"Hey, Sable—did you send the money to Mom?" Daciana said, her voice low as she hit the video call button on her phone.
She paced Rodrigo's room, still in his shirt, the fabric soft against her skin but way too big, hitting her mid-thigh like a mini-dress. Her head throbbed from the hangover, but she ignored it. Lily came first.
Sable's face popped up on the screen, her room messy in the background. "Yeah, I did. First thing this morning. Your mom texted me back—said it covers the appointment and a little extra. Lily's gonna be okay for now."
Daciana let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. "Good. Thank you. I owe you."
Sable leaned closer to the camera, squinting. "Wait—whose shirt is that? It's huge on you. And why do you look like you just rolled out of a guy's bed? Oh my God, Dacy—did you fuck them all last night? I thought you were joking about that 'anything' stuff!"
Daciana's face heated up. She glanced at herself in the mirror—cheeks flushed, hair a wild mess, lips still a little swollen from whatever happened in that club.
"No! I didn't... we didn't... shut up, Sable. It's Rodrigo's shirt. He changed me out of that outfit because I was too drunk to do it myself."
Sable's eyes went wide, then she burst out laughing. "Rodrigo Westmont changed your clothes? Like, he saw you naked? Girl, your face is red as hell. Spill! Were their dicks big? Did they claim you? Come on, details!"
"Sable!" Daciana hissed, but she couldn't help a small laugh. It felt good to talk normal, even if everything was falling apart.
"No, nothing happened. They didn't take advantage. Which... surprised me. They think I'm just some harmless girl. No brain, just empty-headed fun. I guess."
Sable grinned. "But seriously, how was it? Those Westmont alphas are hot as lava. I've never been that close to them—last night felt like a fantasy. The hottest werewolves in the region. How do you cope with sharing space with such sexy hitmen?"
Daciana rolled her eyes. "I cope by remembering what they did to Lily. But yeah... they're hard to ignore." She paused, her voice dropping. "How's Jayden? You said he was upset."
Sable's smile faded a bit. "He was pissed. Paced all night. Which is rich coming from the guy who called you boring last month in front of Violet. Remember that? You laughed it off. I didn't."
Daciana goes quiet.
"He's never boring when it's about you though," Sable says. "Funny how that works."
Daciana felt a pang in her chest. I hate that he looked at me like that last night. But Lily comes first. Always. "Yeah, weird. He's probably just being protective. Tell him I'm fine, okay?"
Sable nodded. "Will do. But hey—are you wearing that shirt to class today? You look hot in it. I'd complain less if all my hangovers came with alpha wardrobes."
Daciana snorted. "No way. Hold on—I'm gonna look around the room while I have time. Keep talking, distract me if anyone comes. Stay on the call. I need eyes."
"Eyes on what—are you searching his room?"
"No."
"You're absolutely searching his room.
She set the phone on the dresser, propped up so Sable could see, and started rummaging. Drawers first—socks, watches, nothing useful. Then a side table: a bottle of pills. She picked it up, reading the label. Painkillers, antidepressants, sleep aids—a whole mix.
"Was he sick?" she muttered. "No—stop. Don't feel sorry for him. He's part of the family that killed kids like Lily." She shoved it back, hating the tiny flicker of pity. She needed hate, not sympathy.
Sable's voice came through the phone. "What'd you find? Drugs? Ooh, is Rodrigo popping pills? Spill!"
"Nothing important," Daciana said, moving to the desk. Laptop. She flipped it open—locked. Password screen.
She tried his birthday. Incorrect.
His mother's name. Incorrect.
The pack founding date she'd memorized from research. Incorrect.
Sable laughed. "Try something dumb. Like 12345."
Daciana typed it. The screen unlocked. "Holy shit—it worked. Who uses that?"
Sable cracked up. "Told you! Dumb alphas."
They both stared at the screen.
"The most powerful alpha family in the region," Sable said slowly. "Password is 12345."
"He's so confident nobody gets close enough to try."
"Until you."
"Until me." She was already moving through his files. Everything encrypted. Folder after folder of nothing she could open. "Come on come on come on—"
"What are you looking for specifically."
"Anything. Evidence. Files. Communication about the contamination—" She stopped.
A browser tab still open from the night before.
Westmont Alpha Training Portal. Members only. She'd been trying to get into this program for months. Had applied three times and been rejected three times.
She was looking at the backend.
Logged in as Rodrigo Westmont. Full administrative access.
"Oh my god," she breathed.
"What," Sable said. "What is it. Dacy. WHAT."
"The alpha training portal." Her hands were already moving. "He's logged in. I have admin access."
"What does that mean."
"It means—" She found the candidate list. Shortlisted. Thirty names. All male. All from major packs. She scrolled to the bottom. An add candidate field.
She thought for exactly four seconds.
Then she added her name to the shortlist: "Alex Reed"—fake male disguise. Rodrigo was the trainer; he'd see her eventually, but by then she'd be in.
She smiled. "Getting close to the Westmonts already has perks. Soon I'll have revenge and enough money for the best doctors in the world for Lily."
Application pending.
Then approved — because she was submitting from admin access.
Just like that.
She was in.
She stared at the "Approved" status. Her heart pounded hard. She was in. One step closer to becoming strong enough to end them.
"Sable," she said. "I'm in the alpha training program."
Sable whistled. "Damn, girl. You're a genius. But how do you plan to sneak into training as a guy?"
"Disguise. I'll figure it out.It was always the plan. I just found the door." She stood up. Looked around the room. "I need to get dressed before he comes back."
Daciana moved to the wardrobe next—suits, shirts, then... female outfits. Dresses, heels. "He has women's clothes? Must be his fiancée's. Damn, she has good taste—better than mine."
Sable leaned in. "Try one on! Show me your butt in that dress."
Noise outside—voices, footsteps, commotion. Daciana froze. "Shit—something's happening out there."
Sable's eyes widened. "Be careful. Call me later—don't die!"
Daciana hung up, stuffed the phone in her purse. In the wardrobe, she spotted a stack of cash—$5k .
She stood there with five thousand dollars in her hands and thought about Lily's doctor. The specialist who'd said he could slow the progression if they could get Lily there.. Three hundred thousand total for the full treatment.
Five thousand wasn't three hundred thousand.
But it was a start.
She grabbed it. "They don't deserve it. Payment for what they did to Lily." Hid it fast in her purse.
The door burst open. A woman with bright clown makeup—wait, no overdone face paint?—rushed in. "There you are! The bride! Oh, you look gorgeous!
"SHE'S HERE. GIRLS SHE'S HERE." She grabbed Daciana's hands. Both of them. "We thought you weren't coming until Thursday darling we are DELIGHTED—"
"I think there's been a—"
"Your hair. Oh your HAIR. We were told black but this red is STUNNING we are keeping this — GIRLS COME SEE—"
Three more women appeared from nowhere all in the same aggressive color palette all talking simultaneously.
"She's gorgeous—"
"Much taller than the profile said—"
"The dress is perfect—"
"Wait she's already in one of her dresses—"
"Impeccable instincts—
Daciana blinked. "Wait—what? I'm not—"
But the woman grabbed her arm, twirling her. "Perfect! The preparations start now!"
More planners flooded in—bright colors, clipboards, excited chatter. "The compatibility testing begins this morning! We were so sad when we heard you couldn't make it today—now imagine our delight!"
Daciana tried to pull back. "No, you have the wrong—"
"Come come come—" Someone had her arm…No delays! The wedding's in a week—testing must start today. Seven days exactly, no pushing to next week!"
"Seven Days! "
"and the goddess ritual takes three sessions minimum—"
"Three sessions—"
"Non-negotiable darling. The pack requires it. Seven days exactly between the first ritual and the ceremony or the bond doesn't set properly."
They dragged her out, twirling her like a doll. "What are you doing in Rodrigo's room so early? Naughty bride!"
Daciana's heart raced. How do I explain this? If I say I'm not the bride, they'll know I'm sneaking around. "Uh... surprise visit?"
They pushed her into another room—dim, heavy with incense. The smell hit her like a wave: thick, sweet, like sex and heat. Her skin tingled, warmth pooling low in her belly. What is this?
"Goddess wolves," the clipboard woman said, already backing out. "They'll prepare you for your groom. Don't be nervous darling — everyone passes. It's just a formality."
Four women waited inside—young, stunning, completely naked. Goddess-level beautiful, bodies glowing under soft lights. They smiled, eyes hungry.
"The bride is here," one said, voice silky. "We test every heir couple to make sure you can produce enough pups for the pack. If you pass, the pack thrives. Fail... well, we all know what happens to weak matches."
Daciana's mouth went dry. "Test? What kind—"
The incense burned stronger, filling her lungs. Heat spread through her—horny, needy, her wolf stirring. No suppressants again. Fuck, this stuff is an aphrodisiac.
The women—the sex guides—started touching themselves.
One ran fingers down her breasts, pinching nipples, moaning softly. Another spread her legs, circling her clit slow and deliberate.
The third licked her lips, hand dipping between her thighs. The fourth arched back, gasping as she teased herself.
Daciana's thighs clenched. This is bad. My body's on fire. I hate this... but it feels so good. Sweat beaded on her skin.
The door opened. Rodrigo walked in, eyes widening. "What the—"
"The groom is here!" a guide said. "Let the testing begin!"
Daciana stared at him. "What is this?"
Rodrigo's nostrils flared—he scented the air, the incense hitting him too. His eyes darkened, wolf rising. "They must have mistaken you for my bride."
"What can we do?" she whispered, voice breathy from the heat. Her core ached, nipples hard against the dress. "We could explain—"
"To who." His voice was rough at the edges. "They've already started it. If we stop now it goes in the record as not compatible. That affects my marriage contract."
"So we're—
"We don't have a choice." He crossed the room. Stopped in front of her. His eyes were darker than usual and she knew why and her wolf knew why and the four goddess wolves definitely knew why. "Besides."
His hand came up to her collar. First button.
"You offered me everything," he said quietly. "Yesterday. Remember."
Second button.
"I'm collecting."
He looked at the table. Then at her.
"Lie down."
Her wolf howled mate. No—never. No—never. I hate him. I hate all of them. But God, my body doesn't care.