DianaI nod again, forcing myself to stand on shaky legs. My heart pounds in my chest as I turn towards the diner's front door, each step feeling like I'm wading through molasses. As I scan the room, my eyes lock onto another man, dressed as casually as any other patron, but the hardness in his gaze betrays his true nature. He's watching me, hawk-like, ready to pounce at the slightest misstep.Ellen looks up from behind the counter, her usual warm smile faltering as she takes in my appearance. "Diana, honey? You look awful pale. Are you feeling alright?"For a moment, I'm tempted to scream, to tell Ellen everything and beg for help. But the image of Billy, battered and bloody, flashes through my mind. I don't know what these people- these humans- are capable of, but I do know THAT man, and what he can do. I can't risk Ellen's safety. She's just a kind old woman who's shown me nothing but kindness. I can't bear the thought of her getting hurt because of me.Swallowing hard, I force dow
Diana The monster from my nightmares, stands before me in the flesh. As my eyes lock onto Beta Marcus's face, a tsunami of emotions crashes over me, threatening to drown me in its intensity. The sight of that familiar sickening smirk, the cold cruelty in his face, catapults me back to that horrifying day. My body remembers what my mind has tried so hard to forget – his bruising grip, the sickening feel of his breath on my skin, the paralyzing terror as I realized what he intended to do. A violent shudder runs through me, and I fight the urge to vomit. The phantom sensations of his hands on me make my skin crawl, and I want nothing more than to scrub myself raw, to somehow erase the memory of his touch. The fear I felt then comes rushing back, magnified tenfold by the knowledge that this time, there might be no escape. But beneath the fear, a spark of fury ignites. How dare he? How dare he hunt me down, terrorize me, hurt the people I care about? The injustice of it all – that I sh
Diana "...So, I hear you've got yourself a sugar daddy now?" His words hit me like a physical blow, leaving me breathless. Sugar daddy? The shock must show on my face because Marcus's grin widens, becoming even more predatory. It takes me a moment to realize he's talking about Dominicus. He knows I'm in a relationship, but he doesn't know who with. He thinks it's with a human? "I always knew there was something off about you, Diana," Marcus continues, his voice dripping with disdain. "Even when you were a kid. Always seeking attention, weren't you? I bet you've been trying to seduce men since then. Why else would I have been so drawn to you? It's not my fault – you were the one doing the seducing." I can't believe what I'm hearing. My mind reels, struggling to process his words. He's actually blaming me for his own actions? He tried to assault me, and now he's saying it was my fault? "That's not true," I manage to say, shaking my head. "I never-" But Marcus cuts me off, his voic
Dominicus I pause mid-stride, a sudden unease washing over me. It's as if my skin has shrunk, constricting around my muscles and bones, making every movement uncomfortable. The sensation is familiar yet inexplicable, a restlessness that sets my nerves on edge. Closing my eyes, I take a deep breath, trying to center myself. It's just the wolf, I tell myself. The curse that's been my constant companion for centuries, the feral beast that lurks beneath my skin. It's not unusual for these feelings to surface, especially when I've been away from Diana for a while. Diana. Just the thought of her name brings a measure of calm. She's my anchor, the one who soothes the savage beast within me. Part of me wants to go to her right now, to bask in her presence and let her gentle touch chase away this discomfort. But I know she's at work, and I don't want to distract her. It's only a few more hours until her shift ends, I remind myself. I can wait. The shrill ring of my phone cuts through my th
Diana One moment, I'm struggling against the iron grip of my captor, fear and despair threatening to overwhelm me. The next, the world erupts into chaos. A bone-chilling howl splits the air, and suddenly, there's movement everywhere. My eyes can barely keep up with the dark blur that tears through the clearing like a force of nature. Bodies fall left and right, some in pieces, others thrown aside like ragdolls. The air fills with screams of terror and the sickening sounds of flesh being rent apart. It's all happening so fast, yet time seems to stretch into an eternity. My senses are overwhelmed - the metallic tang of blood in the air, the rapid-fire of gunshots that seem to have no effect on the blur of destruction, the desperate cries of men realizing their doom is upon them. I know, without a shadow of doubt, that it's Dominicus. My mate. My protector. The Feral Alpha in all his terrifying glory. The man holding me begins to shake violently, his grip on my arm loosening as
Diana "Diana," he breathes, his voice rough with emotion. "My Diana." The way he says my name is like a prayer, filled with reverence and relief. His eyes, still glowing faintly with that otherworldly blue light, search my face as if memorizing every detail. I cling to him, inhaling his scent - a mixture of pine, earth, and something uniquely Dominicus. I revel in the solid warmth of him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my chest. "I'm okay," I assure him, though my voice shakes with the weight of everything we've just been through. "You came for me. I'm still here." He pulls back just enough to look into my eyes, his large hands coming up to cup my face. His touch is gentle, a stark contrast to the violence he's capable of. "Always," he vows, the single word carrying the weight of eternity. "I will always find you, always protect you. You are my heart, Diana. Without you, I am nothing but the beast." In the distance, I can hear sirens approaching, their wailing cut
Beta MarcusThe world blurs past me as I push the accelerator to its limit, my heart hammering against my ribcage like a caged animal desperate to escape. What was that? What was that?! WHAT THE FUCK WAS THAT?!! The questions loop endlessly in my mind, a broken record of terror and disbelief.My eyes dart frantically between the road ahead and the rearview mirror, half-expecting to see that...that THING materializing behind me at any moment. The memory of what I just witnessed refuses to fade, replaying in vivid, horrifying detail.I can still see it - that wolf, if you can even call it that. Dark as the devil himself, moving with a speed and ferocity that defied nature. The way it tore through those men like they were nothing more than paper dolls, their screams cut short by flashing teeth and razor-sharp claws.And then...A cold shudder runs down my spine as I recall that moment. I had been speeding away, thinking I was safe, when I glanced in the mirror one last time. Our eyes
Beta MarcusI bring my thumb to my mouth, biting down on the nail in agitation. I barely notice as I bite through to the quick, the metallic taste of blood filling my mouth. I don't stop. I can't stop."What do I do?" I whisper to the empty room. "What the fuck do I do?"But there are no answers. No solutions. Just the crushing weight of fear and the knowledge that I've made a terrible, possibly fatal mistake.My entire world has been turned upside down. Everything I thought I knew, everything I believed about power and hierarchy in our world, has been shattered. And in its place is only terror - a bone-deep, soul-shaking terror that threatens to consume me entirely.I remain there, huddled in the corner, my sanity hanging by a thread. The Feral Alpha's blue eyes continue to haunt me, that moment of connection replaying over and over. And with each repetition, I feel myself slipping further into the abyss of fear and madness.The night stretches on endlessly, a dark mirror to the terr
DianaI don’t say anything. I can’t—because part of me agrees with him.He searches my face, voice cracking.“I already lost your mate. And for 13 years, I believed I lost my child too. I won’t lose you.”The silence between us stretches again. The grief in his words coils around my ribs like a vice.After a long moment, I exhale.“I promise,” I say softly, reaching for his hand, “we’ll talk about this. We’ll figure it out. But right now… let’s go back inside. There’s still more Eleanor has to tell us.”He looks at me for a long moment. Then, finally, he nods.We walk back together, quiet and heavy with unspoken thoughts. Inside, the room is just as we left it—Dominicus and Eleanor still seated, their faces somber.Billy crosses his arms as he steps in, his tone dry but edged in steel.“Might as well just leave her with the humans. She was safe there. Let her stay hidden.”Eleanor tilts her head slightly.“Yes, she’s safe,” she says calmly. “But for how long?”He frowns but doesn’t an
Diana The room goes quiet. I blink in confusion, taken aback and not understanding why he’s so angry. My brows furrow as I watch him in confusion. He seems to be getting more furious by the second. It’s a fury I don’t think I have ever seen on him before. My mind races a second more and it clicks. My heart stutters before dropping to the pit of my stomach. I hadn’t thought of that. Not fully. Shit! Blood drains from my face and I suddenly feel sick. Billy asks again, slower this time, the words like steel. “Who the fuck did you say was gonna fight him?” Eleanor’s expression crumples into something close to guilt. She looks down. I bite my lower lip. Dom’s brows draw together. Billy’s voice is calm but dark. “Three people, right? That’s what you said?” He points at Dominicus. “One is the Amadeus Alpha. He’ll fight the physical battle.” Then he points at me. I flinch. “Second is the Castellanos Alpha and Priestess. That’s you.” I can’t meet his eyes. “And the third…
Diana He starts pacing toward the door like a man possessed. I glance outside—the sky is pitch black, the moon high and silver. “Billy,” I say gently, “it’s late. Why don’t we go tomorrow?” But he shakes his head, already reaching for the doorknob. “I can’t wait. Who knows where she is? What kinda situation she’s in? If she’s far, the sooner I leave, the sooner I’ll reach her—” Eleanor lifts her eyes to Dom in a silent signal. Dominicus stands immediately, moves forward, and catches Billy by the shoulders before he can bolt. “Wait,” he says gently but firmly. “Where are you going? You don’t even have the tracker yet. How will you find her without it?” Billy blinks. “Right. Right, right.” He lets himself be guided back, still jittery, heart pounding in his chest. He turns to Eleanor again, eyes wide and pleading. “Then give it to me. The… the thing you said. What is it?” “I’ll make you a Scrythorn,” Eleanor replies. “It’s an ancient charm, carved and imbued with s
Diana Billy hasn’t moved. His eyes are bloodshot and shining, and when he finally speaks, his voice is hoarse. “You said you used dark magic, too,” he rasps to Eleanor. “But you’re still here. Still… you. Why couldn’t she do the same?” Eleanor’s face softens. “Because she wasn’t strong enough. Six years of dark magic, even in small doses, is too much. I stopped after one spell. I cut myself off. Let the darkness bleed out slowly over time. But your mate…” She sighs. “She didn’t have that luxury. The curse had corrupted her too much”. But I know the rest. Eleanor is the Primarch Arcana. Stronger than any light witch alive. That’s the difference. That’s why she survived. Billy lowers his head, shoulders slumping. He doesn’t speak for a long time. My chest aches with a pressure that builds and builds until I can barely breathe. All those years, I thought no one loved me. That I meant nothing to anyone. I was wrong. Now I know—my parents, the witches who could have teleport
Diana Eleanor folds her hands in her lap, her face as gentle as ever, but I see the flicker of regret in her eyes. “I’m sorry, Billy,” she says softly. “What I’m about to tell you might be hard to hear. But I believe it will answer the questions you’ve carried for a long time.” Billy glances between Dom and I, seeing the corresponding seriousness on our faces and sits straighter, “Go on,” he says. Eleanor nods. “Just as I was explaining to Diana and Dominicus, your mate—Myralie—was the one who suppressed Diana’s wolf. It was the only way she could keep her from shifting, and from being found.” Billy’s head jerks slightly. “Myralie?” he repeats, his brow creasing. “You mean… Myra?That her real name?” I watch the flicker of pain flash through his eyes. He once told us he didn’t know much about her. Only her name. And now it turns out… even that was only half true. There’s a bittersweet sadness in his face as the realization sets in. His mouth parts slightly, but no words come. “S
Diana Dominicus stares at her, brows drawn. “So… you’re not dying,” he says, voice low, suspicious. “I’m not dying,” she insists, looking directly at him now. “I swear it.” He holds her gaze for a beat longer. Then, finally, he nods. I feel the tight coil of tension in his body loosen, the faintest ripple of relief coming through the bond. I exhale too, only now realizing I’d been holding my breath. “It’s not fair,” I whisper. The words slip out before I can stop them, soft and aching. Eleanor looks at me with kind eyes, and then gives a small smile. “Magic isn’t a person, dear. It has no consciousness to look into the facts surrounding the incident and decide whether or not it’s fair. It doesn’t think or feel. It simply is.” She sets her teacup down gently, the sound barely audible. “Light magic doesn’t coexist with dark magic. It won’t. The moment I used it—even to save someone—I knew what it meant. My days as the Primarch were numbered.” Her smile turns wry. “The fac
Diana She lifts her eyes, and they shimmer with something like wonder. “I felt it. A divine ripple. Like something ancient had stirred. Like the pattern of fate had twisted slightly on its axis.” Her fingers curl around the porcelain cup. “I didn’t know what it meant. But I knew—something was coming. I didn’t know what, or who, but… I hoped.” She looks at me now. And her expression softens into something almost reverent. “And then, one morning… a girl walked in.” My throat tightens. Eleanor’s voice drops into a hush, as though telling a sacred secret. She gives me a small smile. “A werewolf… a werewolf with a sealed wolf”. “A beautiful girl,” she continues. “Her eyes were haunted and it was obvious she was running from something.” My stomach tightens. Eleanor’s expression softens again. “It took me just one look. I knew exactly who you were. The Castellanos Alpha heir. The one who escaped the massacre. I was… stunned.” She shakes her head with a quiet chuckle, bu
Diana I swallow the lump in my throat. For the longest time, Dom had no one. I’m so glad is finding more family and loved ones. He doesn’t answer. But his eyes shine, and he reaches up, catching her wrist. “You should’ve told me,” he murmurs, his voice thick, “I wasn’t in the right state of mind for a long time, but when I got better-“ She looks at him with weary affection. “Because you’d already suffered enough,” she says softly. “You were just starting to come back to yourself. I didn’t want to pile all this… this heavy, dark mess on your shoulders.” Her eyes flick over to me, and a teasing smile tugs at her lips. “And you had just started falling in love, too. I couldn’t bear to spoil it.” My cheeks warm instantly. Eleanor chuckles. “After nearly a decade of pain and silence, you deserved a little reprieve. Both of you. Watching it happen—watching you fall for each other—it was so cute. And awkward.” I let out a tiny, strangled sound and cover my face with my hand
DianaShe stops in front of him.“The witches at the Castellanos pack…” she says, voice quiet, “they did reach out to me.”I bite down on my lower lip. Hard.“But not to ask me to come. They weren’t calling me for help.” Her gaze flickers to me. “They just wanted me to know what was happening. That the dark witches were there. That the Castellanos were preparing to fall.”Her voice dips, heavy with the weight of regret.“I wanted to go. I swear I did.” Her hands tighten at her sides. “But I knew… I knew if I went like I was, I’d only be a burden.”The words hit like a cold wave.“I couldn’t use my magic properly,” she continues. “It was still tainted. I was still walking that razor’s edge. And if I stepped into a battle like that—drew onto the bulk of magic to battle- the dark magic inside me would’ve stirred violently… fed on the chaos”Her throat tightens.“I would’ve had two choices: fight it or give in. If I had resisted, it would have killed me. If I had given in…” She looks up a