Beta

Diane stood before the gates of Riverdales Park, the weight of her decision heavy in her chest. The air around her felt colder now, the tension thick as she approached the guards. She had been here before—before everything had gone wrong. Now, with the plug in her possession, she thought she might finally find the opening she needed to get inside. But as she reached the gates, she saw the wolves patrolling, their eyes narrowing as they noticed her approach.

Her heart skipped a beat. The memories of her last encounter with these wolves flooded her mind. She had fought valiantly, but she had been outnumbered, outmatched. Fear gripped her, but she quickly steadied herself. She had the plug. This was her chance. Her mask was securely in place, but she couldn’t allow herself to falter now.

One of the wolves, a large figure with dark fur, stepped forward, his eyes scanning her form. "What do you want, maid?" His voice was rough, as if he didn’t have much patience for her.

Diane’s breath hitched, but she forced herself to remain calm. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the maid plug, holding it up for them to see. "I need to get inside," she said, her voice steady. "I have a position here, from long ago. Please, I need to enter."

The guard took the plug from her, his fingers brushing against it with a frown. "That’s an old plug," he muttered, his tone dismissive. "You can’t work for us again with this. It’s outdated. You'll have to upgrade to a new one."

Diane felt her stomach twist. The very thing she had hoped would grant her entry was being dismissed as obsolete. She didn’t have time for this. She needed to get inside—she needed to find the Alpha, to exact her revenge. Her mind raced, but then she remembered the story the elder had told her. This plug had been her mother’s. There was a chance, a slim one, that this would work if she played her cards right.

"This… this is my mother’s plug," Diane said, her voice trembling just slightly. "Please, I can’t do this without it. I don’t have another. Please, let me in. I need to do this for her."

The guard eyed her with a calculating expression, but the other wolf standing beside him, a younger one with a smirk, stepped closer. "An old plug, huh? You know, we could help you with that," he said, his voice taking on a more suggestive tone.

Diane’s eyes snapped to him, confusion mixing with dread. "What do you mean?"

The younger wolf grinned, his eyes filled with something darker, something unsettling. "We’ll let you enter, but you’ll have to satisfy us first. You know how this works, right? It’s the price for entry."

Diane felt disgust rise in her throat, her stomach turning at his words. But she couldn’t back down now. She had no choice. She had to play along, to get inside. She nodded slowly, pretending to comply.

"I’ll do what I need to," she said, her voice cold and emotionless.

The two wolves watched her intently, their eyes gleaming with expectation. Diane took a step back, hands trembling slightly as she began to unbutton her gown. The act felt like a betrayal, but it was the only way she could think of to get inside. She couldn’t lose this opportunity.

The wolves exchanged glances, then began to strip off their own clothes, eager, believing they had won. But Diane had no intention of playing their game. She had a different plan. As soon as the wolves turned their attention to her, distracted by their own excitement, Diane’s hand shot out, grabbing the silver dagger she had hidden in her gown.

In one swift motion, she plunged the blade into the first wolf’s throat. He gurgled, his eyes wide in shock, before he crumpled to the ground. The other wolf barely had time to react before she drove the dagger into his chest. His eyes widened in disbelief as he fell, the life draining from him.

Diane stood over them, her breath ragged, her heart pounding. She quickly surveyed the area, making sure no one had seen the bloody scene unfold. The guards were far enough away, and the wolves had been careless enough to think she was just another maid. No one had noticed.

With the wolves dead, she hastily wiped the blood from her hands and moved quickly toward the gates. She had to get inside before anyone discovered what had happened.

But just as she was about to slip through the gates, the Beta appeared. His tall frame cast a long shadow across the ground, and Diane froze, her body tensing.

"What’s going on here?" the Beta’s voice was low, but commanding, as his sharp eyes took in the scene. He looked from the bodies of the wolves to Diane, his expression unreadable.

Diane felt a rush of panic. She couldn’t explain this—there was no way she could talk her way out of this. But instead of anger or suspicion, the Beta’s eyes softened slightly as he approached. He stepped past the bodies and stood before her, a strange look in his eyes.

"What happened here?" he asked again, his tone more curious than accusatory.

Diane hesitated for a moment before speaking, her voice quiet. "They were going to force me into… into something. I had to defend myself." Her words were careful, hiding the truth behind them, but the Beta seemed to understand. He didn’t press her further.

He glanced at the bodies once more, then looked back at her. "You’re lucky I was here," he said, his voice still calm. "You need to be more careful next time."

Diane’s heart was still racing, but she nodded. "Thank you," she whispered, relieved that he hadn’t punished her or caused a scene.

The Beta studied her for a moment longer before he nodded. "Come with me. I’ll take you to the maid center."

Diane followed him in silence, her mind whirling. She had made it in, but now she had to play her part. The Beta had helped her—he had spared her from being caught, but it was clear that he wasn’t entirely without interest in her.

As they walked through the gates, Diane’s mind couldn’t help but return to the truth—this was the same Beta who had stopped her during the Dark Night. The same wolf who had been a part of the force that had nearly destroyed her. The realization hit her like a cold wave.

Would he remember her? And if he did, what would happen

next?

But for now, she had to focus on what mattered: her entry into Riverdales Park. And her revenge.