Chapter 3
1492 Words
Aiden stood over her like she was some tiny insect.
Then he started clapping.
“Bravo, ma chérie. That was amazing...” He tilted his head, a cruel smile spreading across his face. “A pathetic human move, but useless in a werewolf fight. Now tell me, how long have you been fighting humans? Or shall I rephrase that? How long have you lived with them?”
Since she was ten.
She was twenty-five now.
That made fifteen years living among humans, learning everything about them and, eventually, learning how to live like them.
It had been more peaceful with humans.
“I’d rather die than be with you.”
Aiden feigned hurt, clutching his left chest like she'd just broken his heart.
“Ouch...”
The truth was, Diana didn't want to die either.
Not yet.
“Last chance, sweetie. Surrender to me, and I will reconsider taking your life very painfully.”
His eyes darkened.
He was getting annoyed.
Very annoyed.
So annoyed that whatever patience he'd had left was beginning to disappear.
Diana saw it too.
Which was why she forced herself back onto her feet.
Her legs trembled beneath her, but she refused to let him see it.
She wasn't going to give up that easily.
The amusement vanished from Aiden's face.
Her luck had officially run out.
Diana glanced toward the exit, calculating the distance between herself and the enormous metal gates of the church.
Now she understood why humans couldn't enter.
It took werewolf strength to open them.
Even if she somehow made it there, Aiden would catch her before she could get the gates open.
It was impossible.
Perhaps she should agree to his terms.
Except when she looked at him again, she saw the smugness on his face.
The promise of mischief gleamed in his eyes.
No.
She would take her chances with death.
It had been three years since she'd willingly shifted.
She wasn't even sure if her wolf remembered how to fight anymore.
Just marry him, Diana.
Her wolf's voice trembled inside her mind.
I'm not strong enough. Please. Don't shift.
The once-furious creature that had always stood beside Diana had been replaced by a terrified one.
Her voice slipped into Diana's mind like cold poison.
It weakened her resolve almost instantly.
I can't.
Diana swallowed hard.
I'm sorry. You know it will be hell if we do this. We have to fight. Or die trying.
Her wolf remained silent.
I've always protected us. Now it's your turn to protect us.
Diana felt a painful ache in her chest.
She couldn't even blame her wolf for being afraid.
She blamed herself.
If only she hadn't spent so many years among humans.
If only she'd returned to the pack sooner.
She would probably be a Gamma by now.
Maybe even a Beta.
Instead, she was standing in front of an Alpha who could kill her with his bare hands.
“f**k you, Alpha Aiden.”
The words had barely left her mouth when a deep growl shook the room.
Diana nearly pissed herself.
Aiden's growl was mind-shattering.
It didn't sound human.
It barely sounded like a werewolf.
It sounded like something ancient had awakened inside him.
His beautiful hazel eyes instantly changed.
Red.
But not ordinary red.
They burned like fire.
Hot.
Feral.
Hungry.
Terrifying.
“I warned you.”
Those were the last words Aiden spoke.
His rage consumed the rest.
He had killed his own brother without even shifting.
Diana had no idea what chance she thought she had against him.
She had brought this upon herself.
Aiden dropped to his knees.
Then onto all fours.
His clothes ripped as his body began to change.
Muscles expanded beneath his skin, growing larger and harder. His bones cracked as his body twisted, stretched, and transformed.
Dark fur erupted across his skin.
His shoulders broadened.
His claws lengthened.
His jaws stretched, revealing enormous, razor-sharp fangs.
And then he rose.
Higher.
And higher.
Until he stood nearly twice his normal height.
A giant black wolf.
His eyes burned red through the room.
Saliva dripped from his enormous fangs as he stared at Diana.
He was hungry.
Hungry for a fight.
Hungry to tear her apart.
Diana forgot how to breathe.
She forgot how to shift.
Perhaps her wolf had simply scurried into the darkest corner of her mind and decided to die there.
She would blame the poor thing later.
Even Diana took several steps backward.
What could her tiny red wolf possibly do against a monstrous Alpha like that?
“Please,” she whispered. “We need to shift. Please.”
Nothing.
Her wolf was gone.
Or too terrified to answer.
The giant black wolf growled.
All Diana could see was red.
Nothing else mattered to him anymore.
Not the pack.
Not the church.
Not even the consequences.
All he saw was a tiny insect that needed to be crushed.
He lunged.
Diana ran.
If there was one thing she knew besides wrestling and every form of MMA, it was running.
She ran for exercise normally.
She'd spent years training her body to be fast.
Strong.
Enduring.
Except now, her life depended on every single step.
The iron gates were right ahead.
So close.
She sprinted toward them as hard as she could.
Behind her came the thunderous sound of claws hitting the floor.
He was coming.
Fast.
Too fast.
Diana reached the gates.
She stretched out a hand.
Then—
Aiden leaped.
One second, he was behind her.
The next, he was standing directly in front of her.
Diana stopped so suddenly that her feet nearly slipped beneath her.
She questioned her entire life.
Her athletic abilities.
And perhaps her sanity.
Her heart dropped.
A strange smile spread across Aiden's face.
He was enjoying this.
He enjoyed watching her realize how helpless she was.
Before she could move, his hand closed around her throat.
He lifted her off the ground like she weighed nothing.
Diana gasped.
Her hands immediately flew to his wrist, desperately trying to pry his fingers loose.
Nothing.
She couldn't breathe.
Her feet kicked uselessly in the air.
Aiden's grip tightened.
Pain exploded through her neck.
She coughed, clawing at his hand as darkness began creeping into the edges of her vision.
She was losing consciousness.
Everything around her blurred.
The faces in the room became shadows.
Then came the voices.
Laughter.
Cruel, mocking laughter.
“Hahaha...”
“Little bitch...”
“She thought she could beat our Alpha...”
“Look how tiny she looks up there.”
“She thought she could be our leader.”
“So stupid...”
Diana's vision continued fading.
She wished the ground would open its mouth and swallow her whole before her lifeless body could hit the floor.
She had only tried to be brave.
To become a better leader.
To save herself.
And maybe, just maybe, save the pack.
Instead, she was being mocked while losing her life.
Her lungs burned.
Her fingers weakened.
She was sure she was about to take her last breath when—
A loud, agonizing shriek tore through the room.
Aiden's grip suddenly disappeared.
Diana dropped.
Her body slammed into the floor so hard that pain shot through every joint.
For a moment, she couldn't move.
She was sure she'd dislocated something.
Maybe even broken a few bones.
But she forced herself to breathe.
Forced her eyes open.
Something was happening.
Aiden was screaming.
He had dropped to one knee, both hands clutching his leg.
Diana stared in confusion.
Who could possibly have hurt the Alpha?
Then she turned.
And froze.
Her mother stood several feet away.
A sword trembled in her hands.
Blood covered the blade.
Blood that wasn't hers.
“Mother!?”
Diana's voice cracked.
Horror flooded through her.
Her mother had just sentenced herself to death.
“No!”
Diana scrambled toward her.
But her mother raised one bloodied finger.
She pointed toward the open gates.
“Run!”
Diana shook her head.
“No, I can't—”
Another shriek ripped through the room.
Aiden.
Diana turned toward him.
His red eyes locked onto her.
For one terrifying second, everything inside her screamed to stay.
To fight.
To save her mother.
But her mother's eyes met hers.
And Diana understood.
Run.
So she did.
She ran.
Hard.
Fast.
The iron gates were open.
She sprinted through them, tears streaming down her face as she stumbled into the night.
Every step fought against the next.
Her entire body screamed at her to turn around.
To go back.
To save her mother.
But she couldn't.
Not yet.
She had to survive first.
She had to come back stronger.
She had to come back for her.
I'm coming back for you, Mom.
Diana clenched her fists as she ran.
And if they laid a single finger on her mother...
She would kill everyone in that pack.
Every last one of them.
Including Aiden.
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