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 Dom seems to be done contemplating. His gaze flicks to Billy. “Billy.” His voice is calm but firm. “If you were the Council, what would you tell Magnus to convince him that Diana would be safe… while I was being taken out?” Billy frowns, thinking. “Well,” he begins slowly, “Magnus was adamant that Diana not bring you with her. And he didn’t seem like he was lying. He really doesn’t want you on his territory.” His expression darkens slightly. “But that clashes with the Council bringing an entire army. That means either they’re expecting you to show up. Or at least, they’re making they are ready for you in case you happen to show”. Dom nods. Billy exhales. “exhales. “So… if it were me, I’d tell Magnus to lure Diana to the Zervos pack alone. I’d use somethin’—somethin’ she can’t resist—as bait.” His brows furrow. “And then, I’d tell him that while she’s there, the Council warriors will head to your territory to take ya out. That way, you two are separated. You’re dead. And Di
Diana At the northern border of the Zervos pack stands a towering black wrought-iron gate, its intricate design serving as both a deterrent and a symbol of authority. This entrance functions as the official entrance into the territory, the only way permitted for guests to enter. My car rolls to a smooth stop in front of it, the engine purring beneath my fingers- a stark contrast to the tense anticipation thrumming beneath my skin. I glance at the sleek black asphalt road leading into the pack—clean, well-maintained. A stark contrast to the last time I left this place. Back then, I had snuck out through the dense woods like a fugitive. And now? Now I’m driving in through the front gate, in the open. The irony isn’t lost on me. A guard approaches the driver’s side window, his expression serious. His sharp gaze sweeps over me through the glass, assessing. I don’t recognize him. Which isn’t surprising. The Zervos pack is massive, its population even larger. And back when I was sti
Diana I step out of the car with deliberate ease, my movements slow, controlled. The moment my boots hit the ground, I feel the shift in the air. The wolves standing outside the packhouse—high-ranking members of the Zervos pack—are staring at me. Not just staring. Gawking. Their expressions flicker with disbelief as their eyes dart between me and the sleek silver sports car I just arrived in. I don’t miss the way they school their expressions a second later, but it’s too late. I already saw it. They weren’t expecting me to pull up in something like this. Too expensive? Too luxurious? Too powerful for the girl they looked down on? I fight back a smirk. A new model. Released this year. A gift from my mate. But as satisfying as their reaction to the car is, it’s nothing compared to their reaction to me. I see it in their eyes the moment they take me in. The shock. The disbelief. The fear. I’m wearing black jeans, a black tank top, a leather jacket, and boots. My hair i
Diana“As I said, Alpha Magnus, tell me what you made me come all the way here for and do not waste my time.”I feel the weight of his gaze, sharp and unwavering, but I don’t flinch. Instead, I surreptitiously scan the area, looking for the familiar faces I had been expecting. The Council elders should be here—shouldn’t they?Nothing. Not a single one of them.I let out a quiet breath, keeping my expression neutral. So, they’re not here yet? Or maybe they’re hiding inside, waiting for their cue to emerge?I glance back at Magnus. He doesn’t know that I know the Council is here, so I’ll just have to wait and see how he plays it. There’s no rush to reveal anything. Not yet.Magnus swallows, his throat working as he tries to keep his composure. His voice is steady but firm. “What I want to tell you is private, Diana. I don’t want anyone to overhear it. It’s best we go inside to my study. It’s soundproof.”I raise an eyebrow, my lips curling slightly. “You could order all your wolves to s
Diana I stop dead in my tracks, my gaze shooting back to Magnus. His voice is apologetic now, his entire demeanor crumbling. “I’m sorry, but I can’t let you leave.” Out the corners of my eyes, I notice that some pack wolves are slowly gathering and are staring, obviously curious as to what is happening. After all, we’re standing in front of the pack house, the busiest place in the pack. “You’re under the thrall of that abomination,” he spits the words, expression then twisting into something far more sinister. “I’m going to save you, Diana”, and then in a softer voice, persuading, “And then we can start over.” My full attention snaps back to him. There it is again. That word. Abomination. Until not too long ago, I had been called that too. An abomination. A freak of nature. And now, here Magnus is, calling my mate—Dominicus—my wonderful, strong, perfect mate, the same thing. For what? For suffering from a condition beyond his control? A growl rises in my chest, deep and pr
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