Disclaimer: As always I own nothing but the original characters and the plot. Thanks for reading and sticking with it until the end!

How It Will Be

Bane knew Talia was dead. As soon as he'd seen the glint of the ring on her finger he'd known that there was no hope of saving her if it was used against her. Which he'd known Layla would do, the woman his former packmate had become no doubt smart enough to surmise that Talia would only have put it on to use as a weapon. Knowing Talia as he did, as well as the weapons both hidden and obvious that she kept on hand, Bane had both recognized the ring and known what poison was contained within it on sight.

It was meant to paralyze on contact for a couple minutes, giving Talia time to either kill her opponent as she wished or simply walk away, knowing that the poison would kill off the individual within the next five minutes depending on their size and point of contact. Talia most likely had intended to paralyze, moving in quick to snap Layla's neck so that her trickery went undiscovered as the use of concealed weapons weren't allowed in a challenge.

Layla had moved off to the side so that she didn't impede him as Bane dropped to his knees beside Talia's quivering body, the poison now finishing the job. And so she stared up at him without sight, already slipping away to a place where he couldn't reach her.

That she couldn't speak, at least, was probably for the best.

If she could speak Bane had no doubt that her final words would be a call to be avenged, for blood to be shed in her name. No soft words, no goodbyes. No remorse.

"I'm sorry for the pain this causes you."

Refusing to look away from Talia's face, Bane nodded his head ever so slightly in acknowledgement of the sentiment.

He didn't blame Layla for this. In so many ways this had been unavoidable. Just like in so many Greek plays and classic novels, Talia had put into motion her own destruction when she had tried to kill Layla all those years ago. She'd brought into the fight the weapon that had killed her, just as she had chosen to make in Layla an enemy she could not overcome and defeat. Who would be driven to end the woman who had so shaped and changed the course of Layla's life for the worst.

Goodbye, Little Sister of my Heart, Bane thought to Talia as he gently stroked her cheek, her body going still now, the life leaving her unseeing eyes. Be at peace with your father. I hope we will meet again someday.

"Do you want Blake?"

He did. He wanted nothing more than his kitten to hold onto, to comfort him and stand as a buffer between him and the reality of what had happened. The uncertainty of what would come. And Bane knew that Blake would hold and comfort him, would grieve over his pain even though his mate could never truly be sorry that Talia was dead and wouldn't insult him by pretending otherwise.

But he was still alpha of his pack. He still had to be the strong one. The one his pack mates could turn to for support as Talia's death insured that all their lives were now changed. Everything was changed now.

So Bane shook his head as he got to his feet, cradling Talia's limp form in his arms. "Not yet."

Nodding her head in understanding, Layla moved to walk towards the crowd that watched them like hawks from the sidelines, Barsad, Kingsey, and Blake all having moved in a little closer than everyone else. For the moment they were all showing restraint by not coming over to collect Layla to insure that Bane didn't attack her or anyone else in his grief, but that would only last for so long.

Layla took only a couple steps though before looking back at him, angling her body so that none could see her lips move or read her expression. "With both Arthur and I here he'll need a new beta. And Barsad and I can run the pack together. There's no need for you to carry that burden any longer unless it's what you want. Do what YOU want, Bane. You've earned you're peace."

And so saying she walked away to rejoin her family, Bane watching her go before he too started walking towards the pack.

There were things that needed to be done.

)

Sprawled out on the couch, and doing an excellent impression of a sulking teenager according to his brother, Blake stared at the screen of his phone, which had yet to light up with a text message or incoming call. In the background he could hear Eames and Arthur discussing their plans to remain in England with the twins with Eames parents, plans he should be in the middle of since this was his little brother and nephews under discussion. But for the moment Blake found he couldn't care about any of that so long as he remained in the dark about how Beta and Bane were doing.

After letting them see for themselves that she was alright Beta had gone off with Barsad and her old pack to officially take it over, as well as start planning the disposal of Talia's body. It would be cremation, as that was the method of disposal most often used by the wolves, but if asked Blake would have recommended throwing the bitch on a garbage heap to rot if not for Bane. Not that anyone would be mental enough to ask him what he thought on the matter.

Which didn't mean they couldn't pick up their God damn cell phones and send him messages to let him know that they were alright, Blake mentally fumed at the screen, tempted to message them again, even though he'd sent the last two only twenty minutes ago. None of his messages to Bane were being answered, and while Beta was responded periodically, she couldn't tell him how Bane was really doing.

Though he appreciated the fact that her messages meant he knew she wasn't dead at least. He didn't exactly trust Talia's former groupies and fanatics not to try and kill his friend, new female alpha or not. Not to mention there was the nagging voices, in the back of his mind, whispering of what Bane might yet do. Was capable of in his grief.

Bane had loved Talia. Simple as that. As flawed, evil, and completely undeserving of Bane's love as she'd been, Blake knew that that was the level of devotion Bane had felt for her. A man as brilliant and logical as Bane…only a deep and abiding love could keep someone like his mate tied to someone like Talia willingly. And yes, the well-being of the pack played into it too, but if Bane had wanted to wrestle control of it from Talia he could have. But hadn't.

A lot of it was the brainwashing too, Blake wasn't about to discount that, but at the end of the day he also knew what it was to love family to the point where no matter their actions, that love would never be diminished.

Most of all though, there was the undeniable fact that Bane's whole life and existence had revolved around Talia's from Day One. Serving and protecting her was Bane's mission in life. What he had been trained to do from the cradle. Bane had never been allowed, or even realized he was allowed to have wants and goals that didn't benefit Talia in some way. That a person shouldn't live solely to please someone else. That a life lived that way was no life at all. And now Talia was dead, and Bane would be adrift in a world suddenly without a purpose. Feeling as though he had failed in the life goal he'd been given.

Damn her.

Slamming a fist into the top of the couch, Blake jumped up to his feet to start pacing, suddenly full of energy and a need to move before he exploded.

"Blake."

Still pacing the length of the room and back Blake glanced in the direction of his brother, who stood in the doorway watching him, his approach soundless and without warning. Not that Blake hadn't known the moment his twin had drawn near, but that was normal.

"Why hasn't he called me yet?!"

"Perhaps he doesn't feel he can call?" Slinking into the room, Arthur perched on the arm of the couch. "Or they aren't done their wolfie rituals for the night. If nothing else you know Beta will message us if she feels you're needed."

"If he doesn't call soon I'm going to kill him."

"In his present mind frame, that might be what he wants."

Knowing Bane as he did that possibility had been swirling around the back of Blake's mind for hours now, and having Arthur voice it wasn't helping him ignore that thought one little bit. Because he could see it. Believe it. Feared it.

And knowing himself well enough to know he wasn't up to being rational about this, Blake asked his brother if he should just hunt Bane down instead of waiting.

"His men won't let you near him right now if you aren't wanted. And you beating the shit out of Beta's new pack won't endear you to anyone."

Good point.

"I feel helpless."

A feeling that they both knew Blake hated more than any other emotion. Even fear and pain were preferable.

"You do know how you'll have to handle him when you do see him, right?"

Cocking an eyebrow at his brother Blake had a feeling that no, he didn't know what Arthur meant by that, and it would be a good idea for him to listen to his twin's opinion.

"I know you remember how we were when we first got out of the compound and were on our own for the first time in our lives. How institutionalized we were. How hard it was to unlearn certain mindsets and ways of doing things. How loud, chaotic, and threatening the outside world seemed. Nothing made sense at times, and we all had to depend on each other a lot more than we did while in the compound. We were different from everyone else, and understanding those not like us…took a very long time even with all the information we were given in training."

Opening his mouth to ask what the hell that had to do with Bane, Blake's brain provided him with the answer a breath later. Of course. He was a fucking idiot.

Bane had never really left his compound.

The wolf had remained in his pack his whole life, had never lived a life that didn't revolve around it and Talia. Now the latter was dead and the former was going to be seriously overhauled and revamped now that Beta was going to be his co leader, and that was only if Bane remained in that role. He didn't have to, now that Barsad would be the more logical choice since he was Beta's mate. Having the alpha couple be a mated pair would appeal to the pack, and the two would be more than willing to take all the pack responsibility off of Bane's shoulders.

Ergo, for the first time in his life Bane had choices.

And choices, when you'd never had them before, could be a fucking scary thing.

Hell, one of Arthur's favorite movies was 'Shawshank Redemption', and all of them had understood the concept of being 'institutionalized' when it had been discussed among the prisoners. When someone told you for most of your life when to eat, sleep and even wear…it was hard as fuck to wrap your mind around the fact that your life didn't have to be regimented and controlled by someone else. Hard not to fall back into old routines or restrict yourself of your own free will, just because there was comfort in the familiar and routine.

"Fuck. He's probably terrified if he's realized it yet."

"And men like him don't handle that well."

Sharing a look of complete understanding, Blake thanked his brother for the food for thought, his thoughts now veering in a very different direction as he went back to his pacing and Arthur left him to it.

Fifteen minutes later his cell phone signaled an incoming text message.

'My place, please.'

"Finally."

And on that note Blake called out to the others where he was going, and then off he went to retrieve his jacket, hop into the car, and get his ass to Bane's place.

)

Shortly after the text from Bane Beta texted him to say that Barsad had walked Bane back to his place and then left his friend alone at his request. Apparently Bane had promised to get in touch with Blake, but she hadn't been about to take his word for it and therefore was making sure Blake was on his way, which he assured her he was. She and Barsad were both happy to hear that, according to her follow up text.

Wishing them both good night via text, and not wanting to have to stop again so that he could message them, Blake informed them that he was putting his phone on silent and wouldn't be paying it an attention unless Beta used the emergency number.

'Roger that' was her reply.

Pulling up beside Bane's place Blake turned off the engine and got out of the car, locking it out of habit as opposed to any real thought behind the action. All his thoughts were centered and focused on Bane.

The front door wasn't locked when Blake reached it, nor the security engaged, so Blake did that for Bane as soon as he was inside since he wanted warning if someone tried to enter and interrupt them. Then he followed his nose to locate Bane, the other man sitting in the middle of his living room floor, facing his fireplace and staring into its flames.

Walking over to stand in front of Bane, Blake looked down at him for a heartbeat and then gracefully slid down to his own knees before shuffling forward to climb into Bane's lap, wrapping his arms as far around Bane as he could manage while the wolf buried his face against the side of his neck, arms grabbing hold of him in turn.

Bane's mask was uncomfortable as it brushed against Blake's skin, but that hardly mattered when the scrape of the metal was paired with the wetness of tears. And Bane made not a sound aside from his ragged, harsh breathing, which made it that much more heartbreaking.

How long he held his mate Blake couldn't have said; that wasn't important. What was important was holding his mate while Bane wept for his loss. And only after Bane was all cried out and mostly limp in his arms did Blake draw back a little, gently cupping Bane's face and bringing it out from his neck so that their eyes could meet as he spoke.

"So you better pay attention and listen up, because this is how it's going to be." A moment for that order to sink in. "We're going to stay here about a week more, so that you can see your pack safely put into Beta and Barsad's hands, and take care of Talia's funeral and whatever else goes with that, and then we're leaving England and you're coming home with me. You're going to live with me, and I'm going to be your alpha. I'll take care of you, and the only things you'll have to worry about are how to sneak green vegetables into my diet and how to convince me to spend less time watching TV. You'll help me out with work sometimes, and the rest of the time you'll read, take some online classes, maybe, and generally do stuff that makes you happy. I won't back down on that. If you want your own room at first that's up to you, but by the end of the year I plan to have you sharing my bed, and we're going to have as much sex as you can handle once that happens. And we're having kids eventually, FYI, and I'm going to make you so fucking happy to be mine, Bane. Because you are mine. You know that, don't you?"

Bane stared back at him, new tears building up in his eyes even though these didn't fall as Bane held his gaze for several nervous heartbeats before he nodded. "Yes."

"Good. No backing out. I'll kick your ass if you do."

With his mask on Bane's mouth was hidden from view, but the way his eyes crinkled slightly hinted that beneath the metal he was smiling at least a little.

And then Bane leaned in again, burying his face back against Blake's neck again. "Will you tell me your name, now?"

Huffing out a sigh, Blake had to admit that the wolf knew how to pick a moment. And if that was all Bane needed from him to reassure him that he meant it…well so be it. "If you call me it or Kitten around anyone I will punish you."

A rasp sound of amusement. "I know."

Another sigh. "Robin."

"Robin." Bane repeated, the way he said it making it sound like an endearment. "It suits you."

Since cats ate birds Blake didn't think so, but he wasn't going to argue about it.

"Blake?"

"Yeah?"

"We're mates now. For life?"

"For life."

"Thank you."

Actions spoke louder than words in this case, and so Blake snuggled in and continued to hold his man, mentally planning all the ways he was going to drive Bane crazy happy in the future. And just plan crazy too, because let's face it, this was him they were talking about here.

But that was okay. Because they were mates, and there was no way Blake was letting him out of his web ever again.

Thank God.

The End