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
Diana Dominicus stands in the doorway, wearing nothing but a towel slung low around his hips. Droplets of water cling to his skin, catching the light and making him look like he's been carved from living marble. My eyes trace the contours of his body, unable to look away. His torso is a work of art, all sculpted muscle and smooth skin. Every movement causes his muscles to flex and shift, a mesmerizing display of contained power. My gaze travels over his broad chest, down to the ridged plane of his stomach, following the trail of dark hair that disappears beneath the towel. As if in a trance, I let my eyes roam back up, taking in every detail. The strength in his arms, the breadth of his shoulders, the column of his throat. When he reaches up to towel dry his hair, I watch in fascination as his muscles ripple with the motion. Letting the towel drop from his hair, he shakes his head slightly, sending water droplets flying. His damp hair falls around his shoulders in dark waves,
Diana When I wake up the next morning, I find myself alone in the large bed. The sheets beside me are cool, indicating Dominicus has been up for a while. Curiosity pulls me from the comfort of the bed, and I make my way downstairs. I find him in the kitchen, moving with easy grace as he prepares what looks like breakfast. The domestic scene before me makes my heart swell with warmth. Dominicus turns as I enter, a bright smile lighting up his face. "Good morning, Diana," he calls out, his voice warm and inviting. "Good morning," I reply, unable to keep the smile from my own face. He abandons whatever he was doing and comes towards me, something clutched in his hand. As he gets closer, I recognize the familiar shape and color of the purple flower he's been leaving for me. "For you," he says softly, holding out the delicate bloom. I take it, my fingers brushing against his as I do. The simple gesture feels different now, more intimate. Before, he would leave it by my bed, a
Diana Now, as I look at the elegant facade, I recall the information from the pamphlet Ellen had given me. This is a Michelin-starred restaurant, the best in all of Garnet City, boasting numerous awards and spectacular cuisine. I remember how the manager had taken one look at me and told me to go around back, only to promptly reject me. I hadn't even been allowed through the front door. But now... now I'm here as a patron. I can walk in with my head held high, no longer the pathetic little girl I was just a few months ago. As we enter, Dominicus's voice is smooth and authoritative as he addresses the maître d'. "Reservation for Amadeus," he says, and I watch in barely concealed amusement as the once stuck-up host nearly trips over himself in his haste to accommodate us. "Of course, sir, right this way," the host simpers, leading us to our table. "A waiter will be with you shortly." He takes an awed glance at me, clearly not recognizing the girl he once turned away. As we set
Beta Marcus My phone rings and I reach into my pocket and pull it out. It's been days since I dispatched the mercenaries to Garnet City, and I'm eager for news, my nerves frayed from the endless waiting. "Marcus speaking," I growl when I pick up, my voice rough with tension. The voice on the other end is tinged with excitement, "Sir, you're not going to believe this. We've struck gold." My grip on the phone tightens, "Go on," I command, barely able to contain my impatience. "Well, sir," the human mercenary begins, his tone cautious yet eager, "when you gave us just a name and a photo, I didn't think we'd have much luck. Garnet City might not be massive, but it's still got a few thousand residents. Finding one girl seemed like looking for a needle in a haystack." "Get to the point," I snap, impatience coloring my tone. He chuckles, a sound that grates on my already frayed nerves. "That's just it, sir. We didn't have to look at all. Your girl? She's something of a local celebrit
Content Warning: This chapter contains depictions of violence and non-consensual acts. Beta Marcus The guard hesitates for a moment, shock evident on his face, his eyes widening and his mouth falling open slightly. But he knows better than to disobey a direct command from me. He nods curtly, adam's apple bobbing as he swallows hard, and hurries off. The girl's face drains of all color, her skin turning ashen. Her eyes, previously wide with fear, now grow impossibly larger, the whites visible all around her irises. She begins to struggle in earnest now, her body twisting and writhing in my grip like a fish on a hook. Her pleas grow more desperate, her voice rising in pitch and volume. "Please, Beta Marcus! I beg you, forgive me! I meant no disrespect!" The words tumble out of her mouth in a frantic rush, each one laced with terror. But I'm deaf to her cries, my ears filled with the roaring of my own blood. In my mind, warped by rage, she has become Diana, and I will make her pay f
Diana Brodik expressionless, looks down, but doesn’t respond. Fendel doesn’t seem to notice. My gaze sweeps across the sea of Council Warriors. I take a deep breath, steadying myself in the midst of this suffocating tension. I then draw on every ounce of power I have left and let my Alpha voice ripple through the air. “Stay right where you are. Drop your weapons and no one moves”. I issue the command towards Council Warriors. My voice is piercing, strong, and undeniable. I hold my breath, waiting. Silence fills the space for a long moment, thick with anticipation. However, nothing happens. Instead of the usual obedience, the command just seems to wash over them, dissipating into the air. Not one of them even flinches. Suddenly, the Elders burst out into laughter, the sound cruel and mocking. Elder Lyra, unable to hold back her amusement, sneers, “Don’t be daft, girl. Just because you managed to order those Zervos wolves doesn’t mean you can control the Council war
DianaMagnus’s shoulders hunch as the weight of it all hits him. His legs nearly faltering beneath him. I’m guessing he had somehow been consoling himself with the fact that though the Council had changed their minds and decided to kill, they had also sent the Army there to kill Dominicus. And in his mind, all he had to do was save me, and everything would still go as planned. Dominicus would be dead and the bond between us would grow back and reconnect.But now, not only is Dominicus obviously safe and sound back home. But the Army is here instead, meaning he couldn’t save me even if he wanted.He understands now. He’s been thoroughly played.Fendel then address Brodik, however, he makes sure to keep his gaze on me, his eyes never leaving my face, “Where is Dominicus Amadeus now?” he asks, his tone casual.Brodik responds promptly, his voice cool and measured, “The man stationed there reported back that the Alpha hasn’t left his territory.”“So he’s still in there now?” Fendel asks.
Diana The earth rumbles beneath our feet, a low vibration that starts slowly but grows with intensity. Everyone pauses, their eyes darting around in confusion and trepidation. The noise builds, a deep, ominous rumble that seems to come from all directions. It grows louder, the sound of it vibrating through the earth itself. My eyes narrow, my senses sharpening. I can feel the air shift- something is coming. Fendel stands still, looking smug, as if he’s anticipating something. The sound grows louder—footsteps—heavy, deliberate. The sound of hundreds of boots marching in unison. The noise draws closer, and the ground shakes with each passing second. And then—suddenly—they appear. From all around us, figures emerge. They’re clad in black soft armor, sleek and menacing, each one carrying an array of weapons strapped to their bodies. They move with military precision, their movements sharp and fluid. Hundreds of them. Maybe more. They don’t speak. They don’t need to. Their presence
Diana For a moment, the entire place is silent as a graveyard. And then- Elder Lyra, her face drained of color, screams. “Impossible!” She sounds like she’s on the verge of losing control. “No Alpha is able to use the command on a wolf that does not belong to their pack!” I shrug nonchalantly. “Well, Alpha Magnus here was being all dazed and shit, so I had to do it myself.” She screams again, this time in fury, “Stop this rubbish and answer me!” she demands, but I just shrug with a smile. The air is thick with disbelief. The wolves and Elders stare at me, wide-eyed, as though they’ve just seen a monster come to life. “Who the hell are you?” Elder Lyra demands, her voice trembling with disbelief. “What pack did you come from?” All eyes are on me. They all know I was raised in the Zervos pack, but for me to have this kind of power, they all now understand that my bloodline must come from an Alpha of another pack. I shrug, my face casual. “Beats me.” But inside, I’m closely watc
Diana Suddenly, one wolf steps forward from the crowd. I watch closely, my interest piqued. It’s the newly appointed Beta. Oh? I narrow my eyes as I study him more carefully. Werewolf healing really is a beautiful thing. The man had been injured only moments ago, but here he is now, stepping forward with a strong posture, his muscles taut and ready. This is the first time I’m taking a real look at him. He’s tall and lean, with a sharp crew cut and a severe expression that makes him seem even more intimidating. Attractive, if I’m being honest, but then again, most wolves are. Magnus’ eyes widen in shock. “You…” His voice cracks with disbelief. The Beta meets Magnus’ gaze with a calm, almost apologetic expression before he speaks. “I’m sorry, Alpha,” he says, his tone respectful. “But as the Council has said, this woman is mated to the dangerous Feral Alpha who was responsible for my predecessor’s death. It will be for the greater good if she is taken out. Therefore, I volunte
Diana It is at this moment that I gain a true appreciation for the depths of the Council’s cunning. They know exactly how to manipulate the desires of others to get what they want. They’ve played on the greed and lust for power lurking in the hearts of every man, turning them into pawns in their scheme. This makes me once again wonder who the traitor is among them. Because the traitor, I realize, must be the most cunning of them all. Whoever it is has clearly figured out who I am—my connection to the Castellanos pack. They’ve engineered this whole situation to try to force me to shift into my wolf form, to expose myself fully so they can be certain of my true identity. And then to kill me. Their true goal isn’t to take down Dominicus. It never was. Sure, if they’re able do it, then that’s killing two birds with the same stone. But that person’s real aim has always been me. And if that person is truly working with the witches as we suspect, then they must be aware that Dominic
Diana I look away from Magnus and glance at the four Elders still standing before me, their combative stances making it clear they are ready to pounce at any moment. “So,” I say, my voice icy and unwavering, “your plan of ridding the world of evil… you plan to do it yourselves? Okay” “Let’s get it over with”. I crack my knuckles and get back into a fighting position. Elder Fendel’s brow furrows looks to his fellow Elders before saying “No. That won’t do”. The four Elder halt before glancing at him. “There’s no precedent where the Council personally carries out punishments”. “Fendel!” Elder Lyra cries out. “No, Lyra. You’re letting your emotions sway you here”, he says with an admonishing tone, “That’s why there is more than one Elder, to keep each other in check”. Lyra glares at Diana, clearly dissatisfied before looking away. Elder Fendel then says, “Fall back please”, He waves his hand, and the other Elders fall back, stepping out of the way. But not before Elder Rothgar
Diana “The Elders never planned to let me go,” I say, “Killing me was always the plan”. Magnus stares at me for a long moment and I see it in his eyes—the flicker of understanding. His head whips back to them, eyes wide with horror. “No! This is not what we discussed!” I look away from Magnus, my gaze sweeping over the Council. My eyes narrow, lips curling into a cold smile. “Enough of the games. Lay it all out. Now.” I can feel the tension tightening in the air as I speak. I tilt my head slightly, my voice steady as I continue, “You’ve obviously planned to kill me from the very beginning. What I don’t understand is why. After all, aside from that sham of a trial, I haven’t committed any crimes. There shouldn’t be any irreconcilable differences between us, should there?” It’s obvious to me that the invisible hands of the traitor is behind the scenes, manipulating things. I know what that person’s goal is, but I am wandering what reason he or she used to get the Elders to go al
Chapter 226 (TFA)Diana“I’ll talk.”He says, voice strained and reluctant.I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And you’ll let me go after?” I ask, my voice clipped.He hesitates for a moment, the silence thick between us, before he nods, albeit with visible reluctance.But the calm is short-lived.Elder Lyra’s shrill voice pierces the air. “Alpha Magnus!” She practically spits his title with disgust, her eyes narrowing in disapproval. He flinches, his gaze snapping to the Elders, who are silently watching the exchange.A seething rage rises in my chest like a furnace, burning hotter with every second. My eyes narrow and my face hardens. These bastards think they can control everything, twist the situation as they please. I’ve had enough of their games.I glance at them from the corner of my eye, barely concealing the disgust that surges up from deep within.This entire ruse… I’m tired of it. I can’t take it anymore. I just want to go home and snuggle with my mate.I take a deep breath.