin only broadened. "It won't be just the two of us. I'm expecting company."
Killian's phone vibrated in his pocket, indicating that the perimeter alarm had gone off, and he stretched out his senses, listening for any clue as to who their mystery guest might be. Footsteps echoed across the porch minutes later causing Killian to turn his attention toward the door. The sight that greeted him upon its opening made his heart cease and drop into his stomach.
"Lucas!" Ruby's anguished cry rang out through the room. Little Lucas tugged helplessly against the tight grip that had his arm in a vice. A grip administered by none other than Arthur.
"So you're Neal's other enthralled victim," Killian deduced. Wrongly he realized, as there was no evidence of the cooperative haze in the man's eyes.
"Actually, no," Arthur gloated. "I'm acting under my own power, I assure you."
"Why? How?" Killian couldn't fathom why a werewolf, even one as despicable as the Camelot Alpha, would ever choose to collude with a vampire against their own kind.
"Would you care to do the honors? Or shall I?" Arthur inquired of Neal in a dramatic flair that set Killian's teeth on edge. His cohort acquiesced and Arthur began spinning the tale of their association.
As it turned out, Neal had set about attacking members of the Camelot pack in order to fine tune his efforts for when he moved on to Storybrooke. Camelot, being isolated as it was, meant that word was less likely to get out, thereby alerting other packs to be on their guard. It had seemed the perfect place to practice, until Neal had been caught by the pack's Alpha, Arthur, who had an enchanted charm to protect him against persuasion.
"When Neal told me that his true target was Storybrooke, I saw an opportunity for us to work together."
"What possible reason could you have to attack the Storybrooke packs?" Killian questioned, his focus seemingly fixated on Arthur even as he kept Lucas and Ruby squarely within his attentions.
"Storybrooke is coveted for its location and power. If I'm going to bring my pack out of isolation, what better prospect could there be than to become one of its packs?"
"You could have just approached Graham," Ruby stated in a stunned whisper, her voice shaky from the fear she was valiantly trying to fend off from her son being in a madman's clutches.
"Aye," Killian agreed. "Graham would have considered your petition. There was no need for any of this additional bloodshed."
"Maybe. Maybe not." Arthur shrugged. "But with the Oz pack disbanding due to the death of their Alpha, and my dashing rescue of the other pack Alpha's mate, acceptance into the Storybrooke charter is pretty much guaranteed."
"My rescue?"
"That's what you'll be telling everyone when you return to the diner." Arthur dragged Lucas alongside him towards the couch and sat down as Neal gave Ruby her final set of instructions. "Arthur happened upon your scent and tracked you to the encampment I was holding you hostage in. He freed you and told you to run for help, but you've been persuaded to not reveal my location. Hours from now Arthur will stumble back into town with some wounds caused by silver and no memory… or so he'll say." He and Arthur shared a sickening smirk, and Killian's knuckles were turning white from the grip of sheer will he had on his chair. "Once I've had word from you that Emma has taken my blood, Killian will pack his things and leave. After you've brought Emma back here I will persuade you and your son to forget everything and you'll be on your way." Neal took his focus off Ruby to address his last command directly to Killian. "If you so much as move until I tell you to, Arthur will snap the boy's neck."
Ruby gave a pained sob and Lucas burst into tears. Killian's eyes flashed and he determined right then that neither man would leave that cabin alive.
~/~
Emma waited until Ruby was far enough away from the cabin to not be seen or heard before intercepting her. Having heard everything from where she'd crouched down and eavesdropped on the porch, Emma knew the plan Neal had set into motion. She couldn't let Ruby go back to town in a panic over Lucas, nor could she risk Ruby calling Neal to tell him Emma was nowhere to be found. After several moments of frantic reassurances that Emma would make sure Lucas stayed safe, Ruby left to get help.
Emma drew her gun and took a deep breath before bursting through the cabin door, her sights set on a shocked Neal.
"What? How are you...? You told me she was overcome with grief!" Neal roared at Arthur, who shared the same surprised expression at her presence.
The only face that didn't seem phased at all by her arrival was Killian's. Of course, he knew she'd come. Once the perimeter alarm had sounded on her phone she'd known where to find him and wasted no time making her way to his side. She tried to catch his eye, but they were still firmly set on Lucas. He wasn't going to take any chances with his nephew's life.
"It's over, Neal."
"No." Neal shook his head, refusing to acknowledge his failure. "No, it should have worked. You shunned her publicly. It should have broken the bond." He rounded on Arthur and accused, "You said their bond had been broken!"
"Maybe if he'd ever had a mate of his own he would have realized that bonds exist beyond words," Killian said in a hushed tone of pure menace.
Emma could feel the quiet rage rolling off him and it sent a spike of fear into her nerve endings. Not for herself, but for the treacherous men before her. She didn't need their bond connection to know Killian's intentions. They were both dead men. They just didn't know it yet.
"I said, it's over," Emma stated again. "You're both going to answer for what you've done."
Neal's expression twisted from anger and panic to something that looked like triumph. The creak of the floorboard behind her was the only warning Emma had before she felt an arm wrap around her neck and the sharp jab of a needle insert itself into the side of her throat.
"Ruby! What are you doing?" Killian exclaimed, jumping from his seat and taking several steps toward them.
"I wouldn't get any closer if I were you," Neal suggested. "She's been instructed to inject Emma with the silver if you get too close." Killian stopped short and shot the man a thunderous look. "Just in case your nephew's life was expendable to you, I enthralled Ruby with a back up plan to ensure you'd still suffer a great loss in case you tried to intervene in my plan."
"A great loss?" Emma scoffed, her gun still trained on Neal. "Silver has no effect on a hybrid like me in human form… remember?"
"Oh, I remember," Neal drawled slyly. "But are you willing to risk what it might do to your unborn child?"
Emma blanched and saw the color drain from Killian's face. How did he know about the baby? Had Arthur told him the news after she'd revealed it in the diner as Killian exited? What would the silver do to their child? Their eyes met, and she and Killian were of one mind; they couldn't risk it, wouldn't risk it, but that didn't mean they would let Neal win.
Handing the gun over to Neal, Emma took the opportunity of his momentary distraction in ordering Killian to return to his seat to pull her enchanted swan pendant from her pocket. She pressed it into the bare skin of Ruby's arm that was still wrapped around her and hoped against hope that charm would break the persuasion over her in time to save them all, cursing herself for not giving it to Ruby when they'd been outside.
"So, what now?" Arthur hissed, clearly unsettled by the unraveling of their plans.
"Now?" Neal mused, approaching Emma thoughtfully. "Now we are back to plan A." Neal reached out toward her hand, and Emma feared he might have seen the pendant. It wasn't her hand he pried open in order to remove something from it, though. Taking the vial of blood back from Ruby, he held it before her. "You have a choice to make. Take my blood and choose to leave with me, or I'll order Ruby to inject you with the silver."
"Like you won't ensure my child's death once you have Emma all to yourself anyway," Killian spat.
"Why would I do that when the little brat is going to be my insurance policy?" Neal taunted. "I told you I want you to suffer, so I'm leaving you here alive with the knowledge that she's mine now. As long as you stay away, your child will live. Who knows? I might even let it call me Daddy."
Killian's eyes flashed and his jaw tightened. Emma knew he wouldn't be able to keep his Alpha nature at bay much longer. She willed the charm to work faster as Neal faced her and raised the vial before once more.
"You're going to drink my blood, then Killian is going to watch as I take yours." Her skin crawled and recoiled at the salacious sweep of his tongue over his lips, Killian's growl echoed in her ears. "Drink it, or risk your child's life. And the life of the boy."
Lucas yelped in pain, and the sound sparked Emma's protective maternal instincts. They were out of time. They had no other choice. Killian called out her name as she reached out to take the vial from Neal's hand.
"Please, love," he pleaded, tears shimmering in his crimson hued eyes. "Don't do this."
Another attempt to stall until the enchantment took effect. Emma had already communicated through their bond about the pendant, but they both knew they couldn't wait any longer. Too much was at stake.
"I'm sorry, Killian," she whispered before bringing the vial to her lips.
She nearly choked when the viscous liquid hit her tongue, the harsh coppery notes violating her sinuses and palate. Before she was forced to swallow its vileness, she felt Ruby react from behind her, pulling the needle from her neck with a soft gasp. Emma saw Neal's eyes widen from the sound, but before he could take any action she spat his blood right back in his face.
"Ruby, run!" Emma shouted, grabbing for her gun still clutched in Neal's hand as he swiped at the blood covering his face.
"Not without Lucas!" Ruby cried.
The sound of Arthur's scream pierced the air, but was followed quickly by the snap of bone then silence. It seemed Killian had Lucas' safety well in hand. Emma struggled to get the gun away from Neal, the two becoming a jumble of limbs as Killian scooped up Lucas and got him and his mother out of the cabin.
"Stay back!" Killian commanded from the front lawn, his footfalls back toward the house robbing Emma of her concentration long enough for Neal to shove her back.
Her arm briefly caught on something secured around his neck before it gave way and she slammed against the wall, then down to the floor. Killian's roar preceded his reentry into the cabin, and Emma's heart practically stopped when she heard a gunshot ring out. The smell of blood filled the air around her, causing Emma's head to snap up in time to see Killian's body colliding with Neal's.
The bullet had caught Killian in the shoulder, but his rage and adrenaline were overriding the pain he had to be suppressing. Neal used Killian's injury to his advantage, applying blow after blow to the wound as the two wrestled with one another. Watching in fear that Neal might get another shot off, it took Emma several moments to notice the necklace laying on the floor beside her. At first she thought it to be her swan pendant, but after picking it up she recognized it as Neal's. A charm she'd never seen him without when they were dating.
Realization of what she might be holding struck her and she called out to her mate. "Killian! The sunlight! Get him into the sunlight!"
Both men's heads whipped towards her and their eyes widened. One with realization, the other with fear. Killian shoved Neal toward the door, the man's hand scrambled for purchase on the doorframe, gripping it tightly until a hard kick to his chest dislodged him and he flew backward onto the porch. Another shot was fired, and a fresh wave of metallic redolence hit Emma's sinuses. Tackled again, Killian propelled Neal's body into the fading light of day, and the man let out a horrifying scream, losing his balance under Killian's toppling weight. Blisters erupted along Neal's skin, turning his pale skin red before the photosensitivity became fatal and he turned to ash beneath Killian's still form.
"Killian!" Emma cried out, sprinting towards his prone body. "Killian!" Her knees slammed into the earth beside him, her hands desperate as she pulled on his shoulder to roll him onto his back. "Don't you dare die on me, Jones!"
"I wouldn't dream of it," he groaned.
Emma let out a sigh of relief as she assisted him in sitting up. His hand pressed firmly against the open graze at the side of his ribs from the second bullet, which was already healing. The wound at his shoulder was taking more time, given that the bullet had passed clean through, and Emma offered him her wrist so he might draw additional healing from her vein.
Licking a few errant drops of her blood from his lips, his eyes narrowed as he surveyed her. "Are you alright, love?"
"I'm fine," she assured, sweeping his bangs away from his forehead as she watched the color return to his face from the fresh flow he'd ingested.
"Are you sure?" he pressed. "You hit the wall and ground rather hard."
His gaze settled on her abdomen and she brought her hands up to rest them there. "I'm sure. We're both fine."
Their eyes met and she could see remorse overflowing in his blue depths. "I'm sorry, Emma. For the things I said. I-"
Emma cut off his words with the press of her lips. Killian's arms wrapped around her waist and pulled her onto his lap. It felt as though it had been days, not hours, since she'd last felt his body against hers. All she wished to do in that moment was lose herself in the hot slide of his mouth over hers, but the clearing of a throat jarred them both from the passionate reverie.
"Sorry," Ruby apologized sheepishly. "I didn't want to leave without knowing you were both okay."
"We should be the ones checking on you," Emma replied as she stood and pulled Killian to his feet. "Are you okay?"
"We're fine," Ruby responded, giving Lucas' shoulder a soft squeeze as he stood in front of her, tears drying on his cheeks.
"Are the bad men gone?" Lucas sniffled.
"Aye, lad. They are." Killian knelt down before his nephew and placed a hand on the boy's other shoulder. "You've no need to be afraid of them any longer." Lucas sniffled again, trying to put on a brave face as fresh tears made their way down his face. Killian looked back over his shoulder at Emma, and she gave him a nod. She didn't want to see the boy suffer from the trauma either. "In fact," Killian continued after a quick glance up at Ruby, "I want you to forget about them entirely."
Ruby's breath caught at Killian's soothing, dulcet tone of persuasion. "Killian, I'm not sure this is such a good idea. You know how Graham feels about your abilities."
Emma stepped up next to her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Do you really want your son to carry around the burden of this, Ruby?"
"Well, no. But-"
"Then let Killian do this for him. For both of you."
Ruby chewed her lip before finally offering her consent, and Killian continued to relieve Lucas of his fear and worry. "You're not going to remember coming to my cabin today, Lucas. The last memory you'll have will be playing at home before your mum arrived to take you to Granny's. Do you understand?" Lucas' head lolled in agreement. "Good, lad." Killian stood and addressed both of the women. "We should call Graham and let him know you're safe."
"Can I borrow your phone?" Ruby asked. "I'll call him to let him know, and that he can meet us at Granny's."
Killian handed Ruby his phone and the four of them made their way to Killian's truck. It would be a tight squeeze, with Lucas having to sit on his mother's lap, but Emma wasn't too put out at the idea of being pressed against her mate in the cab on the ride back into town. She was craving his closeness and knew it was from the residual effects of their fight from earlier. From the words that still rang in her ears.
"Emma," Killian said softly beside her as they walked hand in hand. "About before… the things I said."
"Shhh." It was her fingertips that stayed his words this time. "You don't have to say anything."
"We should discuss it though," he insisted.
"We will," she promised. "Just not now? Please? I just want to be close to you right now."
Killian smiled down at her, crinkles appearing at the corner of his eyes that shone with all the love she felt filling her heart to nearly bursting in that moment. "Aye, love. Later."
~/~
Killian braced himself the entire way back to town for the fallout he was sure to receive from both Graham and the Camelot Beta. Though shocked at the tale of treachery Killian and Emma relayed to him, Lance took the news of his deceased Alpha better than anticipated. He'd half expected a pack war to ignite, but the strong and stoic Beta simply requested that he be allowed to take his Alpha's body back to Camelot with him. Despite Arthur's betrayal to their kind, Graham offered Lance his gratitude. Before the Beta departed, Graham invited him to consider becoming a part of Storybrooke. The irony of which was not lost on either Killian or Emma.
He'd be lying if he'd said he didn't covet the invitation. Tumultuous as his past was with Storybrooke, it was the only place that had ever really felt like home to Killian. Of course, he was happy to live wherever Emma felt most at home; she was his home now. He doubted she'd even consider settling down there anyway. Not with the history it held for her personally. Still… he was envious of Lance and the Camelot pack. He couldn't deny that.
The gentle touch of his mate's hand toying with the back of his hair as they sat and listened to Ruby relay the story of her abduction and rescue to Graham cast Killian into a bit of a stupor. He wanted nothing more than to retire to a bed with his Emma so he could reassure her of their bond… several times. There was also the matter of his words he needed to atone for; an atonement that would have to wait its turn. He had one to make to Graham first.
"You used persuasion on my son?"
Emma stilled and stiffened beside him, ready to come to his defense. He squeezed her thigh where his hand rested and she relaxed slightly before he responded.
"Aye. I didn't want him to have to live with the burden of trauma the experience had caused him," Killian explained. "I persuaded him to forget the whole ordeal."
Killian expected Graham to tell him to go, that it was time for he and Emma to leave town. He never expected the words that eventually left the man's mouth.
"Thank you, Killian," Graham responded. "And I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what, mate?"
"For not being as good of a friend, as good of a brother, to you as you've been to me," he confessed quietly. "I should have stood beside you against the Oz pack. I never should have left you to fend for yourselves." Graham set his gaze onto Emma and added, "I'm truly sorry. To both of you. I owe you a debt I can never repay."
"You don't have to," Emma replied sincerely. "Water under the bridge. I'm just sorry this whole mess started because of us. Because of Neal."
"Well, thanks to the two of you, he won't be able to cause any more harm." Graham's eyes flicked between Killian and Emma and he shook his head incredulously. "I'm not sure I could have done it. Pretended to shun Ruby," he clarified. "What would you have done if Emma had believed you?"
"That was never a possibility," Killian stated definitively. "My Emma's too strong and stubborn to ever accept a shunning."
He chuckled when her elbow made contact with his still tender ribs, then took her hand in his and raised it to brush his lips across her knuckles.
"You two really do make quite the team," Graham conceded.
"True," Emma agreed. "But a pack is only as strong as its Alpha." She turned and looked adoringly at Killian. "And I couldn't ask for a better one."
"I'm not sure two makes a pack," Graham quipped.
"It doesn't," Killian confirmed, tearing his gaze from his mate to smirk at Graham before glancing down at Emma's stomach. "But three does."
Graham followed Killian's gaze. His eyes widened and snapped to Killian's then to his own mate's. Ruby nodded in confirmation, and Graham surprised them all with a wide smile.
"Well, in that case. I have a proposition for you, one Alpha to another."
"Oh? What's that?" Killian asked with a raised brow.
"How would your pack like to become an official member of the Storybrooke charter?"
Killian's brows shot up to his hairline at the offer. He looked over at Emma who shared the same astonished expression. "What about the Camelot pack?"
"What about them?"
"I thought you wanted them to become a part of the charter."
"I do," Graham acknowledged. "But family comes first. Besides, there's room enough for three packs."
"And if they refuse to share a charter with a pack of hybrids?"
"Then I guess that's their loss."
Killian was speechless. He didn't know what to say, at least, not until he shared a meaningful glance with Emma. Her response through their bond mirroring the one that swelled in his chest.
Killian stood and extended his hand to Graham, who also stood to accept it. "The Swan-Jones pack would love to be a part of Storybrooke."
"No," Emma interjected, earning her a confused look from the men as she stood and extended her hand towards Graham. "The Jones pack would love to be a part of Storybrooke."
Killian's breath caught in response to her words. The wild frenzy of his Alpha nature calming for the first time since they'd arrived back into town. Emma gazed up at him, her hand still stretched before her, and Killian could sense her certainty. Their bond wasn't even necessary in that moment, he could feel the rightness she too was experiencing over the choice. Her choice. The choice to be a Jones, all of them. Killian released Graham's hand and wrapped his arm around Emma's shoulder, a grin breaking across his face as he nodded his agreement to the other Alpha.
Graham took Emma's hand and shook it, affirming, "Well in that case, Jones Pack… welcome to Storybrooke."
The End
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