Diana They spread out, surrounding me, their eyes narrowing as they focus in on their prey. I can feel the tension building. Their eyes gleam with rage and malice, but I can see the hesitation in their movements. They’re scared now. It’s too late. I drop into a low stance, my body vibrating with the anticipation of the fight to come. My Alpha aura swells within me, filling the space, commanding attention. My grin widens as my pulse races with the thrill. They advance, and I’m ready. The Beta comes at me first, eyes gleaming with malice, his massive claws swiping through the air. I twist and duck under his attack, sweeping my foot beneath his legs, sending him crashing to the ground with a grunt. He howls in fury, but before he can recover, I land a sharp kick to his ribs, hearing the satisfying crack of broken bone. He rolls over, writhing in pain, but he’s out of the fight for now. I lock eyes with the Head Warrior. He’s the one who made that snide comment about Bi
Diana Eyes locked onto Magnus, I can’t help but let a smirk tug at my lips. “You didn’t actually expect me to be defeated by riffraff, did you?” It stings. I know it does. I just called his prized warriors—the best warriors of his pack—riffraff. The entire place goes dead silent. His nostrils flair with anger at the insult but what can he say? I just single-handedly defeated them all without breaking a sweat. They barely even posed a challenge. His expression says it all—he really thought so. After all, he saw me, only months ago, weak and wolf. So he never expected me to be able to stand my ground like this. Alpha or not. He and everyone here underestimated me. Elder Lydia’s voice cuts through the stillness. “Alpha Magnus, you’re going to have to take care of this yourself.” My eyes turn to her. It’s the first time she’s speaking. And though she’s clearly talking to Magnus, her eyes are narrowed on me. Magnus looks taken aback, his mouth opening as if he’s about to pr
Diana Elder Fendel’s voice reaches my ears, “Girl, you should quickly shift too for your own sake, or things will get ugly”. I flex my fingers, claws elongating as I stretch. My canines grow sharp, my body rippling with power. My muscles swell, expanding with each breath. My body grows taller, stronger, more lethal. It’s a partial shift. I bring my wolf to the forefront, tapping into her strength and power, without conpromising my human form. I don’t allow a single strand of fur to grow on my skin, so no one can see what colour of fur my wolf has. Let them wonder. Like a panther, my body is fluid as I hunch my back, my eyes glow amber as I lock eyes with Magnus’ wolf. “I think I’ll be fine,” I finally reply, my voice is low and gravelly. If they think I have to shift into my wolf form to defend myself. Then they’re mistaken. The wolves around us take a step back, instinctively making way. The unconscious bodies of the other wolves are dragged away, no one willing to get c
Diana I don’t give him time to think. I spring again, my feet skimming the earth like lightning, as I deliver a devastating series of slashes to his flank. The sickening sound of claws scraping against muscle and bone fills the air. Magnus’s growls turn to snarls, full of frustration and anger. He swings a massive paw toward me again, but I duck, my body twisting in a perfect arc. I roll to my feet and dash around him, using my agility to slip in and out of his reach. He tries again, swinging his powerful paws at me, but I’m already behind him, landing a brutal strike to the back of his legs. He buckles, and for a moment, he stumbles. I seize the opportunity. My claws rake through his side, digging deep. I hear the sharp, satisfying crunch of ribs cracking beneath the force of my strike. He yelps, but it’s not enough to stop him. With an enraged howl, he turns on me, his huge wolf body spinning. His mouth opens wide, and he lunges, aiming for my throat. But I’m faster. I duck, s
Diana “I’ll talk.” He says, voice strained and reluctant. I raise an eyebrow, unimpressed. “And you’ll let me go after?” I ask, my voice clipped. He hesitates for a moment, the silence thick between us, before he nods, albeit with visible reluctance. But the calm is short-lived. Elder Lyra’s shrill voice pierces the air. “Alpha Magnus!” She practically spits his title with disgust, her eyes narrowing in disapproval. He flinches, his gaze snapping to the Elders, who are silently watching the exchange. A seething rage rises in my chest like a furnace, burning hotter with every second. My eyes narrow and my face hardens. These bastards think they can control everything, twist the situation as they please. I’ve had enough of their games. I glance at them from the corner of my eye, barely concealing the disgust that surges up from deep within. This entire ruse… I’m tired of it. I can’t take it anymore. I just want to go home and snuggle with my mate. I take a deep breath
Diana “The Elders never planned to let me go,” I say, “Killing me was always the plan”. Magnus stares at me for a long moment and I see it in his eyes—the flicker of understanding. His head whips back to them, eyes wide with horror. “No! This is not what we discussed!” I look away from Magnus, my gaze sweeping over the Council. My eyes narrow, lips curling into a cold smile. “Enough of the games. Lay it all out. Now.” I can feel the tension tightening in the air as I speak. I tilt my head slightly, my voice steady as I continue, “You’ve obviously planned to kill me from the very beginning. What I don’t understand is why. After all, aside from that sham of a trial, I haven’t committed any crimes. There shouldn’t be any irreconcilable differences between us, should there?” It’s obvious to me that the invisible hands of the traitor is behind the scenes, manipulating things. I know what that person’s goal is, but I am wandering what reason he or she used to get the Elders to go al
Diana I look away from Magnus and glance at the four Elders still standing before me, their combative stances making it clear they are ready to pounce at any moment. “So,” I say, my voice icy and unwavering, “your plan of ridding the world of evil… you plan to do it yourselves? Okay” “Let’s get it over with”. I crack my knuckles and get back into a fighting position. Elder Fendel’s brow furrows looks to his fellow Elders before saying “No. That won’t do”. The four Elder halt before glancing at him. “There’s no precedent where the Council personally carries out punishments”. “Fendel!” Elder Lyra cries out. “No, Lyra. You’re letting your emotions sway you here”, he says with an admonishing tone, “That’s why there is more than one Elder, to keep each other in check”. Lyra glares at me, clearly dissatisfied before looking away. Elder Fendel then says, “Fall back please”, He waves his hand, and the other Elders fall back, stepping out of the way. But not before Elder
Diana It is at this moment that I gain a true appreciation for the depths of the Council’s cunning. They know exactly how to manipulate the desires of others to get what they want. They’ve played on the greed and lust for power lurking in the hearts of every man, turning them into pawns in their scheme. This makes me once again wonder who the traitor is among them. Because the traitor, I realize, must be the most cunning of them all. Whoever it is has clearly figured out who I am—my connection to the Castellanos pack. They’ve engineered this whole situation to try to force me to shift into my wolf form, to expose myself fully so they can be certain of my true identity. And then to kill me. Their true goal isn’t to take down Dominicus. It never was. Sure, if they’re able do it, then that’s killing two birds with the same stone. But that person’s real aim has always been me. And if that person is truly working with the witches as we suspect, then they must be aware that Dominic
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