DianaThe words hang in the air, heavy and ominous. My tears stop as shock takes over, leaving me feeling numb and disoriented.“Dark… Magic?” I echo, stutteringly.“Wha-“ "It... it actually exists?" I whisper, my voice barely audible.Dominicus's face is grave, his eyes dark with a chilling menace."Yes”, his jaw clenched tight.My eyes are round as my jaw goes slack with shock. A frown creeps across Dominicus's face. "Tell me," he says carefully, "what do you know about the supernatural world?""Well, it's made up of werewolves-," I begin but then I trail off, uncertainty creeping in. Something about the way he asked the question makes me pause and reconsider.I think back to the books I've read, remembering inconsistencies I'd previously overlooked. "In the books I've studied," I say slowly, piecing my thoughts together, "sometimes they refer to the 'supernatural world' and other times to the 'werewolf world.' I never really thought about it before, but... if they mean the same t
DianaI feel my hands clench into fists. The fury inside me is not just anger – it's determination, it's resolve, it's a fierce protectiveness for the man before me.As I look up at Dominicus, my eyes blazing, I see a flicker of surprise cross his face. He pauses in his narration, studying me intently.How dare they?!How dare those bastards do that to him?!The weight of Dominicus's words, the pain that was etched in every line of his face as he told the story, fuels my anger. I feel it burning in my chest, threatening to consume me."They must pay," I declare, my voice trembling with rage. "Those people must pay for all they've done. Dominicus. I'm going to help you find them. We'll get revenge!"To my surprise, Dominicus's response is a soft smile. He leans down, pressing a gentle kiss to my nose. "Thank you, dulcis," he murmurs, his voice warm with affection.His reaction throws me off balance. The smile, the tenderness – it feels incongruous with the gravity of what we've just d
DianaI take a deep breath, inhaling the fresh forest air that surrounds us. The scent of pine and earth fills my lungs, momentarily calming my frayed nerves. But the weight of what I need to say presses down on me. Steeling myself, I turn to face Dominicus, my heart pounding in my chest."Dom?" I call out, my voice barely above a whisper, almost lost in the gentle rustling of leaves around us. "There's something I need to tell you... about yesterday."I feel him tense briefly before relaxing, his muscles shifting beneath his skin like a predator preparing for action. His arms tighten around me, a gesture of silent support that speaks volumes in the quiet of the forest."What is it?" he asks, his tone gentle but concerned. His eyes, those mesmerizing brown orbs, search my face intently.I nod, swallowing hard. The memory of yesterday's ordeal sends a chill down my spine. But there's no time to waste. We need to act, and for that, Dominicus needs to know everything."It's... it's not g
Diana I take a deep breath, memories of Billy flooding my mind. "He's been there for me since I was eight," I begin, my voice soft with fondness. "When I was kicked out of the Pack orphanage for failing to shift, Billy was the one who stepped up..." “…He made a few Omega men help him clean out a small shack for me. They didn’t want to, but he made them." Dominicus's eyebrows raise slightly, but he doesn't interrupt. "No one else wanted anything to do with me," I continue, a hint of old pain in my voice. "But Billy... he got furniture for me, fixed it up. He made sure I was fed and clothed. He even homeschooled me." I pause, overwhelmed by the memories. "Without him, I wouldn't have survived. A wolfless orphan at eight... I wouldn't have stood a chance." Dominicus's hand finds mine, squeezing gently. "He sounds like a good man," he says softly. I nod, tears pricking at my eyes. "He is. He even moved to a smaller, more rundown house closer to mine, just to be near me. He... he wa
12 hours ago… Brodik The Council chamber, a vast and imposing space, breathes with the weight of centuries. I stand motionless against its far wall, my face an impassive mask as I observe the unfolding drama before me. The room itself is a testament to the longevity and power of our kind, its very air thick with the scent of old leather, polished wood. Ornate tapestries adorn the walls, their rich hues muted by time and the flickering light of antique chandeliers. These woven histories depict epic werewolf battles and hunts, silent witnesses to the countless decisions that have shaped our world. The golden glow from the chandeliers dances across the scarred surface of the massive oak table dominating the chamber's center, its wood polished to a soft sheen by centuries of use and heated debates. Around this table sit the five of the most powerful werewolves in our world, Council Elders. Their faces, etched with the lines of age and weighted with hard-earned wisdom, are a canvas
Brodik Elder Rothgar's booming voice cuts through the chatter like a knife. "We need to act quickly. If we can bring this monster under our control, imagine the power we could wield." Elder Fendel nods, a sly smile playing at his lips. In that moment, he looks less like a dignified Elder and more like a sneaky wolf eyeing its prey. "Yes, but how do we approach such a creature? We can't simply extend an invitation." "We could offer him more territory," Elder Thomas suggests, his eyes gleaming with a hunger that belies his age. “Thats useless! As it stands, the Amadeus Pack lands is the largest territory by land mass already. In addition to the human town, all the forestry around it spanning thousands of miles belong to him! How would that tempt him?!” someone argues. "How about a seat on the Council, then! Afterall, all past Amadeus Alphas sat on the council. That might work!” “All Amadeus Alphas are nominal Council Elders already! If he wants a seat, how do you stop him?!”
DianaI'm curled up on the plush sofa in Dominicus' study, a book cradled in my hands. The room is bathed in the warm glow of the afternoon sun, filtering through the large windows and casting long shadows across the polished wooden floor. The only sounds are the occasional rustle of pages as I turn them and the soft scratching of Dominicus' pen as he works at his desk.It's a peaceful moment, but I find myself stealing glances at Dominicus over the top of my book, admiring the way the sunlight catches in his dark hair, turning it to burnished gold at the edges.Suddenly, the air in the room shifts. It's subtle, barely perceptible, but I feel it like a change in pressure before a storm. I look up from my book to find him sitting ramrod straight in his chair, his body tense as a coiled spring. His face, usually so relaxed around me, has hardened into a mask of seriousness, his eyes narrowed as he stares at something I can't see.Concern floods through me, chasing away the peaceful leth
Diana Taking my hand, we leisurely walk until we break through the trees. I worry my bottom lip between my teeth but force myself to push down the nerves. I square my shoulders and stand up straight. I'm with Dominicus; I must not shame him by showing weakness. As we emerge from the forest, I see a delegation of wolves turned in our direction, likely alerted by our footsteps. There are at least ten werewolves in attendance, and my eyes widen as I take them in. At first glance, I can tell that over half of them are warriors, but I've never seen pack warriors like this before. Not even Zervos pack warriors measure up. They stand strong, each equipped in black soft armor with sheathed weapons strapped to either their backs or sides. As we approach, the warriors collectively incline their heads in a respectful bow towards us - though I know the gesture is meant for Dominicus - before looking forward again, their gazes fixed on some point in the distance. Their faces are stoic, betrayi
Diana My eyes slowly take in the room. The air shifts palpably, settling into something quieter, heavier. The earlier arrogance, the puffed-up posturing the Alphas had swaggered in with, is gone — snuffed out completely. Where there was once prideful tension, now there’s only subdued silence, a shared, unspoken understanding that the Amadeus wolves and the people affiliated with them are not to be underestimated. Around the table, shoulders lower, gazes soften or flick away, and even the boldest Alphas now sit with a touch more caution, their egos silently recalibrating in the face of hard reality. Dominicus slowly sweeps his gaze across the room — and I don’t miss the way the Alphas his eyes land on visibly flinch, their shoulders tightening. Except, of course, for Alpha Alaric. That one perks up, a grin spreading lazily across his face as he meets Dom’s gaze head-on, entirely unbothered. I can’t help the small smile tugging at my lips as I watch the brief, silent ex
Diana As Alpha Dennis sinks stiffly into his seat, his face still burning, he shoots venomous glares toward Alpha Stefan and Alpha Alaric. “I’ll remember this,” he hisses under his breath, his voice tight with fury. Alpha Stefan lets out a sneer. Alpha Alaric, on the other hand, only blinks at Dennis with wide, innocent eyes — the very picture of ‘who, me?’ — as though he has no idea what Dennis is talking about. Around the table, the other Alphas cast quick, sidelong glances at Dennis, their expressions ranging from mild pity to thinly veiled amusement. A few can’t quite hide the flicker of schadenfreude in their eyes, glad it wasn’t them on the floor. The Betas and Gammas present — sharp enough to read the room — keep their heads down, shoulders tight, doing their best to reduce their presence. Two Alphas had just been publicly humbled. No one here wants to catch the next wave of humiliation or become the target of any redirected wrath. Dominicus turns smoothly toward El
Diana At the front, Alpha Dennis narrows his eyes at Clyde. He sneers at the younger man’s expressionless face, his lips curling back. “I don’t like the look on your face,” he growls — and then he lunges. His body blurs forward, muscle and fury in motion, his fist arcing fast toward Clyde’s jaw. But Clyde moves. No — he disappears. One second, Dennis’s punch is cutting through the air; the next, Clyde has side-stepped so smoothly, so impossibly fast, it’s as if he was never there. His hand comes up, fingers curling — not into a full punch, no, but a sharp, decisive tap against Dennis’s shoulder, using the Alpha’s own momentum to shove him slightly off balance. Dennis snarls and spins, feet thudding hard against the polished floor. He throws another blow, this one a brutal hook aimed at Clyde’s ribs — —but Clyde catches his wrist mid-swing. The sound is a sharp snap of fingers tightening around bone, and Dennis’s eyes go wide as Clyde jerks his arm down and forward, s
Diana I feel the tension ripple faintly through the room again — a low, uneasy hum under the surface. Of course they’re nervous. Everyone here has heard the stories. The Amadeus warriors aren’t just strong — they’re something else entirely. For the longest time, everyone here knew them as the Council Army. And when they were the Council Army, they were revered, but as the Amadeus wolves, an element of fear is injected. They’re like a blade that has been buried for centuries finally unsheathed. When Alpha Dennis sees Clyde step forward, he warily studies the man — eyes narrowing just slightly, as if trying to assess what exactly he’s up against. Dominicus’s voice cuts smooth. “Clyde, introduce yourself — your wolf, your duties.” Without missing a beat, Clyde nods. “Yes, Alpha.” He turns calmly to face the room, his posture relaxed but sharp-edged. “My name is Clyde Faelan,” he says simply, voice steady. “I am a Gamma wolf and serve as Beta Brodik’s administrative se
DianaAlaric glances at Dominicus with a worried frown. “The present Amadeus pack used to be the Council Army, and if my information is right, then they should have only about the same headcount as my own Grimmholt pack.”His words are concerned, “It’s a fairly considerable number, but still… that is only the population of a single pack. There are even other packs with numbers higher than mine.”Dominicus gives a small nod, his face unreadable. “That’s true.”For a moment, the tension in the room seems to rise once more.“Will it really by okay? Won’t the Amadeus pack be overwhelmed?” he asks.It’s Eleanor who answers.Her soft, lilting voice fills the space. “Witches, as a whole, have never been a numerous race,” she explains quietly. “And after the war, our numbers were drastically reduced. Compared to the werewolf population, the ratio is roughly… ten to one.”A quiet murmur ripples through the room.Eleanor’s serene expression doesn’t change. “The gods maintain balance. The more p
Diana “Well then, if you’re sure, Alpha Stefan…then sit”. Dominicus’s voice cuts icy, and sharp. Stefan flinches. But then, like a death row prisoner who’s just been granted amnesty, he gives a jerky little nod, quickly dragging his chair over and dropping into it with almost comical urgency, as if afraid the offer might be snatched away if he hesitates. The two Alphas beside him shuffle back toward the table as well, their chairs rolling softly on the polished floor. Dominicus leans back slightly, his eyes cool as they sweep the room. “I believe,” he says smoothly, “that should have convinced you — all of you — just how grossly unmatched any of you would be against a dark witch. And, of course…” His gaze flicks lightly to Eleanor, who smiles pleasantly, “…that you are all sufficiently convinced of Eleanor’s competence.” A moment of strained silence — and then, the polite Alpha seated beside Stefan clears his throat. “Yes, Alpha,” he says quickly, his voice respectful but calm.
DianaEleanor’s smile is soft. Almost pleased. She lets him stew in his own sweat before she speaks.“Mmm… I think that should do.”Then, with a flick of her finger, the blade softens — the sharp crescent dissolves into formless wind, shimmering faintly as it coils around Stefan’s neck.I watch, breathless, thinking it will disappear — but instead, the condensed currents split, sliding smoothly along both sides of his throat, brushing the skin with the gentlest, most deliberate, and menacing caress, before they meet again behind his neck.There, in a heartbeat, the wind snaps back into form, reforming into a razor-fine blade.And then — faster than the eye can track — it whips across the room.CLANG.The windblade slices straight through a steel art sculpture standing by the far wall — a polished metal spiral about thirty centimeters wide — and cuts it clean in half.The halves clatter apart with a ringing sound, the edges gleaming sharp and fresh.The blade itself dissipates before i
Diana Inside, I sigh. He could’ve spared himself this trouble with a single question. One question and he would have been told that witches are masters of disguise and manipulators of perception. But no — this one has to bluster himself straight into a trap. And sure enough, Eleanor’s sweet smile only widens with every word. It’s a gentle, grandmotherly smile — the kind you’d expect from a woman who bakes cookies and knits sweaters — but the longer it lingers, the colder the air feels, until a faint, prickling thread of danger curls along my spine. Quietly, I inch a little closer to Dominicus. Eleanor’s been alive for thousands of years — and though she’s never told me exactly how old she is, one thing is certain: she isn’t the type to let this kind of disrespect slide. Finally, Eleanor tilts her head, her voice as soft as silk. “Would you like… a demonstration?” Alpha Stefan falls silent, his sneer sharpening, and makes a sweeping gesture with his arm — the smug, careless kind
Diana A low growl rumbles from Alpha Darius of the Plena Luna pack. His eyes glint with raw grief. “No. I will avenge my son. I’ll hunt down those bastards myself!” Dom’s sharp edge softens for the grieving father, though just slightly. His voice lowers, gentler, though still firm. “That won’t work, Darius. The best thing you can do — for your mate, for your pack — is live. The best thing you can do for your son is protect what’s left. If you rush out looking for a fight, you’ll only throw your life away. And that helps no one.” Alpha Darius’ eyes are red with rage and frustration. His trembling lips open and close for a moment before a strangled and pained sound is wrenched from him. Alpha Stefan however, is obviously not so easily convinced. He gives a sharp, sarcastic laugh. “You must be kidding me.” His eyes glitter with derision. “I’m not the kind of man who lets someone else decide his fate.” He sneers, gaze sweeping from me, to Dom, to Eleanor. “Especially not peopl