DianaThe soft morning light filters through the curtains, gently rousing me from sleep. I blink languidly, my mind still hazy with sleep. As consciousness slowly creeps in, I become aware of the warmth cocooning me, my blanket wrapped snugly around my body. Unlike yesterday's unsettling awakening - the initial numbness, today, a true sense of calm washes over me, my emotions surprisingly steady.Memories of last night flood back, bringing a flutter to my heart. Dominicus had been here, his presence a balm to my fractured psyche. I can almost feel the phantom touch of his fingers running through my hair, his gentle scratches against my scalp. The memory of being held against his chest, enveloped in his comforting scent, brings a warmth to my cheeks.In the quiet moments before dawn, I vaguely recall the press of lips against my temple, the careful way I was tucked into bed. My eyes scan the empty room, a twinge of disappointment settling in my chest when I realize he's gone. But even
Diana That cruel voice in my head, the one I'd managed to keep at bay all day, begins to whisper again. Its words are harsh, merciless, tearing at the fragile peace I'd found earlier. I try to fight it, to hold onto the positive feelings from the day, but it's like trying to grasp smoke. That mental switch flips, and I'm helpless against the onslaught of negativity. As I feel myself sinking, drowning in the depths of my own mind, something abruptly changes. Warm, strong arms wrap around me, pulling me against a solid chest. In an instant, I'm enveloped in a cocoon of safety that can only belong to one person. Dominicus. The moment his arms encircle me, my heart blooms with an joy. Despite my best efforts to maintain emotional distance, I realize just how much I've missed him today. His familiar scent washes over me as he pulls me close, his voice a soothing rumble against my ear. "I just want to hold you," he murmurs, his words a gentle plea. "Please... let me." Just l
Diana Dominicus's words hang in the air between us, his admission that he wants me to like him even without the mating bond sending a flutter through my chest. Before I can fully process this, he continues, his voice taking on a more somber tone. "I'm not a good man, Diana," he says, his fingers gently tracing along my jaw. "My reputation precedes me." A wry chuckle escapes him as he adds, "But you don't know that, do you?" I stare at him, wide-eyed and confused. What does he mean? "You don't know who I am, do you, Diana?" he presses. "What I am?" My mind races, trying to decipher his cryptic words. "You're an Alpha," I answer, immediately feeling foolish for stating the obvious. Dominicus throws his head back and laughs, the vibrations of his mirth traveling through his body and into mine. The warmth of his laughter makes my face flush. "Well, you're right about that," he chuckles, his eyes twinkling with amusement. Then, with a sigh that doesn't quite erase his grin, he
Diana "You don't have to answer that now," I say, my voice laced with remorse as I shrink into myself. Another thought occurs to me, and I ask, barely above a whisper, "You were watching me the entire time today weren’t you?” it comes out as a question but somehow I’m certain. He doesn’t answer immediately and just looks at me calmly. “Since when have you been watching over me? Throughout today?” I pause, and my heart clenches painfully, “Since yesterday?” I take a shuddering breath, the image of him just watching me in worry for hours on end, without pause, without rest, physically hurts me. “When… when was the last time you slept?” Dominicus blinks, his eyes filled with a gentleness that makes my heart melt. "That's not important," he says, shaking his head. "Don't worry about it." His dismissal only intensifies my guilt. “To answer your earlier questions-“ I cut him off, "You don't have to answer now." I tug shyly at his shirt, suddenly aware of how self-centered my
Beta MarcusI pace the length of my office, my footsteps echoing off the walls like the ticking of a time bomb. My blood boils with each passing second, the rage within me threatening to erupt like a volcano. The last report I received plays over and over in my mind, taunting me with its insufficiency.Unable to find Diana. The words mock me, fueling my anger to new heights."Incompetent fools!" I roar, sweeping my arm across my desk. Papers and trinkets crash to the floor, the sound doing little to satisfy the fury coursing through my veins.For weeks, I've had that little bitch running like a hunted animal. The bounty I placed on her head should have been more than enough incentive for every lowlife and scoundrel to turn her in. I had been so close, the net slowly closing around her. I could almost taste my revenge, imagining the exquisite pain I would inflict upon her.But now? Nothing. She's vanished like smoke in the wind.My fist connects with the wall, leaving a sizable dent in
Diana When I wake up the next morning, I am alone in bed. I stretch languidly and curl up in satisfaction. The events of last night begin to replay in my mind and a grin splits my face. I have another mate! Better than the other one too! And he actually wants me. He LIKES me! I cover my mouth and giggle out loud. He says that not even the gods can make him let me go. I squeal and roll in bed, making a mess out of my hair and tangling myself in the sheets, but I’m too giddy to care. He had held me so tenderly too, his words of unwavering devotion echoing in my heart. The memory of his fierce declaration - that he would never reject me, that I was his and his alone - sends a delightful shiver down my spine. He’s so handsome… and strong… and dominant… a dreamy sigh escapes me and I’m glad that I’m alone because I can imagine how silly I must look right now. When I finally force myself to calm down. I sigh again… but this time in disappointment… I miss him already… I look
DianaMy heart racing, I turn towards the voice. A young man stands at the entrance, holding a box that immediately draws gasps and whispers from the patrons. The air in the diner seems to thicken with curiosity and anticipation.Carefully, I make my way to the counter, trying to maintain a calm, collected facade despite the butterflies fluttering in my stomach and my hands shaking. Each step feels deliberate, as if I'm walking through a dream."I... I'm Diana," I stammer, my voice barely above a whisper, betraying my nervousness.The delivery man's eyes light up, a friendly smile spreading across his face. "Great! These are for you." He hands me a medium-sized box, wrapped in simple brown paper. The package itself is unassuming, but it's what sits atop it that catches my eye - a single flower, its delicate petals a stark contrast to the plain wrapping.This time, it's a white flower that sort of reminds me of a rose. However, it has smaller petals, more rounded and layered, creating
DianaFootsteps come closer, and a figure appears. "Everyone's whispering about how you received a gift. I had to come see it for myself," Ellen's voice rings out, curiosity and excitement evident in her tone.I flush as I look up to see her grinning face. Her eyes land on the flower in my hand, and they round before she clasps her hands in front of her chest."Oh my! A white camellia," she gushes, her excitement infectious. "That's so cute!" She giggles, and I feel a mixture of embarrassment and pride swelling within me.She then looks at me with an excited glimmer in her eyes. "You know what a white camellia means in the language of flowers, right?"I shake my head in a daze, my mind struggling to keep up with this new information. Flowers have a language?"It means that the person who sent them thinks you're adorable," Ellen explains, sighing dreamily. "Young love," she murmurs before walking away, leaving me to process this new revelation.I look at the flower, this time with new e
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
DianaThe words hang in the air, heavy and ominous. My tears stop as shock takes over, leaving me feeling numb and disoriented.“Dark… Magic?” I echo, stutteringly.“Wha-“ "It... it actually exists?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.Dominicus's face is grave, his eyes dark with a chilling menace."Yes”, his jaw clenched tight.My eyes are round as my jaw goes slack with shock. A frown creeps across Dominicus's face. "Tell me," he says carefully, "what do you know about the supernatural world?""Well, it's made up of werewolves-," I begin but then I trail off, uncertainty creeping in. Something about the way he asked the question makes me pause and reconsider.I think back to the books I've read, remembering inconsistencies I'd previously overlooked. "In the books I've studied," I say slowly, piecing my thoughts together, "sometimes they refer to the 'supernatural world' and other times to the 'werewolf world.' I never really thought about it before, but... if they mean the same t