10 Days Later Diana The gentle hum of the car engine fills the silence as Dominicus drives us toward Deming- the closest city to Garnet City that has an airport. My fingers fidget in my lap, betraying the anxiety I'm trying so hard to contain. After the conversation I had with Dom- where he patiently broke it down his reasons for believing that the Council aren’t really after me in particular, the fear has dissipated by a lot. However, theres still that bit of nervousness left, Afterall, politics and court manipulations is all new territory for me. Thinking about it now, ten days seemed like such a long time when the summons was first delivered, but now it feels as though it passed in the blink of an eye. I glance at Dom's profile, his demeanor is languid and careless as he drives the car with one hand on the wheel. Feeling my eyes on him, his hand reaches over to clasp mine, thumb stroking soothingly across my knuckles. ‘Relax dulcis, I’m here’, I can almost hear the sile
DianaWhen we walk out through the sea of people in exit of Arrivals, it is a familiar face that awaits us.“Oh! It’s him!” I exclaim I surprise. It is the handsome warrior who had intervened during the Censor's visit- Brodik, if I remember correctly he had said his name is. He’s the one who'd shown such remarkable courage in the face of Dom's fury.Dom just raises a brow at this but otherwise doesn’t say anything. With a protective hand on the small of my back, he guides me towards the waiting man, through the throng of people, making sure that no one bumps into me- which is near impossible, since people seem to instinctively part like the Red Sea when they see him coming."Alpha," Brodik’s expression is serious as greets Dom, nodding respectfully when we get to him.Dom merely grunts in acknowledgment, his usual response to anyone who isn't me. I’m taken aback when the warrior turns to me and his expression visibly softens, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips, softenin
Diana The heavy oak doors groan on their hinges as they open, revealing a room that feels like it belongs in another world. I step inside, hand in hand with Dominicus, trying to steel myself against the wave of oppressive energy that rolls over me. Every inch of this place screams authority, judgment, and power. Brodik walks ahead of us, his steps measured and deliberate. He pauses just past the threshold and announces, “Elders, Alpha Dominicus Amadeus and Miss Diana Castellanos have arrived.” His voice is calm and emotionless, as he bows toward the table that commands the center of the chamber. A soft voice answers, “Thank you, Brodik.” The room is vast, its high vaulted ceilings supported by beams of dark wood carved with intricate designs that look like ancient lupine totems. The stone walls are adorned with tapestries, their colors faded but still vibrant enough to depict scenes of werewolf history—glorious hunts, battles under full moons, and solemn gatherings of Alphas. T
DianaI blink, startled. Chief Warrior? I glance at Brodik again, standing impassively by the door, and feel a wave of surprise ripple through me. I knew he held rank, but I hadn’t realized it was the highest among the Council’s warriors.“Yes,” I manage to say. “He treated us well.”The Elder’s smile is almost too kind, and I can’t shake the feeling that it’s all part of some performance.Before he can continue, the massive man beside him—Elder Rothgar, interrupts. His voice is a low, rumbling growl. “Fendel, we are not here for pleasantries. This is a hearing for murder.”I stiffen, my grip on Dominicus’s hand tightening. He in turn, pats the back of my hand with his other palm soothingly.Elder Fendel raises a hand as if to calm him. “Now, now, Rothgar,” he says lightly. “There’s no harm in putting the girl at ease. How can she defend herself if she’s too frightened to speak?”Rothgar’s scowl deepens, and his presence feels even larger. “This is a serious matter,” he growls, his
Diana The heavy silence following Elder Lyra’s announcement is interrupted only by the sound of my breathing. It’s steady, though my heart pounds against my ribs. But with Dominicus beside me, his strong, reassuring hand in mine, fear has no room to grow. His presence is an impenetrable wall, and the warmth of his palm is like an anchor. The anger and hatred churning in my chest as I glance at Beta Marcus further extinguishes what nerves might linger. He doesn’t deserve that power over me anymore. I look up at the table… none of them do. Dominicus is relaxed at my side, but I know him well enough to sense the storm beneath his calm. His eyes sweep across the room lazily, his posture deceptively casual. The faintest smirk tugs at his lips—a lion watching mice scurry about, clueless in their plans to harm him. His gaze flickers to Marcus and the Elders, and I can practically feel his amusement radiating off him. Yet, there’s anger too. It’s subtle, restrained, but it’s there in
Diana Dominicus’s hand tightens around mine slightly, and I glance up at him. His expression hasn’t changed, but I can feel it—the bristle of his emotions, the faint but unmistakable ripple of his power. The air stills, a moment so brief it could almost be missed, yet it’s enough to make every hair on my body stand on end. The room reacts instantly. Marcus’s already pale complexion turns paper white as he shrinks back several steps, his shoulders hunched. Even the formidable Elder Rothgar fidgets uncomfortably, his scowl faltering ever so slightly. The guards standing along the walls straighten as though anticipating an invisible attack, eyes darting nervously our way. Alpha Darius stiffens, his face contorted in confusion. Unlike the others, he doesn’t seem to understand what’s happening. Yet the color drains from his face, and his breathing grows labored. He doesn’t know the source of the pressure, but he feels it—an unspoken promise of death should he misstep. Dominicus exhal
Diana The witnesses are members of the Zervos Pack—Omegas. Their heads are bowed, their movements timid, their fear written across every line of their bodies. My stomach twists as I watch them approach the center of the room, their eyes darting nervously between the Elders and Marcus. I recognize them. Their hunched shoulders, trembling hands, and nervous eyes tell me everything I need to know. They’ve been coerced, forced into this farce by Marcus. A fresh wave of fury crashes over me, threatening to blind me. My nails dig into my palms as I clench my fists tighter. How dare he? How dare he use them— Memories of my time in the Zervos Pack flash through my mind as the Omegas shuffle into the room, their eyes fixed on the ground. Weak. Powerless. Completely at the mercy of stronger wolves. I know what that feels like. I had been one of them. Even though I was lower than an Omega—a wolfless wolf—I had survived because I had Billy. He was washed up, dismissed by most
Diana The silence after Alpha Darius speaks is unbearable. “Burned,” he says again, his voice thick with grief, barely above a whisper. The weight of his words presses down on the room, suffocating in its intensity. I stand frozen, unable to tear my eyes away from him. His grief is raw, a living, breathing thing that fills the chamber and crawls under my skin. I can almost feel the pain he carries—the unimaginable loss of his only child. In the center of the room, Billy stands alone. His shoulders slump, and his face is as pale as I’ve ever seen it. His hands shake at his sides, and I can hear his breathing—shallow, uneven, almost labored. He looks like he’s about to collapse, and my heart aches for him. Across from us, on the other side of the room, standing right beside Alpha Darius, Marcus is a stark contrast. He looks… proud. He stands tall, his lips curling into a faint smirk. The triumph in his eyes makes my stomach churn. He thinks he’s won. Beside me, Dominicus has
Diana The Elders exchange fearful glances before Elder Gideon takes a trembling step forward, his thin frame seeming to shrink even further. He swallows hard, rubbing his palms together. "Alpha Dominicus, perhaps we started off on the wrong foot. Why don't we—" Dom's eyes shift to him, and his voice dies in his throat. "Why don't we what?" Dom's voice is soft, carrying an undercurrent of menace that sends chills down everyone's spine. Elder Gideon quickly shuffles back, his brief moment of courage evaporating. I take a bite of my chocolate chip cookie, watching with interest. Dominicus sighs. “I am a fair man,” he says slowly. “If you have any reasonable explanation for everything you’ve done, now’s the time to speak.” The room falls deathly silent. The Elders visibly shudder at the thought of speaking, and Diana can see the sweat beading on their foreheads. The threat in Dom’s voice hangs like a dark cloud. They don’t dare lie. Something tells them that if they do, they
Diana Three days later, we pull up in front of the massive and imposing Council Headquarters building. This time, it’s Arran, the redhead warrior, who’s driving. With the pack construction in full swing, Brodik has been left behind. An Amadeus wolf opens the door for Dominicus, and he steps out, then turns to help me out. I look around at the place. The wolves I see roaming here are all Amadeus wolves, and I take in the sight with a quiet satisfaction. I turn my gaze up at the large platinum insignia glinting on the building, my heart hammering in my chest. Last time I was here, I was under trial by the Council Elders. But today… today, it’s the Council Elders who will be tried by us. Oh, how the tables have turned. “Clyde,” Dominicus calls out, and a blonde-haired, blue-eyed warrior steps forward. “Alpha,” he says respectfully. “Report,” Dom orders. Clyde doesn’t hesitate. “The Elders are all inside. They’ve been under 24-hour surveillance since their arrival.” Dom no
Diana I pace the room, nearly threading the carpet bare. I watched as Diana’s car disappeared around the corner, the tires kicking up dust as the car sped away. Minutes later, all the Council- no, Amadeus wolves, were gone too. My heart pounds in my chest, the panic gnawing at me. I had caught a glimpse of her just before she left. She didn’t see me, did she? I quickly ducked behind the building when I noticed her eyes scanning the area. The last thing I needed was for her to catch sight of me, especially after everything that happened. I shudder just thinking about it. The last time I saw Diana, I had been watching through the cracked door of Beta Marcus’s office, my breath caught in my throat as I saw him pin her down. She was crying, begging me to help her. Fury was the first thing I felt. How dare he do that to her? To my sister? But then, just as quickly, fear overtook me. I wasn’t strong enough to fight him. What would happen if I did try to intervene? The consequences
Diana My eyes sting with unshed tears. My throat chokes up, and I press my lips together and shake my head, trying to keep my emotions in check. Brodik glances at the door again. The house is silent. Not even the sound of movement comes from within. “And please,” he adds softly, “help us tell the Alpha thank you. Thank you for letting us come home. We promise we won’t let him down.” Then, as one, the warriors bow again. Not to me this time. To him. To their Alpha. A big smile spreads across my face, and I shake my head. “Don’t mention it, Brodik,” I say softly. “I’ve never truly had a pack in the true sense either, so I think I understand how you feel.” I glance at all of them, my smile widening. “I’m really happy that you’re here.” Then, clearing my throat, I raise my voice slightly, adding teasingly, “And don’t mind the grumpy Alpha. I’m sure he’s happy you’re here too.” A deep, unmistakable snort comes from inside the house. I bite back a laugh as mirth fills
Diana The moment the cars pull into the clearing, my eyes lock onto the figure standing on the porch, arms folded across his chest, watching us. A grin splits my lips, and before the car even comes to a full stop, I’m throwing the door open and launching myself out. A squeal escapes me as I practically fly across the grass, up the steps, and straight into his arms. Dominicus chuckles, his deep, rumbling laughter sending warmth through my entire body. He opens his arms just in time to catch me as I leap, wrapping his arms tightly around me and lifting me off the ground. My legs automatically wrap around his waist, and I press myself against him as tight as I can, burying my face in his neck, inhaling his scent. Mate. Home. He pulls back slightly, just enough to capture my lips with his. The kiss is fierce, filled with weeks of longing and unsaid words. I meet him with equal intensity, pouring every emotion into the way our lips move together. When we finally pull away,
Diana As the car pulls away from the pack house, movement catches my eye- a figure hastily darts away and disappears behind a building. I nonchalantly look away, my expression remaining unchanged. The car continues along the winding road, and as we cross the border of the pack territory, I silently promise myself to never set foot in this place again. This is the last time. Silence fills the car as they drive. Soon, the Zervos territory fades from view, becoming nothing more than a distant memory behind them. Billy clears his throat, breaking the heavy quiet. Billy is the first to break the silence. He clears his throat, his voice unsteady. “Kid… my mate, my Myra… she wouldn’t do that.” His fingers twitch against his knee. “She was no dark witch. She was a light witch.” I turn to look at him, watching the way his brows pinch together, the way his jaw tightens with something like desperation. “I know I said she was mysterious,” he continues, “and that I didn’t know much about her
Diana Everyone's eyes judge him silently. He desecrated the most sacred gift the Goddess gave us—desecrated the the most sacred bond. I don't move. Don't flinch. Just stay steady and cold. "And by the way," I continue, my voice eerily calm, "that's disregarding the fact that you knew I was your mate six years before I found out." I take a small, deliberate breath. "You didn't acknowledge me. You knew exactly what kind of life I was living, and you just turned a blind eye. A single word from you, a single order, could have changed everything for me. But you didn't because I wasn't worth the trouble. Why was that again?" I tilt my head slightly. "Right—because I was 'a walking burden.'" The silence stretches between us, thick enough to cut. I don't wait for him to find his voice. "I got assaulted inside the pack house, just steps away from your office, and you didn't even know." He sways on his feet, looking like he is about to faint. "Did you even try to stop it when Marc
Diana Billy rises from his seat. "We should go. There's nothing more we can learn here." Disappointment and frustration course through me, and I have to bite back a string of curses. Taking a deep breath to steady myself, I nod. "Okay. Let's get out of here." Billy's hand lands on my shoulder, warm and reassuring. "Don't worry, kid. We'll catch that bastard." His lips quirk up in a small smile. "They can't run forever." He's right. The Elders are already on their way back to the Council, where they'll be under house arrest until we arrive with Dominicus. There's nowhere for that person to hide. We leave the room without another word, Brodik holding the door open as we pass through. He and the other warrior fall into step behind us, our footsteps echoing in the empty hallway. None of us spare a backward glance at Magnus—he's not worth the effort. Outside, the scene is exactly as we left it. Both Amadeus and Zervos pack members stand in loose groups, tension thick in the air
Diana Magnus turns his glare to Billy again, his voice coming out heavy, “And how could it be a coincidence that a witch was living at the Zervos pack at the time? At the same time your mother was cursed to death- at the same time your wolf was also cursed?” I turn my head slowly, my eyes meeting Billy’s. His face has drained of color, his eyes wide with horror. He shakes his head in disbelief, and he sways slightly, as though the ground beneath him is no longer solid. He shakes again, even more vehemently now. “No… that...” “Diana…” Magnus says, “the reason you had such a horrible life. Why you lived life as an existence lower than an Omega, instead of having the high status of the Alpha you truly are, is all because of her. Everything that has happened to you wouldn’t have happened if you had your wolf. It’s all because of her. She destroyed your life.” he spits. I lower my head and look down at my hands in my lap- my face expressionless even as my thoughts race."Kid, I'm sure