CHAPTER 24

*First Person's Perspective*

~Diana~

I reclined on the plush velvet couch in my dimly lit bedroom, the warmth of wine sliding down my throat as I took another sip from the crystal glass in my hand. A small, amused smile crept onto my lips as I gazed into the glittering depths of the crystal ball seated on the table before me.

Through its cloudy surface, I watched Enise nervously pace her room, phone pressed to her ear as she spoke to Lucian. The tension in her voice, the frantic look in her eyes—it all brought a sense of satisfaction.

“She’s so predictable,” I murmured to myself, my smile widening.

This ball wasn’t just any ordinary object. It was a gift from a witch I’d crossed paths with years ago, a peculiar but invaluable artifact that allowed me to peer into the past, present, and glimpses of the future. A rare and dangerous power, but one I wielded with purpose. I knew how to navigate my powers through it and it had served me a lot of purpose. I've accomplished things that I once thought were impossible, I've known truths that I wasn't supposed to find out about

I stood and walked to the window, staring out at the dark forest that surrounded my home. The shadows of the trees swayed under the pale moonlight, their forms whispering promises of revenge and justice. My heart burned with the memory of the family I had lost—my parents, my brothers—all because of Lucas.

He thought he had gotten away with it. He thought the choices he made, the reckless decisions that cost innocent lives, were long forgotten. But I hadn’t forgotten.

I never would.

The crystal ball shimmered behind me, pulling my attention back. I returned to my seat, placing the glass of wine on the table. My fingers brushed against the smooth surface of the ball, and the image shifted. It now showed Lucas sitting on the edge of Enise’s bed, speaking to her with a mix of calculated charm and something that looked suspiciously like affection.

“Interesting,” I chuckled, tilting my head.

I knew her as Enise, but to Lucas and his pack, she was Denise—a carefully constructed identity. I’d been watching her for months now, observing her every move, every decision. She was driven by revenge, much like me. Perhaps that’s why I found her so fascinating.

But Enise was still a little naïve, still clinging to some shred of humanity and morality, tsk! She thought she could dance around Lucas without getting burned. She didn’t understand the true nature of the beast she was dealing with. One would think that since they were once married to each other then she would understand him better

I laughed softly, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

“You’ll learn soon enough,” I said, my voice low. If she wasn't careful, she would end up getting hurt again

My fingers curled around the edge of the ball as the images faded, leaving only the swirling mists inside. I leaned back, letting out a long breath as memories flooded my mind.

I had been a girl when it happened—barely old enough to understand the complexities of pack politics or the dangerous games wolves like us, played. My parents had been loyal to Lucas’s pack, but loyalty wasn’t enough to save them.

Lucas’s arrogance, his blind ambition, had led to an attack from a rival pack. He had made promises he couldn’t keep, alliances he couldn’t honor, and my family had paid the price.

The screams, the blood, the lifeless bodies of my parents and brothers—it was all etched into my memory, a permanent scar that would never heal.

I clenched my fists, the familiar anger bubbling beneath the surface.

For years, I had wandered, lost and broken, not knowing how to live without my family. until I discovered the truth of my heritage. I wasn’t just a werewolf—I was a wurwolf, a rare blend of wolf and warlock. Apparently, my mother and father weren't my biological parents. They had found me by the woods, near the pack borders and decided to take me in as their own. This truth It explained the abilities I had always struggled to understand, the strange power that coursed through my veins.

With that knowledge came clarity and I understood my purpose. I trained hard, I learned, and I prepared myself. I swore to make Lucas pay, to make him suffer, to strip him of everything he held dear, just as he had done to me.

Two years ago, I had approached him under the guise of friendship. He was none the wiser, too blinded by his ego to question my motives. It had been easy to gain his trust, to become a part of his life.

But I needed to be more than just his friend to to take him down. I needed leverage, and that’s where Enise came in.

She was like a gift dropped into my lap. Her vendetta against Lucas aligned perfectly with mine, and her connection to Lucian made her the perfect pawn. I had been watching her for weeks before I made my presence known, leaving her cryptic notes and little hints to guide her actions.

Now, everything was falling into place.

“She’ll play her part,” I said to myself, my voice filled with conviction. “And when the time comes, I’ll finish what I started.”

The crystal ball glimmered again, showing Enise sitting on her bed, her head in her hands. She looked torn, conflicted. A part of me felt a pang of sympathy for her—she had no idea how deeply she was entangled in this web.

But sympathy wouldn’t stop me. I couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud my judgment.

Lucas had to pay. Not just for my family, but for every life he had ruined, every innocent soul caught in the crossfire of his ambitions.

I picked up my glass of wine and took another sip, savoring the rich flavor. The room was silent except for the soft crackle of the fire in the hearth.

“Enjoy your moment of peace, Lucas,” I whispered. “It won’t last.”

I closed my eyes, letting the firelight dance behind my lids. The image of my family flashed in my mind, their smiles, their laughter, the love we had shared.

It was all gone now, reduced to ashes and memories. But soon, justice would be served.

And when it was, I would finally be free.