DianaI wake with a start, my heart pounding in my chest. The remnants of a dream cling to the edges of my consciousness - a dark figure, looming over me, a sense of both fear and... something else. Something I can't quite name.Shaking my head to clear the cobwebs, I sit up, my eyes darting around the small loft. Everything is as I left it last night, but something feels... different. The air seems charged, as if a storm has just passed through.I run a hand through my tangled hair, wincing as my fingers catch on knots. As I swing my legs over the side of the bed, a chill runs down my spine. I can't shake the feeling that I'm being watched."Get it together, Diana," I mutter to myself, forcing my body into motion. "You're just paranoid."But am I? After everything that's happened, can I really afford to dismiss these feelings?I shuffle to the tiny bathroom, turning on the shower and letting the steam fill the small space. As I step under the hot water, I feel some of the tension lea
Diana "Tell me everything," he growls. "Now."His command hangs in the air between us, heavy and unavoidable. I open my mouth, then close it again, unsure where to begin. The realization hits me like a physical blow - he doesn't know. He really doesn't know about the bounty, about my past. Relief surges through me, so intense it's almost dizzying. My pack doesn't know where I am. I'm safe, at least for now.But the Alpha's patience is wearing thin. A low growl rumbles in his chest, snapping me back to the present. "I... I'm sorry," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper. "It's a long story.""I've got time," he says, his voice deceptively calm. But I can see the storm brewing in his eyes, the tension in the set of his jaw.I take a deep breath, steeling myself. "The Beta of my pack... he attacked me," I begin, carefully choosing my words. I don't tell him about the rejection, about the attempted rape. Those wounds are still too raw, too painful to share. "I injured him while tryi
DominicusI burst out of the diner, my vision clouded with a red haze of fury. The cool air hits my face, but it does nothing to quell the inferno raging inside me. My fists are clenched so tightly I can feel my nails digging into my palms, drawing blood. But the pain is nothing compared to the turmoil in my mind.Someone tried to hurt her. Someone put a bounty on her head.The words echo in my mind, each repetition stoking the flames of my anger. I barely register the startled looks of the humans around me as I stalk down the street, my body trembling with the effort of containing my rage.I need to get away. Now. Before I lose control completely.With inhuman speed, I make for the forest. The trees blur past me as I run, branches whipping against my skin. But I feel nothing. Nothing but the all-consuming rage that threatens to tear me apart from the inside.As soon as I'm deep enough in the woods, away from prying eyes, I let out a roar that shakes the very earth. Birds take flight i
DominicusThe days that follow are... strange. I find myself constantly drawn back to the town, to her. I watch from afar as she goes about her life. Working in the diner, talking with the older human woman, taking walks in the evening.She seems... lighter somehow. The constant fear that had shadowed her eyes is fading, replaced by a cautious hope. It makes something in my chest swell with an emotion I can't quite name.But I keep my distance. I'm not ready to face her again, not ready to confront these strange feelings she stirs in me. So I watch, and I wait, and I try to understand.Who is she and why is she affecting me like this?My wolf is restless, constantly pushing to be closer to her. He doesn't understand why we're staying away.As the days pass, I find myself struggling more and more to stay away. The need to be near her, to speak to her, to understand her, grows stronger with each passing hour.However, those feelings fill me with rage and annoyance. She's messing with my
Diana The past few days have been... surreal. I've gone from disbelief to acceptance, and now, to a cautious excitement that I can barely contain. The Alpha's words echo in my mind: "You can stay." Three simple words that have changed everything. I wake up each morning, half-expecting to find myself back in the dingy motel room I've been living in since I got here. But instead, I'm here, in this small but comfortable loft above the diner. It's not much, but it's mine. At least for now. The weight that's been pressing down on my chest since I left my pack has lifted somewhat. I know the problems aren't solved - my pack is still out there, still looking for me. The bounty on my head hasn't magically disappeared. But for the first time in what feels like forever, I have a place to rest. A chance at something resembling a normal life. As I get ready for my shift at the diner, I catch sight of myself in the small mirror above the dresser. There's meet in my cheeks, and the dark circles
DianaThe young man's eyes are wide with terror, his face rapidly turning red as he struggles to breathe. Around us, I can hear gasps and people whispering. Though overall, it doesn’t grab much attention because the market is so busy. But it all this seems distant, muffled.All I can focus on is the Alpha's face, contorted with a rage I don't understand. I don’t know if it’s my eyes, but I could swear that his eyes, usually a warm honey-brown, flicker with an ephemeral glow, a blue-ish color for just a second before it’s gone."Alpha," I whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.For a heartbeat, his eyes flick to mine. In that split second, I see something flicker in their depths. Affection? Confusion? But then it's gone, replaced once more by murderous intent as he turns back to the terrified young man in his grasp.Time seems to slow as I stand there, frozen in disbelief and horror. The basket of groceries lies forgotten at my feet, apples rolling across the pavement.Fe
DianaI hurry after the Alpha, my heart racing as I try to keep up with his long strides. He's several paces ahead, the sack of potatoes perched effortlessly on his broad shoulder. I can't help but stare at his back, my emotions in complete turmoil.Fear still courses through my veins. How can it not? He's the most powerful Were I've ever encountered. The waves of power rolling off him are so intense that if I had a fully developed wolf, it would be constantly cowering in his presence. Even with my weak senses, I can tell he's restraining his aura. The thought sends a shiver down my spine.But then there's the other side of him. The side that's shown me kindness, that's protected me—even if it was a misunderstanding. He's a walking contradiction, and it's driving me mad trying to figure him out.My eyes land on the sack of potatoes on his shoulder, and I'm struck by the oddity of it all. When have I ever seen an Alpha doing such menial labor? Especially to aid a low-ranking wolf like
DianaThe day passes in a blur of nervous energy and racing thoughts. Despite my best efforts to focus on my work, I find myself distracted, my mind constantly wandering to thoughts of tonight's dinner. By the time evening rolls around, I've worked myself into such a state of panic that even Ellen notices something's amiss."Diana, honey," she says, her brow furrowed with concern, "is everything alright? You seem a million miles away today."I open my mouth to brush off her concern, but then hesitate. Maybe talking about it would help? After all, two heads are better than one, and Ellen's years of experience running the diner might prove invaluable.Taking a deep breath, I decide to confide in her – or at least, as much as I can without revealing the supernatural aspects of my life."Well," I begin hesitantly, "I've invited someone over for dinner tonight. As a thank you for helping me out with something important."Ellen's eyebrows rise with interest. "Oh? And who might this someone b
DianaThe journey back to the cabin is silent, the forest passing beneath us as I cling to Dominicus's black fur as he thunders through the forest. During the confrontation at the border, adrenaline had kept me steady, but now that we're away from those eyes, reality crashes down on me like a tidal wave.Billy is being accused of murdering a child. And I'm his supposed accomplice.My hands start to shake where they're twisted in Dominicus's fur. Billy, who has only ever protected me, who stood up for me when no one else would, is now facing execution because of me. First, he endured torture at Marcus's hands, and now this? The memory of his battered face flashes before my eyes, and my chest tightens painfully.When we arrive home, Dominicus crouches low to let me slide off his back. I barely register the movement, mechanically following him inside after he shifts back and slips into his clothes. The moment the door closes behind us, my composure crumbles completely. My breathing becom
Diana Murder?! Me?! They think I killed someone?! And that too a child?!! What the actual fuck?!! My mind reels, unable to process what I'm hearing. Wait no no no, they said ‘aiding and abetting’, so they don’t necessarily believe that I did it directly. More like I HELPED someone do it. An unshifted pup… Werewolves shift at the age of eight… meaning at the oldest the child couldn’t have been more that seven years old… That’s a baby!! I hear a loud and obnoxious ringing in my ears and I take an involuntary step back, as though my body subconsciously tries to physically distance itself from the accusation. Who could do such a thing?! Who could kill such a small and innocent child?! And why are they trying to connect me to it?! Nigel looks at me over the deliberately aged paper, his eyes lighting up with satisfaction at finally eliciting a reaction. "Whose murder?" I ask, my voice high-pitched with shock. "The son of the Alpha of the Plena Luna pack," Nigel replies, clea
Diana Taking my hand, we leisurely walk until we break through the trees. I worry my bottom lip between my teeth but force myself to push down the nerves. I square my shoulders and stand up straight. I'm with Dominicus; I must not shame him by showing weakness. As we emerge from the forest, I see a delegation of wolves turned in our direction, likely alerted by our footsteps. There are at least ten werewolves in attendance, and my eyes widen as I take them in. At first glance, I can tell that over half of them are warriors, but I've never seen pack warriors like this before. Not even Zervos pack warriors measure up. They stand strong, each equipped in black soft armor with sheathed weapons strapped to either their backs or sides. As we approach, the warriors collectively incline their heads in a respectful bow towards us - though I know the gesture is meant for Dominicus - before looking forward again, their gazes fixed on some point in the distance. Their faces are stoic, betrayi
DianaI'm curled up on the plush sofa in Dominicus' study, a book cradled in my hands. The room is bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, filtering through the large windows and casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. The only sounds are the occasional rustle of pages as I turn them and the soft scratching of Dominicus' pen as he works at his desk.It's a peaceful moment, but I find myself stealing glances at Dominicus over the top of my book, admiring the way the sunlight catches in his dark hair, turning it to burnished gold at the edges.Suddenly, the air in the room shifts. It's subtle, barely perceptible, but I feel it like a change in pressure before a storm. I look up from my book to find him sitting ramrod straight in his chair, his body tense as a coiled spring. His face, usually so relaxed around me, has hardened into a mask of seriousness, his eyes narrowed as he stares at something I can't see.Concern floods through me, chasing away the peaceful leth
Brodik Elder Rothgar's booming voice cuts through the chatter like a knife. "We need to act quickly. If we can bring this monster under our control, imagine the power we could wield." Elder Fendel nods, a sly smile playing at his lips. In that moment, he looks less like a dignified Elder and more like a sneaky wolf eyeing its prey. "Yes, but how do we approach such a creature? We can't simply extend an invitation." "We could offer him more territory," Elder Thomas suggests, his eyes gleaming with a hunger that belies his age. “Thats useless! As it stands, the Amadeus Pack lands is the largest territory by land mass already. In addition to the human town, all the forestry around it spanning thousands of miles belong to him! How would that tempt him?!” someone argues. "How about a seat on the Council, then! Afterall, all past Amadeus Alphas sat on the council. That might work!” “All Amadeus Alphas are nominal Council Elders already! If he wants a seat, how do you stop him?!”
12 hours ago… Brodik The Council chamber, a vast and imposing space, breathes with the weight of centuries. I stand motionless against its far wall, my face an impassive mask as I observe the unfolding drama before me. The room itself is a testament to the longevity and power of our kind, its very air thick with the scent of old leather, polished wood. Ornate tapestries adorn the walls, their rich hues muted by time and the flickering light of antique chandeliers. These woven histories depict epic werewolf battles and hunts, silent witnesses to the countless decisions that have shaped our world. The golden glow from the chandeliers dances across the scarred surface of the massive oak table dominating the chamber's center, its wood polished to a soft sheen by centuries of use and heated debates. Around this table sit the five of the most powerful werewolves in our world, Council Elders. Their faces, etched with the lines of age and weighted with hard-earned wisdom, are a canvas
Diana I take a deep breath, memories of Billy flooding my mind. "He's been there for me since I was eight," I begin, my voice soft with fondness. "When I was kicked out of the Pack orphanage for failing to shift, Billy was the one who stepped up..." “…He made a few Omega men help him clean out a small shack for me. They didn’t want to, but he made them." Dominicus's eyebrows raise slightly, but he doesn't interrupt. "No one else wanted anything to do with me," I continue, a hint of old pain in my voice. "But Billy... he got furniture for me, fixed it up. He made sure I was fed and clothed. He even homeschooled me." I pause, overwhelmed by the memories. "Without him, I wouldn't have survived. A wolfless orphan at eight... I wouldn't have stood a chance." Dominicus's hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "He sounds like a good man," he says softly. I nod, tears pricking at my eyes. "He is. He even moved to a smaller, more rundown house closer to mine, just to be near me. He... he wa
DianaI take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh forest air that surrounds us. The scent of pine and earth fills my lungs, momentarily calming my frayed nerves. But the weight of what I need to say presses down on me. Steeling myself, I turn to face Dominicus, my heart pounding in my chest."Dom?" I call out, my voice barely above a whisper, almost lost in the gentle rustling of leaves around us. "There's something I need to tell you... about yesterday."I feel him tense briefly before relaxing, his muscles shifting beneath his skin like a predator preparing for action. His arms tighten around me, a gesture of silent support that speaks volumes in the quiet of the forest."What is it?" he asks, his tone gentle but concerned. His eyes, those mesmerizing brown orbs, search my face intently.I nod, swallowing hard. The memory of yesterday's ordeal sends a chill down my spine. But there's no time to waste. We need to act, and for that, Dominicus needs to know everything."It's... it's not g
DianaI feel my hands clench into fists. The fury inside me is not just anger – it's determination, it's resolve, it's a fierce protectiveness for the man before me.As I look up at Dominicus, my eyes blazing, I see a flicker of surprise cross his face. He pauses in his narration, studying me intently.How dare they?!How dare those bastards do that to him?!The weight of Dominicus's words, the pain that was etched in every line of his face as he told the story, fuels my anger. I feel it burning in my chest, threatening to consume me."They must pay," I declare, my voice trembling with rage. "Those people must pay for all they've done. Dominicus. I'm going to help you find them. We'll get revenge!"To my surprise, Dominicus's response is a soft smile. He leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my nose. "Thank you, dulcis," he murmurs, his voice warm with affection.His reaction throws me off balance. The smile, the tenderness – it feels incongruous with the gravity of what we've just d