Elder Thomas They’ll see who has the last laugh. I smirk faintly at my reflection, adjusting the cuffs of my fine jacket one last time before heading for the door. I’m only doing what none of them have the courage to do — Grabbing destiny by the throat and forcing it to bow. When I open the door, the rogue servant is waiting. Still standing there like a lowly mutt. He bows slightly, voice low. “The Mistresses are waiting for you, sir.” I nod regally. “Lead the way.” As he turns, I catch the glimmer of hatred in his eyes — dark, seething. He thinks I do not see. But I do. I see everything. And then — the little worm dares to mouth something. ‘Fucking traitor’. My blood ignites, rage flooding my veins like wildfire. The events of today — the humiliation, the pain, the scorn of the witches — all converge into a singular, blinding point of fury. Before the rogue even realizes it, I am upon him. I seize him by the throat with my good hand, lifting him ea
Elder Thomas I force myself to glance up, keeping my eyes low, submissive, as I take stock of the gathering. Of the seven witches- three of them I know well: The one clad in flowing black, the one adorned in emerald green, and the one robed in a silver-gray. They are the ones who usually deal with me — the ones who negotiated the terms of my… arrangement. The others are new to me, but no less terrifying. Each of them exudes an aura that prickles against my skin like nettles. And then—her. My breath stutters in my chest as my gaze lands on the seventh figure. The Coven Matriarch. She sits enthroned among them, black lace and crimson velvet pooling around her like blood, her eyes bottomless voids. I feel myself shrink inward, my shoulders curling instinctively as cold fear coils around my heart. I force myself to swallow against the sudden dryness in my throat. I lower my head in a deep, respectful bow. “Mistresses,” I say, voice deferential and strained, “Than
Elder Thomas “Very well,” the Matriarch says, it’s the first time she is speaking since I came in. Her voice calm in the way a sharpened knife is calm before it cuts. “It seems we have no more use for you.” The bottom falls out of my stomach. “No, no, wait—please—” I stumble back a step, hands raised, heart pounding so hard I hear it in my ears. She lifts a single, elegant hand. The pain is instant. Agony like fire and ice crawling under my skin, peeling me apart. I scream — a raw, inhuman sound that echoes from the walls — but it does not move them. I fall to my knees, every nerve set ablaze. I clutch my head, my chest, my very skin, as the power they had given me — the stolen strength, the unnatural vitality, the binding magic — begins to tear itself out of me. Receiving their gift had been an ecstasy beyond imagining. But this… this is agony. A slow, exquisite peeling of my soul. I feel it with every cell in my body. The youth draining from me. Wrinkles begin to fiss
Diana It’s well into the small, aching hours of morning before I hear the soft creak of the bedroom door opening. Half-asleep, I catch the scent of blood first—thick and metallic, even though it’s been washed away. Beneath it, the familiar, grounding scent of Dominicus: something uniquely him. I hear the soft splash of water as he disappears into the bathroom. Ten minutes later, he returns, the mattress dipping under his weight. I feel his hand slide around my waist, strong and sure, pulling me back against the solid wall of his chest. His skin is warm, and he presses a slow, lingering kiss to the curve of my shoulder, his breath stirring the tiny hairs at the nape of my neck. Sleep pulls at me like a tide, warm and slow. Wrapped in his arms, the world slips away once more, and I let it. ———— The coffee in my hands has long gone lukewarm, but I sip it anyway, standing still in front of the kitchen window. Outside, the world is already awake—the sun climbing lazily h
Diana The boy grins again. “See? You’re even prettier when you laugh!” “Thank you,” I say, my voice thick with emotion. “You’ve done a wonderful job. The Alpha was right to choose you for this mission.” He straightens up, looking proud. “Does this mean mission accomplished?” “Absolutely,” I assure him. “Mission perfectly accomplished.” “Yay!” He jumps up and down. “Alpha said if I did a good job, I could get ice cream. Can I go now, Luna?” “Of course,” I say, reaching into my purse. “In fact, here’s some money for that ice cream. You’ve more than earned it.” His eyes widen. “Really? Thank you, Luna!” He takes the money carefully, then surprises me by giving me a quick hug. “I hope you smile lots more now. Bye!” He runs a few steps before coming back. “Oh, right! Alpha also said you have to find the rest. He says to go to all the special places and get them…” — and then he runs off. As I watch him scamper off towards the ice cream stand, I swallow thickly and look down at the
Diana By the time I pull into the driveway, the sun has already dipped below the horizon, leaving a soft indigo glow in the sky. I kill the engine, my heart beating fast with excitement and exhaustion. The passenger seat and back seat are piled high with packages — all twenty of them, in their different shapes and sizes, like a treasure trove of love carefully stitched together by one stubborn, wonderful man. I open the door and start gathering as many of them as I can into my arms. Of course, it’s too many. I try anyway, stacking boxes precariously against my chest, balancing the heavier ones on my hip. One wrong move, and they’ll all topple over. I stagger toward the front door, fumbling with the handle. The moment it creaks open, a thunderous roar explodes from inside— “HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!” I jerk back, startled, nearly dropping everything. Actually— no, everything does drop. The packages slip from my arms and tumble to the floor with a series of soft thuds, some rolling
Content Warning: This chapter contains intimate R-18 scenes Diana The celebration stretches on for three wonderful hours — eating, dancing, more laughter than I know what to do with. Gifts pile up on the table, colorful and bright, each one more overwhelming than the last. When the last of the guests trickle out, leaving hugs and promises to meet again soon, I finally find myself alone. Just me and Dominicus. The house is a little quieter now — but the air still hums with laughter, heavy and sweet. I turn toward him, my heart swelling with so much love it almost hurts. Dominicus watches me with that steady, patient gaze of his — the one that always makes me feel seen, known, loved. The soft lamplight spills over him, gilding his hair, casting his face in gentle shadows. “Thank you,” I say softly, my voice thick with emotion, “It’s everything I’ve ever dreamed about”. He shakes his head and says, “It’s not enough. It’s not nearly enough. You deserve everything and
Content Warning: This chapter contains intimate R-18 scenesDiana His heavy-lidded eyes, so dark it sends a shiver down my spine have something within them other than just lust: It’s love. It’s trust. It’s need. But somehow, it still doesn’t feel like enough. Not yet. I want to give him everything. I want to make him feel even a fraction of what he’s made me feel today. What he makes me feel all the time. My cheeks flush as the idea takes root — daring, impulsive, raw — but I don’t hesitate. I trail kisses down his chest, my hands smoothing over his ribs, his waist, lower still. When he realizes what I intend, he catches my wrist gently. “Dulcis,” he says, his voice rough, wrecked. “I want to,” I whisper fiercely. “Please, Dom. Let me.” For a moment, he just looks at me. Then he nods once, slowly, his throat bobbing as he swallows. I look down at his member. A whimper escapes me as the ache between my legs intensifies. It’s so big- steel wrapped in s
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
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 o
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?”
Diana The 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
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
Diana I 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, th
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