DianaAs I step into the living room, my breath catches in my throat. Every single thing in the space is exactly what I had chosen during our shopping trip. The furniture, the appliances, even the smallest decorative items - it's all there, arranged in a way that's both comfortable and stylish.The centerpiece of the room is a large, plush sectional sofa in a soft, creamy color. It looks incredibly inviting, making me want to curl up on it and take a nap. Complementing the sofa are two oversized armchairs in a rich, deep blue that adds a pop of color to the space. A rustic wooden coffee table sits in the center, its natural grain adding warmth to the room.My eyes are wide open as I take it all in, barely able to believe what I'm seeing. The walls are adorned with the artwork I had admired, and soft throw pillows in various textures and complementary colors are artfully arranged on the seating. A large, plush area rug in muted tones ties the whole space together."Let me show you arou
DianaHe gently cradles my face in his palms and tilts my head to face him. In this position, we're at the same height. He looks into my eyes and gently uses the pads of his thumbs to wipe away my tears.It's all too much for me, and I can't help but continue to cry. Every single thing in this house is what I had picked out, from the biggest furniture pieces to the smallest decorative items. And this master bedroom - it was the one place he had been so particular about when we had been shopping. The store hadn't had the curtains I wanted, and he had made sure I chose from catalogs. And now those curtains from the pictures are hanging beautifully on the windows.It really is overwhelming. It all comes rushing back - over a week of daily gifts, thoughtful presents, flowers, handwritten notes, and the most public courting I had only heard about in fairytales. And now... this powerful Alpha had renovated his entire house to cater to my wants and preferences."Is this why you didn't come t
Diana As Dominicus pulls back from our embrace, his eyes meet mine with a mixture of tenderness and determination. "I think it's time we addressed those questions of yours," he says, his voice gentle but firm. "The sooner we clear things up, the better." Before I can even process his words, the world shifts around me. In a fluid motion that leaves me breathless, Dominicus switches our positions. Suddenly, I find myself perched on his lap, his strong arms encircling my waist. The transition happens so swiftly that all I can do is let out a startled gasp. He pulls me closer, guiding my head to rest in the crook of his neck. The familiar scent of him- envelops me, instantly soothing my racing heart. A contented sound rumbles through his chest, a mix between a hum and a purr that vibrates against me. The intimacy of our position isn't lost on me, and I feel a blush creeping up my neck. "I've missed holding you like this," he growls softly, his breath tickling my ear. I remain still,
DianaThe Werewolf Council has established a comprehensive education mandate for all wolf pups, regardless of their social standing. This rule ensures that every young werewolf receives at least a basic education, with the level of schooling varying based on their class within the pack hierarchy.At the top, Alpha and Beta offspring naturally receive the most extensive education. Gamma wolves, known for their superior strength and destined to become pack warriors, along with Delta wolves of ordinary strength, both receive education equivalent to college level. While Gammas typically focus on combat training, Deltas have the freedom to specialize in various fields. These two classes form the backbone of the pack's middle class, filling roles such as doctors, accountants, engineers, and teachers.Omega wolves, who make up the lower working class, are guaranteed an education up to at least high school level. They often take on roles such as cleaners, janitors, cooks, nannies, and brickla
DianaThe comfortable silence that had settled between us was like a warm blanket, soothing and safe. A thought suddenly flashes in my mind. It is a question burned in my mind, probably the most important one- one that I both dreaded and needed to ask. I found myself worrying my lip, a nervous habit I'd never quite shaken. The minutes ticked by as I wrestled with my courage, knowing that once asked, there would be no taking it back.Finally, steeling myself, I decide to rip off the proverbial band-aid."Dominicus?" I call out softly, my voice barely above a whisper."Mm?" he hums in response, his fingers still tracing lazy patterns on my arm.I take a deep breath, sitting up to look at him directly. "There's one more thing I wanted to ask you."His eyes meet mine, curiosity and a hint of concern mingling in their depths. "Go ahead, dulcis. You can ask me anything."Another deep breath, and then the words tumble out in a rush. "Do you have another mate apart from me?"The moment the qu
DianaI remain frozen, my hands cupping Dominicus's face, tears streaming down my cheeks. The world around us has faded away, leaving only the two of us in this bubble of pain and memory. My eyes search his desperately, looking for any sign of recognition, any hint that he's coming back to me."Dominicus," I whisper, my voice cracking with emotion. "Please, come back to me. I'm right here with you."But his eyes remain distant, looking through me rather than at me. It's as if he's trapped in a world I can't see or reach, reliving horrors I can only imagine. The helplessness I feel is overwhelming, a crushing weight on my chest that makes it hard to breathe.This man, who has been my strength, my protector, my safe haven, is now lost in a storm of his own making. And I, who owe him so much, can do nothing but watch as he battles his demons alone."I'm here," I murmur again, pressing my forehead against his. "You're not alone anymore, Dominicus. Whatever happened, whatever you've been t
Diana I realize then that our journey together is just beginning. We both carry wounds from our pasts, but perhaps, together, we can find a way to heal. As we walk hand in hand towards the kitchen, I make a silent vow to myself. Whatever darkness haunts Dominicus, whatever ghosts from his past still torment him, I will stand by his side. Just as he has accepted me, wolfless and all, I will accept him – all of him. As we approach the kitchen, and despite the emotional turmoil of the past hour, my stomach growls again. Dominicus chuckles softly, the sound warming me from the inside out. "Let's see what we can find for you, dulcis," he says, leading me into the kitchen. The kitchen is bathed in warm morning light as Dominicus guides me to a stool by the island. I settle in, watching as he moves with graceful efficiency, gathering ingredients and utensils. There's something mesmerizing about the way he navigates the space, his movements sure and purposeful. I prop my elbows on t
Diana "No, that's not what I meant!" I say quickly, reaching out to take his hand. "You make me feel incredibly secure, Dominicus. It's just... it's hard to explain." I pause, trying to gather my thoughts. "Right now, I think I'd be too idle just staying around all the time. I enjoy the work, truly. The staff are nice, and the customers are too. But most importantly..." I hesitate, then decide to be completely honest. "I enjoy being around people who treat me normally. Just like a regular person. I never had that growing up in my pack." Dominicus's expression softens slightly, but I can still see the reluctance in his eyes. "I understand that you enjoy it," he says slowly. "But surely there are other ways to experience that without working in a diner. You could volunteer, or join clubs, or-" I cut him off gently. "I'd like to keep the job, at least until I find something else I want to do. I’ve gotten used to it already. Please, Dominicus. It's important to me." He keeps a s
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