: dinner with the devil

"You should be more careful" Tasha reprimanded as she used a Cotten pad to wipe the blood off my chin. The wound had healed but she insisted on cleaning me up to look presentable for dinner. I don't know why she made such a fuss about it. It's just dinner.

I heard soft footsteps approaching and braced myself up for drama. My mother walked into the bathroom, her hands folded on her chest with a scowl on her face. She looked the same, her red hair tied up in her signature slick bun, her 5'9 frame standing tall, menacing.

We locked eyes and I could see her disapproval. Nothing has changed.

"Still incompetent I see"

Still a bitch I see

"Mother."

I couldn't bring myself to say anything else. What could I say ? Good to see you ? It wasn't good to see her. Seeing her brought back memories, memories I've spent the last four years trying to bury. Memories of her sneering down at me after beating me to a pulp.

She lifted her chin, looking down at me with those judgmental, holier-than-thou eyes, the same ones she used to look at my report card like it personally offended her.

"Talia", her eyes swept my frame "you look well."

A compliment? That's unusual

"Come down for dinner" she ordered. Her eyes drifted to Tasha and I could see it soften "and you too"

With that, she turned around and walked away. It has always been that way. I was the terrible daughter and Tasha the perfect one. I sighed and followed after her, Tasha close behind me

The table was indeed filled with my favorite dishes. A large, steaming dish of baked ziti sat in the center, the top layer of cheese perfectly golden and bubbling. The smell hit me like a wave, tomato sauce, garlic, basil, and melted mozzarella, warm and familiar, almost comforting.

Beside it, a basket of garlic bread wrapped in a clean towel to keep it warm. The scent of butter and roasted garlic made my stomach growl, loudly enough that Tasha heard it and smiled softly.

I was basically drooling at the sight before me.

Even the Caesar salad was perfect, crispy romaine, shaved parmesan, crunchy croutons, and just enough dressing. I found it hard to believe my mother had done all this for me. It was most definitely Tasha’s doing.

“Still not acting like a proper lady I see”

Again with the judgment. I gritted my teeth, trying to keep the peace for my sister’s sake. I sat down and dug in immediately, not caring about my mother’s opinion. She’d judge me anyway, might as well make it worth her while.

“Is this the culture of the peasants you associate yourself with?”

She asked, making reference to the people from school.

“Yeah. We act like people. Not robots with no real personality”

“It is expected of us to act our best. We are royalty !”

I snorted. Royalty my foot. My mother considered herself royalty because she married into power. My father, the Beta of the Crimson Pack, our pack. She’d been outraged after he died and the title was passed on to another candidate due to the lack of a male heir to inherit it. The resentment had turned her into… whatever she is.

I continued eating, completely ignoring her.

“You’ve gained weight”

“Mother !” Tasha reprimanded, her eyes wide with shock. “Don’t do this”

I wasn’t surprised, I expected this. She’d do everything in her power to piss me off. It was her favorite sport.

“I’m only stating the obvious”

“Yes mother. I have. I’m starting to look a lot like you now”

Her nostrils flared, her eyes widening in anger. She took her looks seriously and I had directly attacked her, insinuating that she was fat.

Her grip on the fork she was holding tightened, knuckles white.

“What did you say ?” She asked through gritted teeth. It was amusing to see her so riled up. I had two options, repeat myself and damn the consequences or back down for the sake of Tasha.

I glanced at my sister, her eyes already trained on me, pleading. I picked up my fork, forcing a piece of bread into my mouth, an obvious surrender.

My mother got the message, going back to her food in satisfaction.

“Hope you’re ready for tomorrow” she glared at me “you’ll both be representing our family. You must look your best and act it”

I rolled my eyes internally.

“We must make a good impression on the new Alpha, Alpha Cassian.”

I froze at the mention of that name, completely losing my appetite.

Tomorrow is the day I’ve dreaded the most, the day I see him again, the boy that made my life miserable.

I couldn’t wait.

: ball

I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My wavy red hair was pinned up, with a few loose strands framing my heart-shaped face. Pale skin, dusted with tiny freckles, glowed softly under the warm bathroom light.

The off-shoulder gown I wore was a deep, rich green that mirrored the colour of my eyes. Intricate vine embroidery adorned the bodice, which hugged my figure before flaring into a full, flowing skirt that brushed the floor like a forest breeze.

"You look breathtaking," Tasha complimented the moment I stepped into view at the top of the staircase. She looked up at me, smiling. My mum stood beside her, that same disapproval glowing bright in her blue eyes.

"You need to cut down on the calories," my mum commented, her eyes raking over me in judgement.

I completely ignored her, grabbed my sister's hand, and led her out. My mother, being the queen of drama and luxury, had rented a limo. It was long and black, sleek and shiny under the bright porch light. My heart thudded. I didn't realise it before, but I missed the luxury associated with being home. Being descendants and of the former Beta, we were wealthy, our wealth almost competing with that of the Alphas. 'Almost' being the keyword, though truthfully, that was stretching it. The Alpha is a billionaire, and his delinquent son is about to inherit both the wealth and the title. I scoffed.

I could feel it, the moment the limo entered the Alpha's territory. The aura was palpable, and the view, trees lined the driveway, tall and ancient, their branches forming a kind of natural archway as if even nature knew whose territory this was.

I had never been here, not even when Alpha Black had summoned me to his office. That had been at the pack house.

So I was amazed by the sheer luxury of the house mansion. My breath caught.

Calling it a mansion felt... disrespectful. This wasn't a house. It was a statement. A fortress disguised in modern architecture. All glass and stone, it stretched wide and tall, the lights spilling out like golden rivers across the perfectly landscaped lawn. I could see the guard wolves already, stationed by the marble steps, dressed in black and barely blinking. Pack members stretched out their invitations, all clad in beautiful ball gowns and suits.

I leaned forward slightly, as if getting closer to the tinted window would make the excess feel more real.

"Is that a waterfall... inside the wall?" Tasha asked, her amazement mirroring mine.

Yep. It was. An actual indoor waterfall, glittering behind the floor-to-ceiling glass like some high-end art installation. Of course, the Alpha had one of those. Why have modesty when you can have moving water cascading behind your wine cellar?

The limo slowed, purring to a stop in front of the driveway. The ground beneath the wheels shimmered, imported black stone, polished so finely it mirrored the stars.

I swallowed. Hard.

Okay... so maybe I underestimated just how rich and wealthy could be.

Everything about this place screamed legacy, power, perfection. No cracks. No weak points. Just dominance, beautifully manicured.

The chauffeur opened the door and we got out, my mother going straight to the entrance, head held high like she owned the place. We followed after her, trying not to gawk and embarrass my mother. The guards let us in without checking our invitation. We are, after all, family of the late Beta.

The grand ballroom looked like it had been pulled straight from a dream, or a royal fantasy sponsored by a limitless bank account.

Massive crystal chandeliers hung from the vaulted ceiling like frozen stars, casting fractured light across the polished marble floor. The walls were covered in silver-leaf paneling, with intricate carvings of wolves mid-howl, battles frozen in time, and ancient pack symbols etched into the gold trim. It was both beautiful and intimidating, a reminder that even in glamour, this place belonged to predators.

A string quartet played softly near the far end of the room, their instruments gleaming under the lights. The music was elegant and haunting, filling the space with the kind of quiet power that didn't need to announce itself.

Everywhere I looked, there were wolves dressed to the nines. Floor-length gowns shimmered like waterfalls. Suits were custom-tailored. Laughter echoed in the air, but it was refined and practiced. Nothing here was casual. Even the joy felt expensive.

And at the centre of it all was the Alpha's crest, a massive silver emblem embedded into the floor, right beneath the chandelier's glow. You couldn't walk into the room without stepping on it, which I doubted was an accident. It was a statement: you are always under his rule, even when you dance.

Tasha tugged at my arm, breathless. "This is insane," she whispered.

I nodded, eyes scanning the room. She was right.

This wasn't just a party. This was politics wrapped in velvet. War dressed in silk.

And I was back in it whether I liked it or not.

: Alpha

The ball was at full swing, everyone dancing and drinking, overjoyed by the crowning of a new alpha. I stood to the corner, just watching. My mother was somewhere in the crowd, flaunting her favourite daughter to everyone.

My eyes swept the crowd, searching for something to entertain me when I spotted her. Kira Martin. One of Cassian’s friends. She’d helped him make my life a living hell. I watched her, hatred and anger brewing in my chest as she laughed, throwing her head back. Happy little Kira. No one knew what a little bitch she was. I scoffed and looked away, my gaze landing on the Alpha, Alpha Black. As he took long, powerful strides towards the pulpit, his black suit tailored to perfection, hugging his frame elegantly, his black hair slicked back. He looked every bit of a powerful alpha.

“Can I have everyone’s attention?” He called out, clinking his glass with his ring. The chatter died down, everyone turning to face him.

It was time.

I straightened, glancing around in search of him, Cassian. I was curious to see what he’d look like after four years.

“We are gathered here today to witness the swearing in of a new alpha and,” he made a dramatic pause, “I’ll be stepping down as CEO of Silverhowl Legacy Group and officially passing on the title to my only son, the rightful heir, Cassian.” Everyone clapped, seemingly excited. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes.

“Also,” he continued, to the surprise of everyone. The crowd exchanged confused looks, caught off guard. What was he going to announce? What other motive could they possibly have? A chill went down my spine, alert. I could feel it, whatever he was about to say wouldn’t be good. I glanced around, in search of my sister, but she was nowhere to be found, probably hidden somewhere in the crowd. I glanced at Kira, checking her reaction, to see if she knew about the next announcement.

“We would be announcing a new Luna.”

The hall went silent for a moment. Then whispers. The crowd exchanged glances, whispering loudly. Kira looked shocked, texting aggressively on her phone. I guess she wasn’t as close to the Alpha family as she used to be.

A Luna ? When did he meet his mate? Or… were they going to pick a mate for him ? I swallowed at the thought of that. It was against the moon goddess’s will to pick a mate. It wasn’t uncommon in the werewolf world, but it was banned in our pack due to the events that transpired the last time. The pack had witnessed great calamity, and it had taken a huge sacrifice to resolve it. A sacrifice that left me fatherless. I clenched my fist, angered by the thought.

“Please welcome,” he spoke, drawing my attention. My breath caught the moment I spotted him, walking towards his father in long, purposeful strides. His suit was an onyx black, hugging his frame elegantly. His black, curly hair sat atop his head, cropped at the sides and long at the top. My hands itched to touch it.

“My son,” he got to his father, smiling warmly at him. That smile that used to make me angry and excited at the same time. “The new Alpha and CEO,” he turned to face the crowd, standing tall at 6’2, smiling coldly into the crowd. A stark contrast from what he gave his dad. He was always so cold to everyone except his family and close friends. But he had been exceptionally cruel to me. His gaze swept the crowd, searching.

My breathing increased. His eyes moved steadily, sweeping every face. He had a mission. I glanced at Kira and found her already watching me, hatred blazing in her blue eyes.

“Alpha Cassian”

Our eyes locked. His sharp hazel eyes pulled me in, making me unable to move. His eyes were narrow, his jaws chiseled like they were crafted by the moon goddess herself. He had a faint hint of beard framing his pink lips. He looked different, manly. He was no longer the boy from school that bullied me. He was now the Alpha and CEO of a multibillion company. He wore that same blank expression that haunted my dreams. His eyes narrowed even more at me than his lips curved upwards, a slow, sinister smile gracing his face.

I took a step back, completely caught off guard by the way my heart started to race and the one word my wolf howled in my head repeatedly. It was faint at first till the volume increased and it became deafening, drowning out every sound in the room.

MATE

Oh goddess, no.