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 He pulls me tight against him so that our chests are flush against each other. I can feel the hard planes of his chest through my suddenly too-heavy breasts, and the ache in my core intensifies. Without conscious thought, I start to grind my hips against him, seeking some form of relief. A low, deep growl reverberates through his chest before he tears his lips away from mine. I whine at the loss of contact, my eyes heavy-lidded and trained on his lips. "Fuck.. wait," he curses, his voice deep and strained. But I don’t hear him, desperate to get that feeling back as I chase after his lips. But he clasps his hand around the back of my neck, holding my head in place. “Stop dulcis”, his voice deep and gravelly with desire but firm. The command in his tone just makes me release another subconscious whine. I'm completely gone, my brain offline and running purely on instinct. He gently squeezes his hand that is holding the back of my neck in warning as he breaths heavily, l
Beta Marcus The stench of fear permeates the air as I stride into the guest suite, my face a mask of polite indifference. The Plena Luna delegation stands at attention, their eyes wary as they take in my presence. I let my gaze sweep over them, lingering just long enough to make them uncomfortable before settling on their Alpha. Alpha Darius, once a formidable leader, now looks worn and haggard. His greying hair and the deep lines etched into his face speak of years of stress and worry. I feel a twisted sense of satisfaction at his diminished state. "Alpha Darius," I greet him, my voice smooth as silk. "I hope you're finding your accommodations satisfactory?" The old wolf nods stiffly. "They are... adequate, Beta Marcus. However, we've been waiting for quite some time to speak with Alpha Magnus again. When can we expect an audience?" I allow a small, sympathetic smile to play across my lips. "I'm afraid Alpha Magnus is... indisposed at the moment. I'm sure you can understand, giv
Beta Marcus The air in my office grows thick with tension as Johnson stares at me, his eyes wide with disbelief. I can see it in his gaze, that fleeting thought he's trying desperately to hide - he thinks I've lost my mind. But I don't care. Hatred has consumed me, burning away any semblance of reason or caution. "Listen carefully, Johnson," I snarl, my voice low and dangerous. "You are to organize a team of ten warriors. The best we have. Send them to Garnet City. Their mission is simple - find the wolfless bitch and drag her back here. Alive or dead, I don't care. But I want her found." Johnson's facade of military stoicism cracks. His eyes grow wide, and he bursts out in agitation, "Beta Marcus, that's... that's a suicide mission! It would be unwise to-" "Unwise?" I cut him off, my voice dripping with contempt. "Since when do you presume to decide what's wise or unwise for this pack?" He swallows hard but presses on. "Sir, how can we risk ten of our best warriors just to.
Beta Marcus I continue to pace, my mind working furiously. This pack, it seems, will not help me. Just a pack of spineless cowards, the lot of them. But I won't let their weakness stop me. I can't. The need for vengeance burns too strongly, an all-consuming fire that threatens to reduce me to ashes if I don't act. I stop abruptly as a thought strikes me. My eyes narrow, a plan beginning to form in the depths of my twisted mind. Yes... if this pack won't help me, I'll find someone who will. Someone who doesn't shy away from the dirty work, someone who give me the sweet taste of revenge. I turn towards my phone, my hand reaching out. The device sits innocently on my desk, unaware of the dark plans it's about to be used for. As my fingers close around it, a grim smile spreads across my face. The fates, the universe- whoever it is, may think they've stopped me, but they've only delayed the inevitable. One way or another, Diana will pay for what she's done to me. And when she does
Beta Marcus He cuts me off, his voice sharp. "No amount of money is enough for me to trespass on that lunatic's territory. One has to be alive to enjoy money, you know. There's no point in getting paid if I'm just going to die right after. I quite enjoy my life as it is, thank you very much." Agitation claws at me. I can feel my chance for revenge slipping away. "You don't even have to do it yourself," I argue. "Send some of your men." He scoffs. "That won't work. I'm not like an Alpha who can physically command his pack mates to do his bidding. There's no bond between me and my men, no trust or love. We're all selfish, hardened criminals, together purely for mutual benefit. I keep them in line with rewards and fear, but no amount of fear or money can make men like these walk willingly to their deaths." His voice takes on a mocking edge again. "I have a reputation to maintain, you know. If I start giving out missions that are guaranteed death sentences, my men would stop liste
Diana"You're WHAT?!" Ellen's voice rises an octave, her eyes widening in shock.Beside her, Claudia's jaw drops, her usual bubbly demeanor replaced by stunned disbelief. "Moving in with that Dominicus? Already?"I shift uncomfortably under their intense gazes, suddenly feeling like I'm under interrogation. I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words to explain."I know it seems fast," I begin, my voice soft but steady. "But it feels right. Dominicus and I... we have a connection that's hard to explain."Ellen, her kind face creased with concern, places a gentle hand on my arm. "Diana, honey, are you sure about this? You've only known each other for a few months. I know he has been nothing but sweet, what with him courting you properly and all… but still…that's not a lot of time to really get to know someone."Claudia nods vigorously, her blonde ponytail swaying with the motion. "Ellen's right, Di. I mean, he's dreamy and all, but moving in together? That's a big step. Are yo
Diana All eight of them suffer through it. All except Elder Thomas. The ancient man stands to the side, hunched over his gnarled walking stick, his knuckles white where they grip the wood. His face is the color of spoiled milk, his breath coming in shallow, uneven gasps. He looks like a strong breeze could snap him in half. Dominicus doesn’t touch him. But from the way Elder Thomas trembles, his rheumy eyes darting between his fellow Elders as they moan and writhe, it’s clear he’s suffering just as much. Occasionally, Dominicus pauses. “Are you the traitor?” he’ll ask, voice deceptively mild. “No!” they gasp, voices cracking. And he continues. Hours pass. Then a full day. The Elders grow delirious, their fear turning them feral. They start accusing each other, voices rising in panic. “It’s you!” Elder Gideon snarls at Elder Fendel, spittle flying. “You’ve always been too forward, too authoritative—!” “Liar!” Fendel snaps back, his usual composure shattered. “You
Diana Dominicus continues, voice dropping lower. "So here’s your choice. You tell me the truth, and only the traitor dies. Or you lie, you hesitate, you waste my time—" His fingers tap once against his arm. "—and I treat you all as the traitor. Then it’s not just one Elder dead. It’s all of you. And really, would it be so hard to believe the mysterious enemy that has been plaguing the werewolf world for decades- an enemy who is able to waltz in and out of any pack unseen and unimpeded massacred the entire Council in one fell swoop?" The silence is suffocating. Elder Thomas, grips his walking stick like it’s the only thing keeping him upright. His voice is a rasp. "You—you would announce the existence of witches to the entire werewolf world?" Dominicus doesn’t blink. "Obviously." A murmur of disapproval ripples through the Elders. Dom exhales, impatient. "The rule that only Alphas and Elders can know about the existence of witches has always been stupid. There’s an ene
Diana "And?" Dom prompts, showing no reaction to this revelation. Fendel swallows thickly again, looking to his fellow Elders for support before turning back to Dom. "Well, we assumed that the Zervos Alpha was talking about the agreement we had with him before the trial. And as for the mate bond, I have no idea what gave him that impression or who told him that, but it was in alignment with our goals... so... so we went along with it." "What did you say to him?" Dom's question cuts through Fendel's stammering. "We assured him that of course, all he had to do was get Alpha Diana to go to his pack, and we would take care of the rest." Fendel's voice drops as he continues. "We said we would send the army to the Amadeus territory to..." He pauses, licks his lips nervously. "And then, naturally, the bond would grow back." Dom shakes his head slowly, his calm more terrifying than any display of rage could be. "But the Zervos Alpha says the Council approached him first. That you gu
Diana The Elders exchange fearful glances before Elder Gideon takes a trembling step forward, his thin frame seeming to shrink even further. He swallows hard, rubbing his palms together. "Alpha Dominicus, perhaps we started off on the wrong foot. Why don't we—" Dom's eyes shift to him, and his voice dies in his throat. "Why don't we what?" Dom's voice is soft, carrying an undercurrent of menace that sends chills down everyone's spine. Elder Gideon quickly shuffles back, his brief moment of courage evaporating. I take a bite of my chocolate chip cookie, watching with interest. Dominicus sighs. “I am a fair man,” he says slowly. “If you have any reasonable explanation for everything you’ve done, now’s the time to speak.” The room falls deathly silent. The Elders visibly shudder at the thought of speaking, and Diana can see the sweat beading on their foreheads. The threat in Dom’s voice hangs like a dark cloud. They don’t dare lie. Something tells them that if they do, they
Diana Three days later, we pull up in front of the massive and imposing Council Headquarters building. This time, it’s Arran, the redhead warrior, who’s driving. With the pack construction in full swing, Brodik has been left behind. An Amadeus wolf opens the door for Dominicus, and he steps out, then turns to help me out. I look around at the place. The wolves I see roaming here are all Amadeus wolves, and I take in the sight with a quiet satisfaction. I turn my gaze up at the large platinum insignia glinting on the building, my heart hammering in my chest. Last time I was here, I was under trial by the Council Elders. But today… today, it’s the Council Elders who will be tried by us. Oh, how the tables have turned. “Clyde,” Dominicus calls out, and a blonde-haired, blue-eyed warrior steps forward. “Alpha,” he says respectfully. “Report,” Dom orders. Clyde doesn’t hesitate. “The Elders are all inside. They’ve been under 24-hour surveillance since their arrival.” Dom no
Apollo I pace the room, nearly threading the carpet bare. I watched as Diana’s car disappeared around the corner, the tires kicking up dust as the car sped away. Minutes later, all the Council- no, Amadeus wolves, were gone too. My heart pounds in my chest, the panic gnawing at me. I had caught a glimpse of her just before she left. She didn’t see me, did she? I quickly ducked behind the building when I noticed her eyes scanning the area. The last thing I needed was for her to catch sight of me, especially after everything that happened. I shudder just thinking about it. The last time I saw Diana, I had been watching through the cracked door of Beta Marcus’s office, my breath caught in my throat as I saw him pin her down. She was crying, begging me to help her. Fury was the first thing I felt. How dare he do that to her? To my sister? But then, just as quickly, fear overtook me. I wasn’t strong enough to fight him. What would happen if I did try to intervene? The consequences
Diana My eyes sting with unshed tears. My throat chokes up, and I press my lips together and shake my head, trying to keep my emotions in check. Brodik glances at the door again. The house is silent. Not even the sound of movement comes from within. “And please,” he adds softly, “help us tell the Alpha thank you. Thank you for letting us come home. We promise we won’t let him down.” Then, as one, the warriors bow again. Not to me this time. To him. To their Alpha. A big smile spreads across my face, and I shake my head. “Don’t mention it, Brodik,” I say softly. “I’ve never truly had a pack in the true sense either, so I think I understand how you feel.” I glance at all of them, my smile widening. “I’m really happy that you’re here.” Then, clearing my throat, I raise my voice slightly, adding teasingly, “And don’t mind the grumpy Alpha. I’m sure he’s happy you’re here too.” A deep, unmistakable snort comes from inside the house. I bite back a laugh as mirth fills
Diana The moment the cars pull into the clearing, my eyes lock onto the figure standing on the porch, arms folded across his chest, watching us. A grin splits my lips, and before the car even comes to a full stop, I’m throwing the door open and launching myself out. A squeal escapes me as I practically fly across the grass, up the steps, and straight into his arms. Dominicus chuckles, his deep, rumbling laughter sending warmth through my entire body. He opens his arms just in time to catch me as I leap, wrapping his arms tightly around me and lifting me off the ground. My legs automatically wrap around his waist, and I press myself against him as tight as I can, burying my face in his neck, inhaling his scent. Mate. Home. He pulls back slightly, just enough to capture my lips with his. The kiss is fierce, filled with weeks of longing and unsaid words. I meet him with equal intensity, pouring every emotion into the way our lips move together. When we finally pull away,
Diana As the car pulls away from the pack house, movement catches my eye- a figure hastily darts away and disappears behind a building. I nonchalantly look away, my expression remaining unchanged. The car continues along the winding road, and as we cross the border of the pack territory, I silently promise myself to never set foot in this place again. This is the last time. Silence fills the car as they drive. Soon, the Zervos territory fades from view, becoming nothing more than a distant memory behind them. Billy clears his throat, breaking the heavy quiet. Billy is the first to break the silence. He clears his throat, his voice unsteady. “Kid… my mate, my Myra… she wouldn’t do that.” His fingers twitch against his knee. “She was no dark witch. She was a light witch.” I turn to look at him, watching the way his brows pinch together, the way his jaw tightens with something like desperation. “I know I said she was mysterious,” he continues, “and that I didn’t know much about her