(Diane)Once we reached the car, Selene let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she gripped the door handle. “Wow. That was… intense. But aren’t you afraid they’ll come after you? I mean, Savannah’s not exactly known for letting things slide. Can… Can the ‘ring guy’ protect you?”I slid into the driver’s seat, pulling out my phone to call Lucian. “I hope so,” I muttered, waiting as the line connected.Lucian answered on the second ring, his voice calm and reassuring, as if he’d already anticipated my call. “Don’t worry, Diane. There won’t be any repercussions for your actions today. I’ve made sure of it. You’re safe.”I exhaled, a weight lifting from my shoulders. “Thanks,” I murmured, my voice softer than I intended.Selene eyed me curiously as I hung up. “He’s actually… pretty dependable,” I admitted, leaning back in my seat.She smirked, the tension in her posture easing slightly. “Dependable? That’s high praise coming from you.”I didn’t respond immediately, my mind driftin
(Diane)Lucian’s brow lifted slightly, the faintest trace of curiosity breaking through his stoic demeanor.“I got you something,” I said, holding the box out to him. My voice was steady, almost casual, though my pulse was anything but.He took the box, his movements deliberate, and opened it. Inside was a sleek, masculine ring of black metal with blood-red rubies, its design minimal but sophisticated—just like him.For a moment, he said nothing, his thumb brushing over the cool metal. Then his eyes lifted to meet mine, a mixture of surprise and something I couldn’t quite place reflected in their depths. “Where do you get money for this?” he asked, his voice low and measured, though curiosity and something more smoldered beneath the surface.I tilted my head up to meet his intense gaze, the corner of my mouth curving into a faint smile. “I traded my past for it. For my future,” I replied.As I slid the ring onto his index finger, his movements stilled, and the weight of his stare pre
(Diane)Lucian’s words hung in the air for a moment, and my heart skipped a beat. The thought of making a public appearance as his… what? Lover? Companion? Pet? It wasn’t just nerve-wracking—it was dangerous. But I couldn’t deny the intrigue.“It will be my first public appearance as your lover,” I said carefully, testing the words on my tongue. “Victor will be there too. It’s too good to pass up.” I hesitated before adding, more to myself than him, “Not that I have a choice anyway.”Lucian turned his head toward me, one eyebrow arching in amusement. “So you’re going as my new pet, then?”His words, laced with a teasing edge, might have offended me in any other context. But instead of bristling, I found myself smirking. “Aren’t I?” I shot back, my voice dripping with sarcasm.Whatever retort he had was swallowed as he leaned in and claimed my lips with another kiss, this one rougher, more possessive than before. It sent a shiver down my spine, and for a moment, I let myself get lost
(Diane)We arrived at the grandiose pack house of Savannah’s family fashionably late. The grandeur of the place wasn’t lost on me—the towering marble pillars, glittering chandeliers, and perfectly polished floors screamed wealth and tradition.The moment Lucian and I stepped into the banquet hall, all eyes turned to us. Whispers rippled through the crowd, their curiosity, judgment, and shock practically tangible. Savannah stood near the center of the room, a champagne flute in hand, her expression frozen in disbelief. Her carefully applied smile faltered, and for a moment, her shock turned into something closer to rage.Victor was next to her, his dark eyes immediately locking onto me. His jaw clenched, and I could see the flicker of something murderous in his gaze. Nina stirred uneasily inside me, her presence stronger now than it had been in years.“I need a moment,” I whispered to Lucian, keeping my voice low enough that no one else could hear. He turned to me, his sharp features
(Victor) Savannah is drinking furiously beside me, the stem of her wine glass trembling slightly in her grip. It’s the third one she’s downed in the last twenty minutes, and I can practically feel the tension radiating off her. She hasn’t stopped glaring at Diane since she stepped into the banquet hall, arm-in-arm with Lucian.“She’s smug,” Savannah mutters under her breath, her voice low but dripping with venom. “Look at her. She thinks she’s untouchable now.”I follow her gaze to where Diane sits at the head of the table beside Lucian. She’s perfectly composed, a faint smile playing on her lips as she exchanges polite words with one of the elders. The rubies around her neck catch the light, gleaming like drops of blood.“She’s not untouchable,” I reply, keeping my voice calm despite the storm brewing inside me.But Savannah’s insecurities have been heightened since Diane’s release, and today, they’re at an all-time high. Seeing Diane like this—radiant, composed, and every bit the w
(Diane)Victor’s face is a mask of cold indifference, but I know better. He’s furious. The muscle in his jaw tightens ever so slightly, his hands clasped just a little too tightly in his lap. He’s trying his best to keep it together, but the seething storm beneath his composed surface is visible to someone who knows him as well as I do.It makes me feel a strange sense of satisfaction. After everything I just overheard in the restroom—the insults, the mocking laughter, the accusations—I thought I’d feel humiliated. Instead, seeing Victor like this, distressed and barely keeping his temper in check, is almost cathartic.I left that restroom with my head high, shoulders squared, and my lip gloss freshly reapplied. If they thought their petty words could break me, they were wrong. In fact, the sight of their smug faces faltering when I walked out—untouched, unfazed, and composed—was more than enough revenge for now.Let them whisper. Let them scurry away like frightened mice. At least
(Diane)Victor’s smirk falters, just for a second, before it sharpens into something darker, more menacing. “You’ve got some mouth on you, Diane.”“Why don’t you go enjoy the hunt?” I counter, folding my arms as if his looming presence doesn’t make my pulse spike. “Oh, wait. You can’t.”His laughter is soft but cuts through the silence like a blade. “You always did have a sharp tongue, sister. Pity it never knows when to stop.” His emphasis on the word “sister” is deliberate, dripping with venom.I roll my eyes, unwilling to play into his games. “I don’t have anything to say to you, Victor.”He steps closer, his shadow stretching across the polished marble floor toward me. “I wasn’t responsible for the loss of your wolf.”His words hit harder than I expect, but I keep my expression neutral. “Does it matter? You’re still the reason behind it.”His eyes narrow, and for the first time, his mask of smug indifference slips. “You blame me, yet you forget who truly took everything from you.
(Diane)The tension in the air was palpable as the Alpha stood before Victor, his expression cold and unyielding. “I will not be happy if there are any incidents tonight in my territory,” Alpha Gregory said, his voice sharp enough to cut steel.Victor gave a tight smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. “Diane and I have solved our problems. It’s all water under the bridge now.”Alpha Gregory’s gaze lingered on him, assessing, before giving a curt nod. “Good. I’ll have a word with Miss Diane.” Without another word, he motioned for Victor to leave.Victor, ever the obedient one in the presence of true power, inclined his head and strode off. I watched him retreat, his back rigid with barely concealed irritation.The old Alpha didn’t waste a moment. His focus turned to me, his presence as heavy as a storm cloud. “I may not approve of my daughter’s taste in men,” he said, his tone biting, “but I will not let her get hurt in any way. If you insist on vengeance toward Victor, I’ll crush you
(Diane)Freeing my mum was almost too easy—almost as if there were no restrictions, no defiant forces left to stand in our way. As we drove back, the cool night air pressed in on me, and memories began to surge like a long-forgotten tide. I couldn’t help but remember those days when I was 16 or 17, when everything was raw and unfiltered. Back then, life had been simpler, even if it was filled with its own share of heartache. I recalled the laughter and the closeness we once shared, the innocent promises made under starlit skies. It was during that time that I realized I’d known Lucian longer than I ever truly admitted—even if we weren’t as close as we are now, there was a bond there, pure and unadulterated.I leaned back in the driver’s seat, my eyes tracing the dark outlines of the trees passing by. Memories of our younger days flooded my mind—the way Lucian used to tease me relentlessly about my quiet nature, the moments we shared when nothing else seemed to matter. We were diff
(Lucian)I waited. Arms crossed, patience wearing thin, watching the darkness beyond the clearing. The unity charm—an old, unbreakable ward—hummed softly around me, its ancient magic holding strong. Victor and Savannah were coming, and they’d be pissed. Good. Let them rage.I smirked as I imagined Victor’s face when he realized he couldn’t step a single foot inside this place. That alone was going to be worth the wait.And then, finally, they arrived.Victor stormed into view first, looking like an angry CEO who just found out his assistant accidentally deleted his entire empire. His expression? A mix of frustration, rage, and just a dash of arrogance—because of course he still thought he could win.Savannah followed closely behind, though something was different. Her usual confidence was still there, but there was a tension in her movements, a hesitation that hadn’t been there before. I filed that observation away for later.Victor glared at the unseen barrier keeping him out. He ra
(Diane)I scrambled backward as he closed in. His movements were lightning-fast—like he’d been trained in every form of combat. I ducked just in time as his fist grazed where Lucian had been standing. Lucian recovered quickly, his eyes burning with fierce determination as he pulled me to safety behind a large, ornate pillar.“Diane, run!” he shouted, but I knew I couldn’t just leave him to fight alone.He attacked again, launching a series of precise strikes. I could hear the smack of flesh and the grunts of exertion as Lucian met his blows. My heart pounded like a drum as I tried to find my footing in the dimly lit hallway. I caught sight of a heavy, metal lamp lying on a side table—if I could reach it, I might have a chance to defend myself.The attacker moved with the grace and lethality of a predator, his eyes never leaving mine as he advanced. I raised the lamp, swinging it with all the strength I had. The lamp connected with a dull thud against his forearm, sending a jolt of pai
(Diane)I barely had time to catch my breath after my long, tearful call with Selene when my phone buzzed again. It was Lucian. I hesitated for a moment, then answered.“Diane,” his voice was softer this time—almost apologetic. “I’m sorry about earlier. I never meant to hurt you.”I closed my eyes, feeling the raw ache of our last encounter resurface. “I know,” I whispered, though a part of me still throbbed with betrayal. “You really need to explain what happened, Lucian.”There was a pause, and then he continued, “Can I come to your place? I… I want to explain everything face-to-face. It’s important.”I glanced around my quiet apartment, the remnants of last night’s turmoil still echoing in the silence. As much as I dreaded reopening that wound, I also knew I needed answers. “Yes,” I replied, voice tentative. “Come over.”Within minutes, his familiar car pulled up outside, and I opened the door to find him standing there—his eyes searching mine with a mixture of regret and urgency.
(Diane)I stared at Lucian, shock and fury colliding in my mind. It was as if the ground had shifted beneath my feet—everything I thought I knew about us, about our past, came crashing down. Before I could react properly, my emotions exploded.“You don’t get to decide what I can handle!” I shouted, my voice raw with anger and hurt. My words were a mix of frustration and betrayal, a plea for him to understand that I wasn’t just some fragile doll to be saved at his whim.The tension between us was electric, charged with every unspoken word we’d held back for too long—anger, longing, and a deep-seated pain that neither of us could fully articulate. For a long, agonizing moment, neither of us moved. I felt a storm building within, a mix of regret and defiance, as though every secret, every whispered lie, was finally boiling over.But then, as if unable to bear the intensity any longer, I turned on my heel and stormed away. I didn’t care if Savannah had caught us or if Lucian was left stan
(Diane)When we reached Lucian’s house, the weight of the night’s secrets pressed down on me. Inside his modest but secure home, I sank onto an overstuffed sofa while Lucian spread out a digital layout of Savannah’s sprawling estate on a cluttered dining table. The room was littered with maps, security diagrams, and scribbled notes—our own little war room where every detail mattered.“Diane,” Lucian said, his voice steady yet urgent, “we know Savannah’s locked up her fated mate. That rumor—if it’s true—could be the key to unraveling everything. We need to find out who she’s hiding and why.”I listened, trying to set aside the nagging memories of lost time and the chaos that haunted me. “So what’s our move?” I asked, forcing a smile despite the storm inside me.Lucian pointed to a marked spot on the digital map. “Savannah’s main house is heavily guarded, but there’s a little-used service entrance at the back. My tech friend can disable the alarms for about five minutes. That should giv
(Lucian)I’d been watching Diane all night—from the club’s neon chaos to the quiet street outside where she finally slipped away. I stood in the darkness, hidden in the lingering glow of a streetlamp, feeling a cocktail of relief and irritation churn inside me. It wasn’t that I didn’t care; I cared more than anything—but I couldn’t help but think, she should have carried me along. Now she was leaving me behind, and it felt like she was putting all the blame on me for not being there for her.I mean, really, isn’t it my job to be by her side? I was always there, silently watching her navigate this mess, protecting her from all the chaos—even when she pretended not to need me. But tonight, as I emerged from the shadows and watched her disappear into the cool night air, I couldn’t shake the thought that this wasn’t how things were supposed to work.I shook my head, trying to clear the swirl of thoughts. It wasn’t the time for sulking. I’d made a decision long ago that we’d do everythin
(Diane)I wasn’t surprised when, a few days later, I found myself dragged back into the party scene—an old habit I’d never really managed to shake. Despite everything, I’d learned to mask my pain with distractions. And tonight, I was at yet another club event in which Victor happened to be there as well. I pretended to be fine, laughing along with the crowd, letting the music and neon lights drown out the restless questions that kept gnawing at me.Inside the club, everything was pulsating with energy. Basslines thumped so hard that I could feel them in my bones, and the strobe lights made everyone’s features blur into an indistinguishable sea of glitter and smoke. I sat close to Victor, who was in his element—charming, arrogant, and entirely oblivious to the internal war raging in me.I forced a smile and sipped my drink, letting my eyes wander around the club as if I were just another face in the crowd. But beneath the surface, I had a mission: I needed to know more about Victor’s
(Diane)The ride home had been mostly silent, except for the occasional sound of the engine humming beneath us. I sat stiffly in the passenger seat, my arms crossed, still gripping that damn paper like it was the only thing keeping me grounded. The weight of what I’d read pressed down on me, but the real weight—the one I couldn’t shake—was the presence of Lucian beside me.He hadn’t said much, and I wasn’t sure if that was better or worse. His hands gripped the wheel firmly, his jaw tight, eyes fixed on the road ahead like he was avoiding looking at me altogether. He hadn’t denied what I’d accused him of. He hadn’t even tried to explain.Typical Lucian. Always keeping his cards so damn close to his chest.The city lights blurred past us, casting long shadows inside the car. The streets were quieter at this hour, and yet, my mind was anything but. I wanted to push him, to force him to talk, but something about the way he sat, rigid and unreadable, made me pause. He wasn’t just hiding