Diana I stand frozen, staring at the impressive facade of Claudia's home, my mind struggling to reconcile this grand house with my bubbly, down-to-earth friend who works alongside me at the diner. The question, ‘If you're rich, why are you working at the diner?’ almost tumbles out but I quickly stop it. What if just like I told Dominicus, she’s working because she enjoys it? The question is an instinctive reaction to what I’m used to. Back at the pack, you would never find high ranking wolves doing such menial jobs. It was beneath them. However, I remind myself that this is not my Pack. And Claudia is not an stuck up, arrogant higher ranking wolf. Claudia's usual effervescent demeanor falters for a moment. She looks away, a flicker of discomfort crossing her features before she meets my gaze again. "I'm not rich," she says, her voice uncharacteristically quiet. "My parents are." The weight in her tone tells me there's more to the story, but I can sense her reluctance to discuss
Diana As I step into the walk-in closet, my breath catches in my throat. The space before me is nothing short of magnificent, a room that could easily grace the pages of a high-end fashion magazine. The closet stretches out, seemingly endless, divided neatly into two sections - his and hers. My eyes roam over the rows of designer clothes, each piece more beautiful than the last. Silk blouses, tailored suits, flowing dresses in every color imaginable. The shoe collection alone is enough to make my head spin - elegant heels, comfortable flats, and sturdy boots, all arranged in perfect order. In the center of the room stands an island, its surface gleaming under the soft lighting. As I approach, I realize it's filled with jewelry - delicate necklaces, sparkling earrings, and watches that probably cost more than I've ever earned in my life. I pace slowly by the cabinets, my fingers trailing lightly over the fabric of the clothes. The textures are rich and varied - soft cashmere, crisp
Diana The drive to Deming is filled with a nervous excitement that bubbles in my chest. As we leave the familiar streets of Garnet City behind, I watch the landscape change through the car window. Deming, though only an hour away, feels like a different world entirely. Just like Garnet City, Deming is equally a purely human town. However, that’s where the similarities end. Where Garnet City is quaint and nestled in nature, Deming pulses with urban energy. Tall buildings reach for the sky, their glass facades reflecting the afternoon sun. The streets are busier, filled with a diverse mix of people hurrying about their day. As we navigate through the bustling streets, I can't help but marvel at the sights and sounds around us. Probably because of the college, there are a lot of students with backpacks slung over their shoulders hurry along the sidewalks, while suited professionals weave between them. Before long, we're pulling into the parking lot of Deming Community College. The ca
Diana "Let's go check out the campus. After all, you'll be spending quite a bit of time here. We should make sure you like the ambiance." I nod, a mixture of nervousness and anticipation swirling in my stomach. As we set off to explore the grounds, I can't help but feel a sense of wonder. Just this morning, returning to school had been a distant dream. Now, here I am, about to tour a college campus - possibly my college campus. The campus of Deming Community College unfolds before us like a miniature city. Dominicus and I stroll hand in hand, taking in the sights and sounds of academic life. The main quad bustles with activity - students lounging on the grass, buried in books or engaged in animated conversations. We pass by the library, an imposing brick building with wide steps leading to its entrance. Through the large windows, I catch glimpses of students hunched over computers or browsing towering shelves of books. The sight fills me with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
Beta Marcus The harsh buzz of my phone cuts through the silence of my office. I still when I notice the number. It's the rogue I'd contacted earlier, the one I'd tasked with getting the bitch from Garnet City but had refused. What the fuck does he want? I snatch it up, "Speak," I command, my voice tight with barely contained anger. "Good news," the man on the other end says, his voice languid. "The girl was spotted just outside Deming. One of our boys saw her, but... she wasn't alone." My grip on the phone tightens. "Go on." "She was with a strong wolf. Couldn't make out who it was, but they seemed... close. They got into a car together." I feel a growl building in my chest but force it down. "And?" "I've got a contact in traffic control. Used the street cameras to track the car. It drove straight into Garnet City." A savage grin spreads across my face. Finally, a solid lead. I can almost taste her fear, hear her pleas for mercy. But the rogue isn't finished. "Look, Marcus,
Beta Marcus As my eyes adjust to the dim light, a sense of twisted satisfaction washes over me. The bastard who had been a thorn in my side for so long, who dared to challenge my authority, again and again, now hangs before me, broken and defeated. The man is suspended from the ceiling, heavy chains made of silver shackling his wrists before piercing through them. The silver in his bloodstream stopping his shift. The restraints hold him just high enough that his toes barely brush the cold concrete floor, denying him even the small mercy of standing to relieve the tension in his arms. His face is a mess of dried blood and swollen flesh, his eyes forced shut by the bruising. Fresh scars crisscross his bare torso, a testament to the brutality he's endured. He seems to be unconscious, unaware of my presence as I enter his personal hell. I take my time, savoring the moment as I leisurely stroll to the side of the room where a tray of instruments awaits. My fingers brush over them gen
Beta Marcus In one corner, a group huddles around a table, exchanging money for small packets of powder. Nearby, a woman with hollow eyes and track marks on her arms performs a listless dance for leering onlookers. The bar is crowded with men and women drowning their sorrows in cheap alcohol, their faces etched with the hard lines of difficult lives. Looking closer at the women scattered throughout the bar, I can see the telltale signs of abuse and exploitation. Their eyes are vacant, movements mechanical. Most, if not all, have likely been trafficked here against their will. Good. It means this place is run by exactly the kind of people I'm looking for. I approach the bar, shouldering past a pair of men engaged in a heated argument. The bartender, a burly man with a scarred face, eyes me warily as I lean against the sticky counter. "I'm looking for someone," I say, my voice low and purposeful. I drop a name, watching his reaction carefully. The bartender's eyes narrow. "No one b
Diana I step into the spacious closet, my fingers trailing over the soft fabrics of the clothes hanging neatly in rows. It's strange to think that these items are meant for me, chosen with care by Dominicus. The thought sends a flutter through my stomach as I select a comfortable pajama set – silky shorts and a matching camisole top. Returning to the bedroom, I freeze in my tracks. The enormous bed dominates the space, piled high with fluffy pillows and covered in luxurious sheets. It looks impossibly inviting, but as I stare at it, the reality of the situation crashes over me like a wave. We're going to be sharing a room. Sharing that bed. Me and Dominicus, together in this intimate space. My heart begins to race, and I can feel warmth creeping up my neck and into my cheeks. The enormity of what this means – what it could lead to – leaves me feeling dizzy and overwhelmed. Lost in my spiraling thoughts, I don't hear his approach until he's right behind me. His presence, so l
DominicusThe torch flickers again, casting long shadows across the cell. I turn my head slightly, my lips curling into a snarl.Marcus died too quickly. Too easily. I should have slowed it down, tortured him some more- I should have prolonged his suffering. I fucking went too easy on him!Rage wells up inside me, my eyes tinging blue as my wolf stirs, threatening to surface. My fists clench, and I force myself to breathe deeply, steadying the storm within.I lean back against the cells behind me. And wait.It isn’t until a full hour later that Billy’s episode subsides. The once-raging wolf now slumps limp against the cold, damp wall. His head hangs low, his breathing shallow but steady. For a moment, the only sounds in the prison are the faint drip of water in the distance and his labored breaths.I don’t say a word as I watch him. There’s no need. He needs this moment to gather himself, to pull whatever fragments of clarity he has left together. I remain where I am, leaning casuall
Dominicus As I stand in the dim cell, staring at the broken man before me, my jaw tightens. His disheveled appearance, the trembling in his limbs, the chains biting into his flesh —it all cements the truth of the phone call I received days ago. The words replay in my head, clear as day. Flashback "And who was it?" I demand, my voice sharp. "An acquaintance of yours. Billy Myricks." "Billy?" I repeat, the name echoing in my mind. My thoughts immediately go to the man I saw at the Council hearing-sturdy, protective, and kind-hearted. It makes sense. Somehow, it makes too much sense. "Find a way to get me in touch with him. Immediately," I order, my grip on the phone tightening. The response is calm, almost too calm. "I anticipated that, Alpha. That's why l've already reached out to Gamma Billy." My irritation flares. "You've overstepped. That wasn't your order." The reply is polite but edged with subtle amusement. "Wasn't that going to be your next order though
Dominicus My footsteps are the only sound, crunching against the forest floor as I walk deeper into a place I rarely visit. I don't shift. There's no need. My steps are measured, deliberate, the journey giving me time to temper my thoughts. The ancient structure looms before me, old, nostalgic, and hauntingly beautiful- the ruins of my old home. The moonlight slipping through the dense canopy in silvery streaks cast a glow on the structure and I let myself take a moment to take it in. But this is not what I came for tonight. I turn and take another path to the right and walk deeper. The trees grow denser, the underbrush thicker, until the landscape opens to reveal a dark, moss-covered structure buried deep in the earth. The entrance is a jagged, weathered doorway that leads underground, the faint scent of damp stone and decay wafting up as I descend the narrow, winding steps. The Prison, or as the pack kids used to like calling it- the Dungeon- hasn't been used in nearly a centu
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