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
DianaFor the next hour, I sit curled up in Dominicus’s lap, his arms wrapped around me, holding me securely against him. At some point, he lit a fire in the fireplace so the room is warm and toasty. The room is quiet, save for the soft sound of our breathing. The warmth of his chest against my back lulling me.I sluggishly replay his words over, trying to come to terms with everything I’ve just learned. My mother… brave and desperate, staggering into Zervos territory with two newborns in her arms. What were her thoughts during her last moments? Was she scared? Angry? I wonder what she looked like. Do I look like her or like my father. My father… what kind of person was he? What kind of Alpha was he? Castellanos… a name I never knew carried such weight. A pack that might not even exist anymore.My chest tightens as my thoughts shift, unbidden, to Apollo. My twin. My blood. The boy I once clung to for comfort. The boy who abandoned me time and time again.I blink back the sting of tea
DianaOur eyes meet, and I see it—the same grim conclusion reflected in his golden gaze.Only if they’re all dead.The words echo in my mind, cold and final. A shiver runs down my spine as the weight of that possibility presses against my chest.After all, isn’t that what happened to Dominicus’s pack?But the Amadeus pack… that had been a singular, devastating incident. Could there really be another pack that suffered the same fate of being wiped out completely?Dominicus doesn’t speak. His jaw clenches tightly, his expression unreadable. I know he’s thinking it too, even if he doesn’t say it out loud.Finally, the silence becomes too much. My voice is soft, but it trembles with conviction. “The only way… would be if they’re all gone.”He looks at me sharply, his eyes flickering with something unreadable. “We can’t be sure,” he says, his tone strained. “Maybe there’s some other… extenuating circumstance. Something we can’t imagine.”But even as he says the words, I can tell he doesn’t
Diana“They weren’t like the Amadeus,” he says. “Where my pack was blessed with overwhelming physical strength, agility, and reflexes, they were… ordinary. At least in terms of strength.”“Then what made them important?”He shakes his head. “I don’t know. But whatever it was, it was vital. So vital that they went into hiding to protect it.”“Hiding?”“They erased their existence from history. No one knew where they were, not even the Amadeus Alphas. It was said they held the key to the survival of the supernatural world—and perhaps even the human one.”I stare at him, trying to wrap my mind around it. “But wouldn’t it have been safer for them to stay with the Amadeus? To have your pack protect them?”“No,” Dominicus says firmly. “Who’s to say even the most honorable wolves couldn’t be corrupted one day? If an Amadeus decided to take what they had, who would protect them then? They couldn’t take that risk. So they hid.”My voice is barely a whisper as I ask, “What was the name of this
DianaHe takes a deep breath, his hold on me tightening just a fraction. “I had someone investigate your past,” he begins, his voice steady but low. “Specifically, how you came to the Zervos pack.”My heart skips a beat, and I stare at him in confusion. “Came to the Zervos pack?”I wasn’t originally from there?!He nods, his gaze unwavering. “I also found out about your mother.”The words hit me like a jolt, and I’m suddenly very aware of my own heartbeat. My parents…I’ve always known they were gone. Orphans don’t hold onto fantasies of reunions with parents they’ve never known. But to hear him say it so plainly—to bring them into focus as real people, not just vague figures—makes my chest ache.“What did you find out?” I ask hesitantly.He’s quiet for a moment, as if weighing how much to say. Finally, he speaks. “Your mother appeared at the Zervos pack twenty years ago. She was gravely injured, carrying two newborn babies—you and your twin brother.”Apollo.That name brings a rush o
DianaDominicus grins, stepping out of the car and moving to open my door. “Surprise.”I can’t stop grinning back as I step out of the car. The lights, the sounds, the tantalizing smells—all of it hits me at once. It’s overwhelming in the best way. My eyes widen as I take in the colorful booths, the flashing rides, and the laughter that seems to fill the air. The fair is alive, buzzing with excitement, and it feels like stepping into a dream.“I’ve never been to a fair before,” I say, turning to Dominicus, my voice tinged with awe.He smirks, slipping his hand into mine. “Then let’s make sure tonight is unforgettable, dulcis.”The first thing that catches my eye is the Ferris wheel, towering over the rest of the fair, its glowing lights reflecting in my eyes. I tug on his hand, practically bouncing. “Can we ride that first?”“Anything you want,” he replies, his deep voice warm and indulgent.The ride is magical. As the wheel turns, we’re lifted high above the fairgrounds, the world st
DominicusEllen’s cheerful voice floats out from the diner, breaking me out of my reverie, as Diana steps through the door, her laughter bubbling over like sunshine.I quietly slip my phone back into my pocket.“I know you’re not ready to come back just yet,” Ellen teases, shooing her away with a wave of her hand, “but I figured you needed a little something to take your mind off things for a while. Now that the rush has died down, we can handle the rest just fine.”Diana tries to protest, but Ellen won’t hear of it. “Go! It’s a beautiful day, why don’t you go out and enjoy the weather with your fiancé. You’re welcome to come back anytime, but today? Take the rest of it off.”Ellen looks past Diana to me, her eyes twinkling with playful mischief. “You, young man, better take this girl out and make sure she has fun.”Young man… the words nearly make me laugh. I’m well over a hundred years old and nearly twice her age…I nod solemnly, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. “Understood, Ma’am
DominicusThe phone in my pocket vibrates, and when I pull it out to see the caller ID, my expression hardens instantly. I glance up, where Diana is finishing her shift. Her face is glowing with happiness, and she moves around the crowded room with ease. My dulcis is truly thriving, and watching her fills me with a quiet pride.I quietly rise from my seat, stepping outside. The cool air does little to temper the storm brewing inside me. I move to a spot at the side of the diner where I’m out of sight, and with a swipe of my thumb, I answer the call.“You’ve sure taken your sweet time,” I growl, my voice laced with menace.There’s a pause before the voice on the other end answers, calm but slightly strained. “I apologize, Alpha Dominicus. I went as fast as I could. The information wasn’t easy to obtain.”“You mean to say you’ve been dragging your feet,” I snap.“Not at all,” the voice replies, firmer now. “I had to extract information from a pack I don’t belong to, and secrecy was para
DianaIt’s chaos. Orders are flying in, plates are being passed back and forth, and the noise level is enough to make my head spin. My nerves are still raw as I pick up my first tray and try to navigate the endless stream of orders and movement around me. My muscles are tense, and I feel like every step I take is a disaster waiting to happen.But as the minutes tick by, something unexpected happens. The pace of the diner—the fast, relentless rhythm—pulls me in. Before I know it, I’m moving without overthinking. Taking orders, serving plates, weaving between coworkers, and brushing past customers without sending anyone flying. It feels… natural.Dominicus sits in the far corner of the diner, his presence impossible to ignore. Even in this packed space, the area around him is clear of people—his imposing aura doing what no words could. His eyes are on me, unwavering, as though he’s watching my every move.When our eyes meet, he raises a single eyebrow, the expression so cocky and smug i
Diana “I’m not ready!” I argue, throwing my hands up. “You are,” he counters firmly. “You just don’t realize it yet. And I’ll be nearby the entire time, watching. If anything happens, I’ll step in.” “But—” “No buts,” he says, cutting me off. “You’ve worked hard these past three weeks, Diana. You’ve made progress. Now it’s time to put it to the test.” I open my mouth to argue again but stop when I see the determination in his eyes. He’s not going to budge on this. And a niggling feeling at the back of mind tells me that he wouldn’t care if i broke anyone either. I swallow heavily. “Fine,” I mutter begrudgingly, crossing my arms over my chest. “But if I hurt anyone- it’s on you.” “Sure!” he replies chirpily with a large grin- cementing my suspicions. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me into his chest. “You’re going to do great,” he murmurs, his voice warm and steady. “I believe in you.” I hate how much those words melt my resolve. Letting out a defeated sigh, I l