DianaIt happened so fast that the man didn’t even have time to scream. One second, he’s still here, and the next, a sickening crunch sounds in my ear and then he’s gone.Warm blood splashes onto my face, flows down my cheeks and drips down my chin, but I’m too dazed to care. All I am able to do is lay there, eyes wide as I listen to the creature tearing into the man. The sounds; a cacophony of ripping flesh, crunching bones, and guttural growls, echo through the stillness of the wilderness like a macabre symphony of nature’s brutality.“Ahhhhhh!” the short one screams, turns around and runs away. He trips, and falls, but scrambles back up and continues to run. In his fear, he doesn’t even realize that rather than running in the direction we came from, he’s heading deeper into the woods.Of the two remaining men, one falls to the ground and a pungent smell starts to emit from him. He had pissed himself.The next second, we hear a piercing scream of terror coming from the direction of
Chapter 16Dominicus The air is filled with bone-cracking snaps and animalistic growls. Each movement reverberates within me excruciating agony as my muscles contract and elongate- reshaping my form. It’s a slow and laborious transition, as my body struggles to shed its lupine form and reclaim its human identity.It’s been so long since I’ve changed back that my body has almost forgotten how to do so.With each agonizing twist and contortion, guttural groans and grunts escape me. The sound of flesh tearing and reforming echoes in my ears, punctuated by the heavy thuds of my paws as I slam them against the forest floor. Thuds become slaps as paws turn into hands.Amidst the tumultuous transformation, the silence of the night is broken only by my labored breaths.And then finally, as the last vestiges of fur recede and the final bones settle into place, there is silence.Agile, my limbs slowly stretch until I’m standing on my bare feet. I flex my fingers and crack my neck. Keeping my ey
DianaThe remnants of a restless night cling to me like cobwebs. Sleep, when it finally came, offered no escape. The images that replayed were relentless, chasing me until the first sliver of dawn crept through the window. By the time I shower and dress, a knot of dread sits heavily in my stomach.I need to find a job today. No, I MUST find a job today. There are just no other options for me. The meagre sum in my pocket wouldn’t stretch further than breakfast. Stepping out into the cool morning air, I take a deep breath. The sky is barely awake and the world is hushed and still.Calculating the time, the shops should just be opening by the time I make it into town. I think about the gas station with the ‘Help Wanted’ sign that’s looking for a salesperson…NO.The thought brings a physical recoil and a surge of nausea that threatens to rise. I will never go back there.Rubbing my arm against the morning chill, I set off down the road. Before I'd taken five steps, a jolt of icy fear sn
DianaThe morning sun streams through the diner windows, casting a warm glow on the polished counter and the worn wooden tables. A steady stream of customers filled the small space, their chatter and laughter a familiar symphony to my ears. My experience at the Pack meant that in no time at all, I am moving with practiced ease, taking orders, serving coffee, and clearing away empty plates. It is a rhythm I am beginning to find comfort in, a routine that provides a much-needed distraction from the tumultuous events of the past few days.But the calm is deceptive. Beneath the surface, a constant low-level anxiety simmers. The memory of the men in the woods, the terrifying encounter with the monstrous yet gorgeous wolf, and the inexplicable dread that had gripped me this morning are still fresh in my mind.I glance at the clock above the register, my heart pounding a frantic beat inside my chest. It is almost noon. The morning rush is beginning to subside, and the diner is slowly emptyi
DianaMy mind is a tempest, a maelstrom of fear and trepidation. There is a Were in this town. A Were. The realization is chilling. From the outset, my senses had been attuned to the absence of any pack, any scent that marked werewolf territory. I had made absolute and doubly sure that there was no pack here before I had dared to venture in. I even scented no wolves. This is a purely human town. I was so sure of it.Yet, here, in this seemingly ordinary town, I had encountered one. And not just any Were, but an Alpha. A powerful, dominant Alpha.The memory of his presence, a cold, suffocating weight, presses down on me. I had survived countless terrifying encounters, but none had prepared me for this. To escape a normal wolf had been a desperate gamble, a narrow escape that had been nothing short of a miracle. But to evade an Alpha, the creature at the apex of the werewolf hierarchy, is a concept so terrifying it borders on the unimaginable. No. It is impossible.Amidst the fear, a q
DianaThere, standing by the side of the road by the tree line, is him. The Alpha. His presence is like a physical force, a wall of ice and fury. His features shadowed and made all the more menacing by shade of the trees. His eyes, those piercing honey brown eyes, are narrowed into slits of ice, and his jaw is clenched so tightly it looks like it might shatter.A low growl vibrates in his chest, a primal sound that sends a shiver down my spine. His body language is pure aggression, every muscle tensed, ready to pounce. The air between us crackles with tension, the scent of danger thick in the atmosphere.He points behind me, towards the town, a silent command. His eyes never leave mine, a cold, hard stare that penetrates my soul. I can feel my knees weakening, and it is only by sheer will that I don’t collapse to the ground. I want to run, to escape this terrifying confrontation, but something in his demeanor, a raw, primal power, holds me rooted to the spot.I clench my bag and subc
DominicusOnce she’s gone, a low growl rumbles through my chest, a protest against my current predicament. I should have finished this, and finished it cleanly. But no, my wolf had to intervene, to complicate matters.A wave of frustration washes over me and I start to pace. I had come here with a singular purpose, a cold, efficient task. But something, some inexplicable force, had derailed my plans. No. Not some mysterious power. Her. She had thrown a wrench into the works. A surge of anger courses through me. I should have killed her on sight. But no, I had gazed into her eyes… those wide eyes, hazel and enchanting, like a twilight forest where golden flecks of sunlight dance upon the leaves… and I had been disarmed.I growl in frustration and pace restlessly, the crunch of leaves and twigs beneath my feet a discordant rhythm to the turmoil within me. My wolf, that monstrous beast is silent. Usually, a whirlwind of rage and violence, he is now eerily calm. My prey had been within
DianaThe morning sun is a cruel mistress, its rays piercing through the curtains and landing squarely on my face. It was as if the world was conspiring to drag me out of the darkness of the night and into the harsh reality of the day. My sleep had been restless. My mind was chaotic, as I tossed and turned with every passing hour. Fear, uncertainty, and a deep-rooted sense of dread are my constant companions.But I have to function. The world isn’t going to stop just because I’m going through some shit. No one is going to save me. Only I can save myself. And right now, money is the only lifeline I can see. It was my ticket to survival, or at least, a better chance at it. I would never get face on foot, I know this from experience. I need to have money for buses, trains and food. And the only way to get it is to go back to work. Since I can’t escape right now, I’ll work and earn money in anticipation of when I finally get the opportunity. Also, being amongst humans gives some, though
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