Second Chances (mxm, poly, mpreg)

Captivity

Ari sat in the silent kitchen watching the rain pitter patter against the windows. Four days had passed since the eclipse. Since the day his pack was inundated with refugees from Crescent Falls and Harvest Moon. Blood Moon and Thunder Moon joined together to take out the smaller packs during the attack by Lightmeade and Winter Moon against Frost Moon. The attack also served to keep the other packs distracted and away. Chevy and Rico's families, Chevy's ex-mate, Raven's ex-mate, and Ari's own ex-mate were now temporary residents of Dark Moon North.  Ozmas and young Taryn had returned to their home to help their fellow fairy brethren recover with a vow to return as soon as they could.

His wolf huffed in frustration. The rain would make it impossible to find any scent traces. Not that they had any clue where to begin their search anyway.  He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. How he missed and craved his mate's touch. His warmth.

There was a knock on the door drawing him out of his thoughts. He stood and made his way to the front door. He faintly recognized the scent behind it. The rain picked up as he opened it.  

He raised his brow at the golden brown-haired hazelnut-eyed she-wolf standing on his doorstep. His wolf snarled in his head and he quickly shoved him back as he let the woman into his house. She smiled and thanked him while shaking her umbrella out and hanging her coat up on the coat rack by the door. He walked back into the kitchen, filled the kettle, and put it on the stove.

"How are you, Ari?"

He turned and looked her up and down. His wolf was snarling now at being addressed so informally. "Hello, Margot."

Her smile was just as radiant as he remembered. "I heard you were the pack alpha now. Wanted to see how things were going for you."

>That's not all she's here for!<  his wolf sneered.

The once rejected alpha crossed his arms. "They are great."

Her eyebrows went up. "Really? Your mate is missing, right?"

His eyes narrowed. The tea kettle whistled drawing his attention. He turned the stove off and poured the water into a mug.  

>What is she getting at?!<

Ari mentally rolled his eyes. >Calm down.<

>I will. When I have my mate back!<  His wolf began to pace. Ari handed her the cup and a teabag.  He came to the conclusion that nothing would appease the distraught wolf until he had his mate back.  They sat to the table in silence.  Ari frowned to himself.  How did they ever get along? 

After a few dunks of her tea bag, she blew on it and lifted it to her lips. "I didn't mean any harm. I just wanted to see if I could offer you some comfort. As a friend." Her eyes watched him as she took another sip.

Ari gave her a half nod. Something didn't sit well with him. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."  He didn't see anything beautiful about her.  Her once sun-kissed skin seemed pasty and leathery.  Her eyes that reminded him of sparkling topaz seemed ugly and rogueish.  

She reached her hand out and placed it on his arm. He fought against his wolf who wanted to snatch their arm away from this she-devil trying to push her way into their life. "I mean it, Ari. Anything you need. I'm here for you."

His wolf gnashed his teeth.  >You're not my mate!  There's nothing you can do for me!<  

He closed his eyes and counted in his head before gently removing her hand. "Thanks. I appreciate it.  But I'll be just fine as soon as my mate is back home where he belongs."

**************

Uni shivered as she looked around the large cage the scary men had herded them all in. Many of them were older werewolves. Some were men. Some were women. There were big kids and a few little kids like her. Most were older like her uncle Rico. 

 She wiped her eyes and sniffed. Where was her daddy, poppa, and da-da? Why was she here? When was she going home?

She hugged herself and sniffed again. A familiar scent hit her nose. She looked around. No one matched the smell. But where was it coming from? She began to move through the others looking for that smell that made her feel...safe?

The men and women moved out of her way as they looked at her with sad eyes. Some of them were from her pack but they didn't make her feel as safe as the other smell. A few children watched her with curiosity but didn't approach her. The teens...well, they're teens. They don't like anybody.

She made her way to the back of the cage when she heard a familiar voice.

"Uni?"

She ran and threw herself into Rico's arms. Tears blazed down her little chubby cheeks as she held onto him for dear life. Not that the older were was any better. He squeezed her tight, sniffing at her neck as his own tears wet her hair and he covered her in kisses.

"Oh goddess! Uni! What are you doing here, baby girl?"

She held his face in her hands and rubbed their cheeks together.  "I dunno. I woke up and the mean man told me go in the cage."

Rico chuckled softly.  "They were mean, huh?"

"Rico, I'm scared."  She put her head on his shoulder and hugged his neck.  "I want my daddy."

"I know, little one. Me too."

"Are they gonna find us?"

He kissed her cheek and smiled.  "Absolutely. They are the best at this sort of thing. Then they'll make all the bad men pay for making us sad."

"Dream on."

Rico turned around and narrowed his eyes. A mousy brown haired woman with tired hazel brown eyes pushed two women aside and stood in front of Rico. His wolf growled in his head and he took a step back.

The woman put her hand on her hips and her chapped pink lips spread out into a grin.  "No one's coming for us. They have no clue where we are or even where to begin looking."

Rico rolled his eyes.  "Who are you?  What makes you so sure?"

"I'm Felicia Savor."  She waved her hand around.  "Isn't this place familiar to any of you?"

Rico pressed Uni's face into his shoulder as he looked around. All the captive weres seemed to get the flash of recognition at the same time.

They were in the holding cells at the processing warehouse where they'd been held when they were kidnapped.

A few whimpered. A few wept. Many felt the despair rise up in their gut. Rico shook off that feeling. He was older now. He was smarter, stronger, better connected. Determination filled him as his wolf snarled in anger. He would not be a victim. He would not bow down and submit. He was a pack leader. They would escape this time or die trying.