DianaI barrel into my house, sweating and trembling from shock as I collapse to the floor. Barely a second later, Billy barges in.“Hey! Did you find your ma-“ It takes only a second for him to take in the tears streaming down my face as well as the blood around my mouth, torso and hands, and the original small smile on his face disappears, replaced by a grave expression.With long strides, he reaches my side and stretches out a hand to touch me but stops when I subconsciously flinch. He draws back his hand but frantically looks me over with his eyes.“This blood…” he starts, “It’s not yours”, he concludes a second later. It’s not a question. He can tell. Decades of being a warrior has taught him enough.“Whose?” he asks simply, face dead serious.I flinch again but still answer, “Beta Mason”, my stomach twisting as I force out the name.Billy suddenly stills before abruptly standing up. He then begins to pace the short length of my room.“What happened?” he grits out.“He- he tried
DianaBut after a few steps, I run back to him again and hug him. “Thank you Billy”, I whisper against his chest, “For everything…I love you”.Sighing, he wraps his arms around me too, crushing me in a bear hug against him, “I love you too pipsqueak and I’ll miss you”, he lets go, gently pushing me away.“There’s no time to waste. Now go!”I nod and dash into the trees behind the shack. Luckily, my house is at the furthest end of the Omega district and the southern border is directly behind it. I speed the entire way through the forest, ignoring the stitch in my side.I stop a yard away when I catch sight of the sentry posts.Taking a deep breath, I jam my hands into the pockets of my sweatpants before walking with forced casualness towards the border.Instantly, I feel eyes train on me, scanning my form with an intensity that makes my heart skip a beat- the piercing gaze most likely coming from the hidden sentries. Maintaining a casual facial expression is hard but I try my best, an
DianaWith a start, I jerk up in a panic, my body vibrating with tension as my head whips around the room in alarm; my pupils blown wide as my eyes dart around, looking for the threat. I am completely disoriented and it takes me a full minute before I finally remember where I am, and another, for my racing heart to slow down.My body sags from the rush of adrenaline and I collapse limply back on the bed, staring up at the dirty ceiling in a daze.I’m safe…this is a human territory…I’m safe…they haven’t found me… and my mind whispers a dark ‘yet’.As I bring my breath back under control, I slowly turn on my side, curling up in a fetal position and hugging my knees to my chest. A hiss escapes my lips as the movement sends sharp zaps of pain coursing through my body, reminding me of the multiple aches and bruises on my person. Injuries that I had accrued; more piling on top of the existing ones day after day- injuries I had had no time to treat, much too busy running for my life.It had
DianaAt the door, hesitant to leave the safety of my room, I peek out first to make sure that there’s no one suspicious lurking. What if they’ve already found me? What if they’re outside, just waiting for me to come out so they can catch me? My anxiety spikes as numerous paranoid thoughts run through my mind. The larger part of my brain reminds me that this is a human territory but the fear is ever present. I grimace when my stomach growls loudly. If the old clock hanging on the wall is right, it's past noon already and the last thing I ate was a stale sandwich two days ago. I peek out one more time to make sure it’s safe before stepping out and locking the door behind me. Getting directions for the nearest diner from the very bored receptionist at the front desk, I walk out of the motel and stare contemplatively at the only road there. Going left would take me out of town. Yanking the hood more firmly over my head, I go right. Apart from what seems to be an abandoned car repa
DianaI don’t walk back out with the job.Apparently, they had just hired someone yesterday- I'm literally just a few hours late. I’m not discouraged though. I have a whole pamphlet full of restaurants, diners and cafes. I’m sure I’ll get something.I leaf through the pamphlet for the nearest one and realize it’s quite far. I would take a cab there but unfortunately, I’m broke as hell.Slipping my hand into my pocket, I take out the crumpled bills I have left and count them. The balance makes me wince. With the pitiful amount I have left, there’s barely enough for one more meal. And then after that, I’m screwed. Thankfully, I had paid for a day's stay at the motel so I at least have shelter for the next few days. But unless I get a job soon, I’m out in the streets.Well, walking it is then. Five restaurants, four cafes and one bar later, and my earlier optimism has been stumped to dust. I realise just how naive I had been.It is incredibly hard to find employment.To be honest, I d
Diana My eyes dart to the gas station store but the employee isn’t looking out here, I can see that he’s got headphones in and that his attention is focused on his phone. Even if I were to shout, the glass door and windows are all shut so the likelihood of him hearing me is slim.At this moment, I become painfully aware of just how secluded this place is. Not just the employee. No one would hear me.A chill spreads through my limbs and my hands glow clammy. I turn around and start to speed walk back the way I came, hoping and praying that they would just go back to what they were doing and leave me alone. But my luck has never been that good. Regret floods my veins at the foolishness of my actions this night.Stupid! Stupid! I should have waited till tomorrow…“Hey!” Out the corner of my eye, I notice that they start to walk even faster, closing the space between us. My heart sinks and I break out into a run but they react immediately. They fan out and flank me on both sides. One
DianaIt happened so fast that the man didn’t even have time to scream. One second, he’s still here, and the next, a sickening crunch sounds in my ear and then he’s gone.Warm blood splashes onto my face, flows down my cheeks and drips down my chin, but I’m too dazed to care. All I am able to do is lay there, eyes wide as I listen to the creature tearing into the man. The sounds; a cacophony of ripping flesh, crunching bones, and guttural growls, echo through the stillness of the wilderness like a macabre symphony of nature’s brutality.“Ahhhhhh!” the short one screams, turns around and runs away. He trips, and falls, but scrambles back up and continues to run. In his fear, he doesn’t even realize that rather than running in the direction we came from, he’s heading deeper into the woods.Of the two remaining men, one falls to the ground and a pungent smell starts to emit from him. He had pissed himself.The next second, we hear a piercing scream of terror coming from the direction of
Chapter 16Dominicus The air is filled with bone-cracking snaps and animalistic growls. Each movement reverberates within me excruciating agony as my muscles contract and elongate- reshaping my form. It’s a slow and laborious transition, as my body struggles to shed its lupine form and reclaim its human identity.It’s been so long since I’ve changed back that my body has almost forgotten how to do so.With each agonizing twist and contortion, guttural groans and grunts escape me. The sound of flesh tearing and reforming echoes in my ears, punctuated by the heavy thuds of my paws as I slam them against the forest floor. Thuds become slaps as paws turn into hands.Amidst the tumultuous transformation, the silence of the night is broken only by my labored breaths.And then finally, as the last vestiges of fur recede and the final bones settle into place, there is silence.Agile, my limbs slowly stretch until I’m standing on my bare feet. I flex my fingers and crack my neck. Keeping my ey
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