The TraitorThe forest is silent except for my hesitant footsteps crunching over fallen leaves. My nerves feel stretched thin. I glance over my shoulder, though I know no one is following. No one must know I'm here.Ahead, three women stand motionless, their flowing, floor-length dresses shifting like liquid shadows. They don't speak or move, their cold, unfeeling eyes seeming to look past me, as though I don't exist.I stand rooted to the spot, my palms clammy. The aura surrounding them is oppressive, otherworldly. It's not something I can ever grow accustomed to.Even from here, their presence feels like ice settling deep into my bones.Minutes pass.Finally, one of them-draped in a dress of emerald green-turns her head slightly, an acknowledgment. Without a word, they begin to move deeper into the forest, their gait as fluid as the fabric that flows around them. I follow, unbidden, my heart thundering in my chest.We pass a pack sentry, his sharp eyes scanning the surroundings, his
Diana The piercing pain jolts me awake, sharp and unforgiving, as though a thousand needles are burrowing into my bones all at once. I gasp loudly, my eyes snapping open in shock. Beside me, Dominicus sits up instantly, his expression shifting from groggy contentment to razor-sharp concern. His hand is on me in an instant, steadying me, his strong presence grounding me even as my body feels like it’s tearing itself apart. “You’re shifting,” he says urgently, his voice tight with worry. His words hit me like a bolt of lightning. My eyes widen, and despite the agony clawing at my insides, excitement sparks to life in my chest. Shifting? Finally? But just as quickly as the thought comes, it’s swept away by another wave of pain that tears through my body. My muscles contract violently, and I barely hold back a scream. Dominicus doesn’t waste a second. Within moments, he’s pulling on a pair of loose pants while slipping one of his oversized T-shirts over my trembling body. Befor
DianaThe weight of his words hits me just as another wave of searing pain tears through my body, and for a moment, I can’t think. I can only feel the fire coursing through my veins, the agony that refuses to let up.Dominicus doesn’t stop, his voice more urgent now. “It’s why your shift is taking so long. Your wolf is stronger—too strong for your body to handle easily.” His hands tremble slightly as he reaches for my face, his thumbs brushing my cheeks, his gaze intense. “I should’ve realized sooner… Damn it, Diana.”I don’t know how to feel about this piece of information.An Alpha…Me.As someone who has lived life believing I was at the very bottom of the food chain- lowest rungs of werewolf society, to suddenly be told that I was actually meant to be at the top-the Apex, feels surreal.It feels like something out of a dream. And I have dreamt of it before. Many, many times. To wake up one day and no longer be powerless. To he strong enough to trample on all those who hurt me.But
Dianal open my eyes, and the world is... different. Everything is sharper, clearer.Colors seem more vibrant, and every detail stands out with startling clarity. I blink, stunned by the sheer vividness of the world around me.The sounds of the forest flood my ears— leaves rustling in the wind, birds chirping in the distance, the soft hum of insects. It's overwhelming, but not unpleasant.And the scents. My nose twitches as I pick up everything: the earthy aroma of the soil, the faint scent of water from a nearby stream, even the subtle musk of Dominicus beside me.I shakily get to my legs-or rather, my four legs. For a moment, I wobble, unsteady on my new limbs. Dominicus's hands hover close, ready to catch me if I fall.But then I steady myself, planting my paws firmly into the ground. The sensation is strange but exhilarating. I feel powerful, alive in a way I never have before.He kneels in front of me, his eyes shining with pride and relief. "Look at you," he murmurs, his voice t
DominicusDiana’s wolf, despite her excitement, listens. She doesn’t stray far, though her energy is boundless. I wait patiently, my eyes scanning the clearing for the flash of her coat. When she bounds back toward me, tail wagging furiously, I can’t help the small smile that tugs at my lips. “Come on”, I say in amusement, “let’s go back home”.She yips excitedly snd follows me back- no, she runs ahead- practically leading me back. Once we break through the trees to the cabin, she runs a quick circle around me, her excitement radiating, before darting off again to explore the vicinity of the cabin.I follow her at a measured pace, my steps steady as I watch her. She moves gracefully, her muscles rippling beneath her fur as she zigzags through the trees, sniffing at every corner and shadow. There’s an undeniable joy in her movements, and every so often, she glances back at me, her golden eyes gleaming with excitement, as if to make sure I’m still there.She inspects everything—the tre
DianaI stir awake slowly, the faint warmth of the afternoon sun streaming through the windows and falling gently over my face. My body feels heavy, like I’ve sunk into the mattress, and for a moment, I can’t remember why I feel so… different.I blink, my eyes fluttering open, and I take in the familiar surroundings of my bedroom. Disoriented at first, I lie still, staring at the ceiling as the haze of sleep begins to lift. It’s then that everything crashes into me at once, and my eyes widen in remembrance.Yesterday.Yesterday- or was it two days ago?, Dominicus and I finally mated.My cheeks flush with warmth, and an uncontrollable giddy giggle escapes me. I hug the sheets close to my chest, rolling onto my side, and then onto my back again. The bond—our bond—is alive and strong, like a current thrumming beneath my skin. I can feel it as clearly as I feel my own heartbeat, tethering me to him. If I wanted to, I know I could follow it right now and find him.He’s in the house, I real
DianaThrough our bond, I feel her emotions—her pride, her love, her unwavering loyalty—and they fill every corner of me, washing away the pain and self-doubt that I’ve carried for so long.“You’re really here,” I murmur in incredulity, more to myself than to her.“Yes,” she agrees gently. “And I’m here to stay.”Her conviction is so absolute, so grounding, that for the first time in my life, I feel truly whole.For a while, we don’t speak. We just sit together in the shared space of my mind, letting the emotions ebb and flow naturally. It’s a healing silence, one filled with understanding and quiet support.For the next hour or so, we engage in heartfelt conversation. We talk about any and everything.Her voice is soft yet sultry, carrying a natural elegance that exudes both maturity and calm. It’s soothing, like the low hum of a familiar melody, and yet there’s an undeniable strength beneath it—a quiet power that speaks volumes without effort. Listening to her, I can’t help but mar
DianaThe kiss is toe-curling, stealing the breath straight from my lungs. It’s slow and deep, filled with an intensity that leaves me dizzy. I lean into him, my hands gripping his shoulders as my body turns molten under his touch.“Good morning,” he murmurs against my lips, his deep voice sending shivers down my spine. “Or should I say good afternoon, dulcis?” Yeah… it seems to be way past noon already.“Good morning,” I whisper back stupidly, dazed and breathless.His grin is devastating, lighting up his already handsome face. His smile so good looking it makes my head spin.He’s so gorgeous…He really is, my wolf sighs back dreamily.Dominicus steps back, his arms leaving my waist. My body nearly rebels as his warmth leaves me. I want his touch back on my skin. He smirks knowingly. “Don’t worry,” he says, his voice laced with promise. “We have all the time in the world.”The wicked glint in his eye sends heat rushing through my body, and I look away, suddenly shy. How is it possibl
Diana My stomach clenches as I get a bad premonition. His voice drops. “First, I figured it was the meds, right? They’re painkillers. They’re supposed to make ya drowsy. But then the doc came every damn day to take my blood. Said it was for ‘tests.’” A sick feeling coils in my gut. He lets out another bitter laugh. “Somethin’ felt off. I started refusin’ to take the meds, thinkin’ maybe they were poisonin’ me. But if I refused to take it, they’d just force me to.” I can feel my heartbeat in my ears. “So I got smart,” he continues, his tone grim. “Started hidin’ the meds under my tongue, pretendin’ to swallow ‘em, spittin’ ‘em out after they left. But guess what? I was still gettin’ sleepy.” I shake my head. “The water?” He nods. “Stopped drinkin’ that too. Didn’t matter. Still happened.” His next words send ice through my veins. “Finally, I figured it out. It was the food.” My breath catches. His eyes darken. “Marcus came in when I stopped eatin’. Told me straight up—they’
Diana "Well, I attacked a young Gamma as well as the Pack Beta. Publicly. Seemingly unprovoked too." He scoffs. "I might as well have gift-wrapped Marcus the excuse he needed to lock me up." My fists clench. "And guess what?" Billy barks out a dry laugh. "He made Apollo my guard." I stiffen. "Told 'im if he did a good job, maybe he'd get a promotion." Billy shakes his head. "And that idiot actually agreed." A storm brews inside me. “That bastard Marcus probably thought it some sick joking having Apollo guard me- his own twisted sense of poetic justice." Billy shakes his head, “it was meant as an insult, anyone with half-a brain coulda figured it out. But your brother didn’t. Or maybe he did, but just didn’t care. He saw it as an opportunity to climb the social ladder, and he took it.” Apollo, I grit my teeth, mentally chewing out the name in rising fury. Billy meets my eyes, and then seems to catch himself. His voice is softer as he says, "I'm sorry, kid." I shake
DianaThe breakfast is lively, the three of us falling into an easy rhythm. The kitchen feels warm, filled with the rich smells of bacon, eggs, and freshly brewed coffee-everything Billy used to love.The sound of his laughter fills the space, making it feel almost like things are back to normal, like everything is how it should be.We talk. We joke. It's light-hearted, like the weight of everything that's happened can be set aside just for a little while. I show him around the cabin, and he awes in amazement. Telling me how beautiful it all is. Dominicus is quiet as he follows us, his presence a gentle comfort.After, we come back down to the living room downstairs and settle in on the comfortable couches and start to catch up. The atmosphere is light, and for a while, we just talk-about everything and nothing. I tell him about life here, the people I've met, how different things are from the Zervos pack.But then, after we've caught up, after we've shared those little moments that f
Diana I step around him, my feet carrying me toward the moss-covered structure, but before I can get any closer, his voice stops me. “He doesn’t want you to see him like this.” Dominicus’s words are quiet but firm, heavy with something unspoken. “He begged me not to let you.” I freeze mid-step. Dominicus doesn’t move, doesn’t try to pull me back—he just stands there, his presence solid and unwavering. “You say he’s your dad,” he continues, his voice gentler now, “but he also sees you as his daughter. And right now, he’s just a father who doesn’t want his little girl to see him like this. To always feel hurt because of him.” His next words are barely above a whisper, but they cut straight through me. “Could you… could you please let him keep this bit of pride?” I inhale sharply, my breath catching as a sharp pain blooms in my chest. Damn him. Because he’s right. I know Billy. He has always hated for me to see him weak. Even when he was drowning in alcohol, he stil
DianaI glance past him, back to the dark structure, my heart pounding. My breath catches in my throat. “Why?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper.He doesn’t answer. His lips are pressed into a thin line, his body standing rigid between me and the structure behind him.I search his eyes to see a clear panic in them, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. Anxiety practically rolls off of him in waves. “Dom?” I try again, my voice subconsciously growing softer this time, taking a cautious step forward. “What is this place?”Still, no response.His lips part but he seems unable to make out the words. He shifts his weight from one foot to the other. He licks his lips and looks down. I close my eyes and inhale deeply again, my lungs expanding from the air and holding it in for a few seconds. Yes, that’s definitely Billy’s scent.Billy is in there. I’m sure of it.“Dom?” Opening my eyes, I step closer, feeling the pressure beginning to build in my chest. “Why can I smell Billy he
DianaI sit cross-legged in the center of the clearing, my breath steady, my eyes closed, lost in the rhythm of meditation. Dominicus’s voice rings in my mind, reminding me of the importance of focus. ‘Clear your mind. Feel the world around you, with all of your senses. Be one with it’. It’s a mantra, one I’ve struggled with, but now, after weeks of practice, I can actually feel it. The steady hum of the earth beneath me, the cool breeze against my skin, the distant rustle of leaves. It’s all becoming clearer, more vivid.I exhale slowly, centering myself in the stillness.The wind stirs around me, rustling through the leaves, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine. I let the sounds of the forest settle in my mind—the whisper of grass bending under the breeze, the faint scurry of tiny paws burrowing into the soil. Every breath I take grounds me further, drawing me deeper into this heightened awareness that Dominicus has been drilling into me for weeks now.A faint scent stirs on th
Diana “Ch-chasing you?” I stutter, my voice pitched in disbelief. “Yes,” Dominicus says smoothly, his calm tone doing nothing to settle my nerves. “Chase drills. To build speed, reflexes, and stamina.” The way he says it makes it sound so simple, but I know better. Nothing about training with Dominicus is ever simple. I groan audibly, muttering under my breath as I shift back into my wolf form. My muscles ache from the earlier sparring session, and now he wants me to race after his ridiculously fast wolf? Fantastic. Truly. “Do I get a head start?” I ask, clinging to a sliver of hope. “No,” he replies, his massive black wolf shifting into the clearing. Even in the dim light of the setting sun, his fur gleams, every movement exuding power and grace. His glowing blue eyes lock onto me, filled with challenge and something almost playful. I huff. “Figures.” “But,” he adds, his deep voice echoing through the mind-link, “I’ll lower my speed-ordinary Alpha level.” A flicker of relief
Diana“Training shall continue at 6 p.m,” Dominicus says, and I can’t help but groan. He gives me that signature no-nonsense look, the one that brooks no argument, and reminds me why we’re doing this.“You should be able to fight at night,” he says. “To use the cover of darkness to your advantage.”It’s logical, of course, but it doesn’t make it any less dreadful. I flop onto my back in human form, sprawled out on the grass like a fish out of water. My entire body feels like it’s been run over by a truck.The sound of footsteps draws closer, and before I can even think about protesting, I’m scooped up into the air. A squeak of surprise escapes me as Dominicus cradles me in his arms in a perfect princess-carry. I glance up at him, ready to grumble, but the warmth of his chest and the steady rhythm of his heartbeat immediately calm me. His strong arms hold me securely, and for a moment, I let myself relax, resting my head against him.“You did so good, dulcis,” he murmurs, his deep voic
DianaShifting feels as natural as breathing now—just a seamless fusion of woman and wolf. My body responds instantly, power surging through me as bones shift and reshape. Within seconds, I'm standing on four paws, my coppery-red fur rippling in the cool morning breeze.Across the field, Dominicus transforms. Despite having seen it several times now, the sight still leaves me breathless. His wolf form really is magnificent. But it's not just his size that's intimidating. I've always known that despite his massive bulk, he moves like a shadow. Silent. Lethal. But now, having him train me and experiencing it first hand, I understand that he is even stronger than anyone can imagine. By the time you hear him, it's already too late.And yet still, despite it all, I feel no fear or intimidation toward my mate. Instead, I’m filled with a sense of awe and fascination, my wolf humming with delight in the back of my mind. She always seems to push me to get closer to him, urging me to rub myself