Diana But then, a small voice in the back of my mind speaks up, defiant against the tide of fear threatening to overwhelm me. "Yeah! He killed those men. To PROTECT you!" I pause, caught off guard by this thought. It's true, isn't it though? He saved me that day. And hasn't he been kind and gentle with me ever since, in both his wolf and human forms? My mind drifts to the early days, his initial hostility when he first came to the diner, his aggression when I tried to run away. But those memories are quickly overshadowed by countless acts of kindness. The way he takes care of me, ensures my comfort, protects me. "You're overthinking this," I mutter to myself, running a hand through my hair. "He's been nothing but good to you." But my mind, ever the pessimist, refuses to let go. The history books are clear as day, it argues. He's a monster, a killer. You can't trust him. My heart, however, rebels against this notion. He is my mate, it insists. He has shown me nothing but kindness
Diana He was trying to tell me he loves me? The realization hits me like a physical blow, and suddenly I can't breathe. Guilt washes over me like a tide, threatening to drown me. How could I have doubted him, even for a moment? With shaking hands, I reach up and gently remove the flower from my hair. I stare at it, its delicate petals suddenly blurring as tears fill my eyes. This isn't just any flower. This is the same type of flower I've been receiving every morning and every night since that misunderstanding, since I treated him so terribly. The memory of the vase in our bedroom flashes through my mind. Always full of these lilacs, even as some wither and are replaced. A constant, silent declaration of his feelings. My chest tightens, and I struggle to draw breath. I feel like the worst person on earth. How could I have ever doubted this man? This man who has shown me nothing but kindness, who has protected me, cared for me... loved me. The flower in my hand becomes a testament
Diana Despite his outward ordinariness, my instincts scream at me to retreat and I find myself taking an involuntary step back, my heart racing. But then the man looks up, his eyes brightening as they land on me. A smile spreads across his face, revealing perfect white teeth. And I know it’s too late. I can't just walk away now. So, chiding myself for being overly paranoid, I force a bright smile onto my face and close the remaining distance to his table. I'm probably just overthinking things, I tell myself. He’s just an ordinary human, not some werewolf chasing me down trying to cash in on the bounty. He poses no danger to me, especially not in this crowded diner. I’m probably just still shaken from my earlier emotional breakdown. I pull out my notepad and pen from my apron pocket, falling into the familiar routine. "Hello, welcome to Ellen's. What can I get for you today?" My voice sounds steadier than I feel, a small victory. "Hello," he replies, his voice soft and pleasant. H
DianaI nod again, forcing myself to stand on shaky legs. My heart pounds in my chest as I turn towards the diner's front door, each step feeling like I'm wading through molasses. As I scan the room, my eyes lock onto another man, dressed as casually as any other patron, but the hardness in his gaze betrays his true nature. He's watching me, hawk-like, ready to pounce at the slightest misstep.Ellen looks up from behind the counter, her usual warm smile faltering as she takes in my appearance. "Diana, honey? You look awful pale. Are you feeling alright?"For a moment, I'm tempted to scream, to tell Ellen everything and beg for help. But the image of Billy, battered and bloody, flashes through my mind. I don't know what these people- these humans- are capable of, but I do know THAT man, and what he can do. I can't risk Ellen's safety. She's just a kind old woman who's shown me nothing but kindness. I can't bear the thought of her getting hurt because of me.Swallowing hard, I force dow
Diana The monster from my nightmares, stands before me in the flesh. As my eyes lock onto Beta Marcus's face, a tsunami of emotions crashes over me, threatening to drown me in its intensity. The sight of that familiar sickening smirk, the cold cruelty in his face, catapults me back to that horrifying day. My body remembers what my mind has tried so hard to forget – his bruising grip, the sickening feel of his breath on my skin, the paralyzing terror as I realized what he intended to do. A violent shudder runs through me, and I fight the urge to vomit. The phantom sensations of his hands on me make my skin crawl, and I want nothing more than to scrub myself raw, to somehow erase the memory of his touch. The fear I felt then comes rushing back, magnified tenfold by the knowledge that this time, there might be no escape. But beneath the fear, a spark of fury ignites. How dare he? How dare he hunt me down, terrorize me, hurt the people I care about? The injustice of it all – that I sh
Diana "...So, I hear you've got yourself a sugar daddy now?" His words hit me like a physical blow, leaving me breathless. Sugar daddy? The shock must show on my face because Marcus's grin widens, becoming even more predatory. It takes me a moment to realize he's talking about Dominicus. He knows I'm in a relationship, but he doesn't know who with. He thinks it's with a human? "I always knew there was something off about you, Diana," Marcus continues, his voice dripping with disdain. "Even when you were a kid. Always seeking attention, weren't you? I bet you've been trying to seduce men since then. Why else would I have been so drawn to you? It's not my fault – you were the one doing the seducing." I can't believe what I'm hearing. My mind reels, struggling to process his words. He's actually blaming me for his own actions? He tried to assault me, and now he's saying it was my fault? "That's not true," I manage to say, shaking my head. "I never-" But Marcus cuts me off, his voic
Dominicus I pause mid-stride, a sudden unease washing over me. It's as if my skin has shrunk, constricting around my muscles and bones, making every movement uncomfortable. The sensation is familiar yet inexplicable, a restlessness that sets my nerves on edge. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. It's just the wolf, I tell myself. The curse that's been my constant companion for centuries, the feral beast that lurks beneath my skin. It's not unusual for these feelings to surface, especially when I've been away from Diana for a while. Diana. Just the thought of her name brings a measure of calm. She's my anchor, the one who soothes the savage beast within me. Part of me wants to go to her right now, to bask in her presence and let her gentle touch chase away this discomfort. But I know she's at work, and I don't want to distract her. It's only a few more hours until her shift ends, I remind myself. I can wait. The shrill ring of my phone cuts through my th
Diana One moment, I'm struggling against the iron grip of my captor, fear and despair threatening to overwhelm me. The next, the world erupts into chaos. A bone-chilling howl splits the air, and suddenly, there's movement everywhere. My eyes can barely keep up with the dark blur that tears through the clearing like a force of nature. Bodies fall left and right, some in pieces, others thrown aside like ragdolls. The air fills with screams of terror and the sickening sounds of flesh being rent apart. It's all happening so fast, yet time seems to stretch into an eternity. My senses are overwhelmed - the metallic tang of blood in the air, the rapid-fire of gunshots that seem to have no effect on the blur of destruction, the desperate cries of men realizing their doom is upon them. I know, without a shadow of doubt, that it's Dominicus. My mate. My protector. The Feral Alpha in all his terrifying glory. The man holding me begins to shake violently, his grip on my arm loosening as
Diana Her voice cuts crisply through the air. “The first time the Dark Mage was sealed… you said it took the Amadeus Alpha, the Primarch Arcana, and the Moon Goddess’s Priest.” Her eyes sweep the room, assessing. “Are you saying we’re going to repeat that now?” Dom nods once, calmly. “That’s right.” Alpha Livia’s brow furrows slightly. “And you, you’ll stand in for your ancestor?” Dom’s mouth curves in the faintest of smiles. “I will.” Her gaze sharpens. “That leaves the Primarch Arcana… and the Priest.” She casts a slow look around the table, then back at Dom again. “Until today, none of us even knew there was a Priest. Do you know where this Priest is?” Dom’s eyes flick briefly to me, and parts his lips to answer, “Yes. It’s-“ I finish for him. My voice quiet but clear. “-Me.” The room freezes. Every head turns. I keep my face composed, letting my voice carry evenly across the silent table. “Allow me to properly reintroduce myself. I am Diana Castellanos—Alpha
Diana Suddenly, a voice slices sharply through the heavy silence. “We have to stop the ritual!” An Alpha halfway down the table shoots to his feet, his face flushed with urgency. His Beta, seated beside him, tugs lightly at his arm as if to steady him, but the Alpha shakes his head sharply, his eyes locking onto Dominicus. Dom doesn’t even flinch. His voice remains calm, almost weary. “Naturally.” He lets the word hang in the air for a beat, then tilts his head slightly. “How do you propose we do that?” The Alpha’s response is instant, raw with emotion. “Easy. We find them. We go to their coven and wipe them out—all of them.” Dom blinks once, slowly. Then gives a faint, almost pitying shake of his head. “Easy?” He leans in just slightly, his tone still smooth but edged with a dangerous undercurrent. “How exactly do you plan to find them? Don’t forget—these aren’t wolves we’re dealing with. They’re witches. You think you can find a witch who doesn’t want to be found?”
DianaThe next Alpha my eyes land on pulls my attention instantly.He’s middle-aged, broad-shouldered, hulking—even among all these Alphas, he stands out as particularly powerful. His short-cropped hair and sharply cut features give him a severe, almost intimidating air.But what surprises me is the look on his face.Unlike the others, there’s no flicker of wariness, no veiled animosity in his gaze.Instead, he’s smiling. Calm. Almost amused, like he’s simply waiting for the meeting to begin, perfectly at ease.Intrigued, I shift my gaze to the third Alpha who stands out.And this time, I have to look twice.The Alpha, her Beta, and the two Gamma warriors flanking her… they’re all women.The Alpha meets my eyes directly—her expression steady, cool, unreadable. Then, with a small, polite nod, she acknowledges me before turning her attention back to Dom.All of this unfolds in seconds: quick assessments, sharp glances, the silent tension of predators sizing each other up.By the time my
Diana I spot Dom waiting just down the hall, his arms crossed, his sharp eyes flick up as soon as come out me. His face softens—just slightly—and he reaches out. I walk up to him and slip my hand into his. Eleanor falls into step behind us, quiet and peaceful, her presence a steady pulse at my back. Together, the three of us move toward the wide double doors at the end of the hall—the conference room where today’s meeting is about to hold. The air feels thicker here, heavy with the scent of too many wolves, sharp anticipation, and something almost metallic — the bracing edge of challenge, perhaps, or simply the weight of so many packs gathered under one roof. As we near, an Amadeus warrior steps forward. Clyde. He bows smoothly. “Alpha. Luna.” He gives Eleanor a polite nod. “Ma’am.” Dom gives him a curt nod in return, but I offer Clyde a small smile. Eleanor answers warmly, “Hello dear.” Clyde straightens and says, “The packs have brought a fair number of warriors w
DianaI blink, brow arching. Magnus almost mated to someone? That’s news to me.Can’t find it in me to care.The first girl nods eagerly. “Exactly! And it was super suspicious. It was supposed to be this huge deal — even our Alpha was invited — but just a week before the ceremony, it was called off.” She waves her hands for emphasis; the others nod vigorously.She leans in, voice dropping. “I heard Natasha left Zervos and went back to the Silvanus pack, then mated with an Omega from Plena Luna.”Another round of wide eyes and startled gasps.“It’s obvious why the ceremony was canceled,” she smirks. “Natasha met her real mate. Everyone thought Magnus set the match because he hadn’t found his mate yet… but he had. And he rejected her!”The gasps turn into soft curses. I catch words like scum and bastard tossed out under their breath, and I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing.The third girl eagerly nudges the first. “And? And?! What else?”The first girl glances around, then leans
DianaWhat were they thinking?A low voice, warm and smug, ghosts by my ear.“See?” Dominicus says. “I won.”I don’t turn. I can feel the smirk behind his voice and the presence of him just a breath away.I shake my head slowly, incredulous. “They actually came…”“And with a whole damn parade,” he says with a huff of amusement.“Pompousness and posturing,” I mutter.He chuckles. “That’s what you bet against, dulcis.”I scowl, still watching the arrivals, still baffled by the absurdity of it all.“And now,” he says, voice low as he leans down slightly, “you owe me.”I start to ask what the terms were again, but then I feel his lips brush the shell of my ear, and his whispered words burn hotter than sunlight across my skin.My breath catches. My entire body flushes.Damn him.Dom steps back and with a sweeping motion of his arm, the corners of his mouth quirking upward, he says, “Ladies, shall we?”I pull my gaze away from the window, and roll my eyes at him. “Lets.”Behind me, Eleanor
Diana “You’re on speaker, Alpha. They can all hear you now.” Dominicus doesn’t waste a breath. “Good,” he says, his tone flat, cold. “Then listen closely because this-“ he pauses, just long enough to make the weight of his next words settle into their bones, “—is the key to a ‘peaceful retirement’ for all of you.” There’s no trace of politeness. No deference. Only the weight of his authority, sharp as steel. The line is silent. No one dares interrupt. “Of the thirty-seven packs–,” he continues, “you each used to run one of the major nine.” Ten now - The Amadeus pack is back, I muse. “The rest of the smaller — scattered, less resourced packs are no less important. Therefore you are not only to go back to your own packs. You will each take responsibility for informing the Alphas of the minor packs in your regions. I don’t care how you do. Just get it done.” He paces a little, jaw tight. “You will tell them witches exist. You will tell them that dark witches have returned — tha
Diana Billy takes a step forward and wraps me in his warm bear hug. I bury my face in his chest and hug him just as tight. He steps back, “See you in a bit, kid”, and with a little wave, turns around and strides back towards the cars. I watch as they begin to pile into the SUVs, Billy among them. He gives me one last wink, grinning crookedly before ducking into the lead car. The low growl of the engines rises as the vehicles roll down the driveway, kicking up small clouds of dust and mist in their wake. I watch until the last taillight vanishes into the mist. A warm arm curls around my shoulders, anchoring me to the earth. Dominicus presses a kiss to my temple, his voice a soft murmur against my hair. “Don’t worry, dulcis. They’ll be fine. And they’ll bring her back safely.” I close my eyes for a moment, breathing him in, clinging to the hope stitched into his words. I hope so. For Billy’s sake. For Emerald’s sake. For all of us…We don’t go inside right away.
Diana “Wake me up early?” I mumble, already half-drifting again. “I wanna see Billy off in the morning.” “I will,” he promises, kissing the top of my head. Silence falls between us, soft and fragile. I’m just on the edge of sleep when his voice comes again, low and rough and achingly sincere. “Dulcis…” I hum in acknowledgment, too tired to form a real word. “The reason I’m not stopping you from fighting this war… isn’t because I care about you any less. I hope you know that. Right?” Something in his tone — the raw inflection, the brittle edge — tugs at me, pulling me back to him. I blink my eyes open and tilt my head up to look at him. In the muted light, his face is shadowed, but I can see it — the tightness around his mouth, the faint crease between his brows. And in his eyes — gods — there’s worry. Guilt. And buried much deeper, a sliver of fear so raw it makes my heart ache. I know what he’s thinking - what is weighing on him. It’s Billy’s words, thro