During a tense mission, Ares's powerful Omega scent overwhelms his fellow soldiers, including Logan. Flashback to seven years earlier: 16-year-old Ethan, newly presented as an Omega, is doubted as unfit for the elite Ravens unit. In the present, Ethan's heat goes out of control, and Ares is the only one who can help. Ethan pleads not to be left behind and asks Ares to mark him so he can continue fighting. Ares, struggling to contain his own response, faces a critical decision.