DianaI hurry after the Alpha, my heart racing as I try to keep up with his long strides. He's several paces ahead, the sack of potatoes perched effortlessly on his broad shoulder. I can't help but stare at his back, my emotions in complete turmoil.Fear still courses through my veins. How can it not? He's the most powerful Were I've ever encountered. The waves of power rolling off him are so intense that if I had a fully developed wolf, it would be constantly cowering in his presence. Even with my weak senses, I can tell he's restraining his aura. The thought sends a shiver down my spine.But then there's the other side of him. The side that's shown me kindness, that's protected me—even if it was a misunderstanding. He's a walking contradiction, and it's driving me mad trying to figure him out.My eyes land on the sack of potatoes on his shoulder, and I'm struck by the oddity of it all. When have I ever seen an Alpha doing such menial labor? Especially to aid a low-ranking wolf like
DianaThe day passes in a blur of nervous energy and racing thoughts. Despite my best efforts to focus on my work, I find myself distracted, my mind constantly wandering to thoughts of tonight's dinner. By the time evening rolls around, I've worked myself into such a state of panic that even Ellen notices something's amiss."Diana, honey," she says, her brow furrowed with concern, "is everything alright? You seem a million miles away today."I open my mouth to brush off her concern, but then hesitate. Maybe talking about it would help? After all, two heads are better than one, and Ellen's years of experience running the diner might prove invaluable.Taking a deep breath, I decide to confide in her – or at least, as much as I can without revealing the supernatural aspects of my life."Well," I begin hesitantly, "I've invited someone over for dinner tonight. As a thank you for helping me out with something important."Ellen's eyebrows rise with interest. "Oh? And who might this someone b
DianaI stand before the kitchen door, my heart pounding in my chest. Taking a deep breath to steady my nerves, I reach out and turn the handle, pulling the door open.The moment I lay eyes on him, I'm stunned into silence. Alpha Dominicus stands there, a vision in black. His shirt hugs his broad shoulders perfectly, the top two buttons undone to reveal a tantalizing glimpse of his chest. The black dress pants he wears only serve to emphasize his powerful build. His usually bushy beard has been neatly trimmed and combed, giving him a more polished look without diminishing his rugged appeal.I've never felt so utterly feminine in any man's presence as I do at this moment. He's not just handsome; he's breathtakingly, devastatingly masculine.As I take him in, I notice his eyes roving over me as well. His gaze is intense, almost palpable as it travels slowly down the length of my body. From the top of my head, past the modest neckline of my dress, down to the simple pumps on my feet, and
DianaMy heart races, and my body reacts in ways I'm not ready to name or acknowledge. No one has ever controlled me so gently, so calmly, dispelling my anxiety as if it were nothing more than morning mist.I can't help but wonder about him. He wasn't offended by my mistake and saw no problem with dining in this humble kitchen. He calmed me down, brought me a chair, and even served me food. Who is he? I've never seen an Alpha – or any high-ranking wolf, for that matter – act with such... is 'humility' the right word?When he finishes his salad, I quickly move to serve the main course, not wanting him to continue waiting on me. But as I do, I notice a slight furrow between his brows, as if he's displeased. My heart does a somersault in my chest.However, after the first bite of the herb-crusted lamb, his expression smooths out, brightening noticeably. Relief washes over me as I realize he enjoys the food. It had been my biggest worry.We eat in comfortable silence, the only sounds in t
DianaI watch helplessly as Dominicus begins to wash the dishes, his large hands deftly handling the delicate china. A sense of wrongness nags at me, and I can't help but make one last attempt to protest."Then at least let me help," I plead weakly."No," he replies, his tone firm but not unkind."Please?" I try again, my voice taking on a slight whine."No," he repeats, unmoved by my entreaties.I feel my lower lip jutting out in a pout before I can stop it. Then, a thought strikes me, and I decide to try a different approach."But Alpha," I say, my voice taking on a whiny tone that I don't even notice I'm using.He ignores me completely, the only response being the clacking of plates and the steady gush of water from the faucet."Alpha," I try again.Nothing."Alpha?" I repeat, my voice rising slightly.Still nothing.Suddenly, a childish impulse wells up inside me. A grin spreads across my face as I begin to drag out his title, swinging my feet playfully from my perch on the counte
DianaThe next day, I find myself in a daze. As I go about my work at the diner, I make mistakes I've never made before - mistakes that would have been unthinkable during my time serving in the pack. My mind feels foggy, unable to focus on even the simplest tasks.After the third mix-up of the day - confusing a customer's order of pancakes for waffles - I approach Ellen, ready to apologize profusely. To my surprise, she doesn't seem angry. Instead, she gives me a knowing smirk."I'm so sorry, Ellen," I begin, wringing my hands nervously. "I don't know what's wrong with me today. I promise it won't happen again."Ellen's smirk widens. "Oh, honey," she says, her voice tinged with amusement, "I know exactly what's wrong with you. You've got that look about you."I blink, confused. "What look?""That look that speaks of a man," she replies, wiggling her eyebrows suggestively, “So I’m guessing the date went well then”.Heat rushes to my face. "What? No! There's no... I mean, it's not like
Dominicus The cabin lies in ruins around me, a reflection of the chaos raging within my mind. Shards of what was once furniture litter the floor - splintered wood, torn fabric, and broken glass creating a treacherous landscape. The walls bear the marks of my fury, deep gouges and dents marring their surface. Curtains hang in tatters, swaying gently in the breeze from the shattered windows. I sit amidst this destruction, my back pressed against the only intact wall, shoulders hunched as I grip my head in my hands. What day is it? I've lost all sense of time, the hours blending into an indistinguishable blur of pain and confusion. It all makes sense now, and that realization is tearing me apart. The reason why my wolf had been unable to hurt her even during a rampage. The reason why I myself hadn't been able to, either. The fascination. The way she's constantly on my mind, why I can't seem to stay away. Why I had been so obsessed with her - breaking into her room like a creep and wat
Dominicus The forest pulses around me, a living, breathing entity. I am both part of it and apart from it, a creature of instinct and fury prowling through the undergrowth. My massive paws sink into the damp earth, leaving deep imprints that will serve as a warning to any who dare to follow. The curse that grips me has stripped away the veneer of humanity, leaving only the raw, primal essence of the wolf. My thoughts, once clear and ordered, now swirl in a maelstrom of base urges and fractured memories. The wolf's mind dominates, pushing aside the remnants of the man I once was. Yet in fleeting moments, shards of my former self pierce through the haze of bestial instinct, bringing with them a fresh wave of anguish and rage. Time has lost all meaning. Day blends into night, night into day, in an endless cycle of hunt and rest. The relentless drive to assert my dominance consumes me entirely. My powerful muscles coil and release with each step, a lethal promise of the devastation I
Diana My eyes slowly take in the room. The air shifts palpably, settling into something quieter, heavier. The earlier arrogance, the puffed-up posturing the Alphas had swaggered in with, is gone — snuffed out completely. Where there was once prideful tension, now there’s only subdued silence, a shared, unspoken understanding that the Amadeus wolves and the people affiliated with them are not to be underestimated. Around the table, shoulders lower, gazes soften or flick away, and even the boldest Alphas now sit with a touch more caution, their egos silently recalibrating in the face of hard reality. Dominicus slowly sweeps his gaze across the room — and I don’t miss the way the Alphas his eyes land on visibly flinch, their shoulders tightening. Except, of course, for Alpha Alaric. That one perks up, a grin spreading lazily across his face as he meets Dom’s gaze head-on, entirely unbothered. I can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips as I watch the brief, silent ex
Diana As Alpha Dennis sinks stiffly into his seat, his face still burning, he shoots venomous glares toward Alpha Stefan and Alpha Alaric. “I’ll remember this,” he hisses under his breath, his voice tight with fury. Alpha Stefan lets out a sneer. Alpha Alaric, on the other hand, only blinks at Dennis with wide, innocent eyes — the very picture of ‘who, me?’ — as though he has no idea what Dennis is talking about. Around the table, the other Alphas cast quick, sidelong glances at Dennis, their expressions ranging from mild pity to thinly veiled amusement. A few can’t quite hide the flicker of schadenfreude in their eyes, glad it wasn’t them on the floor. The Betas and Gammas present — sharp enough to read the room — keep their heads down, shoulders tight, doing their best to reduce their presence. Two Alphas had just been publicly humbled. No one here wants to catch the next wave of humiliation or become the target of any redirected wrath. Dominicus turns smoothly toward El
Diana At the front, Alpha Dennis narrows his eyes at Clyde. He sneers at the younger man’s expressionless face, his lips curling back. “I don’t like the look on your face,” he growls — and then he lunges. His body blurs forward, muscle and fury in motion, his fist arcing fast toward Clyde’s jaw. But Clyde moves. No — he disappears. One second, Dennis’s punch is cutting through the air; the next, Clyde has side-stepped so smoothly, so impossibly fast, it’s as if he was never there. His hand comes up, fingers curling — not into a full punch, no, but a sharp, decisive tap against Dennis’s shoulder, using the Alpha’s own momentum to shove him slightly off balance. Dennis snarls and spins, feet thudding hard against the polished floor. He throws another blow, this one a brutal hook aimed at Clyde’s ribs — —but Clyde catches his wrist mid-swing. The sound is a sharp snap of fingers tightening around bone, and Dennis’s eyes go wide as Clyde jerks his arm down and forward, s
Diana I feel the tension ripple faintly through the room again — a low, uneasy hum under the surface. Of course they’re nervous. Everyone here has heard the stories. The Amadeus warriors aren’t just strong — they’re something else entirely. For the longest time, everyone here knew them as the Council Army. And when they were the Council Army, they were revered, but as the Amadeus wolves, an element of fear is injected. They’re like a blade that has been buried for centuries finally unsheathed. When Alpha Dennis sees Clyde step forward, he warily studies the man — eyes narrowing just slightly, as if trying to assess what exactly he’s up against. Dominicus’s voice cuts smooth. “Clyde, introduce yourself — your wolf, your duties.” Without missing a beat, Clyde nods. “Yes, Alpha.” He turns calmly to face the room, his posture relaxed but sharp-edged. “My name is Clyde Faelan,” he says simply, voice steady. “I am a Gamma wolf and serve as Beta Brodik’s administrative se
DianaAlaric glances at Dominicus with a worried frown. “The present Amadeus pack used to be the Council Army, and if my information is right, then they should have only about the same headcount as my own Grimmholt pack.”His words are concerned, “It’s a fairly considerable number, but still… that is only the population of a single pack. There are even other packs with numbers higher than mine.”Dominicus gives a small nod, his face unreadable. “That’s true.”For a moment, the tension in the room seems to rise once more.“Will it really by okay? Won’t the Amadeus pack be overwhelmed?” he asks.It’s Eleanor who answers.Her soft, lilting voice fills the space. “Witches, as a whole, have never been a numerous race,” she explains quietly. “And after the war, our numbers were drastically reduced. Compared to the werewolf population, the ratio is roughly… ten to one.”A quiet murmur ripples through the room.Eleanor’s serene expression doesn’t change. “The gods maintain balance. The more p
Diana “Well then, if you’re sure, Alpha Stefan…then sit”. Dominicus’s voice cuts icy, and sharp. Stefan flinches. But then, like a death row prisoner who’s just been granted amnesty, he gives a jerky little nod, quickly dragging his chair over and dropping into it with almost comical urgency, as if afraid the offer might be snatched away if he hesitates. The two Alphas beside him shuffle back toward the table as well, their chairs rolling softly on the polished floor. Dominicus leans back slightly, his eyes cool as they sweep the room. “I believe,” he says smoothly, “that should have convinced you — all of you — just how grossly unmatched any of you would be against a dark witch. And, of course…” His gaze flicks lightly to Eleanor, who smiles pleasantly, “…that you are all sufficiently convinced of Eleanor’s competence.” A moment of strained silence — and then, the polite Alpha seated beside Stefan clears his throat. “Yes, Alpha,” he says quickly, his voice respectful but calm.
DianaEleanor’s smile is soft. Almost pleased. She lets him stew in his own sweat before she speaks.“Mmm… I think that should do.”Then, with a flick of her finger, the blade softens — the sharp crescent dissolves into formless wind, shimmering faintly as it coils around Stefan’s neck.I watch, breathless, thinking it will disappear — but instead, the condensed currents split, sliding smoothly along both sides of his throat, brushing the skin with the gentlest, most deliberate, and menacing caress, before they meet again behind his neck.There, in a heartbeat, the wind snaps back into form, reforming into a razor-fine blade.And then — faster than the eye can track — it whips across the room.CLANG.The windblade slices straight through a steel art sculpture standing by the far wall — a polished metal spiral about thirty centimeters wide — and cuts it clean in half.The halves clatter apart with a ringing sound, the edges gleaming sharp and fresh.The blade itself dissipates before i
Diana Inside, I sigh. He could’ve spared himself this trouble with a single question. One question and he would have been told that witches are masters of disguise and manipulators of perception. But no — this one has to bluster himself straight into a trap. And sure enough, Eleanor’s sweet smile only widens with every word. It’s a gentle, grandmotherly smile — the kind you’d expect from a woman who bakes cookies and knits sweaters — but the longer it lingers, the colder the air feels, until a faint, prickling thread of danger curls along my spine. Quietly, I inch a little closer to Dominicus. Eleanor’s been alive for thousands of years — and though she’s never told me exactly how old she is, one thing is certain: she isn’t the type to let this kind of disrespect slide. Finally, Eleanor tilts her head, her voice as soft as silk. “Would you like… a demonstration?” Alpha Stefan falls silent, his sneer sharpening, and makes a sweeping gesture with his arm — the smug, careless kind
Diana A low growl rumbles from Alpha Darius of the Plena Luna pack. His eyes glint with raw grief. “No. I will avenge my son. I’ll hunt down those bastards myself!” Dom’s sharp edge softens for the grieving father, though just slightly. His voice lowers, gentler, though still firm. “That won’t work, Darius. The best thing you can do — for your mate, for your pack — is live. The best thing you can do for your son is protect what’s left. If you rush out looking for a fight, you’ll only throw your life away. And that helps no one.” Alpha Darius’ eyes are red with rage and frustration. His trembling lips open and close for a moment before a strangled and pained sound is wrenched from him. Alpha Stefan however, is obviously not so easily convinced. He gives a sharp, sarcastic laugh. “You must be kidding me.” His eyes glitter with derision. “I’m not the kind of man who lets someone else decide his fate.” He sneers, gaze sweeping from me, to Dom, to Eleanor. “Especially not peopl