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
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
DianaI rub the back of my neck as I drag my exhausted body out the kitchen. Every single joint in my body aches. I have been on my feet since morning but thankfully, I am done with my duties for the afternoon. I have a few more hours till I have to come back to make dinner so I should be able to squeeze in a nap in the meantime…“Ahhh!”I scream as pain explodes on my shin- a force making my body fly forward. Next thing I know, I find myself sprawled face-first on the hard ground. The fall is a nasty one as sharp pain explodes in my nose. The attack had been so sudden that my flailing hands had done nothing to catch my fall. It also didn’t help that my reflexes are near non-existent. With a whimper, I scramble to my hunches, crouching on the balls of my feet as my hands instinctively come up to cup my face. A viscous red liquid stains my fingers. I feel it gush down my nostrils and drip down my chin and neck, before seeping into the front of my shirt, quickly staining the top of th
DianaMy house, if it could even be called that, is situated at the furthest reaches of the Omega District, slightly removed from the small identical houses making up the homes of the Omega. By the time I get to it, I am already out of breath and have to slow to a jog. Eyes trained to the ground, I ignore the perpetual looks of ridicule and schadenfreude thrown my way from the Omegas, and speed walk the rest of the way with my hand clutching the bloody tissue to my face.I hastily shut the door behind me, cutting off those sharp eyes. Ignoring the trembling that runs precariously throughout the entire house at the slight movement, I sag against the worn wood of the door and slide to the floor.With a painful sigh, I let the tissue fall soundlessly to the floor, the bleeding had finally stopped… I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them. my head falls back against the door with my eyes fall shut. A single tear escapes, silently, out my closed lid, coming from the de
DianaComing back to the Pack House a few hours later, I jog up the wide marble stairs leading to the large oak door with stained glass panels serving as the front door. I grab the handle but don’t get to open it before a force swings the it inwards.I quickly step back, moving aside to let whomever it is pass. However, after seeing who it is, my body involuntarily stills. My eyes clash with honey brown eyes that extremely similar to mine. It takes only a second for the surprise wear off and I expressionlessly stare back at him.I watch as his eyes take in the darkened bruises on my face. An emotion akin to concern flickers through them but takes less than a second to disappear.After staring for a moment, his lips tighten but in the end, doesn’t say anything. He looks away, jams his hands in his pockets, and stalks off; his booted feet thumping on the staircase on his descent.I let out a humourless laugh, a sardonic smile spreading across my face. Typical.Refusing to let myself dwe
DianaAfter the unpleasant run-in with Beta Mason, I sprint out of the house and towards the Omega District as fast as my legs can carry me, completely forgetting to even pack myself some dinner before I leave. But I would rather go hungry than stay an extra second in that place, being nauseated by that monster…Today, when I wake, I do so with a big smile. Giggling, I jump down from my bed and stretch out with a big yawn. It is my birthday. Today is finally the day. Today is the day I meet my mate. My entire body thrums with energy as I practically skip to the bathroom to take a bath and brush my teeth. I take my time carefully detangling my hair before putting it up in a high puff, the hairstyle exposing my facial features. I slide in the only pretty hair clip I have- with tiny flower details on it- into the hair at my temple.In the bedroom, I rummage through my drawers until I find the best set of clothes I own. I take out a pair of skinny jeans; though still washed out, it has
DianaI nervously take a step towards him, my hand subconsciously reaching out towards him, but he coldly raises a palm towards me. I stop in my tracks as my heart gives a sharp twinge.“Yes I knew you were my mate a long time ago”, his voice flat.For a second, my brain is too muddled to understand what he is talking about until I realize that he had just answered my earlier question.“You were too young at the time so I had to wait until you were of age to be able to recognize it too”, he continues.“Then-“ my voice coming out shaky.“Now that you are, I can finally say what I wanted to”, he adds coldly. What he says next destroys whatever hope I had in me.“I cannot be with you. I am an Alpha. You’re a Wolfless wolf. There’s no way I can mate with you. As an Alpha, I need a mate who can stand tall by my side; not someone so weak she cannot even protect myself, much less of the pack if an attack ever came”.Every single word that leaves his lips feels like a knife being stabbed into
DianaI stumble out of the study blindly dragging myself along, my body swaying unsteadily; in too much pain to even notice which direction I am heading. My eyes are blurry with tears as I make my way down the hall. Everything hurts… All I want is to get as far away as I can- far, far away from this place of heartache and pain. I want to curl up in bed and cry my heart out, maybe then the stifling pressure in my chest would stop…but maybe it never will…In my dazed and disoriented state, I don’t notice the door that creaks open just ahead. A hand reaches out from within and roughly drags me in, grip tight with bruising intensity. The door is then slammed shut.Seeing who it is, I feel the blood drain from my face and a chill runs down my spine.What I find is the disturbing gaze of Beta Mason staring down at me, on his lips is the same twisted, perverted smirk he always seems to wear around me. But this time, there’s an additional evil undertone to it which sharply reminds me of the
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
Diana“And you’re improving,” he counters, holding out a hand to help me up.I hesitate, tempted to refuse out of sheer stubbornness. But my legs feel like they’re about to give out, so I begrudgingly take his hand. He pulls me to my feet with ease, and for a moment, his hand lingers in mine.“You’re doing well,” he says quietly, his voice softer now. “Better than I expected.”I blink at him, momentarily thrown. “Really?”“Really,” he confirms, releasing my hand. “But don’t let it go to your head. You still have a long way to go.”And just like that, the moment is gone. He steps back, his commanding demeanor snapping back into place. “Now, we’re moving on to climbing.”“Climbing?” I echo, my brows furrowing in confusion. “What are we climbing?”He gestures toward the edge of the field, where an enormous tree towers over the landscape. Its thick trunk is weathered with age, the bark gnarled and rough, and its branches stretch high into the sky. I stare at it, my stomach twisting with a
Diana The morning sun is merciless. It beats down on the field, and I’m already drenched in sweat. My tank top clings uncomfortably to my skin, and the loose cargo pants I’m wearing are starting to feel heavier with every step. I glance at Dominicus, who stands a few paces ahead, looking completely unaffected by the heat. Of course. Because why would my overpowered mate ever look anything less than perfect? “Again,” he commands, his deep voice steady and authoritative as his golden eyes watch my every move. I groan, bending over with my hands on my knees, trying to catch my breath. My legs feel like jelly, and my heart is pounding so hard it might burst out of my chest. “You say ‘again’ like I didn’t just sprint halfway across the field and dodge every obstacle you threw at me.” “You didn’t dodge,” he says flatly, raising an eyebrow. “You tripped over the last hurdle and face-planted into the grass.” I glare at him, brushing a smear of dirt from my knee. “You know, a good tr
Alpha Magnus I had just opened the car door when the pain struck. Not physical—something deeper, something primal that splintered through my very soul. The tiny link between Diana and me, that fragile thread that had stubbornly persisted despite my rejection, suddenly snapped. My wolf's agonized howl tore through my mind as we both felt it—the exact moment they completed the mate bond. The sound was raw, feral, a haunting cry of loss that echoed through every fiber of my being. He knew. We both knew. Dominicus was claiming what should have been ours. I didn't even make it into the car. My legs gave out and I collapsed by the roadside, curling into myself as wave after wave of soul-crushing pain washed over me. I couldn't scream. Couldn't move. Couldn't breathe. All I could do was lie there, trembling like a broken thing as the reality of what was happening tore me apart. "No," The word barely made it past my lips, a hoarse whisper of denial. "No! How could you?!" It felt like so
Alpha MagnusThe room is silent except for my ragged breathing. Shards of wood and splintered furniture litter the floor, a testament to yet another fit of rage I couldn’t contain. My office, once the picture of authority and control, looks like the aftermath of a hurricane. Papers lie scattered, walls bear the scars of thrown objects, and the desk I’ve destroyed for the fifth time is a heap of splinters.The anger and frustration gnaw at me, unrelenting, a beast I can’t cage. Ever since the Council hearing… no, ever since she walked away with him, I’ve been like this. Unstable. Volatile. A shadow of the Alpha I once was.The pack feels it, of course. They’re on edge, walking on eggshells around me. The silence in the halls is deafening, broken only by hurried whispers and the occasional sound of someone fleeing my vicinity. I’ve heard it in their voices, seen it in their eyes—they’re afraid of what I’ve become. The mighty Alpha Magnus, reduced to this.The plan was simple: deal with
DianaI adjust the loose clothes Dominicus had me wear—perfect for movement, he’d said—and glance at him.He stands a few paces ahead, his eyes locked on mine, the seriousness in his gaze making my stomach tighten. There’s no teasing smirk or gentle humor in his expression today. This is all business.“Previously, you mastered how to control your strength,” he begins, his deep voice steady, filling the quiet field. “You’ve learned how to hold back so you don’t hurt yourself or others. That was step one.” He pauses, his gaze unwavering. “But now it’s time to move on.”I nod, swallowing hard. This is what I’ve been waiting for—what I need.Taking a slow step toward me, he continues,“you need to learn how to use your strength. Restraint is important, but strength without direction is useless. It can make you a liability—to yourself and others. Even an Alpha, no matter how strong, can be brought down by a weaker opponent if they have training and you don’t.”His words settle heavily in my
DominicusThe torch flickers again, casting long shadows across the cell. I turn my head slightly, my lips curling into a snarl.Marcus died too quickly. Too easily. I should have slowed it down, tortured him some more- I should have prolonged his suffering. I fucking went too easy on him!Rage wells up inside me, my eyes tinging blue as my wolf stirs, threatening to surface. My fists clench, and I force myself to breathe deeply, steadying the storm within.I lean back against the cells behind me. And wait.It isn’t until a full hour later that Billy’s episode subsides. The once-raging wolf now slumps limp against the cold, damp wall. His head hangs low, his breathing shallow but steady. For a moment, the only sounds in the prison are the faint drip of water in the distance and his labored breaths.I don’t say a word as I watch him. There’s no need. He needs this moment to gather himself, to pull whatever fragments of clarity he has left together. I remain where I am, leaning casuall