DianaAs we step out of the diner, I find myself instinctively slowing my pace, trailing respectfully behind Alpha Dominicus. It feels natural, and ingrained, to maintain this distance when walking with a higher ranking wolf. That is the custom. But after a few steps, he stops abruptly and turns to look at me, his brow furrowed in confusion.I freeze, uncertain of what I've done wrong. His eyes search my face for a moment before he speaks, his voice soft but firm. "You're too far away. Walk faster.""Oh," I breathe, feeling my cheeks warm with embarrassment. I quicken my steps, closing the distance between us. He nods, seemingly satisfied, and resumes walking. I walk faster and close the distance between us, but still making sure to keep a few steps behind him, maintaining what I've always been taught is a respectful distance.This time when he stops, there's a hint of exasperation in his sigh. He turns to face me fully, his expression gentle yet unyielding. "Beside me, Diana," he sa
DianaThe thought sends a warm, fluttery feeling through my chest, even as it leaves me more confused than ever about his intentions.What could an Alpha possibly want with my opinions on kitchen appliances? And why does he seem so determined to buy everything I like? Just when I think our shopping expedition is coming to an end, I quickly realize how wrong I am. After exhausting the kitchen appliance section, Alpha Dominicus leads me to other household items with the same single-minded determination. It's during our foray into vacuum cleaners that I finally muster the courage to speak up."Alpha Dominicus," I begin hesitantly, "don't you think it's a bit... excessive to buy things based solely on what I like? After all, you're the one who'll be using them” and then I say even more firmly, “I think you should be the one to choose from now.”He fixes me with a cool stare that makes me instantly regret my words. Without breaking eye contact, he addresses the increasingly bewildered sal
Diana "Let's take you home. But first, let's go to the food court. You must be hungry." "No, that's okay. I'll eat something when I go back," I protest weakly, but Alpha Dominicus ignores my words, gently yet firmly guiding me towards the food court. His hand on the small of my back sends soft tingles up my spine, and I find myself unable to resist his silent insistence. Thankfully, the food court isn't crowded, and we make our way to the counter without any fuss. The aromas of various cuisines waft through the air, making my stomach growl despite my earlier protests. "Go ahead and choose something. What are you in the mood for?" Alpha Dominicus says, his tone leaving no room for argument. I hesitate, suddenly realizing I left everything behind when I rushed out of the diner. "I didn't bring my purse," I admit sheepishly. He looks down at me, one eyebrow raised in amusement. "What the hell do I need with your purse?" he asks, a hint of laughter in his voice. "I asked you to choos
Diana Time seems to stand still as I find myself perched on Alpha Dominicus's lap, our faces mere inches apart. His arm around my waist is firm yet gentle, holding me securely against him. I can feel the heat of his body through our clothes, and his scent. My heart pounds so loudly I'm sure he must hear it. I'm frozen, caught between the urge to flee and the desire to stay right where I am. His eyes, those mesmerizing orbs, hold mine captive, and I find myself unable to look away. "Diana," he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that I feel more than hear. I open my mouth to respond, but no words come out. I'm frozen, caught between the urge to flee and the desire to lean in closer. Alpha Dominicus doesn't seem to share my indecision. His hand comes up, cupping the side of my neck. It’s the first time we’re having direct skin to skin contact and tingles erupt at true point. The touch sends shivers down my spine, and I can't help but lean into it slightly. His thumb traces a gentle
DianaThe world around me blurs, reality distorting as memories and present collide in a devastating maelstrom. Alpha Dominicus stands before me, but all I can see is Magnus, his lips curled in that cruel smirk as he tore my world apart."I wanted to know what it felt like to kiss my mate," Magnus' voice echoes in my head, the words as sharp and painful as the day they were uttered. "Unfortunately no, it's not worth forever being mated to a liability."My breath comes in short, painful gasps. The room seems to close in on me, the walls pressing closer, threatening to crush me. I can feel the phantom pain of that first rejection coursing through my veins, burning like acid.But worse than the memory is the fear of what's to come. Because after those cruel words, Magnus had delivered the final blow:"I, Magnus Aldridge, reject you Diana Castellanos as my mate. By my will and my word, I sever the bond and fate that exists between us."The memory of that soul-tearing pain makes me shake m
DianaMy fingers wrap around the cool metal of the cutting comb, the touch of it sending a jolt through my system. Without hesitation, I stumble backwards, putting distance between myself and Alpha Dominicus. My hand trembles as I raise the comb, its pointed tip aimed at my neck. In this moment, I'm acutely aware of how easy it would be for me to die. As a wolfless Were, my life hangs by a thread at the best of times.His eyes widen in horror as he realizes what I'm about to do. But it's too late. Before he can react, I plunge the comb towards my neck, feeling the sharp sting as it pierces my skin. A trickle of warmth runs down my throat - blood."NO!" He roars, his voice filled with panic. He lunges forward, faster than I thought possible, and wrenches the comb from my grasp. He tosses it away, the metal clattering against the far wall.His hands are on me in an instant, tilting my head to examine my neck. His touch is gentle, but I flinch away, scrambling backwards until my back hit
DominicusI pace back and forth outside Diana's window, my eyes constantly darting up to check on her. My wolf is restless, pacing and growling within me, urging me to go to our mate. But I can't. Not now. Not when she's in so much pain and doesn’t want to see me.Someone had hurt her. Hurt her severely. The pieces I've managed to glean from her hysterical outburst paint a grim picture. She had a mate, and he rejected her. The thought makes my blood boil."How?" I mutter to myself, my voice rough with suppressed emotion. "How could anyone reject such a beautiful angel?"My fists clench at my sides, nails digging into my palms. The pain is a welcome distraction from the ache in my chest.How could anyone even entertain the thought of hurting her?But it's not just that. Her words echo in my mind: "We all want her to die." The implications of that simple phrase send a chill down my spine. It's not just her mate who hurt her. There's more to her story than what she's told me before.I re
Diana The world slowly comes into focus as I open my eyes, blinking against the soft morning light filtering through the curtains. For a moment, I feel as though I'm swimming through molasses, my brain foggy and disconnected. The off-white ceiling above me blurs and sharpens in alternating waves as I try to make sense of my surroundings. I shut my eyes tightly, counting to three before opening them again. The room stops spinning, but the heavy weight in my chest remains. As I attempt to sit up, a groan escapes my lips. Every muscle in my body screams in protest, and I realize with a start that I've spent the night on the hard wooden floor. Staggering to my feet, I shuffle towards the bathroom, my movements slow and uncoordinated. The face that greets me in the mirror is almost unrecognizable. Puffy, bloodshot eyes stare back at me, rimmed by dark circles that I thought had disappeared weeks ago. My skin is pale and drawn, making me look more like a ghost than a living person. As I
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