The Snow Wolf's Mate

Dinner with Devils:

[POV: Cole]

Dinner with Dayana’s parents had always been a stiff, formal affair—an exhausting tradition I tolerated out of obligation, not enjoyment. Tonight was no different.

We sat around the long polished dining table in Julius and Minerva’s manor, the place reeking of power, pride, and polished lies.

“As always,” Julius was saying, raising his glass, “we are immensely proud of our Dayana. The council was thoroughly impressed by her most recent report on pack strategy. They said it had the precision of a seasoned Alpha.”

Dayana offered a practiced smile, tilting her head slightly. “Thank you, Father.”

Minerva nodded, dabbing her mouth with her napkin even though she hadn’t taken a single bite.

“We expect nothing less, of course. You’ve always been the one meant to lead. And soon, with the mating ceremony—”

I tuned them out for a moment, eyes drifting to my barely-touched plate.

The words blurred into a dull hum. I knew this script by now—how flawless Dayana was, how honored I should be to stand beside her. As if I hadn’t heard it all a hundred times before.

Then Julius turned to me, his sharp gaze piercing.

“And Cole,” he said, tone shifting from indulgent to conspiratorial. “We’ve heard some wonderful news.”

I looked up slowly, a warning already flaring in my gut. Julius smiled.

“That you’ve found our ungrateful older daughter. Aria.”

My stomach dropped. The world tilted.

“She’s still alive,” he went on, as if I’d delivered the news myself. “And you’ve been making excellent progress in… what did Dayana call it? Softening her. Earning her trust. Preparing to bring her back where she truly belongs.”

The room spun. My fingers tightened around my fork, jaw locked in stunned silence.

I hadn’t said a word to them. Not about the meeting. Not about the clearing. Not about Aria. And I sure as hell wasn’t “preparing” to bring her back.

This was Dayana. Her twisting hands all over the truth. Bending it until it served her, until it made her look like the perfect daughter again—seamlessly orchestrating the family reunion.

My pulse thundered in my ears, but I forced myself to remain still. Controlled. Calculated.

Minerva leaned forward now, her expression sharp with interest. “Where exactly did you spot her?” she asked. “And when do you think you’ll be able to bring her home?”

Home. The word felt like bile in my throat. They had no idea what they were asking.

They hadn’t seen Aria after she ran. Hadn’t seen the way her shoulders hunched under years of their abuse, or the fire that burned behind her eyes now that she was free.

Free of them. Free of this. And they wanted to drag her back into it like she was some stray they could collar.

I wanted to scream. But I didn’t.

Instead, I forced myself to smile. “It’s complicated.”

Julius raised an eyebrow. “How so?”

I took a sip of wine to give myself a few seconds.

“She’s… not alone,” I said slowly. “She’s part of a new pack now. Crimson Fang.”

That silenced them. For a beat, neither parent spoke. Dayana’s lips twitched just slightly—no doubt delighted to see the shock ripple across their perfect dinner.

Minerva recovered first. “Well, of course she would go crawling to someone else. She always needed others to fight her battles for her.”

“A temporary alliance.” Julius grunted. “Nothing more. You’ll get her out, I’m sure of it. Bring her back before she gets too comfortable.”

I set my glass down harder than intended.

“I don’t think you understand,” I said quietly. “She’s not being held there. She chose it.”

Julius waved a dismissive hand. “She doesn’t know what she’s doing.”

“She does,” I said, sharper now.

Minerva frowned. “And what exactly has she been doing in this pack of hers?”

Winning. Shifting. Becoming something more than they ever let her believe she could be.

“She’s training,” I said instead. “She’s earned a place. A respected one.”

Julius scoffed. “And you still think she’s better off out there than with her family?”

“I didn’t say that,” I lied.

Dayana finally spoke, her voice light and sweet as poisoned wine. “You did say she was confused, though, didn’t you, Cole? That she’s scared. That she still doesn’t belong.”

I stared at her. “Did I?”

She tilted her head. “Didn’t you?”

The silence stretched. My thoughts raced. I had to lie.

If I told them the truth now—that I wasn’t going to bring Aria back, that I would protect her from them—everything would crumble.

My position. My access. My chance to shield her from whatever Dayana and her parents were scheming.

So I said nothing. I nodded once, neutral. Let them interpret it however they wanted.