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 Suddenly, one wolf steps forward from the crowd. I watch closely, my interest piqued. It’s the newly appointed Beta. Oh? I narrow my eyes as I study him more carefully. Werewolf healing really is a beautiful thing. The man had been injured only moments ago, but here he is now, stepping forward with a strong posture, his muscles taut and ready. This is the first time I’m taking a real look at him. He’s tall and lean, with a sharp crew cut and a severe expression that makes him seem even more intimidating. Attractive, if I’m being honest, but then again, most wolves are. Magnus’ eyes widen in shock. “You…” His voice cracks with disbelief. The Beta meets Magnus’ gaze with a calm, almost apologetic expression before he speaks. “I’m sorry, Alpha,” he says, his tone respectful. “But as the Council has said, this woman is mated to the dangerous Feral Alpha who was responsible for my predecessor’s death. It will be for the greater good if she is taken out. Therefore, I volunte
Diana For a moment, the entire place is silent as a graveyard. And then- Elder Lyra, her face drained of color, screams. “Impossible!” She sounds like she’s on the verge of losing control. “No Alpha is able to use the command on a wolf that does not belong to their pack!” I shrug nonchalantly. “Well, Alpha Magnus here was being all dazed and shit, so I had to do it myself.” She screams again, this time in fury, “Stop this rubbish and answer me!” she demands, but I just shrug with a smile. The air is thick with disbelief. The wolves and Elders stare at me, wide-eyed, as though they’ve just seen a monster come to life. “Who the hell are you?” Elder Lyra demands, her voice trembling with disbelief. “What pack did you come from?” All eyes are on me. They all know I was raised in the Zervos pack, but for me to have this kind of power, they all now understand that my bloodline must come from an Alpha of another pack. I shrug, my face casual. “Beats me.” But inside, I’m closely watc
Diana The earth rumbles beneath our feet, a low vibration that starts slowly but grows with intensity. Everyone pauses, their eyes darting around in confusion and trepidation. The noise builds, a deep, ominous rumble that seems to come from all directions. It grows louder, the sound of it vibrating through the earth itself. My eyes narrow, my senses sharpening. I can feel the air shift- something is coming. Fendel stands still, looking smug, as if he’s anticipating something. The sound grows louder—footsteps—heavy, deliberate. The sound of hundreds of boots marching in unison. The noise draws closer, and the ground shakes with each passing second. And then—suddenly—they appear. From all around us, figures emerge. They’re clad in black soft armor, sleek and menacing, each one carrying an array of weapons strapped to their bodies. They move with military precision, their movements sharp and fluid. Hundreds of them. Maybe more. They don’t speak. They don’t need to. Their presence
DianaMagnus’s shoulders hunch as the weight of it all hits him. His legs nearly faltering beneath him. I’m guessing he had somehow been consoling himself with the fact that though the Council had changed their minds and decided to kill, they had also sent the Army there to kill Dominicus. And in his mind, all he had to do was save me, and everything would still go as planned. Dominicus would be dead and the bond between us would grow back and reconnect.But now, not only is Dominicus obviously safe and sound back home. But the Army is here instead, meaning he couldn’t save me even if he wanted.He understands now. He’s been thoroughly played.Fendel then address Brodik, however, he makes sure to keep his gaze on me, his eyes never leaving my face, “Where is Dominicus Amadeus now?” he asks, his tone casual.Brodik responds promptly, his voice cool and measured, “The man stationed there reported back that the Alpha hasn’t left his territory.”“So he’s still in there now?” Fendel asks.
Diana Brodik expressionless, looks down, but doesn’t respond. Fendel doesn’t seem to notice. My gaze sweeps across the sea of Council Warriors. I take a deep breath, steadying myself in the midst of this suffocating tension. I then draw on every ounce of power I have left and let my Alpha voice ripple through the air. “Stay right where you are. Drop your weapons and no one moves”. I issue the command towards Council Warriors. My voice is piercing, strong, and undeniable. I hold my breath, waiting. Silence fills the space for a long moment, thick with anticipation. However, nothing happens. Instead of the usual obedience, the command just seems to wash over them, dissipating into the air. Not one of them even flinches. Suddenly, the Elders burst out into laughter, the sound cruel and mocking. Elder Lyra, unable to hold back her amusement, sneers, “Don’t be daft, girl. Just because you managed to order those Zervos wolves doesn’t mean you can control the Council war
Diana“Brodik,” Dominicus calls the name, his voice calm.Brodik practically shivers before quickly stepping forward. “I’m here,” Brodik replies, the rawness in his voice betraying the calm tone.“Are the rest all there?” he asks.Brodik’s eyes start to brighten. He doesn’t hide his excitement, his voice full of energy as he answers, “They’re mostly here. A few left behind.”Fendel’s eyes grow wide, his shock evident as he screams out, “Brodik? What are you doing?”But still, there’s no answer from the Council Chief Warrior.Dominicus hums on the other end of the line, his tone casual. “No matter, I’ll settle them all later.”Brodik’s eyes are so bright now, they might as well be filled with stars. The excitement and eagerness are impossible to ignore. He answers with a single word, “Yes.”Now they know for sure that something is wrong. The Elders all look at Brodik in horror. They turn to look at the rest of the army just to see that they’re all in relatively the same condition as B
DianaA slow smile spreads across my face. “It seems it’s time for a history lesson,” I say, my voice playful.I bring my gaze back to Fendel who is looking at me in clear desperation, and smirk. But rather than answer, I ask him a question instead.“The first generation of Council Warriors that made up the Council Army… where did they come from?”“What?” he asks in confusion. The Elders look at each other in confusion and trepidation. It’s clear that they don’t know.Only one Elder’s eyes widen in realization. The oldest of the bunch.I point to Elder Thomas who almost crumples to the ground if not for his walking stick supporting him. “I guess being old has its perks”.I then turn to the rest, and continue, my coming out lighthearted. “But for the rest of you and everyone else here, I’ll explain… There are currently nine Elders on the Council. All Alpha wolves, each one from a different pack, who retired as reigning Alphas.”My eyes run over them, “So, if the Council warriors obey
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
Diana Billy takes a step forward and wraps me in his warm bear hug. I bury my face in his chest and hug him just as tight. He steps back, “See you in a bit, kid”, and with a little wave, turns around and strides back towards the cars. I watch as they begin to pile into the SUVs, Billy among them. He gives me one last wink, grinning crookedly before ducking into the lead car. The low growl of the engines rises as the vehicles roll down the driveway, kicking up small clouds of dust and mist in their wake. I watch until the last taillight vanishes into the mist. A warm arm curls around my shoulders, anchoring me to the earth. Dominicus presses a kiss to my temple, his voice a soft murmur against my hair. “Don’t worry, dulcis. They’ll be fine. And they’ll bring her back safely.” I close my eyes for a moment, breathing him in, clinging to the hope stitched into his words. I hope so. For Billy’s sake. For Emerald’s sake. For all of us…We don’t go inside right away.
Diana “Wake me up early?” I mumble, already half-drifting again. “I wanna see Billy off in the morning.” “I will,” he promises, kissing the top of my head. Silence falls between us, soft and fragile. I’m just on the edge of sleep when his voice comes again, low and rough and achingly sincere. “Dulcis…” I hum in acknowledgment, too tired to form a real word. “The reason I’m not stopping you from fighting this war… isn’t because I care about you any less. I hope you know that. Right?” Something in his tone — the raw inflection, the brittle edge — tugs at me, pulling me back to him. I blink my eyes open and tilt my head up to look at him. In the muted light, his face is shadowed, but I can see it — the tightness around his mouth, the faint crease between his brows. And in his eyes — gods — there’s worry. Guilt. And buried much deeper, a sliver of fear so raw it makes my heart ache. I know what he’s thinking - what is weighing on him. It’s Billy’s words, thro
Diana Dominicus gently kisses my tears away before gathering me up into his arms as he gets off the bed. “Let’s get you clean and ready for bed”, he says and I hum in reply. I nestle against him, feeling the steady thrum of his heart under my cheek as he carries me across the room. I murmur sleepily, “Don’t get my hair wet. I wanna enjoy my silk press a little longer…” My voice is soft, half-drowsy. He halts mid-step and looks down at me. Them he chuckles, low and warm, the sound vibrating through his chest. “Of course, dulcis,” he says, amused. When we get to the bathroom, he sets me down on the counter and finds the shower cap tucked into a drawer. I watch him through heavy-lidded eyes as he approaches, his expression utterly tender. With careful hands, he gathers my hair — cradling it like something precious — and slips the cap over my head. His fingers linger against my scalp for a moment, tracing the shape of it, before he presses a kiss to my forehead. “There
Diana I arch against him instinctively, a broken sound escaping my lips. Dominicus buries his face in the crook of my neck, groaning low and deep, his breath hot against my skin. “Mine,” he whispers against my throat, his voice hoarse, almost desperate. “Always mine, dulcis.” I cling to him, nails digging into his back, overwhelmed by the sheer intimacy of it — the way we fit, the way our bodies and hearts and souls seem to lock together in a way that feels eternal. He begins to move, slow at first, each thrust deliberate, worshipful. I match him, needing him, needing this — this fusion, with an intensity that shakes my very soul. Dominicus moves inside me, deeper, harder, each thrust stealing the breath from my lungs. I cling to him, lost, trembling, my nails digging into his shoulders, needing more, needing everything. His name falls from my lips again and again, a broken, worshipful prayer. The heat coils low in my belly, winding tighter and tighter, until I’m