Dante's POVI turned to the boy and said, voice sharp and firm, “Stop. Is this how you behave? Bullying little girls at the temple?”The boy shrank under my gaze, but before he could say anything, his mother arrived, rushed, breathless, and clearly having been nearby all along.“Alpha, please… he is just a child,” she pleaded, trying to shield him.I was angry no, furious. “Look at your child. He is picking on kids much younger than himself. Don’t let him out of the house again until you have disciplined him properly. Otherwise, his elders will answer for it.”The woman paled and quickly dragged her son away without another word.With them gone, I looked at the girls. The older one stood beside me, while the little one remained nestled in my arms, clutching me tightly.“Thank you, kind sir,” the older girl said, flashing a shy smile.She looked familiar, oddly so. I couldn’t place where I had seen her before.“You are very brave,” I said, impressed by how she had stood up for herself
Dante’s POV“What kind of teachings did your family pass on to their children?” I asked coldly as Rome entered the office.Rome looked caught off guard. He had never seen me this furious.“What happened, Alpha?” he asked, approaching carefully.“That nephew of yours…” I said. “He was bullying kids half his age. In the temple, no less. And all while his mother stood there watching.”Rome’s shoulders sagged. “I apologise… I’ll talk to my brother. Though honestly, it’s my sister-in-law and mother who have spoiled that boy beyond reason. He has never been corrected, never taught humility.” He let out a sigh. “But since the complaint is coming from you, Alpha, our family will take it seriously.”Then he added with a weak smile, “But since when did you start caring about children and their petty squabbles?”Before I could respond, a melodic laugh drifted into the room. A graceful presence followed as Annette, my Luna, entered and gracefully seated herself beside me.“That’s Alpha Dante you
Scarlet’s POVThe moment I switched on the local news channel, I reached for my phone and dialled Vespara. I had just finished a long, exhausting class on surgical techniques and returned to my office to catch up on the headlines. What I saw made my stomach twist with worry — two rogue groups had entered the capital and launched an attack. A city-wide curfew had been imposed. Streets were shut down, homes locked up, and the atmosphere on the news was pure chaos.I quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to leave the institute tonight. Travelling now was far too dangerous. The roads were not just unsafe, they were being hunted.My fingers trembled slightly as I pressed the call button. When Vespara picked up, I didn’t waste a second.“Ves, did you leave?” I asked, panic rising in my voice.“We’re just about to,” she replied gently. “Don’t worry, Amy was an angel today. She didn’t miss you that much.”Her calm voice gave me a small moment of relief, but it wasn’t enough. I had to stop
Dante’s POVI asked Annette this morning if she would like to accompany me to visit Elizabeth. It had been two days since Vespara left the temple without looking at me, and something in me kept wondering if she had returned by now. She never stayed here for too long.We reached Elizabeth’s home just before lunch, and the moment we stepped inside, I could feel a shift in the atmosphere. It wasn’t the usual serene and quiet space I had come to associate with the house. Instead, it felt alive, busy, scattered, as if the home itself had awakened from slumber. I saw Elizabeth sitting alone on the couch in the living room, watching some cartoon on low volume. She turned the moment she sensed us and smiled. “Alpha… Luna,” she greeted us warmly. “You should have sent a message. I would have arranged a proper lunch.”I smiled back at her while taking in her face, the fine lines, the wisdom in her gaze and the stubborn light that never dimmed. “How are you? We heard you were unwell.”“I’m fin
Dante’s POVA moment passed before the boy, Auggie, answered from above with a loud, cheeky voice, “Don’t want to!”Elizabeth chuckled, not even surprised. “He is just like his father.”I arched a brow. “Stubborn?”She gave a tired laugh. “Imagine the stubbornness of Killian and Vespara combined.”I winced playfully. “Ah… that’s a lethal combo. Is he lazy like Kill, too?”“Oh, no,” she said with an amused grin. “That would be our Nora, the lazy princess.”Just then, a new voice called out from above, “Did somebody call me?”I looked up and saw a girl peeking over the railing on the second floor. She was familiar somehow, but I couldn’t quite place how and suddenly everything clicked. Her eyes widened the moment she saw me, curious, startled, intrigued.aShe leaned over the railing to get a better look, and before I could process what was happening, she slipped.“No!” Annette gasped in horror.Even Elizabeth’s breath hitched. My body tensed, already ready to lunge forward but before I
Dante’s POV“You’re so handsome,” Nora suddenly said, smiling brightly. “Just like my daddy.”I smirked. “Less or more?”She tilted her head, thoughtful, then said with dramatic flair, “Just a little less.”We all burst into laughter at that, Annette, Elizabeth, even me.“She’s so cute,” Annette said, nearly pinching Nora’s cheek. “Are your siblings as adorable as you?”Nora huffed. “Auggie is a meanie, and Amy is a devil.”Before I could even react, a small blur flew at us like a gust of wind. Another toddler, clearly Amy, shoved Nora aside and latched tightly onto my legs.“Amy!” Elizabeth gasped. The little one didn’t respond. Her brows were scrunched, her lips trembling, like she was about to burst into tears.Elizabeth’s voice turned soft. “Sweetheart, come to Grandma. Let Alpha go, okay?”But Amy only clung tighter, her tiny fingers gripping my trousers like I was her anchor in a storm.“It’s okay, Madam,” I said gently. “We have met before. That’s why they know me.”Elizabeth l
“Alpha,” Elizabeth said softly, careful not to wake the child. “Let me put her to bed. If she wakes up now and doesn’t see you, she’ll cry, and it’s hard to watch her cry. She doesn’t make a sound, but… it breaks you.”Annette, who had been quiet again, suddenly asked, “Aunt… she doesn’t speak?”Elizabeth nodded, her eyes growing moist. During her birth, there was an accident. It damaged her throat, especially the vocal cords. We’re trying everything we can… but so far, there’s been no sound. Not even a whisper.”She paused, her voice trembling.“I pray to the goddess every night that before I die, I will hear her say something or anything. It hurts. It hurts to see her frustrated, unable to express herself. When she cries, there’s no sound. It’s like watching a scream locked inside a glass box.”A single tear escaped her. “Maybe we have coddled her too much. But tell me, how are we supposed to act normal with her when she’s not? Doesn’t she deserve a little extra love for trying, eve
Scarlett’s POVRed room.A haven of temptation.Cloaked in shades of crimson so deep they seemed to bleed desireHeavy red velvet drapes framed the walls.The dim glow of a crystal chandelier spilled down like liquid gold.At the center, a majestic bed stood, whispering elegance and sin.On the far wall, a gilded mirror stretched nearly floor to ceiling, reflecting two figures mingling in tantalizing heat.Everything was whispering one thing to me. Surrender.And so I did.You must be wondering who I am?Tonight, I am trying not to remember who I am.Tonight, I am just a naive virgin who entered the Alpha’s ball disguised as a noble princess, when I am just a pitiful Cinderella, just to have a taste of disobedience and sin.Tonight, I am a sinner.Why did nobody tell me that being a sinner is so pleasurable`?A moan escaped my throat as he sucked on my breasts. The breast that did not even fill his big and manly hands. He was easily six feet and five inches and built like a mountain.
“Alpha,” Elizabeth said softly, careful not to wake the child. “Let me put her to bed. If she wakes up now and doesn’t see you, she’ll cry, and it’s hard to watch her cry. She doesn’t make a sound, but… it breaks you.”Annette, who had been quiet again, suddenly asked, “Aunt… she doesn’t speak?”Elizabeth nodded, her eyes growing moist. During her birth, there was an accident. It damaged her throat, especially the vocal cords. We’re trying everything we can… but so far, there’s been no sound. Not even a whisper.”She paused, her voice trembling.“I pray to the goddess every night that before I die, I will hear her say something or anything. It hurts. It hurts to see her frustrated, unable to express herself. When she cries, there’s no sound. It’s like watching a scream locked inside a glass box.”A single tear escaped her. “Maybe we have coddled her too much. But tell me, how are we supposed to act normal with her when she’s not? Doesn’t she deserve a little extra love for trying, eve
Dante’s POV“You’re so handsome,” Nora suddenly said, smiling brightly. “Just like my daddy.”I smirked. “Less or more?”She tilted her head, thoughtful, then said with dramatic flair, “Just a little less.”We all burst into laughter at that, Annette, Elizabeth, even me.“She’s so cute,” Annette said, nearly pinching Nora’s cheek. “Are your siblings as adorable as you?”Nora huffed. “Auggie is a meanie, and Amy is a devil.”Before I could even react, a small blur flew at us like a gust of wind. Another toddler, clearly Amy, shoved Nora aside and latched tightly onto my legs.“Amy!” Elizabeth gasped. The little one didn’t respond. Her brows were scrunched, her lips trembling, like she was about to burst into tears.Elizabeth’s voice turned soft. “Sweetheart, come to Grandma. Let Alpha go, okay?”But Amy only clung tighter, her tiny fingers gripping my trousers like I was her anchor in a storm.“It’s okay, Madam,” I said gently. “We have met before. That’s why they know me.”Elizabeth l
Dante’s POVA moment passed before the boy, Auggie, answered from above with a loud, cheeky voice, “Don’t want to!”Elizabeth chuckled, not even surprised. “He is just like his father.”I arched a brow. “Stubborn?”She gave a tired laugh. “Imagine the stubbornness of Killian and Vespara combined.”I winced playfully. “Ah… that’s a lethal combo. Is he lazy like Kill, too?”“Oh, no,” she said with an amused grin. “That would be our Nora, the lazy princess.”Just then, a new voice called out from above, “Did somebody call me?”I looked up and saw a girl peeking over the railing on the second floor. She was familiar somehow, but I couldn’t quite place how and suddenly everything clicked. Her eyes widened the moment she saw me, curious, startled, intrigued.aShe leaned over the railing to get a better look, and before I could process what was happening, she slipped.“No!” Annette gasped in horror.Even Elizabeth’s breath hitched. My body tensed, already ready to lunge forward but before I
Dante’s POVI asked Annette this morning if she would like to accompany me to visit Elizabeth. It had been two days since Vespara left the temple without looking at me, and something in me kept wondering if she had returned by now. She never stayed here for too long.We reached Elizabeth’s home just before lunch, and the moment we stepped inside, I could feel a shift in the atmosphere. It wasn’t the usual serene and quiet space I had come to associate with the house. Instead, it felt alive, busy, scattered, as if the home itself had awakened from slumber. I saw Elizabeth sitting alone on the couch in the living room, watching some cartoon on low volume. She turned the moment she sensed us and smiled. “Alpha… Luna,” she greeted us warmly. “You should have sent a message. I would have arranged a proper lunch.”I smiled back at her while taking in her face, the fine lines, the wisdom in her gaze and the stubborn light that never dimmed. “How are you? We heard you were unwell.”“I’m fin
Scarlet’s POVThe moment I switched on the local news channel, I reached for my phone and dialled Vespara. I had just finished a long, exhausting class on surgical techniques and returned to my office to catch up on the headlines. What I saw made my stomach twist with worry — two rogue groups had entered the capital and launched an attack. A city-wide curfew had been imposed. Streets were shut down, homes locked up, and the atmosphere on the news was pure chaos.I quickly realized that I wouldn’t be able to leave the institute tonight. Travelling now was far too dangerous. The roads were not just unsafe, they were being hunted.My fingers trembled slightly as I pressed the call button. When Vespara picked up, I didn’t waste a second.“Ves, did you leave?” I asked, panic rising in my voice.“We’re just about to,” she replied gently. “Don’t worry, Amy was an angel today. She didn’t miss you that much.”Her calm voice gave me a small moment of relief, but it wasn’t enough. I had to stop
Dante’s POV“What kind of teachings did your family pass on to their children?” I asked coldly as Rome entered the office.Rome looked caught off guard. He had never seen me this furious.“What happened, Alpha?” he asked, approaching carefully.“That nephew of yours…” I said. “He was bullying kids half his age. In the temple, no less. And all while his mother stood there watching.”Rome’s shoulders sagged. “I apologise… I’ll talk to my brother. Though honestly, it’s my sister-in-law and mother who have spoiled that boy beyond reason. He has never been corrected, never taught humility.” He let out a sigh. “But since the complaint is coming from you, Alpha, our family will take it seriously.”Then he added with a weak smile, “But since when did you start caring about children and their petty squabbles?”Before I could respond, a melodic laugh drifted into the room. A graceful presence followed as Annette, my Luna, entered and gracefully seated herself beside me.“That’s Alpha Dante you
Dante's POVI turned to the boy and said, voice sharp and firm, “Stop. Is this how you behave? Bullying little girls at the temple?”The boy shrank under my gaze, but before he could say anything, his mother arrived, rushed, breathless, and clearly having been nearby all along.“Alpha, please… he is just a child,” she pleaded, trying to shield him.I was angry no, furious. “Look at your child. He is picking on kids much younger than himself. Don’t let him out of the house again until you have disciplined him properly. Otherwise, his elders will answer for it.”The woman paled and quickly dragged her son away without another word.With them gone, I looked at the girls. The older one stood beside me, while the little one remained nestled in my arms, clutching me tightly.“Thank you, kind sir,” the older girl said, flashing a shy smile.She looked familiar, oddly so. I couldn’t place where I had seen her before.“You are very brave,” I said, impressed by how she had stood up for herself
Dante’s POV“About the upgradation project, make sure the preparations are wrapped up sooner,” I said to the construction manager, eyeing the layout spread across the stone table.We were expanding and reinforcing the infrastructure around the Moon Goddess’ temple which was now more of a landmark than it had ever been before. Over the years, it had become a center of pilgrimage and tourism, drawing attention not only from our own pack but from others far across the empire. With the coming full moon, we expected nearly a hundred thousand pilgrims to gather here. That number would only grow with time. If we wanted to maintain order and respect the sanctity of the temple, we had to prepare accordingly.In the last four years, our pack had thrived, territory expanded, borders strengthened, wealth accumulated. Under the favor of the Werewolf King, our lands had become the crown jewel of the empire. The most prosperous, the most stable, and arguably, the most envied.The discussion was done
Scarlet’s POVToday was Killian’s death anniversary.Vespara and the kids were leaving for Phantom Moon, and my heart was lodged firmly in my throat. I shouldn’t have felt this way, my home was here, with my daughter, with Vespara, in the life we had built together. But somehow, a piece of me felt homesick as if watching them leave was like watching them walk away from me and that to to the place that is my home.“Did you pack everything?” I asked softly as I entered the living room.It was still dark outside, the sky tinted with the faintest grey. Vespara was already dressed and moving with her usual quiet efficiency. I knew she hadn’t slept. Not a wink. She never did the night before going back to that place.She glanced up, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “I did. Why are you up so early?”I shifted Amy on my shoulder. She was still half-asleep, warm and limp in my arms, her curly hair sticking up in all directions. Her eyes fluttered at the sound of Vespara’s voice.“Morn