(Diane)When I kissed him on the lips, it wasn’t gentle. There was no room for hesitation anymore. His mouth claimed mine in return, a clash of heat and need that left me breathless. I could feel my wolf Nina stirring deep within me, waking from the dormant state she’d been trapped in for so long.Lucian pulled back just enough to murmur against my lips, “If you want to make sounds, I prefer my name.” His husky voice was like a growl, low and intimate, sending a spark of something wild through me.“Lucian,” I whispered, his name rolling off my tongue like a prayer I didn’t know I’d been holding onto.He seemed satisfied with that, capturing my lips again with even more intensity. The bond between us buzzed like an electric current, making my skin tingle and my heart race. This was unlike anything I’d ever felt before.So this is what it feels like to be with your mate, I thought to myself, my whole body alive with sensations I couldn’t name. But even as I sank deeper into the moment,
(Diane)As agreed last night, Lucian and I would keep the mate bond a secret. At least until Nina fully awakened. Until then, the rest of the world would believe I was nothing more than his latest mistress—a fleeting figure in his shadowy world of power and secrecy.Lucian’s Beta, a towering man with a sharp, angular face and piercing eyes, was waiting for me beside a sleek black SUV. He gave me a quick, formal nod “Eric”, before opening the door for me. Once I slid into the leather seat, he handed me a slim phone with a single number saved in the contacts.The engine purred to life, and the car began moving smoothly through the city streets. Without preamble, Eric turned slightly in his seat to address me, his voice clipped and efficient. “I’ve been looking into your pack.”I tensed, waiting.“Victor,” he said, the venom in his tone unmistakable, “visits your mother regularly. He feeds her lies—tells her he’s her son, her only child. She has no idea who you are now.”The air left my
(Diane)Selene always had a knack for reading between the lines, but that didn’t mean I was about to bring her into the chaos. Not yet. “Let’s just say... I have a lot to figure out,” I replied vaguely.Selene didn’t push, her expression softening. “I understand. I’m not good with secrets anyway,” she admitted with a shrug. “But if you ever need my help, you know where to find me.”“I will,” I promised, meaning it.Her gaze flicked down to the menu for a moment, then back up to me. “Do you know who poisoned you?” she asked, her voice low but steady.“Who else?” I replied, keeping my tone light though my fingers tightened around my glass.“Well, I’m not saying anything you don’t already know,” she said cautiously, “but Savannah and Victor got together right after you were behind bars. I always suspected they were a thing long before... you know, Victor revealed himself to be the psychopath we all now know he is. Maybe Savannah did it out of revenge for what you did to Victor’s eye…”I
(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)The morning light filters through the curtains, soft but unforgiving. Every inch of my body feels the weight of last night’s passion, a lingering soreness that’s both a reminder of Lucian’s intensity and a strange sort of comfort. Nina feels stronger—like it’s been stirred awake from a long, restless slumber. Each brush of the sheets against my skin makes me acutely aware of the changes coursing through me.Lucian moves around the room with practiced ease, the sound of him pulling on his clothes grounding me just enough to keep my thoughts from spiraling. But they’re still there, gnawing at me. The information I learned yesterday refuses to leave me in peace. Should I do it? Should I involve him?“Victor’s brother can be a great weapon if I want my revenge quickly,” I mutter aloud, my voice hoarse from last night. My gaze falls to my hands, fingers tracing the edge of the blanket absentmindedly. “But I really don’t want to hurt an innocent kid in the process. He’s still so y
(Lucian)I watched as Diane moved around the room with a calmness that should’ve been reassuring, but it wasn’t. She looked like she had nothing to hide, which only stirred a frustration deep in my chest. I didn’t want her to panic, not really, but part of me wished for some crack in her armor—something to show she cared beyond the walls of duty. To her, I was just an employer. And that knowledge gnawed at me.For five years, I’d followed her every movement, every breath, even when she thought no one was watching. When they locked her up and pumped her full of wolfsbane, I couldn’t save her—not then. It was a calculated decision, one that tore at me every single day since. If I’d intervened, I’d have exposed myself to the enemies circling me like vultures. I hated myself for it, but I vowed no one would hurt her again. Not while I was still breathing.The problem was, Diane had no idea just how many enemies we both had. Last night, Savannah's father had cornered me, spitting venom-
(Diane)“A brother?” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.“Yes,” Archer confirmed, his tone steady, as if he had just told me it might rain tomorrow. “Victor has a younger brother.”My mind raced, trying to process this unexpected revelation. Victor—the name that carried weight like a thunderstorm in my world—had a sibling? It felt surreal, like hearing a dragon had a pet goldfish.“Which brings us to why I chose this restaurant,” Archer continued, leaning back in his chair and casually gesturing with his glass of water. “Look over there.”I followed his eyeline to the grand piano at the center of the room. A young man sat there, fingers gliding effortlessly across the keys. The music was hauntingly beautiful, filling the space with a melody that somehow felt both intimate and otherworldly.He was young, maybe just over twenty, with a presence that made him impossible to ignore. His features were strikingly familiar: the sharp cheekbones, the angular jawline, the dark, piercin
(Diane)The second she picked up, her voice came through loud and clear, practically vibrating with energy. “Diane! Oh my god, what the hell happened? I heard all about the commotion at the party—did you seriously go as Lucian’s plus one?”I couldn’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. “Yup. And gave some of them a piece of my mind too. They weren't too happy about it, but what are they gonna do? Cry about it?”Selene let out a loud laugh. “Damn, girl. You’ve got more guts than me. I’d have been shaking in my heels. So, let me guess, Lucian came swooping in like some kind of knight in sweaty armor?”“Something like that,” I admitted, leaning back in my seat.“Well,” Selene said, her tone shifting to something far too smug for my comfort, “sounds like he’s a pretty good sugar daddy. I mean, the guy’s built like a Greek god and he clearly adores you. What’s not to love?”I groaned, half laughing. “Stop. He’s not my sugar daddy.”“Oh, please. He totally is. He’s got the looks, the power, t
(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)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)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
(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)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