Diana Dominicus, unsurprisingly, does not share Marcus' perspective. His snarl deepens, and with a single, deliberate step, he closes the distance between them. "No, no, no!" Marcus cries, scrambling frantically. "Stay away! Please, I'm sorry! I swear, I'll never-" Dominicus reaches him. And then, the bloodshed begins. It's brutal. It's relentless. And it's slow. Dominicus doesn't simply strike him down —he takes his time, ensuring every moment is filled with agony. His fist connects with Marcus' arm first, the sickening crunch of bone breaking echoing through the chamber. There’s a sickening squelch of flesh tearing as Dominicus’ elongated razor sharp nails tear through his flesh at the same time. Marcus screams, a sound so raw and guttural it sends shivers down my spine. But I can't look away. Logically, I should be horrified. On some level, I am. But more than that, l'm mesmerized. Each blow is calculated, deliberate. Dominicus methodically breaks every limb, which tear
Diana The instant his fangs pierce my neck, I feel everything. Dominicus’ teeth sink into my skin, and a heat floods through me that is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. It’s intense, all-consuming—a primal connection that binds us together in a way words could never capture. The room breaths in shock. My hands grip his shoulders as he claims me, my head tilting further to offer him more, and a gasp escapes my lips. The intensity of the moment is overwhelming, and I feel utterly consumed by him. By us. But just as the world narrows to Dominicus and the mark he’s leaving on my skin- and my soul- a scream shatters the moment. “No!” Magnus’ voice rises, raw and agonized. “No, no, no! Stop it! Get away from her! Get away from her! No!” Dominicus doesn’t stop. Instead, he pulls me in even closer. He sinks his fangs deeper, completing the mark with an unhurried precision, and then his tongue flicks over the spot, sealing it. A shiver races down my spine at the sensation, a pri
Diana Time seems to stop. Shock ripples through the room. For a moment, the room is silent, and then the Elders’ expressions shift, their relief evaporating as horror takes its place. The Elders, who had just been breathing sighs of relief, now look as though they’re about to pass out. Rothgar grips the edge of the table as though it’s the only thing keeping him upright, and Fendel’s face blanches with horror. Even Billy looks stunned, his jaw slack and his wide eyes darting between Magnus and Dominicus. I know I have quite a bit of explaining to do later. And me? I stare at Magnus, unable to comprehend what I’ve just heard. My mouth opens, but no words come out. Too stunned at the audacity. Dominicus, however, is anything but speechless. His eyes narrow to deadly slits, his body going utterly still in a way that sends a chill down my spine. His hand tightens slightly around the back of my neck—not enough to hurt, but enough to remind me that he’s there. “What did you ju
Diana The moment his embrace closes around me, I feel an overwhelming flood of relief—so intense it nearly steals my breath. His arms are strong and solid, grounding me in a way I didn’t know I needed. It’s not just about the comfort of his presence; it’s the fact that he’s alive. That he’s here. After everything he’s been through—after everything I’ve put him through—he’s still standing. The guilt I’ve carried since the moment I learned of his capture crashes over me like a tidal wave. I squeeze my eyes shut, burying my face against his shoulder as fresh tears spill out. My hands clutch at the fabric of his shirt like it’s the only thing tethering me to reality. I can feel his warmth, hear the steady beat of his heart beneath my ear, and it only makes the guilt hit harder. I don’t deserve this—don’t deserve him. Not after all he’s endured because of me. He was tortured. Beaten. Left to suffer unspeakable pain, all because he chose to help me. Because he chose to protect me.
Diana “Are you really going to do this?!” The sharp edge of Alpha Magnus’s voice cuts through the room like a blade, shattering the fragile peace that had finally settled over me. For a moment, I consider looking at him, but his words don’t deserve my attention. So i ignore him. Instead, I cling tighter to Billy, burying my face into his shoulder for one last comforting moment. His embrace feels like home—a steady anchor after years of storms. But I know I can’t stay like this forever. Slowly, reluctantly, I pull back, meeting his gentle, weathered eyes. “You have to come with me,” I say quickly, the words spilling out before I can stop them. My voice is still thick with emotion, but the urgency behind it is undeniable. “Back to Dominicus’ territory. You’ll be safe there.” He looks at me, his lips twitching into a small, bittersweet smile. For a moment, he doesn’t say anything, and my heart starts to race. I glance over my shoulder at Dominicus, silently pleading for his a
Diana Billy chuckles softly, his shoulders shrugging slightly. “See? Told ya nothin’s gonna happen.” I let out a reluctant sigh, finally nodding. “I’ll be waiting for you,” I say quietly, my voice thick with emotion. “Promise me you’ll come.” He smiles, ruffling my hair one last time. “Promise,” he says. Dominicus gives Billy a brief nod before gently steering me toward the exit. As we walk, the room stays silent, all eyes on us. It isn’t until I see the Elders standing awkwardly by their seats that I remember where we are. Their gazes flit nervously between Dominicus and me, as though unsure what to do or say. I glance away, unwilling to engage with them any further. Just as we reach the doorway, however, a figure steps in front of us, blocking our path. “Diana,” Alpha Magnus says, his voice heavy with emotion. “Come here”, holding his hand out to me, “Come to me.” I stop in my tracks, staring at him blankly. His face is pale, his eyes wide and desperate. “Get away from
Diana His gaze locks onto me, and the sheer force of it sends a shiver down my spine. It’s primal, unrelenting, and utterly consuming. I feel pinned in place by those glowing eyes, my body frozen as heat coils low in my stomach. My breathes come out heavy as I clench my thighs tight. Liquid heat drenching my panties. The rest of the plane fades away. My fear of flying—the anxiety that usually clawed at me earlier during takeoff—doesn’t even cross my mind. I’m too consumed by him, by the sheer magnetic pull between us. My heartbeat thunders in my ears, my skin burning under his gaze. By the time we’re in the air, I can hardly think straight. The entirety of the plane ride is torture. He doesn’t make any effort to touch me but the heat of his gaze and his scent in the enclosed chamber serve to drive me absolute crazy. We finally arrive back home and walk into our cabin. The moment the front door to our cabin clicks shut behind us, the air turns positively electric. He walks i
Diana “Remember those Omega? They could barely hold on in that room with all the Alpha aura contained in it”. I nod in a daze. That’s true. It wasn’t just the fear that made them tremble. The auras in that room also unsettled them. My mind races back to my time at the Zervos pack. I think of the Omega wolves-the ones who were always subservient, always fearful. Whenever they were near high-ranking wolves, their fear wasn't just psychological; it was physiological. It was in their blood, in their very essence. The Omega wolf's instinct is to cower in the presence of someone more powerful. It was a reflex, deeply ingrained into their nature. But my reaction had always been slightly different. I’d never felt that same primal urge to submit when in the presence of a powerful wolf. Instead, there was just... unease. A vague discomfort, but not the bone-deep terror that the Omegas displayed. I had always attributed this to my wolflessness. I had no wolf of my own, and though
DianaSeconds later, it’s clear that just because he understands doesn’t mean he’s convinced.“Fine,” Billy says at last, but his tone is sharp. “If the Primarch is so amazing, then why are you in this condition now?”Eleanor flinches.“You said it yourself,” he presses. “You were forced to use dark magic. It left you magically crippled for decades. Doesn’t that prove the Primarch isn’t so infallible after all?”Eleanor opens her mouth, but Billy cuts her off before a single word escapes.“And what about the dark witches?”She freezes, confused.“You told us all about the light witches,” Billy says. “What about the other side? How strong are they, compared to you?”Eleanor looks away, visibly reluctant. But after a long pause, she sighs and answers truthfully.“Dark witches… progress faster light witches. But their pace is accelerated. What a light witch might accomplish in twenty years, a dark witch can reach in just nine.”Silence falls like a hammer.Every face in the room darkens.
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