Reluctant Bonds - Dante and Alicia

[Dante Morales]

Months had passed since Dante Morales reclaimed his freedom, but the weight of confinement still clung to him like a shadow that refused to fade. The cold stone walls of Dreadspire Keep were far removed from the prison that had held him, but the scars ran deep. Freedom didn’t come with peace... it brought more battles to fight, more rivals to crush, and more enemies eager to exploit his absence. Dante wasn’t the kind of Alpha to ease back into power. He seized it with ruthless force, reclaiming his pack, his territory, and his dominance over Obsidian Ridge with an iron will forged in blood and fury.

Twilight bled across the jagged peaks surrounding Lycanthro Vale, the sky a deep bruise of purples and blues. Dante stood atop the ancient balcony of Dreadspire Keep, overlooking the vast wilderness that belonged to him. Below, the dark forest stretched endlessly, thick with mist and secrets older than any wolf in Valtheris could remember. His mind was restless, weighed down by the endless demands of leadership... protecting the pack’s borders, securing their dominance, and keeping the fragile balance of power in check. No one crossed into Dreadspire territory without answering to him.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, shattering the silence. Dante pulled it free, irritation already tightening his jaw when he saw the name flashing across the screen... Viktor, his Gamma.

“What is it?” Dante’s voice was low and sharp, carrying the authority of an Alpha who didn’t waste time.

“We’ve got something—or someone,” Viktor’s gravelly voice responded. There was hesitation there, a beat too long for Dante’s liking.

“Someone?”

“Caught her near the western ridge. Rogue. She’s… different. Stronger than most. Not some exiled mutt scraping for survival... she fought back hard.”

Dante’s grip tightened around the phone as his wolf, Umbra, stirred beneath the surface—a low, unsettling growl rippling through his chest. Rogues were common enough, especially near the Vale’s outer borders, but this felt different. His instincts didn’t whisper danger... they screamed it.

“Bring her to the Keep,” Dante ordered, his voice like stone grinding against stone. “I’ll deal with her myself.”

An hour later, the great hall of Dreadspire Keep echoed with the heavy tread of approaching footsteps. Viktor entered first, two enforcers flanking him, dragging a figure between them. Dante’s gaze locked on her immediately, and the second her scent hit him... wild earth, rain-soaked pine, and something unfamiliar yet devastatingly magnetic... everything inside him shifted.

Umbra roared beneath his skin, claws raking at the walls of Dante’s control with savage need. A possessive, primal instinct surged through him—a recognition he didn’t want but couldn’t deny. "Mate..." he growled out inside Dante's head. 

The rogue’s appearance told a story of survival: dirt-smudged skin, tangled hair, and clothes torn by days... maybe weeks... on the run. But what caught him wasn’t her disheveled state. It was the fire burning in her eyes, fierce and unbroken. No submission. No fear. Only defiance and exhaustion carved into every sharp line of her face.

Dante’s jaw tightened, but the unsettling pull in his chest grew stronger, coiling around him like a noose. He couldn't believe this was happening... He didn't want a mate. It was the last thing he needed. Another fucking distraction. 

“Who the hell are you?” His voice cut through the tension, cold and commanding. Yet even as the words left his mouth, his pulse thundered with a realization he refused to name.

Umbra surged again... restless, insistent, hungry.

He took a step closer, the weight of his authority pressing into the space between them. “You crossed into my territory, rogue. You’ll answer for that... by my rules.”

For the first time since returning, something beyond power clawed at Dante’s focus. This wasn’t just another trespasser, another challenge to crush beneath his boot. No... this was something far more dangerous.

And deep down, some part of him knew that no amount of strength would protect him from what came next.

[Alicia Blake]

Being rejected by one’s fated mate is never easy, but for it to happen so publicly, Alicia could never live down that humiliation, paired with the fact she had been cast out of the pack so her mate wouldn’t need to see the disgrace the Moon Goddess had chosen for him. She had thought she was well loved within her pack even if she was small she was still a skilled fighter, she had plenty of friends. But all that shattered when the Beta’s son rejected her at the pack’s annual mate ball. She was banished from the pack lands and branded with the mark of an outcast, showing that the Darkfrost pack did not see her as their own any longer.  

Alicia had been on her own for over 13 years at this point, she was no stranger to being a rogue at this point or the dangers it brought her way. She had been caught on another pack’s land and had to run before she was caught, only managing to just make it across the border. As far as she knew these lands were unclaimed, or at least no one had been keeping rogues like her off them before. 

She shifted her bag on her shoulder as she made her way through the trees. She didn’t spot the wolves until it was too late, they were fast and even her nimble frame couldn’t outrun them. Even with her small size she didn’t go down without a fight, managing to get her claws into a few of them before being taken down. Fighting against the restraints as they dragged her to Dreadspire Keep. Her wolf was pissed at being caught, but Alicia knew it was no time for Diadora to take over, not when she was so heavily outnumbered. 

She looked around the room curiously seeing they had brought many of their soldiers down to make sure she didn’t get away, she couldn’t help but smirk a little at the thought. Her hair was matted from the weeks spent in the forest, her clothes torn revealing the scars that littered her skin from the many battles she had faced since being cast out, covered by various tattoos as if to hide them from view. She wasn’t exactly ashamed of her scars but it wasn’t really something she showed off.

 But her smirk faded as a new presence came into the room the scent hitting her like a freight train, Diadora grew restless but Alicia tried to silence the beast as she heard her whisper the word she dreaded most “Mate” Diadora’s voice was clear in Alicia’s head as her eyes snapped to the imposing man in front of her. 

His booming voice shocked her, the power he commanded causing Diadora to whine softly with need, it took everything in Alicia’s power not to roll her eyes at the beast within her. She looked at the man her face cold and expressionless “My name is Alicia Blake, and as I can see you figured out I am a rogue” she looked at him calmly as if not bothered by the restraints “I was merely passing through to the next set of unclaimed lands, I meant no harm to your pack” she shifted slightly in her seat showing the mark on her shoulder “I’m not a deserter, I was exiled from my pack for a ridiculous reason, I’m just trying to survive” she felt she could trust him, tell him the truth of her past. Though a part of that knew it was due to the mate bond her wolf was insisting on, she almost laughed at the thought of it, the Moon Goddess had chosen wrong for her again, the last thing she wanted was a second chance mate.

[Dante Morales]

Dante’s gaze flickered to the scar Alicia revealed, his sharp eyes narrowing as recognition struck. That mark wasn’t just any exile’s brand. It was the symbol of the Darkfrost Pack—their way of permanently severing ties with those they cast out.

Rage coiled in his gut like a snake ready to strike. He had dealings with the Darkfrost Pack before, and none of them had ended on good terms. They were traditionalists, cruel and merciless to those they deemed unworthy. His lip curled slightly as Umbra snarled inside him, fury bleeding through the bond they shared.

“They marked her like a traitor,” Umbra growled. “A mate of mine... ours... branded like a dog and thrown away like filth.”

Dante’s fingers flexed at his sides, barely resisting the urge to clench them into fists. He inhaled slowly, forcing control over the storm raging beneath his skin. This wasn’t the time to lose himself. He couldn’t afford weakness... not now, not in front of his pack, and certainly not in front of the rogue who unknowingly turned his world on its head.

Jake shifted beside him, his Beta’s voice dropping just low enough for only Dante to hear. “I heard rumors a while back about a she-wolf from Darkfrost… Exiled after being rejected by her mate at a gathering. It spread fast. Some said she was strong... dangerous even, for a lone wolf.”

The muscle in Dante’s jaw ticked. His eyes flicked back to Alicia, studying her with a renewed intensity. If the rumors were true, then she wasn’t just any rogue... she was a cast-off from a pack that prided itself on strength. That didn’t happen often. A wolf like her, surviving for years on her own, meant she was tougher than most.

More than that… she was his.

He exhaled sharply, keeping his voice steady, commanding. “Darkfrost,” he repeated, letting the name hang between them like a blade. “That’s your pack, isn’t it?”

His gaze was unrelenting, daring her to lie. When she didn’t answer immediately, he took a slow, measured step forward, dominance radiating from him in waves. “Why were you exiled?”

“I already know,” Umbra rumbled, his presence a storm in Dante’s mind. “Her mate was a fool. A disgrace. I should rip his throat out for turning her away.”

Dante agreed... more than he wanted to admit. Rejection was one thing, but public humiliation? Exile? The Darkfrost Pack had sentenced her to die alone. And yet, she had survived.

His wolf clawed at him, demanding justice, demanding vengeance. Dante inhaled deeply, forcing his control to remain intact. He needed answers first. Needed to hear it from her lips.

His voice was calm, but there was an edge to it, sharp and unforgiving. “I don’t take kindly to rogues crossing into my lands, Alicia Blake. But your past… it interests me. If you want to leave here in one piece, you’ll tell me everything.”

Umbra bristled at the idea of letting her go. “She stays. She belongs with us... with me. You know this.”

Dante ignored him, though the truth of those words settled heavily in his chest. He didn’t want a mate. Not now. Not when his hold on power was still precarious, when enemies still lurked in the shadows, waiting for him to falter. But fate didn’t give a damn about timing.

And neither did his wolf.

His eyes locked onto Alicia’s, unreadable yet intense. “Tell me, rogue... why did your pack throw you away?”

[Alicia Blake]

Alicia heard the mumbles between the members of the pack she knew they recognised the mark. Though she had no clue the story of her exile had been spread throughout the land. She looked at him curiously as he asked her for an explanation wondering just how much of her past she should reveal.
Diadora whined in her mind “don’t let him send you away” but Alicia squashed the thought, she had no desire for a new mate not after what happened last time.
When Dante spoke the name of her old pack she shook her head slightly “not anymore, I’m sure you know they only mark the rejects” she knew the cruelty of the Darkfrost pack was famous among wolves, she wasn’t the first to be cast out for being considered weak.
Hearing his threat she let out a small laugh “it’s a ridiculous reason really, you see I was considered quite small by Darkfrost standards so from a young age I was labelled the runt, though I thought i still had friends” she shrugged a little “I was still a skilled fighter and my small size gave me in advantage over larger opponents”
She leant back in her seat lifting her bound hands slightly as she remembered growing up, training to be a warrior “Darkfrost had a tradition, once a year on the first full moon of spring they would hold a ball for the unmated, people from other packs even visited for this event, my first year there I found my mate, only he decided I was undesirable” she shrugged acting like the memory didn’t bother her as the pain of the first rejection came to the front of her mind. Her face showed a vulnerable expression as she thought of being tossed aside by her first mate “he rejected me right there in front of everyone, the following morning I was dragged before the alpha, branded a traitor and banished from the pack lands”
She looked at him wondering his reaction. She could see something behind his eyes, something she didn’t recognise. Diadora was growing agitated again “he cares, he feels empathy” she ignored the wolf’s incessant whining and looked to the alpha again.
She took a deep breathe steeling herself once more not wanting to seem weak “the boy was the son of the pack Beta which is how he was able to get me tossed out, he didn’t want the shame of everyone knowing his first mate was the runt” she looked away sighing softly “that was 13 years ago at this point, I’ve been managing alone ever since”
She knew the chances of a rogue surviving as long as she had were slim, most rogues were lucky to survive a few years without banding together forming some kind of misfit pack. But Alicia preferred her solitude, she couldn’t be hurt again if she kept away from everyone.
She raised her bindings “now if you would be so kind as to untie me, I promise not to be of any trouble unless I am attacked first” she glanced to the men that still were healing from the fight with her earlier “I don’t go looking for fights but I will defend myself” her voice was cold and uncaring as if fighting for survival was normal for her. Unfortunately it had become her normal.
She wasn’t afraid of the wolves that surrounded her, but she knew the reputation of rogues was enough to make her a threat to them, at least in their eyes. But something told her she wasn’t going to have to worry about that.

[Dante Morales]

Dante forced himself to stay still, though every muscle in his body was coiled tight, his restraint hanging by a thread. He listened to Alicia’s words, but all he could hear was injustice. The memory she spoke of played out in his mind like he had been there, watching as she was branded, cast out like she was nothing.

Umbra snarled, the sound a vicious growl in Dante’s mind. “They took what was ours and threw her away like garbage. Weak? She fought our warriors, held her own. And survived all these years alone. That’s not weakness... that’s strength.”

Dante exhaled slowly, keeping his expression unreadable. “Calm yourself.”

“I will not.” Umbra’s rage was barely contained. “She belongs here. With us. And we are going to make them bleed for what they did.”

Dante fought the surge of fury clawing its way up his throat. He hadn’t asked for a mate. He hadn’t wanted one. But fate had given him one anyway. And not just any mate... a rogue, a warrior, a survivor.

Jake shifted beside him, arms crossed, his expression unreadable. “Darkfrost,” he muttered, shaking his head. “I never liked the way they ran things. Bastards think they’re superior just because they weed out the ‘weak.’” His tone dripped with disgust. “And branding someone? That’s a death sentence for most wolves. They wanted her dead.”

Dante’s jaw clenched, his golden eyes flashing dangerously.

There it was again... her strength, that unshaken will. Even after everything, she still carried herself with confidence.

Our mate is fearless, Umbra rumbled with pride.

Dante’s nostrils flared. His patience had run razor-thin, but he kept himself composed. Barely.

With a flick of his fingers, he gave a sharp command. “Untie her.”

The warriors hesitated but obeyed, cutting her bindings loose. Dante said nothing as they worked, but his gaze lingered... measuring, calculating. There was something about the way she held herself, the way she spoke, that made a reluctant smirk tug at the corner of his lips. She had fire. She didn’t break, no matter what had been thrown at her.

"She’s strong," Umbra rumbled with pride. "Fierce. As a mate should be."

Dante didn’t respond to that. He refused to dwell on it.

“You’ll stay,” he said finally, his voice even, yet carrying the weight of an order. “Get cleaned up. Eat. Rest.” He nodded to the warriors. “Take her to the kitchen.”

As they moved to escort her, Dante’s gaze flicked to Jake and Mind-linked him. “Prepare the free living quarters on my floor.”

There was a pause before Jake’s voice came through. “On your floor? You sure about that?”

Dante shot him a look. The kind that ended further questioning.

Jake sighed but nodded, relenting. “Fine. I’ll handle it.”

Dante turned to Viktor, his Gamma. “I want everything there is to know about the Darkfrost Pack. Who their current leadership is, who stood by and let this happen. Find me names. Someone is going to pay for what they did.”

Viktor’s lips curled into a wicked smirk. “I’ll get right on it.”

As Alicia was led away, Dante stayed rooted in place, staring after her. He didn’t want a mate. But the Darkfrost Pack had just made the mistake of hurting his.

[Alicia Blake]

Alicia nodded politely as her wrists were freed, rubbing the irritated skin slightly as she eyed the group. They all looked uneasy now that she was free, all except Dante, she couldn’t pick the look on his face though she knew she couldn’t lose focus.
She was prepared to say her goodbyes when he told her she was staying, even without being a member of his pack the weight of his command hung heavy in the air “are you sure about that? Most people don’t just invite in random strays”
She couldn’t help but feel shocked by his actions, even with the mate bond trusting a rogue was risky.
Diadora was losing her mind at the thought of staying “our mate wants us close” the wolf cried in Alicia’s head.
Alicia on the other hand was less excited by this “calm yourself, this could be a trap” years on the run had left her cautious and untrusting by nature.
Alicia followed the warriors as their alpha commanded them to lead her to the kitchen. Keeping her guard up as they walked the halls of the keep. She hadn’t been with a pack for quite some time so it was going to take some getting used to.
Once they had gotten to the kitchen Alicia quietly began making herself some food feeling the other wolves watching her. She glanced over her shoulder at them “you don’t have to stare at me like that” her voice sounded frustrated but her face remained calm and expressionless not wanting to show any sign of weakness.
She didn’t acknowledge them for the rest of the time she was eating. Once she had finished her meal one of the warriors showed her to a bathroom where she could clean up, someone had even managed to find fresh clothes for her which was surprising.
Being able to take a proper shower felt like heaven, the steam of the water relaxed her aching muscles as she scrubbed the dirt from her skin before carefully detangling her matted hair.
She had spent a good hour getting herself cleaned up before wrapping herself in a towel. She wiped the fog from the mirror looking over the new cuts she had gotten from the fight with the Dreadspire warriors, none were deep enough to leave a scar, though she was sure at least a few of them would bear the marks of her claws.
As she got dressed she sensed Diadora becoming excited, rolling her eyes slightly as she guessed what that meant, he was drawing near. 
Diadora was practically bouncing with energy “mate is back, he came to us”
Alicia rolled her eyes as she stepped out of the bathroom now looking clean with her hair loose around her face, she wore leggings and a tank top that perfectly hugged her curves. Without the mud caking her features, her true beauty showed through.
She looked up at Dante as he came down the hall looking up at him. Neither of them had mentioned the bond between them but she could tell he felt it too.
She leant against the wall looking up at him “so is there a reason you are keeping me around? I was guessing best case scenario I got an escort to the edge of your turf, instead you invite me to stay?” she tried to look like she didn’t care, though she was sure there was the fear of rejection showing in her eyes.

[Dante Morales]

Dante rolled the whiskey glass between his fingers, staring at the amber liquid as if it held answers. It didn’t. Nothing about this situation made sense, and yet it was happening. She was here. His mate. A rogue. A survivor. His wolf’s incessant pacing in his mind wasn’t helping.

“She’s close,” Umbra rumbled. “We should go to her.”

Dante exhaled sharply, setting the glass down with more force than necessary. “She’s fine.”

“She is alone,” Umbra growled. “She doesn’t belong alone. She belongs with us.”

Before Dante could snap back, Jake stepped into the room, arms crossed. “It’s done. The room’s set up, fresh clothes, everything. You sure about this, boss?”

Dante shot him a look. “You questioning me now?”

Jake smirked but didn’t back down. “No, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t curious. We don’t just take in rogues, especially not ones with her history.”

Dante clenched his jaw. He didn’t owe anyone an explanation, least of all Jake. But before he could say anything, Viktor strode in, his usual cocky grin replaced with something sharper. He tossed a folder onto the desk. “Darkfrost Pack. Everything I could dig up.”

Dante flipped it open. The more he read, the tighter his grip became. The brand they’d burned into her skin. The way they’d exiled her, not as an outcast, but as a dead woman walking.

“They made an example of her,” Viktor said grimly. “Darkfrost doesn’t just exile their own... they erase them. Stripped of rank, resources, even their name in the pack’s records. She was supposed to be dead.”

Dante’s fingers clenched around the glass, and with a sharp crack, it shattered in his hand.

“Shit,” Jake muttered, stepping forward, but Dante waved him off, watching blood drip from his palm. He barely felt it. His wolf was seething.

“They will pay,” Umbra snarled. “Every last one of them.”

Dante forced himself to breathe, to push back the rage threatening to consume him. He had to be smart about this.

Without a word, he stood and left the office. He wasn’t sure where he was going until he found himself in the hall outside the guest quarters. Outside her door. His fists clenched.

“You are here,” Umbra said smugly. “Go to her.”

Before he could talk himself out of it, she stepped out, fresh from a shower. Her hair was loose, her skin free of dirt and blood, and for the first time, he saw her clearly. Strength. Beauty. But also... fear. It was subtle, barely there, but he caught it in her eyes.

Umbra pushed at him, demanding he close the distance, comfort her.

Dante didn’t move.

Instead, he crossed his arms and leaned against the opposite wall, his gaze sharp. “You don’t seem the type to rattle easy, but I see it.”

Her expression hardened, lips parting as if to argue, but he cut her off. “Don’t bother lying. I told you to stay because you’re useful. You survived on your own this long. That means you know things, things that could help me. That’s why you’re here.”

It was a lie, but a convincing one.

With the look on her face he could tell that she was studying him. But he gave nothing away. Something twisted in his chest, and he hated it.

He turned to leave but paused, glancing back. “You’re safe here.” His voice was even, controlled. “No one will hurt you again.” And with that, he walked away, ignoring the way Umbra howled in protest.

[Alicia Blake]

Alicia looked at him curiously trying to see what his plan could be. Most alphas would have thrown her out of their land at best, she didn’t even want to think of the worst case scenario. But Dante not only let her stay but commanded it. 

Part of her wondered if it was because of the mate bond they shared, but if it was why had he not mentioned it to her. 

When he mentioned her fear she tried to speak up but his tone quickly silenced her. She frowned as she listened to his words “so that’s it? You keep me because I’m useful?” she crossed her arms over her chest as she looked at him “you know the Darkfrost pack are going to hate you for this right? Could even start a war” she raised her eyebrow trying to figure out his reaction. She knew most packs had heard of the reputation the Darkfrost pack was all too proud of, and that any alpha who cared for their pack wouldn’t want to get on their bad side unless it was something important. 

Before she could see a shift in his eyes he started walking away with a promise that she was safe. She didn’t know why but a part of her believed it even with the nagging fear of being rejected in her mind. 

She began to follow him, not quite finished with the conversation “hey you can’t just walk away” she had to walk quickly to keep up with his long strides. 

She bit her lip as she stopped before he got to the end of the hallway “I know you felt it too” her voice was quiet, almost vulnerable, a far cry from the cold and uncaring tone she had mastered over the years. 

She sighed softly running a hand through her hair “if you plan to reject me just do it already” the words came out softly and scared. She hadn’t wanted another mate, but the unknown was more painful than any rejection. 

Before he could react she turned around walking back towards her room, her footsteps quick. She was no stranger to running from her problems, but usually those were actual threats, this time was different. 

As she moved away from him Diadora screamed in her mind “go back, he’s our mate he won’t hurt us” 

Alicia sighed softly “I’m a rogue, an alpha is never going to accept someone like me as their mate” 

As Alicia got to her room she quickly closed the door but didn’t bother locking it as she sat on the bed. She looked around the room that had been set up for her, clean clothes hung in the wardrobe, the bed was soft and nicely made. It was all nicer than she would have expected considering her status.

As she sat there her wolf protested complaining of her stubbornness “you should be with him, not here alone” 

Alicia rolled her eyes as the wolf’s pleas “don’t you remember what happened last time”

Diadora whined softly “this is different”

Alicia didn’t even bother responding knowing the beast would never see things the way she did. If a member of her own pack didn’t want her, why would a complete stranger?

[Dante Morales]

Dante barely made it three steps before he heard her following. His wolf stirred, satisfied, but he kept his back to her, his muscles taut. She was pushing her luck.

He stopped abruptly, turning just as she reached him. His gaze locked onto hers, cold and unyielding. "You will not speak to me in that manner again," he said, voice edged with quiet authority. "Know your place."

Umbra growled in approval, though there was something else in his presence... something less satisfied.

Dante held his stance, his expression unreadable, before finally turning away from her. He could feel her presence lingering behind him, that damn bond thrumming between them like a snare tightening around his throat.

He forced himself forward. Away. His wolf wasn’t pleased.

"She is our mate," Umbra rumbled in his mind. "And you just turned your back on her."

Dante ignored him, his hands curling into fists as he pushed down the chaos churning in his chest. The mate bond was a cruel thing. It did not care for logic. It did not care for strategy. It latched on, dug in, and refused to let go.

Umbra wasn’t wrong. He had felt it the moment their eyes met... the undeniable pull, the tether that should have sealed his fate. But he wasn’t a man who let fate decide for him.

"She complicates everything," Dante admitted, his voice low within the confines of his mind.

"She strengthens us," Umbra countered.

Dante clenched his jaw. "She is a rogue. She carries baggage. Enemies." His voice hardened. "And now they become mine."

The thought twisted in his gut. The Darkfrost Pack would not let this go unanswered. They would come for her. And when they did, it would be his problem. His war.

"You think rejecting her will make this easier?" Umbra’s growl vibrated through him. "You are not a coward. You do not run."

Dante’s steps slowed. His wolf knew exactly where to hit.

Coward.

His fingers twitched at his sides, the restraint palpable. Every second he hesitated, every second the bond strengthened, it became harder to untangle himself from it. He exhaled sharply, his body coiled with tension. He needed to make a decision.

Dante turned toward her door, the urge to follow pulling at him like a tether. Then...

"Boss." His head snapped to the side, his cold gaze landing on Viktor. The Gamma approached with purpose, a folder in his grip.

"Not now," Dante ground out, his patience razor-thin.

Viktor didn’t falter. "It’s about the Darkfrost Pack. You need to see this."

Dante stilled and Umbra snarled, restless. "Find out what he knows. Then go to her." Dante exhaled slowly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. One problem at a time he thought. 

He just wasn’t sure which one was going to ruin him first.

[Alicia Blake]

Alicia curled in the lush bed resting her head on her knees. She had no clue what she was doing here, why he was keeping her around. She thought she could handle anything, but she hadn’t been prepared for a second chance mate, especially not one who acted so cold to her yet still kept her around.

She looked out the window of her room across the vast landscape of the pack lands. She thought about running, about escaping and never looking back. But something told her it wouldn’t be that easy to leave this place.

Diadora growled softly in her mind “you can’t leave, our mate is here” 

Alicia rolled her eyes slightly “I can’t stay here, it will only cause trouble”

Even if she wanted to stay she never wanted anyone else caught in her problems. It was only a matter of time until the Darkfrost pack learnt that she had been taken in and they wouldn’t take kindly to anyone helping her. It was why she had always kept to herself not wanting anyone else to get caught up in her mess. 

She walked over to the window looking out silently “why does he keep us here?” 

Diadora let out a small whine “he is our mate, he wants us close” 

Alicia never knew what it was like to have someone who cared about her wellbeing, and Dante’s cold attitude made it hard to believe he did. But she had no other explanation for why she was being kept here and treated like a guest more than a prisoner. 

She sighed softly watching out the window for a moment before walking out of her room. She walked down the halls calmly as she moved towards the doors. She wasn’t sure what she was going to do but she needed some air to clear her head. 

As she got outside she noticed a well equipped training yard, it was empty so she thought nothing of going over there to let off some steam. 

Her movements were smooth and calculated, barely breaking a sweat as she attacked one of the practice dummies with skilled grace. It was clear she was a well trained fighter which wasn’t surprising given where she was raised. One thing she knew was she couldn’t let her skills slip after leaving. 

She heard footsteps approaching her from behind and immediately turned ready to strike. She saw one of the pack warriors watching her, she remembered them from the group that had captured her on the outskirts of their land. 

“Care to spar little rogue?” The man oozed confidence as if he thought the fight would be easy. 

A grin crossed her face as she nodded “you sure you can handle it? I might be a runt but I was raised fighting” her petite frame often caused people to underestimate her and she loved using it to her advantage. 

The two prepared to spar, circling each other as some of the warriors began to watch. Alicia dodged his first attack before easily countering him. It was only a matter of minutes before the rogue managed to pin the warrior to the ground with a small smirk on her lips. 

She stepped back before offering her hand to help him up “you rely too much on your size, it’s only an advantage until an opponent knows how to face a larger opponent, in one on one combat you need to be able to rely on skill over anything else"

[Dante Morales]

Dante leaned over his desk, hands braced on either side as he stared at the documents Viktor had laid out in front of him. Reports, scouting information, and intercepted messages from the Darkfrost Pack. His Gamma had done well in gathering intelligence, but none of it provided the answers he sought. His jaw tightened as his eyes flicked over the parchment, but his mind was elsewhere.

On her....Alicia. His mate. His curse. His temptation.

Umbra rumbled in his mind, the beast stirring restlessly. "She is strong. We should not ignore that."

"She is a distraction." Dante countered, but even he could hear the lie in his own thoughts. He couldn’t ignore her, not even if he wanted to. She had carved her way into his senses, into his instincts, embedding herself like a splinter he couldn’t remove. He clenched his jaw, trying to refocus, but then...

"Alpha." A mind-link from Jake cut through his thoughts. "You should come to the training grounds."

Dante exhaled sharply. Now what? He straightened, running a hand through his hair before responding. "What is it?"

"Your little rogue is making quite the impression." There was amusement in Jake’s tone. "She’s handling Duke better than expected. You might want to see this before it gets out of hand."

Dante didn’t reply, just turned on his heel and strode out of his office, his Gamma Viktor falling into step beside him. His pack members parted as he walked past, some dipping their heads in acknowledgment, but he barely registered them. His focus was fixed ahead, drawn forward by something he couldn’t quite name. The sight that greeted him as he stepped into the open space made his eyes narrow.

Alicia stood in the center of the training yard, breath steady, body poised, her muscles coiled with precision and skill. Duke, one of his biggest warriors, lunged at her again, determined to turn the fight in his favor. She met him head-on, moving with a sharpness and agility that held the watching crowd in rapt attention. Dante arrived just in time to see her counter his attack, shifting her weight and using Duke’s own momentum against him. A smirk played on his lips, and deep within his mind, Umbra let out a satisfied growl. "Our mate is formidable. Even Duke struggles against her."

Dante’s lips pressed into a thin line. He had to end this before Duke embarrassed himself further. But still he wanted to see how far it was going to go. There weren't many wolves who could take Duke one on one. It was why he was one of their best. 

As the fight reached its peak, Dante stood at the edge of the training yard, arms crossed as he observed Alicia’s precise movements. Just as she shifted her weight and executed a final, decisive maneuver that sent Duke crashing to the ground, a smirk played on his lips. Deep in his mind, Umbra rumbled in satisfaction. 

Dante lifted his hands and gave a slow, measured clap. The sound echoed across the yard, cutting through the hushed murmurs of the gathered wolves. The crowd stilled instantly, and Alicia turned to face him. Their eyes met, and something flickered between them... unspoken, undeniable. He forced himself to ignore it.

Beside him, Jake crossed his arms, glancing between them with an amused smirk. “Gotta admit, Alpha. She’s got some moves. Where’d a rogue like her learn to fight like that?”

Viktor, standing on Dante’s other side, scoffed. “Does it matter? She’s not one of us.”

“She could be,” Jake mused, clearly enjoying the push-and-pull between them.

Dante wasn’t in the mood for their banter. His focus was solely on Alicia. He took a slow step forward, his voice low but firm. “Follow me.”

Without waiting to see if she would obey, he turned and made his way back inside, Viktor and Jake exchanging glances before following behind. He didn’t look back, but he knew she was there. He could feel her presence, the weight of her steps, the scent of her lingering in the air.

The moment they reached his office, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. He moved to the desk, placing his hands on the wood and exhaling slowly before turning to face her. “Sit.” His voice was clipped, leaving no room for argument.

Dante studied her for a long moment, silent. His mind warred with itself, battling between reason and instinct. Between what he wanted and what he refused to accept. Finally, he spoke. “Where did you learn to fight like that?”

[Alicia Blake]

As the fight went on Alicia barely broke a sweat, her moves elegant and graceful showing a practiced precision. Diadora eagerly accepted the fight, a chance to show off their strength to outsiders.

Alicia had been so focused on the fight she didn’t even notice Dante approaching. The crowd surrounding them murmured as she managed to defeat Duke. When she heard Dante’s slow clap she lifted her head turning to face him. 

As their eyes met she felt their connection but tried her best to ignore it even if Diadora was freaking out about it.

“Our mate saw us fight, he liked it” Diadora spoke loudly in Alicia’s mind

“I doubt he is a fan of us fighting his men” Alicia’s mind raced with nerves as she tried to study his expression for any hint of how he felt. 

When he ordered her to follow she did so silently, she wondered if he was upset that she had left her room. Remembering the rules her old pack had regarding such things. She followed him to his office and sat down looking up at him. 

She followed him quickly, her steps oozing confidence as she heard others murmur about her skill when she walked passed. 

She could see a hint of amazement behind his cold stare as he asked about her skills causing her to shrug slightly “the Darkfrost pack train everyone to fight, practically from the time they can walk” she laughed a little running her hand through her hair. 

Lowering her gaze she picked at her fingers quietly “the smaller members of the pack are often trained on how to take down much larger opponents, most packs train warriors to rely on their size and strength, but with the right skills it’s easy for a smaller opponent to use your own power against you” she shrugged slightly. 

She spoke as if it was all common sense, it was no secret the darkfrost pack were all about raising soldiers. She had been through their training before, she had been top of her class even while being the smallest among them. 

She looked at him and smiled slightly “you seem surprised that I would be trained to fight? In the Darkfrost pack even our healers know how to defend themselves, I wouldn’t have survived on my own without at least some kind of fight training” 

She looked at him biting her lip gently as she tried to figure out what he was thinking “look I didn’t go searching for a fight, I was in the yard blowing off steam and he challenged me” she knew one way to start trouble with a pack was needless fighting. But she had always been stubborn and had a competitive streak so of course when someone challenges her she will accept. 

She leant back in her seat as she attempted to look like her usual confident self again “I wouldn’t risk my head by fighting someone unprovoked when you offered me safety” she looked at him a small smile playing on her lips “it would be pretty stupid of me to do something like that when I haven’t even been here a day, though what I did learn is if that’s your best fighter you need to train harder to take on the Darkfrost pack” she shrugged slightly 

She had no idea if he intended on fighting her old pack, or maybe he wanted to hand her over to them as some twisted sign of peace. But she knew that if it came to a battle strength alone wouldn’t be enough to defeat them, their skill had so far been unmatched, the only thing stopping them from causing problems is they simply don’t want to yet.

[Dante Morales]

Dante watched her, his expression unreadable as Alicia spoke, detailing her training with the Darkfrost Pack. He sat back in his chair behind a heavy, dark oak desk, the polished surface reflecting the dim light of the room. His arms crossed over his broad chest, his gaze fixed on her with a calculating sharpness. His mind absorbed every word, but his body betrayed nothing.

Umbra rumbled within him, a low growl of approval. “She is well-trained. Smart. Strong. You saw how she handled Duke.”

Dante mentally pushed back against his wolf’s prideful tone. “She’s a survivor. She had to be. That doesn’t mean we let our guard down.”

“Our mate is not weak.” Umbra pressed, his voice almost smug.

Dante exhaled through his nose, his jaw tightening as Alicia shrugged, speaking of strategy as if it were as natural as breathing. Her confidence was frustratingly attractive. She knew exactly what she was capable of and made no effort to downplay it. That alone set her apart from most wolves he encountered.

Then she bit her lip.

Dante's fingers drummed against the handle of his chair. Briefly, his eyes flickered shut as he forced himself to push back the intrusive thought of leaning forward and doing it himself. His wolf prowled at the edge of his control, whispering urges he refused to acknowledge.

When he opened his eyes again, his voice was steady, cool. “I’m not surprised,” he said flatly. “You wouldn’t have survived all these years if you didn’t know how to fight.”

A smirk ghosted over his lips, but there was no warmth in it. “As for Duke being my best fighter?” His voice took on a dry, almost mocking tone. “Not quite. One of the best, yes. But if you think he’s the strongest we have, then you’ve still got a lot to learn about my pack.”

Jake, who had been leaning against the doorframe, chuckled. “Gotta admit, though, watching Duke get his ass handed to him was entertaining.” He glanced at Alicia, grinning. “Dante trains us all himself, so consider it a compliment.”

Viktor, standing with his arms crossed beside Jake, scoffed. “Or an insult,” he countered dryly. “Depends on how you look at it.”

Dante shot them both a warning glance before turning back to Alicia. His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable edge to it. “You didn’t do anything wrong. I told you that you were safe here. That includes moving freely. But picking fights with my men, even if they challenge you first, won’t earn you any favors.” His piercing gaze locked onto hers. “Strength is respected here, but respect is earned.”

He let that settle for a moment before shifting the conversation.

“Tell me what you know about the Darkfrost Pack.”

The request was casual, almost too casual. But his eyes stayed on her, sharp and assessing, waiting for her reaction. He didn’t give away why he wanted the information. He wouldn’t. Not yet. But as he studied her, watching her process the question, he felt the familiar push and pull of conflicting instincts.

Umbra, ever watchful, stirred again. “We need to know what she knows.”

“We will.” Dante kept his expression neutral, even as the weight of her presence pressed against his control. “But that doesn’t mean I trust her.”

“Not yet,” Umbra murmured.

Dante ignored him. His focus remained solely on Alicia, waiting for the information he needed information that could shift the tides of whatever was coming.