Plot Summary
Empire's Morning Temptations
Shayne, Empress of the Moretti mafia, wakes to the pulse of desire and the ever-present threat of violence. Her morning is a blend of sensuality and power, as her lovers—Roman, Levi, and Marcus DeAngelis—remind her of the pleasures and burdens of ruling. Their intimacy is fierce, but so is the world outside their bedroom. Shayne's adopted son, Sebastian, is the heart of her world, and the family's legacy is both shield and target. The morning's passion is interrupted by reminders of their dangerous lives, setting the tone for a day where love, power, and violence are inseparable.
Family Lessons and Loyalties
The household is a chaotic blend of affection and lethal training. Sebastian, only five, is already learning the art of survival from his uncles, wielding daggers and absorbing lessons on violence as naturally as breathing. Shayne's maternal instincts clash with the reality of their world, but she knows her son must be strong. The family's unity is palpable, with each member fiercely protective of one another. Even mundane tasks—like finding a nanny—are fraught with tension, as outsiders struggle to understand or survive the DeAngelis-Moretti household. The morning's laughter is shadowed by the ever-present threat of enemies circling their empire.
Dragoni's Deadly Challenge
The Dragoni Family, young and ambitious, makes a direct move against the DeAngelis-Moretti empire. Surveillance footage reveals the brutal murder of their dealers and theft of their product, a brazen act that signals open war. Shayne and her men are incensed, recognizing the Dragoni's actions as a challenge to their dominance. The threat is personal, not just business, and the family's response is swift and merciless. The Dragoni's audacity is met with a promise: any attack on the family will be answered with overwhelming force. The stage is set for a violent reckoning.
Blood on Sacred Ground
The family's intimacy is interrupted by the intrusion of an outsider—Sebastian's nanny, Chelle—who witnesses their unconventional love and responds with horror. Her judgment and religious fervor are met with lethal indifference; she is swiftly and brutally dispatched. The family's home, a sanctuary of love and violence, is stained with blood yet again. Even in the aftermath, the DeAngelis brothers and Shayne find humor and passion, their bond unshaken by the chaos. The episode underscores the impossibility of normalcy in their world, where even domestic life is a battleground.
Kidnapped: The War Begins
A call from Sebastian's school shatters the family's world: armed men have stormed the classroom, killed his teacher, and abducted their son. The Dragoni family's attack is no longer abstract—it is a direct assault on Shayne's heart. The family's response is immediate and ruthless. Grief, rage, and fear fuel their determination as they mobilize their army and prepare for war. The kidnapping is not just a power play; it is a declaration that no one is safe, not even children. The DeAngelis-Moretti family's unity is tested as they confront their worst nightmare.
Gathering the Wolves
Shayne, Roman, Levi, and Marcus gather their forces, calling in every ally and resource. Agent Zeke Davidson, a federal contact with a complicated history, is drawn into their orbit, providing intelligence on the Dragoni family. The family's home becomes a war room, filled with blueprints, weapons, and grim resolve. The plan is clear: infiltrate the Dragoni stronghold, rescue Sebastian, and annihilate their enemies. The emotional stakes are sky-high, with each member of the family willing to risk everything. The wolves—both literal and metaphorical—are unleashed, ready to tear apart anyone who stands in their way.
Infiltration and New Allies
The DeAngelis-Moretti team, accompanied by their loyal wolves Dill and Doe, stealthily breach the Dragoni estate. The property is heavily guarded, but the family's skill and ruthlessness give them the edge. Along the way, they encounter a formidable guard who, after a tense fight, is offered a place in their ranks—demonstrating the family's pragmatism and respect for strength. The infiltration is a dance of violence and strategy, with each member playing a crucial role. The search for Sebastian is desperate and methodical, every second increasing the risk to his life.
A Child Among Monsters
Inside the Dragoni estate, Sebastian faces his captors with a bravery beyond his years. He protects a terrified classmate, attempts to fight back with a hidden knife, and endures threats with the stoicism taught by his family. The narrative shifts to his perspective, highlighting the psychological toll of violence on a child raised in a world of power and blood. His actions are a testament to the family's training and love, but also a sobering reminder of the cost of their legacy. The tension mounts as his parents close in, racing against time.
The Rescue and the Bloodbath
The final assault on the Dragoni stronghold is a symphony of violence. Shayne and her men carve a path through guards and rivals, their fury unstoppable. In a climactic confrontation, Sebastian seizes a moment to wound his captor, and the family's wolves finish the job. The Dragoni leadership is slaughtered, their empire shattered. Amidst the carnage, Shayne rescues her son, and the family is reunited. The cost is high—blood, trauma, and the loss of innocence—but their bond is unbreakable. The rescue is both a victory and a reckoning.
A New Daughter's Cry
In the chaos of the rescue, Shayne and Marcus encounter a dying pregnant woman—one of the Dragoni's own. In a moment of compassion and necessity, they deliver her baby, a girl, and claim her as their own. The act is both redemptive and symbolic: from the ashes of violence, new life emerges. The family expands, their love and responsibility deepening. The baby, later named Snow, becomes a symbol of hope and renewal, even as the family grapples with the trauma of the day. The juxtaposition of birth and death underscores the complexity of their world.
Vengeance and Reunion
With Sebastian and Snow safe, the family exacts final vengeance on the Dragoni remnants. The violence is cathartic, a necessary purge to reclaim their sense of security. Back home, the family tends to their wounds—physical and emotional. The trauma of Sebastian's abduction lingers, but the family's love is a balm. Each member reaffirms their commitment to one another, finding solace in shared strength. The events have changed them, but not broken them. The reunion is bittersweet, marked by both relief and the scars of battle.
Naming Snow, Healing Wounds
As the family settles into a new normal, Shayne and Marcus name their adopted daughter Snow, inspired by her purity and the sense of peace she brings. The act of naming is an assertion of hope, a claim to a future beyond violence. The family reflects on the choices they've made—the lives taken, the love shared, the children raised in a world of danger. Healing is slow, but possible. The nursery becomes a sanctuary, a place where the cycle of violence is momentarily broken by the promise of new life.
Nightfall: Love and Survival
As night falls, the family seeks comfort in one another. Their love is raw, unapologetic, and deeply entwined with their survival. The trauma of the day is processed through intimacy—sex as both escape and affirmation of life. Each member finds solace in touch, in the reassurance that they are still together. The boundaries between pleasure and pain, love and violence, are blurred but never broken. The night is a testament to their resilience, a celebration of survival in a world that seeks to destroy them.
Promises of Tomorrow
In the aftermath, the family looks to the future with cautious optimism. The scars of the past remain, but so does their determination to protect one another. Shayne, Roman, Levi, and Marcus reaffirm their vows—to each other, to their children, to the empire they've built. The promise of more children, more love, and more battles to come is both daunting and exhilarating. The family's story is far from over, but for now, they rest in the knowledge that together, they are unstoppable.
Characters
Shayne Moretti
Shayne is the heart and mind of the Moretti-DeAngelis empire, balancing ruthless leadership with deep maternal love. Her journey from outsider to Empress is marked by trauma, resilience, and a hunger for both power and connection. She is fiercely protective of her son Sebastian and her lovers—Roman, Levi, and Marcus—embracing a nontraditional family structure that is both her strength and vulnerability. Shayne's psychological complexity is rooted in her need for control, her capacity for violence, and her longing for intimacy. She is both nurturer and destroyer, embodying the paradoxes of her world.
Roman DeAngelis
Roman is the eldest DeAngelis brother, a man whose authority is matched only by his devotion to family. As Shayne's primary partner and Sebastian's father, he embodies the duality of tenderness and brutality. Roman's past is haunted by his own father's cruelty, shaping his determination to be a better man. He is strategic, disciplined, and unyielding in the face of threats. Roman's love for Shayne is both possessive and liberating, and his leadership is the backbone of the family's survival. His psychological depth lies in his struggle to reconcile violence with love.
Levi DeAngelis
Levi is the unpredictable force within the family, his passion manifesting in both love and violence. He is deeply attuned to Shayne's desires, often serving as her confidant and co-conspirator. Levi's humor and sensuality mask a darker edge, a willingness to do whatever it takes to protect those he loves. His relationship with his brothers is competitive but affectionate, and his longing for a child of his own reveals a softer side. Levi's psychological profile is marked by impulsivity, loyalty, and a need for validation through both pleasure and power.
Marcus DeAngelis
Marcus is the most ruthless of the brothers, his capacity for violence matched only by his devotion to family. He revels in chaos, finding joy in battle and intimacy in danger. Marcus's relationship with Shayne is intense, marked by mutual respect and shared darkness. His unexpected tenderness emerges in his adoption of Snow, revealing a capacity for growth and healing. Marcus's psychological makeup is defined by trauma, a need for control, and a deep-seated fear of loss. He is both the family's sword and its shield.
Sebastian DeAngelis
Sebastian is the adopted son of Shayne and Roman, a child raised in a world of violence but shielded by love. His early exposure to danger has made him both resilient and vulnerable. Sebastian's actions during his kidnapping—protecting others, fighting back—demonstrate the strength instilled by his family. Yet, he remains a child, struggling with fear and the loss of innocence. Sebastian's psychological journey is one of adaptation, learning to navigate a world where love and violence are inseparable. He is the future of the empire, carrying both its promise and its burdens.
Snow DeAngelis
Snow is the newborn daughter adopted by Shayne and Marcus after her mother's death during the rescue mission. Her arrival is both a consequence of violence and a beacon of hope. Snow represents the possibility of redemption, the chance to break the cycle of bloodshed. Her presence softens Marcus and brings the family closer together. Psychologically, Snow is a blank slate, her future shaped by the choices of those who claim her. She is a living testament to the family's capacity for both destruction and creation.
Agent Zeke Davidson
Zeke is a federal agent with a complicated history with Shayne's family. Torn between duty and loyalty, he provides crucial intelligence while struggling with the ethical implications of aiding criminals. Zeke's relationship with Shayne is paternal, protective, and fraught with tension. He serves as a reminder of the world outside the family's insular violence, often urging caution and restraint. Psychologically, Zeke is driven by guilt, responsibility, and a desire to save those he cannot control.
Dill and Doe
Dill and Doe are more than pets; they are fierce protectors and extensions of the family's will. Their presence in battle and at home underscores the primal nature of the DeAngelis-Moretti world. The wolves symbolize loyalty, ferocity, and the thin line between civilization and savagery. They are both comfort and weapon, embodying the family's dual need for affection and defense.
The Dragoni Family
The Dragoni family, led by Surgei and his nephews, are the primary antagonists. Their ambition and recklessness drive the conflict, but their lack of unity and experience is their undoing. Psychologically, they represent the dangers of unchecked ambition and the consequences of underestimating true power. Their brutality is matched only by their incompetence, serving as a foil to the DeAngelis-Moretti family's lethal cohesion.
New Guy (Discharged Marine)
Encountered during the infiltration, this former Marine impresses Marcus with his skill and is offered a place in the family's ranks. His willingness to switch sides reflects the family's respect for strength and adaptability. Psychologically, he is a survivor, motivated by loyalty to those who value him and a desire for purpose in a violent world.
Plot Devices
Reverse Harem and Found Family
The narrative's core is the reverse harem dynamic, where Shayne's relationships with Roman, Levi, and Marcus are both romantic and strategic. This structure challenges traditional notions of family, loyalty, and gender roles, creating a web of interdependence that is both empowering and fraught with tension. The found family motif extends to adopted children and even new recruits, emphasizing the importance of chosen bonds over blood.
Cycles of Violence and Redemption
The story is structured around cycles of attack and retaliation, with each act of violence prompting both trauma and growth. Redemption is found in unexpected places—adopting Snow, protecting Sebastian, forging alliances with former enemies. The narrative interrogates whether true healing is possible in a world built on blood, or if love is simply another weapon.
Duality of Domesticity and Brutality
The juxtaposition of domestic scenes—parenting, intimacy, naming a child—with graphic violence underscores the duality of the family's existence. The home is both a place of safety and a site of bloodshed, reflecting the impossibility of separating love from danger. This device heightens the emotional stakes and grounds the characters' actions in relatable desires for connection and security.
Child in Peril
The kidnapping of Sebastian is a classic plot device that raises the stakes and tests the family's unity. It forces each character to confront their fears, priorities, and capacity for violence. The child-in-peril motif also serves as a commentary on the costs of power and the sacrifices required to protect the next generation.
Symbolism of Wolves and Snow
The wolves, Dill and Doe, symbolize the family's primal instincts and unwavering loyalty. Snow, the adopted daughter, represents purity, hope, and the possibility of breaking the cycle of violence. These symbols are woven throughout the narrative, providing both literal and metaphorical anchors for the story's themes.
Analysis
"Beasts" by Sheridan Anne is a dark, unapologetic exploration of power, love, and survival within a criminal empire. The novella's reverse harem structure subverts traditional romance, presenting a matriarch who is both nurturer and executioner, and men who are as vulnerable as they are violent. The narrative interrogates the costs of power—how love can be both shield and weapon, how children inherit both trauma and strength, and how redemption is found not in innocence, but in the willingness to protect and create anew. The juxtaposition of domestic tenderness and graphic brutality challenges readers to question the boundaries between right and wrong, family and foe. Ultimately, "Beasts" is a story about the resilience of chosen family, the necessity of violence in a world that refuses to be tamed, and the hope that, even in the bloodiest of circumstances, new life and love can emerge. The lesson is clear: survival is not just about strength, but about the bonds we forge and the promises we keep, even when the world demands our worst.
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