Diana The witnesses are members of the Zervos Pack—Omegas. Their heads are bowed, their movements timid, their fear written across every line of their bodies. My stomach twists as I watch them approach the center of the room, their eyes darting nervously between the Elders and Marcus. I recognize them. Their hunched shoulders, trembling hands, and nervous eyes tell me everything I need to know. They’ve been coerced, forced into this farce by Marcus. A fresh wave of fury crashes over me, threatening to blind me. My nails dig into my palms as I clench my fists tighter. How dare he? How dare he use them— Memories of my time in the Zervos Pack flash through my mind as the Omegas shuffle into the room, their eyes fixed on the ground. Weak. Powerless. Completely at the mercy of stronger wolves. I know what that feels like. I had been one of them. Even though I was lower than an Omega—a wolfless wolf—I had survived because I had Billy. He was washed up, dismissed by most
Diana The silence after Alpha Darius speaks is unbearable. “Burned,” he says again, his voice thick with grief, barely above a whisper. The weight of his words presses down on the room, suffocating in its intensity. I stand frozen, unable to tear my eyes away from him. His grief is raw, a living, breathing thing that fills the chamber and crawls under my skin. I can almost feel the pain he carries—the unimaginable loss of his only child. In the center of the room, Billy stands alone. His shoulders slump, and his face is as pale as I’ve ever seen it. His hands shake at his sides, and I can hear his breathing—shallow, uneven, almost labored. He looks like he’s about to collapse, and my heart aches for him. Across from us, on the other side of the room, standing right beside Alpha Darius, Marcus is a stark contrast. He looks… proud. He stands tall, his lips curling into a faint smirk. The triumph in his eyes makes my stomach churn. He thinks he’s won. Beside me, Dominicus has
Diana I clench my fists, my nails biting into my palms as Elder Lyra’s voice cuts through the room. “Do you swear that the words you spoke before this Council are the truth?” she asks, eyes trained on the two Omegas, her tone clipped and icy, though an unmistakeable undertone of satisfaction weaves through her words. The Omegas exchange nervous glances, their hands twisting together anxiously. The young man, his hollowed eyes darting toward Marcus as if seeking permission or reassurance, finally stammers, “Y-yes… I swear.” The others follow in halting voices, echoing his claim. Their testimonies, vague and riddled with half-truths, seem intentionally crafted to sound plausible. Every word is designed to nudge the narrative closer to a damning conclusion. But I know they’re lies. Every. Single. Word. I glance at Marcus. He still stands stiffly, his pale face damp with sweat, but his eyes gleam with the triumph of someone who thinks they’ve won. My fury deepens. The coward thinks
Diana The room goes silent. The Elders freeze in place and some look quite discomforted. Out the corner of my eye, I see the Omega’s faces drain of color, their mouths opening and closing, but no words come out. With cold satisfaction, I watch as Beta Marcus pales, beads of sweat forming on his forehead, his eyes dart around the room as if searching for an escape route. His leg begins to shake, in a telltale sign of his unraveling nerves. His smug confidence has shattered, and now, desperation oozes from him. But it is Alpha Darius who holds my attention. His stern, grief-lined face had hardened as my words echo in the room. His eyes narrow, glinting with suspicion, and his gaze shifts from me to Marcus. The shift is subtle at first, but then it sharpens. His focus on Marcus is no longer casual; it’s the weighty, burning stare of an Alpha seething with rage. Marcus visibly recoils under that stare. It’s as though Alpha Darius’s fury has physical form, pressing down on him like a cr
Diana “And as for the Omegas,” she continues, her tone dripping with disdain, “you’ve seized on minor discrepancies in their testimonies—three minutes, five minutes—as if that’s enough to discredit their entire account. But nervousness can affect memory. Fear can make details blur. What matters is the consistency of their core story. They saw you and Gamma Billy-“ Except they didn’t. “-They witnessed what happened.” I snap, unable to hold back any longer. “How could they witness something that didn’t even happen?!” “Enough,” she cuts me off, her voice like ice. “Your objections are noted, but they hold no weight here. You are not the judge of this Council. We are.” My chest heaves with suppressed frustration. She’s twisting everything, bending logic to fit their narrative. Elder Lyra leans forward, her eyes narrowing as she casts a glance at the Omegas, who are still trying to compose themselves after the shock I’ve just delivered. “You’re creating a fantasy, Diana. A
Diana If he could grow wings, Marcus would have sprouted a pair right now and flown around the room. That’s how smug and ecstatic he looks, practically vibrating with delight as Elder Lyra speaks. I watch him with cold, steady eyes. My gaze turns back to the Elders table. “Finally,” Elder Lyra says, her voice low and deliberate, “we come to the most damning aspect of this case: the state of the boy’s body.” Her gaze hardens, and she staightens. “The boy’s body was burned. That much is undeniable. Burned to such an extent that no clear evidence of the perpetrator remains. But the timing, the location, and the desperation of such an act tell us everything we need to know.” Her eyes narrowing as she looks at me. “This was no accident, no moment of blind rage. This was a calculated attempt to destroy evidence—to hide the truth. And who, Miss Castellanos, would have the greatest motivation to do such a thing?” I hold her gaze, refusing to react. The weight of the accusation, th
Diana “Irrelevant details? You mean the glaring contradictions in your so-called evidence? The impossibilities in your timeline? The complete lack of logic in the witnesses’ story? Also-“ I glance at the huddling Omega before looking back at her, “how can you just willingly take the testimony of an Omega on behalf of someone else at face value?” I’m not trying to he discriminatory at all. But it’s also the truth that Omega, being the lowest class of wolves are at the complete mercy of the higher ranking wolves in the pack. It would be so easy to coerce them into give a false testimony- just as Marcus has done now. And a body as wise and knowledgable as the Council should be aware of this fact. “It’s obvious they’re being forced”, and the female Omega actually flinches when I say this, her head bowing even lower. Displeased as I am with them, I can’t find it in me to blame them. They are merely pawns in this game. Victims in their own right. As someone who has been in th
Diana The Elders rise from their seats, their robes brushing against the polished floors as they turn and disappear through a grand door behind their table. The heavy oak doors close with a resonant thud, and silence settles over the chamber. Billy stiffens beside me, his breath quick and shallow. He looks like a man waiting for the guillotine to drop, his fear practically radiating off him. Across from me, Marcus looks equally nervous, though he attempts to mask it with a smug tilt of his lips. His eyes dart toward the closed door, then to me, as if trying to gauge my reaction. But I don’t give him anything. Instead, I turn my attention to Dominicus. He hasn’t moved an inch, his posture as relaxed and commanding as it’s been since we walked into this farce of a hearing. His thumb brushes against my palm, a soothing rhythm that anchors me. Barely a few minutes pass before the doors creak open again, and the Elders file back into the chamber, their expressions unchanged. M
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
Diana Alpha Livia clears her throat delicately, her fingers tapping once against the table before she speaks. “So… as the Priest…” I lift my chin, my voice cutting clean through the room. “Priestess.” She pauses, a flicker of acknowledgment in her eyes, then corrects herself with a small nod. “Priestess. As the Priestess, how exactly would you seal the Dark Mage? Alpha Dominicus mentioned the Priest played a crucial role before — but he didn’t explain how.” And there it is. My stomach knots faintly. That’s the problem, isn’t it? I’m not entirely sure myself — not yet. But Dom and I plan to find out as soon as this meeting ends. Still, we had agreed beforehand: no hint of uncertainty, no gaps, no loose threads. We couldn’t risk sparking panic among the packs — or worse, letting anything slip that the dark witches might catch wind of. I part my lips, preparing to smooth over the gap, but Dom beats me to it. “Even if she explained it, you wouldn’t understand.” His voice is
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