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 “I’m sorry. But you’ll understand all this someday. But for now, I’m going to need you to come inside with me.” The Elders all look smug and arrogant. The Zervos wolves surrounding me all look tense and ready. As though they’re just waiting for the command before they attack. The tension in the air is palpable. The heavy silence stretches before me, everyone waiting with bated breath for what I’ll do next. My voice is low, “Let me leave,” I say, “Or you’ll regret it”. It’s the last warning I will give. But Magnus just steps forward, his wolves each taking a corresponding step closer blocking me in. The circle is tighter now. I can feel the aura radiating from them—the anticipation, the expectation that I’ll submit. Billy bristles, a warning growl rumbling out of his chest. His eyes are sharp and alert as he keeps an eye on the wolves surrounding us. Well… I already anticipated all this happening before I even got here, but still, I can’t help feeling unhappy.
Diana Like an arrow shot from a bow, I launch myself to intercept them. One of the Gamma wolves lunges, aiming for my throat, but I’m faster. Time seems to slow. I see it all happening in slow motion—the vicious flash of claws, the rippling muscles beneath skin, the taut tension in the air before the attack lands. With a swift sidestep, I grab his wrist, twisting it behind his back before slamming my knee into his ribs with a sickening crunch. He crumples to the ground, gasping for air as I spin, already shifting my weight to the next wolf. The second Gamma tries to come at me from the left, claws flashing. I pivot, a spinning kick landing squarely in his chest, sending him flying backward. He crashes into the stone pillars of the packhouse’s entrance with a sickening thud, his body folding in on itself. He doesn’t get up. The next moments blur in a whirl of fists, feet, and claws. Behind me, I hear another wolf charging. Without even looking, I swing my fist backward, the
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