WITH THE ALPHA

Part 1; D syndrome

Laughter, clinking crystal, and the rich scent of roasting meats echoed through the grand hall for the annual Scarlet Black pack gala. It was a lavish celebration designed to honor the blood, sweat, and tireless labor we poured into the pack throughout the year.
Standing at the apex of the continent's hierarchy guaranteed us power, but it also painted a massive target on our backs. Constant threats meant survival wasn't optional. Every member was forged into a lethal combatant before turning eighteen, the mandatory threshold where we could finally retire from the brutal fighting programs to pursue other trades.
I, Deviana Horl, knew exactly what trade I wanted—and it started with the man at the top. Alpha Damian Black.
Hardly a day passed without him haunting my thoughts. I burned for the feel of his calloused hands tracing my body, gripping my hips, and sliding over every curve. Oh, Luna help me. I was no saint, but I wasn't the devil's servant either; I operated in the seductive middle ground. At twenty-two, I had abandoned the childish fantasy of a fate-assigned mate back when I turned nineteen. Wolves mature physically at sixteen, the golden age when the mate bond usually strikes. But as my twenties approached, waiting around for a mythical soulmate felt like a fool's errand. I was taking control of my own destiny, and I had a calculated plan to claim the male I desired.
A shift swept through the hall as Damian mounted the podium. My eyes hungrily tracked the flex of his tailored clothes, the fabric straining against his broad frame with every movement. I caught the subtle softness in his demeanor as he offered a gentle smile to the young pup handing him the microphone. He tapped the mesh, clearing his throat—a low, rumbling resonance that made it entirely too easy to picture the sounds he'd make behind closed doors.
"Good afternoon, Scarlet Black," his deep voice boomed.
Something within me violently clicked, a visceral pull that forced my feet forward, carving a path through the dense crowd toward the stage. As he spoke, his full, well-defined lips stretched into a smile, a deep dimple flashing briefly whenever a pack member shouted a compliment. His striking golden eyes swept effortlessly across the sea of faces, framed by jet-black hair left artfully messy from a fresh shower.
I smoothed my hands down my sides, ensuring the rich crimson velvet of my gown hugged my silhouette without a single crease. I tossed my head back, letting my dark brown curls bounce over my shoulders. Oh, Alpha, I thought, my dark obsidian eyes locked onto his, a dangerous smirk playing on my lips. I was, without question, breathtaking—an ethereal beauty that defied ordinary standards.
"Alpha," I purred as I drew near, keeping my tone deceptively casual.
"Deviana." His smile vanished instantly, replaced by his usual unreadable mask. "How are you enjoying the evening?"
"It was pleasant enough, but seeing you just made it exceptional," I purred, letting my gaze simmer.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth, though his shoulder dipped into a relaxed posture. "Up to no good as usual, I see. Not tonight, Deviana."
My brow furrowed, though the fire in my heavy-lidded eyes never wavered.
"Unless you want to draw unwanted attention, we've been standing together too long," he whispered coldly, snapping his golden gaze away from me and back to the crowd.
I rolled my eyes, a flash of pure irritation breaking through my composure. Why the sudden frostiness? It didn't matter. I wouldn't back down. Captivating the Alpha was my single ticket to the life of luxury and power I deserved.
As one of a set of triplets, standing out was a matter of survival. Calling us a "family" was a stretch; our father abandoned us long before we could remember, and our mother perished when we were merely seven weeks old—unable to bear the agonizing tear of a broken mate bond after he left. We were dumped into the pack orphanage. The staff named us with "D's" in a lazy homage to our mother, pulling names out of thin air just to fill out our official ID paperwork. When we turned eighteen, my sisters and I scattered to the wind in search of better lives.
As the oldest, I was Deviana, followed by Delrose, and finally Delilah—or at least, that was the birth order we agreed upon. I hadn't seen either of them since the day we left.
Whatever, I thought, brushing off the memory as the sting of Damian's rejection burned my ego. I reached toward my exposed cleavage to slip out a smuggled cigar, but froze when a familiar voice cut through the noise.
Damian's twin brother, Derick, slid into view.
"Derick, my favorite Beta," I smooth-talked, my lips curving into an alluring smile.
"Aren't I the only Beta you know?" he teased.
"Details, details."
Derick chuckled, taking my hand and lifting it to press a soft, lingering kiss to my knuckles.
"I'm flattered," I murmured, adjusting the drape of my dress with my free hand.
"How are you enjoying the night, Scarlet Queen?" he mused, reluctantly releasing my fingers.
"Oh, loving every second," I lied smoothly, rolling my eyes inwardly.
An electric silence settled between us before he extended his palm. "May I have this dance?"
Derick might only hold the rank of Beta, but his influence over the pack was immense. As the Alpha's twin and right-hand man... perhaps orchestrating a move on the brother was the fastest way to make Damian jealous.
"Your mind seems miles away," Derick noted seamlessly as he led me into a slow rhythm across the floor.
I blinked away my distraction, letting a quiet laugh escape my throat. "It is. I was just thinking about what a striking couple we'd make."
"Is that so?" he asked, expertly twirling me outward before pulling me back into his space.
"I know so."
"Let me take you somewhere quieter," he murmured, his arm wrapping firmly around my waist to yank me flush against him, my chest pressing against his ribs.
"And where would that be?" I leaned in, breathing the words directly into his ear.
"My quarters."
A slow, triumphant smile spread across my face. "Lead the way."