DianaA black blur intercepts with a sound like a butcher's cleaver hitting bone.Dominicus stands between us, Thomas' paw caught effortlessly in one hand. His fingers tighten with a sickening crack of breaking metacarpals. Thomas' wolf-form yelps, the sound high and reedy compared to his earlier bravado.Dom doesn't even look at him. His glowing blue eyes rake over me—the gashes across my ribs, the unnatural angle of my left foreleg, the blood matting my fur. With every injury catalogued, the air grows heavier, thick with the ozone-scent of his rage.A low, inhuman sound rumbles from his chest as he finally turns to Thomas."How dare you."The transformation happens between heartbeats. One second Dom stands there—the next, a monstrous black wolf looms where he stood, towering over Thomas with eyes like smoldering saphires. The very trees seem to recoil from his presence.I shift back, my human form gasping as pain flares through freshly knitted bones. Strong hands catch me—Amadeus wa
Diana "You... you asked about the Castellanos?" Thomas’ voice is hoarse from screaming. I realize he's referring to Dominicus's earlier questions in the interrogation room. The ones that had gone unanswered before his true nature was revealed. Dominicus shifts his weight slightly, and Thomas's breath hitches. "Tell me," he growls, his voice vibrating through the clearing like thunder before a storm. "Everything." Thomas's bloodshot eyes dart to me, then away. "Castellanos... must be her parents?"His cracked lips twist. "She bears the name. But I don't—" The snap of another rib breaking cuts through the night. Thomas arches off the ground with a strangled scream, his fingers clawing at the dirt like a dying animal seeking purchase. "Twenty-one years ago," he gasps when he can speak again. "Almost exactly... they destroyed a pack. I don't know which one—they never tell me anything important!" The 'they' hangs heavy between us. The Dark Witches. I flex my healing fingers,
Diana His eyes dart wildly. "I... I told you! They threatened me! I didn't want to either but they said they would kill me if I didn't comply! You have to understand. I'd just become an Elder—I had so much to live for, I didn't want to die!" Dom rolls his eyes, “You’ve said that over and over already. That’s not what I want to know.” "What I’m curious about is the reward they offered" Dom, his claws extending further. "I'm sure they must have offered you some sweet candy for your compliance. Else, you wouldn’t be working so enthusiastically for them." Guilt clouds Thomas’ features as he stammers out, "That... that... they said they would reward me if I did well." "Oh, that was very nice of them," Dom laughs mirthlessly. Then his voice turns serious. "But how? How did they do it? Witches can't step foot on Amadeus lands without being detected," he continues, his fingers flexing at his sides. "A curse that powerful—that all-encompassing—would have strict requirements. Conditio
Diana Dominicus leans down, "You say you were forced. That you had no choice. That you were also helpless... But that's only true for the first time, isn't it? But after?" His claws trace Thomas's jugular. "You enjoyed it. The power. The feeling of being... more." Thomas chokes. He opens his mouth but nothing comes out. His silence is damning. The air in the grows even heavier. Even the wind stills, as if nature itself holds its breath. "The power," Dominicus continues, leaning forward until they're nose-to-nose, "Every time you did something for them, every time you betrayed your kind, they would give you a little bit more. Sip after sip. You got addicted. The way it made you feel—strong, important, no longer just another aging Elder watching younger wolves surpass him. You couldn’t let go of that feeling." "A man like you... Let me guess... somewhere deep in your heart, you were always jealous of the Amadeus wolves, weren't you? Maybe even hated them a little." Dom's eyes bor
Diana The force of the collision is so great it sends me stumbling backward. After blocking and dissipating the bolt of darkness, the shield of light that protected me disappears, leaving only a heat against my skin. Dominicus’s eyes flicker over me. A single heartbeat to confirm I’m unharmed. Then— Chaos erupts. Dominicus's roar of fury shakes the very ground as he turns back to Thomas. The Amadeus warriors surge forward as well in a wave of fur and fangs. But Thomas is already moving, his now free hand clawing at his own wrist with frantic desperation. I see his teeth sink into his flesh, blood spraying as he bites down to the bone. Then - A sound like thunder cracks through the clearing. Darkness explodes from Thomas's wrist, a swirling vortex of black smoke that reeks of burning herbs and rotting flesh. The stench is so overpowering I gag, my eyes watering as the acrid smoke burns my throat. Dominicus's claws slash through the unnatural fog, his massive form barely visibl
Diana"Have you ever given it to anyone?" Dominicus asks."No," I say immediately with a shake of my head. "I've never taken it off since you gave it to me."His eyes narrow. "Has anyone else touched it?"A memory surfaces - Marcus's filthy fingers grabbing at the necklace when he tried to kidnap me last time. "Well... Marcus did. When he-""No." Dominicus cuts me off with a sharp gesture. "That worthless bastard couldn't conjure a spark, let alone light magic this powerful." His lip curls. "And wolves don't wield magic."His thumb brushes over the engraving. "Think harder, dulcis. Who else?"I shake my head, “No, no one else-“ suddenly, a memory surfaces."Ellen”, I breathe, "It was just—it was nothing, really," I rush to explain. "At the diner, when you took me there last time. The clasp came undone without me noticing. It was just... hanging there on my shirt… she picked it up and handed it back to me. That was all.""Ellen?" he repeats, his brows furrowed.I nod.I watch as his ey
Diana "What the fuck?" The words leave my lips before I can stop them. Ellen—no, Eleanor—simply smiles wider and pushes open her front door. She adjusts her glasses, a floral apron tied around her waist. "Well?" She smiles, warm as ever. "Are you coming in, or shall I let the pot roast burn?" The moment we step through Eleanor's front door, warmth wraps around me like a grandmother's embrace. The scent of rosemary and slow-cooked meat fills the air, mingling with something earthy—dried herbs hanging from the ceiling beams? No—floating. Actual bundles of sage and thyme drift lazily near the rafters, untethered by string or logic. Dominicus's scowl deepens as he takes in the impossible cottage interior—the ceiling that stretches higher than the exterior should allow, the grandfather clock with planets instead of numbers, the teapot that whistles a jaunty tune entirely on its own. I blink. Yeah, definitely never saw that at the diner. "Eleanor—" he begins, his voice thunderous.
Diana“Now,” Eleanor says, and the air in the room changes, “let’s get down to business.”Dominicus doesn’t wait. He surges to his feet, fury crackling off him like heat from a wildfire. “Why are you here, Eleanor?” he demands. “Why are you in my territory pretending to be a human? How long have you been here?”“Why didn’t you show yourself? Why take on this appearance? Why approach my mate?” He’s pacing now. “Why enchant her necklace? What do you know? No—” he cuts himself off with a harsh breath, “you must know a lot.”His voice is jagged. Sharp with years of unanswered questions.“So why the fuck have you hidden yourself all this time?”The silence that follows is thick. Tense. Eleanor studies him. There’s no fear in her eyes. Just something old and sad.“Be patient, child,” she says softly. “All will be answered. And you will understand.”He glares at her, breath ragged, but when she doesn’t move, doesn’t waver, he exhales a slow, frustrated growl and drops back into his seat wit
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
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