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 I clench my fists, my nails biting into my palms as Elder Lyra’s voice cuts through the room. “Do you swear that the words you spoke before this Council are the truth?” she asks, eyes trained on the two Omegas, her tone clipped and icy, though an unmistakeable undertone of satisfaction weaves through her words. The Omegas exchange nervous glances, their hands twisting together anxiously. The young man, his hollowed eyes darting toward Marcus as if seeking permission or reassurance, finally stammers, “Y-yes… I swear.” The others follow in halting voices, echoing his claim. Their testimonies, vague and riddled with half-truths, seem intentionally crafted to sound plausible. Every word is designed to nudge the narrative closer to a damning conclusion. But I know they’re lies. Every. Single. Word. I glance at Marcus. He still stands stiffly, his pale face damp with sweat, but his eyes gleam with the triumph of someone who thinks they’ve won. My fury deepens. The coward thinks
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