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
DianaSometimes, when I go out, I'm stopped by random strangers with a gift, "from Dominicus." I'd go for a walk, and when I pass a bakery, the owner would rush out with a smile and hand me a box of freshly baked macarons or artisanal chocolates.When I go to the markets for groceries, they never take my money. Always, it's a knowing look with a, "It's been paid for, Miss Diana," and I find myself at a loss for words.Once, I was walking by a park when I was stopped by the most adorable little boy with missing teeth. With the most serious face he could muster, he said he was given a job to pass a message to Miss Diana. He handed me a beautifully crafted wooden puzzle box. With it came a note in a handwriting I would recognize anywhere now: "Use this to amuse yourself. Don't only be focused on working all the time."That day, I broke down in the park and sobbed my heart out. Not from sadness, but from a deep, overwhelming joy. I have never been so touched in my life.I've received the m
Alpha Magnus I stand before the full-length mirror in my spacious bedroom, adjusting my tie with practiced precision. The silk slides smoothly through my fingers as I tighten the knot, a perfect Windsor. Today is no ordinary day; we're expecting a delegation from another pack, and appearances matter.As I shrug on my tailored suit jacket, a sharp knock on the door interrupts my thoughts. "Enter," I command, my voice steady and authoritative.A young Gamma steps in, bowing his head slightly. "Alpha, the delegation from the Plena Luna Pack has arrived. Alpha Darius is among them."I nod, my face impassive. "I've heard. I'll be there shortly."Without another word, I stride out of my bedroom, my footsteps echoing through the halls of the pack house. The Gamma scurries after me, struggling to keep pace with my long strides.As I approach the conference room, I can sense the tension in the air. I push open the heavy oak doors, revealing a room filled with my most trusted pack members. My
Alpha Magnus The world around me blurs as I struggle to comprehend what just transpired. Natasha Silvanus, the woman I had chosen to stand by my side, had just uttered a word that shattered everything I had planned. Mate. The word echoes in my mind, a cruel taunt that mocks my carefully laid plans. I've known Natasha for years. Daughter of Alpha Lucien Silvanus, she comes from a bloodline of powerful Alphas. Her beauty is matched only by her strength and intelligence. I've seen her take on pack warriors twice her size and emerge victorious, a feral grin on her face. She exudes confidence and raw sexuality that draws others to her like moths to a flame. In my mind, she was the perfect Luna. Strong enough to lead my men, but not strong enough to challenge me. The only reason she wasn't next in line to be Alpha of her own pack was the cruel twist of fate that saw her born after her elder brother, who manifested the Alpha gene first. But in every other way, she was an Alpha thro
Alpha Magnus The cool night air does little to soothe the inferno raging within me. I stand on the balcony, my hands gripping the metal balustrade so tightly that it bends under my strength. The conference room I left ten minutes ago lies in ruins, a testament to the fury that had consumed me. Now, as I stare out into the darkness, my mind races with thoughts of betrayal and vengeance. The sound of the office door opening breaks through my brooding. Footsteps approach, and I don't need to turn to know who it is. Her scent, once a comfort, now only serves to stoke the embers of my anger. My jaw clenches, muscles working beneath the skin as I fight to maintain control. Natasha comes to stand beside me, her presence a mix of familiar and foreign. The nervousness and uneasiness radiating from her are palpable, filling the space between us with an uncomfortable tension. "Magnus," she begins softly, her voice barely above a whisper. "I know you're angry, but we need to talk about th
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