DianaThe thought sends a warm, fluttery feeling through my chest, even as it leaves me more confused than ever about his intentions.What could an Alpha possibly want with my opinions on kitchen appliances? And why does he seem so determined to buy everything I like? Just when I think our shopping expedition is coming to an end, I quickly realize how wrong I am. After exhausting the kitchen appliance section, Alpha Dominicus leads me to other household items with the same single-minded determination. It's during our foray into vacuum cleaners that I finally muster the courage to speak up."Alpha Dominicus," I begin hesitantly, "don't you think it's a bit... excessive to buy things based solely on what I like? After all, you're the one who'll be using them” and then I say even more firmly, “I think you should be the one to choose from now.”He fixes me with a cool stare that makes me instantly regret my words. Without breaking eye contact, he addresses the increasingly bewildered sal
Diana "Let's take you home. But first, let's go to the food court. You must be hungry." "No, that's okay. I'll eat something when I go back," I protest weakly, but Alpha Dominicus ignores my words, gently yet firmly guiding me towards the food court. His hand on the small of my back sends soft tingles up my spine, and I find myself unable to resist his silent insistence. Thankfully, the food court isn't crowded, and we make our way to the counter without any fuss. The aromas of various cuisines waft through the air, making my stomach growl despite my earlier protests. "Go ahead and choose something. What are you in the mood for?" Alpha Dominicus says, his tone leaving no room for argument. I hesitate, suddenly realizing I left everything behind when I rushed out of the diner. "I didn't bring my purse," I admit sheepishly. He looks down at me, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "What the hell do I need with your purse?" he asks, a hint of laughter in his voice. "I asked you to choos
Diana Time seems to stand still as I find myself perched on Alpha Dominicus's lap, our faces mere inches apart. His arm around my waist is firm yet gentle, holding me securely against him. I can feel the heat of his body through our clothes, and his scent. My heart pounds so loudly I'm sure he must hear it. I'm frozen, caught between the urge to flee and the desire to stay right where I am. His eyes, those mesmerizing orbs, hold mine captive, and I find myself unable to look away. "Diana," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that I feel more than hear. I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. I'm frozen, caught between the urge to flee and the desire to lean in closer. Alpha Dominicus doesn't seem to share my indecision. His hand comes up, cupping the side of my neck. It’s the first time we’re having direct skin to skin contact and tingles erupt at true point. The touch sends shivers down my spine, and I can't help but lean into it slightly. His thumb traces a gentle
DianaThe world around me blurs, reality distorting as memories and present collide in a devastating maelstrom. Alpha Dominicus stands before me, but all I can see is Magnus, his lips curled in that cruel smirk as he tore my world apart."I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss my mate," Magnus' voice echoes in my head, the words as sharp and painful as the day they were uttered. "Unfortunately no, it's not worth forever being mated to a liability."My breath comes in short, painful gasps. The room seems to close in on me, the walls pressing closer, threatening to crush me. I can feel the phantom pain of that first rejection coursing through my veins, burning like acid.But worse than the memory is the fear of what's to come. Because after those cruel words, Magnus had delivered the final blow:"I, Magnus Aldridge, reject you Diana Castellanos as my mate. By my will and my word, I sever the bond and fate that exists between us."The memory of that soul-tearing pain makes me shake m
DianaMy fingers wrap around the cool metal of the cutting comb, the touch of it sending a jolt through my system. Without hesitation, I stumble backwards, putting distance between myself and Alpha Dominicus. My hand trembles as I raise the comb, its pointed tip aimed at my neck. In this moment, I'm acutely aware of how easy it would be for me to die. As a wolfless Were, my life hangs by a thread at the best of times.His eyes widen in horror as he realizes what I'm about to do. But it's too late. Before he can react, I plunge the comb towards my neck, feeling the sharp sting as it pierces my skin. A trickle of warmth runs down my throat - blood."NO!" He roars, his voice filled with panic. He lunges forward, faster than I thought possible, and wrenches the comb from my grasp. He tosses it away, the metal clattering against the far wall.His hands are on me in an instant, tilting my head to examine my neck. His touch is gentle, but I flinch away, scrambling backwards until my back hit
DominicusI pace back and forth outside Diana's window, my eyes constantly darting up to check on her. My wolf is restless, pacing and growling within me, urging me to go to our mate. But I can't. Not now. Not when she's in so much pain and doesn’t want to see me.Someone had hurt her. Hurt her severely. The pieces I've managed to glean from her hysterical outburst paint a grim picture. She had a mate, and he rejected her. The thought makes my blood boil."How?" I mutter to myself, my voice rough with suppressed emotion. "How could anyone reject such a beautiful angel?"My fists clench at my sides, nails digging into my palms. The pain is a welcome distraction from the ache in my chest.How could anyone even entertain the thought of hurting her?But it's not just that. Her words echo in my mind: "We all want her to die." The implications of that simple phrase send a chill down my spine. It's not just her mate who hurt her. There's more to her story than what she's told me before.I re
Diana The world slowly comes into focus as I open my eyes, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, I feel as though I'm swimming through molasses, my brain foggy and disconnected. The off-white ceiling above me blurs and sharpens in alternating waves as I try to make sense of my surroundings. I shut my eyes tightly, counting to three before opening them again. The room stops spinning, but the heavy weight in my chest remains. As I attempt to sit up, a groan escapes my lips. Every muscle in my body screams in protest, and I realize with a start that I've spent the night on the hard wooden floor. Staggering to my feet, I shuffle towards the bathroom, my movements slow and uncoordinated. The face that greets me in the mirror is almost unrecognizable. Puffy, bloodshot eyes stare back at me, rimmed by dark circles that I thought had disappeared weeks ago. My skin is pale and drawn, making me look more like a ghost than a living person. As I
Diana The full weight of my actions last night crashes down on me. I had completely lost control, screaming accusations at Alpha Dominicus, attempting to harm myself... My cheeks burn with shame as I recall the things I said, the way I acted. And the bond – oh goddess, the mate bond. How could something that’s a blessing for everyone turn out to be a curse to me? Does it come as a bundle with the curse of being wolfless? And it is a curse isn’t it? Of course it is! He is going to reject me too. I’m sure of it… But what if he doesn’t? What if as he tried to say yesterday, he truly does want me as his mate? But with the way I reacted… My mind races, conjuring up worst-case scenarios. What if Alpha Dominicus decides I'm too unstable, too damaged to be his mate? What if he rejects me after all, not because of my lack of a wolf, but because of my emotional outburst? The thought sends a fresh wave of pain through my chest. And what about the pack? If word gets out about what happened, a
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