Diana I feel disappointment settle in my chest- heavy. Another dead end. I had been hoping to get more information about my mother, and possibly have more leads about our enemies from him. But it seems he doesn’t know much either. I stare at his hands, fingers laced tightly together. When I hear his quiet voice, “I always wondered, y’know. Who did it? Who wiped out the pack you came from?” I blink at him, heart still heavy. Billy rubs his chin. “I was Head Pack Warrior. I kept up with everythin’—friction between Alphas, tensions between packs, all of it. Somethin’ like this? A whole damn pack gettin’ wiped out? There shoulda been news. Most of the time, it’d be over territory disputes, though those are outlawed now. But still, there shoulda been somethin’.” He shakes his head. “But there was nothin’. No news. No claims. No whispers ‘bout a pack bein’ wiped out. If not for you and Apollo, I’d have thought it never happened.” I glance at Dominicus before turning back to Billy.
Diana I watch as his expression shifts—tenderness, pain, something almost reverent. “We were together twelve years before she left. Twelve years. And y’know what?” He huffs out a laugh, shaking his head. “I still didn’t know much about her. Never met her family. Never even knew her last name. But she was mine. She took my last name, and that was all I needed.” I blink, absorbing the weight of his words. “And the pack… just accepted it?” I ask gingerly. Not that I have anything against it, but werewolves aren’t exactly the most accepting bunch. He shakes his head, “They never noticed”. What?! My eyes go round, “How did no one notice that the Head Warrior’s mate wasn’t a werewolf?” He exhales through his nose. “Witches are powerful, kid. A strong enough one can mess with perception. Make people see what they want ‘em to see.” A shiver runs down my spine. I glance at Dominicus, who nods grimly. Billy scratches his beard. “For some reason, nobody ever questioned why
Diana “She killed herself.” I freeze. Even Dominicus looks momentarily stunned. “Though that’s not accurate either”, he shakes his head, “She was killed. But she knew they wanted to kill her and deliberately let them catch her. That’s why I say she killed herself… because she wanted to die.” His words send a shard of pain piercing through my heart. Billy’s hands tighten into fists. His next words are slow, measured. Like each one physically hurts to say. “Months before it happened… I could tell somethin’ was eatin’ at her. She was always lost in thought. Wouldn’t tell me what it was. But that wasn’t unusual. She had her moments like that.” His jaw clenches. “Then one day… she told me she was pregnant.” The emotion in his voice shifts—softens. There’s warmth there. Love. “It was the best thing I’d ever heard. A life—our life—growing inside her. A piece of me. A piece of her.” He exhales shakily, his fingers curling into fists on his knees. “I could picture it all,
Diana “She was a few towns over. In some alley in a human town.” He exhales shakily. “Just lyin’ there. Cold. Gone.” He stares blankly at his hands, like he’s back there—standing over her lifeless body. His next words send a sharp chill down my spine. “She told me to trust her,” he says, his voice hollow. “She told me our baby was alive.” His eyes flick up, dark and haunted. “But I saw her, kid. Saw the fetus. It was carved out of her belly and stabbed- the placenta still connected to the gaping hole that was her abdomen.” I inhale sharply. Oh gods… I get up and rush to his side. Sitting beside him, I wrap my arms around him. Pulling his trembling form against me. “It’s okay. It’s okay. You don’t have to continue Billy,”, my voice a shaky whisper croaking out of my throat. But he seems to not hear me, the words tumbling out of his mouth. “I wanted to believe her. I did. But how could I, when I saw it with my own eyes?” He lets out a dry, humorless chuckle. “I was out
Diana The rhythmic chopping of vegetables fills the kitchen, a steady, mindless motion that keeps my hands busy while my thoughts wander. Dominicus leans against the counter, scrolling through his phone, occasionally glancing at me with a look that makes my stomach flutter. Then, his phone rings. I see his brows furrow as he glances at the number. “Hello?” A hint on inquiry in his voice, which tells me he probably doesn’t recognise the number. “Amadeus.” A voice on the other end responds, spitting out the name with venom. I recognize it instantly. Magnus. I pause, my knife stilling mid-slice as I watch Dom’s expression turn to stone. I drop the knife and turn to fully face him. My entire focus sharpens and my werewolf senses kick in. Now even though the phone isn’t on speaker, I can hear the conversation as clearly as if I were holding it myself. Dom’s voice is sharp, ice-cold. “How the hell did you get this number?” There’s a pause. Then Magnus’s voice returns,
Diana Dom’s jaw clenches so tight I hear his teeth grind. He doesn’t want me to speak to Magnus. I can see it in the way his entire body is coiled, wound tight with barely restrained fury. But at the same time… He doesn’t want to be the reason I don’t get the information I need. I take a deep breath and step closer. Slowly, deliberately, I stretch out my hand. Dominicus hesitates. His gaze locks onto mine, his fingers twitching around the phone. But after a moment—jaw clenched, shoulders tense—he hands it over. I take the phone with one hand. With the other, I reach for him. Taking the hand that was holding the phone, I bring it to my lips, pressing a soft kiss to his knuckles. His eyes go round, surprise flickering across his face. I watch as the tension slowly eases from his shoulders. His fingers curl gently around mine. Then, I lift the phone to my ear. My voice is cold. “What do you want?” Silence. Then, Magnus exhales. “Diana,” he murmurs. “It feels so good to hear
Diana My eyes widen to the size of saucers. What? He continues nonchalantly. “They also happen to be bringing along with them their entire army of Council Warriors.” A chill runs through me, and my heart sinks. The Council warriors. I remember them vividly—their power, their silent presence. They are wolves unlike any I’d ever seen. Their stature alone makes ordinary pack warriors look like children. The discipline they exude, the raw, controlled power… it is like they are carved from stone. And the way they move, fluid but so precise, like an army of blades—tight, reserved, but dangerous. “Seems the trap isn’t only meant for Diana alone. It’s for both of us”. I swallow down saliva, moistening my suddenly dry throat. Dom rolls his eyes again, “There’s no way they’re bringing their entire army for just a single- what is believed to be- a wolfless girl. So…” Billy continues, “They’re preparing for both of you”. Dominicus nods, “They don’t actually believe that I
Diana Dominicus’s face turns unreadable—cold, calculating. His voice carries the weight of certainty as he says, “There’s a traitor in the Council.” Billy and I both stiffen. Dom’s eyes narrow slightly. “Maybe more than one. But one thing is for sure—the Elder behind Magnus is working with the witches.” He tilts his head slightly. “Magnus is just a pawn.” Billy goes pale. He shakes his head vehemently. “No way.” His voice is hoarse, disbelieving. “Ain’t no damn way anyone on the Council would do somethin’ like that…” He trails off, swallowing thickly before shaking his head again, more forcefully. “No. I don’t believe it.” Dominicus regards him with something almost like pity. Billy scoffs, rubbing his face with a trembling hand. “The Council—workin’ with witches? Dark witches, at that?” His hands drop to his sides, clenching into fists. “That’s high treason.” His disbelief is evident, but I feel it too—the slow, creeping horror of it. Yes, the Council is corrupt. Power-hungr
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